Compliance & Regulation
Former justice minister urges opposition to planned BSB equality duty
Former justice minister Lord Wolfson KC has joined the voices opposing the Bar Standards Board’s plan to impose a new positive duty on barristers to act in a way that “advances” EDI.
Solicitor’s improper Covid letters aimed to push anti-vaccine campaign
A solicitor who sent overly aggressive and legally inaccurate letters before action as part of a campaign against the Covid vaccine has been fined £15,000.
Solicitor fined third of annual income for breach of undertaking
A solicitor who paid out money he was holding, having given an undertaking not to do so, has been fined a third of his annual income by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Birmingham Law Society attacks SRA’s ‘Robin Hood’ fines plan
More solicitors have attacked the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s plans for new fining guidance, rejecting its “Robin Hood” approach of calculating fines based on income.
AML overseer tells legal regulators to up their efforts
The body tasked with overseeing legal regulators’ anti-money laundering work said yesterday it was not seeing “the consistent, effective improvement we need”.
City solicitors lambast SRA’s plans for new fining regime
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s proposed reform of its fining powers is arbitrary, not fit for purpose, and inconsistent with its legal obligations, City solicitors have warned.
“Not a steady state period” – SRA extends chair’s term
The board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority has decided to extend Anna Bradley’s term as chair for a further two years rather than recruit a replacement.
SRA ban for employed barrister jailed for rape
An employed barrister jailed for raping a woman he met on Tinder has been banned from working for law firms after he failed in his appeal.
Strike-off for solicitor who used client money to keep firm afloat
A sole practitioner who used client money to pay his law firm’s business costs, including the salaries of several family members who worked for him, has been struck off.
Solicitor convicted of blackmailing fellow director struck off
A solicitor convicted of blackmailing a fellow director with a threat to blow the whistle in an attempt to negotiate an exit from their company has been struck off.
Proudman can argue BSB discrimination in Bar tribunal case
Dr Charlotte Proudman will be allowed to argue before a disciplinary tribunal that the Bar Standards Board discriminated against her by bringing a prosecution over tweets she posted.
Firm fined for AML compliance failure as solicitor faces tribunal
An East London law firm has become the latest to be fined by the Solicitors Regulation Authority over its failure to comply with anti-money laundering rules.
Leading lawyer “gobsmacked” by SRA review of asylum firms
A leading immigration lawyer was “gobsmacked” by a Solicitors Regulation Authority finding that legally aided work was perceived as being “of lower quality”.
Barrister-led legal compliance business bought by private equity
Barrister-led legal compliance business Briefed is to merge with a firm of recruitment consultants, following its acquisition by private equity firm Omni Partners.
Solicitor suspended for role in advance fee frauds
A solicitor involved in advance fee frauds has been suspended for a year on the basis that it was mainly the fault of a convicted fraudster he worked with.
Blog
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.
Is competition in the legal sector stifling innovation?
As the legal sector’s competitive landscape continues to evolve, Nobel laureates remind us that innovation is not inevitable,and that competition may not always be an incentive to innovate.
What high-performing consumer claims firms get right
Recurring concerns about parts of the volume claims sector show that the gap between well-run firms and those struggling to manage volume effectively is widening.
