Latest news
New ABS targets ‘David and Goliath’ insurance disputes
A start-up alternative business structure has been launched to bring City solicitor expertise to bear to help consumers and SMEs win disputes when insurers fail to honour their policies.
Tribunal rejects SRA deal with flight delay solicitor
A disciplinary tribunal has taken the unusual step of rejecting an agreement between the SRA and a solicitor who broke the rules through his involvement with flight delay compensation claims.
Rosenblatt: Trading unaffected by coronavirus to date
Listed law firm Rosenblatt has not yet experienced any impact on its trading since the start of the coronavirus crisis, but is to delay paying out dividends to investors.
Bar Council calls on LSB not to recruit staff during crisis
The Bar Council has called on the Legal Services Board not to recruit more staff during the coronavirus crisis for the task of overseeing legal bodies’ internal governance.
Junior solicitor who lied about lost documents struck off
A junior solicitor at the SRA’s external advisers lied about losing documents while acting for the regulator in a data protection case. She has been struck off despite questions over her mental health.
Huge growth at PI ABS but Leeds office put on ice
Staff numbers at personal injury law firm Bond Turner grew by 65% last year but the listed company that owns it has put the firm’s expansion to Leeds on hold during the coronavirus crisis.
Scottish Bar chief resigns over train chat indiscretion
The head of the Scottish Bar has announced his intention to resign after being caught talking on a train about his client, Alex Salmond, in a derogatory manner.
Court rejects “fanciful” conveyancing negligence claim
The High Court has rejected a “fanciful” £600,000 conveyancing negligence claim against the law firm Gateley, based on an error admitted by the firm.
MoJ offers some financial support for legal aid firms
The Ministry of Justice has introduced economic help for legal aid firms, making hardship payments easier to access and pausing debt repayments to the Legal Aid Agency.
Most chambers “face collapse” without government cash
More than half of barristers’ chambers will go out of business within six months if they do not receive financial support from the government during the coronavirus crisis, the Bar Council has warned.
Blog
Accountability has to live within governance, not with one person
The assumption has long been that a COLP or COFA is personally exposed to the consequences of anti-money laundering breaches.
The SRA’s client money reforms: good intentions, questionable execution
On the face of it, the SRA’s plans to tighten protections around client money sounds sensible. The detail, as ever, tells a more complicated story.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
