Solicitors
The end looms for 153 law firms which still haven’t found insurance
Some 153 law firms today entered the last-chance saloon after failing to secure professional indemnity insurance (PII) during the last 30 days. Under the new PII arrangements, they are now in the second stage 60-day ‘cessation period’.
Hopper hits out at SRA referral fee guidance
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s recent guidance on the referral fee ban is “extremely unhelpful” and only aimed at extremes of behaviour, regulatory expert Andrew Hopper QC has argued.
QASA claimants lose bid to cut costs exposure
he barristers seeking to have the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) declared unlawful have lost a bid to reduce their costs exposure. Mr Justice Bean refused to amend the protective costs order granted earlier this month by Mr Justice Ouseley.
Osborne Clarke hit by bank account scam letters
Regional law firm Osborne Clarke has become the victim of a scam falsely telling clients that it has changed its bank account details, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned.
SRA reaches 200 ABSs but one enters liquidation as another has license revoked
The number of alternative business structures (ABSs) licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority hit 200 yesterday, but the first ABS liquidation and first licence revocation have tempered any celebrations.
ABI “perplexed” by solicitors being forced to pay towards their trade body
The Association of British Insurers has opened a new front in its ongoing battle with the Law Society by arguing that solicitors’ representative body should not automatically receive a cut of the practising certificate fee.
Law Society intervenes in QASA judicial review
The Law Society has been granted permission to intervene in the judicial review of the legality of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA). The society said it is intervening in the case “in the best interests of all advocates”.
Exclusive: SRA snaps up LSB strategy chief
Crispin Passmore, the director of strategy at the Legal Services Board, is jumping ship for a newly created director-level policy role at the Solicitors Regulation Authority, Legal Futures understands.
Number of law firms without insurance continues to climb
The number of law firms that failed to find professional indemnity insurance by 1 October has continued to climb, Legal Futures can report. It has also emerged that law firms are responding slowly to the next deadline facing them – practising certificate renewal by 31 October.
Plant hits out at City law firms over trainee recruitment
The ex-City lawyer chairman of the Solicitors Regulation Authority has questioned the recruitment methods of City law firms in making university students decide to become commercial lawyers so early on in their legal careers.
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.
