Temporary consumer credit regime extended to 2015
The Solicitors Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority have agreed that transitional arrangements for firms wanting to carry out consumer credit activities will be extended by a further six months, from 30 September 2014 to 1 April 2015.
British Printing Industries Federation awarded ABS license
The British Printing Industries Federation, a trade association representing the UK’s print and packaging industry, has been awarded an ABS license, while a Hull-based employment, taxation, health and safety and environmental law service has also won ABS status.
Direct access chambers recruits first QC
A pioneering direct access chambers in Cheltenham has attracted its first QC, who has urged fellow criminal silks to follow his lead in preparing for a growth in privately paying clients.
BSB bids to improve barristers’ reporting of certain diversity data – from abysmal to awful
The Bar Standards Board has set itself a minimum target of 30% for diversity data collection from barristers on sexuality, religion and disability. It is also planning more work on the under-representation of women at the bar, and reports of harassment and discrimination.
ABSs capture a third of personal injury market, SRA research reveals
ABSs account for a third of all turnover in the personal injury market, the first accurate overview of the progress of alternative business structures has revealed.
SRA takes too long to approve applications, ABSs say
Firms applying for alternative business structure (ABS) status believe the Solicitors Regulation Authority takes too long to approve applications and its staff are too “bureaucratic”, according to the regulator’s own research.
Quindell forced to shelve plans for main market listing
Alternative business structure Quindell plc has had to shelve its much-trumpeted plans for a full listing on the London Stock Exchange, the company admitted today. The news has further hit the AIM-listed company’s share price.
Russia-focused multi-disciplinary ABS plans growth
In the latest of our series profiling the new breed of alternative business structure, we speak to Red Square London, a law firm and multi-disciplinary family office that provides services mainly to wealthy Russian and Russian-speaking clients.
I took this job to change legal services market, says new LSB chair
Sir Michael Pitt, the new chairman of the Legal Services Board, has said he took the job to “help change the legal services market”. He argued that “more change is needed” to deliver a better legal services market and better access to justice.
Kenny: BIS data-sharing plans could be a “dead letter”
Plans by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills for improved data sharing between different regulators could be a “dead letter” if they are not applied to all of the legal regulators, the Legal Services Board has warned.
