Compliance & Regulation
ICO reprimands law firm after client data ends up on dark web
A law firm that was hacked and had sensitive client data published on the dark web has been reprimanded by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Law firm rebuked for failing to comply with undertaking
A law firm that failed to comply with an undertaking it gave in a conveyancing transaction within a reasonable time has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Shiner’s guilty plea to trigger payments to law firm’s creditors
The liquidator of Public Interest Lawyers will shortly declare a dividend to creditors following the the guilty plea of its disgraced founder, Phil Shiner.
CMA targets seven unregulated wills and divorce providers
The CMA has written to seven unregulated providers of wills and online divorce services, warning them about “aggressive upselling, the refusal of refunds and failing to respond to complaints”.
Costs and staff numbers at Law Society Group on the rise
The size and cost of the Law Society Group – primarily made up of the Law Society representative body and the Solicitors Regulation Authority – continues to rise, its accounts have shown.
BSB calls in external law firm to help with cross-qualifying lawyers
The Bar Standards Board is set to bring in external solicitors to help clear the sizeable backlog of applications by foreign lawyers wanting to requalify at the Bar.
Rebuke for solicitor who held onto client money for 14 years
A solicitor who retained client money for 14 years without good reason has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Barrister disbarred over CV that lied about work in chambers
A barrister who lied about having practised from a well-known London set when in fact he had never even gone through pupillage has been disbarred.
Male barristers “not being held to account” for bullying women
The Bar Standards Board is “not holding perpetrator barristers accountable for harassment and bullying of women”, female barrister groups have argued.
Veteran solicitor and domestic abuse victim can return to roll
A veteran solicitor who was struck off in 2002 “against a background of traumatic domestic abuse” has been allowed to return to the roll to work in a pro bono law clinic.
Blog
Amplifying reach through employee-driven thought leadership
Nine in 10 executives believe thought leadership is critical to building authority, yet only a quarter feel they have implemented a robust strategy.
Divorce escrow: asset sales before final settlement
When significant matrimonial assets are sold before a final financial order is agreed, holding the proceeds safely and neutrally can present real practical challenges.
AML lacks clarity – and standards are suffering
If firms are buckling under the pressure of AML regulations, subject to ever-increasing fines, then something is clearly not working as it should be.
