Compliance & Regulation
Under-fire tax barrister handed 18-month interim suspension
The barrister whose £8m claim against high-profile tax lawyer Dan Neidle was ruled the first statutory SLAPP has been handed an interim suspension until September 2027.
Call to shift “modest” solicitor-client costs disputes from court to LeO
Costs disputes between solicitors and their clients worth up to £50,000 should be dealt with by the Legal Ombudsman and not the courts, the Civil Justice Council has proposed.
SRA unveils plan for beefed-up continuing competence regime
A beefed-up continuing competence regime for solicitors, including mandatory record-keeping and discussions about ethics has been laid out by the SRA.
Exclusive: CA clarifies Mazur ruling after Law Society application
The Court of Appeal has made amendments to its Mazur ruling to make clear that law firms are not at risk of committing a criminal offence through inadequate supervision of unauthorised persons.
Leading national firm fined £160k for accounts rule breaches
National law firm Taylor Rose has been fined £160,000 for multiple breaches, including residual balances held for up to seven years and not self-reporting to the SRA.
SRA “should ask KC” to review approach to SLAPPs
The Solicitors Regulation Authority should consider commissioning an independent KC to review its approach to prosecuting SLAPPs, a leading media lawyer has argued.
The drama is over – no Mazur appeal
The Law Society has decided against trying to appeal last month’s Court of Appeal ruling in Mazur, it has confirmed to Legal Futures.
Reviewer urges better understanding of SQE format
There should be more effort to help candidates and others understand why multiple-choice questions are used in the SQE, its independent reviewer has suggested.
Legal Services Board reverses plan to reduce budget
The Legal Services Board has reversed its plan to reduce its budget and instead approved a small increase, amounting to an extra £1.79 on every authorised lawyer’s practising fees.
SRA puts size of suspected PM Law fraud at £40m
The SRA’s investigation into PM Law “involves a sophisticated suspected fraud”, with the improper removal and misuse of £39.5m of client funds.
Blog
Lessons from Sir Keir Starmer for SRA chief
The proposed 29%, or £25m, increase in the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s budget announced last week should really come as no great surprise.
The hidden risks in client account reconciliations
The client account reconciliation process will be second nature to most people in legal finance – and so is also a potential area for a problem to be undetected until it becomes serious.
Mentoring the next generation of litigation leaders
As a female lawyer, from the North, with a state school education, I understand the value of sharing perspectives, experiences and contacts.
