Author: Brian Sanchez

Latvian and Lithuanian law enforcement authorities conduct searches at two construction firms

Brian Sanchez

Officers of Latvian and Lithuanian law enforcement authorities have conducted searches at two construction companies of the two countries, reported LETA/BNS.

Officers from the Klaipeda department of the Lithuanian Special Investigation Service raided a Lithuanian construction firm as part of an international pre-trial investigation into suspected public procurement fraud.

The Special Investigation Service said that it was investigating the case in collaboration with the Latvian Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) whose employees searched the home and office of a Latvian construction company’s CEO, a woman identified a S.A. The Latvian company, just like the Lithuanian firm, is involved in construction and renovation projects.

The law enforcement authorities suspect the above companies of entering an illegal agreement on terms for participation in public tenders. It is thought that by coordinating their actions the two companies won a contract whose value was increased by more than EUR 3 million.

“With such illegal actions the companies probably caused material damage to the Lithuanian state as they might have breached the provisions regarding fair competition stipulated in Article 46 of the Lithuanian Constitution and crippled the principles set in the Public Procurement Law,” the Lithuanian Special Investigation Service said.

Nobody has been charged in connection with the case as yet.

In March 2017, Lithuanian builder Hidrostatyba and Latvia’s BMGS won a EUR 14.837 mln tender to reconstruct the embankments used by Vakaru Laivu Gamykla (Western Shipyard, or VLG), a Lithuanian shipbuilding and repairing group controlled by Estonia’s BLRT Grupp.

BMGS CEO is Svetlana Afanasjeva.

LETA was told at the BMGS office that they had no information about a search at the company. The construction firm’s representatives indicated that their working hours had ended and they could not provide any comments.

According to information from Firmas.lv, BMGS, established in 1993, closed 2015 with EUR 56.711 mln in turnover, down 43%t from a year before. The company’s 2015 profit grew 2% y-o-y to EUR 1.042 mln. Financial results for 2016 are not yet available.


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My degree couldn’t prepare me for the harsh realities of work in law

Brian Sanchez

Studying law


Blogging students

As a law trainee with cerebral palsy, I’ve come across some unexpected challenges – from nervous tutors to heavy lifting

I’m encouraged to apply for internships – but internship supervisors turn me down.

I’m encouraged to apply for internships – but internship supervisors turn me down.
Photograph: Alamy

Studying law


Blogging students

My degree couldn’t prepare me for the harsh realities of work in law

As a law trainee with cerebral palsy, I’ve come across some unexpected challenges – from nervous tutors to heavy lifting

Law is a demanding subject for anyone, but there are specific challenges – including some I hadn’t expected – that disabled lawyers face both during and after their training.

I did my law degree in Scotland, before moving to London to complete the graduate diploma in law (GDL) and the legal practice course (LPC). I have severe cerebral palsy, so I use a wheelchair and dictate most of my work. It can also make my speech difficult to understand – especially when compounded by my Scottish accent. Here’s what I learned along the way.

Good lecturers make so much difference

Cerebral palsy makes it hard to follow formal guidelines that don’t take personal circumstances into account. As useful as it may be to receive a good set of notes after a lecture, nothing can quite replace taking one’s own notes: it lets the knowledge sink in and develops your personal style in the process. I was fortunate that my university lecturers and disability advisors met me with open dialogue, allowing us to find solutions.

Social issues can be more complex. Some of my lecturers were extremely nervous around my speech impairment. In classes where tutors had the confidence to engage me in dialogue, the other students followed suit. But other lecturers would insist on my assistant’s presence – on one occasion it was apparently required for “fire safety” – and would unnecessarily direct all communication via my assistant. If talking over my head wasn’t surreal enough, the other students would also pick up on the tutor’s nervousness. It was a lonely year.

You won’t necessarily have the same support after university

I enjoy arguing. But given my impaired speech and the self-employed aspects of being a barrister, I thought that pursuing a career as a solicitor would be a better fit for me. I thought that firms would have the resources to support me. But it’s not that simple. While the country has many great equality laws, ultimately it’s difficult to see how someone with an impairment as severe as mine can generate income.

