Legal Services Act
SRA: Most firms secured insurance but mergers on the rise
This year’s indemnity insurance renewal season has not been as bad as some had predicted, but there has been an uptick in mergers and acquisitions, the SRA has revealed.
Abuser fails in argument that ‘Covid pressure’ made conviction unsafe
The Court of Appeal has refused a man leave to appeal his conviction on the ground that the jury may have felt under pressure to return a verdict because the coronavirus crisis was developing.
Unregulated firms “will force traditional practices to get better”
The change last year allowing solicitors to practise from unregulated businesses will force traditional law firms to improve their service offering, the Competition and Markets Authority has been told.
Solicitor who sold business for £61m: I couldn’t do it in a law firm
The traditional law firm model does not support entrepreneurs who want to build and sell a business, according to the solicitor who last week sold his company for £61m.
Legal Ombudsman seeks 19% budget hike
The Legal Ombudsman is planning a 19% increase in its budget for 2021/22, and a further 6% the year after, arguing the scheme is currently in an “unsustainable position”.
ABS owned by insurance claims firm enters Australia
The alternative business structure owned by global insurance services firm Crawford & Company is expanding into Australia after buying up a leading defendant practice in the country.
Big Four giant signals ambition with City firm acquisition
Big Four firm Deloitte yesterday issued a statement of intent to the London legal market by announcing that it is to acquire leading technology and digital media law firm Kemp Little.
Ex-DWF boss becomes ABS’s chair as he launches new venture
The former chief executive of DWF has re-emerged as non-executive chair of flexible lawyer business The Legal Director and announced the creation of his own ‘digital law firm’.
New chambers goes virtual – for now
Crucible Law opens its doors virtually this week following the closure of predecessor set Charter Chambers in the teeth of the pandemic’s impact on the justice system.
Former UN chief hits out at “activist lawyer” label
The former secretary-general of the United Nations has condemned Home Secretary Priti Patel’s recent attack on “activist lawyers”. Ban Ki-moon also urged the legal profession to reform itself.
Exclusive: New ‘corporate’ chambers looks to shake up Bar
A family law barrister, together with the former chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association, are looking to shake up the Bar by adopting a corporate structure for their new chambers.
Gateley narrowly overcomes shareholder pay revolt
Pioneering listed law firm Gateley narrowly survived a major shareholder revolt against its directors’ remuneration report, with just 51% of votes in favour of approving it.
Solicitor sells employment law business for £61m
A solicitor who left private practice to set up an employment law, HR and health & safety business 16 years ago sold it yesterday for £59m to a new big player in the employment law world.
City sets out innovation blueprint amid fears over Covid impact
The Covid-19 pandemic risks the huge progress made in using technology to innovate in legal services and find new ways of working, according to a report from the City of London Corporation.
“Rude” CMC fined £250k for millions of nuisance calls
A claims management company that made millions of nuisance calls, and did so in an “aggressive and rude” way has been fined £250,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Blog
It’s time for law firms to ask tougher questions
For years, many law firms have treated ID verification as a box-ticking exercise. Run a liveness check, match a face to a document and move on. But that is no longer good enough.
Business fatigue to AI will risk job security
Whilst we know professional learning has always been part of career paths, to hire, retain and keep talent, AI needs to be embedded as a core part of this training.
On good authority? GenAI and the reputational risks to law firms
As GenAI’s influence grows, so do the risks which are already playing out in courtrooms across England and Wales, where some early adopters are setting precedents they would rather not.
