The Law Superstore sold to property comparison site with focus on leads rather than instructions
Legal comparison website The Law Superstore is to focus on generating lower-cost leads rather than more expensive solid instructions, after it was bought by a similar site for property services. According to the outgoing managing director, it was the decision of the site’s private equity backers to sell the business to reallymoving.com.
Solicitor struck off for taking historic client balances because his firm “needed the money”
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has struck off a solicitor who took £112,000 of historic client balances, having twice rejected agreements between him and the Solicitors Regulation Authority that he would instead just remove himself from the roll. He told his fellow director that he was transferring the funds to office account because “we needed the monies”.
Group that delivers unregulated legal services launches ABS
A business that supplies unregulated legal services to SME clients worldwide via a virtual law firm using more than 100 consultant lawyers, has added an alternative business structure to its group to offer regulated services to UK consumers.
Solicitor who helped himself to money in client account “tidying-up” exercise is struck off
A solicitor who helped himself to client money while carrying out what he claimed was a “tidying-up” exercise of historic client account balances has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The tribunal decided that his actions showed a “lack of moral soundness, a lack of rectitude and no adherence to an ethical code”.
Court Service to test ‘virtual hearing’ prototype
HM Courts & Tribunals Service is working with Microsoft to build a prototype for a fully virtual hearing, which will tested in October, it has emerged. The latest development in the £1bn modernisation of the courts and tribunals, it will pilot virtual case management hearings in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.
Solicitor who tried to avoid paying stamp duty on firm office purchase struck off
A solicitor has been struck off after he bought his home and his firm’s office for £1.3m but dishonestly declared he had paid only £265,000 altogether, in order to avoid paying over £50,000 in stamp duty land tax. He also attempted to dissuade the HMRC from making fines it issued to him public so as not to alert the SRA.
Firms “letting clients slip through their fingers” with failure to follow-up enquiries
Law firms still have a long way to go in dealing with enquiries from potential clients, with a failure to follow up initial contacts a particular weakness, mystery shopping research has found. In the most extreme example, not one of the 50 SME law firms that received a walk-in enquiry followed it up.
Exclusive: Leicester law firm plans national network of franchised high street offices
Edward Hands & Lewis, a Leicester-based law firm with 15 branches, is planning to launch a national network of franchised offices next year. Its senior partner said: “I’m a passionate believer in the high street solicitor, and I would love to see our brand in every high street. This is the best way to do it.”
White & Case overhauls conflicts procedure as SDT reveals thinking behind record £250k fine
US law firm White & Case has overhauled the way it deals with conflicts of interest in the wake of the investigation that led to its record £250,000 fine last month, including ensuring it can deal with differences between the UK and US, it has emerged. The full ruling of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal included strong words for the firm.
Clerk who worked for two firms at the same time banned from the profession
A clerk who handled cases for one law firm while being employed by another has been banned from working in the profession by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. A regulatory settlement agreement published yesterday said that Eugenia Dakwa also accepted a rebuke for her misconduct.
