A disciplinary tribunal dismissed allegations on Monday that a Hamlins LLP partner blackmailed a journalist by improperly threatening to bring contempt proceedings in a case over alleged corruption.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2025 Law360 iOS App Law360 Android App Follow Law360 on Facebook Follow Law360 on LinkedIn Follow Law360 on Twitter

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Hamlins Partner Cleared Of Journalist Blackmail Allegations

By William Janes

A disciplinary tribunal dismissed allegations on Monday that a Hamlins LLP partner blackmailed a journalist by improperly threatening to bring contempt proceedings in a case over alleged corruption.

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Lessors Bid To Flip $69M Plane Payment Sanctions Ruling

By Ronan Barnard

Aircraft lessors urged the U.K.'s highest court Monday to overturn a ruling that they cannot receive $69.3 million for Russian planes because of sanctions, arguing that a lower court had wrongly found that UniCredit's U.K. branch had rightly withheld payments under letters of credit.

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Betfair Cleared of Liability After Gambler Lost £1.4M

By Joanne Faulkner

The Court of Appeal rejected claims on Monday that Betfair should have known that a man who lost more than £1.4 million ($1.9 million) betting on football was a problem gambler and suspended his account sooner.

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Mazur Ruling Will Spark Increase In Costs Disputes

By William Janes

Costs lawyers said Monday that they predict a rise in the number of costs disputes after the ruling known as Mazur, which clarified that unauthorized law firm staff cannot conduct litigation, even under supervision from a qualified solicitor.

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COMMERCIAL FRAUD

Investec Wins Bid To Have £22M Debt Case Heard In England

By Eddie Beaver

Two business executives failed on Monday to persuade a London court to stop Anglo-South African lender Investec from pursuing its claim in England for almost £22 million ($30 million) that the pair allegedly owe under loan agreements.

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Toy Maker Fights To Revive £90M Claim Against Bratz Owner

By Eddie Beaver

A toy maker asked a London appeals court Monday to revive its bid for compensation from MGA Entertainment Inc., the company behind Bratz dolls, for running a campaign of antitrust violations and threats of patent infringement litigation.

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Gelato Supplier Says Ex-Associate Ripped Off Branding

By Jamie Lennox

A gelato supplier has accused a former business partner of infringing its "Gelato Gusto" trademarks, telling a London court that the company has churned out inferior goods under the brand without a license.

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Brief

London Fashion Designer Sues Rival Over Dress IP Theft

By Hanna Vioque

A fashion designer has accused a womenswear brand of selling a dress that infringes on its copyright and design, asking a London judge to grant it a permanent injunction against the business. 

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EMPLOYMENT & BENEFITS

US Fund Loses $5.4M Bonus Battle With Fired London Trader

By Jamie Lennox

A London court ordered a U.S. investment fund to pay $5.4 million to a sacked portfolio manager on Monday, ruling that the company had no right to withhold his discretionary bonus amid criminal probes into his trading.

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EXPERT ANALYSIS

A Look At Factors Affecting Ombudsman Complaint Trends

Lawyers at Womble Bond provide an analysis of the Financial Ombudsman Service's complaint trends in 2025, highlighting the impact of changes within the FOS and external factors on the financial sector's redress system.

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LAW FIRMS IN TODAY'S NEWS

3 Verulam Buildings

4 New Square

4 Pump Court

Blackstone Chambers

Brick Court Chambers

Charles Russell Speechlys

Ellis Jones Solicitors

Essex Court Chambers

Fieldfisher

Fountain Court Chambers

Hamlins LLP

Hogan Lovells

Keystone Law

Monckton Chambers

One Essex Court

PCB Byrne

Quadrant Chambers

Quinn Emanuel

Reynolds Porter

Serle Court

Sidley Austin

Spector Constant & Williams

Stevens & Bolton

Womble Bond

COMPANIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

Bank of America Corp.

Credit Suisse Group AG

Investec PLC

MGA Entertainment Inc.

Morgan Stanley

Sberbank of Russia

Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd.

UniCredit

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

Bank of England

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Financial Conduct Authority

Financial Ombudsman Service

U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

UK Court of Appeal

UK High Court

UK Supreme Court