Compliance & Regulation
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.
High Court orders solicitor to hand over firm’s files to SRA
The High Court has ordered a high-profile solicitor to surrender her firm’s files after the Solicitors Regulation Authority closed it down but she refused to co-operate.
Blog
AI and law firm risk – the view of professional indemnity insurers
In considering law firm applications for cover, many insurers will expect to see evidence of how firms are adapting to AI and preparing for the future.
Automation in personal injury claims: The evolving legal risks
As automation tools become more sophisticated, they are increasingly used for more complex tasks, such as interpreting evidence and informing case strategy, particular in the PI sector.
A new era of legal operations
What we are seeing in the UK legal market is extraordinary change that will greatly influence how firms operate and compete for years to come.
