MoJ pushes for crime market consolidation despite its own research warning over speed of change
Many criminal law firms will have to merge, or enter into joint ventures, or form alternative business structures, to survive, after the government announced yesterday that it would push ahead with legal aid reforms that are predicated on market consolidation.
Huge rise in number of criminals using bogus law firms
The number of reported attempts trying to defraud the public by using bogus law firms soared by 57% last year, the Solicitors Regulation Authority revealed yesterday as it brought forward publication of a cybercrime guide.
Solicitor appeals against OFT sanction
A solicitor who faces the unusual sanction from the Office of Fair Trading of being excluded from the group consumer credit licence held by the Law Society is appealing against the decision.
Pioneering ABS bought by listed accident management company in £40m+ deal
Leading accident management company Helphire Group plc has acquired alternative business structure (ABS) pioneer New Law in a deal that could ultimately be worth more than £40m.
Jacoby & Meyers lays out twin-track approach to UK expansion
American consumer law firm Jacoby & Meyers, which last year laid out ambitious plans for the UK, will take a twin-track approach to expansion, with both branded offices and affiliations with existing practices, its newly appointed chief executive has revealed.
Top PI marketing collective opens panel for first time “to help smaller firms compete”
Marketing collective First4Lawyers – which last autumn launched a £10m personal injury advertising campaign – is to open up its panel for the first time as it looks to increase its market share.
Will-writing body reports surge of applications following launch
A network set up as an alternative to established will writing representative bodies has claimed that in less than a fortnight since launch, it has already received applications from a quarter as many prospective members as it planned to sign up in the whole of 2014.
Solicitors put on phishing alert over bogus SRA e-mail, as new cash converter scam also emerges
Solicitors have been warned about a new e-mail ‘phishing’ scam containing a computer virus that is targeted at the profession and purportedly sent by the SRA. Meanwhile, the regulator has reported a new scam involving cash converter type stores.
Impact of recession continues to dominate FDs’ views of the future for big firms
A survey of top-100 law firm finance directors has shown the consequences of the recent economic downturn continue to dominate predictions for the future, with regulatory and compliance work forecast to grow fastest and public sector work set to contract the most.
Court of Appeal puts law firm in the dock after being duped in mortgage fraud
The Court of Appeal has overturned a ruling which excused from liability a law firm which was duped into releasing £150,000 of mortgage funds. It found that the failings of the firm involved in departing from usual conveyancing practice were unreasonable.
