Leading unrated indemnity insurer withdraws from market
Elite Insurance, one of only three unrated indemnity insurers of law firms and the only one based in Britain, announced yesterday that it is leaving the market. Elite cited increased risks of client account fraud and the government’s planned increase to the small claims limit as reasons for the move.
High Court ruling outlines extraordinary scale of allegations against Blavo & Co
A High Court judge has said there is a “strongly arguable case” that collapsed firm Blavo & Co, formerly the UK’s leading mental health practice, made “many thousands” of false legal aid claims. The court heard that following its collapse, the firm owed the Legal Aid Agency over £22m.
Law firms should be forced to publish details of complaints and prices, consumer panel says
Law firms should be required by their regulators to publish details of complaints and average prices on their websites, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has said. The panel also called for the publication of firms’ litigation outcomes and success rates.
SDT suspends solicitor who let client account become banking facility
A solicitor who allowed her firm’s client account to be used as a banking facility by a property investment company has been suspended by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Theresa Quartey was described by the SDT as “inconsistent, contradictory and at times evasive” in her evidence.
Barrister and solicitors cleared of negligence over court doors settlement
A barrister’s advice to a claimant to settle her case at the doors of the court after a key witness failed to appear was not negligent, the High Court has ruled. It has been described as good news for the profession given “a climate of post-settlement remorse” among claimants.
Unregulated firms are the future, says high-profile struck-off solicitor as he sets one up
The former chair of the Law Society’s land law and conveyancing committee, who was struck off last summer, has helped his wife set up an unregulated law firm, it has emerged. Richard Barnett, former senior partner of Southport firm Barnetts, is a consultant at Legal Heroes.
Law firm to back clients’ litigation after £50m deal with hedge fund
Cardiff-based Capital Law has today launched a £50m fund – backed by a hedge fund – to help its clients pursue litigation, in a first for a law firm. Senior partner Chris Nott said the fund had already helped a small business sue a government department for £1m and another client bring a professional negligence claim against one of the big four accountants.
In-house lawyers warned over FCA privilege dilemma
Legal privilege could cause in-house lawyers a major problem if the Financial Conduct Authority does bring them within its new accountability regime for senior managers, they have been warned.
SDT fines Berezovsky solicitor over fee deal for Abramovich case
A solicitor involved in the 2011 litigation between Russian oligarchs Boris Berezovsky and Roman Abramovich has been fined £50,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for entering into what was then an unlawful contingency fee agreement, under which he would have netted tens of millions of pounds had Mr Berezovsky succeeded.
Complaints about lawyers fall to lowest level yet
The number of complaints about lawyers has fallen to its lowest level since the opening of the Legal Ombudsman, its much-delayed annual report and accounts have shown. The delay was caused by the continuing problems with LeO’s accounts, which for the second year running have been qualified by the National Audit Office over nearly £250,000 paid to staff in benefits.
