A Any law that touches on business becomes part of legal environment of business. You can easily guess how the following categories of law are connected with business:
- Sales law
- Consumer law
- Contract law
- Employment law
- Intellectual property law
- Antitrust law
Law firms usually offer a wide range of services covering the above mentioned areas. They provide consultancy and legal support in these important aspects. A big law firm advises business organizations, governments, public sector bodies and financial institutions.
Below are some examples of how law firms advertise their services. Study their advertisements and answer these questions.
1 What services do law firms offer?
2 What areas of law do they specialize in?
3 What do you think law firms look for in candidates?
4 How do law firms advertise their services in Russia?
BAYS LAW FIRM
ABOUT OUR LAW FIRM
We are a Full Service Law Firm serving clients with Employment and Business Matters, to Family and Criminal Disputes. Our Law Firm is located in Sierra Vista, Cochise County, Arizona. We utilize a Large Legal Library and have Immediate Access to Electronic Legal Reference Services that expedite research and significantly reduces overall costs.
We Practise in the Areas of Business, Tax, Employment, Family, Real Estate, Military, Civil and Criminal Law. We Represent Clients in Civil and Criminal Litigation in State, Federal, Military and Tax Courts. We Represent Companies and Individuals who Seek Justice.
OUR GOAL
Our Goal is to make your Attorney-Client Relationship as Pleasant and Confidential as possible. We Strive to Listen to and Understand your Legal Needs and Concerns. We do our best to Work with you and come to a Satisfactory Resolution or Understanding of your Legal Issue.
European Bank
For Reconstruction and Development
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has a unique challenge to assist the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, including the countries that were formerly constituent republics of the Soviet Union, in their transition to market economies.
EBRD supports projects through lending, taking equity positions and providing technical assistance.
EBRD’s Office of the General Counsel:
• handles all legal aspects of the Bank’s lending and investment
transactions;
• handles all legal aspects of the Bank's finance operations, including the
Bank's borrowings, liquid asset investments and derivative transactions;
• provides legal advice for institutional, administrative and personnel
matters; and
• designs and implements a legal technical assistance programme to
support the legal transition process in the countries of Central and
Eastern Europe
Along with a competitive compensation and relocation package, we offer action and achievement in an historic enterprise. The Bank's London based Office of the General Counsel requires (m/f)
Counsel
Banking Operations
The position of "Counsel (Banking Operations)" offers the opportunity to work as:
• a transaction lawyer, who structures, documents, implements and
monitors EBRD's lending and investment operations (project finance
transactions, credit and trade facilitation lines to financial institutions,
investments in private equity funds, etc); and
• a transition lawyer, who assists in fostering the development of the
legal framework and environment of the countries of Central and
Eastern Europe.
The candidate should:
• have a law degree from a leading university in his or her home country
and a post-graduate degree from a leading university or professional
experience in another country;
• be admitted to practise law in at least one jurisdiction and have academic
qualifications or professional experience in both civil and common law;
• have at least five years of professional experience as a lawyer, in one of
the following fields: cross-border banking transactions involving the
taking of security, e.g., project financing, asset financing, structured
finance, leveraged buy-outs; ВОТ or concession financing); and/or
cross-border corporate or capital markets transactions (e.g.,
acquisitions, dispositions, mergers);
• have acquired professional experience at a top-rated law firm or as in-
house lawyer in a banking or other financial institution;
• be particularly interested in emerging markets work; and
• have an excellent command of the English language, including a
demonstrated skill to draft and negotiate legal documents in English.
B Study the following advertisements. Say what skills should a lawyer have to work for a law firm. What are the responsibilities of a lawyer? Do you think you can take this position?
| A Polish leasing company in Russia is organizing its headquarters in Moscow. Required skills: university degree in law, excellent command of Russian/English/Polish language, experience in the provision of commercial law and tax advice for the companies, knowledge of leasing regulations and their tax aspects, self-reliance and responsibility, good computer literacy. The lawyer will be responsible for: - evaluation of all the contracts - implementation of legal documentation prepared in Poland to meet Russian legal standards - working on the legal aspects of the new leasing products - updating acts and regulations |
| AMERICAN AND U.K. LAWYERS ARE INVITED TO JOIN A PREMIER RUSSIAN LAW FIRM Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners (est. 1993) seeks to expand its international practice by hiring experienced U.S. and U.K. commercial lawyers for U.S. and U.K. litigation and corporate transactions, M&A, and training of Russian lawyers. Russian fluency not required. Non-Russia hands-on experience, proactive approach, creative thinking and entrepreneurial spirit a must. Compensation tailored to all levels of experience |
| A well- known Western FMCG holding has recently opened a vacancy for a LEGAL ADVISER who will be in charge of the legal support of investment project and business activity, participation in legal cases, legal consultation to subsidiaries, contract/agreements elaboration. The successful candidate should have relevant experience, a degree in law, excellent knowledge of corporate law, and good command of English. If you are an energetic, quick-minded young professional willing to work in a Western environment, you are welcome to apply! The company offers competitive compensation to the right candidate. |
| A fast - growing Western FMCG company – one of the leaders on the Russian market - has recently opened the position of Legal Assistant. This person will provide full administrative support to one of the company’s leading lawyers, prepare the necessary legal documents, translate and interpret. The right candidate will have linguistic education, excellent English, at least 1 year of administrative experience, interest in law is a plus. The company offers an attractive compensation and opportunities for career growth. |
C Study the following advertisement for a practising London Solicitors’ Firm and write a similar advertisement for your own imaginary law firm.
