‘Loans provided to the clients of a firm of solicitors by a third party funder were not ‘legal services’, and so were not covered by the terms of the firm’s professional indemnity (PI) policy, the UK’s highest court has ruled.’
OUT-LAW.com, 26th October 2016
Source: www.out-law.com
‘A High Court master has rejected an application from a Leicestershire solicitor for trial of a preliminary issue in a costs claim involving another law firm, citing the “high degree of personal animosity between the parties”.’
Litigation Futures, 18th October 2016
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
‘An ex-solicitor has been found guilty and jailed for five years for five counts of fraud by false representation – his second spell in jail for fraud after he previously stole from his firm’s client account’
Legal Future, 21st October 2016
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Lawyers at a top international firm were told to charge clients even when they were taking toilet breaks – because they would still be thinking about work.’
Daily Telegraph, 7th October 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘A regulatory agenda that is looking to help consumers shop around for legal advice means that many law firms are running out of time to get to grips with customer service, a report being launched at today’s PI Futures conference has warned.’
Legal Futures, 22nd September 2016
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Fears that the rewritten SRA Handbook might not continue the ban on law firms cold-calling potential personal injury clients have been allayed by the regulator.’
Legal Futures, 20th September 2016
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Alleged Iraq abuse claims brought against British troops by a leading human rights law firm have often been made up of poor, inaccurate information, a review by a former director of public prosecutions has said. Sir David Calvert-Smith said investigators tasked with wading through hundreds of alleged abuse claims had found key details such as names, dates and times were often wrong.’
Daily Telegraph, 15th September 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘Personal injury lawyers have warned that Solicitors Regulation Authority plans to remove a ban on cold calling will only encourage the shadier elements of the profession.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 15th September 2016
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The news last month that Public Interest Lawyers, the firm which brought a host of discredited cases alleging abuse by British serviceman in Iraq, is to be wound up has been met with applause by the press and service community. These claims culminated in the Al Sweady Inquiry which considered allegations of war crimes and abuse by British troops in Iraq in 2004. The allegations were found to be “baseless” and claims of torture and murder were “wholly without foundation” and “entirely the product of deliberate lies, reckless speculation and ingrained hostility” from some Iraqi witnesses. It has prompted calls for the suspension of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) on the “battlefield” and a general attack on lawyers meddling or challenging affairs involving “war”. That reaction is understandable; however, it would be an enormous mistake to conclude that the law only interferes with the military doing its job.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 7th September 2016
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
‘The new Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice used her first appearance in the House of Commons to label Birmingham law firm Public Interest Lawyers as “ambulance chasers”.’
Legal Futures, 7th September 2016
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The County Court has refused costs protection to a claimant after his solicitors had wrongly told the defendants that a funding agreement was in place.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 31st August 2016
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘After months of rumours that staff were leaving the firm and that its founder Phil Shiner was buckling under of the pressure, Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) has announced its closure.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 30th August 2016
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
‘A north-west firm is considering appealing a Court of Protection ruling in which it was removed as a financial deputy in a case concerning deprivation of liberty and care arrangements.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 19th August 2016
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Government proposals to clamp down on tax avoidance by targeting advisers with sanctions if HMRC successfully challenges a scheme further blur the line between evasion and avoidance, and “threaten the rule of law”, according to a prominent tax lawyer.’
Legal Futures, 18th August 2016
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Government proposals to impose heavy fines on banks, accountants and lawyers who market tax avoidance schemes will fail without more resources for HM Revenue & Customs to pursue offenders, campaigners have said.’
The Guardian, 17th August 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘The question takes us straight to this week’s reported news that Phil Shiner’s Public Interest Lawyers is having to close.’
The Guardian, 16th August 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Solicitors could face penalties for not filing stamp duty returns online, under proposed government reforms to the conveyancing process.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 15th August 2016
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Law firms should be at the forefront of the fight against modern slavery, both in terms of their own impact as businesses and advising clients on meeting their human rights obligations, the Law Society has urged.’
Legal Futures, 16th August 2016
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The law firm Public Interest Lawyers, which submitted multiple allegations of misconduct by British troops during the Iraq War, is to close.’
BBC News, 15th August 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Hundreds of compensation claims against British soldiers are likely to be abandoned after a controversial law firm accused of “hounding” troops announced that it is closing.’
Daily Telegraph, 15th August 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
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