Fletchers Solicitors has become the first law firm in the UK to secure a written Judgment following the award of an interim payment for its client from the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA), based on a decisive ruling change.

The change to the interim payments rule, which was introduced in April 2013, means that defendants are now required to make interim payments to claimants if the court makes an order for costs subject to detailed assessment – unless there are good reasons not to do so.

The court’s judgment in the case of Travers v Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is the first written Judgment since the new ruling has been put into practice and marks a major victory for Fletchers Solicitors, the legal industry and claimants alike.

In 2015, after Travers’ case for medical negligence was settled, it was passed to Liverpool County Court to determine costs.

To help secure an early payment, Fletchers Solicitors brought the new interim payment ruling to the attention of the court, urging it to take the rule change into account when considering their claimant’s request.

Despite strenuous objections and arguments put forward by the defendants as to why an interim payment should not be made, the court agreed that there was enough evidence to award the requested £7,780 to the claimant.

The case is now expected to be utilised throughout the sector, with future claimants likely to use the ruling to back their request for interim payments.

The Court has provided clear guidance that defendants wanting to challenge a request will now be required to present valid reasoning as to why the request is unreasonable, shifting the burden from the claimant and paving the way for greater efficiency when claims are settled.

Benjamin Moody, advocacy manager for Fletchers Solicitors’ in-house costs company, Ultimate Costs, said: “This is a fantastic result for our client and it is also welcome news for the legal profession and their clients. Interim payments are extremely valuable when it comes to bringing a case to final settlement. The process can often take a significant time to conclude and interim payments serve to speed up the process.

“For too long, defendants have strenuously objected to providing interim payments, putting off that dreaded day when costs must be paid. The Court has now sent a very clear message that the rule change is to be interpreted in the claimant’s favour. The defendants should now have to prove that there is a genuine reason not to provide an interim payment at an early stage, that will no doubt prove difficult in the majority of cases.”

For more information, please visit www.fletcherssolicitors.co.uk

London, 24 June 2016:  P[X]Paralegal, the new London-based Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) provider, will officially launch on Tuesday 28 June 2016 to the UK legal profession.

P[X]Paralegal will provide legal professionals with a comprehensive portfolio of legal processing services, including digitising, database construction, drafting, bundling, research, along with multi-lingual and client care support.

Its paralegal support service is complemented by a proprietary fleet of secure document-transportation vehicles, which provide an efficient ‘collect and return’ service – a seamless solution to busy practitioners.  The ‘collect and return’ service is FREE to legal practices throughout the UK, and is an industry-first.

Despite the benefits of LPO being demonstrable in other jurisdictions, UK-based legal practices have been cautious about using LPO solutions, as these are often associated with the risks of outsourcing legal processes ‘offshore’.  For most UK practitioners, the opportunity of working with a local outsourcing partner, is a much safer option.

Whether a practice requires ‘on-demand’ ad-hoc support, or a strategic alliance with an outsourcing partner to cover its entire legal processing requirements, P[X]Paralegal is here to help.

P[X]Paralegal’s slick operating methods and expert paralegals will provide legal practices with a state-of-the-art processing model to lean on.  What’s more, the cost-savings P[X]Paralegal is able to offer are competitive to those provided by an ‘offshore’ partner, and considerably cheaper than in-house equivalents.

LPO is growing at a staggering rate globally, as lawyers and clients alike recognise the benefits it offers.  Valued globally at $1.3bn and growing at 40% each year, the LPO market offers legal practitioners the opportunity to lower their operating costs and increase profitability.

Research shows that legal processing activities accounts for over 90% of the total workload in most legal cases.  Embracing outsourcing for this workload provides legal practices with many commercial advantages that drive profitability, whilst satisfying clients’ expectations for greater value in enabling affordable legal services.

Shifting a substantial fixed-cost base – i.e. staff salaries – to a variable one, means paying for the support needed, when its needed.  In fact, experience shows that LPO can create cost savings of up to 30% in most cases.

