Compliance & Regulation
City law firm staff banned after indecent photos convictions
Two support staff at leading City practices have been banned from the profession after being convicted of possessing indecent photographs of children.
“Over-excited” firms risk ChatGPT data breaches
Law firms and other businesses that are “over-excited” by the potential of ChatGPT to boost productivity risk inputting sensitive and confidential client information.
SRA to use new economic crime power “hundreds of times a year”
The Solicitors Regulation Authority expects to use its proposed new power to demand information from solicitors about economic crime several hundred times a year, it has emerged.
SRA fines firm £5k for persistent anti-money laundering failures
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has continued to flex its new fining powers by issuing a £5,000 penalty against a law firm for six years of anti-money laundering failures.
Two for two: struck-off Irish solicitor struck off in England and Wales
A solicitor already struck off in Ireland for a different offence has now been struck off in England and Wales after using one client’s money to pay another’s tax liability.
Partner suspended for trying to “trick” farmer out of tenancy
A partner in a large Midlands law firm, who tried to “trick” an elderly farmer out of part of his protected tenancy in the way he sent notices to quit, has been suspended for a year.
High Court: Solicitor did not “condone” partner’s £16m fraud
The insurer of London law firm Jirehouse – whose founder was jailed last year for fraud – has failed its ongoing bid to exclude liability for £6m in losses suffered by a client.
Solicitor who misled clients over LPA forms is struck off
A solicitor who told clients that the Office of the Public Guardian was to blame for what were actually her own errors in registering lasting powers of attorney has been struck off.
SRA sets out fee caps for financial mis-selling claims
The SRA has set out the fee caps it is planning to impose to prevent law firms handling financial product or services mis-selling claims from charging “excessive” fees.
Irwin Mitchell contact centre worker pretended to be lawyer
A contact-centre worker at Irwin Mitchell, who led another law firm to believe she was acting in an employment matter against its client, has been banned from working for law firms.
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.