Graduates can gain experience as a paralegal before being offered a training contract. But I’ve found that firms taking fresh LPC graduates are often underfunded and in physically inaccessible buildings, putting some disabled candidates at a bigger disadvantage.

The amount of support you can get as a disabled lawyer can also depend on what area of law you’re aiming for. At one event I attended, a partner in a top law firm told us that they had enough money to throw at whatever someone’s impairment required. And there are some great initiatives for disabled graduates such as myplusconsulting.com and EmployAbility. However, these opportunities are not spread across all areas of the law.

Practicing law is more physically demanding than you might expect

Junior lawyers are often required to work long hours and do a lot of hauling paperwork around. The body is required as much as the brain. But my body moves involuntarily and gets tired after six or seven hours. It has a poor relationship with photocopiers and lever-arch folders. Law firms require lawyers to be working until the small hours should there be a deal coming up. There’s little demand for part-time team members.

I’ve received different pieces of advice on this – sometimes conflicting. Human resources staff, who seem to be tied by the Equality Act, give me lots of hope and encourage me to apply for internships. But senior supervisors of various internships tell me that ultimately, given the severity of my impairments, a career in a commercial firm would be difficult for both me and the firm. I’d previously had similar responses when I was considering the bar.

Being disabled is no barrier to learning

I may be struggling to find employment in law, but I still find the basic concept of applying rules to facts completely engaging. I’ve found a law degree has many practical applications. It’s taught me how to clearly articulate non-legal arguments, for instance. And learning why I have the right to use a bus felt hugely liberating. I face substantial discrimination in my everyday life, and knowledge of the law can be an amazing tool to fight it.

Thanks to my legal training, I have managed to secure enough funding for personal assistants, enabling me to live an independent life. I still have so much energy to represent those who have their needs infringed. Given the capitalist nature of most law firms, and the severity of my impairment, I can’t see this happening soon – but studying law was still the best decision ever.

Keep up with the latest on Guardian Students: follow us on Twitter at @GdnStudents – and become a member to receive exclusive benefits and our weekly newsletter.

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Female law partners sue over lower pay

Brian Sanchez

By all accounts, Mary Yelenick had a stellar career at Chadbourne & Parke, the New York law firm where she spent 35 years, rising to the position of chairwoman for the product-liability practice.

She retired in December to words of praise from the firm.

But in March she joined a lawsuit brought by a colleague, Kerrie Campbell, that accused the firm of sex discrimination and pay inequity. Yelenick’s change of heart followed a letter.

Within weeks of Campbell’s lawsuit in August, Chadbourne circulated a letter disavowing its claims. Fourteen female partners signed the letter, which criticized the description of the firm as “patriarchal” and urged that the lawsuit be withdrawn.

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And the firm, in the same legal papers, called Ribeiro, who was a top earner in Sedgwick’s insurance practice in its Chicago office, a “quisling” — a World War II-era term for a traitorous collaborator.

Last month, the firm came to terms with Ribeiro in arbitration. The outcome was confidential, and neither side is commenting.

A resolution may be rockier for Campbell’s lawsuit, which Chadbourne has publicly labeled a “national smear campaign” and a “cynical pursuit of a big and undeserved payday.”

For women who question the fairness in partnership compensation, the customary solution had been to quietly move to another firm. A number of female lawyers are arguing that the legal profession has had ample time to get used to women in its ranks and needs to be held accountable, either in court or in mediation or arbitration.

“Chadbourne ripped off the Band-Aid that a lot of firms put on pay disparities,” said David Sanford of Sanford Heisler Sharp, who represents Ribeiro as well as the plaintiffs in the Chadbourne case, and is counseling other practicing lawyers over challenging pay disparities.

