Breaking: US firm Armstrong Teasdale pulls the plug on London
Several dozen staff and trainees made redundant at one day’s notice by top-200 US firm.
Justice in Wales: Law Society warns against ‘sudden devolutionary spasm’
Part or full devolution of justice offers ‘significant opportunities’ - but new discussion paper opposes creation of a separate jurisdiction.
High Court dismisses Swiss lawyer’s libel claim over Wikipedia page
High Court finds England ‘not most appropriate’ jurisidiction to bring Matthew Parish’s libel claim against Wikimedia over forgery conviction published on site.
Clinical negligence going in 'wrong direction', NHS review finds
Increasing rate of clinical negligence claims is indicative of the poor state of the NHS in England, Lord Darzi concludes.
Supreme Court blocks Tesco's fire and rehire of warehouse workers
Justices find unanimously in favour of union in landmark judgment protecting ‘retained pay’ workers from forced contract changes.
Challenger firm Keystone hails first-half profits rise
Listed remote-working outfit now has 557 fee earners on its books.
Bar legal aid champion Sidhu to face tribunal
Former Criminal Bar Association chair denies sexual harassment claims.
Barrister Slaughter to chair Commons justice committee
Long-serving MP had urged committee to focus on issues including SLAPPs and the courts crisis.
Local authorities select 15 firms to share legal work
Eight new firms among those brought on board by North West Legal Consortium for the next four years.
Renters' Rights Bill: lawyer predicts surge in eviction cases
Property disputes specialist expects county court to be flooded with section 21 notices ahead of bill becoming law.
SRA charges two more solicitors after immigration sting
Solicitors from London and Birmingham will face hearings before SDT.
Facing judge who inspired fear
Extremely difficult Edward Clarke summons Morton to his chambers.
A new kind of ‘thing’: digital assets bill introduced
Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill will mean that digital holdings including cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens and carbon credits can be considered as personal property.
In depth: National Archives to expand judgment publications service
With up to 50,000 page views a month, the Find Case Law judgment publishing service has grown rapidly since its 2022 launch. Digital director John Sheridan now plans to expand coverage and tackle the challenges of data analysis by AI.
'No fault' evictions back on parliamentary agenda
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner says proposed legislation will rebalance relationship between tenant and landlord.
City firm IT worker took two laptops and sold them for £500
Ashurst service desk analyst claimed he had retrieved missing items.
Pro bono scheme drafts in costs lawyers
Lawyers can request help from costs specialist to apply for costs order in cases where client is being represented pro bono.
Go West: Transatlantic giant in new US merger
Womble Bond Dickinson announces plan to combine with Arizona-based Lewis Roca to create 1,300-attorney firm.
Law Society Council members to be paid for first time
Unless Council members are remunerated, solicitors including junior lawyers and in-house counsel ‘may feel unable to stand for election’, says Chancery Lane.
Mexico strike puts global bar body on the spot
International Bar Association's latest communication is a little more delicate than usual.
In-house input sought for phase two of ethics project
Solicitors wanted for focus group discussions and one-to-one interviews to inform content for ethical practice framework.
Prisons crisis: early release scheme begins
Some 5,500 offenders will be released earlier than planned in September and October to ease prison overcrowding.
Two Labour MPs in running to chair justice committee
Andy Slaughter and Mike Tapp put forward their cases for leading agenda-setting House of Commons committee.
Alleged ATM operator charged in cryptoasset first
Charges are the first relating to unregistered cryptoasset activity under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017.
Immigration lawyers 'need global support' to counter attacks
US-based human rights body examines events surrounding August riots to understand what lessons can be learned.
Offender’s release by mistake contributed to his death, inquest rules
Prisoner released after 11 days was found dead after consuming heroin and cocaine.
Second court worker in two weeks wins tribunal damages
Employment tribunal finds magistrates’ court worker suffered unlawful victimisation.
Another claimant penalised for ‘unrealistic’ costs budget
Judge says claimant did not take opportunity for 'discussion and negotiation'.
Victims commissioner demands tougher action on anti-social behaviour
New report reveals little awareness of statutory measure that allows victims to request a multi-agency case review.
Chambers loses appeal in ‘novel’ bid for business rates reduction
Upper Tribunal finds individual rooms in barristers' chambers are not individually rateable properties as members are in occupation of whole premises.