Whilst P[X]Paralegal is primed to work with practices on a case-by-case basis, outsourcing the entire legal administrative and case management function has an even greater positive effect for lawyers.  Practices become more productive and competitive through the flexibility that LPO offers – allowing more focus on value-added tasks and high-value advice, which drives profits upwards.

Unlike many LPO providers in other geographies, such as in the US, P[X]Paralegal will work exclusively with legal professionals.  Its mission is to become a catalyst for the provision of legal professional service, rather than a competitor.  The founders’ view is that regulated legal professionals should take the lead role with the client, and that LPO providers should work and be directed by the ‘lead’.  This enables the client to benefit from expert advice and streamlined communication, with the LPO provider merely supplying the background harmony to bring efficient and economic benefits to both the client and legal professional.

Doctor of Legal Science, Yuri Rapoport, who founded P[X]Paralegal, states:

“P[X]Paralegal has been created out of demand.  Our efficient systems, state-of-the-art equipment and highly capable paralegals will revolutionise the industry.  We have listened to the frustrations of those within the legal profession – managing partners of law firms, barristers, clerks, legal executives – and, of course, the clients.  

P[X]Paralegal has been created to provide a win-win situation for all.  We have taken on board the recommendations and insights of influential voices within the legal sector and in the Government, who share the common themes of making legal services accessible to the client by adopting new ways of working.  LPO has a vital part to play in making these recommendations and insights a reality, and based on our in-depth research and analysis, we have created a service which will revolutionise the industry.”

Stringent security procedures throughout the process, systems that run like clock-work, unparalleled paralegals and quality standards that are second-to-none, have all been woven into every facet of the P[X]Paralegal operation.

Dr Rapoport concludes:

“The legal profession in the UK has witnessed dramatic changes in recent years.  The changes are happening because of pressure from outside the industry – from regulators, the Government and clients alike – to make justice accessible to all through the adoption of new working methods and internal and business models.  Direct Public Access and Alternative Business Structures are just two examples of recent changes.  

P[X]Paralegal has been created not only to help such initiatives work to their full potential, but to future-proof the success of the industry.” 

-ends-

The Queen has appointed Sarah Louise Cove to be a District Judge on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Michael Gove MP and the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd.

Sarah Cove, who was admitted as a Solicitor in 1993 and was appointed as a Deputy District Judge in 2010, will be known as District Judge Cove.

As a founding partner at Miles & Partners LLP, and member of their busy family practice, Sarah won Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year in the family category in 2015. She is also a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel and of the Association of Lawyers for Children as well as being a Resolution Accredited Specialist.

Managing Partner, Phil Walsh at Miles and Partners, said, “Everyone at Miles & Partners is immensely proud of Sarah and her achievements.

She is a first class lawyer with an absolute commitment to children’s welfare. Her ability to develop a rapport with young clients, ensuring they feel part of the proceedings along with her high standards of fairness, and mature outlook will all stand her in good stead.

We will obviously be sad to see her go at the end of June, but equally feel lucky that we have all worked with her for such a long period of time and know that she will make an excellent judge.”

Sarah said, “It is privilege to take on this post as District Judge. I’d like to thank Miles & Partners for all their support over the years, which has enabled me to secure the best possible outcomes for some of the most vulnerable young people. I’m confident that the team at Miles & Partners will continue this important work.’

The Lord Chief Justice has deployed Sarah Cove to the South Eastern Circuit, based at the Central Family Court with effect from 29 June 2016.

Miles & Partners has another finalist nominated for Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year this year. Lou Crisfield, housing case worker, is a finalist in the housing category.

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Whilst many in the UK panic over Brexit, BID Group demonstrates its faith in the UK economy by acquiring Hudsons of England Ltd out of administration and re-employing staff.

Hudsons is a manufacturing company based in Stoke-On-Trent that hand makes fine bone china products. The company sells its fine china products to high-end customers across the UK and also has license agreements in place with companies in China and across the world.

Steeped in history, Hudsons dates back to 1875 and recently underwent a 171,000 pounds sterling facelift to create a visitor centre, that allows customers and also the public to view the factory floor and to watch demonstrations of products being made.

