Latest news – Page 828
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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.
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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.
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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.
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Diversity data
A letter in the last issue of the Gazette questioned why the SRA was sending out a diversity questionnaire to solicitors asking about ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and other key information (see [2009] Gazette, 6 August, 7).
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Cutting out the middle man
The congratulatory report on claims management regulation has once again steered attention away from the rapidly increasing number of claims management companies to issues surrounding regulation of solicitors’ responsibilities (see [2009] Gazette, 30 July, 3).
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Legal executives seek litigation and probate rights
A scheme allowing legal executives to set up their own law firms offering litigation and probate services has been put to the government. The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) has applied for the power to grant members civil and family litigation and advocacy rights, as well ...
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Pro bono work rises due to recession
There has been a surge in pro bono work provided by lawyers as a result of the recession, figures have suggested. The increase stems from a combination of a greater need for pro bono work and the fact that some ...