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Row over unrated insurers erupts after SRA bids to calm Balva worries

The Solicitors Regulation Authority is holding firm against criticism over its position on unrated professional indemnity insurers after Latvian underwriter Balva – which covers 1,300 law firms – was prohibited from writing new UK business.

April 17th, 2013 | 1 Comment »

Indemnity premiums fell last year but Law Society warns firms over unrated insurers

Two-thirds of law firms saw their professional indemnity insurance premiums go down last year, with switching insurers the most common way of securing it, Law Society figures have revealed. The society has also warned that under-pressure small firms are risking their future by going with unrated providers.

April 9th, 2013 | No Comments »

Clients reject notion of lower legal fees in return for reduced consumer protection

Consumers believe regulators ensure they have protections when buying legal services – although they don’t really know what they are – and are content to pay extra for them, a survey of users’ perceptions has found. But they also expect lawyers to provide better information about their rights.

February 8th, 2013 | 1 Comment »

New indemnity insurers capture market share as solicitors pay less for their cover this year

Greater competition for business has led to a small fall in the amount of money solicitors paid for their basic professional indemnity cover this year, figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority show. New entrants captured more than 10% of the market.

November 8th, 2012 | No Comments »

Relief for solicitors’ wallets as small number of firms apply to enter ARP

The number of applications from law firms to enter the assigned risks pool in its last year is back to pre-crisis levels, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has reported. This year the profession is liable to pay the first £10m in claims that arise from the pool.

October 3rd, 2012 | No Comments »

SRA ‘unsure’ whether to act on complaints of loss-leader pricing by law firms

Complaints from competitors that a law firm is engaging in predatory pricing are difficult to deal with, the Solicitors Regulation Authority admitted last week. At the same time, regulators were urged to make it easier for firms to inform them about what other practices in their area were up to.

October 2nd, 2012 | 2 Comments »

News in brief: SRA launches Hillsborough probe, two more ABSs, PC renewal timetable and more

Our latest round-up of news you need to know includes the SRA launching an investigation into the conduct of solicitors after the Hillsborough disaster, the latest ABS licences, PC renewal details, and a bid to ensure high standards of complaints handling among conveyancers.

September 21st, 2012 | No Comments »

High Court quashes demand for solicitor to pay £150,000 ARP premium

A solicitor has successfully challenged a demand to stump up nearly £150,000 in unpaid assigned risks pool premiums. He was able to show that the ARP’s manager had not established that he was personally liable for the debt of the LLP in question.

September 19th, 2012 | No Comments »

Report: indemnity insurance market softening this year but underwriters wary of non-lawyer owners

There are signs of a softer professional indemnity insurance market for some law firms this year, but underwriters are looking to handle alternative business structures with care, a new report has claimed.

August 17th, 2012 | 1 Comment »

News in brief: pre-pack saves law firm, Pannone’s white-label arm wins contract, and more

Our latest round-up includes the pre-pack sale of a Devon law firm, new business wins for Pannone and Gateley, the merger of big-hitting law firm consultancies, a new PII offering for small firms, and a bogus e-mail warning from the SRA.

August 14th, 2012 | No Comments »