Compliance & Regulation
LSB puts SRA under pressure amid fears of more law firm collapses
The Legal Services Board is to bear down on the Solicitors Regulation Authority amid concern that more collapses could follow the likes of Axiom Ince and PM Law.
FCA review to turn up heat on law firms and CMCs over claims work
The Financial Conduct Authority is stepping up pressure on claims management companies and law firms by launching a review of the claims management market.
Partner struck off for ‘witnessing’ unsigned leases
A partner who witnessed two leases as having been signed in his presence when they had not has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Barrister accidentally sent “life-threatening information” to journalist
A barrister who accidentally sent confidential information about an immigration client to a journalist without his permission has been fined £10,000.
Dual FCA and SRA-regulated business goes into administration
A wealth management firm that a decade ago became one of the first to adopt dual regulation by the SRA and FCA has gone into administration after its key lawyer left.
Exclusive: AI-powered US firm targets UK after $60m fund-raise
A US company that last week announced a $60m Series A fund-raise is set to bring the model of a law firm backed by its AI system to England and Wales, Legal Futures can reveal.
Solicitor’s failure to redeem charges “a warning to profession”
The case of a solicitor who wrongly thought charges on a property had been removed is “a warning that even experienced professionals could make serious errors in judgment under extreme stress”.
Bar Council faces discrimination claim over Black interns scheme
The Bar Council is facing a discrimination claim over its 10,000 Black Interns programme by a white woman who says her application was rejected because of her race.
Partner who acted on Ponzi scheme fined £30k over conflict of interest
A partner who acted on what turned out to be a fraudulent Ponzi scheme has been fined £30,000 for accepting a role to protect the interest of the scheme’s bondholders.
SRA hands out first fixed penalties for AML information failures
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued the first fixed fines to firms that failed to provide it with information about their anti-money laundering and sanctions controls.
Blog
Is clients’ use of AI destroying legal privilege?
Much has been written about the risks of lawyers misusing AI. However, in my view, the greater challenge lies elsewhere: the routine use of AI by clients themselves.
Does the Lloyd review mark the end of the Legal Services Act?
The Legal Services Board often generates eye-rolls and irritation from the leaders of the frontline regulators it oversees and of the representative bodies attached to them.
A familiar story?
There is no doubt that the rising cost of clinical negligence claims deserves attention. However, the system’s true cost driver is often not the claim itself.
