Compliance & Regulation
LSB considers ban on NDAs unless employee asks for one
Lawyers could be banned from drafting NDAs in cases of sexual harassment, discrimination or whistleblowing unless the member of staff involved has asked for one.
Number of SRA investigations into SLAPPs continues to rise
The number of law firms being investigated for possible misconduct relating to SLAPPs has doubled since the summer to 40, the chief executive of the SRA revealed yesterday.
Increase in suspicious activity reports made by lawyers
The number of suspicious activity reports made by lawyers rose last year but continues to represent just a tiny fraction of reports received by the National Crime Agency.
CMCs still pushing out “misleading and unfair” advertising
Claims management companies are still producing “misleading, unclear and unfair advertising”, the Financial Conduct Authority has said.
Unrepentant barrister disbarred for breaking Supreme Court embargo
The barrister found in contempt of court by the Supreme Court after he released its embargoed ruling on the planned third runway for Heathrow airport has now been disbarred.
And then there were two – SRA shuts another Metamorph firm
The Solicitors Regulation Authority last week closed down yet another firm in the Metamorph Law Group, leaving just two still operating.
Firm handed largest-ever fine for transparency rules non-compliance
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has fined a law firm that did not comply with its transparency rules £3,500, the highest penalty it has issued for the offence.
BSB returns to “part fund” Legal Choices website
Legal Choices, the consumer-facing website which since 2019 has been paid for by all the legal regulators apart from the Bar Standards Board, is now receiving “part funding” from the BSB.
MPs criticise rugby bosses for response to club owner’s SDT sanction
MPs have criticised the Rugby Football Union for not taking action against an owner of a leading club who was banned from working for law firms.
Government to give SRA power to demand more information from firms
The government is to extend the SRA’s powers to demand information from solicitors and firms beyond money laundering matters to economic crime more generally.
Law firm fined record £20,000 for “reckless” AML breaches
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has fined an Oxfordshire law firm a record £20,000 after finding it “reckless” in failing to comply with the anti-money laundering requirements.
LawtechUK: Regulatory risks of AI “inhibiting law firm adoption”
Hesitation about adopting artificial intelligence by law firms nervous of the risks presented by a regulatory grey area is causing a bottleneck that needs to be cleared.
Failure to comply with Legal Services Act “did not invalidate indictment”
A council’s failure to ensure either a lawyer or ‘exempt’ individual served a Crown Court indictment did not “automatically invalidate” it, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
CILEX strengthens position with Institute of Paralegals acquisition
CILEX has acquired the Institute of Paralegals and its Professional Paralegal Register as it looks to strengthen its position as the body for specialist legal professionals.
Barrister who practised while suspended is disbarred
A barrister who held himself out as practising while he in fact he was serving a suspension has been disbarred after his fourth appearance before a disciplinary tribunal.
Blog
Why law firms are getting AI supervision wrong
The profession’s response to AI supervision failures misunderstands the nature of LLM output – there needs to be for a shift in the culture.
Beyond the PII premium – rethinking risk
Professional indemnity insurance renewal is often treated as an annual pricing exercise. But it is also a chance to show how effectively you identify, manage and mitigate risk.
The AI governance gap in law firms and why it matters now
A third of law firms are already using AI tools with no formal policy in place to govern how AI gets used, what data goes into it, or who’s accountable when something goes wrong.
Reports
Associates
