Practice Management
Riverview steps up AI focus with deal to buy US tech business
Riverview Law has completed a “multi-million” pound deal to buy an American knowledge automation business as part of its plans to develop the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal market. It said the deal to buy CliXLEX was a “major step” towards the creation of ‘virtual assistants’
Kidwells launches accountancy joint venture – to add to its nine other branded businesses
An innovative Hereford-based alternative business structure has set up a joint venture with a Welsh accountancy firm, joining nine other branded businesses in the Kidwell Group, ranging from a barristers’ chambers to a guest house.
Hudson replaced as Veyo chair by turnaround specialist
Des Hudson, former chief executive of the Law Society, has left his post as chair of conveyancing portal Veyo, it has been announced. His replacement, Ian Gray, is a ‘turnaround management’ specialist.
Good news for law firms as High Court rejects insurer’s bid to cap liability for multiple claims
Solicitors’ professional indemnity insurers cannot aggregate multiple related claims when the terms of the transactions are not conditional or dependent upon each other, the High Court has decided in a ruling said to protect law firms from financial risk.
Car crash not to blame for lack of training contract, judge tells litigant-in-person
A judge has told a litigant-in-person that a road traffic accident she was involved in was not to blame for her failure to secure a training contract. Judge Walden-Smith said the “sad fact” was that many “competent individuals” failed to obtain a contract.
Two-partner firm succeeds in striking out £8m professional negligence claim
A two-partner central London law firm has succeeded in striking out a professional negligence claim for over £8m. Master Bowles said the claimants had allowed the proceedings to sink into “indefinite abeyance”.
Growing medical negligence marketing collective launches £1m TV campaign
A growing medical negligence marketing network has launched a £1m TV advertising campaign that aims to differentiate itself from other firms that “lack transparency when dealing with clients”. The first instalment of the campaign premiered during an ad break for Coronation Street.
Law Society to target big business in new “solicitor brand” campaign
The Law Society’s membership board has approved plans for a long-term campaign to boost the ‘solicitor brand’, which will include bigger businesses and in-house lawyers as buyers of legal services. It is due to be launched next year.
Gender balance among practising barristers “unlikely ever to be achieved”, Bar Council report warns
An equal gender balance among practising barristers is “unlikely ever to be achieved” if current trends continue, a Bar Council report has warned. However, there was better news on BAME representation, which is due to hit 20%.
RateMyBarrister becomes legalbods.com
First he allowed solicitors to join, now the founder of RateMyBarrister is relaunching the website as legalbods.com, because “people who need legal advice often ask if anyone knows any good ‘legal bods'”. William Rees said his focus was on obtaining more detailed data from clients.
Blog
Why good governance matters when managing Law Society forms
Everyday legal transactions rely on Law Society forms. But they are often treated as static templates rather than what they really are: living documents that change over time.
A letter from the SRA? Your first reaction matters
An email from the SRA has a way of rearranging a working day. It arrives in the same inbox as everything else, often in the same measured tone, yet it carries a different weight.
Regulate sole practices on evidence, not turnover
For a sole practice, the SRA’s plan that I cannot hold a compliance role if my firm has more than £600,000 of turnover is not a measure of risk. It is a ceiling on growth.
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