Families pursue claims against Great Ormond Street
Solicitor says review of orthopaedic surgeon’s work paints a ‘very worrying picture’ about treatment provided.
Leicester’s victorious KC hits out at Premier League criticism of ‘distinguished lawyers’
Sports regulators should be wary of criticising decision-making panels when they don’t get the result they want, says Blackstone’s Nick De Marco.
Talking shop
First register of MPs’ interests of the new parliament contained lots of interesting titbits from the legal sector.
Top 200 firm becomes 100% employee-owned
Chief executive says conversion ensures firm retains stability and independence.
Solicitors sanctioned over failure to advise clients about risks of care home scheme
Fine for experienced conveyancing solicitor was appropriate for failure to advise clients adequately or at all, SRA says.
Global super-firm A&O Shearman to cull 10% of partners
South Africa office and consulting practice also to close following post-merger strategic review.
Magistrate given formal warning for emailing witness statement
JCIO says magistrate, with 25 years of service, had ‘shown little insight regarding the potential consequences of his actions’.
Go Let it Out, Lewis Silkin
City firm shoehorns most apt song titles into legal commentary on row over dynamic pricing of tour tickets.
Paralegal handling 240 cases fabricated attendance notes
SRA says Bristol-based paralegal acted dishonestly and without integrity in claiming to have made telephone calls.
Solicitor advocate Makin loses appeal against £105,000 costs order
Solicitor advocate attempting to appeal ‘grossly disproportionate' costs order should have gone to High Court, Crown court judge rules.
Letby brings in new lawyer as potential appeal prepared
Barrister says there is a ‘strong case’ that former nurse is innocent.
Former top judges tell government to reverse sentence inflation
Judges call for 'radical solutions' to tackle overcrowded prisons as government prepares to release 5,500 prisoners earlier than planned.
English nationalist’s ‘anti-Islamic views’ unprotected by equalities law
Political candidate - whose solicitor is the chairman of an English nationalist party - will appeal employment tribunal ruling.
In depth: Grenfell bereaved face decade-long wait for justice
Attention has shifted from the report’s devastating conclusions to the years of further heartache the bereaved will have to suffer before justice is served.
Solicitor fined £2,500 over Covid vaccine letters to schools
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal ordered the lawyer pay £30,000 costs after finding some of the allegations against her proved.
Rosenblatt sees off racial discrimination claim
Employment tribunal clears City firm and former chief executive over claim brought 'to cause maximum embarrassment'.
Court grants 'persons unknown' injunction against street racing in Midlands
Mr Justice Julian Knowles says geographical area concerned was ‘substantial’ but injunction satisfied the requirements set out by Supreme Court.
Chancery Lane hails Greek market-opening move
UK-qualified lawyers based in Greece will be able to register with a Greek Bar to advise clients on English and public international law.
Grenfell Inquiry should have run ‘in parallel’ with criminal probe, says Mansfield
Public inquiry should not be used as a ‘trial and error’ dry run for future prosecutions, according to veteran human rights silk.
Unpaid staff at closed Liverpool firms blame SRA
SRA says its role was to shut legal practices BPS Solicitors and Langtons Law, not manage the businesses.
First step to AI regulation as government signs up to Council of Europe framework
Convention will require assessments of systems' impact on human rights, democracy and the law.
Leasehold reforms: Charity challenges massive wealth transfer to ‘non-doms and tax exiles’
Mark Stephens leading novel High Court challenge to primary legislation which could cost charities millions.
Justice system underfunded by £3.5 billion, bar report reveals
Public funding for justice has failed to keep up with inflation and growth, Bar Council commissioned report finds.
Grenfell Tower Inquiry: government ignored safety recommendations
Sir Martin Moore-Bick says the 'simple truth' is that the deaths were all avoidable.
Lawyers toast Leicester City's win over Premier League
Leading KC credits team as football club avoids points deduction following victory at appeal board.
Prolific offender died after being released because of human error, inquest told
Remand warrant for 49-year-old was not printed out from digital folder.
I did it for the children, Covid 'threat' solicitor tells SDT
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal hears evidence from lawyer alleged to have made threats over liability in letters sent to schools.
Global bar body enters Mexico judicial row
Expression of concern about judicial independence comes on the eve of the IBA's annual conference in Mexico City.
