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No law firm in the world has a client base like Slater & Gordon’s, its managing director claimed today. Andrew Grech also said that aside from the “dislocation” of a few senior staff at Pannone, integration of its various acquisitions has gone well.

Average profit per equity partner (PEP) for the top 10 law firms has exceeded £1m for first time since 2008, reaching £1.03m, while they also recorded a record average profit margin of 40%, PwC has reported.

Over 1,300 solicitors – from small practices to some of the biggest in the City – have joined rating and review website VouchedFor, and 1,100 client reviews have already been posted, the company has said.

Nearly half of law firms – 47% – secured cheaper indemnity insurance this year, a survey has suggested. Half of these obtained “significant” reductions. It also indicated a move by firms from unrated to rated insurers.

The Ministry of Justice has made it clear that it is not in favour of any form of regulation for will-writing, following calls by LeO for a voluntary ombudsman scheme. It said “other options should be explored first

The Lord Chancellor should be a “very senior lawyer”, Nicholas Lavender QC, chairman of the Bar Council, has said. Support for the role being held by a lawyer also came from the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.

The chief legal ombudsman, Adam Sampson, has called on the government to extend its jursidction to unregulated will-writing and probate providers – while also highlighting continued shortcomings among regulated providers.

Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) has announced that it is switching its volume conveyancing partner, from Blacks in Leeds to TCS in Cheshire. It said working with TCS “will allow us to broaden our offering for customers and members, and will increase the capacity of our service”.

Chris Grayling, the Lord Chancellor, said this morning he could see “no disadvantages” in the post being occupied by a non-lawyer.

The legal regulators should have full independence, and ‘approved regulator’ role of the Bar Council, Law Society and other professional bodies should be abolished, the chair of the Bar Standards Board argued yesterday.