Latest news
CAT strikes out challenge to Scottish Bar rules
The Competition Appeal Tribunal has struck out a challenge to the rules of the Faculty of Advocates, the Scottish Bar, over a restriction on who can instruct barristers.
KC: Law of agency and delegation could help challenge Mazur
The “basic principles of agency and delegation” could be used to argue that the Mazur judgment was wrongly decided, a KC and judge has suggested.
Solicitor suspended for hiding firm’s financial problems from SRA
A law firm partner who failed to disclose to the Solicitors Regulation Authority that her firm was facing a winding-up petition has been suspended for three months.
Barristers’ job satisfaction on the rise
The proportion of barristers saying they are satisfied with their jobs has increased significantly to almost seven out of 10, according to a Bar Council report.
FCA car finance scheme “patently influenced” by lender profits, MPs say
The FCA car finance compensation scheme has been “patently been influenced by the profit margins of the lenders”, a report by MPs has found.
FCA to have extensive powers over lawyers in AML role
Deeper checks of law firm owners and the ability to bring criminal prosecutions are among the powers proposed for the FCA once it takes over supervising lawyers’ AML activities.
Court to rule on SRA’s powers to see privileged material
The High Court is set to decide on whether the Solicitors Regulation Authority has the power it claims to examine legally privileged material as part of investigations.
SDT clears solicitor of dishonesty over costs claim
A solicitor accused of dishonestly seeking more costs than his client was entitled to claim has been cleared by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Survey: Profits up in the City, down in the regions
City law firms are outperforming their regional counterparts, with partner profit pools rising by 12% in London but falling by 11% outside of it, according to new research.
PE-backed serious injury firm makes big move into family law
Private equity-backed Fletchers Group has moved outside of injury work for the first time by buying leading family law firm Rayden Solicitors.
Blog
The importance of benchmarking reports – and lessons on profitability
Regional firms reported the largest revenue growth this year (12%), outpacing their City counterparts. Yet many are not converting that growth into profitability.
Fixed recoverable costs: Sacrificing justice for predictability?
The extended fixed recoverable costs regime is failing to achieve its stated objectives. Instead of promoting fairness and efficiency, the rules are creating anomalies that undermine justice.
Expectations keep rising, so prioritise client experience
Law firms are facing growing pressure to place greater focus on client experience or risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive legal market.