Manolete bounces back as insolvencies reach record highs
Litigation funder reports pre-tax profits of £2.5m against a £3.1m loss last year.
Bar regulator to impose new diversity and inclusion duty
New core duty will require barristers to 'act in a way that advances equality, diversity and inclusion’.
Law centre announces death of housing law 'legend' Simon Mullings
‘Beloved friend and colleague’ died unexpectedly last weekend while on holiday in Scotland.
Criminal legal aid advisory board recommendations 'due shortly'
Judge-led board will advise lord chancellor on operation and structure of existing and future schemes.
Firm halves annual losses on recovery trail
Lyons Davidson managing director says business is on course to make a profit this year.
Employment tribunal orders justice secretary to pay court worker £27,000
Magistrates court’s administration officer succeeded in her disability discrimination claim.
Top-50 financial results table 2024: updated live
2023/24 results as they come in.
Solicitor threatened schools over Covid safety measures, tribunal told
Lawyer ‘chose to use the tools that were available to her as a member of the profession to lend her view weight’.
Group flight claim thrown out as judge criticises financial motives
Claimant was employed by Australian businessman underwriting the costs of attempted representative action.
Burges Salmon reports huge profit rise
Firm says investments of recent years are now coming to fruition.
'Progressive' parental leave policy cuts billing targets for fee-earners
IP specialist becomes latest organisation to introduce single policy accessible to all staff irrespective of gender.
Shifting criminal justice landscape forces duty solicitor merger
Solicitors belonging to Redditch and Bromsgrove, and Kidderminster rotas allocated detainees based on location of arrest.
Early resolution and fixed fees: NQ's recipe for startup success
Unregulated business based in Lancaster aims to resolve disputes before they escalate to court.
Society unveils TA6 property form consultation timetable
Independent research body will soon reach out to conveyancers to carry out a quantitative survey.
Director rebuked by SRA for drink-driving conviction
Solicitors Regulation Authority says rebuke is an ‘appropriate outcome’ for isolated and out-of-character incident.
Court watchers publish guide to observation schemes
Public is ‘ready, willing and able’ to help make the court system fairer, guide’s author says.
Solicitor to face tribunal following stalking conviction
Former City associate pleaded guilty last year to offences under the Protection from Harassment Act.
Bucking the trend: Yorkshire firm enters legal aid sector
Owner says firm can address advice desert without risking long-term financial health.
Investing in legal aid could save Treasury £11bn over 10 years
New report finds specialist free legal advice saves government £2.71 for every £1 spent.
Court battle resumes over anti-protest laws
Court of Appeal hearing adjourned in July to allow both parties to enter talks and seek a resolution.
Prisons crisis: know what to do if client unlawfully detained, solicitors told
Solicitor predicts new early release scheme to address prison overcrowding may lead to stress and confusion.
Profits edge up at Norton Rose Fulbright
PEP also rises at City firm’s EMEA arm despite 'global inflationary pressures and macroeconomic conditions'.
London firm and solicitor can fight conspiracy claims
Deputy Master Scher finds iniquity exception in debt dispute involving London firm and solicitor who acted for Russian businessman.
Junior lawyer struck off for failing to disclose sacking
'Ashamed' former Weightmans lawyer did not reveal real reason for her departure when applying for a new job.
Judge allows fees claim despite 'retrospectively created' client care letter
Partner in London firm denied preparing client care letters after the event.
Obituary: Charles Brady
Solicitor and former executive of Wilmington plc has died after a long illness.
Work from the office request was not harassment, tribunal rules
London firm adjusted hours and sent home equipment to help disabled worker.
Urgent call to place trainees as top US firm closes London office
Armstrong Teasdale opened London office three years ago with acquisition of Kerman & Co.
SRA forced to delay rise in compensation fund levies
Delay comes as super-regulator investigates the event behind the planned levy increase - the collapse of Axiom Ince.
Landmark victims' survey reveals lack of confidence in CPS
Largest survey ever conducted by the victims' commissioner exposes effects of court backlogs, insufficient support and poor communication.
Opposing parties renew vows of clin neg collaboration
Renewal of Covid-19 agreement aims to streamline disputes and reduce litigation costs.
Paralegal awarded £100,000 over discrimination and unfair dismissal
Employment judge orders London firm Khans Solicitors to pay more than £100,000 in damages after ex-employee gives up on dream of becoming solicitor.