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Taskforce to investigate ethics of City law firms acting for oligarchs
A heavy hitting group of City lawyers and anti-corruption experts is to examine the ethics of solicitors providing civil legal services to overseas oligarchs and kleptocrats.
“We could yet intervene in Axiom Ince,” SRA boss says
The Solicitors Regulation Authority may yet intervene in Axiom Ince, the law firm that now seems on the brink of collapse, it confirmed yesterday.
Listed PI business winding down joint venture ABS
NAHL – the listed business that owns National Accident Helpline – is winding down another of its joint venture alternative business structures as its own law firm goes from strength to strength.
SRA steps up pressure on immigration firms with new warning notice
The SRA has today ratcheted up the pressure on immigration firms, with a warning notice reminding them not to be “complicit in providing false or fabricated” information.
Law firm negligence claim over law firm negligence claim struck out
The High Court has struck out a negligence claim against a law firm over its pursuit of a negligence claim against their clients’ previous lawyers.
Fee-earner who favoured one client over another fails to lift ban
A non-solicitor fee-earner banned from working for law firms after favouring the interests of a woman who suffered from Alzheimer’s over her mentally ill husband has failed to overturn it.
Jail for lottery scam ex-solicitor who stole £2m of client money
A solicitor struck off for plundering £2m from his firm’s client accounts as well as trusts after falling victim to a lottery scam has been jailed for four years.
Legal staff win tokens in law firm’s blockchain incentive scheme
Solicitors, trainees and paralegals at City firm Taylor Wessing have started receiving crypto-tokens for efforts that “go beyond their day job” – partners can give tokens, but not receive them.
Law firms adopt diversity initiatives “because they are fashionable”
Law firms often adopt diversity initiatives “because they are fashionable, not because they work”, an academic and diversity specialist has argued.
Evidence “does not back up” insurer claims of ‘hiplash’ and ‘wristlash’
Insurer assertions that the number of mixed injury cases has risen dramatically since the launch of the Official Injury Claim portal are not borne out by the evidence, it was argued last week.
Blog
Regulate sole practices on evidence, not turnover
For a sole practice, the SRA’s plan that I cannot hold a compliance role if my firm has more than £600,000 of turnover is not a measure of risk. It is a ceiling on growth.
Is Google becoming pay-to-play for law firms?
For years, law firms have been told that SEO is the long-term alternative to paying for every click. That principle hasn’t disappeared but search results have changed significantly.
Material information and the case for intelligent client onboarding
Upfront information means work traditionally undertaken after an offer is accepted will need to happen earlier. And that fundamentally changes the role of client onboarding.
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