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There has been a surge in large law firms paying partners bonuses over recent years along with distinct shifts in the way they compensate partners more generally and away from lockstep, new research has revealed.

Our regular round-up includes strong backing for intellectual property ABSs, Eddie Ryan leaving Co-operative Legal Services, a new digital copyright licence for law firms, an “unacceptable” lack of transparency over PII commissions, and a warning that law firms are being targeted by online espionage.

The Legal Services Board has told the Solicitors Regulation Authority that it needs to complete its review of in-house practice as soon as possible because the current regulatory arrangements are not sustainable.

The Internet revolution has “yet to reach legal services”, new Legal Services Board research has found, meaning consumers jump at the idea of an ‘official’ online resource to help them resolve their legal issues.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has rejected calls for it to have greater powers to fine ABSs than traditional law firms. It has also dismissed suggestions by the Law Society that it should not have substantial fining powers at all.

The High Court has rejected a bid to replace conditions on a solicitor’s practising certificate with undertakings despite claims that the current state of the professional indemnity insurance market made them the “kiss of death” to a continuing career.

Non-clients should have a general right to complain about lawyers – such as parties affected by delays in the conveyancing process and beneficiaries of a defective will – the Legal Services Consumer Panel said today.

A “disruptive” services procurement platform that allows small and medium-sized businesses to put out tenders to an expert community and manage them, all via the cloud, is set to enter the legal market.

The Court of Appeal has overturned an injunction that prevented an in-house lawyer from advising on litigation against her former employer. But it acknowledged that the case raised difficult issues around lawyers moving jobs with confidential information.

The vertical and horizontal extension of the existing RTA portal is a good idea but cannot be done by the government’s target of next April, the Law Society has warned – and the case to cut fees has not been made out.