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At Watson Burton LLP, Roddy Gordon and Mark Lawton are ‘very capable and experienced lawyers’. The team is currently acting for Mansion Group and Bellway on several major projects. In a significant departure, the highly rated Rob Langley moved to Muckle LLP.

Dickinson Dees LLP has a mixed transactional and contentious construction practice led by Simon Rowland and Nick Henderson respectively. Key highlights included advising FATA Spa on major worldwide construction projects, and closing the final new-build school for Middlesbrough Council under its £100m BSF programme. Simon Lewis is the national practice head.

With the arrival of Rob Langley, the ‘top construction lawyer in the North East’, and Deborah Robinson, the construction team at Muckle LLP is one to watch. Key highlights included advising on a significant project concerning a second Tyne Tunnel crossing, and being appointed in a £3m ICC arbitration relating to a gas-fired power station.

Ralph Wrighton heads up the three-partner team at Ward Hadaway, which recently advised Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council on a £25m collaboration agreement with the Environment Agency, and on several engineering contracts relating to the renewal and replacement of facilities at Boulby Potash Mine.

At Archers Law LLP, Christopher Todd and Baljinder Manak advised an architect and structural engineer on the construction agreement relating to a boutique hotel.

Burnetts’ practice head John Priddle is currently advising Thomas Armstrong, a major construction and civil engineering contractor, on a £4m development in Kendal.

Senior associates Mary Anne Roff and Michael Conroy Harris at Eversheds LLP recently acted for South Tyneside Council, NAREC and University of Newcastle on construction matters.

Martin Soloman’s team at Hay & Kilner recently advised members of the Federation of Master Builders on a range of matters, and continues to conduct claims in the Technology and Construction Court.

Sintons LLP’s Jamie Corcoran, who is praised for his ‘dedication and drive to achieve optimal solutions under extreme pressures’, recently advised NAREC in relation to a £10m maritime testing facility at its Blyth site.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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  • COUNCIL TAX

    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
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  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
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  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
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  • A justified retrospective

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
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  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
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  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
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  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
  • Premium service for tier 2 and 5 sponsors to be launched

    A premium service for sponsors will be launched by the UKBA on 6 April 2012. The service is designed specifically for companies that sponsor international employees under tier 2 and 5 of the points based system and aims to provide them with enhanced support.

Press Releases in the UK

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