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Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) has today launched its much-touted family law operation in London, offering services on a fixed fee as standard. CLS, which was one of the first three alternative business structures, has so far recruited 22 fee-earners.

A new commercial law firm in Harrogate has launched with a fixed-fee product to support clients in conducting their own litigation. In the latest bid to challenge the traditional hourly billing model, Towers Legal is also offering a fixed-fee ‘virtual’ in-house lawyer service.

A solicitor has successfully challenged a demand to stump up nearly £150,000 in unpaid assigned risks pool premiums. He was able to show that the ARP’s manager had not established that he was personally liable for the debt of the LLP in question.

HMRC claimed yesterday that a “significant minority” of lawyers in London are underpaying on tax as it launched a specialist taskforce aimed at rooting them out. However, the announcement met with polarised reactions suggesting that it is either likely to lead to criminal actions or is doomed.

Regulators of the legal profession will have to gather and publish evidence of where lawyers are falling down on quality – including information on disciplinary action – following a wide-ranging review by the Legal Services Board.

The Law Society yesterday usurped the Solicitors Regulation Authority plans to announce details of this year’s practising certificate renewal exercise. The 2011 renewal exercise was dogged by delays and IT problems.

Lenders’ panel selection decisions, rather than alternative business structures (ABSs), are the main cloud hanging over the conveyancing industry, according to new research. Only a fifth are planning or considering becoming an ABS.

The names of 772 law firms which have been the subject of a formal decision by the Legal Ombudsman were published today – but an analysis by this website shows the ombudsman was happy with the law firm’s actions in more than half of the cases made public.

Defendant insurance firm Keoghs has struck a deal to accept external investment once it receives its alternative business structure licence, it has confirmed. The firm said the funding will help accelerate its growth plans.

Online conveyancing business In-Deed is lining up a second law firm acquisition as it shifts its focus away from a direct-to-consumer model, its first annual report has revealed. The AIM-listed company’s chairman is Rightmove founder Harry Hill.