Last 3 months headlines – Page 1440
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Smaller firms preparing for ABS rivals
Most leaders of small law firms are considering changes to the way they manage their firm and the services they deliver, in preparation for the entry of new providers into the market from October, according to research seen exclusively by the Gazette. A survey of 58 ...
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High Court overturns Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal fines
The High Court last week criticised the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) for the lack of published guidance on the sanctions it can impose, as it overturned fines levied on four partners at a Merseyside firm. Brian Hazelhurst, Christopher Murphy, Stephen David Garrett and Martyn Robert Brown, ...
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Takeover Panel call to make M&A fees public
Advisory fees earned by law firms working on mergers and acquisitions would be made public under proposals outlined this week by the takeover watchdog. Opening a consultation on amendments to its code, the Takeover Panel has proposed that parties on each side of a bid should ...
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Government legal aid response delayed
The government has delayed its responses to the legal aid and civil costs consultations until after Easter, and will ‘review’ the definition of domestic violence, the legal aid minister has said. Jonathan Djanogly had previously said the government would respond before Easter, but speaking at the ...
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Targets for judicial diversity ‘wrong approach'
Setting targets for increasing the number of female judges would be the ‘wrong approach’ to boosting diversity, the minister responsible for legislation and law reform told the House of Lords last week. Facing questions over gender and race diversity in the judiciary, Lord McNally said that ...
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Solicitor jailed for money laundering and fraud
A solicitor whose lavish lifestyle included driving a Lamborghini worth more than £80,000 was jailed last week for four years and eight months after a joint investigation by the police and Solicitors Regulation Authority. Benjamin Cornelius, 37, was convicted at Cardiff Crown Court of money laundering ...
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Human rights commission prompts diversity concerns
A lawyers’ group voiced concern this week over the makeup of the commission set up by the government to investigate the case for a UK bill of rights. The Ministry of Justice said the commission comprises ‘human rights experts’ whose remit is to help ensure that ...
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Law Society warns LSB over 'micro-management'
The Legal Services Board must resist the urge to ‘micro-manage’ aspects of legal regulation, and should reduce its budget rather than extending its role to become an ‘economic regulator’, the Law Society has warned. Responding to the LSB’s draft business plan, Chancery Lane also cautioned that ...
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Balance of trade: lawyers shocked by breadth of government competition consultation
The coalition government’s consultation on the UK’s competition regime, published on 16 March, puts much more up for debate than competition lawyers, consumer bodies, or various business lobbies were expecting.
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Society votes for SRA to regulate ABSs
The Law Society’s council yesterday voted by 54 votes to 16 to approve the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s application to become a licensing authority for alternative business structures. Law Society chief executive Desmond Hudson said ABS will change the way law firms are allowed to operate. ...
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Tied up in knots
Obiter is thinking of changing its name to the ‘Djanogly diary’, such is the frequency with which the unfortunate legal aid minister has been featured on this page in recent weeks. Indeed, Jonathan Djanogly’s (pictured) eccentric performance at last week’s National Pro Bono Centre ...
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Finger on the trigger
Conveyancing solicitors face many hurdles in their day-to-day battle to transfer ownership of property. Excessive bureaucracy from the Land Registry; frustrating delays in obtaining search data; irate clients with unrealistic expectations; all part and parcel of the average conveyance. But ...
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Suited and booted
Natty as these lawyers appear in their suits, perhaps someone had better enlighten them that office wear is not necessarily the best attire for trekking. The four-strong team from Southampton firm Blake Lapthorn will be taking part in the Trailwalker challenge (a non-stop 100km walk ...
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Low exposure asbestos claims
The recent Supreme Court ruling does clarify the tests the courts should apply and will make it easier for victims with relatively low exposure to asbestos to succeed in claims, but significant hurdles still remain for many mesothelioma victims who do not know exactly where or when they were exposed ...
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Legal advice ‘too expensive’ warns bar regulator’s chair
Legal advice is ‘too expensive’ and has ‘moved out of reach of the middle classes,’ the chair of the Bar Standards Board said this week. Speaking at Inner Temple, Lady Deech said: ‘The advice of a top barrister is affordable only by government, by corporate bodies ...
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Why are divorcing couples so careless when it comes to Facebook?
I don’t mean to pry – it’s probably none of my business, anyway - but why do we have such an ambivalent attitude towards privacy? Even while going through divorce proceedings, a family lawyer warned this week, we seem impelled to risk the demolition of our ...
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LSC and Law Society fail to agree on civil contracts compensation
Firms that incurred losses after the High Court quashed the Legal Services Commission’s family tender last year will not receive compensation from the LSC, the Law Society announced today. Chancery Lane said it had been trying to negotiate a settlement arrangement with the LSC since last ...
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Maintaining your independence
With the current appetite for national rebranding and an increase in ‘opportunities’ for franchising, many law firms are considering their options. Is it better to invest in your own destiny or join a national brand or franchise for the same sort of investment? Whilst there can ...
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Weightmans and Mace & Jones to merge
National firm Weightmans and north-west firm Mace & Jones will merge on 1 May to create a £75m-revenue, 1,000-employee business, the firms announced today. The news follows Weightmans’ recent announcement that it will acquire the full 13-partner insurance team from south-east firm Vizards Wyeth on 1 ...