US-owned medical reports giant buys law firm as part of accident management deal
US-based medical reports giant ExamWorks – which owns leading UK provider Premex – has bought a personal injury firm as part of its acquisition of leading accident management group Kindertons. Jigsaw Law was originally a claims management company but was granted an alternative business structure licence in late 2012.
Ex-Locke Lord partner struck off for misconduct that landed his firm record fine
The former partner whose conduct in a dubious investment scheme led to the record £500,000 fine for US law firm Locke Lord last year has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Multiple allegations against Jonathan Denton – including that he acted dishonestly – were found proven and it emerged that he is now also facing criminal charges.
Law firm launches diploma in psychological supervision of family lawyers
A law firm in London has launched what it believes is the first training scheme in psychologically based supervision to help family lawyers manage work-related stress. Its creator said: “I think it should be compulsory for all family lawyers, both for their wellbeing and the wellbeing of their clients.”
Just four of 100 highest-earning criminal defence barristers are women
Women barely feature among the top 100 criminal defence barristers when judged by earnings, new figures have shown, and the Bar has been warned that the government could use EU rules on equality in procurement to force change. It all comes as the Bar Standards Board has laid out its plan to improve the position of women in the profession
Gateley buys Surrey property law firm for £4m in biggest acquisition to date
Listed law firm Gateley has made its biggest acquisition to date, and first of a law firm, with a £4.15m deal to buy Surrey property firm GCL Solicitors, while also announcing an 8% increase in turnover over the past year. The deal brings in 79 new members of staff, including six partners.
Courts Service to use lessons of online divorce pilot to develop digital family law service
The Courts Service has laid out how it will develop its new online divorce facility, starting with enabling lawyers to submit petitions on behalf of clients and also developing both public and private family law services that are fully accessible online.
ABSs can facilitate criminal legal aid revolution, argues former justice minister
The legal market is “totally fragmented, under-capitalised, technologically semi-illiterate and structurally redundant”, a former justice minister has claimed, arguing that a smaller number of big firms is the answer to the problems with criminal legal aid.
Listed law firm sees value soar by £10m as it targets regional acquisition
The market capitalisation of Rosenblatt, which last week became the fourth law firm to go public, has already risen by £10m on the back of a strong start to trading. Its chief executive is planning a regional acquisition to provide a lower-cost offering for corporate transactions and to create a standalone litigation funding business.
“Panicked” solicitor suspended for lending mobile to police suspect – and then denying it
A young solicitor who “panicked” has been suspended for six months for lending his mobile to a criminal suspect who used it to silence a witness, and then denying it when questioned by police. Mohammed Abid’s barrister said he had made a “grave unforgivable error… he was a rabbit in headlights”.
ABI lashes out at MPs over small claims report as claimant lawyers urge government to act on it
The Association of British Insurers has hit back angrily at yesterday’s justice select committee report criticising the government’s plan to raise the small claims limit, saying that it “read like a shopping list of asks from the claimant lawyers”. Claimant lawyers, by contrast, have called on the Ministry of Justice to adopt the committee’s recommendations.
