Monthly Archives: September 2017

6 Degrees of Separation- Game of Thrones to Maradona

Here’s how….1. Game of Thrones stars, Kit Harington (Jon Snow) and Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), filmed the new Dolce & Gabbana commercials for “The One” fragrance on the streets of Naples (Napoli).2. Dolce & Gabbana’s Autumn 2016 Alta Moda collection, also staged on the streets of Naples, featured a blue and white silk football shirt with “MARADONA 10” embroidered on the back and “NAPOLI” on the front as a tribute to Argentinian football legend, Diego Maradona who played for Napoli football club.3. Maradona has sued Dolce & Gabbana in Milan earlier this month for the misappropriation of his name (which is registered as a trade mark in the EU) without permission.The shirt also featured the name “SOPHIA” on the front as a nod to Sophia Loren who was the muse of that collection and the one who suggested her hometown of Naples as the setting of the collection.  She was seated on a throne at the show as the models sashayed passed on the cobblestone streets.  Perhaps things would have turned out differently had Maradona been invited to and had his own throne at the show.  The MARADONA shirt had not been produced for sale which means that any claim for damages will be limited. We await the outcome of this fracas though perhaps not with the same  anticipation as Games of Thrones Season 8.

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Hugh Hefner to be buried next to Marilyn Monroe

Since the death of Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy, at the age of 91 earlier this week, it has come to light that Hefner will be laid to rest beside one of the most famous pin-ups in history: Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn Monroe was the centrefold in the very first issue of Playboy in December 1953 and Hefner credited the inclusion of Marilyn for making the magazine such a success, with the issue completely selling out.It seems Hefner purchased the burial plot beside Marilyn Monroe in 1992 for the sum of $75,000 and has expressed the wish to his executors that his body should be laid to rest there.The law in England and Wales confirms that a testator cannot give binding directions as regards their funeral wishes as this would oust the ultimate rights and duties of the executors. The testator can give directions as to the funeral (Re Read, Galloway v Harris (1892)) or the erection of a tombstone or other monument (Re Dean, Cooper-Dean v Stevens (1889)) and provide for maintenance of his grave (Re Hooper, Parker v Ward (1932)). Nevertheless, the final decision making rests with the executors and, ultimately, the court.It is good practice to ensure that your funeral wishes, if any, are included in your Will so that your executors are aware of them.As for Hefner, who will rest next to one of the most glamorous women of all time for eternity, it certainly is a most fitting farewell…

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President Outlines a Digital Future to Young Family Lawyers

Yesterday I was lucky enough to be one of the speakers at the inaugural “YRes” conference for young family lawyers.Focusing on how family legal practice is likely to change over the next ten years, it was also fascinating to see how the push for change comes not just from the young, technologically-proficient youngsters in the room but is being driven by some of the country’s most senior judges, including the Sir James Munby, the President of the Family Division.The audience were quick to highlight the potential risks in moving to a digital justice system, including data security and protecting vulnerable adults. The change will take time, and not be without its hurdles. But the good news is that we have many of family law’s brightest young minds on the case.

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‘Last Look’ in Forex Markets

With further litigation in prospect against banks over ‘Last Look’ in the FX markets, Robin Henry, a Partner in Collyer Bristow’s Banking and Finance Disputes Group, considers some of the issues. The practice has been under scrutiny from international regulators for …

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