Regulation

The Solicitors Regulation Authority will not appeal the dismissal of its prosecution of Leigh Day, its chief executive confirmed yesterday as he described the loss as “just one of those things”.

A law firm has fought off a demand by HMRC to hand over the details of clients who have sought advice on offshore structures, the prelude to similar requests to many more firms.

An experienced solicitor has been struck off after being conviction of fraudulently claiming housing benefit when she had savings that made her ineligible.

The Legal Services Board has been told by its own consumer panel that it has to share the responsibility for ensuring that consumers do not suffer at the hands of solicitors working for unregulated firms.

The Legal Services Board has approved the new SRA Handbook, including the controversial proposal to allow solicitors to provide unreserved services to the public from unregulated businesses.

The Solicitor Disciplinary Tribunal postponed the suspension of a solicitor to given him time to hand over his firm and save it from closure and the loss of 30 jobs, in a highly unusual move.

An accountant and former partner of a law firm which became involved in a €100m money laundering operation, has agreed with the SRA not to work in the profession.

A law firm that also owns an estate agency and acted for seller, buyer and as the seller’s agent in 14 conveyancing transactions has been fined over conflicts of interest.

The former national head of family law at Simpson Millar has set up his own firm and chosen to be regulated by the Bar Standards Board, which he described as a “good fit” for his business.

New rules which clearly limit the influence the Law Society can have on the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and the Bar Council on the Bar Standards Board, have been published.