Latest news
“Structure contracts” to avoid need for litigation to resolve disputes
Contracts should routinely include “structured” methods to avoid the need for litigation – including escalation clauses – if disputes arise, a former senior in-house lawyer has advised.
Government opens up more senior judicial roles to CILEX lawyers
The Ministry of Justice is to open up more senior judicial positions – recorders and Upper Tribunal judges – to chartered legal executives.
Law firm arm powers revenue growth at listed business
Anexo Group – the AIM-listed business that combines credit hire and legal services – saw revenue and profit increase sharply last year, driven by major growth in its legal division.
Cost of practising to rise sharply as SRA and Law Society unveil budgets
Solicitors’ practising fees are set to increase substantially this year, with the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Law Society needing an extra £9.3m to fund their work.
Students bid to hold big firms accountable for fossil fuel work
Large UK law firms play an “indispensable role” in supporting the fossil fuel industry and law students need to hold them accountable for their impact on climate change, a new report has argued.
Partner was “blinded” by desire to keep best client
A solicitor who described a property developer currently being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office as his law firm’s “best client” has been fined £45,000 for misconduct.
CJC: Costs budgeting has worked but needs to be more tailored
Costs budgeting has been a success and should be retained, but also reformed in recognition that “one size does not necessarily fit all”, a major report has recommended today.
Double acquisition for MAPD Group with “more to come”
The MAPD Group – a business bringing together local law firms – yesterday announced a double acquisition in the North-West ahead of “several” more deals later in the year.
Law firm ordered to pay £12m for negligence in insolvency claim
National law firm TLT has been ordered to pay around £12.5m in damages for breach of contract and professional negligence over the way it handled an insolvency claim.
Former solicitor with unpaid SDT fine cannot return to profession
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has ruled that a struck-off solicitor, who had still not paid £2,700 of a fine it imposed for a previous offence in 2011, cannot return to the profession.
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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