Law Society CEO Des Hudson announces summer retirement following calls for resignation

Law Society chief executive Des Hudson has today (14 March) announced he is retiring in July after the society’s annual general meeting, just days after members of the profession called for both Hudson and current Law Society president Nicholas Fluck to resign.

Hudson joined the Law Society as chief executive in September 2006. He has led numerous high-profile campaigns, including the introduction of initiatives such as the Law Society’s conveyancing quality scheme; risk and compliance service; and the wills and inheritance quality scheme. Continue reading “Law Society CEO Des Hudson announces summer retirement following calls for resignation”

Chartered legal execs to stand on a par with solicitors in conveyancing and probate after Grayling approval

In a further step towards breaking down the traditional restraints on delivering legal services, chartered legal executives have been given the go ahead to practise independently on probate and conveyancing matters after justice secretary Chris Grayling approved the proposal last week. Continue reading “Chartered legal execs to stand on a par with solicitors in conveyancing and probate after Grayling approval”

Family marketing teams on DEFCON 1 as Law Commission calls for gold-plated prenups in UK law

For marketing teams at the family bar it’s been a tough wait but at last the Law Commission has issued its long-trailed proposals on matrimonial property laws.

Private practice teams across London have been lightening quick to respond to the report, published today (27 February), which proposes new legislation to take out the uncertainty surrounding the enforcement of pre-nuptial agreements, an issue that has dogged divorce cases of wealthy couples, setting London at a disadvantage to the majority of countries in Europe.

Continue reading “Family marketing teams on DEFCON 1 as Law Commission calls for gold-plated prenups in UK law”

Where the bodies lie – the risk report 2014

 

While the regulatory upheaval of recent years has calmed down, our annual risk report finds law firms facing many threats lurking around the corner

In our seventh annual risk management and professional indemnity survey with broker Marsh, we asked law firms if they felt they had got to grips yet internally with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)’s outcomes-focused regulation (OFR) regime. One firm said: ‘Yes but it is continuous improvement so it can never be “completed”.’

Continue reading “Where the bodies lie – the risk report 2014”

More in-fighting as Law Society contests SRA attempts to gain greater fining powers

SRA aims to bring maximum fines for law firms closer to the much higher figures for ABSs

Further tensions in the Law Society’s already strained relationship with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) emerged in January as the representative body prepares to contest its regulatory arm’s attempt to increase its fining powers over law firms.

In a consultation that ends this month, the SRA has invited views on its proposal to increase the current level of fining powers over City and regional firms to as much as £100,000. However, the Law Society said it has ‘concerns over the functioning of the enforcement team within the SRA’.

Continue reading “More in-fighting as Law Society contests SRA attempts to gain greater fining powers”

High Street gloom as SRA publishes full list of uninsured firms forced to close

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) last month confirmed the names of the 136 firms which have been forced to close since 29 December, having not secured professional indemnity insurance (PII).

The list of firms, which the SRA said it published in the interests of protecting consumers and third parties, includes Alastair J Brett, the London-based firm set up by the former legal director of The Times newspaper, who was recently suspended over the Nightjack case.

Continue reading “High Street gloom as SRA publishes full list of uninsured firms forced to close”

Insurance matters – SRA launches consultation on rated insurers as it releases market share figures

Professional indemnity insurance (PII) continues to dominate the legal agenda after the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) yesterday (28 January) released figures revealing the market share of participating law firm insurers and separately launched a consultation that could see only rated insurers able to provide PII cover.

The regulatory body kick-started an eight-week consultation over whether all those applying to be added to a participating insurers list should have a financial strength rating of at least B from a recognised rating agency, representing a u-turn on its earlier policy to allow an open market. Continue reading “Insurance matters – SRA launches consultation on rated insurers as it releases market share figures”

High Street gloom as SRA publishes full list of uninsured firms forced to close

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed the names of the 136 firms which have been forced to close since 1 October having been unable to secure professional indemnity insurance (PII).

The list of firms, which the SRA said it has published in the interests of protecting consumers and third parties, includes Alastair J Brett, the London-based firm set up by the former legal director of The Times newspaper, who was recently suspended over the Nightjack case. Continue reading “High Street gloom as SRA publishes full list of uninsured firms forced to close”

Former Stewarts Law pair to return to SDT after High Court upholds one finding of dishonesty

Former Stewarts Law partner Andrew Shaw has failed to entirely clear his name in the High Court, which has ordered that the struck-off solicitor return to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) to argue over whether one finding of dishonesty against him means he should be re-struck off the solicitors Roll.

Litigator Shaw and associate Craig Turnbull were both struck off by the SDT in February last year, after a private application alleged they misled the court when securing a freezing injunction against businessman Geoffrey Logue.

The case dates back to April 2010, when Shaw obtained a freezing order against Logue for US company The Complete Retreats Liquidating Trust.

The SDT found that the pair’s failure to give full and frank disclosure that the application was funded by a property tycoon with whom Logue was in dispute was dishonest. Continue reading “Former Stewarts Law pair to return to SDT after High Court upholds one finding of dishonesty”