Latest news
Class action firm scores “largest ever” £100m funding deal
Class action specialist PGMBM has secured funding of £100m from alternative investments firm North Wall Capital, in what is believed to be the largest deal of its kind with a claimant law firm.
Stamp duty holiday sparks 85% surge in Land Registry complaints
HM Land Registry was hit by a surge of 85% in complaints over the past year in the wake of the property boom sparked by the stamp duty holiday, its annual report has revealed.
BSB board members call for “radical thinking” on backlog
“Radical thinking” is needed by the Bar Standards Board to get a grip on the growing backlog of investigations and poor performance on timeliness, board members have said.
ESG key to expanding litigation funding market, says report
The ESG – environment, social and governance – agenda will be the key driver of growth in litigation funding in the UK and continental Europe in the coming years, new research has predicted.
CLC warns on shutdowns after conveyancer abandons 15,000 files
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has warned firms about the importance of proper file storage and data retention, after a licensed conveyancer abandoned 15,000 archived files.
Bar Council and Law Society unhappy with LSB’s oversight reforms
The Bar Council and Law Society have attacked proposed Legal Services Board changes to way it assesses frontline regulators’ performance.
BSB highlights freedom of expression in social media guidance
The Bar Standards Board has introduced new guidance on social media which “gives greater recognition to a barrister’s right to freedom of expression”.
Platform aims to help smaller law firms “democratise” group actions
Group actions will no longer be the preserve of a few large claimant firms, according to the founders of an online platform whose development was supported by the SRA’s Legal Access Challenge.
Non-binary barrister: “Judges can be ignorant of gender neutral address”
A barrister who identifies as non-binary sometimes has to endure a judge’s ignorance about how to address them correctly, a meeting heard this week.
Solicitor jailed in Germany for role in VAT carousel fraud struck off
A solicitor convicted in Germany of seven counts of aiding and abetting tax evasion as part of a VAT carousel fraud has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
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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