New-style legal offerings making their mark in the corporate world
New-style legal businesses continue to make waves in the City, with Lawyers on Demand (LOD) reporting strong annual results and Excello Law forming the first international alliance between “new-model dispersed law firms”. Meanwhile, Keystone Law has made waves with a daring publicity stunt in one of London’s busiest train stations.
Legal Services Board to develop diversity ‘success criteria’
The Legal Services Board has outlined its latest plans to improve the diversity of the profession, which will focus on developing ‘success criteria’ which regulators can use to judge their performance.
Lack of clarity on fees causes one in four complaints, major LeO survey finds
More than a quarter (26%) of complaints to the Legal Ombudsman are triggered by lack of clarity on fees, a major internal survey has found. Family law has emerged as the biggest offender, followed by wills and litigation.
SRA finally taken off report over way it handles ABS applications
The Legal Services Board has finally taken the Solicitors Regulation Authority off ‘report’ over how it is handling the approval of alternative business structures, with the number of licenses it has issued now topping 400.
Larger law firms switch to new SRA competence regime
A poll of larger commercial law firms has shown that a higher number than expected, around a quarter, have opted to introduce the new ‘hours-free’ continuing competence regime for solicitors.
Senior QC who worked with ‘named and shamed’ barrister found guilty of three misconduct offences
Ian Macdonald QC, one of the country’s leading immigration lawyers, has been found guilty of three misconduct offences by a Bar disciplinary tribunal. The offences relate to Mr Macdonald’s role as joint head of Kings Court Chambers in Birmingham.
Dentons creates legal business accelerator to push forward innovation in the law
International law firm Dentons has launched NextLaw Labs, “a global collaborative innovation platform” to develop and invest in new technologies and “transform the practice of law around the world”.
High Court: Tribunal right to disbar barrister who drafted false grounds of appeal
The High Court has upheld the disbarment of a barrister accused of drafting false grounds of appeal for a client found guilty on drugs charges.
Listing law firms urged to learn lessons of accountancy consolidators
Gateley and other law firms looking to go public must show they can avoid the costly mistakes the accountancy consolidators made when tried stock market listings, a leading commentator has warned.
Gateley bids to win over institutional investors
National law firm Gateley has already made presentations to 30 investment funds and has to convince them that it has learned the lessons of other professional services firms that have listed, the firm’s chief executive has told Legal Futures.
