Latest news
Judge disallows £30k success fee over inadequate LEI enquiries
The Senior Costs Judge has disallowed a law firm’s £30,000 success fee because it failed to make reasonable enquiries about legal expenses insurance.
Senior barrister disbarred for sexual comments to junior colleagues
The barrister head of Gloucestershire Police’s legal department has been disbarred after making inappropriate sexual comments to junior female colleagues.
SRA to require advance notice of law firm M&A deals
Law firms will have to notify the Solicitors Regulation Authority after signing heads of terms on a merger or acquisition, the regulator has proposed.
AML: FCA to use ‘fit and proper’ test for law firm owners
Law firm owners and managers will be subjected to the FCA’s ‘fit and proper’ test once it takes over oversight of their AML activities, the government has decided.
Sales packs on way as government commits to home-buying reform
The government is pressing ahead with reforms to the home-buying process, which it says will cut transaction times by around four weeks.
Judge condemns law firm’s “incompetence” in probate dispute
A law firm based in Hertfordshire has been severely criticised by a High Court judge for the “heinous” errors it made and its “simple incompetence” in pursuing a probate dispute.
Class action firm writes off £14m in fees after ‘drop hands’ settlement
Class action law firm Hausfeld has had to write off £14m in fees after the Competition Appeal Tribunal approved a drop-hands settlement of a client’s collective action.
Rape conviction quashed due to defence advocate’s failings
The Court of Appeal has taken the rare step of quashing a child rape conviction because of the defence barrister’s failure to explore key evidence during the trial.
Crown prosecutor struck off for child cruelty conviction
A Crown prosecutor who was jailed for assaulting and ill-treating a child has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
“First hard evidence” of legal advice improving lives
Groundbreaking research has provided “the first hard evidence” that legal advice for low-income households improves lives – increasing incomes and improving mental health.
Blog
The SRA’s client money reforms: good intentions, questionable execution
On the face of it, the SRA’s plans to tighten protections around client money sounds sensible. The detail, as ever, tells a more complicated story.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
From ‘year zero’ to £6.5m – how a law firm found its second life
In 2018, I hit what I call ‘year zero’. On paper, Olliers Solicitors was a top-tier criminal defence firm but beneath the surface, I could see we were at a crossroads.
