High Court rejects Axiom solicitor’s appeal against being struck off in his absence
The High Court has rejected the appeal of a solicitor struck off for his involvement with the failed Axiom Legal Financing Fund after it found the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal was entitled to proceed with hearing the case in his absence. It found his claims about his ill-health were really an attempt to stop the proceedings altogether.
Barrister sanctioned for shouting at solicitor and distressing client
A barrister whose treatment of a client and a solicitor “could be characterised as bullying behaviour” has been reprimanded and fined. However, a Bar disciplinary tribunal said the fine would have been more severe were it not for the “exceptional mitigating circumstances in this case”.
Shared office space “will give barristers pay-as-you-go London base”
A shared office space in London that aims to give barristers around the country a physical presence in the capital on a pay-as-you-go basis will open shortly, Legal Futures can reveal. The venture, Barrister Hub, is a joint venture between Clerksroom and barrister-focused recruitment and consultancy business Chambers People.
Want the good life? Go to the commercial and chancery Bar
Commercial and chancery practitioners are by far the most satisfied practitioners at the Bar, while those in crime and family the least, new research published today by the Bar Council has reported. While only 30% of family and 34% of criminal barristers said they were able to balance their home and work lives, the figure was 61% for commercial and chancery.
Trainee solicitor salaries fall furthest at lowest-paying firms since minimum scrapped
Trainee solicitors at the top-paying firms receive more than three times those at the bottom, while the pay gap in earnings of female and black trainees has widened since the minimum salary was scrapped, a survey has found.
Solicitor for jailed UKIP MEP loses appeal against striking off
A solicitor who acted for jailed UKIP MEP Ashley Mote, jailed in 2015 for fraudulently claiming £400,000 in European Parliament expenses, has failed to overturn his striking off at the High Court. He had been struck off after allowing around £60,000 of European Parliament funds to be used for various legal matters Mr Mote was facing which did not relate to his work as an MEP.
Personal pension provider sets up niche ABS
A fast-growing personal pension provider has set up an alternative business structure (ABS) to provide legal services for its portfolio of more than 6,000 commercial properties. Gemma Millard, director of Rivergate Legal, said Curtis Banks had added the ABS to its panel of law firms but “ultimately” the new business could work for anybody.
Non-solicitor shareholder of ABS banned and fined by SRA for lying to clients
A former manager of Cheshire firm Bott & Co’s flight delay team has been fined £4,000 by the Solicitor Regulation Authority for lying to clients. He was also banned from owning or working in ABSs, in a rare use of the power in section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007.
Partner who made “improper withdrawals” from client accounts worth £2m is struck off
A partner who made a series of improper withdrawals from law firms’ client accounts totalling almost £2m has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Though he had used money from his father-in-law’s client account to pay his own tax bill, in general the tribunal could not identify his motivation.
CMC teaches law firms how to handle mortgage mis-selling claims
A Cheshire claims management company (CMC) is training law firms on how to handle mortgage mis-selling claims, it has emerged. The ME Group, set up by non-lawyer managers from Liverpool law firm High Street Solicitors, opened for business in September last year with only five staff. It has already expanded to 110.
