matrix chambers is a set of barristers ' chambers in gray ’s inn , london and geneva , switzerland .

it was founded in april 2000 by 22 barristers from 7 different chambers .

matrix chambers

rt @ matrixchambers : rachel holmes joins matrix chambers as chief executive . urltoken urltoken
“class act” matrix chambers boasts a large number of gifted silks and talented juniors .
matrix chambers , patent lawyers , legal counselling , legal training , on europages .
matrix chambers is ‘a seriously impressive set and a first port of call for complex matters’ .
meet a selection of our lawyers , discussing matrix chambers , their cases and the topics that interest them .
matrix chambers provides ‘a premier legal service to instructing solicitors and a full support package in respect of complex case progression’ .
the set previously saw gordon nardell qc join its ranks in january 2016 from 39 essex chambers , along with timothy hill qc and philip riches from stone chambers .
matrix has worked in over 111 countries . you can find out more about our international work by visiting our dedicated sister site , matrix international .
matrix chambers limited was incorporated on 10 feb 2000 and is located in london . the company ' s status is listed as
active
. it currently has 12 directors . the company ' s first directors were murray robert hunt , nicholas john blake , timothy wynn owen . matrix chambers limited employs 20 - 49 people .
philippe sands qc of matrix chambers and professor of international law at university college london , has co - edited a book entitled ‘the grey zone : civilian protection between human rights and the laws of war’ alongside mark lattimer , executive director of the ceasefire centre for civilian rights . blinne ní ghrálaigh of matrix chambers is one of the [ … ]
matrix do not offer mini - pupillages . instead the chambers runs a student open day for those considering applying for traineeship . for more details , please visit the website .
matrix is a professionally managed organisation with a dedicated and highly skilled staff team .
cherie blair has announced she will leave the human rights practice matrix chambers to focus on advising governments and multinationals with the international legal consultancy firm she co - founded three years ago .
mr thwaites admits that his move is not quite as headline - worthy as the news that the prime minister ' s wife , cherie booth qc , has joined a new set , matrix chambers , which opened its doors early this month . matrix chambers caused a stir when it was leaked that a new chambers was being set up with many of the leading and most high - profile barristers in the area of human rights - who had all been headhunted . there was certainly no advertising .
matrix chambers ltd is a company registered in england and wales . company number 3923287 . registered office k & l gates , 1 new change , london , ec4m 9af . vat number 752 6259 20 .
chambers student , the student’s companion to the legal profession , gives the truth about law firms and the bar .
barrister helen morgan , who was on the practice ' s management committee and is now at renaissance chambers , says .
patricia was a titular head of chambers , and the set was run by the management committee . i don ' t believe her absence made a difference . the chambers was breaking up because specialists were moving elsewhere .
matrix is a barristers’ chambers located in london , geneva and brussels . with a strong history of innovation and commitment to our core values , we provide legal services in a wide range of practice areas . matrix is a place where diversity and accessibility are widely championed , and out - dated practice is challenged .
a round up of appointments at the bar in london at matrix chambers , 7 kbw , serle court , 20 essex street and 3 stone , in which offshore work , arbitration and international law are all prominent .
‘its distinguished members act for central and local government , ngos , commercial organisations and individuals . ’ chambers and partners 2014
two sets with differing approaches to arbitration made arbitral appointments of note in may . at matrix chambers , professor laurence boisson de chazournes , a well - recognised international lawyer and former senior counsel to the world bank , joined the set .
matrix is a barristers’ chambers located in gray’s inn , london , geneva and brussels . we are a group of independent and specialist lawyers who work in a wide range of areas of law . we work throughout the uk and have extensive experience internationally . for more information about our international practice , please visit our sister site , matrix international .
professor philippe sands qc of matrix chambers said in a statement : “having seen her in action in international litigation and other matters , i know her to be a truly outstanding public international lawyer , undoubtedly a leader in the field , working across a range of different areas , as counsel , adviser and arbitrator . matrix is a natural home . ”
mr thwaites says he is not copying matrix .
after 29 years at the bar , i had decided that it was time for a change - i had already been toying with the idea of setting up a new chambers for about a year - so it was before matrix , and this new set is not in that mould ,
he said .
latest news from matrix including cases , articles , events and opportunities . you can filter the categories through the links below .
baroness scotland says she ceased practising when she was made a minister , but agreed to allow the chambers to stay in her name and to remain its official head on the understanding that her name be removed from bank accounts and from the lease and that she would not be responsible for chambers business .
for information on our core value projects , including how to make an application to our matrix causes fund , please visit csr .
significant and recent cases involving matrix lawyers . see these by region through ' where we work ' in the menu above . read more
matrix offers a guaranteed interview for disabled candidates who come within 20 % of the cut - off point for the first - round interview .
members at matrix have expertise in a range of practice areas within the uk and internationally . they have a multi - disciplinary approach with several members recognised as leading practitioners in chambers & partners and legal 500 . matrix acts for private and public clients and has particular expertise in 29 international and domestic areas of law including commercial , competition , crime , data protection , defamation , discrimination , education , employment , environmental , extradition , fraud , freedom of information , human rights , immigration nationality and asylum , international arbitration , local government , public and administrative law , media , mutual assistance , prison , social welfare , and sports law . matrix has a strong international presence , acting in more than 114 countries for governments , international corporations , legal firms and individuals . matrix has an office in geneva and a dedicated brand for its international work , known as ‘matrix international’ .
matrix welcomes applications from exceptional candidates from all backgrounds . for further details , please see the traineeship brochure on the ‘recruitment’ section of their website .
20 essex street , meanwhile , welcomed john bethell to chambers , after successfully completing his pupillage , working in commercial disputes , arbitration , shipping , and eu and competition law .
mr carman ' s former 26 - strong set of chambers was
amicably
dissolved on 20 april after a number of the barristers moved to specialist sets or to join other specialist teams , and he moved into 4 - 5 gray ' s inn square , the set that cherie booth qc was in before joining matrix .
matrix offers positions in our staff team , member recruitment , traineeships , open days and work experience programme . when applying to matrix , it is important to have a look at our csr section and particularly our core values , which guide what we do and have been in place since our establishment .
that means that there is more competition for the work , including from solicitor - advocates . and to be competitive , barristers are now more mobile than they have ever been .
people at the bar are advertising more and more now , and chambers are no longer ashamed of it ,
says mr green , who advised matrix chambers when it was setting up . he says that it is rare , but not unusual , for an individual to advertise for others to join him on the strength of his own reputation .
matrix welcomes applications from exceptional candidates from all backgrounds . for further details , please see our traineeship brochure on the ' recruitment ' page of our website .
keeping this diverse roster of clients front and centre of its mind is just one aspect of the set ' s founding desire to be an innovative and progressive chambers . established in 2000 by 22 barristers eager to launch a modern , client - focused chambers , it set out to work on cases applying the newly introduced human rights act to areas such as public , criminal and media law .
joint chairs of the management committee : hugh southey qc chief executive : rachel holmes tenants : 93 the chambers matrix is a barristers’ chambers with offices in london and geneva . its members work in a wide number of areas , including commercial , public international and arbitration , investigations and audits , competition and eu law , human rights , public , employment , equality and discrimination , and criminal including white collar crime , fraud and extradition and mutual assistance . matrix operates within a modern environment , where diversity , accessibility and client care are widely championed . more details about practice areas can be found on the website . the uk website can be found at matrixlaw . co . uk . the international website at matrixlawinternational . com .
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matrix is delighted to announce that former matrix member , professor james crawford ac sc , was appointed judge to the international court of justice in a ceremony that took place at the peace palace in the hague this morning . this marks the beginning of a nine - year term for professor crawford as one of 15 judges to the court .
head of chambers , gavin kealey qc said in a statement that he had “no doubt that he will be a star appointment as arbitrator and mediator , and will acquire an enormously successful practice from the start” .
headline cases , a progressive attitude and a wealth of practice areas . . . no wonder trainees told us it was a “no - brainer” to apply to the uk ' s best - known barristers ' chambers .
dozens of barristers’ chambers are refusing to take on new defence work in protest at the crisis in the justice system created by the government’s cuts and reforms , the latest being changes to the advocates graduated fee scheme .
matrix management committee chair rhodri thompson qc said : “we are of course sad to see one of our original leaders leave the organisation that she helped to create . since then , matrix has established an outstanding reputation both domestically and in an increasingly global legal market – we look forward to watching cherie’s new venture develop while continuing to build our own unique brand . ”
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matrix is a proud and committed equal opportunities employer and we run a number of initiatives to promote equality . you can find out more about this by visiting our equality & diversity page .
