Barristers disbarred for repeatedly refusing to pay tribunal fines
Two barristers have been disbarred for repeatedly refusing to pay a total of almost £12,000 between them in fines and costs. Meanwhile, In a separate ruling, a tribunal disbarred another barrister for conduct representing a “persistent departure from the standards expected of a barrister”.
BSB to develop ‘professional statement’
The Bar Standards Board is to launch a ‘professional statement’ which, like the ‘competence statement’ being developed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, will attempt to describe the knowledge and skills barristers should possess at the point of qualification.
Law firm’s medical negligence advert “likely to cause distress to pregnant viewers”
The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that a TV medical negligence advert for Merseyside personal injury specialists Michael W Halsall Solicitors was “likely to cause undue distress to pregnant viewers”.
Survey: rents and indemnity premiums threaten health of small firms, making merger attractive
The turnover of SME law firms in London and South East rose by 4% this year, according to an annual benchmarking survey by accountants HW Fisher & Co. However, the survey warned that rising overheads would continue to put pressure on profits.
Quindell in freefall as it loses 20% of share value for second day running
Alternative business structure Quindell plc suffered another day of dizzying collapse in its share price on Tuesday, with a second consecutive 20% fall. The AIM-listed legal outsourcing business has now lost more than half of its value in just three weeks.
LeO can hold successor firms to account for inherited complaints, High Court rules
The High Court has ruled that a law firm cannot escape responsibility for handling complaints relating to a sole practice with which it merged. It said that as Kerman & Co had enjoyed the benefit and goodwill of the deal, it also had to accept the burden.
Exclusive: Holt to join LegalZoom
QualitySolicitors founder Craig Holt is joining online legal business LegalZoom – which claims to be the best known legal brand in America – to spearhead its UK expansion, Legal Futures has learned.
Legal Futures report: City firms embracing innovation
City law firms have quietly embraced innovation in the way they deliver legal services, but are going to have to face up to greater change in the coming years, the first Legal Futures Special Report has concluded.
CBA campaign for level playing field “not a cry for war” with solicitor-advocates
A new Criminal Bar Association campaign to ensure that barristers and higher court advocates compete on a “level playing-field” does not amount to a “cry for war”, its chairman has said.
More woe for Quindell as shares tumble another 20% in a day
The share price of AIM-listed alternative business structure Quindell plc tumbled 20% yesterday as the company sought to reassure investors over the details of three directors’ dealings in the shares.
