Latest news
Former City and Foreign Office lawyer appointed to Ministry of Justice
The new ministerial team is taking shape at the Ministry of Justice, with a former City solicitor keen to replace the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights among the new appointees.
‘Named and shamed’ barrister gets judge removed from disciplinary appeal hearing
Tariq Rehman, the barrister ‘named and shamed’ by the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) for the number of complaints against him, has succeeded in a last-minute bid to remove the judge hearing his appeal.
Gap in the market for “go-to employment advice website”
There is still a gap in the market for an “essential, go-to website for employment law”, Professor Roger Smith, solicitor and former director of JUSTICE, has said in an update to his report on digital delivery for people on low incomes.
Gateley confirms that work has begun on becoming first listed law firm
National law firm Gateley has confirmed reports that work to become the first publicly listed law firm is underway after it appointed bankers to advise on a £130m float on AIM this summer.
Cambridgeshire financial advisers use ABS to buy law firm
Cambridgeshire financial advisers Beacon Wealth Management have used an alternative business structure to buy a local law firm. Tony Larkins, managing director of Beacon, said it had always been his aim to own a law firm and accountancy practice.
Gove replaces Grayling as Lord Chancellor – but will it make a difference?
The legal profession returns to work today trying to decide whether or not the appointment of Michael Gove as the new Lord Chancellor and secretary of state for justice is an improvement on the deeply unpopular Chris Grayling.
BSB promises “lighter weight and less costly” regulation as it applies to licence ABSs
The Bar Standards Board has promised to provide “lighter weight and less costly” regulation than its rivals as it applied to become a regulator of alternative business structures last week. “Many potential entities” wanted to “exploit the greater flexibility” that operating as an ABS could provide.
Ambitious firm combining law and accounting nears national coverage with triple acquisition
Fast-growing HCB Solicitors and Chartered Accountants has announced the purchase of three more law firms this week as it closes in on its ambition to have national coverage. They take its national tally of offices to 26 and staff to around 350.
First4Lawyers moves beyond PI with consumer law offering
Leading marketing collective First4Lawyers – which has hitherto focused exclusively on personal injury and clinical negligence cases – has expanded into six other areas of consumer law in a major new push supported by more than 2,000 television advertisements a month.
1532 law keeps English barrister out of Scotland’s highest court
Scotland’s most senior judges have rejected a bid to allow an English barrister to appear before the country’s highest civil court for the first time in nearly 500 years. They said that the College of Justice Act 1532 remains good law.
Blog
Amplifying reach through employee-driven thought leadership
Nine in 10 executives believe thought leadership is critical to building authority, yet only a quarter feel they have implemented a robust strategy.
Divorce escrow: asset sales before final settlement
When significant matrimonial assets are sold before a final financial order is agreed, holding the proceeds safely and neutrally can present real practical challenges.
AML lacks clarity – and standards are suffering
If firms are buckling under the pressure of AML regulations, subject to ever-increasing fines, then something is clearly not working as it should be.
