Legal Services Act
SRA refuses to licence ABSs aiming to circumvent referral fee ban
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has rejected potential alternative business structures on the basis that the aim was really to continue illegal referral fee arrangements, it emerged this week.
The legal textbook publisher that’s now a law firm
Jordans – the business known for company formation services and publishing legal textbooks – now has a corporate law firm after receiving its alternative business structure licence.
NAH teams up with top insurer as PI firm unveils trio of ABSs
Minster Law – the major claimant practice now owned by insurance group BGL – has joined top personal injury marketing business National Accident Helpline (NAH), becoming its largest panel member.
ABS licence allows Devon accountants to add legal service
A firm of accountants in Devon has become only the third to launch a legal arm after winning an alternative business structure licence. Davisons Legal Services began trading last week, with former City lawyer Philip Vickery as its head of legal practice.
QS bids to persuade public to love their lawyer
QualitySolicitors has today launched a new advertising campaign that aims to tackle common preconceptions about lawyers, using the tag line ‘Changing the way you see lawyers’.
LSB lays out vision of radical reform of legal regulation
The Legal Services Board has today published its “blueprint for deregulation”, the culmination of which would be a new single regulator for the legal market that is “organisationally, statutorily and culturally fully independent of both government and representative bodies’ vested interests”.
Consumer panel attacks “staggering” Law Society regulation blueprint
The Law Society’s bid to regain powers from the Solicitors Regulation Authority is “quite staggering”, the chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel has said – and it has stiffened her resolve to oppose any return to self-regulation.
Criminal barristers seek judicial review of LSB over QASA
A long-awaited judicial review of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) has been launched by criminal law barristers against the Legal Services Board (LSB).
PE-fuelled Winns targets expansion after “nightmare” ABS process
Winn Solicitors – the firm which was last week bought by two private equity businesses – now has the firepower to expand beyond its core road traffic practice, founder Jeff Winn has told Legal Futures.
Leading trade union firms join forces to launch ‘Lawyers 4 Unions’
Pattinson & Brewer and Beecham Peacock have created a joint venture that widens both firms’ offering to trade unions. Lawyers 4 Unions – which is styled as ‘Pattinson Brewer in association with Beecham Peacock’ – was launched yesterday at the annual Trades Union Congress.
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.
