More Halliwells news trickles out.

RBS is expected to write off around £15m after the firm’s collapse. The bank was owed both corporate debt and partner loans from Halliwells but only recovered around £7m from the sale of business to rival firms. According to Legal Week Barlow Lyde & Gilbert and HBJ Gateley Wareing who took the largest teams, paid £2.5m and £2.55m respectively. Whilst Hill Dickinson paid £1.88m and Kennedys paid £125,000 for the Sheffield office.

While most of the focus has been on creditors watching piles of cash go up in smoke, observers have also been speculating as to the whereabouts of former Senior Partner Alec Craig. Many commenters (some obviously insiders) have wondered where he got to during the final moments; even the terriers at The Lawyer were left sniffing thin air:

…senior partner Alec Craig, whose whereabouts was unknown as this ­article went to press (one lawyer involved in the negotiations asked, “Who’s Alec Craig?”) The Lawyer

Although Halliwells is an extreme case of, we’re-not-out-of-the-woods-just-yet, a lack of confidence is still evident elsewhere. This week, South West firm, Clarke Willmott put its trainee recruitment on hold, informing law students that it is not taking applications for its September 2012 intake.

For ambitious lawyers, there are two fairly decent jobs about to come onto the market however – Clifford Chance is set to replace senior partner Stuart Popham as his second and final term ends and Linklaters is also looking for a new senior partner to replace David Cheyne.

Enough of the serious stuff though, here’s a few lighthearted legal headlines for the weekend.

Busy vicar:

Vicar guilty of 360 sham weddings (Independent)

Expensive 99p store:

“99 Cents Only Stores sued over price increase” – to 99.99 cents (Overlawyered)

Toilet violence:

Man Shot Wife With Toilet Paper – Police in North Carolina said they arrested a man who allegedly loaded his gun with a wad of toilet paper and shot his wife in the back. (Clumsy Crooks)

Law breaking locations:

Mugging Outside Ninja School Goes Poorly (Lowering the Bar)

Only in America:

Court finds competitive cheerleading not varsity sport (Overlawyered)

Enjoy the weekend!