Regulation
Retired solicitor who tried to kiss 15-year-old struck off
A 66-year-old male solicitor found guilty of sexual assault when he tried to kiss a 15-year-old girl in a pub has been struck off in an incident described as “thoroughly unpleasant”.
Bail-jumping barrister suspended after assault conviction
A barrister convicted of assault after beating a woman and of failing to surrender to custody has been reprimanded and suspended from practice for four months.
Mirror’s in-house lawyers under phone-hacking scrutiny
The High Court has rejected a bid to strike out the claim by various public figures that the legal department of MGN Group knew about phone hacking at the Daily Mirror.
Solicitor’s seven-year “exile” ended by STaRs
A pioneering solicitor who came off the roll so she could continue providing housing advice from her unregulated firm has returned to the profession after a seven-year “exile”.
Solicitor fined for failing to supervise thieving bookkeeper
A solicitor who failed to properly supervise his firm’s bookkeeper – who went on to steal £25,000 – has been fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the second such sanction he has received.
PI boss fined for forwarding “grossly offensive” email
The former head of catastrophic injury at a Liverpool law firm has been fined £1,600 for forwarding a “highly derogatory and grossly offensive” email to a colleague.
High Court allows new harassment claims against barrister
A High Court judge has allowed three new harassment allegations against barrister Barbara Hewson to go ahead, while upholding an earlier ruling that a host of other ones should be struck out.
No privilege for law firm’s gold dust investment documents
An international law firm must disclose documents relating to a failed gold dust investment scheme which showed “the classic hallmarks” of fraud, the High Court has ruled.
Partner cleared of groping employee – by majority
A partner accused of repeatedly touching a female employee’s bottom has been cleared by a tribunal – although there was a dissenting judgment, an extremely rare occurrence.
Union joins forces with ABI and British Safety Council in PI fight
Trade union Usdaw is building a broad coalition – including the Association of British Insurers – in a bid to persuade the government to exclude workplace injuries from the small claims limit increase.
Blog
Listening, learning and leading The Solicitor’s Charity with care
As I prepare to hand over the mantle of chair of The Solicitor’s Charity next month, it doesn’t feel like an end. Instead, it feels like a wonderful journey.
Is competition in the legal sector stifling innovation?
As the legal sector’s competitive landscape continues to evolve, Nobel laureates remind us that innovation is not inevitable,and that competition may not always be an incentive to innovate.
What high-performing consumer claims firms get right
Recurring concerns about parts of the volume claims sector show that the gap between well-run firms and those struggling to manage volume effectively is widening.