Lee Smith, Managing Director of BID Group says “The acquisition of Hudsons fits perfectly into our portfolio and with our successful track record, Hudsons will be a benefit for the UK economy”.

BID Group are investors that provide turnaround and investment solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. With a 100% success record, BID Group provides solutions that help business owners gain financial rewards for their efforts in businesses that are operating below their potential.

Contact: Lee Smith
BID Group International
020 3475 5475
[email protected]
http://www.hudsonandmiddleton.co.uk

ThinkersHQ, the disruptive boutique investment and management business – founded by serial entrepreneur David-Joseph Brown – has acquired a major share in React Communications, a hybrid Tech communications agency based in Hampshire.

The new ownership, along with its unique support model, will enable React to strengthen its growth strategy, through the expansion of the team, refining its service offering and the broadening of its operational footprint – the first stage of which will be the opening of a new office in Clerkenwell, London.

React, under the leadership of Founder and CEO Layla-Jane Stacey, has carved out a reputation for being an expert in its field, working with, and alongside many fledgling start-ups, entrepreneurs, social enterprises and global brands in the science, technology and innovation markets. Established in 2009, React has experienced year-on-year growth and has established a client portfolio of truly innovative organisations. Layla-Jane commented: “We are very excited to be joining ThinkersHQ as we enter this period of growth and expansion. With the strategic support of the experienced team at ThinkersHQ we now have the perfect platform to take our business to the next level. It is business as usual for React, and I look forward to seeing our clients benefit from what this investment brings.”

ThinkersHQ, based in EC1, supports a growing portfolio of SME businesses at different stages of development, from start-up through growth, expansion and diversification phases. The ThinkersHQ support model recognises that every business is different, every entrepreneur is unique and every stage of development requires flexibility. The ThinkersHQ management team comprises a team of experts, advisors and mentors, experienced in growing businesses and in developing the key people within these companies – allowing both to reach their full potential.

ThinkersHQ CEO, Alistair Cane, commented: “Our model is designed to support dynamic and ambitious individuals. From the moment we first started talking to Layla it was clear that she and her team would be a perfect addition to our portfolio. Layla has a drive and tenacity to succeed which has earned her sustained success across a dynamic career to date. And we are delighted to be working with her and her team at the start of this next stage of their journey. The technology and innovation sectors are a natural environment for a number of our portfolio companies and this acquisition allows us to extend the support we provide to these vibrant and expanding segments. This is an extremely exciting period in the growth of React, and we are very much looking forward to seeing Layla, her team and the company flourish moving forwards.”

London, UK – 8 June 2016: Zenium has today confirmed it will be entering the UK data center market with the strategic acquisition of a data center facility in Slough, West London.

Branded London One, this will be the first UK facility to be added to the Zenium portfolio. The data center will provide a total of 4300 sq m of raised floor space with incoming diverse power of 15MVA. Located in one of the UK’s premier data center locations, this new facility will be operational from January 2017. London One will also offer access to premium fibre back bones from all of the leading multinational telecommunication carriers.

“We are delighted to have seized this opportunity and acquired this site,” said Franek Sodzawiczny, Founder and CEO at Zenium. “Zenium will soon be able to offer a quality data center solution in the UK that fulfils rising demands driven by cloud providers that only consider the most efficient data centers in the world. The decision to build a brand profile in the UK comes with encouragement from existing customers and those we have served in the past – we are excited to be here.”

London One will be designed and constructed to Zenium’s exacting standards of engineering and will provide a Tier III+ plus level of resilience.

-Ends-

About Zenium Technology Partners
Zenium Technology Partners are data center industry pioneers. In the last 15 years, the Zenium management team has raised over $2Bn in debt and equity and has conceived, designed and delivered over 400,000 square metres of raised floor space, securing over 100 individual customer agreements.

The Zenium Data Centers portfolio – which currently comprises the Istanbul One data center in Turkey and Frankfurt One data center in Germany – marks Zenium’s commitment to the development of innovative and ground breaking facilities in both established and emerging markets.

