Latest news
DWF: we hope to resume working with Insolvency Service after procurement challenge
National firm DWF said yesterday that it hopes to resume its working relationship with the Insolvency Service once its High Court challenge to the procurement exercise which saw the firm fail to win a spot on the service’s legal panel is over.
National law firm sues Insolvency Service over failed bid for legal services contract
DWF has begun legal action against the Insolvency Service over the procurement exercise which saw the national law firm narrowly miss out on appointment to its legal services panel, it has emerged.
SRA warns in-house solicitors of disciplinary action over debt collection letters
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned in-house solicitors that “attempts to mislead” debtors that external firms are taking steps against them could result in disciplinary action.
65 CMCs warned over referral fee ban compliance in first quarter of 2014
The Claims Management Regulator has warned over 65 claims management companies about their compliance with the referral fee ban in the first three months of this year, it has emerged.
European law firms to be exempt from SRA oversight despite competition concerns
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has decided to press ahead with plans that would allow European law firms that do not conduct reserved work to set up in England and Wales outside of the regulatory regime.
Peers to investigate Lord Chancellor’s powers amid judicial review concerns
The House of Lords constitution committee has launched an inquiry into the office of Lord Chancellor, in the wake of its warning last week that plans by the current occupant, Chris Grayling, to limit judicial review risk “undermining the rule of law”.
Leading Chancery set brings in solicitor as chief executive
Distinguished Chancery set Radcliffe Chambers has brought in a past chair of the Association of Women Solicitors as its chief executive, in the latest sign of chambers recognising the need for fresh thinking in how they operate.
ICAEW vents frustration over delays to its approval as a legal regulator
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales has described as “increasingly frustrating” its wait to become a regulator of probate services and an alternative business structure licensing authority.
ABI joins critics of lower indemnity insurance limit
The Association of British Insurers has joined the chorus of criticism of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s decision to cut the minimum level of professional indemnity insurance to £500,000. SRA consultees were opposed by nearly 3:1, it has also emerged.
Solicitor struck off over misconduct
A solicitor best known for his involvement in the failed Axiom Legal Financing Fund, which caused some law firms major financial problems, has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Blog
Motor finance – the FCA is more worried about banks than consumers
The Financial Conduct Authority’s motor finance redress scheme announced last week amounts to one of the largest ever consumer failures by the regulator.
Mazur: a symptom not a cause?
If Mazur is a symptom, what does it mean for the underlying health of our civil justice system: the ‘finest legal system in the world’?
Cross-generation collaboration: the key to in-house legal tech adoption
In-house legal function leaders will increasingly have to evolve their thinking on how to manage multigenerational teams containing differing levels of technological expertise.
