Solicitor and firm sanctioned over property work – Legal Futures

‘A law firm earned some £800,000 in fees on three failed property development schemes as well as ‘quick sale’ conveyancing where it acted for both sides, a tribunal has heard.’

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Legal Futures, 1st June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Eureka moment? Law firms report rush to patent ideas amid UK lockdown – The Guardian

Posted May 27th, 2020 in coronavirus, intellectual property, law firms, news, patents by sally

‘Intellectual property lawyers report increased demand for services during Covid-19 crisis.’

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The Guardian, 24th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Can you sack your opponent’s solicitor? You can try… Glencairn IP Holdings Ltd v Product Specialities Inc (t/a ‘Final Touch’) [2020] EWCA Civ 609 – Hailsham Chambers

Posted May 26th, 2020 in chambers articles, confidentiality, disclosure, law firms, news, solicitors by sally

‘It is well established that a litigant may restrain his former solicitors from acting for his opponent where: (i) those former solicitors are in possession of relevant, adverse confidential information and (ii) there is even a slight risk of that information being disclosed (Bolkiah v KPMG).1 But the issue in Glencairn, was whether a litigant could prevent solicitors from acting for his current opponent because that firm had acted for a former opponent in similar litigation which was settled on confidential terms. Did the solicitors’ knowledge of the applicant’s confidential settlement strategy in similar litigation (against a different party) give an unfair advantage which meant the solicitors should be prohibited from acting?’

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Hailsham Chambers, 13th May 2020

Source: www.hailshamchambers.com

Shut-down firm ordered to pay former staff £375,000 – Legal Futures

‘A law firm shut down by its regulator last year has been ordered to pay former staff £375,000 for multiple employment law breaches.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd May 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judge explains himself in writing after phone hearing fails – Legal Futures

‘A High Court judge has been forced to issue a detailed judgment in writing because his voice was “breaking up” at the end of a telephone hearing with a litigant in person (LiP) and the law firm suing her for fees.’

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Legal Futures, 13th May 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court of Appeal upholds law firm’s Chinese wall – Legal Futures

Posted May 12th, 2020 in fiduciary duty, injunctions, law firms, news by sally

‘A law firm acting for different defendants against the same claimant did not owe that claimant a true fiduciary duty, and so did not have to prove its Chinese Wall worked, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 11th May 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

LSB to check random sample of disciplinary decisions – Legal Futures

‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) is planning to review a “random sample” of regulators’ disciplinary decisions to ensure the right processes and procedures are in place.’

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Legal Futures, 4th May 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“My friend’s name is Sidley” – Domain hijack bid fails – Legal Futures

Posted April 30th, 2020 in dispute resolution, domain names, law firms, news by sally

‘A man who claimed to have registered the domain name “sidleylawyers.co.uk” on behalf of a friend called Sidley who was about to qualify has been ordered to hand it over to US giant Sidley Austin.’

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Legal Futures, 30th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA allows trainees to qualify before completing PSC – Legal Futures

‘Trainee solicitors will be able to qualify without first completing the professional skills course (PSC) because of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has decided.’

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Legal Futures, 24th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tribunal “incredulous” after firm secretary ends up in client’s will – Legal Futures

‘An employment tribunal has expressed its “incredulity” at the way a solicitor’s former secretary befriended one of his clients and ended up in the client’s will.’

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Legal Futures, 21st April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

PI protocol extended after hundreds sign up – Litigation Futures

Posted April 21st, 2020 in coronavirus, law firms, limitations, news, personal injuries, time limits by sally

‘The protocol aimed at cutting out opportunistic tactics by either claimants or defendants in personal injury (PI) cases during the Covid-19 pandemic has been extended to at least 20 May.’

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Litigation Futures, 20th April 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Firm’s “drinking culture” led solicitor to alcoholism – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor who became an alcoholic after taking part in the drinking culture of a former firm has been fined by a tribunal after two drink-driving convictions.’

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Legal Futures, 17th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Firm that missed email and released funds given all-clear by High Court – Tanfield Chambers

Posted April 16th, 2020 in appeals, breach of trust, electronic mail, law firms, news, solicitors by sally

‘Proceedings against a law firm which overlooked instructions sent to its ‘contact us’ email address and subsequently released £377,000 from its client account have been dismissed by the High Court.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 15th April 2020

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

One in seven female solicitors suffer bullying or discrimination – Legal Futures

‘One in seven female solicitors have experienced bullying, discrimination and harassment in the workplace over the past year, Law Society research has revealed.’

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Legal Futures, 16th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firm defeats broker’s claim for £100k introducer fee – Legal Futures

Posted April 14th, 2020 in fees, financial dispute resolution, law firms, loans, news by sally

‘A Liverpool law firm has defeated the claim of a finance broker who sought a £100,000 fee for introducing it to a new loan provider.’

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Legal Futures, 14th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court forces GLO on Leigh Day and Hausfeld – Litigation Futures

Posted April 9th, 2020 in case management, costs, law firms, miners, news by sally

‘The High Court has rejected efforts by claimant law firms Leigh Day and Hausfeld to keep their actions against a Zambian copper mine operator separate, making a group litigation order (GLO) sought by the defendants.’

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Litigation Futures, 8th April 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

MoJ offers some financial support for legal aid firms – Legal Futures

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has introduced economic help for legal aid firms, making hardship payments easier to access and pausing debt repayments to the Legal Aid Agency (LAA).’

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Legal Futures, 3rd April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court rejects “fanciful” conveyancing negligence claim – Legal Futures

Posted April 7th, 2020 in conveyancing, damages, duty of care, law firms, negligence, news, roads by sally

‘The High Court has rejected a “fanciful” £600,000 conveyancing negligence claim against the law firm Gateley, based on an error admitted by the firm.’

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Legal Futures, 6th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Day v Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP [2020] EWCA Civ 447: Would your 12 year old understand when to stop?- Hailsham Chambers

Posted April 3rd, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, fees, illegality, law firms, negligence, news by sally

‘By this notable decision the Court of Appeal has offered a useful illustration of the strict limits to the scope for claims by previously convicted claimants against their former lawyers,
alleging negligence in respect of the defence of the earlier criminal proceedings.’

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Hailsham Chambers, 30th March 2020

Source: www.hailshamchambers.com

Bomb hoax barrister fails to overturn law firm ban – Legal Futures

‘A barrister jailed in 2014 for a bomb hoax at the London Olympics has failed in his attempt to overturn an order imposed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) that banned him from working for law firms.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk