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Unfortunately, due to unforseen logistical circumstances LSLA Presidents' Debate - 9th May 2012 -has had to be cancelled.  The Committee and former Presidents of LSLA are very disappointed but we hope that this will be rescheduled for later in the year.  In the meantime, we hope you will be able to attend one of the other events marking the celebration of the Association's 60th year.  

Please note that the Joint LCLCBA/LSLA Lecture - Foskett on Part 36 - will be held on Wednesday, 4th July currently proposed to be held at the Royal College of Surgeons.  More details and timings to follow.

PRESS RELEASE

DIAMOND LSLA CELEBRATES WITH ELECTION OF FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT

London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA), the voice of civil and commercial litigators throughout London, is enthusiastically celebrating two milestones with the election of its first woman President and its 60^th anniversary.

Francesca Kaye, litigation partner at Russell-Cooke LLP, has created her own bit of history by being elected LSLA President. She will serve a two-year term in office leading one of the country’s key representative groups for litigation lawyers. She has taken over from Seamus Smyth of Carter Lemon Camerons LLP.

In addition to hosting the organisation’s hallmark events – the Spring and Autumn lecture series and its Annual Dinner, her first year will be distinguished by a series of high profile events marking LSLA’s Diamond Jubilee.  These include a bumper 60^th birthday party for members and guests in June and a “Litigation Past and Future” debate featuring legal luminaries and former and current LSLA members in May.

Commenting on her election, Francesca said: “There’s a happy coincidence in achieving this honour in LSLA’s Diamond Jubilee year. The LSLA and its members have been one of the driving forces in the development of London as the pre-eminent centre for international litigation.  The LSLA played a significant role in influencing the policy that resulted in the development of the world’s biggest commercial court, the recently opened Rolls Building.

“LSLA gives litigators practising at the heart of dispute resolution in London a voice to influence the development of law and practice. Major changes are taking place in the operation and resourcing of our courts. We need to be robust in trying to prevent change for the worse.  When the government consults on change we use our first hand client and user experience to influence change and will continue to do so.

“It is vital for our clients and members that courts and the litigation process generally run as efficiently and fairly as possible.  We must also keep an eye on international competitors keen to steal London’s litigation crown. It would not just be our pride that suffered if we were unseated, it would have a significant impact on the bottom line income of UK PLC.”

She added: “As President I am also keen to encourage younger litigators to take an active role in shaping the future of the profession. We have a core of keen young members involved with Junior LSLA with a great deal of talent and energy which needs to be harnessed to maintain the highest standards in civil litigation.”

Francesca’s litigation practice embraces a broad spectrum of complex commercial litigation.  She has been in practice for 21 years. She is a commercial mediator and in 2003 became a Deputy District Judge.

Please see the New Law Journal (http://www.newlawjournal.co.uk) for the article in Speakers' Corner by Franesca Kaye which was first published on 27th April 2012

For further information, please contact:

Clare Turnbull at Kysen PR on 07540 725 056

Notes to Editors

LSLA was formed in 1952 and represents the interests of a wide range of civil litigators in London. It has some 950 members throughout London among all the major litigation practices, ranging from the sole practitioner to major international firms.

Members of the LSLA Committee sit on the Civil Justice Council, the Civil Rule Committee, The Law Society Civil Litigation Committee, the Commercial Court Users Committee and the Supreme Court Costs Group, to name but a few. This has helped top make the LSLA the first port of call for consultation on issues affecting civil and commercial litigation in London. Representatives from the City of London Law Society and the City of Westminster and Holborn Law Society also sit on the LSLA Committee.

Francesca Kaye is a Partner in the Litigation Team at Russell-Cooke LLP. She has experience across a broad spectrum of complex commercial litigation. Francesca read Jurisprudence at Hertford College Oxford and was admitted as a solicitor in March 1991.  She became an ADR Group Commercial Mediator in 1996 and became a Deputy District Judge in 2003.

The LSLA Annual General Meeting - was held on Tuesday 6th March 2012 at 6.30pm.  The meeting was held at the offices of Hogan Lovells International LLP at Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct, London, EC1A 2FG.  The dinner after the AGM was also held at Hogan Lovells International LLP. Professor Sir Robin Jacob was Guest Speaker.

The 2011 Annual LSLA Dinner was held at the Law Society on Tuesday, 25th October with Former President of South Africa F W de Klerk as guest speaker.  For the full address given by F W de Klerk please see the contents in the Events and Lectures section on the website.

Committee members of the LSLA have had several press articles published over the past months including: 

26th April 2012, New Law Journal, an article on the LASPO Bill by David Greene. This article was first published by the New law Journal on 26th April 2012 and is reproduced by kind permission (http://www.newlawjournal.co.uk)

20th March 2012, Solicitors Journal, Three Rivers, CITIC, by Julian Copeman. This article was first published by Solicitors Journal on 20th March 2012 and is reproduced by kind permission http://solicitorsjournal.com

19th February 2012, Solicitors Journal, litigation civil conduct, 'Gaining control' by James Maton

16th February 2012, Law Society Gazette, a response to the consultation 'Solving Disputes in the County Courts' by Francesca Kaye

SJ -Gaining Control by James Maton

February 2012 - MOJ Consultation Paper CP19/2011 - Appointments and Diversity 'A Judiciary for the 21st Century' A Public Consultation

Joint Response Of The LSLA, Commercial Bar Association, Chancery Bar Association, London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association, and City Of London Law Society