Court of Appeal upholds £250 damages award over law firm’s negligence
Two former clients of Suffolk law firm Gotelee who were only awarded £250 in damages after a finding of negligence have failed in their bid to increase this to £100,000. The firm admitted that it negligently failed to advise the developer claimants that there was a planning restriction attached to a property they bought.
Tribunal criticises SRA as it overturns disciplinary sanctions – and for burden of proof confusion
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has criticised the Solicitors Regulation Authority after quashing restrictions and disciplinary sanctions the regulator had imposed on an immigration caseworker. The ruling is one of the few successful challenges to the SRA’s disciplinary decision-making.
Directors of collapsed firm admit allowing client account to be used as banking facility
Two directors of collapsed Devon law firm Recompense, Carolyn Hales and Irene Webb, have admitted allowing its client account to be used as a banking facility following agreements with the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Matthew Roddan, a third director of the firm, is on his way to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Barristers oppose plans for more flexible CPD regime
Plans by the Bar Standards Board to introduce a more flexible, outcomes-focused CPD scheme have met with widespread opposition from barristers. Only two of the proposals in its latest consultation received a positive response from individual barristers, while the Chancery Bar Association and Inns of Court expressed concerns
Let battle commence: regulatory independence consultation set for publication
The battle for the future of legal regulation is set to move into high gear next week with publication of the government consultation on making regulators such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board fully independent of the representative bodies which technically oversee them.
Foreign lawyer whose mortgage frauds have cost solicitors £2.5m struck off
A registered foreign lawyer, whose mortgage frauds over a matter of weeks have cost the SRA Compensation Fund almost £2.5m so far, has been struck off the register. But the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal said his fellow director was “as much a victim as the parties who were subject to the fraudulent transactions”.
Government approves end of SRA regulation for insolvency practitioners
The government has agreed that insolvency practitioners should no longer be regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. It said a reduction in the number of regulators would promote “consistency and efficiency” and “could reduce the overall cost of regulation which would ultimately benefit creditors”.
Law firms that fail to change “no longer sustainable” after 2020, report predicts
Law firms that fail to prepare for change are likely to become “no longer sustainable” beyond a “tipping point” around the year 2020, a report by accountants Deloitte has predicted. It said fewer “traditional lawyers” would be needed in the future, but there would be more sales executives, project managers and technology experts.
City firm launches groundbreaking six-year apprenticeship route to qualification as solicitor
Eversheds and BPP University Law School have launched a six-year apprenticeship scheme leading to qualification as a solicitor. The law firm is believed to be the first to launch a scheme at this level, but its shape depends partly on the fate of the Solicitors Qualification Examination.
ABS results: Fairpoint on the up but Minster Law sees turnover tumble
Fairpoint Group plc – the one-time debt management operation that has transformed into a mainly legal services operation – has reported a “strong financial performance” for 2015 and plans to keep growing in 2016. Meanwhile, turnover at Minster Law, which is owned by BGL Group, more than halved.
