BSB guilty of “misleading conduct” in disciplinary case, says High Court
A High Court judge has accused the Bar Standards Board of “misleading conduct” in the way it handled a disciplinary matter that led to a barrister being disbarred. However, Mr Justice Moses concluded “with reluctance” that despite this, it was not necessary to quash the decision.
Top personal injury names join forces to buy out market leavers
Four leading Manchester personal injury firms have joined forces to build a seven-figure war chest that will buy out practices wanting to exit the sector. Pi Gateway claims already to have nine transactions under consideration.
ABI “perplexed” by solicitors being forced to pay towards their trade body
The Association of British Insurers has opened a new front in its ongoing battle with the Law Society by arguing that solicitors’ representative body should not automatically receive a cut of the practising certificate fee.
Pioneering ‘barrister law firm’ reveals ambitious expansion plans
Artesian Law, the barrister-led legal disciplinary practice, is set to double in size after 18 months in business by actively recruiting associate members in order to expand beyond its mainstay of criminal legal aid work.
LSB gives green light to work on radical shake-up of financial protection arrangements
The possibility of clients buying ‘top-up’ cover to fill the gaps in compulsory professional indemnity insurance has been floated by the Legal Services Board as it set the scene for a significant shake-up of current financial protection arrangements.
ABSs enter classroom with university’s ‘virtual law firm’ project
A University of Exeter project is teaching first year law undergraduates about alternative business structures, in what the academic tutor says is meeting outcomes recommended by the Legal Education and Training Review.
Slater & Gordon announces latest UK acquisition – but it’s not who you think
Slater & Gordon has announced the acquisition of a well-known northern legal practice – but not the one everyone was expecting. There was no mention of the talks to buy the consumer practice of Pannone at its AGM today.
Debt recovery ABS plans to double £10m turnover in three years
Ascent, the specialist debt alternative business structure that is part of the Irwin Mitchell Group, has outlined plans to more than double its turnover in the next three years. The Manchester-based firm has appointed two new chief operating officers to help drive the growth.
Law Society intervenes in QASA judicial review
The Law Society has been granted permission to intervene in the judicial review of the legality of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA). The society said it is intervening in the case “in the best interests of all advocates”.
Solicitors’ market “wide open to competition” from national brands, says LSB
Most aspects of legal services can be delivered nationally and there is still significant potential for big brands to come in and provide large scale, lower cost services, according to a major report into competition in the solicitors’ market.