one of the biggest name sets at the bar , matrix is never far from the news thanks to its leading human rights practice and roster of big name silks . within the legal profession , matrix is famous for its progressive approach – note that it refrains from using traditional bar terminology such as ‘pupillage’ , opting instead for the more easily understood ‘traineeship’ , and lists its barristers in alphabetical order rather than by number of years’ qualified . although you need to be academically excellent to train here , matrix actively encourages applications from students from a wide - range of backgrounds and universities .
while best known for human rights , matrix has a wide range of expertise within chambers , including in commercial , employment and eu law . currently the set is using its expertise in the former area to put itself at the forefront of the discussion around the uk’s vote to leave the european union . to this end it has launched a brexit hub featuring a host of articles by its barristers about the implications of the vote .
matrix is notable for the way in which it works with academics and practitioners , in interleaving their contributions between both worlds across the global arbitral arena , with advice available in both london and geneva .
information contained on the chambers and partners websites ( including chambersconnect ) is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice . information shared through these websites does not constitute or create a ' lawyer - client ' relationship .
matrix was accredited in 2016 as an investors in people platinum organisation , which recognises that our organisation works at the highest standard of people management . find out more about investors in people on their website .
our members have expertise in a range of practice areas within the uk and internationally . we have a multi - disciplinary approach with several members recognised as leading practitioners in chambers & partners and legal 500 . matrix acts for private and public clients and has particular expertise in 29 international and domestic areas of law including commercial , competition , crime , data protection , defamation , discrimination , education , employment , environmental , extradition , fraud , freedom of information , human rights , immigration nationality and asylum , international arbitration , local government , public and administrative law , media , mutual assistance , prison , social welfare , and sports law . matrix has a strong international presence , acting in more than 114 categories for governments , international corporations , legal firms and individuals . we have an office in geneva and a dedicated brand for our international work , known as ' matrix international ' .
each supervisor produces a report at the end of each seat to gives trainees “an indication of whether you ' re attaining the matrix standard . ” the reports form the main basis for the traineeship committee ' s tenancy recommendation , but a series of formal assessments also play a part . these include two oral advocacy exercises , a business development presentation and a written assessment on “a difficult point of law . ” matrix ' s single trainee was awarded membership in 2017 .
matrix offers up to two traineeships , both starting 1 october for 12 months . the 12 - month training period is split roughly into quarters . the training committee tends to choose who will supervise in the first quarter whilst trainees are finding their feet , but trainees are consulted throughout on which areas of law they would be interested in covering . it is expected that trainees will experience the wide range of work covered at matrix with seats in varied practice areas throughout the year . there is a scheduled programme of training that takes place throughout the year and includes internal and external training , written and advocacy exercises and secondments . matrix trainees do not generally take on oral advocacy in their own right until the last quarter .
matrix offers up to two traineeships , both starting 1 october for 12 months . the 12 - month training period is split roughly into quarters . the training committee tends to choose who will supervise in the first quarter while trainees are finding their feet , but trainees are consulted throughout on which areas of law they would be interested in covering . it is expected that trainees will experience the wide range of work covered at matrix with seats in varied practice areas throughout the year . there is a scheduled programme of training that takes place throughout the year and includes internal and external training , written and advocacy exercises and secondments . matrix trainees do not generally take on oral advocacy in their own right until the last quarter .
and when patricia scotland qc was elevated to the house of lords as baroness scotland of asthal , she allowed the chambers she had headed , 1 gray ' s inn square , to retain her name . but the set disbanded and many of the barristers joined another set in gray ' s inn square .
one modern barrister who has embraced the media in the launch of his new chambers is ronald thwaites qc , who recently invited applications from
dedicated and determined members of the bar
who practise in the areas such as defamation and civil actions against the police , including
high - profile work of all kinds
.
it was an unseasonably cold and drizzly june morning when we rocked up at matrix for our visit , but the miserable weather hardly seemed to dampen the spirits of the set ' s sunny practice team ( this is what matrix calls its clerks ) . “they are extremely welcoming , ” trainees confirmed , and host friday nights drinks for everyone at the set . a weekly lunch gets members together too and sources agreed “there ' s no speak - when - you ' re - spoken - to culture . ” another elaborated : “matrix is well known for being a progressive place where people have respect for each other . we have loads of interesting conversations – everyone works on really sexy cases and we ' re all law nerds so we like to chat about our work and the legal and political implications . ”
april , meanwhile , saw the merger of two chancery sets , thirteen old square and 3 stone buildings , the latter of which had seen several departures to the likes of maitland chambers and serle court , among other sets , while the former saw several arrivals including mark cawson qc , while david mohyuddin qc took silk in february .
and mr thwaites is adopting a more enlightened marketing style . he says the new set will be named after the building , which they are in the process of acquiring :
it is all about perception - and for this new chambers , it is a case of developing a brand and wanting and attracting others to join and strengthen that brand .
the set ' s remit is split roughly equally between public law , employment , media and information , crime , and commercial ( including competition , tax and international arbitration ) . it was this “sheer range of work” which attracted several of our interviewees . “i was very curious to try different things , ” one told us . chambers uk recognises matrix ' s broad expertise , granting it over a dozen rankings including a top - tier gong for its human rights work . the client base is broad too , with the set ' s annual client party seeing magic circle big shots and corporate counsel rubbing shoulders with legal aid solicitors , government lawyers and representatives of ngos .
dual - qualified in australia in 2003 and in england and wales in 2010 , parlett was called to the bar in 2014 . duncan matthews qc , 20 essex street’s co - head of chambers said , in a statement , that parlett’s experience within the commercial and investor state aspects of public international law would “be a real asset to the continuing development of the set’s practice . ”
we have more than 80 members at matrix , with varying years of call and areas of expertise . our members specialise in 28 different practice areas and are highly regarded in their fields . if you would like to find out more about individual members , you can visit their profiles below or contact our staff team .
besides stellar academics pretty much all recruits have some top - notch work experience under their belts : between them matrix ' s most junior tenants ( called since 2012 ) have among other things gained experience working for the un high commissioner for refugees in ecuador , for the international labour organization in geneva , for the un office of legal affairs in new york , for the international criminal tribunal for the former yugoslavia in the hague and for the international criminal tribunal for rwanda . many of matrix ' s members are also academics , but don ' t get the wrong idea : barristers here are very much doers , men and women of action .
we ' re told that these ' law nerds ' with a desire to blast away the traditional fustiness of the bar are keen to “look further afield than oxbridge” when seeking new recruits . oxford and cambridge alums certainly aren ' t absent from matrix but you ' ll also find juniors who ' ve come through bristol , ucl , nottingham and durham .
matrix offers up to two 12 - month training places with an award of £40 , 000 and an additional £10 , 000 contribution during the bptc year for applicants who are yet to undertake bar finals . any applicants who have already completed the bptc year will still be entitled to the additional £10 , 000 contribution in the year prior to commencing traineeship .
matrix is managed by our chief executive , rachel holmes . we have three practice teams who assist the members and who specialise in different areas of law . depending on their areas of expertise , members work in one of these teams . each team has a practice manager , who will be your first point of contact when looking to instruct one of our members .
matrix offers up to two 12 - month training places each year with an award of £40 , 000 and an additional £10 , 000 contribution during the bptc year for applicants who are yet to undertake bar finals . any applicants who have already completed the bptc year will still be entitled to the additional £10 , 000 contribution in the year prior to commencing traineeship .
open up any newspaper and chances are you ' ll find a case worked on by matrix barristers : european court of human rights application on the shooting of jean charles de menezes ? tick . a case on ' trojan horse ' schools in birmingham ? tick . the supreme court battle over the pjs / yma sex scandal injunction ? tick . “today we had 19 cases in the press , ” asserted ceo lindsay scott on the day of our visit . many of these headline - grabbing matters are in the field of human rights or public law , but scott is keen to point out that “matrix is an awful lot more than a human rights set – we do great work in areas such as crime , competition , employment and media . ”
it isn ' t until nine months in that trainees get to spend time on their feet , and even then only on small matters such as listing hearings . “matrix takes the view that your traineeship is a time to learn and practise , ” one interviewee believed . trainees attend informal advocacy moots to help them prepare for the big stand and have training sessions with juniors to gain tips and advice .
among mrs blair’s best - known cases at matrix concerned pupil shabina begum which centred on the teenager’s demands to wear a full jilbab , or traditional muslim gown , to her school in luton , where almost 70 per cent of students were muslim . the school refused to allow ms begum to wear the jilbab and she refused to attend for three years claiming her religious rights had been infringed under article nine of the european convention on human rights .
for example , clare montgomery qc represented hong kong property tycoon thomas kwok in a high - profile corruption and conspiracy case , while james laddie qc acted for lehman brothers in campbell v lehman brothers when a former employee alleged she was subject to harassment and unfair dismissal after refusing to have an affair with her boss . more recently , two matrix members successfully represented unison in the landmark 2017 supreme court case ruling the government ' s employment tribunal fees ' inconsistent with access to justice ' .
mrs blair said : “it has been a privilege to be part of the team at matrix for the last 14 years , and to have been able to develop my practice alongside so many first class , dedicated colleagues . but omnia strategy was born from a recognition that clients often wanted more than legal solutions to complex problems , and what makes omnia unique is the holistic and strategic approach that we offer to clients who are facing complex issues where matters of law , business , policy and communications all overlap . ”
matrix trainees ( the term ' pupil ' has long since been dropped as too outmoded ) divide their year evenly between four seats . in recent years trainees have sat with supervisors practising in areas including human rights , media and information , public law , employment and discrimination – members often work in more than one area . nearly all of a trainee ' s workload stems from their supervisor and our interviewees were pleased with this approach , pointing out that “it means you ' re judged on your work as a whole and you can ' t have the bad fortune of doing one piece of work badly for someone who ' s very influential . ”
some may think that the bar , still in wigs and gowns , is dragging itself into the 20th century , while the other side of the profession , the solicitors , are
yetis
( young , entrepreneurial and technically minded ) , who are embracing the 21st century and jumping on the urltoken spacewagon .
it is a long way from the secret soundings of the lord chancellor ' s department which determines who will be a queen ' s counsel . the latest qcs were announced just before easter and officially confirmed last week .
about his current set at 10 king ' s bench walk , he says :
there was no acrimonious break - up and no rivalry with the old set and no fall - out , so there is no story there . the set was and is known mainly as a criminal and general common law set . i am now identified more on the civil side , so there is a gap in the market , which the new set is aiming to fill .
in fact , the decision to move is essentially a commercial one .
with the pressure from government on funding [ in particular in the areas of criminal and family law - areas which his current set specialises in ] , you have to adapt to survive , and the bar is likely to go back to being half the size it is now - of almost 10 , 000 barristers .
mark green is a director in the professional practices group at accountants bdo stoy hayward , which publishes an annual survey of barristers . for 1999 , it estimated that the total annual income of the bar is in the region of £1 . 2 to 1 . 4bn .
he says that with just over 30 per cent of barristers ' income coming from public funds - such as the legal aid board , the lord chancellor ' s department and the crown prosecution service - and more recently , with the introduction of the community legal service and changes in government funding in areas such as crime , family and personal injury , more barristers will move away from that type of work .
the survey also found that although barristers are outnumbered by solicitors by almost 10 to one , the number of barristers is growing slightly more quickly at an average rate of 5 per cent a year compared with 4 per cent for solicitors .
it is unlikely that solicitors and clients - and other barristers - will not have heard of mr thwaites , who has been involved in high - profile criminal cases .
he acted for the defendant tony diedrick in the joan francisco murder case , and one of his most recent defamation cases was against the doyen of libel barristers , george carman qc , in a matter concerning the directors of derby county football club and the alleged circulation of poison - pen letters .
mr thwaites says of his switch to defamation and civil practice :
one advantage is that the libel bar is small and you can get a foothold .
although he may be following mr carman ' s path by switching to libel , the path of high - profile barristers leaving their sets has left problems in their wake .
of course i feel sad ,
he says about the end of the set which he founded in 1981 .
but the bar is going through enormous changes . some are a little uncertain as to where their future lies .
in some ways , moving to join a specialist set is a back - to - basics move . mr thwaites says his new set will initially number about 20 , comprising of seven or eight barristers who will leave his current set with him and join barristers from other sets .
it will not be a mega - set , but a group of like - minded people . there are a lot of juniors who do civil work , but the crunch point is how they perform in court - i think we can provide robust advocates for solicitors who are becoming much more discerning and demanding . in fact , some solicitors can do almost everything that a barrister can do .
he warns :
one of the mistakes that barristers make is to think that they can sit and wait for briefs to fall off the end of the conveyor belt , but that conveyor belt may soon stop .
de chazournes , who has advised international organisations , states , law firms and foundations , as well as acting as an arbitrator and counsel , has arbitrated in investment cases ( including at the international centre for the settlement of investment disputes , the world bank’s dispute resolution body ) and the permanent court of arbitration , and appeared as counsel before the international court of justice ( icj ) .
lindsay scott , the set’s chief executive welcomed the appointment alongside other recent arrivals , fellow arbitration lawyers , professor christian tams and angeline welsh , saying that the addition would enhance the service the set offered to clients .
a more traditional appointment in may however , was that of sir jeremy cooke , who re - joined 7 king’s bench walk ( 7kbw ) .
following his recent retirement from the high court bench , cooke returned to 7kbw as a full time arbitrator and mediator , at the start of that month .
he was in practice at 7 kbw from 1997 until his appointment in 2001 as a high court judge in the queen’s bench division , assigned to the commercial court , with his judgments frequently being upheld by the appellate courts .
cooke’s judicial approach was marked by the speed in which he produced his judgments , an informal and down to earth manner , and for firm but fair , and polite efficiency in case management . he notably presided over the criminal court trial of the first trader to be convicted for attempting to fix libor with the court of appeal praising cooke’s “particular care” , although that sentence was later revised .
he is a justice of the dubai international financial court , which has been active in developing the law of arbitration in dubai . at 7kbw he will accept appointments as an arbitrator and mediator .
the merged set , named 3 stone , is led by john mcdonnell qc , the former head of thirteen old square , together with justin brown as senior clerk , and is administered from 3 stone buildings with accommodation split between the two sites .
the merged set serves a mix of traditional chancery and commercial clients , as well as managing overseas instructions , specialising in chancery , commercial , insolvency and property .
commercial litigators will note the offshore trust practice of the likes of david lord qc operating alongside with the caribbean and hong kong property , company and trust practices of mcdonnell and david lowe . in addition , rupert coe joined the new set from appleby in cayman .
also moving from offshore practice was kathryn purkis , who returned to serle court following nine years at jersey law firm collas crill , where she was a litigation advocate , and managing partner , from 2009 to 2012 .
the dual - qualified barrister and advocate in both london and jersey was recognised for her litigious work , ranging from contentious trusts and foundations cases , multi - jurisdictional asset - tracing and enforcement claims , a practice she aims to emulate at serle court .
purkis said , commenting on her return , that she felt her “experience as a partner in and managing a law firm will be invaluable to my work at the bar , and will shape how i go about providing my own services to clients . ”
the chief executive of serle court , john petrie , added that purkis’s experience in “undertaking high - profile work in a different jurisdiction whilst being the managing partner of a firm and seeing it through a merger shows not only kathryn’s impressive work ethic but her highly - attuned business skills too” .
purkis is not the only barrister to move from a law firm to the bar ; suzanne rab joined the set as a competition law barrister from london’s king & spalding in 2013 .
before coming to the bar , bethell spent six years as an army officer with the welsh guards . he completed two operational tours in afghanistan , and served as a military adviser at the british high commission in pakistan .
bethell’s arrival coincides with that of dr kate parlett , a specialist in public international law and international arbitration , previously of freshfields bruckhaus deringer in paris , where she worked on cases before the icj , including one case involving the distinguished public international barrister , sir daniel bethlehem qc , also instructed by freshfields , for the government of chile in its case with bolivia , concerning access to the sea .
parlett also has extensive experience in international investment arbitration . at freshfields , she was part of the team representing saint lucia in an icsid dispute in which the first order for security for costs was issued by an investment tribunal .
she also represented electrabel in a dispute under the energy charter treaty arising from measures taken in the context of hungary’s accession to the european union .
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dispute resolution lawyers across the world have featured strongly in the 2018 promotions round by baker mckenzie , including specialists in tax , competition and it litigation .
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to make its presence felt far and wide for many years to come . ’
mrs blair , 60 , takes up a full - time role with omnia strategy , a london - based organisation with an office in washington that includes kazakhstan’s government among its recent clients .
chaired by mrs blair since she established the company in 2011 , omnia describes itself as a “pioneering international law firm that provides strategic counsel to governments , corporate and private clients” . the firm agreed a deal with kazakhstan’s ministry of justice earlier this year to conduct a review of the country’s “bilateral investment treaties” that was reported to be worth around £500 , 000 .
omnia has also been active in africa advising in nigeria , ghana , gabon and cameroon and mrs blair’s website says the firm “provides tailored , market - driven advice to its clients” . as a leading qc she earns around £1 , 100 an hour .
company records show omnia strategy’s office is officially registered in baker street , central london , although the address given on the firm’s website under its contact details is a po box in paddington shared by her husband’s faith foundation , the office of tony blair and other of the former prime minister’s organisations . employees are actually based in an anonymous office block overlooking hyde park .
ms begum lost her case in the high court but won in the court of appeal . the school appealed that decision and the house of lords ruled in its favour .
mrs blair , a judge and leading silk who practices under her maiden name of booth , will also continue to work independently as an international arbitrator and remain involved with several charities . her foundation for women raised almost £2 . 2m last year .
a spokesperson for omnia confirmed mrs blair would remain based in the uk . roxana pierce , an international transactional lawyer who speaks farsi , french and turkish , remains managing partner of the firm’s washington office .
in 2003 mrs blair accused her husband’s government of institutionalised discrimination against gurkha soldiers by subjecting them to less favourable pay and conditions than other members of britain’s armed forces . she launched a high court test case on behalf of seven former gurkhas from nepal who served with the british army .
mrs blair accused the ministry of defence of “irrational and discriminatory” treatment over their pay and conditions , which she said amounted to a continuing breach of their rights under the european convention on human rights . the claims were rejected by a judge who said that discrepancies in pay were legitimate given the difference between the costs of living in britain and nepal .
in 1998 the 24 - year - old successfully sued her former schools in london for failing to diagnose that she was dyslexic . mrs blair said the local authority had “failed to take reasonable steps to overcome her learning problems” . however , a few months later ms phelps had her £45 , 650 damages award taken away by the court of appeal when judges said it was up to her to prove her learning difficulties had affected her earning capacity , and she had not done so . she appealed and the house of lords restored her damages award opening the way for the other claimants to proceed with their actions .
teaching unions welcomed a landmark ruling by law lords in 2003 backing the right of their members to refuse to teach violent and disruptive pupils . the five law lords decided by a 3 - 2 majority that a pupil , whose exclusion from a hertfordshire comprehensive was overturned by an independent appeals panel , had been properly reinstated in school even though he was being taught in isolation . the hertfordshire boy in the lords case , ‘pupil l’ represented by mrs blair , was one of six students excluded in 2001 following a gang attack in school toilets which put a teenager in hospital .
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kate cook has contributed to a un report entitled ‘impacts of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture’ . the report that is due to be released this july at fao committee on fisheries is a unique overview of the implications of climate change for fisheries and aquaculture . more information on the report can be found here .
the claimant alleged that the defendant , its former deputy chief executive and the former managing director of leeds united football club , defrauded it of sums equal to roughly $ 6 million . after long running proceedings and a trial lasting three days , the difc court held that the claimants case was made out , that the defendant’s defence [ … ]
bbc ni’s much discussed documentary “brexit , dark money & the dup” will be broadcast nationally tomorrow ( thursday 5 july 2018 ) at 23 . 15 on the bbc news channel . gavin millar qc contributes on the election law implications of the investigation .
the court of appeal has given judgment today on an appeal by asda , argos and wm morrison against an order of popplewell j largely dismissing their claims for substantial damages relating to the setting and imposition of multi - lateral interchange fees ( mifs ) in the context of the mastercard payment card system . the court of appeal upheld [ … ]
ca rejects zipvit’s claim for ‘embedded’ vat . this appeal raises important questions of principle in the law of vat . zipvit used the services of royal mail at a time when it was understood that these services were exempt from vat . the cjeu subsequently decided in case c - 353 / 07 tnt that the relevant supplies were in fact [ … ]
the court of appeal has granted permission to appeal in the case of tm ( kenya ) v sshd ( c4 / 2017 / 3270 ) , which challenges the high court judgment in muasa v sshd [ 2017 ] ewhc 2267 insofar as it found against the claimant . muasa , which was heard by the high court in july 2017 , was the first case of its [ … ]
a boy , represented by the howard league for penal reform , has been granted permission by the high court to challenge the use of adult restraint techniques on children at a prison in west london . the charity has applied successfully for permission to judicially review practices at feltham prison . the case is brought on behalf of [ … ]
the supreme court today determined that the ban on civil partnerships for opposite sex couples constituted a breach of article 8 of the european convention on human rights , read in conjunction with article 14 . the supreme court issued a declaration of incompatibility in respect of the civil partnership act 2004 , ss 1 , 3 to the [ … ]
the administrative court has dismissed an application for judicial review of the policy of her majesty’s passport office to require those who apply for the issue of a passport to declare whether their gender is male or female , and not to issue passports bearing an x marker ( indicating an unspecified sex ) . the court rejected the [ … ]
karon monaghan qc has been featured as lawyer of the week in the times . karon acted for the plumber and heating engineer gary smith in pimlico plumbers ltd & anor v smith [ 2018 ] uksc 29 . the supreme court upheld the decision of the court and tribunals below that mr smith was both a “worker” and , for the [ … ]
ed bridges , a cardiff resident , is launching a legal challenge against south wales police for using automated facial recognition ( afr ) . mr bridges believes he was scanned twice , once at a peaceful anti - arms protest and again while christmas shopping in cardiff . surveillance cameras equipped with afr software scan the faces of passers - by , making unique biometric maps [ … ]
the court of appeal today handed down judgment in secretary of state for the home department v tlu and tlv . the court found that the respondents , who were the wife and daughter of a ‘lead applicant’ in a family asylum application , were referred to in a spreadsheet that had been published in a data breach [ … ]
ben emmerson qc has been appointed to represent boris becker , the tennis ace , who is asserting diplomatic immunity in the high court . becker , who is being sued for bankruptcy , has been appointed as sports attaché to the central african republic and is asserting diplomatic immunity against attempts to prolong and further enforce bankruptcy proceedings that [ … ]
in giese v usa , the lord chief justice , sitting with dingemans j , gave important guidance on the correct approach to abuse of process in extradition proceedings . the appellant had argued that fresh extradition proceedings were an abuse of process , where a previous extradition request for the same conduct had been determined in his favour ( on [ … ]
the high court has ruled in favour of two severely disabled people who challenged the absence of transitional protection under regulations which provide for rolling out of universal credit and the abolition of previous welfare benefits . the claim was brought by two severely disabled people who were obliged to claim universal credit when they moved [ … ]
the court of appeal has allowed an appeal by the bbc against a reporting restriction order in the trial of r v sarker . the judgment , given by the lord chief justice , contains important guidance on the proper approach to applications for restrictions on reporting in criminal proceedings , specifically in relation to online articles , and a [ … ]
the supreme court today upheld the decision of the court and tribunals below that mr smith was both a “worker” and , for the equality act 2010 , an “employee” of pimlico plumbers . karon monaghan qc acted for mr smith and tom linden qc acted for pimlico plumbers . to read a summary of the judgment , please see [ … ]
employment appeal tribunal to hear appeal by gerard coyne against a ruling of the certification officer’s ruling . gavin millar qc representing mr coyne .
gerard coyne was the runner up to the incumbent , len mccluskey , in an election for general secretary of unite the union in april 2017 . he made a complaint to the certification officer that the election , held within the fixed five year term of the incumbent , had been called unlawfully . the certification officer ruled against him [ … ]
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madonna ( マドンナ madonna ) is a japanese adult video ( av ) studio which specializes in the jukujo niche of japanese pornography .

by 2007 , madonna also launched the label fitch , which has a focus on the bakunyū niche .

madonna ( studio )

madonna the complete studio albums ( 1983 - 2008 ) . buy online , urltoken
madonna studio collects the best madonna videos , music , live , interviews and tweets to your twitter directly . check out our site !
madonna “original album series” and “the complete studio albums” box sets [ incl . exclusive hq cover ]
an amazing 11cd collection featuring all of madonna’s studio albums from the first 25 years of her legendary career .
amazing 11cd * collection featuring all of madonna’s studio albums from the first 25 years of her legendary career .
madonna “original album series” and “the complete studio albums” box sets [ incl . exclusive hq cover ] | madonnarama
madonna is in the studio working with diplo , according to a pair of photos recently posted to her instagram account .
erika belle is known for her work on madonna : celebration - the video collection ( 2009 ) , madonna : true blue ( 1986 ) and madonna : everybody ( 1982 ) .
no release date , title or additional details have been set for what is poised to be madonna ' s 13th studio album .
madonna studio hair - hair salons - r . dona elza meinert 142 , joinville - sc , brazil - phone number - yelp
benitez talked about the show , his experiences at studio 54 , his opinion of today’s edm , and , of course , a whole lot of madonna .
mark fleischman details his wild experiences in a new memoir ,
inside studio 54 .
the madonna studio , specializing in
mature women
videos , had begun releasing their first avs in december 2003 . haga was a madonna director by july 2004 , when he supervised the first entry in madonna ' s
failure as a mother
series starring runa akasaka and sakura sakurada . he became their chief director , with a listing of more than 150 videos for the company by late 2011 .
madonna arrives to the opening of hard candy fitness on october 17 , 2013 in berlin , germany .
* the set includes the remastered and expanded versions of madonna , like a virgin and true blue .
madonna ( usa , b . madonna ciccone ) is the best - selling female recording artist , having sold more than 300 million albums in her career since debuting with her self - titled release in 1983 .
larkin arnold of columbia records , recording artist rebbie jackson , and studio 54 resident dj leroy washington in the dj booth .
“new york didn’t want studio 54 to reopen , ” he claimed . “i went through three to four different attorneys . ”
thr : beats claims a 56 % share of headphones priced over $ 100 . are you satisfied with its studio infiltration ?
the details are all in the captions , announcing that the pair are working hard in the studio , but not much else . the first one is a madonna selfie with some interesting word choices . says the caption ,
diplo is a slave driver ! got me working all hours of the night in the studio . had to sneak into the bathroom ! # clicclacclicclacbitchgetoffmyback
madonna connected with moment factory through the recommendation of cirque du soleil , for which the studio has frequently created interactive visual installations . over several meetings , the pop star developed a clear vision for her show : active , intricate and music - driven .
vogue covers are projected on the stage designed by montreal ' s moment factor for madonna ' s super bowl halftime show .
another heavy influence on madonna & apos ; s early life was her mother , who was diagnosed with breast cancer during her pregnancy with madonna & apos ; s youngest sister . treatment had to be delayed until the baby reached full term , but by then the disease had grown too strong . on december 1 , 1963 , at the age of 30 , madonna & apos ; s mother passed away . madonna was only 5 years old at the time of her mother & apos ; s death .
in 1981 , madonna decided to go solo and hired manager camille barbone of gotham records to help her get her singing career on track . camille showed madonna how to navigate the male - dominated world of the music business , and helped put together a studio band that accentuated the budding star & apos ; s hip style . friend stephen bray , a musician in her band , wrote her first hit ,
everybody ,
and madonna used her brash business style to get the recordings to new york music producer mark kamins . kamins then helped madonna score a record deal with sire records .
everybody
hit no . 1 on the dance charts in 1982 .
but not all of fleischman’s encounters with celebs were welcoming . he insisted madonna was a diva long before she was a pop star .
madonna has set the record for the most billboard top 10 pop hits of all time , counting 38 singles as of august 2013 .
if there’s one thing people remember about madonna in the 1980s , it’s her unwillingness to conform to standards . momsen embodies the rebellious spirit that made madonna a superstar and the musical inclination ( she fronts the pretty reckless , a rock band formed in 2009 ) to match .
when she returned to the states in 1980 , she joined gilroy & apos ; s band as its drummer and later became lead singer . madonna formed several different bands of her own over the next few years , including madonna & the sky , the millionaires and emmy .
rhino uk will release two different madonna box sets in march - april this year and they are both available for pre - order on amazon .
but the non - stop partying would ultimately come to an end . in 1984 fleischman , who was faced with his own addictions , sold studio 54 .
singer , performer and actress madonna louise veronica ciccone was born in bay city , michigan , on august 16 , 1958 , to parents silvio
tony
ciccone and madonna fortin . tony , the son of italian immigrants , was the first of his family to go to college , where he earned a degree in engineering . madonna & apos ; s mother , an x - ray technician and former dancer , was of french canadian descent .
christopher ciccone was born on november 22 , 1960 in bay city , michigan , usa as christopher g . ciccone . he is known for his work on madonna : truth or dare ( 1991 ) , twisted ( 2015 ) and madonna : the girlie show - live down under ( 1993 ) .
ew confirmed monday that the studio was in the early stages of developing a biopic chronicling the rise of madonna throughout the formative years of her burgeoning pop career , charting the inspiration for — and subsequent success of — her 1983 debut album , which laid the foundation for her ascension into the pop cultural stratosphere .
the hollywood reporter : you’re being honored tonight by the recording academy’s producers and engineers wing at the village . does walking into any recording studio feel like home ?
“studio 54 was the most famous club in the world during the late ‘70s and i knew it , ” fleischman recalled to fox news . fleischman eventually became the owner of the hotspot . he recently released his memoir , “inside studio 54 , ” which details the rise and fall of manhattan’s champagne and cocaine - fueled lair .
director jennifer lynch originally had madonna pegged to take the lead in her debut feature , boxing helena . the story of a woman who has her limbs removed and is kept in a box ( it ' s as charming as it sounds ) , the role was then offered to kim basinger when madonna passed .
in 2009 , she released a fourth greatest hits album , celebration , which became madonna & apos ; s eleventh no . 1 album in the u . k . with the release of the record , madonna tied with elvis presley as the solo act with most no . 1 albums in the u . k .
madonna released her latest studio album , mdna , in march 2012 . on her tour to support the record , she courted controversy . madonna occasionally flashed her audiences and used nazi imagery while performing in france . at a concert in st . petersburg , russia , she spoke out in support of lgbt rights , which had landed her in legal trouble . she was sued for more than $ 10 million for breaking a law against promoting homosexuality to minors , but charges were later dismissed .
he was born in philadelphia , pennsylvania , in 1939 and attended temple university briefly before moving to new york where he studied drama with stella adler and at actors studio .
though she’s never acted in a major production , cobain’s tenacity would add a palpable edge to the refreshingly bold attitude that largely punctuated madonna’s blossoming image in the 1980s .
madonna became a mother in 1996 , giving birth to lourdes maria ( lola ) ciccone leon , whom she had with her lover and personal trainer , carlos leon . in 2000 , she married british director guy ritchie and gave birth to their son , rocco john ritchie , the same year . madonna and ritchie split in 2008 .
designed by moment factory , a montreal - based multimedia studio , the video concepts for the stage took three months to develop , according to founder and creative director sakchin bessette .
while collins has a more commercial look than madonna did at the time she broke into the mainstream , her golden globe - nominated acting chops — coupled with a lifelong exposure to the music industry ( she’s the daughter of musician phil collins ) — make the rules don’t apply star an ideal candidate to explore the grittier aspects of madonna’s heyday .
when the owners of new york city’s studio 54 were indicted on federal income tax charges in 1979 , mark fleischman knew he was next in line to take over the infamous nightclub .
housed in a small clamshell box , with albums in paper sleeves , this is a brilliantly compact set and a perfect way to own madonna’s amazing catalogue at a fantastic price .
this isn ' t the first news to surface regarding madonna ' s new musical projects . back in march , she revealed - - also via instagram - - that she was working with another edm hitmaker , avicii . in april , she shared an instagram photo which depicted her in the studio with british singer natalia kills and martin kierszenbaum of cherrytree and interscope records .
her parents & apos ; strict observation of the catholic faith played a large role in madonna & apos ; s childhood .
my mother was a religious zealot ,
madonna explains .
there were always priests and nuns in my house growing up .
many elements of catholic iconography—including her mother & apos ; s statues of the sacred heart , the habits of the nuns at her catholic elementary school , and the catholic altar at which she and her family prayed daily—later became the subject of madonna & apos ; s most controversial works .
once in new york , madonna paid her rent with a handful of odd jobs , including nude art modeling ; serving at the russian tea room ; and performing for the american dance center . in 1979 , madonna began dating dan gilroy , one of the founding members of a ska influenced pop - punk band called breakfast club . gilroy introduced madonna to the head of a vaudeville review in paris , and she spent some time in france working as a showgirl . during this trip she fell in love with the combination of singing and performing .
in february 2017 , madonna announced she had adopted 4 - year - old twins , estere and stelle , from malawi , posting a photo with the girls on her instagram account .
he did eventually make up with the studio , winning a best picture oscar when back at paramount for ordinary people in 1980 ( and that followed the mighty three days of the condor ) .
although precise sales figures are difficult to obtain and are often disputed , it is acknowledged that only the beatles , elvis presley and michael jackson have conclusively sold more albums worldwide than madonna .
cameron alborzian is an actor and producer , known for beyond the mind ( 2013 ) , madonna : celebration - the video collection ( 2009 ) and a model guru ( 2012 ) .
the studio also faced constraints , like the short length of the show and working in a stadium ( as opposed to a concert arena ) , which forced the team of 12 to get creative .
receiving an incredible 11 . 1 million views , the achievement was led by “lazarus” – the second single from his 26th studio album blackstar ( 2016 ) which was released just days before his passing .
“at heart , i’m a second engineer , ” the interscope geffen a & m ; chairman tells thr .
i learned everything about music and the business from being in the recording studio .
fleischman managed to impress the weary business partners and that year , a deal was made . however , studio 54 wouldn’t reopen until september 1981 after fleischman , in fact , struggled to get a liquor license .
the gift of comfort - - studio dante di volteradici - 3rd plate in the renaissance madonnas series - 1987 . artist : albertu santangela . size : 8¼ ' ' . list price : $ 60 . 00
jimmy iovine : i consider the recording studio where i was born , so yes , it ' s like going to your original house . i learned everything about music and the business from being in the studio . and it’s why i ' m so excited about this particular event , because the recording engineers and producers - - those are the people i relate to the most . it ' s where i feel most comfortable .
in 2011 , haga directed ayano murasaki and reiko makihara in 3d co - starring mature beauties : tempting love of mother and aunt , a 3d adult video released by madonna on february 25 , 2011 .
but studio wouldn’t have lasted forever anyway . no club does . “people remember it better than it was , ” rubell admits . “there were many dull nights . ” during the year when rubell and schrager were “away , ” studio paid the rent by throwing some black parties on saturday nights . when the celebrity convicts returned they gave a big opening splash , on september 15 , 1981 , but the moment had obviously passed , and in fact they had already sold their interest in the club to mark fleischman . the old opera house ( its first , 1927 incarnation ) stayed haunted until it was finally shut—at least under the name studio 54—last spring .
studio definitely stayed in the black . it was a cash business , and the greenbacks were abundant . on a busy weekend night an estimated $ 70 , 000 was floating around the club . when the i . r . s . finally busted studio , it seized ian schrager there , along with the ledgers and five ounces of cocaine , and discovered garbage bags full of cash hidden in the club’s basement and financial records stashed behind ceiling panels .
“i sometimes think i was born to live up to my name . how could i be anything else but what i am having been named madonna ? i would either have ended up a nun or this . ”
she fought especially hard against the rules imposed by her stepmother , joan gustafson , who met madonna & apos ; s father while working as the family housekeeper . madonna says gustafson often made her take care of the younger children in the household , a task she greatly resented .
i really saw myself as the quintessential cinderella ,
madonna later said .
i think that & apos ; s when i really thought about how i wanted to do something else and get away from all that .
she rebelled against her traditional upbringing by turning her conservative clothing into revealing outfits , frequenting underground gay nightclubs and rejecting her religious background .
using the success of the song as leverage , madonna convinced sire to produce the full - length album madonna in 1983 . the album was a slow but steady success , and included the hit singles
borderline ,
lucky star
and
holiday .
soon , girls all over the country were imitating madonna & apos ; s distinct sense of fashion , which included fishnet stockings , lace lingerie , fingerless gloves and large crucifix necklaces .
holiday
also earned the singer an appearance on dick clark & apos ; s american bandstand in 1984 , where she told the host that her main ambition was
to rule the world .
m . i . a . ’s bird - flipping aside , the most water cooler - worthy part of sunday night’s super bowl halftime show was madonna’s performance , where the stage almost upstaged the queen of pop herself .
“he invited me to open a studio 54 in madrid , ” said fleischman . “it was a casual thing . i should have jumped on it… i guess he could have helped me . i wish i had taken his offer . ”
the mudd club was silver . silver because of the punky silver chain that its owner , steve mass , slung out front at the door as a joke on studio’s velvet rope . silver because of the silver chains and accessories worn by its menacing - looking regulars , who , if you happened to bump into one , would invariably shy away with a polite “excuse me . ” silver because it was , to use mass’s favorite word , a “reaction” to studio’s gold .
after their marriage in 1955 , the couple moved to pontiac , michigan , to be close to tony & apos ; s job as a defense engineer . madonna was born three years later , during a visit with family in bay city . the third of six children , madonna learned early on how to handle her role as the middle child , admitting that she was
the sissy of the family
who often used her feminine wiles to get her way .
as of october 2013 , madonna had sold an estimated 305 , 600 , 000 albums . her best - sellers are the immaculate collection ( 1990 , 30 million copies sold ) and true blue ( 1986 , 25 million copies sold ) .
what are some of your wildest moments at studio 54 that you can talk about ? [ laughs ] ohh , i can’t , i can’t . it’s coming in my book – i’d say within the next 12 to 18 months . the outline is done .
what rubell learned mostly from addison was the cash cachet of bisexuality . there was no finer insurance at the time for a club’s success . so when studio opened in 1977 , rubell told bob colacello , “out” columnist for andy warhol’s interview magazine—which was often accused of serving as an in - house organ for studio—“it’s bisexual . very bisexual . very , very , very bisexual . and that’s how we choose the crowd , too . in other words , we want everybody to be fun and good - looking . ”
madonna not only co - starred in the penny marshall baseball drama a league of their own , but she also helped out with the soundtrack , landing her tenth no . 1 hit with the ballad
this used to be my playground .
the loss of her mother significantly affected madonna & apos ; s adolescence . haunted by the memories of her mother & apos ; s frailty and passive demeanor during her final days , madonna was determined to make her own voice heard .
i think the biggest reason i was able to express myself and not be intimidated was by not having a mother ,
she says .
for example , mothers teach you manners . and i absolutely did not learn any of those rules and regulations .
rumbling over potholes , he speeds up and up . “the hollywood studio system had that quality ; the extravagance of what they did in the thirties has never been matched , including star wars and all that special - effects junk . that’s close to my conception . ”
the club rubell wandered into was everything studio wasn’t , or , more exactly , wasn’t everything studio was . its walls were all gray . music blared from a record player resting on a bar covered with pilots’ charts , the rock ’n’ roll lps changed by a sullen bartender . a single annoying strobe flashed in the middle of the room . it was a down lounge , a slap in the face , with a young crowd wearing , as the jacket of preference , black leather . no disco . no fireworks . no ford models .
jimmy iovine will be honored by the recording academy ' s producers and engineers wing on wednesday , feb . 8 at the village recording studio ( 1616 butler ave . , los angeles ) . the fifth annual event is co - chaired by bono and dr . dre .
pop legend madonna is known for her constant reinvention as a performer . her biggest hits include
papa don ' t preach ,
like a prayer ,
vogue ,
secret
and
ray of light ,
among many others .
this year’s rsd we will see exclusive releases from massive music artists including metallica , david bowie , bob dylan , madonna and johnny cash – all of whom have a variety of guinness world records titles as well as an array of chart - topping records to their names .
on the eve of her 50th birthday in 2008 , madonna faced more challenges in her personal life . she spent much of the previous year fighting allegations that she circumvented traditional malawi laws to bring home her newly adopted son , david banda , whom she had been raising since 2006 . critics accused madonna of using her vast wealth to fast - track the adoption process , a charge she vigorously denied . a coalition of 67 local rights groups challenged the interim custody order on the grounds that existing laws in malawi do not allow for international adoptions .
despite the public outcry , madonna had become more popular than ever . the like a prayer album spawned a no . 1 title track as well as additional hits like
express yourself ,
cherish ,
keep it together
and
oh father .
by 1991 , she had achieved 21 top 10 hits in the united states and sold more than 70 million albums internationally , generating $ 1 . 2 billion in sales . committed to controlling her career , madonna helped found maverick records , a label under the warner music group , in april of 1992 .
madonna & apos ; s application to permanently adopt the boy was approved by malawai & apos ; s high court on may 28 , 2008 , the pop star & apos ; s lawyer said .
it & apos ; s a beautiful and positive judgment ,
alan chinula told reporters .
finally the court has granted madonna full adoption rights of the boy . . . . it & apos ; s all over , thank god .
she decided to adopt from malawai again , and in june 2009 , after another legal battle , was granted custody of mercy james .
fox won , which wasn ' t surprising given this was an era where studios ruled supreme over actors as the norm . brando had to pay $ 75 , 000 for the delay he caused to the egyptian , and he also had to appear in another movie for the studio , which would be desiree .
madonna received another lukewarm reception when it was announced she would be performing at super bowl xlvi in february 2012 . in advance of the show , many football fans complained about her selection as part of the halftime entertainment . she put on an impressive show , however , which featured her latest single
give me all your luvin & apos ; .
and this time around , it wasn & apos ; t madonna who created waves during the show . her musical guest , m . i . a . , provoked an outcry when she used an obscene hand gesture in her live performance .
studio 54 was never the same again . fleischman said the new owners tried to charge celebrities for drinks and admission when they once entered for free , luring “thousands of people who paid . ” the club shut down in the late ‘80s and the space remained vacant until 1998 . it’s currently the roundabout theatre company .
in 2011 , madonna released her latest film project , w . e . , about the american divorcée wallis simpson and her romance with britain & apos ; s king edward viii , contrasted with a more contemporary relationship . edward gave up his crown to marry simpson , and the couple became known as the duke and duchess of windsor . working behind the camera , madonna co - wrote and directed this romantic drama , which received decidedly mixed reviews . she , however , did pick up a golden globe for an original song she co - wrote and sung for the film ,
masterpiece .
the remarkable , hyper - ambitious material girl who never stops reinventing herself , madonna is a seven - time grammy award - winner who has sold over three hundred million records and cds to adoring fans worldwide . her film career , however , is another story . her performances have consistently drawn . . .
steve rubell learned many lessons from addison—they had actually been in business together at the enchanted garden and a club in boston , 15 lands - downe , until what rubell calls “different creative ideas” arose . le jardin was a top hat of white rabbits for studio . like the later rubell , addison used to lurk in the shadows near his doorman , approving who went in . addison invented busboys in white satin basketball shorts who would speed athletically around the floor of le jardin delivering trays of drinks , boom boom . those boy wonders were everywhere by the end of the decade—in green - tinted visors at infinity , shirtless and muscular at studio 54 .
she then made the move from the big screen to the london west end stage in the play up for grabs ( 2002 ) , and wrote her first children & apos ; s book , the english roses , which was published in 2003 , the same year as the release of her album american life . madonna was inducted into the inaugural uk music hall of fame in 2004 , and her next album confessions on a dancefloor came out the following year . around this time madonna became the artist with the most gold certified singles in the u . s . , beating the beatles & apos ; longstanding record .
she is such a renowned popstar that she has even inspired a guinness world records attempt for the largest gathering of people dressed as madonna . the 2014 fool ' s paradise drag party ( usa ) set the record with an incredible 440 people in fire island pines , new york , usa , in august 2014 .
at the 2006 moodyz awards , a competition among the major companies affiliated with the hokuto corporation , haga won the 5th place best director award . for the 2009 av grand prix , madonna nominated haga ' s raped female teacher , starring reiko makihara , which won one of the special awards for mature woman videos .
the american pop singer - songwriter ( b . robert zimmerman , 24 may 1941 ) was 73 years 266 days old when he debuted at no . 1 on the uk ' s official albums chart with his 36th studio set , shadows in the night , on 14 february 2015 and became the oldest uk charts topper ( male ) .
after that , as the book casting might - have - beens describes , 20th century fox received a letter from brando ' s psychiatrist , which told the studio that the star was
too sick
to appear in the film . fox didn ' t take this well , and in turn sued brando for reneging on his deal .
iovine : i ' m thrilled ! i couldn ' t be happier . we lost a whole generation to audio . and my whole life and career is based on sound . it’s how dre and i bonded in the beginning - - over the sound of the track . ground zero for me is audio . every system i have in my house or my car , they ' re all tuned exactly the same . that ' s the art - - there ' s a feel that those records have when kanye goes in the studio , or bono or rick rubin goes in the studio . what we ' re trying is to replicate what we ' ve done in studios for years .
madonna had released the greatest hits album the immaculate collection in 1990 , following that years later with something to remember ( 1995 ) , a round - up of her balladry that included the new song
you & apos ; ll see .
then in 1998 , she released ray of light , a critically - acclaimed outing that had her delving into electronica and spiritual exploration with the help of producer william orbit . more hits came in the form of songs like
frozen
and
the power of good - bye .
madonna also earned three grammys , two for the top 5 title track and one for the ray of light album itself .
unlike events at today’s p . r . palaces , palladium and the tunnel , where every night is a party , often promotional , parties at studio 54 were special . the party that launched studio was halston’s birthday party for bianca jagger , at which a naked black giant , his whole body covered in gold glitter , led bianca around on a white horse . elizabeth taylor’s birthday party was punctuated by a huge cake in the shape of the curvaceous actress : she took a slice off her own vanilla tit . for halloween 1977 , the year of star wars —the movie , not the defense policy—everyone came dressed as their favorites : darth vader , or princess leia , or r2 - d2 .
she’s got the disposition ( and the thick eyebrows ) to keep up with madonna’s likeness , and , after taking smaller roles in bigger productions ( suicide squad , pan ) she’s primed for a major hit of her own . leading blond ambition could be the perfect way for her to transition from supporting player to hollywood’s center stage .
as the world’s top selling female artist of all time madonna is not only the queen of pop but one of the most influential artists on modern music . since her debut album , released in 1983 , she has worked tirelessly to reinvent herself and her music through three decades and has built a huge and dedicated fan base worldwide .
in a just - surfaced letter that madonna allegedly wrote to her photographer pal steven meisel back in 1991 , when she was in chicago filming
a league of their own
with geena davis , the pop singer calls her co - star a
barbie doll
and says ,
i have made a few friends but they are athletes , not actresses . i hate actresses , they have nothing on the house of extravaganza .
she also writes ,
i would love to do this book thing with you so let ' s talk soon .
madonna and meisel would collaborate later on her controversial book ,
sex .
( letters of note )
the first of the dim clubs was probably scotty taylor’s milkbar , which opened in 1985 on lower seventh avenue . named after the stylized boîte in a clockwork orange , this cramped four - story club with glowing lunar - white walls and concealed pastel neon tubes was designed by arthur weinstein’s wife , colleen . it was a new hideaway for those cakewalking celebutantes who had shuffled from area to the mike todd room , only to begin to feel agoraphobic in the too democratic palladium . the host , street - mannered scotty , actually got his start in the night business by bartending for steve rubell at the enchanted garden and studio 54—“i was maybe the only guy working at studio at first who was straight . ”
the official version of rebel heart , madonna & apos ; s 13th full - length release , was released on march 10 , 2015 , with the deluxe version consisting of 19 tracks . the album is noticeably more stylistically diverse than its predecessors in terms of musical production , lyrically veering from vividly sexual provocation and contemporary boasting to quieter reflection .
as the world’s biggest selling female artist of all time madonna is not just the queen of pop but one of the most influential artists on modern music . since her debut album , released in 1983 , she has worked tirelessly to reinvent herself and her music through three extremely successful decades and has built a huge and dedicated fan base worldwide .
until howard stein opened xenon ( derisively labeled “xerox” by studio 54 regulars ) , and addison opened new york new york , studio 54 had no competition . models , after a grueling day standing in front of golden reflectors , enduring designer haircuts , being stuck with little pins , didn’t have to ask , “where are you going tonight ? ” the question was simply “what time are you getting there ? ” hundreds of that crowd still have recorded in the handheld cameras of their minds the same landscape : the long mirrored entrance hall ; the charged dance floor redolent with perfumes early in the evening , poppers later on ; the plush , shadowy balconies , languorous and pansexual , throbbing to the heartbeat of the disco music down below .
it didn’t mean that their parents still didn’t keep coming because they did . . . it was an interesting time to see this young crowd get along with calvin klein , liza minnelli , andy warhol — they all kept coming . studio 54 became a habit for a lot of people… once you were inside , it felt like nothing could happen to you . ”
through 2014 , madonna was reportedly at work on her next album , said to be collaborating with producers like avicii and diplo as seen via instagram . in december of that year , however , more than a dozen songs planned for her 2015 album rebel heart were leaked online . ( an israeli singer was later arrested and indicted for the thefts . )
that month , madonna also performed lead single
living for love
live at the 57th annual grammy with a bull and matador theme . more than two weeks later she performed the song at the brit awards , but fell down a short flight of stairs due to a wardrobe mishap , with the singer later reporting that she & apos ; d suffered whiplash .
but madonna balanced this insubordinate side of her personality with a drive for perfectionism and high achievement . she was a straight - a student , cheerleader and disciplined dancer who graduated from high school a semester earlier than her peers . in 1976 , her hard work earned her the attentions of the university of michigan , which offered her a full scholarship to their dance program .
in 2017 , madonna attempted to legally halt the auction of several of her personal items , then in the possession of ex - personal assistant darlene lutz . however , the singer had previously signed a release from
any and all
future claims against her former friend and employee , and as such a judge ruled that the disputed auction could continue the following year .
iovine : they ' re great artists . and they made really good albums , both of them . i heard both records before we made the deal and i was really honored that they wanted to be on interscope - - stunned , to be honest , i didn ' t know either of them well . i know eddie [ van halen ] and madonna a little bit , . guy oseary ( madonna’s manager ) is an incredible guy and one of the coolest people i’ve ever met in the business . the opportunity was there and the people at live nation were really supportive . nowadays , everybody goes label shopping , and these people were , like , “i want to work with interscope . ” so i said , “yes , great ! ”
projecting animated images of vogue magazine , classic hollywood stars and booming loudspeakers , the floor was a visually dynamic display upon which madonna , joined by younger pop stars such as nicki minaj , m . i . a . , cee lo green and lmfao , debuted her new single “give me all your luvin’” and revisited old hits “vogue , ” “music” and “like a prayer . ”
painters became the new celebrities at the clubs , replacing the designers of the seventies . at studio , whenever calvin klein or halsten leaned at the carousel bar , a line of young kids would form to try to meet them . it seemed they all wanted to be models in those days . at area and palladium , the artists and downtown art dealers were the big draws . art was fashionable .
fleischman also became a comrade to dodi fayed , the son of egyptian billionaire mohamed al - fayed . the playboy , who reportedly had an insatiable appetite for women , even traveled down the dangerous streets of downtown manhattan after studio 54 would close up for the night at 5 a . m . to keep the partying going , fleischman claimed . fleischman said fayed frequently visited crisco disco , a popular gay discotheque .
it’s tempting , too , to see steve rubell as hyperactively there through all of them . like a mercury in penny loafers . his studio 54 was the olympus of the golden age . he hotfooted it down quite early on to the mudd club , which ushered in the silver age of punk downtown . ( rubell did spend a good part of this age behind the silver bars of a minimum - security prison for tax evasion at studio . but what could be more punk ? ) his palladium was the premier club of the bronze age , trying a bit unsuccessfully to filter the golden and silver hues of the past into a winning fusion of uptown and downtown . and now , with rumors of a supper club opening in the fall in one of his recently purchased hotels , he’s intimately involved in the dim age .
quiet , clean , spacious , charming , historic , warm , friendly , reasonable . the proprietor met us with a warm smile and a jar of honey from her family farm . this was our greeting as we walked into the door of madonna studios . we felt like we had walked into our own house and a favorite sister was waiting to greet us . thomias was out . . .
studio 54 marked the rise of performance art , now perhaps the dominant collective art form in manhattan nightlife . before then , drag queens had cornered the market on folk - camp costumes . at studio , everyone dressed up . eric goode , today the owner of the downtown club area , remembers wearing his pj’s . rollerena , a gent rumored to be a wall street broker by day , roller - skated in nightly dressed in a taffeta gown , waving a starry fairy - god - mother wand . and there was disco sally , the seventy - year - old grandmother who just loved to dance . this game of disguising the everyday self in glam rags , or of turning into a stock character , was tailor - made for a society designed more and more as an exhibition of itself . after all , it was too noisy , and too late , to communicate with words .
in 1977 , during her undergraduate studies at michigan , madonna was awarded a six - week scholarship to study with the alvin ailey american dance theater in new york city , followed by a rare opportunity to perform with choreographer pearl lang in 1978 . at the urging of her dance instructor , the budding star dropped out of college after only two years of study in order to move to new york and further her dance career .
in the next five years , madonna & apos ; s life was a whirlwind of activity . on august 16 , 1985 , she married actor sean penn and co - starred with him in the film shanghai surprise ( 1986 ) . she then went on to star in three more movies over the next few years : who & apos ; s that girl ( 1987 ) , bloodhounds of broadway ( 1989 ) and dick tracy ( 1990 ) . madonna & apos ; s soundtrack album i & apos ; m breathless : music from and inspired by the film dick tracy resulted in two top 10 hits :
vogue
and
hanky panky .
she also released four more hit albums : true blue ( 1986 ) , who & apos ; s that girl ( 1987 ) , you can dance ( 1987 ) and like a prayer ( 1989 ) .
this was followed by the debut of madonna & apos ; s 1989
like a prayer
video , which was to be aired on mtv as part of a lucrative pepsi endorsement . the video featured interracial relationship themes , burning crosses and a blending of sexual innuendo and religious ideologies . as a result of the video , pope john paul ii urged fans not to attend her concerts in italy , and pepsi pulled their endorsement of the star .
to counterattack the theft , madonna released six songs online before christmas , with the tracks reaching the top 10 of itunes & apos ; charts in various countries . however , more controversy followed in january when the singer released via instagram doctored portraits of prominent leaders and artists like nelson mandela and bob marley bound by black chord , mirroring the cover art of her forthcoming album . and in early february 2015 , there was another album leak of rebel heart .
the current dim age isn’t dim because of an absence of fun . and certainly not because fewer people are going out . ( when studio 54 opened , rubell estimates , there were five thousand people out on a saturday night . now the census is closer to 40 , 000 . ) it’s dim only because of a trend to small , intimate , dimly lit supper clubs , cocktail lounges , and rock dens . tiny torch clubs are the tock in response to palladium’s tick .
by 1996 , madonna had proven her versatility as a star in both film and music . she starred in the critically acclaimed screen adaptation of the andrew lloyd webber musical evita ( 1996 ) , which also featured antonio banderas . she won a golden globe for best performance by an actress in a motion picture - comedy or musical , and in the film she performed
you must love me ,
which earned an academy award for music , original song .
pop music singer madonna was born in bay city , michigan on august 16 , 1958 . in 1981 , she went solo as a pop singer and became a sensation on the then male - dominated & apos ; 80s music scene . by 1991 , she had achieved 21 top 10 hits in the united states and sold more than 70 million albums internationally . in january 2008 , she was named the world & apos ; s wealthiest female musician by forbes magazine .
jellybean benitez isn’t the kind of superstar who gets mobbed by adoring fans whenever he walks down the street – at least these days , now that he’s not dating madonna anymore . but the old - school dj from new york is a true dance - music pioneer , a shaper of history who produced or remixed many of the material girl’s hits in the early ‘80s , including “holiday , ” “lucky star” and “borderline , ” plus his own enduring tracks including “sidewalk talk . ”
when studio finally did open—on april 26 , 1977—every other club in town dropped dead . by the end of that summer ( when the tanned returned from fire island and points beyond ) , hurrah’s had completely dissipated . the fabulous people had fled to higher ground . asked why , weinstein , who until recently could be seen making the rounds in black leather vest , black chinos , and pointy boots at the milkbar , where he “consulted , ” replies bluntly : “rubell just built a better mousetrap . ”
“at studio 54 , we were not allowed to serve liquor after 4 , and we normally closed by 5 , ” said fleischman . “but people didn’t want to sleep . they were all hopped up on whatever drugs they were taking . so we all piled into limos and head down to chelsea… those after - hours clubs would stay open until noon . but they were completely illegal . and that’s what made it so fun . there was drinking , everyone was doing cocaine and poppers . it was quite the scene . ”
aside from the hot collaboration news , fans were treated to an up - close look at madonna ' s forearms , complete with a ( we ' re guessing ) sharpie - made dinosaur tattoo to match diplo ' s ( it ' s a diplodocus … get it ? ) , plus fingerless mittens and some golden wrist bling . says the caption ,
working with @ diplo got me like . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . whaaaaat ?
if you were casting blond ambition solely based on physicality , few actresses seem better suited for the part than imogen poots . the london native has a keen ability to excel in roles where she’s fighting back against seemingly insurmountable odds , whether it’s hordes of zombies in 28 weeks later or murderous neo - nazi skinheads in green room , and she’d be suited to challenge the patriarchy — just like madonna did at the dawn of her career — amid the backdrop of new york city grit in blond ambition .
as always , madonna mixed her drive for success with her penchant for scandalous behavior . it started with her controversial 1985 performance of her hit single
like a virgin
on the mtv music awards , which involved writhing around suggestively onstage in a wedding dress . then came her marriage to penn , which was marred by reports of domestic violence and his assault of a photographer—behavior that landed him a month & apos ; s jail time and eventually led to the couple & apos ; s very public divorce .
iovine : i ' m happy with studio infiltration , but i ' m thrilled when i see 12 - to 20 - year olds walking down the street with beats and not two - dollar earbuds . the math doesn ' t work when they have a $ 400 mp3 player . so seeing young people caring about sound again and realizing that it ' s not cool to not have good sound , that means a lot . that ' s how i grew up - - it wasn ' t cool to not have a good system .
then he heard from carmen d’alessio that a cbs television studio on west fifty - fourth street was up for sale . uva harden , a successful model who went on to open the men’s division at elite , had been buying the lease to the old what’s my line studio with the backing of the marlborough gallery—an early inkling of today’s all - powerful art world—nightclub complex . as paul garcia , an ex - model with swarthy , cavingin bogart looks , who has been involved in a series of clubs culminating in last year’s world , tells the story , “uva had all these beautiful babes and he used to go to hurrah’s . he kept saying , ‘the time’s right to get a huge place , make an enormous disco—it’ll be a big success . pay a disc jockey seventy - five or a hundred dollars a night and that’s your entertainment overhead . ’ ” unfortunately for uva and his babes , marlborough gallery lost a court case to the heirs of the mark rothko estate and , faced with a $ 7 . 3 million settlement , it pulled out a week before a major payment .
benitez – real name john ( he got his nickname from his sister because of his initials , j . b . ) – also was a resident dj at the infamous studio 54 nightclub in manhattan during its heyday in the late ‘70s . but the 40 - year veteran will be performing at a much more low - key gig thursday night at the perez art museum miami , where super - cool party promoter poplife will present an event featuring interactive art , affordable drinks and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches , and soulful house and classic disco from jellybean .
did you start dating madonna before producing her music ? yeah , it was right before – we met at the [ new york club ] funhouse . it was quite common for record companies to bring by new artists , and we met , and she asked me if i’d be interested in working on some of her songs . and the rest is history , so to speak . we started working on stuff , then we started dating , then we started living together . and after about two years we broke up , and remain really good friends .