| The law firm of James Johns and Co was established in 1975 and since that time has grown steadily and firmly. The practice has always operated through a series of departments and so offers a specialized service in all areas of the law from its 3 closely linked offices. The majority of the partners previously worked in the City of London before coming together at the centre of London Docklands. The Senior Partner retains his links with the City as a Freeman of the City of London. The firm is the longest established Solicitors’ practice in London Docklands. The firm believes that this location in modern and comfortable offices in London Docklands puts it in easy reach of everyone. Readily accessible by road the principal office is now only minutes away from the City of London. |
| Acting on behalf of individuals and businesses throughout the UK and overseas, the firm offers a best quality of service and a high degree of professionalism. The firm believes in a “hands-on” approach to the law backed by personal attention to detail. It numbers amongst its clients small and medium size companies, major plc’s as well as individuals. |
| Contact us: 11 Lawrence Square, London E14 9RE Tel: +44 (0)20 75367200, Fax: +44 (0)20 75386142, e-mail jonj@london-law.co.uk Property Our Property Department combines a thorough knowledge of the law with realization of the importance that property plays in the lives of us all. Our legal expertise in this field is used in conjunction with a practical and pragmatic approach to the law to reach the desired results for our clients. The property related work broadly comprises: • The sale and purchase of residential property. • The sale and purchase of commercial property. • The granting, disposal or acquisition of leases. • The purchase of UK properties for overseas residents. We are on the panels of all major banks and over the years have developed a network of other specialists upon whom we may call for advice on behalf of our clients. |
| Company and Commercial Our Company and Commercial Department handles a wide ranging corporate client base. Amongst the services provided by this active department are: • The acquisition, disposal, re-structuring and mergers of companies. • The dissolution and cessation of companies and business activities. • The drafting and negotiating of all commercial contracts and agreements. • The day to day running of company affairs. • Intellectual property law advice including patents and trade marks. • Entertainment law and computer law. Providing independent and impartial advice to companies both large and small has earned an enviable reputation for care, precision and meticulous attention to detail. Family The family Department deals with all aspects of family law including: • Separation. • Divorce. • Pre-nuptial settlements • Maintenance and child support. • Adoption. • Housing problems. Probate The Probate Departments cover all aspects of work in connection with: |
| • The making of Wills and codicils. • The obtaining of grants of Probate. • The day-to-day administration of trusts and estates. Litigation Our Litigation department recognizes that litigation is, more often than not, the means of last resort. For this reason, the firm’s policy has always been, where possible (and where appropriate), to negotiate a favourable settlement rather than resort immediately to litigation. This is not to say that we approach litigation in a “softly softly” manner - on the contrary, if we cannot achieve our Clients’ aims by negotiation then proceedings are instituted and fought vigorously. Much of the advocacy at court is carried out “in house” thus avoiding as much as possible the additional costs of hiring a Barrister. The Litigation Department offers specialist advice in the following areas for both Plaintiff and Defendant: |
| • Debt collection (we offer a fully computerized system). • Bankruptcy. • Commercial and contractual disputes. • Landlord and tenant. • Personal injury. • Consumer activities and services. • Employment disputes (for both employer and employee) |
Vocabulary tasks
A Match the following categories of law with their Russian equivalents.
| 1 Sales law 2 Consumer law 3 Contract law 4 Employment law 5 Intellectual property law 6 Antitrust law | a договорное право b трудовое право c право интеллектуальной собственности d антитрастовые законы e правовые нормы, регулирующие продажи f потребительское право |
B There are usually several practice groups in the firm. Match the name of the groups with their functions.
| 1 Corporate Group | adeals with banking institutions providing advisory in financial transactions and operations |
| 2 Property Group | bcan work for insurance companies and also advise clients on the interpretation of insurance policies |
| 3 Commercial Group | cprepares a case and documents, conducts disputes, acts for clients in a lawcourt |
| 4 Banking Group | drenders extential legal support of projects and construction designs |
| 5 Tax Group | erenders property advice and helps to arrange property transactions |
| 6 Insurance Group | fdeals with business formation and incorporation, shareholders agreements, investment projects, acquisitions, financial planning |
| 7 Project and Construction Group | goffers corporate tax planning |
| 8 Civil (Commercial) Litigation Group | hspecializes in Sales law and Consumer Law application, includes experts in Intellectual Property, Product Liability, Advertising and Marketing, Information Technology and Telecommunications |