SRA hits back after Law Society attack on indemnity reforms
Paul Philip, chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, has hit back after the SRA’s latest indemnity insurance plans were fiercely criticised by the Law Society. He said the regulator had made “absolutely no new recommendations”.
Barrister and solicitor set up groundbreaking BSB-regulated firm
A barrister and solicitor have chosen the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to regulate their niche firm that specialises in defending teachers and other professionals in disciplinary actions. It is understood to be the first firm consisting of a barrister and solicitor to become a BSB entity.
It’s all about the pictures: government considers radical changes to contracts
Radical changes are being considered for government contracts for digital services, including removing “negative language”, limiting sentences to two lines and hosting boilerplate clauses online. Use of visual images is also being encouraged.
Adopting new structures for chambers “not so important”, say heads of newly merged set
Structures are “far from being as central to the success of a modern set as their proponents suggest”, the joint heads of the newly merged Drystone Chambers have argued. Karim Khalil QC and Andrew Campbell-Tiech QC also suggested that mergers between competing sets stored up problems for the future.
Pioneering ABS adds estate agency to boost legal business
The first independent financial adviser to set up a law firm from scratch has added an estate agency to work alongside its alternative business structure. Leicester-based Bobby Dhanjal Legal Services has also brought its first trainee solicitor through to qualification.
European rules would make it harder for LeO to reject complaints
The European directive on alternative dispute resolution will not only extend the period for making complaints about lawyers from six to twelve months, but reduce the grounds for the Legal Ombudsman to reject them from 14 to four, it has emerged.
Exclusive: Software suppliers unite to launch free rival to Veyo
A free version of conveyancing portal Veyo, called Free2Convey, is to be launched by the Legal Software Suppliers Association (LSSA) at the end of this month. Matt Lancaster, chair of the LSSA, said he hoped as many law firms as possible would use it.
Irwin Mitchell distances itself as Parabis admits to “discreet” sale discussions
Irwin Mitchell has said it is “not involved” in discussions with private equity firm Duke Street to buy part of the Parabis Group, contrary to reports in the Sunday Times. The group admitted today that it has held “discreet discussions with other like-minded businesses” as it considered options to restructure its business.
Large law firms lag behind accountants in advice for retiring partners
Only a few large law firms are providing structured retirement advice for their partners, a report has found – unlike the big accountancy firms. The study, of 28 top 100 firms, found three with formal internal schemes.
Barrister sets up BSB-regulated firm to work for City solicitors
A barrister has set up a limited company, regulated by the Bar Standards Board, to work as a consultant for a leading City law firm. Jane Walshe said she was the first barrister to be authorised to work in this way.
