Latest news
Conveyancers need reform of Building Safety Act “minefield”
Reform of building safety regulations may encourage professional indemnity insurers to remove their block on conveyancers advising on certain transactions, CILEX has told the government.
SDT rejects managing partner’s bid to blame junior solicitor for errors
A managing partner has failed to convince the SDT to blame the one-year qualified solicitor he was supervising for failures on a conveyancing transaction at an undervalue.
Land Registry needs to ditch “quasi-legal” culture, review finds
HM Land Registry needs to shift from a “quasi-legal” culture to one that is more consumer friendly given the changing nature of the home-buying process, according to a review.
AI use gaining ground rapidly across legal profession
Six out of 10 lawyers are using GenAI for work purposes and most of the rest plan to use it, with small law firms twice as likely as larger practices to “rely heavily on AI for day-to-day work”.
Acquisition number 15 for Gateley as it beefs up IP practice
Gateley has made the 15th acquisition since it listed just over a decade ago by buying intellectual property law firm Groom Wilkes & Wright for up to £9m.
NHS Resolution to launch neutral evaluation scheme
NHS Resolution has announced the launch of a neutral evaluation scheme and awarded the first two contracts to CEDR and Trust Mediation.
Another failure for SRA in Daily Mail sting cases
Two of the three solicitors accused by the Daily Mail of offering to help an undercover reporter concoct a false asylum claim have now been cleared of misconduct.
Report backs “targeted approach” to upfront property information
A report for the Digital Property Market Steering Group has outlined a “more targeted approach” to upfront property information, focused on reducing late-stage transaction failures.
Suspension for solicitor who acted on both sides of transaction
A solicitor has been suspended over a “dereliction of duty” that saw him act on both sides of the transfer of an elderly and vulnerable client’s sole residence to a neighbour for nil consideration.
Law firms’ need for growth makes private equity “attractive option”
The need for law firms to keep growing – because “if you’re standing still, you’re going backwards” – is making the option of private equity investment increasingly attractive.
Blog
Strong AML controls are meaningless with incomplete data
One expectation as the FCA takes control of anti-money laundering oversight is a move towards more supervision rather than simply writing new rules.
Navigating the legal AI productivity-profitability paradox
Firms are achieving efficiencies through AI, especially in the practice of law. Yet many are struggling to see that reflected in their financial outcomes
Regulation, growth and access to justice: why legal services need a reset
Well-intentioned consumer protections embedded in the regulation of legal services increasingly act as barriers to innovation, competition and access to justice.