Barely 20 percent of women have reached firm-partnership status despite the high number of women who are entry-level associates at many major firms. When they graduate from law school — where women are now just over half of students — women are paid in lockstep with male colleagues, but once they make partner, their compensation can be widely divergent from that of their male counterparts.

Female law partners on average earn about one-third, or about $300,000, less annually than their male colleagues, according to a survey of 2,100 partners at law firms nationwide released last fall by a legal search firm, Major, Lindsey & Africa. Over several years, that adds up quickly to $1 million or more in lost compensation for a female lawyer.

Chadbourne, like some other major firms, circulates charts with equity partner payment figures, which contain pay disparities that can seem glaring and inexplicable, the plaintiffs say.

“The matrix of factors was there,” Yelenick recalled, but “it just didn’t add up.”

In 2013, the base pay of Chadbourne’s male partners was, on average, 40 percent more than that of their female colleagues, according to filings in the legal case. Last year, there was a 21 percent difference between the firm’s male and female partners, according to the documents.

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DuPage County Law Firm Announces Addition of New Associate…

Brian Sanchez

The Lisle, Illinois law office of Momkus McCluskey Roberts LLC welcomes Kristy K. Singler as the newest Associate Attorney.

Lisle, Illinois (PRWEB) May 08, 2017

The DuPage County law firm of Momkus McCluskey Roberts LLC is proud to welcome Attorney Kristy K. Singler to its staff. As an Associate Attorney focusing on legal services in insurance litigation and coverage, healthcare law, and commercial and civil litigation, Mrs. Singler offers dedication and compassion when serving clients throughout the Northern Illinois area.

Attorney Kristy K. Singler attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law where she received her J.D., and she earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mrs. Singler was admitted to the Illinois State Bar in 1999.

DuPage County lawyer Kristy K. Singler has received honorable accolades such as numerous “Rising Star” nominations from Chicago Magazine. She earned this accolade for four consecutive years, from 2008 to 2011. Mrs. Singler was a member of the Chicago Inns of Court and maintains active memberships with local and state bar associations. Mrs. Singler was previously a partner at a Hinshaw Culbertson LLC.

In response to Mrs. Singler’s new position at the firm, Managing Partner Jennifer L. Friedland stated, “We welcome Attorney Kristy Singler to our practice, and we know she will bring continued to success to the firm. We are happy to have her as a new Associate.”

About Momkus McCluskey Roberts LLC:

As one of the largest full-service law firms in the Chicago area, Momkus McCluskey Roberts LLC serves individuals and large and small businesses in many diverse areas of practice. The experienced attorneys at the firm provide legal representation for matters involving commercial and civil litigation, business law, healthcare law, banking and finance, insurance litigation and coverage, family law, commercial real estate, estate planning, and appeals. Call the Momkus McCluskey Roberts LLC main office at 630-434-0400 to schedule an initial consultation.


For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/05/prweb14307656.htm

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Right To Privacy: California Law Would Allow Drivers To Block License Plates From Scanners

Brian Sanchez

A bill introduced in California would allow residents of the state to cover up their license plates while parked to prevent law enforcement from reading the plates with automated license plate scanners.

The bill, proposed by Republican Sen. Joel Anderson, has the backing of privacy advocates, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, but has come under scrutiny from state police unions.

Read: Police Are Tracking Your Car With This Technology Even If You’ve Done Nothing Wrong

License plate scanners, a common piece of equipment used by law enforcement agencies, are able to capture license plate numbers even when a vehicle is moving at a high rate of speed. The scanners record the GPS location, plus the time and date the plate was spotted.

Once it records a plate number, the scanner cross-references the plates with a list of stolen or wanted vehicles. If the plates match a car on the list, law enforcement is alerted and can take action.

Scanners are a tool of convenience for police officers, and can save a significant amount of time in identifying vehicles, but also reveal just how rare it is to stumble across a car on the “hot list.”

The Oakland Police Department revealed it managed to read 793,273 license plates in 16 months with just four scanners, but those scans produced hits in just 0.2 percent of cases — 2,012 hits. That means the majority of those scanned and logged by law enforcement were innocent.

