Tax fraud barrister loses appeal against confiscation order
Michael Stannard, a former barrister convicted of cheating the public revenue of over £3m, has failed in his latest attempt to challenge a confiscation order made against him. The judge said she had “formed the clear impression” that he was “wholly unrepentant”.
The solicitor will see you now: British Medical Association sets up ABS for doctors
The British Medical Association (BMA) has launched a ground-breaking alternative business structure to service the legal needs of its 154,000 members, Legal Futures can reveal.
Law firms’ cyber security plans becoming number one issue for indemnity insurers
Cyber security is becoming a central issue for professional indemnity insurers, and firms will in future need to demonstrate what protections they have against cyber criminals before they are offered cover, a leading broker has predicted.
High Court halves solicitor’s “excessive and inappropriate” suspension
A decision by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) to suspend a solicitor for two years has been reduced to one by the High Court, which described the penalty as “clearly excessive and inappropriate”.
Immigration solicitor who left “trail of destruction” sentenced
A district judge has described how an immigration solicitor who continued to practice despite being suspended left behind her a “trail of destruction”.
NewLaw vendors receive final £5m pay-out for sale to Redde plc
The owners of NewLaw Solicitors have received an issue of shares worth £5.16m as final consideration for its acquisition by Redde plc. Law firm-owning Fairpoint Group and Slater & Gordon have also issued stock market announcments.
Number of QCs continues to fall
The number of QCs is continuing to fall, statistics from the Bar Standard Board have shown, dropping by more than 200 in four years. This contrasts with the steady rise in the total number of practicing barristers.
Big firms will “push non-reserved work into unregulated businesses”
Major law firms will soon “eschew the solicitor brand” in favour of conducting non-reserved legal business in the unregulated sector, the compliance officer at a top City firm has predicted.
Coroner turned crook is referred to SDT
William John Owen, a former coroner for Carmarthenshire, has been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Mr Owen, 79, was jailed for theft in November last year for five years.
Regulate lawyers by “competence not title”, chair of CILEx Regulation says
Alan Kershaw, chair of CILEx Regulation, has said lawyers should be regulated “by competence, not by title” and urged the different branches of the profession not to give up on common training.
