Legal Services Act

This year’s indemnity insurance renewal season has not been as bad as some had predicted, but there has been an uptick in mergers and acquisitions, the SRA has revealed.

The Court of Appeal has refused a man leave to appeal his conviction on the ground that the jury may have felt under pressure to return a verdict because the coronavirus crisis was developing.

The change last year allowing solicitors to practise from unregulated businesses will force traditional law firms to improve their service offering, the Competition and Markets Authority has been told.

The traditional law firm model does not support entrepreneurs who want to build and sell a business, according to the solicitor who last week sold his company for £61m.

The Legal Ombudsman is planning a 19% increase in its budget for 2021/22, and a further 6% the year after, arguing the scheme is currently in an “unsustainable position”.

The alternative business structure owned by global insurance services firm Crawford & Company is expanding into Australia after buying up a leading defendant practice in the country.

Big Four firm Deloitte yesterday issued a statement of intent to the London legal market by announcing that it is to acquire leading technology and digital media law firm Kemp Little.

The former chief executive of DWF has re-emerged as non-executive chair of flexible lawyer business The Legal Director and announced the creation of his own ‘digital law firm’.

Crucible Law opens its doors virtually this week following the closure of predecessor set Charter Chambers in the teeth of the pandemic’s impact on the justice system.

The former secretary-general of the United Nations has condemned Home Secretary Priti Patel’s recent attack on “activist lawyers”. Ban Ki-moon also urged the legal profession to reform itself.