While the scanners may be a powerful tool for police officers, privacy advocates believe the scanners can be used too liberally and create a dragnet designed to capture as much driver data as possible and keep tabs on drivers by storing location data.

Read: Facial Recognition News: New York City To Use Technology With Little Oversight

More worrisome to many is not the fact law enforcement agencies have access to the license plate scanners — though there is plenty of concern over how long police maintain records and who exactly they may be tracking — but that private companies do as well.

Vigilant Solutions of California possesses what is believed to be the largest private database of automatic number plate recognition information in the country, with more than 4.5 billion records on file.

“This data puts a wide variety of people at risk,” the EFF wrote in a letter of support for the proposed bill. “The data could be used to stalk domestic violence victims. It could be used to surveil religious centers, law firms, medical centers, gun shows and protests.”

The bill would not allow drivers to obscure their plates while on the road, but would give them the ability to place a cover on the plates while parked. Law enforcement would still have the right to manually move the cover and inspect the plates.

The California Police Chiefs Association has voiced opposition to the bill, filing a letter that argues the proposal would benefit only “those who are trying to evade law enforcement and detection.

The bill comes up for discussion before the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee on May 9.

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Singapore Firms See Strong Business Opportunities in Qatar

Brian Sanchez

May 08, 2017 SINGAPORE, May 8, 2017 (JCN Newswire via COMTEX) — The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), one of the world’s leading and fastest growing onshore business and financial centres, successfully concluded its Singapore roadshow last week on 3 May 2017. Business leaders attended the event at the Marina Mandarin to learn how they can capitalise on the emergent business opportunities in Qatar and the Gulf region.

The event is a response to burgeoning interest in the Middle East among companies in Singapore. Qatar is investing heavily in infrastructure, transport, and tourism, with bilateral trade between both countries at S$45.1b in 2015.

Highlights included presentations from senior QFC representatives as well as case studies by Singapore companies that currently have operations in Qatar. These included BDO Singapore, a management-consulting firm and CrimsonLogic, an IT solutions firm. Participants also engaged in one-on-one consultation sessions with QFC’s leading experts, enabling them to gain a better understanding of the business landscape and advantages of operating businesses in Qatar.

As part of its ongoing collaboration with Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), QFC representatives also invited attendees to explore the investment opportunities in Qatar’s tourism sector, and learn about the support provided to investors by QTA’s Tourism Investment Promotion Unit, which works to facilitate access among investors, local and international talent, and government authorities.

Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, QFC Authority Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our roadshow provides the ideal opportunity for Singapore investors and businesses to discuss investment opportunities in Qatar, and get acquainted with the support we provide our firms to expand globally. Our discussions have been very productive and we are confident that they will contribute positively to further enhance the relations between Qatar and Singapore.”

His Excellency Abdullah Bin Ibrahim Abdulrahman Sultan Al-Hamer, Ambassador of the State of Qatar in Singapore, who was Guest of Honour at the event, added: “Singapore and Qatar have an outstanding bilateral relationship, reinforced by High-Level Joint Committee meetings and a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council – the first country outside of the Middle East to be a signatory.

This bilateral cooperation is evidenced by a number of major infrastructure projects already underway in Doha and elsewhere in Qatar. As preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup pick up pace, I am confident that there will be many more opportunities for Singaporean businesses in Qatar, across urban planning, architecture, engineering, information communications technology and other areas in which Singapore excels.”

QFC endeavours to promote Qatar as a lucrative destination for Singapore companies. Once a company submits its application, a dedicated relationship manager from QFC guides the company through the process of registering, obtaining a license, and setting up operations in Qatar. Companies also enjoy benefits such as operating businesses within a legal environment based on English common law, the right to trade in any currency, 100% foreign ownership, 100% repatriation of profits, 10% corporate tax on locally sourced profits, and an extensive double tax treaty agreement network with 60+ countries, including Singapore.