For more information please visit: www.zeniumdatacenters.com

For Zenium media enquiries please contact:
Melanie Oxford
Maillot Jaune Communications
+44 (0)7515 632 065
[email protected]

“Uxbridge, UK – June 7, 2016 – Sapiens International Corporation, (NASDAQ and TASE: SPNS), a leading global provider of software solutions for the insurance industry, with a growing presence in the financial services sector, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Maximum Processing, Inc., the software provider of the Stingray System, a property and casualty (P&C) insurance administration suite targeted towards the tier 4-5 U.S. market, as well as managing general agents (MGAs), third-party administrators (TPAs) and insurance brokers. The transaction is expected to close by the end of June 2016.

Maximum Processing is a privately-held company headquartered in Bradenton, Florida, with offices in Garner, North Carolina. The Stingray System is recognized throughout North America, with approximately 30 insurer customers, and has a growing install base of web-based, P&C processing systems in the U.S. market.

“Small carriers remain very active in core system replacement projects and Maximum Processing has had good momentum in this space,” said Karlyn Carnahan, research director, Celent. “This investment by Sapiens will bring additional expertise, resources and relationships to Maximum Processing, driving their product, service and sales momentum, and making an immediate impact in the North American property and casualty market.”

With this acquisition and the addition of the Stingray System to its portfolio of products, Sapiens gains a foothold in the North American P&C insurance market and an attractive offering for tier-4 and tier-5 insurance carriers, MGAs, TPAs and brokers. Stingray System was designed as a cost-effective, fully functional and highly configurable P&C insurance administration solution for the local U.S. market. Sapiens will continue to invest in and offer its Sapiens IDIT software suite to mid- and large-sized carriers.

“Our growth strategy continues to include a combination of organic growth and M&A activity,” said Roni Al-Dor, Sapiens’ president and CEO. “The acquisition of Maximum Processing supports Sapiens’ commitment to strengthen our position and offerings in the North American P&C market and increase our overall market share in the region, while we continue expansion of our global presence, customer base and local delivery capabilities.”

Al-Dor added, “The Stingray System has earned an outstanding reputation and gained an impressive market share. Between the Stingray System and our existing IDIT solution, we have market-leading offerings for virtually any size P&C insurance provider.”

“As part of the Sapiens team, we will have a much broader and deeper reach into the property and casualty market in North America,” said Sean Pitcher, president of Maximum Processing. “Our immediate objective is to make the transition into the Sapiens organization both seamless and beneficial to our customers, employees and partners.”

Maximum Processing’s 2015 full-year annual revenue was approximately $6 million. Management expects this transaction to be accretive to earnings in 2017 and beyond.

About Sapiens

Sapiens International Corporation (NASDAQ and TASE: SPNS) is a leading global provider of software solutions for the insurance industry, with a growing presence in the financial services sector. Sapiens offers core, end-to-end solutions to the global general insurance, property and casualty, life, pension and annuities, reinsurance and retirement markets, as well as business decision management software. The company has a track record of over 30 years in delivering superior software solutions to more than 190 financial services organizations. The Sapiens team of over 1,700 professionals operates through our fully-owned subsidiaries in North America, the United Kingdom, EMEA and Asia Pacific. For more information: Sapiens

About Maximum Processing

Maximum Processing offers the Stingray System, a modular, web-based, property and casualty insurance solution for policy (quoting, rating, issuance), billing, claims and reinsurance administration, along with statistical bureau, DMV, imaging, credit card, general ledger, comparative raters, CLUE, 4SightBI, reporting and many other third-party interfaces. Maximum Processing is a privately-held company headquartered in Bradenton, Florida, with offices in Garner, North Carolina. For more information: Stingray System

UK Press Contact

John Bancroft
Incognate
Phone: 0845 331 06069
Email: [email protected]

Investor and Media Contact
Yaffa Cohen-Ifrah
Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Communications
Sapiens International
Mobile: +1-201-250-9414
Phone: +972-3-790-2026
Email: [email protected]

International Business Company Formation, Inc., a leading provider of corporate services to legal and tax professionals throughout the world, has opened its first European branch, in London, England. Intended to facilitate a smooth flow of corporate work between companies in the US and UK/EU, and beyond to the Middle East and Asia, IBCF UK Ltd. will offer the same superior customer service clients have come to expect from its American counterpart, alongside extremely competitive pricing.

