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Lutfur Rahman’s actions in running for re-election as mayor of Tower Hamlets in London were “reprehensible, orchestrated, deliberate and dishonest”, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has ruled in striking him off. It was well known that Mr Rahman was a solicitor and “this would have had a significant detrimental impact on the reputation of the profession”.

The government has approved rule changes opening the way for fully digital conveyancing. The changes will allow digital documents with e-signatures to be used both for land transfers and land registration. Meanwhile, the Council for Licensed Conveyancers has stated its ambition to become “regulator of choice for all property lawyers”.

The Financial Reporting Council has issued the first finding from its two-and-a-half-year investigation into the accounts of Quindell, imposing discounted fines of £780,000 on former auditors who it said had failed to “exercise sufficient professional scepticism”.

The government was accused yesterday of “pulling its punches” and “shilly shallying” over introducing a ban on cold-calling for personal injury claims. The comments came after work and pensions secretary Esther McVey appeared to fudge the commitment the government had previously given in the House of Lords.

An alternative business structure set up by ex-government IT specialists has launched an online service that hopes to harness technology to simplify the conveyancing process. The co-founders of Juno Property Lawyers have worked on some of the highest-profile government IT projects and hired two senior solicitors.

A sole practitioner who misappropriated over £170,000 from four vulnerable clients in her role as court-appointed deputy has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. She admitted all the allegations against her, apart from dishonesty, arguing instead that she “got into a muddle”.

A multi-disciplinary alternative business structure is looking to build on its unique combination of licensed conveyancers and chartered accountants. Known as Optimum Professional Services, it is hoping to expand into commercial property work and possibly other areas of law.

There has been a “significant decrease” in unauthorised businesses operating in the holiday sickness market, the Claims Management Regulator has reported. It comes as MPs debate the government’s surprise u-turn late last year to legislate for a ban on cold-calling.

An employment tribunal has rejected claims of race and sex discrimination by a former equity partner of leading City firm Simmons & Simmons because the events complained of took place in Paris and so outside of its jurisdiction.

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants was yesterday given the green light to regulate its members in handling probate work. Approving the regulatory scheme it is putting in place, the Legal Services Board said ACCA members would make a “positive contribution” to the legal market.