The end looms for 153 law firms which still haven’t found insurance
Some 153 law firms today entered the last-chance saloon after failing to secure professional indemnity insurance (PII) during the last 30 days. Under the new PII arrangements, they are now in the second stage 60-day ‘cessation period’.
Hopper hits out at SRA referral fee guidance
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s recent guidance on the referral fee ban is “extremely unhelpful” and only aimed at extremes of behaviour, regulatory expert Andrew Hopper QC has argued.
QASA claimants lose bid to cut costs exposure
he barristers seeking to have the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) declared unlawful have lost a bid to reduce their costs exposure. Mr Justice Bean refused to amend the protective costs order granted earlier this month by Mr Justice Ouseley.
ABS just the latest innovation for one of the UK’s most entrepreneurial lawyers
Not many solicitors’ firms have a corporate helicopter available for use by favoured clients to entertain their own customers, piloted by the multi-millionaire owner. Or a gym. Or a hotel. Welcome to Kidwells Law Solicitors, a new alternative business structure.
Now that is dispersed – ABS Keystone sets sights on Australian expansion
Keystone Law – the pioneering dispersed law firm – has marked its formal conversion to alternative business structure status by announcing that it is to take its model to Australia. Keystone has more than 130 senior lawyers working from home.
Osborne Clarke hit by bank account scam letters
Regional law firm Osborne Clarke has become the victim of a scam falsely telling clients that it has changed its bank account details, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned.
SRA reaches 200 ABSs but one enters liquidation as another has license revoked
The number of alternative business structures (ABSs) licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority hit 200 yesterday, but the first ABS liquidation and first licence revocation have tempered any celebrations.
How leading chambers reacted to “shock” of Riverview Law by embracing barrister innovation
The launch of Riverview Law last year generated “shock, confusion and resentment” at a rival chambers whose membership supplied four of the new venture’s initial 12 QCs, but in the end it helped the set adapt to the new legal market, according to its commercial director.
Row brews over Legal Services Board’s lay chairs proposal
Discontent is building among the frontline regulators over a Legal Services Board proposal that they should change their internal governance rules to require the chairs of regulatory boards to be lay and not legal professionals.
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.
