London law firm fined £35k for allowing partner to use client account as banking facility
A well-known London law firm that let one of its partners use its client account as a banking facility, with millions of pounds going in and out, has been fined £35,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The partner was fined £15,000, but the tribunal made no order in relation to three other partners who became inadvertently involved in the events.
MPs outline concerns about government’s push for digital justice
MPs have expressed concern about the government’s “evident preference” for virtual and online justice over traditional, court-based models without the evidence base to justify it. They also said HM Courts and Tribunals Service has not done enough work on how those unable to use online tools will be supported.
Paralegal subjected to f-word tirades by senior partner wins harassment claims
A paralegal who was subjected to a “long accumulation of abuse” by the senior partner of a London law firm was the victim of harassment on the grounds of age and sex, an employment tribunal has found. However, most of the specific incidents cited did not amount to harassment because the paralegal received the same kind of general abuse that all staff did.
Borrower’s solicitor not liable for bank’s loss because it should have realised her error
A bank that relied on inaccurate information supplied by its borrower’s solicitor should not have won a negligence claim against her, because it failed to carry out its own checks, the Supreme Court has ruled. It restored the ruling of the judge at first instance, who held that the bank did not act reasonably.
Barrister who lied about LLM and death penalty experience to gain pupillage disbarred
A barrister has been disbarred for lying about her qualifications and experience, including a claim that she had saved 10 men from the death penalty in Malawi. Anisah Ahmed was trying both to obtain a pupillage and persuade the Bar Standards Board to reduce its length.
Solicitor loses appeal against order to give evidence on Russian client’s assets and not tip him off about it
A solicitor compelled to give evidence about a billionaire Russian client’s assets, and forbidden from revealing his court appearance to the client, has lost his appeal against those orders. He complained about being given just three days’ notice to attend court, which he described as an “ambush”, and that the issues he was questioned about were covered by legal advice privilege.
Government issues defence of plan to ban cold-calling
The government has issued a wide-ranging response to criticisms of whether its plan to ban cold-calling will be effective, saying that making the Financial Conduct Authority responsible for it would risk “confusing consumers and industry”.
Dispersed practice offers commercial lawyers the chance to create ‘firms within firm’
A dispersed commercial law firm based in Birmingham is offering solicitors the chance to set up their own firms while working as self-employed consultants. Sandip Sohal, director of My Business Counsel, said two partners from a London media firm and two more from an international City practice had taken up the offer.
Tribunal rejects solicitor’s agreement with SRA to strike him off over dubious investment schemes
A solicitor who agreed with the Solicitors Regulation Authority that he would be struck off for his role in dubious investment schemes involving carbon credits has ended up being suspended for a year after a tribunal decided that the sanction was not justified.
Government “disingenuous” in use of PI small claims limit figures, argues union
The government and insurance industry are being “disingenuous” to insist that the small claims limit has not been increased since 1991, a leading trade union has insisted USDAW also said that insurers’ argument that “damages inflation” justified a £5,000 limit for road traffic accident cases was plain wrong.
