Compliance & Regulation
Profession has struggled with AML rules, says firm fined £10,000
A Surrey law firm has been fined £10,000 for breaches of the anti-money laundering rules in its training, approach to risk assessment and in a conveyancing transaction which produced £850 in fees.
Solicitor struck off for “sophisticated” Land Registry fraud
A solicitor jailed for more than three years for forging Land Registry documents in a family dispute with the owners of a Newcastle takeaway has been struck off.
SRA bid to cut Compensation Fund payout cap facing rejection
Controversial Solicitors Regulation Authority plans to cut the maximum award from its Compensation Fund from £2m to £500,000 are facing rejection by the Legal Services Board.
SRA backs new cyber-losses clause for indemnity policies
The extent to which losses caused by cyber attacks are covered by law firms’ professional indemnity insurance policies is to be clarified by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Fine for solicitor who acted on both sides in “undue influence” house sale
A solicitor acted for both sides in a house sale at an undervalue between a 78-year-old woman and her 34-year-old boyfriend, which was set aside by the High Court on the grounds of undue influence.
Solicitors who misused £1m raised from loan notes struck off
Two solicitors who issued £1m in loan notes to prop up their firm have been struck off for misusing the money and leaving their investors nursing huge losses.
Ban for accountant jailed over £400k theft from major City law firm
A management accountant jailed for stealing £400,000 from a major City law firm over six years has now been banned from working in the legal profession.
Solicitor paid away £290k of sale proceeds after falling for email fraud
A veteran solicitor who was tricked by an email fraud to pay out £290,000 in proceeds from a conveyancing transaction to a third party has been fined £10,000.
Petition calls for SRA to allow unsolicited approaches online
A solicitor has begun a petition urging the Solicitors Regulation Authority to allow firms to make unsolicited approaches to consumers online, saying the blanket ban goes too far.
Tribunal rejects solicitor appeal against £1,000 SRA fine
A tribunal has rejected an appeal by a solicitor against a £1,000 fine imposed by the SRA for breaching a written agreement he made during probate litigation.
Ex-Wolstenholmes partner allowed to return to law firm ownership
A former partner at Wolstenholmes – the conveyancing firm whose catastrophic collapse cost the profession £13m – can become a partner once more after a ban was removed.
Solicitor struck off after contempt finding allowed to return to profession
A solicitor who was struck off more than 20 years ago after being found in contempt of court and breach of undertakings to the High Court, has been restored to the roll.
Solicitor who lied about lost documents wins SDT rehearing
A junior solicitor struck off last year after she left confidential documents in a locked case on a train is to have a retrial to reconsider the impact of her mental health on her actions.
Junior solicitor who lied to opponent “in blind panic” avoids strike-off
A newly qualified solicitor who said she was “blinded by panic” when she lied about sending an email containing personal data to the wrong person, has been spared a strike-off.
Solicitor struck off for forging signatures while a trainee
A solicitor who forged a qualified colleague’s signature on conveyancing documents while still a trainee has been struck off, with a tribunal rejecting her claim that she had been authorised to do it.
Blog
Modern vehicles: new injury profiles and new legal challenges
As the number of electric vehicles on UK roads continues to grow year-on-year, it is important to address the risks that come with their increased adoption.
The SRA needs to admit it got it wrong about SLAPPs
The High Court judgment in Ashley Hurst v SRA in January raises serious questions about the regulator’s approach to allegations of SLAPP-like behaviour.
Why menopause support belongs on every law firm’s agenda
Progression in the law slows significantly as women approach senior leadership. Most will be at the height of their careers around the average age menopause symptoms begin.
