Estate planning “agitator” aims to disrupt sector
A new membership body for estate planning firms aims to disrupt the sector by providing a home for regulated and unregulated firms ranging from law firms and accountants to will writers and genealogists.
“An utterly dishonest man” – Schools jailed over Axiom fraud
The struck-off solicitor who pocketed at least £20m from the Axiom Legal Financing Fund was yesterday jailed for 14 years and disqualified as a director for 15 years.
Fine for partners over years of multiple accounts rules breaches
Two partners at a former London firm have been fined a total of £25,000 for an improper transfer of a client’s funds and allowing more than 1,700 matters to go stale, among other accounts rules breaches.
Vodafone becomes first client to join Greener Litigation movement
Vodafone has become the first client to sign up to Greener Litigation, joining law firms, chambers and others in committing to reduce the environmental impact of dispute resolution.
SDT rejects non-lawyer partner’s appeal against ban
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has rejected an appeal from a non-lawyer partner banned by the SRA from being a manager of a law firm over a client account shortage.
Academy for aspiring barristers from under-represented groups goes live
An academy scheme for aspiring barristers from under-represented groups has launched a programme to give 100 students access to internships, mini-pupillages, mentoring and life coaching.
SFO lays out global web Schools used to hide Axiom cash
The Serious Fraud Office has laid out the complexity of its investigation into the Axiom Legal Financing Fund fraud, taking in eight countries, from the UK to the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific.
CPS entitled to cut pay of solicitor who moved north
The Crown Prosecution Service was entitled to cut the pay of a senior prosecutor who worked from home and moved from Bedford to the north-east, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Solicitor founder of Axiom fund faces jail after fraud conviction
The solicitor mastermind of the Axiom Legal Financing Fund was yesterday found guilty of five counts of fraud, fraudulent trading and money laundering, and told he faces a lengthy jail sentence
US lawyers uphold opposition to non-lawyer ownership of firms
The American Bar Association yesterday stressed its continuing opposition to non-lawyer ownership of law firms, with a key mover claiming it was “protecting the public from profiteers”.
