Property
Rush to meet end of SDLT holiday caused solicitor to let down client
A conveyancer who forgot to put in place a declaration of trust on the ownership of a property in the rush to beat the stamp duty holiday deadline in 2021 has been rebuked.
Litigant misled court over response from other side’s solicitors
A litigant in person who made a ‘without notice’ application to move property transactions to completion, blaming the other side’s solicitors for not replying to him, mislead the court.
City giant uses generative AI to develop lease reporting tool
City law firm BCLP has used generative artificial intelligence to develop a lease reporting tool which is being rolled out to UK clients this month.
Value of legal services market “to hit £50bn” this year
The legal services market will continue to grow in 2024, hitting a turnover of £50bn with a “resilient” corporate law sector boosted by “stronger economic conditions” later in the year.
“Unstuffy” ABS hits £7m turnover in less than five years
A Yorkshire alternative business structure founded in 2019 by a solicitor and non-lawyer has grown its turnover from £500,000 in year one to £7m as it expands its range of services.
Minister urges conveyancers to increase pace of innovation
Conveyancers have “a central role” in realising a digital home buying and selling process but innovation needs to happen at a greater pace, the housing minister said last week.
SRA hands out fines nearing £50,000 for AML failures
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has this week issued fines totalling nearly £50,000 to two law firms and a solicitor over various breaches of anti-money laundering rules.
Lawyer rebuked for not checking ID of walk-in client
A chartered legal executive who failed to check the identity of a walk-in client who said the firm had acted for him in the past has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Digital property group aims to “accelerate use of AI”
Upfront information and accelerating the use of emerging technology such as AI are among the priorities that the Digital Property Market Steering Group has pledged to progress this year.
Land Registry pilot aims to stop lenders chasing conveyancers
HM Land Registry is working with mortgage lenders to ensure they no longer need to chase conveyancers for updates on the progress of registration applications.
Solicitor fined £15,000 fine for AML due diligence failures
A partner who failed to conduct proper client due diligence in property transactions that had signs of money laundering has been fined £15,000.
Solicitor who breached undertakings agrees to leave profession
A solicitor whose failure to comply with multiple undertaking he gave caused significant losses for investors in two property developments, has agreed to leave the profession.
Law firm specialising in wayleaves obtains Ofcom powers
A law firm specialising in wayleave agreements has obtained Ofcom code powers to support the roll-out of full-fibre broadband through its sister company in what is believed to be the first move of its kind.
Tribunal ends solicitor’s indefinite suspension after 15 years
The SDT has permitted a solicitor it indefinitely suspended 15 years ago to return to practise after he provided “full and comprehensive evidence of training in property law”.
Fine for solicitor who acted for both property developer and investor
A solicitor who acted for a property investment company and an investor has been fined just over £9,000 for breaking conflict of interest rules.
Blog
The ‘blank sheet’ challenge – what would you do differently?
Posted by Scott Jones, deputy editor of Legal Futures In the run-up to this week’s LegalTechTalk, we are inviting lawyers to take the ‘blank sheet’ challenge – sketching out their dream law firm with the freedom to start again from scratch. What… Read More
The ‘blank sheet’ challenge – what would you do differently?
The law is all about precedent and what came before. But imagine you had a blank sheet of paper and could start from scratch. What would you do differently? What would stay the same?
Why is Andrew Malkinson still paying for a crime he didn’t commit?
Like many in my profession and beyond, I have been moved by the case of Andrew Malkinson, the man who spent 17 years in prison for an awful crime he did not commit.
