Practice Management

A client cannot blame the failure of solicitors to send a land transaction return to the taxman so as to avoid a fine for late filing, a tribunal has ruled. Andrew Oliver appealed against the penalty imposed on him for the failure to submit the return within the 30 days allowed. Instead it was submitted 252 days later.

The Advertising Standards Authority has rejected a complaint over the way a Devon law firm marketed its success in representing drivers. Patterson Law said on its website that 3,314 out of its last 3,436 clients at risk of a driving ban avoided disqualification or got a significantly reduced driving ban

The Law Superstore, which claims that it will be the UK’s first true legal comparison website, has hit 150 ‘partner’ firms as it gears up to launch to consumers on 1 August. It said firms across the country have signed up to the site, including Blacks, Hansells, McMillan Williams, FBC Manby Bowdler, Redkite Law and Express Solicitors.

Leading group action law firm Leigh Day has been found guilty of professional negligence after 6,624 of the claimants it represented in the high-profile Trafigura case were not paid their share of the £30m settlement. Leigh Day said it tried its “damnedest” to ensure everyone received their payments.

E-mail could be employed to harness “a whole volunteer army” of City law firm volunteers to the aid of Hackney Law Centre and other advice centres beyond the capital, according to a report on digital solutions that also suggested a series of apps that could help clients navigate the advice system.

The Information Commissioner’s Office has launched an investigation, after medical records relating to personal injury claims were found in a skip outside a law firm’s former office in St Helens, Merseyside. Separately, evidence has emerged of bodyshops releasing personal data to third-party law firms and CMCs.

The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint over an advertisement from a website that claims to help clients recover a “huge amount” of their legal costs, which said that “on average, a solicitor overcharges you by 20%”. The offending advert was headed: “Top 5 ways your solicitor rips you off.”

Fee income at SME law firms is on the up, but profits are not matching the growth, with staff and premises costs among the causes, new research has found. There was a “dramatic growth in income” at London firms in particular, with “high-value project work… back on the desk” as corporate deals gathered pace.

The crisis engulfing the law firm that sent tweets ‘boasting’ about its success in defending local authorities in special educational needs and disability tribunals has escalated further today, with three council clients cutting their ties to the firm.

The Law Society’s failed conveyancing portal Veyo recorded a loss of £11.4m in its last financial year, with rival product Free2Convey the cause of its demise, according to newly published annual accounts. Some £6.8m of the loss was put down to research and development expenditure, with a further £743,000 on 10 staff.

A law firm which offended parents of children with special educational needs and disability through comments on Twitter over the weekend is to face an investigation from the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Milton Keynes-based Baker Small has apologised and made a contribution to charity over its conduct.

The High Court has summarily dismissed a professional negligence claim brought by a hotel company against Midlands firm Wright Hassall and a barrister, Max Mallin. The case involved the conversion of a Victorian office building in Manchester into a four-star hotel.

A legal hackathon is to be held north of the border as part of a push to stimulate lawtech innovation among Scottish law firms and promote the use of technology in improving access to justice. Two broad challenges will be presented in the hope that technological solutions emerge, such as mobile phone or computer apps.

A solicitor who faked three client care letters and backdated them has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The SDT rejected Rafique Chowdhury’s claims that he acted “in a moment of madness” and was “regularising the files, not seeking to mislead anyone”.

A business specialising in legal documents has created a web-based, dementia-specific lasting power of attorney that it claims is far superior to the online LPA provided by the government. Net Lawman has teamed up with the Alzheimer Society-backed dementia support website Unforgettable.org to distribute the LPA.