Longstanding QualitySolicitors firm to leave network and concentrate on local work
West Midlands firm Talbots – a stalwart of the QualitySolicitors network – has announced that it is leaving the group in May. Chief executive Mary Mocklow said Talbots would compete better as an independent law firm.
SRA announces rethink on training reforms
Paul Philip, chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, has announced a rethink on plans to abolish the minimum period of workplace training required by all future solicitors. Meanwhile, the regulator also yesterday launched ‘Law Firm Search’, a new searchable, online database of the law firms it regulates.
Slater & Gordon “failed in due diligence” over Quindell purchase
Slater & Gordon failed to carry out good enough due diligence checks before buying Quindell’s professional services division this time last year, a partner at the UK’s first listed law firm has suggested. Andrew Evans, partner at Gateley, said S&G paid “far too much”.
Cheap is not cheerful, as only one in 10 choose conveyancer on price
The proportion of people selecting their conveyancer on price has fallen to only one in ten, a survey of 5,400 home movers has shown. The same survey found that only three years ago 20% of clients chose the cheapest.
Freshfields team wins Hackney Law Centre hackathon with A2J website
A team of computer coding specialists from magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have won a groundbreaking ‘hackathon’ to create an IT-based product of use to Hackney Law Centre, with a multi-lingual access to justice website built from scratch in just 24 hours.
NAH records strong 2015 but warns that PI reforms will squeeze profits
NAHL Group plc – the AIM-listed business that owns National Accident Helpline – has announced strong results for 2015, but warned that impending government reforms to personal injury (PI) claims are likely to hit profits in the current financial year. Meanwhile, the SRA has issued a warning notice about PI fraud.
Report highlights perception gap between partners and fee-earners
There is a big gap in the way partners and fee-earners at medium-sized law firms view where they work, including “an exaggerated sense of progressiveness among decision-makers”, a new report has found. Partners were far more confident than fee-earners that their firm had a “clear strategy for the future”.
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.
