Compliance & Regulation
“Deplorable” solicitor struck off for manifest incompetence
A solicitor condemned by one judge for “wanton failures” to comply with court orders and by another for “the worst case of wholesale failure” he had ever seen, has been struck off.
Firm’s insurer targets fraud exception to defeat £6m claim
Insurer Axis Specialty Europe is trying to exclude its liability for losses of nearly £6m suffered by a US property company due to a fraud perpetrated by a solicitor.
Barrister sanctioned for own fundamentally dishonest PI claim
A non-practising barrister who had his personal injury claim thrown out as fundamentally dishonest has been banned for returning to practice for nine months.
Newly qualified left in charge of firm rebuked over client account failures
A newly qualified solicitor left holding the fort when the sole principal she was working for was hospitalised, has been rebuked after apparent conveyancing frauds happened on her watch.
SRA business plan targets solicitor-advocates and technology
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to check the training records of solicitor-advocates working in the higher courts, its latest business plan has revealed.
Barrister struck off over sexual assault on colleague
A barrister who groped a colleague’s breasts during a night out – for which he was later convicted – and then asked her to lie to help him cover his tracks with his fiancee has been disbarred.
“Slapdash” conveyancer fined £10,000 by SDT
A solicitor who lost sight of who was her client and whose actions in a conveyancing transaction were described as “slapdash” has been fined £10,000.
SRA approves cyber-losses clause despite insurer concerns
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to add a clause on cyber-losses to the minimum terms and conditions of insurance despite concerns expressed by the insurance industry.
City giant to face trial over alleged conflicts of interest
City giant Hogan Lovells only achieved partial success in a bid for summary judgment over complaints that it had multiple conflicts of interest while acting for a Ukrainian tycoon.
Divorce fraud barrister fails in appeal against disbarment
A barrister who deliberately gave the court a wrong address in an effort to obtain a divorce fraudulently has lost his appeal against being disbarred.
LSB approves new regulator for accountant probate providers
The Legal Services Board has approved CILEx Regulation’s application to take over the regulation of probate work carried on by members of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Retired solicitor struck off for falsifying letter in bid to explain rule breach
A 75-year-old solicitor has been struck off after he provided a client with a banking facility for over 20 years and then faked a letter of retainer to cover himself.
SRA leads Agile Nations project to create global legal services market
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is leading a project called the Agile Nations Lawtech Innovation Network aimed at helping to create a global market for legal services.
SRA needs “radical rethink” to change disproportionate focus on BAME solicitors
The Solicitors Regulation Authority needs to rethink its approach radically to tackle the “grimly entrenched” problem of ethnic minority solicitors being over-represented in its enforcement work.
BSB signals tougher approach to transparency rules compliance
Approaching one in 10 chambers admit failing to comply with the Bar Standards Board’s service and price transparency rules, with the regulator now set to toughen up its approach to enforcement.
Blog
Our vision for 2026: A shared approach to AML
We want to see law firms start taking AML compliance as seriously as it deserves. This means treating it not as a tick-box exercise or a procedural necessity, but as a serious part of company culture.
Why later-life divorce requires a distinct professional framework
Later-life divorce, often described as ‘silver splitter’ or ‘grey divorce’ cases, is no longer a marginal feature of family law practice. It challenges long-standing assumptions about how divorce work is done.
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.
