Legal Services Act
Government promises to break impasse on CMC complaints handling
The government has pledged in Parliament to “make every effort” to end the impasse and enable complaints against claims management companies to be handled by the Legal Ombudsman, more than a year after it committed to the move.
Slater & Gordon proves ambition to be consumer law powerhouse with £33m Pannone deal
Slater & Gordon will have more than 5% of the UK personal injury market, and number one or two market share position in most consumer law practice areas, it claimed today after announcing details of its long-awaited acquisition of Manchester firm Pannone.
The PI firm with huge growth plans that aims to be “last man standing” post Jackson
A north west personal injury law firms plans to more than double in size, invest in a new £7m landmark office building as part of its employee retention policy, and open branch offices in the Middle East and Asia.
Brilliant Law seals deal with top broker network
Alternative business structure Brilliant Law has scored a major affinity deal by teaming up with leading broker network Keychoice. Meanwhile, a law firm has received a £50,000 grant from the Welsh government to launch a legal e-commerce service.
LSB: Bar Council interfered with independence of BSB over cab-rank rule changes
The Bar Council has accepted that breached the independence of the Bar Standards Board by interfering in controversial changes to the cab-rank rule, it emerged today. The Legal Services Board has however agreed to an informal resolution, having considered a censure.
LeO ‘cost per complaint’ too high, benchmarking survey finds
The Legal Ombudsman compares well with similar schemes on case resolution speeds, client satisfaction and perceptions of fairness, but many complainants reject its findings and its cost per complaint is high, according to a study.
Ex-MP launches virtual chambers ahead of legal aid “meltdown”
A former Conservative MP and practising barrister has said he is certain the planned headline criminal legal aid fee cuts will go ahead unaltered, and will this week launch a ‘virtual chambers’ in anticipation.
ABS update: MDP gains licence, employee ownership move, NewLaw’s latest JV, Co-op “restructuring”
A multi-discipinary financial services group has obtained an ABS licence to complete its broad-based professional advice offering by bringing legal services in-house. Meanwhile, a specialist fertility law practice is considering using its licence to introduce employee ownership,
LSB’s lay chair plan “aims to bring regulators into line”, says Bar Council
The Legal Services Board wants to impose lay chairs on the frontline regulators so that they will “do more of what [it] wants”, the Bar Council has claimed. The Bar Standards Board and Law Society have also come out strongly against the proposal.
Local councils make ABS bid as bulwark against outsourcing, while Kent pauses its ABS plan
HB Public Law, the merged legal teams of the London boroughs of Barnet and Harrow, is to seek an alternative business structure as a defence against outsourcing. Meanwhile, Kent Legal Services, the first council legal team to express ABS ambitions, has its plans on hold.
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.
