Slater & Gordon awarded ABS licence as it unveils plans for further UK acquisitions
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has given Australia’s Slater & Gordon the green light to take over Russell Jones & Walker after granting it the fifth alternative business structure licence. The move will kick-start a strategy that will include further acquisitions.
Edmonds comes out fighting in defence of LSB
It is far too early to talk about winding down the Legal Services Board, its chairman has argued, while also criticising the Law Society and Bar Council for their failure to embrace independent regulation quickly enough.
Criminal defence solicitors attack Law Society reaccreditation plan
The Law Society’s criminal litigation accreditation scheme has no value to specialist solicitors and plans for reaccreditation at a time of huge pressure on the sector has “no support”, their representative body has warned.
BSB: 85 barrister disciplinary decisions at risk because of tribunal errors
The Bar Standards Board has identified around 85 disciplinary cases involving barristers that could be invalidated by the fact that tribunal members who sat in judgment over them were ineligible for the role.
BIS mulls ban on law firms and third-party funders launching new collective actions
Law firms and third-party funders will not be allowed to initiate group actions for breach of competition law – and such cases will be exempt from the move towards allowing solicitors to work on a contingency fee basis, under proposals published this week by the government.
That’s it: LASPO Bill clears its final hurdles
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (LASPO) effectively ended its parliamentary passage yesterday after one final effort by the House of Lords to force a government rethink over domestic violence failed by the narrowest of margins.
New ABS targets joint ventures with insurers
A law firm that aims to offer a white-label personal injury service to insurers and brokers yesterday became the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s fourth alternative business structure, and first in Wales.
Government gives way over impact of Jackson reforms on mesothelioma victims
Mesothelioma claims are to remain outside of the Jackson reforms once they are implemented next April, pending a review of their impact on sufferers, the government announced yesterday in a surprise concession.
Four bodies to throw their hats into the ring to regulate will-writers
Four bodies have already put themselves forward to regulate will-writers following the Legal Services Board’s proposal that will-writing become a reserved legal activity, with all making their intentions clear at this week’s Legal Futures conference.
Riverview to change strategy and “grow by acquisition” in response to demand
Riverview Law, the combined law firm and barristers’ chambers that sells fixed-fee advice to businesses, is to shift its strategy of organic growth to one of acquisition to meet unexpected demand just two months after it launched.
