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ROSS Intelligence, the artificial intelligence legal research technology built on IBM’s Watson cognitive computer, has announced its first commercial partnership with one of the largest law firms in the US.

International firm Dentons is to launch what it describes as the first free global law firm referral network, with the aim of “changing the whole marketplace”. Meanwhile, LOD has claimed another first by launching an online marketplace for freelance lawyers.

A Bath-based legal services business run by two former managing partners of large firms – Withy King and CMS Cameron McKenna – has obtained an alternative business structure licence to bring regulated legal work in-house. OmniaLegal describes itself as a “legal services co-operative with a difference”.

A barrister who pestered three women at a chambers summer party with suggestive movements and comments has been fined £1,800 by a Bar disciplinary tribunal. It said he failed to act with integrity and behaved in a way likely to diminish the trust and confidence the public places in a barrister or the profession.

There is a “climate of renewed vulnerability” among smaller law firms, with the vast majority of lawyers believing there are “still rough times ahead”, a report has found. The report also revealed a huge gulf between lawyer and client perceptions of value.

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has slammed a prosecution by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in the strongest terms, saying it was “appalled and dismayed” that the regulator had asked it to “rubber stamp” a deal which saw charges of dishonesty dropped at the last minute after the solicitor accused made certain admissions.

DAS Law – the alternative business structure set up by the eponymous legal expenses insurer – is launching a pioneering graduate academy for “lawyers of the future”, with the first six recruits starting next month. Staff numbers at the firm have doubled to around 220 since it was created in 2013.

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) is planning to introduce solicitor-style indemnity insurance arrangements, in a bid to make it easier for law firms to switch regulator. Embracing an open market scheme instead of a master policy would help “make a reality” of the “theoretical” freedom of law firms to change.

The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers is set to launch a campaign to persuade the government to ban claims management companies from cold-calling consumers over potential claims. ‘Can the spam’ is part of the push to convince ministers that there are other ways of tackling problems in the PI industry short of the reforms it is proposing.

A solicitor convicted of failing to provide police with a breath test has been fined £2,500 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Arguing that there was no case to answer, Olufemi Olujinmi said regulation should have a “human face” and the incident should be treated as a “moment of madness”.