Latest news
Cartwright King launches first “in-house chambers”
National firm Cartwright King has opened what it describes as the first “in-house chambers”, made up of 20 advocates, including five barristers. All the solicitors in the chambers are higher court advocates.
Law firms “increasingly worried” by threat of ABSs and non-solicitor competitors
Competition from alternative business structures and non-solicitor organisations is of increasing concern to law firms, Law Society research has revealed. At the same time, compliance with Solicitors Regulation Authority rules remains the main problem identified by solicitors.
SRA to give law firms online tool to compare how diverse they are
Law firms will be able to check the diversity data of similar practices from next month, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said. This will give them confidence to improve their own diversity, the head of its equality committee said.
Kenny goes from regulating lawyers to defending doctors and dentists
Chris Kenny, outgoing chief executive of the Legal Services Board, is to join the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, it has emerged. The union is a fund of over half a billion pounds being managed for the benefit of 40,000 members throughout the UK.
Knowledge more important than price for law firms choosing IT suppliers
Specialist knowledge and expertise are more important than price or consistency of delivery for law firms choosing an IT supplier, research has found.
East London ABS the first to specialise in Islamic finance
A British PhD student, a Polish accountant and a Brazilian lawyer have come together to form a unique alternative business structure, the first to specialise in Islamic finance.
BLP launches Streamline “process improvement” service
City law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner has launched Streamline, a “process improvement service” designed to cope with the legal challenges of big construction projects and complex or high-volume commercial litigation.
Former barrister and judge wins disbarment appeal
Rabi Sukul, a former barrister accused of drafting false grounds of appeal for a young criminal client, has won the right to a fresh disciplinary tribunal hearing on whether or not he should have been disbarred.
Court of Appeal throws out QASA challenge
The Court of Appeal today comprehensively dismissed four criminal law barristers’ challenge to the Legal Services Board’s approval of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates. With the Master of the Rolls, Lord Dyson, giving the lead judgment, the court found that the scheme is lawful.
Top European debt purchaser buys specialist advocacy law firm
One of Europe’s largest debt purchasers has acquired a Welsh law firm that specialises in outsourced advocacy following the grant of an alternative business structure (ABS) licence by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
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.
