Compliance & Regulation
Axiom founder loses appeal over 14-year fraud sentence
Timothy Schools, the struck-off solicitor jailed for 14 years last summer for pocketing at least £20m from the Axiom Legal Financing Fund, has failed in a bid to reduce his sentence.
Managers need to challenge bad office behaviour “immediately”
Law firm managers who witness unfair treatment should intervene immediately to stop it if possible, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said.
Solicitor fined over conflict of interest in SDLT avoidance schemes
A partner who acted for property purchasers and lenders and failed to tell the latter that the former were using stamp duty land tax avoidance schemes has been fined.
LSB looks to beef up regulatory response to misuse of NDAs
The need for a “strengthened and harmonised regulatory approach” to tackle the misuse of non-disclosure agreements is being probed by the Legal Services Board.
Partner struck off for dishonesty over expenses claims
A partner who tried to “obfuscate his charging of personal expenses” to clients of international firm Reed Smith has been struck off.
City law firm accused of “untenable” Post Office conflict of interest
Herbert Smith Freehills was yesterday accused of being in an “untenable” conflict of interest with its continued role in the Post Office scandal compensation schemes.
Solicitor struck off after misleading regulators
A solicitor who misled the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Insolvency Service, and failed to co-operate with the Legal Ombudsman has been struck off.
Solicitor avoids strike-off for dishonest email to opposing side
A solicitor’s “moment of madness” in misleading an opposing firm on a matter while she was suspended on disciplinary grounds has avoided being struck off.
Solicitor who forged trustees’ signatures struck off
A solicitor who used forged cheques from trustees or money from another client to cover up the fact she had failed to submit tax returns on time has been struck off.
LSB to put focus on “ethical competence” of lawyers
There needs to be more focus on the “ethical competence” of lawyers throughout their careers, the Legal Services Board has suggested.
Solicitor convicted of exposing himself while jogging struck off
A senior director of a West Midlands law firm who was convicted of exposing himself to young girls while jogging in Dorset has been struck off.
APIL in new bid to ban all cold calling
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers is seeking an amendment to a data protection bill currently going through the House of Commons to ban all cold calling.
CILEX can press ahead with talking to SRA about switching regulator
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives has the power, in principle, to change its regulator to the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Legal Services Board has decided.
SDT rejects US firm’s “astonishing” bid to see ex-trainee’s evidence
The SDT has dismissed as “astonishing” arguments put by a US law firm to see all the evidence in the prosecution of a former trainee solicitor before its witnesses give evidence.
Major project to examine legal ethics after the Post Office scandal
A three-year project to understand the ethical problems that arose for lawyers involved in the Post Office scandal, and how they can be avoided in future, has been launched.
Blog
Why later-life divorce requires a distinct professional framework
Later-life divorce, often described as ‘silver splitter’ or ‘grey divorce’ cases, is no longer a marginal feature of family law practice. It challenges long-standing assumptions about how divorce work is done.
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.
