Slater & Gordon suspends shares, while shareholder class actions gain momentum
Slater & Gordon was yesterday granted a voluntary suspension of its shares on the Australian Stock Exchange following a period when their value has been increasing modestly. The request came ahead of the troubled law firm’s announcement of its financial results for the second half of 2015 next Monday.
‘New Law’ goes global as Lawyers on Demand merges with Australian counterpart
The original contract lawyer business, Lawyers on Demand, is to merge with Australia’s AdventBalance in the first corss-continent merger of its type. The new business, to be called LOD from June, will still have Berwin Leighton Paisner – from which Lawyers on Demand sprang in 2007 – as a shareholder.
‘Named and shamed’ barrister in disciplinary hot water yet again
A Bar disciplinary tribunal has found ‘named and shamed’ barrister Tariq Rehman guilty of misconduct for a second time. In its latest ruling, the tribunal found that Mr Rehman had delayed or failed to refund fees and pay compensation awards to clients.
No “big bang” on fixed costs, Lord Chief Justice predicts
The Lord Chief Justice has predicted that the use of fixed costs will be extended gradually and not in “one big bang”, which people would find “uncomfortable”. Lord Thomas also indicated that litigants at the planned online court would be allowed “minimal legal assistance”.
SDT lifts suspension of solicitor so he can work as will-writer
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has lifted the indefinite suspension of a solicitor who retrained as a will-writer after suffering a “major depressive illness”. The suspension prevented him from carrying out any work as a member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters.
Three Fladgate partners to face SDT over client account allegations
Three partners at well-known London law firm Fladgate have been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The 73-partner firm has said it is “fully supporting” the lawyers, who have all been accused by the Solicitors Regulation Authority of using the firm’s client account as a “banking facility”.
Legal IT entrepreneurs tempt law students onto alternative career path
Tech-savvy law students were last week invited to pursue careers delivering legal services via technology businesses instead of the conventional route of joining a legal firm, at a meeting of IT executives committed to establishing London as a global hub for lawtech start-ups.
Barristers who outsource work must avoid referral fees, Bar Council warns
Barristers who outsource work must not “ask for or accept” any payment from third parties, the Bar Council has warned. However, third parties can “for commercial reasons” offer services to barristers at lower than normal rates, so long as the “entire benefit” is passed to lay clients.
High Court awards Lord Chancellor £1m in battle with legal aid firm
The Lord Chancellor has been awarded almost £1m by the High Court in its battle with a legal aid firm over payments on account. Mr Justice Holgate said the evidence showed “over-claiming to a substantial extent in a substantial number of cases” by Charles Ete & Co.
Justice ministers pushed ahead with policies despite being told they would probably lose in court
The former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice has spoken of how some of her political masters in the coalition would press ahead with controversial policies even if advised that they were likely to be challenged successfully in court.
