The move comes after concerns by the president of the Law Society and the Solicitors’ Association of Higher Court Advocates that they are treated as second-class citizens when it comes to court dress.

The 2,000 solicitor-advocates are not allowed to wear wigs and also wear different robes — a simple black gown.

Kevin Martin, president of the Law Society, says that for some years solicitor-advocates have argued for parity with barristers: either there are no wigs at all or both kinds of advocate wear the same costume.

In a letter to the Lord Chief Justice, he says: “The difference can lead to solicitoradvocates being seen as inferior to barristers. Jurors may form the impression that a non-wigged lawyer is less credible.”

The problem is heightened by differences in mode of address: barristers describe each other as “my learned friend” but solicitor-advocates as “my friend”. Solicitors are concerned that the rules could be a breach of competition law.

Mr Martin says: “There are instances of clients indicating that they do not mind who the advocate is, as long as they wear a wig.”

While there is backing for reform, the public — and many criminal barristers — support keeping wigs in criminal trials. Any move to scrap wigs might make an exception for criminal trials. Mark Clough, QC, chairman of the Solicitors’ Association of Higher Court Advocates and one of only a handful of solicitor Queen’s Counsel who anomalously wear the same robes as barristers, says: “We have always argued for parity — with or without wigs.”

Lord Phillips favours a simple black gown and faulard or collar. Stephen Hockman, QC, the chairman of the Bar, is also believed to favour reform.

A Chilean Supreme Court judge ruled Wednesday that former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori should not be extradited to Peru to face charges of corruption and human rights abuses.

The decision was not final -- lawyers for Peru's government have already announced that they plan to file an appeal to a Supreme Court panel. But the announcement provoked strong reactions in Peru, where Fujimori's 1990-2000 presidency still arouses passions among critics and supporters alike.

Peru's government accuses Fujimori of embezzlement, kidnapping and numerous human rights violations during his government's fight against Shining Path rebels. According to the extradition request, Fujimori oversaw military death squads that killed 25 people in two mass murders. He has denied all the charges.

"I am very bitter," said Raida Condor, whose son was one of nine students killed in 1992 at the La Cantuta teacher's college in Lima. "I am no longer sure that there can ever be justice. All these years, 15 years of fighting, and they tell us that he is not coming back to stand trial."

After his government collapsed in scandal in 2000, Fujimori fled to Japan, the country of his parents' birth. The government there recognized him as a Japanese citizen and protected him from extradition.

Fujimori attempted to return to Peru in 2005 to run for president again, but he was arrested in Chile while en route. Peruvian officials formally requested his extradition two months later.

A University of Lima poll released Wednesday indicated that two-thirds of Peruvians "do not sympathize" with Fujimori. But those who do -- including legislators who call themselves the Fujimori caucus in Peru's Congress -- quietly celebrated the setback to an extradition attempt that they labeled "political persecution."

"I have spoken to the president [Fujimori], and we are very calm," said Rep. Alejandro Aguinaga, spokesman for the caucus and a health minister under Fujimori. "We are taking the process one day at a time, but this is certainly an important moment for us and for justice after years of persecution."

Fujimori, 68, who remains under house arrest in Chile, recently announced plans to run for a Senate seat in Japan. In an election scheduled for this month, he is listed as a candidate of the New People's Party, a small conservative opposition group.

Fujimori's critics have alleged that this candidacy is an attempt to avoid potential extradition by attaining parliamentary immunity in Japan. But Aguinaga said Fujimori decided to run only because he has been banned from political office in Peru until 2011.

Human rights groups quickly expressed disappointment with Wednesday's ruling but said they remain confident of a reversal.

Maria McFarland, a senior researcher for the New York-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch and author of a 2005 report that detailed Fujimori's alleged abuses, said the judge ignored key evidence. This, she said, included videotaped testimony that he approved the actions of the death squads and ordered the illegal payment of $15 million to ex-spy chief Vladimir Montesinos.

"I think that when this goes to the criminal chamber of the Supreme Court -- if they look at all the evidence -- they'll reach a completely different decision," McFarland said.