IBCF UK Ltd. offers company formation and compliance services such as registered office and company secretarial to clients in the United States, United Kingdom and globally. Specialists in document retrieval, IBCF can obtain Certificates of Good Standing or their equivalent, legalise or Apostille documents, perform searches for UCC equivalents, liens and charges, and conduct Corporate Health Checks, for companies doing business in virtually all jurisdictions around the world.

“It made perfect sense for the long term growth plans of International Business Company Formation to open our London office,” explained Mark H. Schaeffer, President of IBCF. “As our clients’ needs dictate and the global market expands, we will continue to strategically position ourselves to meet those needs and face international corporate services challenges wherever they may be. IBCF US and IBCF UK Ltd. afford our clients around the clock access to the highest level of international corporate services expertise in the industry today.”

IBCF UK Ltd. is based in Bloomsbury in central London and works closely with the New York office to make doing business in America clear and accessible to UK and European clients.

About IBCF

Established in 1998, International Business Company Formation, Inc., specialises in the formation of entities such as corporations, limited companies and limited liability companies as well as branch registrations and qualifications (i.e. additional state registrations in the United States.) IBCF provides registered agent/registered office services in the UK, all 50 US states and globally, via their vast network of partners. IBCF can obtain Due Diligence documents internationally and can provide searches for liens, charges and judgements. Their headquarters are based in Tappan, New York, a short journey from New York City.

www.ibcf.com

IBCF UK
13 Bayley Street
London WC1B 3HD
t: +44 (0)20 3002 0580
e: [email protected]

IBCF Headquarters
101 Main Street, Suite 1
Tappan, NY 10983
t: +1 845 398 0900
e: [email protected]

For media inquiries please contact Mary-Elizabeth O’Neill at [email protected].

• Firm bolsters its security specialist expert bench in UK with CBEST and CREST STAR red team penetration testing
• Appointment of Rocco Grillo to head Cyber Resilience strengthens industry leadership worldwide

London and New York, NY, 14 April 2016 – Stroz Friedberg announced today significant investments in its global cybersecurity capabilities through the acquisition of Gotham Digital Science (GDS), an international information security consulting firm that brings market-leading offerings in red team penetration testing, application security and source code review. GDS’ strengths, coupled with Stroz Friedberg’s expertise in threat intelligence and incident response (IR), creates a more complete set of security solutions for clients.

Additionally Stroz Friedberg announced the appointment of Rocco Grillo to head its newly formed global Cyber Resilience business, which merges the company’s existing IR and security science units. These investments will leverage the firm’s reactive and proactive IR and security science capabilities to better help companies mitigate risk borne out of today’s digital and connected business environment.

“Businesses want to work with one organization that understands their security posture and can guide them through the process of achieving cyber resilience, from assessment through implementation, as well as response and remediation,” said Michael Patsalos-Fox, CEO of Stroz Friedberg. “With the acquisition of GDS, we can provide a much needed solution that will help organizations become and remain resilient, despite a rapidly evolving threat environment,” Patsalos-Fox added.

Founded in 2005, GDS works with clients to assess risk, design, build, and maintain secure applications, networks and processes. GDS has an established reputation as one of the most sophisticated firms in the cybersecurity space providing high-end application security services along with threat-intelligence led CBEST and CREST STAR red team penetration testing. GDS co-founders Andrew Nairn, Justin Clarke-Salt, Matt Bartoldus and Joseph Hemler will play critical leadership and entrepreneurial roles in the growth of the combined business.

“Joining forces with Stroz Friedberg will give our team access to unrivaled threat intelligence and IR capabilities. Coupled with our strengths in application security and red team penetration testing, we can offer clients a more comprehensive range of solutions to their most complex cybersecurity challenges,” said Justin Clarke-Salt, a co-founder of GDS. “We have a history of successful collaboration with Stroz Friedberg and look forward to integrating our complementary skill sets, industry accreditations and technical abilities.”

