Legal Services Act
Gateley adds non-legal property business in latest acquisition
Listed law firm Gateley has made good on its intention to increase the non-legal services it offers by buying a leading land referencing consultancy.
Cancer Research launches free will service with unregulated provider
Cancer Research UK, the biggest recipient of legacies in the country, has launched a free online will service with a leading unregulated will writer, it has emerged.
Green light for civil standard of proof at SDT
The Legal Services Board has approved the change in the standard of proof used by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal from the criminal to the civil standard.
Exclusive: Domestic violence charity sets up ABS to bridge legal aid gap
A domestic violence charity has set up an alternative business structure to provide legal services for people who are not eligible for legal aid but cannot afford to pay for a private practice solicitor.
Brexit and empty offices spelled doom for £12m London firm
London law firm Child & Child went insolvent because of “severe cash flow difficulties” caused by excess office space, Brexit hitting a key practice area, high salary costs, and clients taking longer to pay.
Gordon Dadds hits post-listing turnover target a year early
Gordon Dadds’ share price rose today on the back of positive results that show it has met its goal to double revenue in the three years after listing 12 months early.
Cry freedom: New rules “strengthen regulators’ independence”
The Legal Services Board has finalised revised rules to ensure clearer separation of regulatory and representative functions at bodies like the Law Society and Bar Council.
City firm acquires legal engineering ABS Wavelength
Wavelength Law, the pioneering alternative business structure of legal engineers, has been bought by City firm Simmons & Simmons. It will introduce new services and solutions for Simmons’ clients globally.
California eyes opening up legal services to non-lawyers
California could follow the example of England and Wales in embracing non-lawyer ownership of law firms, potentially breaking the dam of opposition in America.
Credit hire and repair costs “recoverable under new portal”
PI claimants will be able to recover credit hire and repair costs under the new regime due to come into force next April if the total value of the claim does not exceed £10,000, it has emerged.
Mishcon de Reya tight-lipped over listing rumours
London law firm Mishcon de Reya said yesterday that it was looking to raise capital, and refused to confirm or deny media reports that it is eyeing up a listing on the London Stock Exchange.
LeO upholds more complaints of poor service by lawyers
The Legal Ombudsman was more likely to make a finding of poor service against a lawyer than not in 2018/19, reversing the trend of previous years, its annual report has shown.
MBO partners buy off-the-shelf ABS from Gordon Dadds
Five partners from London firm Child & Child, who acquired the firm after it went into administration at the end of last month in a management buyout, used an off-the-shelf ABS, it has emerged.
Gateley targets more non-legal services as turnover soars
Pioneering listed law firm Gateley is aiming to increase the non-legal services it offers substantially after recording record results, with revenues up 20% to £104m.
Consumer panel urges regulators to publish complaints data
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has criticised legal regulators’ continuing “resistance” to publishing complaints data about the lawyers they oversee.
Blog
Legal director: an alternative to partnership
Firms are increasingly acknowledging the need for alternative senior roles – positions that offer influence and recognition without the obligations of ownership.
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.
