Compliance & Regulation
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.
Family lawyer convicted over offensive text to ex-partner
A family law specialist convicted of sending a malicious communication to his ex-partner has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Suspension for solicitor who misled court, client and firm
A junior solicitor who failed to tell her law firm or client that its defence and counterclaim in a personal injury matter had been struck out has been suspended for 12 months.
Solicitor fined for statements made on “antisemitic” Iranian TV show
A solicitor who appeared on an antisemitic television programme on the Iranian state-owned TV channel has been fined for comments he made about London law firm Mishcon de Reya.
Blog
The cost of systemic failure and childbirth injuries
Recent reports show that the NHS has paid almost £3.5bn in medical claims around childbirth injuries over the past six years.
Mazur: when regulators make simple things complicated
What the last six months have shown is that supervision cannot be treated as a background compliance obligation quietly managed somewhere in a firm’s operational processes.
How unstoppable AI is reshaping UK legal practice
At a time when most technology innovation still flows from the US and China, UK lawtech is attracting growing international attention and capital.
