Latest news
Linder Myers refinancing avoids administration
Manchester firm Linder Myers has avoided administration by completing a deal which will see the firm refinance its debts and appoint a chief executive to lead the practice.
QASA's future on knife edge as advocates' boycott holds
A tiny number of criminal advocates has so far signed up to the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA), suggesting a profession-wide boycott of the scheme is holding.
LexisNexis awarded ABS licence to launch compliance service
LexisNexis UK has been licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority as an alternative business structure (ABS) to launch a compliance business combining content, technology and advisory services.
BT legal chief warns firms of new entrant threat as its ABS eyes expansion
There is no reason why you need a law firm to carry out many of the tasks that traditional firms have previously handled, the group general counsel of BT has warned. Dan Fitz also revealed that it was looking to expand the work handled by BT Law, the company’s ABS.
Judge cites Karl Marx in rejecting law firm’s bid to exit professional indemnity scheme
A global law firm has been knocked back by a judge quoting Karl Marx, after seeking a waiver from the Isle of Man Law Society’s indemnity insurance requirements.
Online barrister service seeks crowdfunding to back major expansion plans
A website that connects the public directly with barristers is the latest legal business to seek crowdfunding after it launched a bid to raise £150,000 in expansion capital. The site, myBarrister, wants to sign up 1,000 barristers by the end of the year.
Judge rejects solicitor’s anonymity bid to hide tax penalty from SRA
A solicitor has lost an appeal against an HMRC refusal to anonymise its decision, so as to prevent the Solicitors Regulation Authority from discovering that a penalty had been imposed on him for ‘deliberate inaccuracy’.
Sir Michael Pitt to be new LSB chairman
Senior civil servant Sir Michael Pitt will take over from David Edmonds as chairman of the Legal Services Board (LSB), it has been announced. Mr Pitt has no legal background and was chief executive of the Planning Inspectorate for three years from March 2011.
Withers negligence case set to rumble on
The negligence case brought against leading London law firm Withers – which led last week to a ruling that it pay out £1.6m over a drafting error – is set to continue after its former client announced an intention to appeal a part of the claim that failed.
Pioneering online dispute resolution service launches divorce package
A groundbreaking online dispute resolution (ODR) service is gearing up for live trials of its expanded 2.0 version, which will initially offer an end-to-end legal support package for divorcing couples.
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.
