Cybercrime against law firms higher than ever, SRA says – Legal Futures

Posted July 26th, 2017 in computer crime, electronic mail, law firms, news, statistics by sally

‘Reports of cybercrime from law firms reached record levels in the first quarter of this year, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has said.’

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Legal Futures, 26th July 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ministers ‘undermined law’ over Iraq war crimes allegations – The Guardian

‘The government has been accused of undermining the rule of law by putting pressure on an independent regulator in its action against a legal firm pursuing claims of human rights abuses involving British troops in Iraq.’

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Regulator secures record £250k fine against global firm White & Case – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has approved a fine of £250,000 on international firm White & Case for failures over conflict of interest and client confidentiality. The penalty is the biggest ever issued against a single firm at the tribunal and followed an investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th July 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Court of Appeal begins hearing CFA assignment case – Litigation Futures

Posted July 6th, 2017 in agreements, appeals, fees, law firms, news, personal injuries by sally

‘The profession should soon have an answer to the question of when a conditional fee agreement (CFA) can be assigned from one law firm to another as the Court of Appeal is hearing a test case today.’

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Litigation Futures, 5th July 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

SRA shuts down law firm referred by Court of Appeal after it revoked £500,000 costs order – Legal Futures

‘A law firm referred to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) by the Court of Appeal earlier this year has been shut down by the regulator.’

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Legal Futures, 4th July 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitor who took client data to new firm without consent rebuked and fined – Legal Futures

‘A London solicitor who took confidential information from defunct London firm Davenport Lyons (DL) to his new employer without client consent has been rebuked and fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 26th June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitors’ LLP not a litigant in person when acting for itself in proceedings, Court of Appeal says – Litigation Futures

‘A law firm LLP which acted for itself in legal proceedings is not a litigant in person for the purposes of the CPR, the Court of Appeal has held.’

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Litigation Futures, 26th June 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Passed on Thursday, in force today – new AML regulations thrust on profession – Legal Futures

‘Law firm compliance officers and money laundering reporting officers have been scrambling to get to grips with the biggest shake-up in anti-money laundering (AML) rules in a decade, with the final regulations – which were only published on Thursday – coming into force today.’

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Legal Futures, 26th June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firms, legal executives and licensed conveyancers join forces to lobby for leasehold reform

Posted June 21st, 2017 in conveyancing, housing, law firms, Law Society, leases, legal executives, news by sally

‘A new property law alliance, the Legal Sector Group (LSG), has written to the government, with a detailed set of proposals on leasehold reform.’

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Legal Futures, 21st June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The ‘diva of divorce’ for the world’s super rich – BBC News

Posted June 20th, 2017 in divorce, law firms, news, solicitors, women by sally

‘If you ever spy your wife or husband in discussion with Ayesha Vardag you might need to panic.’

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BBC News, 19th June 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge punishes firm that placed ‘scant importance’ on court orders – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 15th, 2017 in civil procedure rules, delay, law firms, news, striking out by sally

‘The High Court has refused a personal injury firm relief from sanctions after an excoriating analysis of its non-compliance with court orders.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th June 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

“Weak competition” and legal culture behind lack of external investment through ABS, says LSB report – Legal Futures

‘The low level of external investment in law firms since alternative business structures (ABSs) were allowed more than five years ago “may be a symptom of weak competition in the market overall”, a Legal Services Board (LSB) report has suggested.’

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Legal Futures, 15th June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court orders trial over enforcement of disputed DBA – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 15th, 2017 in agreements, costs, damages, delay, law firms, news by sally

‘The High Court has allowed for trial of a preliminary issue in a case concerning the limits of a damages based agreement (DBA).’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th June 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Claimant firm castigated for “procedural chaos” that saw case struck out – Litigation Futures

‘A claimant law firm that allowed a straightforward and relatively low-value road traffic accident claim to descend into “procedural chaos” has seen it struck out by the High Court.’

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Litigation Futures, 13th June 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Leigh Day exonerated after longest and most expensive disciplinary tribunal prosecution ever – Legal Futures

‘The longest and most expensive case brought in the history of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has ended with high-profile claimant lawyer Martyn Day, two of his colleagues and his firm Leigh Day fully exonerated.’

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Legal Futures, 9th June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Firms face trade mark squatting woes – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 7th, 2017 in China, international law, law firms, news, trade marks by sally

‘International law firms face being held to ransom after falling foul of China’s problematic trade mark filing rules.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 6th June 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Pro bono legal advice panel for victims of London attack – Law Society

Posted June 7th, 2017 in charities, law firms, Law Society, London, news, pro bono work, solicitors, terrorism by sally

‘People bereaved and injured following the attack on London Bridge will be offered free legal advice through a panel of solicitor firms to be convened by the Law Society of England and Wales with LawWorks, the solicitors’ pro bono charity, and the City of London Law Society.’

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Law Society, 6th June 2017

Source: www.lawsociety.org.uk

Law Society publishes first slavery and human trafficking statement – Legal Futures

Posted June 6th, 2017 in contracts, law firms, news, solicitors, trafficking in human beings by tracey

‘The Law Society has issued its first slavery and human trafficking statement, in compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, emphasising its commitment to ensuring that “such practices have no place within its supply chain or other activities”.’

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Legal Futures, 6th June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitors lose claim over losses caused by tax mitigation schemes – Legal Futures

Posted June 5th, 2017 in accountants, law firms, negligence, news, solicitors, tax avoidance by tracey

‘Partners at a leading personal injury law firm have lost a professional negligence action against the accountants who recommended they sign up to two ultimately unsuccessful tax mitigation schemes.’

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Legal Futures, 5th June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lawyers make the grade in BAME ‘power lists’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 1st, 2017 in diversity, equality, law firms, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

‘Eight lawyers including six magic circle partners have been named in a power list celebrating the best BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) business leaders.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 30th May 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk