The essential guide to conduct, compliance and competence, and the Legal Services Act
Legal Services Act
RJW deal shows firms have a realisable value – and are getting “real” about business, say experts
Slater & Gordon’s takeover of Russell Jones & Walker is evidence that law firms are “joining the real business world” and that there is realisable value in legal practices, leading consultants have said.
New websites aid solicitors seeking barristers, and consumers seeking solicitors they can trust
A new service has been launched that allows solicitors to contact numerous sets of barristers chambers simultaneously to check what counsel are available for a case they are looking to cover. Meanwhile, another online service aimed at helping consumers find tradesmen is now targeting the legal market.
News in brief: solicitors, accountants and IFAs join forces, “ABSs are future for conveyancing”, and more
Our latest news round-up takes in an innovative partnership to combine financial, taxation and legal advice, an update on ABS applications, the role for ABSs in the conveyancing market, growing fraud claims against solicitors, support for provisional assessment, and new blood at the OLC.
RJW sets sights on dominating consumer legal market
Russell Jones & Walker aims to use its new access to capital to become one of the two or three players that will “dominate” the consumer legal market in the years to come, its chief executive has said.
Slater & Gordon to enter UK market with £54m purchase of Russell Jones & Walker
The world’s first listed legal practice, Australia’s Slater & Gordon, is to enter the UK market after agreeing to buy national law firm Russell Jones & Walker for £53.8 million. All of RJW’s principals will continue to work in the new business and are becoming shareholders in S&G.
Rapid consolidation in conveyancing market as hundreds of firms quit
The conveyancing market is consolidating fast, with the big getting bigger and the small getting out, figures from the Land Registry have indicated. Some 1,300 fewer legal practices made applications to the registry for transfers in 2011 than in the previous 12 months.
Lawyers strike back? EU proposals could allow them to complain about clients
The government has been urged to oppose European proposals that could allow lawyers to make complaints about their clients. The Legal Services Consumer Panel has otherwise welcomed the EU proposals which could provide redress against unregulated providers.
A4e sets sights on offering spread of “affordable” legal services to individuals and businesses
Leading welfare-to-work business A4e is planning to offer both consumers and businesses a broad range of legal services at a “more affordable” cost than currently seen in the market, it has confirmed.
Quindell adds major accident management business to law firm acquisition
Quindell Portfolio plc – the company which on Tuesday announced its intention to buy Liverpool law firm Silverbeck Rymer – has continued its acquisition spree by taking a 29.9% stake in a major accident management business which will feed work to the firm.
Micro-managing LSB “risks independence of profession”
The Legal Services Board’s “unduly detailed approach to oversight” risks undermining professional independence, the Law Society president has claimed. John Wotton also argued that alternative business structures have “no magic bullet in competitive terms”.
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Associate News
Demystifying the banking process – what your bank looks for in your firm
QualitySolicitors Keith Park implements Peppermint Portal
David Thorpe joins fast-growing technology innovator Peppermint Technology
DAS appoints head of marketing
Take client interaction to the next level with the Peppermint Platform
LexisNexis Visualfiles Helps Essex Legal Services deliver savings for the Public Law Partnership
Roadshow highlights potential perils of new COLP/COFA roles
