Latest news
Government seeks to overturn Lords vote bringing bailiffs within LeO's remit
The government is to try and overturn a House of Lords vote that the Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO) jurisdiction should extend to bailiffs – although the ombudsman himself has said he is open to the idea. Shortly before Christmas, peers voted 233 to 191 in favour of an amendment to the Crime and Courts Bill.
ABS first as individual non-lawyers invest in firm
The first law firm with individual non-lawyer investors has been granted its alternative business structure licence. Everyman Legal – which both employs lawyers at its Oxfordshire base and has developed a network of home-working solicitors around the country – has six private investors who will shortly become shareholders of the firm.
Hogan Lovells and 39 Essex Street survive as LSB rejigs its legal advisers panel
The Legal Services Board has rejigged and expanded its legal advisers panel, although its two previous main sources of external advice – City firm Hogan Lovells and London chambers 39 Essex Street – have retained their places on it.
Top north-west firm targets external investment after ABS licence provides platform to expand
Leading north-west firm Stephensons is seeking external investment as part of its plans to expand beyond the region after receiving its alternative business structure licence from the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Other new licencees include a firm looking at MDPs and one mulling trade union tie-ups.
SRA drops ‘group licensing’ approach for firms operating overseas
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has abandoned plans to impose a group-wide approach to the regulation of firms which engage in activities overseas as it launched a second consultation on amending the SRA Handbook in relation to international practice.
Brilliant ABS start-up goes live, while debt recovery firm targets legal work
Brilliant Law has become what it says is “the first true pure bred alternative business structure (ABS) start-up” and is offering to help other ABS applicants on a fixed-price basis. Meanwhile, a debt recovery business has received an ABS licence so that it can now offer the associated legal work.
90% of COLPs and COFAs in place, but 1,000 firms miss 1 January deadline
Nearly 90% of firms had their compliance officers in place for the start of the new regime yesterday, with the rest either yet to have their nominations approved or, in the case of 194 firms, failed to complete the process at all.
Dramatic climbdown from Grayling as portal extension is delayed
In a dramatic climbdown, the Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling has agreed that extension of the RTA portal to higher-value motor and employer’s and public claims will now not happen in April 2013. The decision, which emerged late on Friday, follows the judicial review process begun by APIL and MASS.
Private equity, share schemes and non-lawyer partners: new ABSs highlight diversity of uses
Three more alternative business structures (ABSs) have been licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, with external investment, an employee share scheme and a non-lawyer partner the drivers behind them.
Rules on judicial evaluation and QCs to change in QASA shake-up
More time to obtain judicial assessments and greater recognition for QCs have emerged as key amendments to the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates, leaving some of the most contentious aspects – such as plea-only advocates – unchanged.
Blog
The SRA needs to admit it got it wrong about SLAPPs
The High Court judgment in Ashley Hurst v SRA in January raises serious questions about the regulator’s approach to allegations of SLAPP-like behaviour.
Why menopause support belongs on every law firm’s agenda
Progression in the law slows significantly as women approach senior leadership. Most will be at the height of their careers around the average age menopause symptoms begin.
Law firms need to go beyond document checks
At the root of every failed compliance review is a familiar phrase: a calm assertion of “but we did a document check”.
