Latest news
Another leading City firm to face tribunal over alleged AML breaches
Leading City law firm Clyde & Co is to face the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for alleged breaches of the Money Laundering Regulations, the second big firm referred in a fortnight.
Want to open a new law firm? Do it in Leicester
Leicester is the location in England and Wales where new law firms have the best chance of surviving, with Brighton the worst, according to an analysis.
Conveyancers want to charge more but lack confidence to do so
Most conveyancers think they should be charging clients more but only a third say they and their colleagues know how to “confidently deal” with objections to fees from clients, a report has found.
Sale to US company will “turbo-charge” growth, says LOD boss
The sale of flexible lawyering business LOD by its private equity backer to US company Consilio will “turbo-charge” growth, founder Simon Harper has told Legal Futures.
Fines for solicitor who misused client account and COFA who let him
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has handed substantial fines to a director who used his firm’s client account as a banking facility and the compliance officer who allowed it.
Water company faces first CAT environmental collective action
Leigh Day has launched the first environmental collective action at the Competition Appeal Tribunal against Severn Trent Water – one of six it is planning against water companies.
Government ramps up focus on “crooked” immigration lawyers
The government has upped its attacks on “crooked” immigration lawyers by unveiling a taskforce to increase enforcement action against those who help migrants exploit the system.
Three-quarters of law firms experience drop in demand
Three-quarters of law firms have experienced a drop in demand for legal services over the past 12 months and the same proportion expect the decline to go on for another year.
Suspended jail term for immigration adviser who posed as solicitor
A woman who falsely claimed to be a solicitor and provided immigration advice when not qualified to do so has been given an 18-month suspended sentence.
Administrator of defunct crime firm assigns claims to funder
The administrator of defunct criminal law practice One Legal has reached agreement with leading insolvency litigation funder Manolete to pursue claims following its collapse.
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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