Law Society extends consumer campaign by nine months after web traffic surge
The Law Society has extended its consumer campaign promoting solicitors until the end of October this year, after an increase in traffic to the society’s ‘Find a Solicitor’ website of 18.5% in only four months.
High Court finds Baker & McKenzie negligent in tax case but not liable for damages
A High Court judge has found that although international law firm Baker & McKenzie was negligent in advice it gave on Mexican tax law, it was not liable to pay damages to the company involved.
Government accepts case to exempt lawyers from ‘groundless threats’ laws
Lawyers who act on instructions in threatening potential intellectual property infringers with action are to be exempt from being sued when the threat turns out to be groundless, after the government recently gave the go-ahead for law reforms.
Over 200 firms of all sizes opt in to ‘hours-free’ continuing competence, SRA says
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has said that over 200 law firms of all sizes have opted into its new ‘continuing competence’ regime. From 1 April firms have been able to leave behind the old hours-based continuing professional development system.
We’ve had to make “difficult judgement calls”, consumer panel chair admits
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has had to make “difficult judgement calls” in balancing the competing needs for increased access to services with consumer protection, the panel’s chair, Elisabeth Davies, has admitted.
Cahill Gordon & Reindel is first US firm to set up an ABS (really)
Cahill Gordon & Reindel, based in New York, has become the first US firm to set up an alternative business structure in the UK, Legal Futures can reveal. Its head of legal practice is Richard Kelly, a London-based partner.
Co-op Legal Services stems losses and declares 2015 “our foundation year”
Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) stemmed its losses in the second half of 2014 and remains a core part of the wider Co-operative Group, today’s annual results have revealed. While the group has returned to profit, CLS recorded a loss of £5m for the year.
Huge rise in number of lawyers disciplined for money laundering, Treasury reports
There has been a massive increase in the number of lawyers disciplined by their professional bodies for breaking the rules on money laundering, a Treasury report has found.
First 15 BSB-regulated entities ‘on verge’ of providing legal services to clients
The Bar Standards Board has approved 15 new businesses as it enters the world of entity regulation – but they remain unnamed as they have first to confirm that they have professional indemnity insurance in place.
SME law firms eye mergers as good times return
Smaller law firms continue to see merger, rather than external investment or bringing in non-lawyer owners, as the more likely path to growth, Law Society research has found. It also found that the majority of practices polled are now recording net profits ahead of where they were before the recession.
