Exclusive: SRA has not yet referred Leigh Day to tribunal over Iraq inquiry
Three months after announcing that it was referring Leigh Day to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has still not filed the papers, Legal Futures can reveal. The firm is at the centre of a political controversy over its conduct in the Al-Sweady inquiry.
Clock ticking on law firms that fail to focus on customer service, research warns
There is a “disturbing level of tunnel vision” among law firms when it comes to adopting modern customer service standards, which could ultimately make the difference between success and failure, according to a report published today. It said that in an ever competitive market, law firms that are not thriving may only have a brief chance to turn things around before it is too late.
Susskind: online court should not seek to exclude lawyers
Eliminating lawyers from the dispute resolution process should not be one of the aims of the online court (OC), the group that first proposed it has told Lord Justice Briggs. At the same time, it said the OC should be seen as paving the way for a court service that is “a blend of online service and conventional courtroom activity”.
Gateley uses share power to acquire tax incentives business
Gateley has made its first acquisition as a listed company, using shares to finance part of the £2.7m purchase of specialist tax incentives advisory business Capitus. The business, which is to be renamed Gateley Capitus, made a £593,000 profit on a £1.38m turnover in its last financial year.
Solicitor who overcharged his clients “in the most despicable way” is struck off
A solicitor who charged one client 50 times the estimate of £2,000 and another £100,000 in fees on a probate matter on which he could “recall no detail at all”, has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The SDT said Edgar Thomas had “blatantly abused his position of trust in the most despicable way”.
New PI marketing collective bids to make splash with £12m backing from firms
A new not-for-profit personal injury marketing collective with 20 law firms stumping up £600,000 each to create a £12m budget is set to go live shortly in a bid to disrupt the market. The collective has been put together with well-known legal digital marketing agency mmadigital.
Innovation is not the Holy Grail, SDT tells Legal Services Board
The Legal Services Board gives the impression that it values innovation and market development above all things, including “the necessary protective role of regulation” when it goes wrong, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has said.
SRA refers Public Interest Lawyers to tribunal over Iraq abuse inquiry
Public Interest Lawyers confirmed yesterday that the Solicitors Regulation Authority has decided to refer it to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over the Al-Sweady inquiry. It followed the SRA’s announcement in the morning that it had referred an unnamed firm to the tribunal, having earlier this year named Leigh Day as the first.
Co-op Legal Services back in the black but turnover falls again
Co-operative Legal Services returned to profit last year, although turnover continued to fall, its annual results have revealed. Though turnover – which reached a high of £33m in 2012 – was down a further 14% to £18m, CLS turned a £5m loss into a £700,000 profit.
UK seeing benefits of ABS and US “must take note”
Real benefits are emerging from alternative business structures and the US should be open-minded about adopting them, according to an academic study. It found that while ABSs did not amount to a transformation of the industry, their effects on the firms in England and Wales that adopted the business model were positive.
