Vince Cable confirms 'negotiations' over axeing 50p tax rate

BBC News: Business Secretary Vince Cable says replacing the 50p tax rate with some form of wealth tax is among a "complex set of negotiations" within the coalition ahead of the Budget.

Full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17260348

2012 Budget: Will it be third time lucky for George?

Fresh Business Thinking: With just over two weeks to go before the Chancellor delivers his third, and possibly most challenging yet Budget, experts at Kingston Smith LLP offer their predictions for the Treasury’s measures to stimulate growth, fund these policies via increases in personal tax, and clampdown on avoidance.

Full story: http://www.freshbusinessthinking.com/news.php?NID=13315&Title=2012+Budget%3A+Will+it+be+third+time+lucky+for+George%3F

Lewis Silkin highest ranking firm in Sunday Times' best employer list

The Lawyer: Six law firms have made it into The Sunday Times’ 100 Best Companies to Work For list. Lewis Silkin was the only firm to make it into the top 20, being placed at number 19.

Full story: http://www.thelawyer.com/lewis-silkin-highest-ranking-firm-in-sunday-times-best-employer-list/1011683.article

Boris Johnson calls for stamp duty loophole to be plugged

The Telegraph: Boris Johnson has condemned as an “utter scandal” a loophole which enables the very rich to avoid paying stamp duty when they buy property.

Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9122332/Boris-Johnson-calls-for-stamp-duty-loophole-to-be-plugged.html

Leading private client lawyer has joined Newcastle law firm Ward Hadaway

Nebusiness: Gaynor Jackson has joined the firm, which has offices in Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester, as a partner from London-based Speechly Bircham LLP.

She has widespread experience of dealing with a range of issues involving wills, trusts, personal tax planning, inheritance and estates issues.

Full story: http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business-news/archive/2012/02/29/law-firms-unveil-appointments-51140-30426022/

London luxury-home price gains slow as more owners put properties on sale

Bloomberg: Luxury-home prices in central London climbed at the slowest rate in five months in February as more owners put properties on the market to profit from 16 months of gains, Knight Frank LLP said. Values of houses and apartments costing about 3.7 million pounds ($5.9 million) rose by an average of 11.6 percent from a year earlier, the London-based broker said in a report today. Prices advanced 0.7 percent from January and are now 8.9 percent higher than the market’s last low point in March 2009.

Full story: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-05/london-luxury-home-price-gains-slow-as-more-property-is-for-sale.html