Legal Services Act
Naked Legal offers stripped-down advice service
A stripped-down telephone advice service for a single pre-payment fee of £45 was launched this week by legal entrepreneur Brad Askew. Naked Legal does not offer formal legal advice, nor does it refer clients who need that advice to lawyers.
MPs demand SRA crackdown on personal injury lawyers “playing the system”
MPs have called on the government to put pressure on the Solicitors Regulation Authority to stop personal injury lawyers “playing the system” by commissioning unnecessary medical reports on psychological injuries.
Newly acquired ABS hits the acquisition trail as promised
Simpson Millar – the law firm acquired last month by AIM-listed Fairpoint Group – has begun making good on its promise to go on the acquisition trail by snapping up Bristol-based family law firm Foster & Partners.
New LSB chairman joins calls for single regulator
Sir Michael Pitt, the new chairman of the Legal Services Board, has joined calls by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, and Lord Neuberger, president of the Supreme Court, for a single regulator.
Schillings’ profits rocket as shift to reputation defence ABS pays off
The boutique media law firm that transformed itself into a multi-disciplinary alternative business structure specialising in high tech and legal reputation defence, is approaching the end of its first three-year phase of reform with profits “sky high”.
Barristers lay out plans for range of new entities
Barristers are looking at creating a wide range of legal businesses – with solicitors, paralegals and others – once the Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) application to become an entity regulator is approved, it has emerged.
Revealed: Connect2Law lives on as Slater & Gordon launches Linked to Law
Law firm network Connect2Law is to live on separately from Slater & Gordon-owned Pannone after a deal struck with its former head, David Jabbari – with S&G launching its own referral network at the same time.
Lawyers on Demand heads north to spread the word on alternative resourcing
Alternative legal services provider Lawyers On Demand (LOD) has launched a Manchester ‘hub’, its first outside of London, in a bid to expand its ‘on site’ model of placing freelance lawyers into companies.
Neuberger backs single regulator but criticises LSB for adding “cost and confusion”
The President of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger, has backed calls for single legal regulator, while accusing the Legal Services Board of adding to cost and confusion.
Debt management giant’s ABS plans expansion into wills
The alternative business structure owned by one of the UK’s largest debt management companies has launched with an ambition to expand into wills in the near future.
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.
