Regulation

A High Court judge has criticised the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for “lack of clarity of thought” as it replaced a strike-off with a two-year suspension.

Leading academics at University College London have clashed with the Law Society over a proposal to exclude heads of legal from the FCA’s new framework for individual accountability.

The First-tier Tribunal has halved at £198,000 fine imposed on a claims management company for calling people registered with the Telephone Preference Service.

The chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel has strongly attacked the Solicitors Regulation Authority for changing its insurance requirements for freelance solicitors without giving a reason.

The Upper Tribunal has referred an immigration adviser “persuaded to act outside his remit by the entreaties of clients” to the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner.

A barrister jailed for 10 years for multiple sex offences has been disbarred, while a solicitor convicted of three offences and handed a suspended sentence has been struck off.

A barrister’s non-contractual fees are property for the purposes of insolvency law and vest in his trustee in bankruptcy, the Court of Appeal has ruled as it overturned the High Court.

A solicitor who recklessly facilitated a “dubious transaction” involving an Islamic community centre has been fined £20,000 and given a suspended suspension by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority confirmed today that it is prosecuting MP Fiona Onasanya after she was convicted of perverting the course of justice by lying about a speeding offence.

A solicitor’s conviction for illegally subletting his council flat in London has been upheld after he lost his appeal against a suspended jail sentence. He was living and working as a solicitor in Birmingham.