Disciplined solicitor blames failings on legal aid cuts
A criminal sole practitioner has been fined for offences which he blamed on having dispensed with his accounts manager after the firm suffered from legal aid cuts.
High Court finds oral agreement to pay solicitor’s fees
The High Court has found there was an oral agreement between a solicitor and the son-in-law of a client that the latter would cover his fees, which in the end totalled £330,000.
Online wills business “expanding despite higher fee”
A business selling online wills has reported rapid growth, such that it has employed a solicitor to head its team of will checkers, and it has also secured the backing of the Daily Mail’s owner.
Heat rising over SRA plan for solicitors in unregulated firms
The Legal Services Board has received unprecedented lobbying against the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s plans to allow solicitors to practise from unregulated businesses.
Leading firm ordered to hand over part of client file to HMRC
National law firm DAC Beachcroft has had mixed success in fighting off a bid by HM Revenue & Customs to access a conveyancing file involving offshore clients.
Four solicitors struck off after leaving firm in £61m debt
Four solicitors have been struck off for their role at a Preston law firm which collapsed owing the scandal-hit Axiom Legal Financing Fund £61m.
ABS owner given $500m to invest by private equity giant
A global ‘enterprise legal services company’ that effectively owns a London-based ABS is set for massive growth after Europe’s biggest private equity house took a majority stake.
“Olympics bomb hoax” barrister disbarred
Barrister Michael Shrimpton – who was jailed for a bomb hoax at the London Olympics – has been disbarred by a disciplinary tribunal.
“No way” whiplash portal will be ready for April 2020
There are considerable doubts about whether the Ministry of Justice will meet its April 2020 target to introduce the whiplash reforms, this week’s PI Futures event heard.
CMC owners face an end to ‘phoenixing’
An end to owners of CMCs closing down a distressed firm and opening another – known as ‘phoenixing’ – is on the cards under new proposals from the Financial Conduct Authority.