The QFC Roadshow – Singapore is part of an initiative that seeks to strengthen the bilateral, economic, and commercial cooperation between the two countries and to explore opportunities for firms to expand in the Middle East through the QFC platform.

About Qatar Financial Centre

The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) is an onshore business and financial centre located in Doha, providing an excellent platform for firms to do business in Qatar and the region. The QFC offers its own legal, regulatory, tax and business environment, which allows 100% foreign ownership, 100% repatriation of profits, and charges a competitive rate of 10% corporate tax on locally sourced profits. The QFC welcomes a broad range of financial and non-financial services firms. For more information about the permitted activities and the benefits of setting up in the QFC, please visit qfc.qa. @QFCAuthority | #QFCMeansBusiness

Media Enquiries:Gwen Khoo, Account Executive+65 6325 8265+65 8368 2356Gwen.Khoo@sprg.com.sgDeborah Dayani Nanayakara, Assistant Account Director+65 6325 8275+65 9758 4071Deborah.Dayani@sprg.com.sg

Source: Qatar Financial Centre

Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved.

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Assam for land law in step with the times

Brian Sanchez

CHANGE IS GOOD

Guwahati, May 8: The Assam government has decided to prepare a new land law to cope with the challenges posed by changing times and technical interventions which cannot be addressed by archaic land laws.

There are at least 12 legislations, rules and manuals which govern land revenue administration in the state.

Sources said a new comprehensive law, Assam Land Revenue Code, is required as the existing laws are very old and cannot meet today’s requirements.

The government has invited firms and institutions to prepare the Code by “incorporating the elements of the existing land-related legislations, rules and manuals that are still relevant and the good practices and experiences in the field of land management from within and outside the country”.

A senior official of the state’s revenue and disaster management department said, “Two firms, one from Calcutta and the other from Mumbai, have responded”.

Although the government has amended the existing laws from time to time, the main framework has remained unchanged.

“The world has undergone considerable transformation, entailing new kinds of demands and pressures on land. This has thrown up the need for new kinds of land relations and has triggered different kinds of expectations from the administrative machinery,” the source said.

Land reform has been a major concern of the government and there are several legislations in place to ensure equitable distribution of land among the landless and deprived sections of society.

Various organisations have also been demanding a new law to face the challenges posed by changing times.

“The challenge has assumed gigantic proportions with a large section of the population rendered landless or homeless because of floods, erosion and shrinking size of land available for re-distribution. Gradual reduction in the landholding size compounds the problem and makes it necessary to redefine the whole paradigm of land reforms as an instrument of equity,” says a government notification.

It says there have been substantial changes in the overall land use pattern in the state over the years and the process is expected to intensify with the pace of urbanisation gathering momentum and growth of the secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy.

“While the burgeoning demands of these sectors are to be met to sustain economic growth, it is equally important to address the issues of long-term food security and conservation of land resources, keeping in mind the requirements of future generations,” the notification says.

It mentions that technology has opened up new vistas of efficiency, transparency and accountability. Hence, the traditional administrative structures and apparatuses for survey, settlement and record-keeping , among others, need to be redrafted and rescripted to embrace the concept of e-governance.

“Besides, there is a need to ensure citizens’ engagement in the land revenue administration to avoid inter-sectoral conflicts and tensions and to address the problem of corruption and undue harassment of the citizenry,” it adds.

The source said Dispur wants to develop the new land revenue code as a holistic answer to the entire gamut of challenges and opportunities thrown up by the changing times.

The Code has been envisaged to take care of issues pertaining to administrative structures, work processes and adoption of technology in the areas of management of land records, survey and mapping, land reform measures, optimal utilisation of land resources, conservation, quality of manpower and citizens’ engagement, he added.

A state-level advisory committee will examine the firm’s draft report. After incorporating all the changes, it will be placed in the Assembly. The government has set nine months’ time from the date of issue of work order to complete the Code, the source said.

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