Compliance & Regulation


High Court rejects solicitor’s challenge to SRA intervention

8 March 2022

Sophie Khan, the solicitor jailed for defying court orders to hand over files to the Solicitors Regulation Authority, has now lost her challenge to the regulator’s decision to close her firm.


SRA to start spot checks on firms’ Russia sanctions compliance

8 March 2022

The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to conduct spot checks on law firms to ensure they are complying with the sanctions imposed on Russian individuals, companies and ships.


Solicitor used residual balances to pay salaries and VAT bills

8 March 2022

A solicitor who was a major figure in miners’ compensation claims has been fined for using £140,000 of residual balances in his client account to pay salaries and tax bills.


Rule will require solicitors to challenge colleagues’ improper behaviour

7 March 2022

Solicitors will have a regulatory obligation to challenge colleagues who treat others unfairly or without respect as part of a plan to beef up the rules on health and wellbeing at work.


LeO boss: Efforts to close complaints more quickly starting to work

7 March 2022

Efforts to close cases more quickly are having a positive impact on the performance of the Legal Ombudsman, with an influx of new recruits set to speed up progress.


Solicitor struck off for lying to avoid paying legal aid debt

7 March 2022

A solicitor who lied about not having a bank account or any income other than benefits to avoid having to repay a debt to the Legal Aid Agency (Lhas been struck off.


Ex-Mishcon partner accepts £17,500 fine for AML failures

7 March 2022

The partner whose conduct contributed to the record £232,000 fine handed out to Mishcon de Reya has been fined £17,500 himself.


PM issues warning to oligarch lawyers as profession hits back at criticism

3 March 2022

Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned lawyers and others involved in “assisting corrupt oligarchs” that they will “pay a price” if they have undermined the interests of the UK.


Leading criminal law solicitor struck off over £100 “gift”

2 March 2022

A leading criminal law solicitor has been struck off after asking a police station client to pay him £100 for travel costs and then claiming the money from the Legal Aid Agency.


LSB warns Bar Council over objections to “unreasonable” PCF rise

2 March 2022

The Legal Services Board has approved a controversial 4.5% increase in the practising certificate fee for barristers, while warning the Bar Council over how it exercises its regulatory functions.


Truss: We’re looking to target law firm enablers of oligarchs

1 March 2022

Efforts to target oligarchs will extend to those who enable them, like law firms, foreign secretary Liz Truss confirmed yesterday.


Ukraine war trains harsh spotlight on lawyers who act for oligarchs

28 February 2022

Pressure to take action against law firms who act for oligarchs and companies connected with the Russian state is increasing from MPs, peers and journalists.


Solicitor who took £10,000 fee and then ghosted client struck off

28 February 2022

A “disgraceful” solicitor who took half of his £20,000 fee for an immigration matter upfront but then did no work and ghosted his client has been struck off.


SDT, BTAS and other tribunals face hefty bills after appeal court ruling

28 February 2022

The Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling that a barrister who sat as a tribunal chair for the Nursing and Midwifery Council was a ‘worker’ and entitled to sickness and holiday pay.


Solicitor made up court wins for Facebook and practised unauthorised

25 February 2022

A solicitor who practised without authorisation for four years and posted messages on Facebook about made-up cases her firm had supposedly won has been suspended from practice.

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Blog


The SRA and privileged material – this is not the end

All disclosure to the SRA must now exclude privileged material, which will not only hamper investigations but also cause additional work for firms providing disclosure.


Legal Ombudsman fee reforms risk widening the justice gap

Charging firms simply because a complaint moves through the process weakens the present connection between fees and fault. It could also encourage firms to settle for commercial reasons.


Why upfront information could transform home buying

The success of upfront property information will depend on more than simply making the information available.