Exclusive: Accountants to challenge government decision on rights to handle legal work
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales has launched judicial review proceedings against the Ministry of Justice over the decision to deny its members the right to conduct litigation, advocacy and legal instruments work, Legal Futures can reveal.
Simpson Millar rebuked and fined for role in £4.5m SDLT avoidance schemes
National law firm Simpson Millar has accepted a rebuke and £2,000 fine from the Solicitors Regulation Authority for promoting stamp duty land tax avoidance schemes which cost HM Revenue & Customs over £4.5m. The sanction is the most the SRA can hand out without referring the firm to a disciplinary tribunal.
Information Commissioner upholds MoJ refusal to disclose Leigh Day emails
Disclosing documents relating to disciplinary proceedings against Leigh Day for its handling of Iraq war claims would involve a manual search of 5,000 documents and cost over £10,000, the Ministry of Justice has argued. The details emerged in a ruling by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Court of Appeal rejects law firm’s plea to overturn SRA intervention
The Court of Appeal has rejected a City law firm’s second appeal against being shut down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority over improper charges. Lord Justice Singh said there was “an air of unreality” about the appeal by Neumans against the High Court ruling.
SRA threatens firms with disciplinary action for failing to comply with new AML obligations
More than one in ten law firms assessed for compliance with government money laundering obligations brought in last June have been referred to the disciplinary process, a proportion which if extrapolated to the wider profession would amount to over 1,200 firms.
Solicitor struck off for role in Ponzi scheme
A solicitor jailed for his role in a Ponzi scheme – in which he used his professional credentials to persuade people to invest– has been struck off. Stephen Pickard, formerly of Leeds firm Lupton Fawcett, is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence.
Chakrabarti backs affirmative action to boost number of senior women judges
It is time to consider “targeted and time-limited affirmation action” to deliver a significant increase in the number of women in the senior judiciary, the Shadow Attorney General has argued. Baroness Chakrabarti, the barrister who used to head Liberty, said she had seen “the enormous catalysing effect” such measures can have.
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.
