You ain’t seen nothing yet, says top banker, with flood of investment and mergers on way
There will be an “enormous amount” of external investment and merger activity in the legal market over the next 24 months, a leading investment banker has predicted. He said investment had only been held back by uncertainty in the volume market.
Unbundled legal services and hourly rates don’t mix, warns Law Society
Family lawyers offering unbundled legal services should be wary of charging clients on an hourly basis, the Law Society has warned. It said “this could increase the risk of the retainer being more broadly interpreted”.
Stobart Barristers sets sights on criminal legal aid contract
Stobart Barristers – the direct access service run by the famous logistics company – has given a strong indication that it will bid for the new criminal legal aid contracts the government is set to offer under price competitive tendering.
Will Lord Sugar enter the law? Dynamo Legal founder seeks £250,000 investment
New legal brand Dynamo Legal is set to receive a major publicity boost next week when its founder appears on The Apprentice in a bid to win Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment for the business. Alex Mills is looking to recruit 245 firms to the network.
Flood stokes cab-rank rule argument
The row over Legal Services Board-commissioned research that recommended removal of the cab-rank rule stepped up a further notch yesterday after one of the academics who conducted it hit back at the critiques published by the Bar Council and Bar Standards Board.
Law Society to tell its council: you can dissent but do so nicely
Rules strengthening ‘collegiality’ among members of the Law Society council and the way they express dissent are to be voted on this month. Changes to the code of conduct for council members also seek to impose collective responsibility on chairs of the society’s various boards.
Interest swap mis-selling claims company eyes ABS status
A claims management company specialising in interest-rate swap mis-selling could become an alternative business structure in order to litigate its own cases. All Square Treasury has just announced the appointment of a legal director.
Bringing all legal advice into regulatory net may resolve consumer confusion, says LSB chief
The status quo over reserved and unreserved legal activities is unsustainable and the answer may be for all legal advice to be regulated, the chief executive of the Legal Services Board has suggested.
Licensed conveyancers support retaining referral fees
A ban on referral fees in conveyancing is unjustifiable, according to a narrow majority of respondents to a Council for Licensed Conveyancers consultation – but there was strong support for enhanced disclosure requirements.
Barrister boss of SueSomeone.co.uk eyes ABS as he hits out at litigation ban
A barrister who has built a thriving direct access practice through a public-facing website is considering whether an alternative business structure will help him deal with the problems caused by the ban on conducting litigation.
