Compliance & Regulation
Firms reported for oppressive “pre-emptive” NDAs imposed on actors
Law firms at the heart of forcing oppressive non-disclosure agreements on actors have been reported to the Solicitors Regulation Authority, it emerged yesterday.
SRA issues fines exceeding £55,000 for AML compliance breaches
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has handed out more than £55,000 in fines to firms and individual lawyers for breaches of anti-money laundering requirements.
Bar Council warns regulator over plans for chambers
The Bar Council has warned the Bar Standards Board not to go too far in its oversight of chambers and said its idea of encouraging smaller sets to merge is “inappropriate”.
Management consultant to take helm of Legal Services Consumer Panel
A management consultant with significant retail and healthcare experience has been named as the new chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel.
Rush to meet end of SDLT holiday caused solicitor to let down client
A conveyancer who forgot to put in place a declaration of trust on the ownership of a property in the rush to beat the stamp duty holiday deadline in 2021 has been rebuked.
Solicitor rebuked for making direct approaches to potential clients
A solicitor who contacted hundreds of people on a spreadsheet he was accidentally sent to ask if they wanted to bring data protection claims over the error has been rebuked.
Law firm secretary banned after county lines drug gang conviction
A legal secretary convicted of offences to supply class A drugs due to her involvement in a county lines gang has been banned from working in the solicitors’ profession.
Campaign group calls on lawyers to join push for NDA law reform
A campaign group has urged the legal profession to support legislative reform to stop the abuse of non-disclosure agreements.
Partner used colleague’s signature on statements of truth
A partner who signed statements of truth in six cases using an absent assistant solicitor’s signature has been handed a short suspension.
CMCs warned over using FCA badge to boost unregulated work
Claims management companies have been warned to stop using their Financial Conduct Authority authorisation to lend credibility to their unregulated activities.
Blog
Accountability has to live within governance, not with one person
The assumption has long been that a COLP or COFA is personally exposed to the consequences of anti-money laundering breaches.
The SRA’s client money reforms: good intentions, questionable execution
On the face of it, the SRA’s plans to tighten protections around client money sounds sensible. The detail, as ever, tells a more complicated story.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