Grillo will lead Stroz Friedberg’s new Cyber Resilience business that includes the company’s incident responders and security scientists who deliver the firm’s proactive and reactive cybersecurity capabilities. In this role he will also work closely with the GDS red team and application security experts, as well Stroz Friedberg’s digital forensics business, leveraging 12 digital forensics labs worldwide.

“Boards and senior leaders are continually seeking guidance to help navigate their cybersecurity challenges and prepare for disruption caused by cyber-attacks. Rocco Grillo brings more than 20 years of information security experience, has been in the trenches with companies in every industry, and has guided boards and executives throughout the process to help safeguard critical assets and prepare them to respond to attacks. The leadership he brings to our team will further our reputation as the first choice for the most complex cybersecurity issues,” said Patsalos-Fox.

GDS is CREST (the Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers) STAR (Simulated Target Attack and Response) and CBEST penetration testing certified and is also a member of the UK Government CHECK scheme. Its clients range from professional sporting organizations to marquee financial services brands. The firm has more than 60 people across its offices in New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; and London.

Ends

Stroz Friedberg, LLC

Founded in 2000, Stroz Friedberg is a specialized risk management firm built to help clients solve the complex challenges prevalent in today’s digital, connected, and regulated business world. A global leader in the fields of cybersecurity, with leading experts in digital forensics, incident response, and security science; investigations; eDiscovery; and due diligence, Stroz Friedberg works to maximize the health of an organization, ensuring its longevity, protection and resilience. With 13 offices across nine U.S. cities, London, Zurich, Dubai, and Hong Kong, Stroz Friedberg serves Fortune 100 companies, 80% of the AmLaw 100, and the Top 20 UK law firms. Learn more at .

Gotham Digital Science

Gotham Digital Science (GDS) is an international security services company specializing in application penetration testing, security code review, and related secure development lifecycle services, as well as threat intelligence led red team penetration testing. GDS clients number among the largest financial services institutions and software development companies in the world, including Fortune 100 and FTSE 100 firms. GDS security specialists work with clients to find, fix, and prevent security vulnerabilities in mission critical systems and help manage their security risks. With offices located in New York City; Charlotte, North Carolina; and London, GDS seamlessly and efficiently assists clients with operations on both sides of the Atlantic. Learn more at .

Contact:

UK
The Communications Business
Denise Hannestad
[email protected]
+ 44 (0) 0131 208 1500

US
Stroz Friedberg
Carolyn Vadino
[email protected]
+1 646 524 8454

Weber Shandwick
Steve Bosk
[email protected]
+1 212 445 8491

Paris – KYC3 has been selected as innovation partner by BNP Paribas Wealth Management. From 142 international companies proposing, KYC3 has been chosen to innovate and develop new business opportunities with BNP Paribas.

The initial collaboration will be facilitated by L’Atelier, BNP Paribas’ innovation unit, until this summer. KYC3 has proven enormous potential and ability to deliver game changing intelligence solutions focused on regulatory, reputational and operational risk management. KYC3 ties front and back offices together and removes tensions and inefficiency when screening or onboarding clients. KYC3 is all dimensions of Know Your Customer, Counterparty and Competitor. The company’s aim is to be the regtech that delivers the KYC experience of the future.

Founder and CEO, Jed Grant, “We are delighted at the confidence BNP Paribas has shown in KYC3 and look forward to delivering innovation through our technology. We anticipate rapid growth in coming months as our clients transform customer acquisition and management processes into competitive advantages.”

About KYC3

KYC3 is a regtech/fintech company established in 2014 with offices in Luxembourg and Geneva. The company develops solutions using machine learning, big data and blockchain in order to transform regulatory and reputational KYC risk management. KYC3 is recognized by numerous awards and honors, including WealthTech Circle in London, Disrupt.Finance in Zurich, Fintech Fusion in Geneva, Lux Future Lab in Luxembourg, and Europe4Startups. The company is incorporated in Luxembourg. Currently founder owned, the company is now open for a Series A to continue its rapid growth.

Contact details:

website: https://kyc3.com
e-mail: [email protected]
twitter: @KYC3COM