Latest news – Page 815
-
News
Solicitors sign referral deal with financial advisers
Solicitors and independent financial advisers (IFAs) have entered into a nationwide tie-up in order to benefit from the relaxation of the rules on partnerships between lawyers and non-lawyers. Some 600 law firm members of the 360 Legal Group will be given access to 1,700 IFA members ...
-
News
Chancery Lane attacks 'deeply flawed' MoJ legal aid proposals
The Law Society has called on the Ministry of Justice to clarify its ‘incoherent’ and ‘deeply flawed’ consultation on criminal legal aid cuts. In a hard-hitting letter to legal aid minister Lord Bach, Law Society president Robert Heslett said the vagueness and uncertainty of the paper ...
-
News
Pakistan must take steps to ensure judicial independence, says IBA
Flawed judicial appointments processes, shortcomings in court infrastructure and a lack of training for legal professionals are hindering the independence of the judiciary in Pakistan, a report by the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute has warned. The report said that the reinstatement of Pakistan’s ...
-
News
Purdy and propriety
It was entirely right to include a full review of the recent decision in Purdy v DPP (see [2009] Gazette, 20 August, 10). The Gazette's choice of Ms Purdy's solicitor Saimo Chahal as the author was no doubt reasonable.
-
News
HIP protection
Your recent online story ‘Estate agencies charging 50% more for HIPs’, based on a survey by Which?, raises some important issues. But the results must be viewed in the correct context.
-
News
Securing licences, debt refinancing and selling lager
Brewing up: Magic circle firm Freshfields advised brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev on selling its Tennent’s Lager brand to beverage company C&C Group for £180m. C&C Group was advised by City firm LG. Course ...
-
News
Legal Sector Alliance of City law firms press G20 on climate change
A group of City firms committed to safeguarding the environment has written a communiqué to the leaders of the G20 nations calling on them to ‘walk the talk’ when it comes to climate change legislation, the Gazette can reveal. The Legal Sector Alliance (LSA) of 18 ...
-
News
Firms call for ‘safe harbour’ to strike early investment deals
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has rejected calls to create a ‘safe harbour’ for law firms to strike formal investment deals ahead of full implementation of the Legal Services Act 2007 reforms. The news came as the Gazette learned that a number of commercial law firms have taken the first major ...
-
News
Internet users spend an average of two minutes on law firm websites
Internet users spend an average of just two minutes on law firm websites, with visits to ‘fuddy-duddy’ sites often lasting a mere 40 seconds, new research has revealed. Website marketing company Conscious Solutions analysed data from 83 law firms, ranging in size from more than 20 ...
-
News
Firms seek emergency loans to pay for high indemnity premiums
Cash-strapped law firms are seeking emergency loans to pay for hiked professional indemnity insurance (PII) premiums, amid claims that many insurers are tightening their payment terms. Independent finance providers Syscap and Key Business Professions (KBP) have reported a recent surge in the number of firms asking ...
-
News
Bar regulator rapped by Legal Services Board over ABSs
The bar’s regulator has been accused of engaging in a ‘sterile debate’ over alternative business structures by oversight body the Legal Services Board. The LSB’s broadside came following the BSB’s decision to commission research by economic analysts on the potential effects on the market and consumers ...
-
News
Nationwide probate deal
The Law Society has published a joint protocol with the Nationwide Building Society to assist in the winding up of estates. The protocol is the first such agreement to be reached with a building society, although similar arrangements are already in place with banks HSBC and ...
-
News
Separating couples may be forced into mediation under MoJ plan
Divorcing and separating couples could be compelled to consider mediation before going to court under plans being examined by the Ministry of Justice. At present, only parties who are funded by legal aid are obliged to consider mediating. Justice minister Bridget ...
-
News
Solicitors offer air miles for legal work in new loyalty card scheme
An alliance of solicitor firms is to offer clients a ‘loyalty card’ rewards system in an innovative bid to square up to the threat from big brands entering the legal services market, the Gazette can exclusively reveal. QualitySolicitors.com will launch a loyalty card this month which ...
-
News
Freedom of information data show fall in cost of police station work
The government was accused of ‘reckless’ and ‘savage’ cuts to criminal legal aid this week, as information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) seen exclusively by the Gazette cast doubt on the need for the reductions. The Ministry of Justice said the cuts ...
-
News
Law Society claims Co-op panel cuts may be indirect discrimination
The Law Society has alleged indirect discrimination in the newly merged Britannia Building Society and Co-operative Financial Services’ (CFS) decision to axe the 3,600 sole practitioners from Britannia’s conveyancing panel. The Society said the move would have a disproportionate impact on ethnic minority lawyers, and criticised CFS for failing to ...
-
News
Guide launched to help solicitors buy indemnity cover
The main representative bodies from the legal and insurance worlds today launched a guide to help solicitors buy professional indemnity insurance (PII) cover. The guide, put together by the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA), the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the Law Society, offers guidance ...
-
News
Advice scheme launched for vulnerable young people
The Children’s Society has launched an innovative pilot internet and telephone service offering legal advice to young people in Lambeth and Camden in London, and in Colchester, Essex. While available to all, Lawyers for Young People is principally aimed at ensuring the most vulnerable get access ...
-
News
Legal aid lacuna
I am struck by the number of letters that you have published recently from various senior officials from the Legal Services Commission attempting to justify their destruction of the legal aid scheme.
-
News
Virtual support
I read Nicola Laver’s article ‘Virtual firms thrive in the downturn’ (see [2009] Gazette, 23 July, 12) with interest. As a firm we have embraced a hybrid model, which combines physical locations with virtual working. This has helped us grow to be the largest specialist family firm in the country.