briefs

Czechs address old age

City law firm Denton Hall is to advise the British government Know How Fund on a review of Czech pensions law and provide a comparative analysis of relevant UK law and European Union directives at the request of the Czech ministry of finance. The firm has also been asked to provide a summary of recent developments in UK pension provision.

Confusion reigns at home

Existing laws are too complex and do not provide the public with the protection they expect, leading lawyers told a workshop on legislation relating to home-sharing. It was organised by the Chancery Bar Association as a contribution to the Law Commission's preparation of a consultation paper for publication next spring.

Conditional fee lead

Barristers in the personal injury group of 5 Fountain Court, the Birmingham chambers that is one of the country's leading sets, have announced that they will accept instructions on a conditional- fee basis. Gareth Evans QC, the group's head, said the move was being made because the chambers wanted to retain some control over the way fees are charged to instructing solicitors rather than "wait until it gets dragged along the path to conditional fees".

International shuffle

Charles Dodson, a partner at leading international law firm Lovell White Durrant, is to join the Centre for Dispute Resolution on a three-month secondment. Mr Dodson, until recently joint managing partner of the firm, was involved in the planning behind the setting up of the centre five years ago and will help the organisation move into its next stage. At the same time, Shumpei Tanaka, a senior lawyer with Japan's largest law firm, Nagashima & Ohno, is joining Lovells on a one-year secondment. He will advise on a range of matters involving Japanese clients or other clients with business interests in Japan.

ROGER TRAPP