Foley Hoag LLP announced that well-known patent litigator Donald R. Ware became chair of the firm's expanded Intellectual Property Group and Dana Gordon, a registered patent attorney and scientist, became deputy chair.

The reorganized and expanded IP Group combines several historically strong disciplines in the firm and brings them under one umbrella. The IP Group, comprised of over 80 professionals, includes lawyers, scientists, engineers, medical doctors and other practitioners experienced in patent prosecution, patent litigation, technology transfer, IP due diligence and strategies, copyright and trademark prosecution, and trade secret litigation.

"We know our clients want efficiency, responsiveness, and a broad knowledge of cutting-edge technology issues. They want their lawyers to be immersed in their business and industry and to understand all aspects of their intellectual property needs, " said Donald R. Ware, chair of the practice. "Our multi-disciplinary approach allows us to serve our clients in a more powerful and synergistic way."

"The breadth and depth of our IP Group allow us to help clients shape an intellectual property strategy to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace," said deputy chair Dana M. Gordon. "That capability is particularly important in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, areas in which we are deeply rooted."

Don, also a former member of the firm's Executive Committee, specializes in biomedical patent litigation including recombinant DNA, monoclonal antibodies, small molecule compounds, drug delivery, molecular diagnostics, research tool patents, and medical devices. He represents some of the world's leading biotechnology companies and academic institutions. Don has been recognized as a leading IP lawyer in Best Lawyers in America®, Chambers USA: the Client's Guide, PLC Which Lawyer? and Global Counsel 3000. He holds his undergraduate degree from Yale University and his law degree from Harvard University. For more information, click here.

Dana is a registered patent attorney, handling matters involving organic chemistry, including synthetic organic chemistry, pharmaceuticals, molecular diversity, materials science, biochemistry and molecular biology. His client list includes many of the country's leading academic and private research institutions. Dana holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Yale University, and his law degree from Boston College Law School. For more information, click here.

Foley Hoag has long been a presence in the IP area, having served clients in the technology and life sciences industries for decades.  In 2006, the firm launched its Emerging Enterprise Center, located in the heart of New England's "Technology Corridor" to focus on the unique needs - including intellectual property - of the entrepreneurial community.  The IP practice is consistently ranked among top firms by leading publications such as Chambers USA and Legal 500.

About Foley Hoag

Foley Hoag provides comprehensive legal services to clients throughout the United States and around the world. We serve a wide range of industries including biopharma, energy and utilities, financial services, manufacturing, and technology. With 250 lawyers located in Boston, Washington, DC, and the Emerging Enterprise Center in Waltham, MA, we provide creative solutions and results-oriented advice in the areas of bankruptcy, restructuring and workouts; corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and IPOs; labor and employment; litigation; environmental issues and land use; government strategies; intellectual property; tax, trusts and estates; and white collar and business crimes.

For more information, visit www.foleyhoag.com.

Another co-founder, Stephen Lawrence, previously pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy. In a plea deal, Mr. Lefebvre agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and testify if necessary. He also agreed to be partly responsible for the $100 million the government is seeking in restitution.

Although the conspiracy charge carries a potential prison term of up to five years, cooperation in the case is likely to greatly reduce any potential sentence.

The government has said that nearly all of the $5.1 billion in transactions processed in the first half of 2006 involved online gambling, and most of the revenue was generated by American customers.

The Commission said in February last year it had settled a monopoly abuse case with De Beers, which is 45 percent owned by mining conglomerate Anglo American, after the company agreed to halt the purchase of rough diamonds from Alrosa from 2009.

The Commmission said at the time the move would pave the way for more competition in the supply of rough diamonds.

"The Court takes the view in the present case that the complete prohibition of all commercial relations between the two parties with effect from 2009 is manifestly disproportionate," the court said.

The Commission said it would study the ruling carefully.

De Beers accounted for about half the world diamond market in 2005. Alrosa extracts nearly a quarter of the world's diamonds.