Stamp duty deadline pushed conveyancing fees to “all-time high”
Conveyancing fees hit an “all-time high” in the first quarter of this year in the run-up to the stamp duty deadline, with the average figure up by almost 12% on the same period last year.
Arbitral tribunal panels lacking in diversity, IBA finds
There is “a strong consensus” that ethnic diversity is good for arbitrations – but little evidence of this being reflected in the make-up of panels, a report for the IBA has found.
High Court rejects bias claim against SDT panel chair
The High Court has rejected claims of bias against the chair of a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal panel made as part of long-running proceedings against a major City law firm.
Defendant law firms “protecting litigation work” with credit hire row
Defendant law firms are making a lot of misleading “noise” about inflation in credit hire rates because “they make their money from litigation”, the CHO has argued.
Mastercard settlement “very far from a success”, says tribunal
The Competition Appeal Tribunal yesterday described the £200m settlement of the landmark opt-out collective action brought against Mastercard as “very far from a success”.
High Court grants law firm injunction to ban man from office
The High Court has granted leading firm Clyde & Co an injunction banning a man from its Birmingham office after his repeated visits made staff feel “vulnerable and anxious”.
NAO: Family justice at risk from “inconsistent political leadership”
A “lack of consistent political leadership” – because of the high turnover of ministers chairing the Family Justice Board – has contributed to the continuing court delays facing families.
Sixth and biggest acquisition so far for PE-backed Lawfront
Private equity-backed Lawfront has made its sixth and largest regional firm acquisition to date by bringing in Trethowans, which has five offices in South and South-West England.
S&G fights off deductions challenge by 224 ex-clients
The new Senior Costs Judge has rejected a major challenge to how Slater & Gordon charged personal injury clients, finding it provided enough information to them.
“Eyes-on, hands-off” – law firm boss calms fears over PE investment
Lawyers should not believe “everything you read” about the negatives of being acquired by private equity, according to the managing director of a Midlands law firm bought last autumn.
