Compliance & Regulation
Lawyers face beefed-up rules on handling complaints
Changes to statutory requirements on how lawyers handle complaints will move closer this week amid concern that consumers are being let down at the moment.
Fine for firm that failed to recognise conflict in property dispute
A law firm that failed to recognise a conflict of interest when it acted for one party in a dispute over a boundary issue on a property it had divided has been fined £4,250.
Solicitor who “continuously and repeatedly” lied to client is struck off
A solicitor who “continuously and repeatedly” lied to a client about the progress of his professional negligence claim has been struck off.
Lawyer eco-campaigners urge City giant to stop fossil fuel work
Climate change campaign group Lawyers Are Responsible has urged law firm giant Allen & Overy to cease acting on fossil fuel infrastructure projects and refuse any future instructions.
SRA to publish salaries of fined solicitors
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to publish the salaries of the solicitors it fines and impose ‘default salaries’ on those who refuse to reveal them.
Solicitor’s inadequate AML checks led to property frauds
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has suspended the owner of a London law firm whose “failings” resulted in two fraudulent property transactions.
Solicitor fabricated court order to hide lack of progress with case
A solicitor who fabricated a court order to hide his lack of progress with a case – as well as an email purporting to seek enforcement of it – has been struck off.
Post Office lawyers referred to SRA over ‘without prejudice’ letters
Campaigning lawyer Dan Neidle has referred the Post Office’s legal team to the SRA over ‘without prejudice’ letters sent to victims of the flawed Horizon computer system.
SDT refused to disclose witness statements in sexual misconduct case
The SDT refused to disclose the witness statements of three young women who gave evidence of sexual misconduct by City lawyer Oliver Bretherton to journalists, it has emerged.
BSB to lobby councils over disabled access to listed chambers buildings
The Bar Standards Board has written to chief planning officers in central London to express concern at the difficulties chambers face in adapting historic buildings for disabled access.
Blog
Why this is the year for law firms to embrace generative AI
After more than a year of pilots, proofs of value and early experimentation, firms are increasingly embedding AI into day-to-day workflows.
Client account interest is not spare change
The proposed Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts scheme is being framed as a sensible, international, “tried and tested” way for the profession to help fund a justice system under strain.
The formula for finance-enabled business development
Client concentration or over-dependence now counts as a top strategic risk for 26% of firms. Cross-selling is an antidote – a way to bolster revenue resilience without relying on client acquisition.
