Number of SRA investigations into SLAPPs continues to rise – Legal Futures

‘The number of law firms being investigated for possible misconduct relating to strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) has doubled since the summer to 40, the chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) revealed yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 25th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Firm handed largest-ever fine for transparency rules non-compliance – Legal Futures

Posted January 20th, 2023 in fines, law firms, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has fined a law firm that did not comply with its transparency rules £3,500, the highest penalty it has issued for the offence.’

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Legal Futures, 20th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Government to give SRA power to demand more information from firms – Legal Futures

Posted January 19th, 2023 in bills, law firms, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The government is to extend the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) powers to demand information from solicitors and firms beyond money laundering matters to economic crime more generally.’

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Legal Futures, 19th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA imposes record £20,000 fine for AML failings – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 19th, 2023 in fines, law firms, money laundering, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority has fined a firm a record £20,000 for failing to have anti-money laundering training and systems in place.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 18th January 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

LawtechUK: Regulatory risks of AI “inhibiting law firm adoption” – Legal Futures

‘Hesitation about adopting artificial intelligence (AI) by law firms nervous of the risks presented by a regulatory grey area is causing a bottleneck that needs to be cleared, according to LawtechUK.’

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Legal Futures, 18th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firm fined record £20,000 for “reckless” AML breaches – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has fined an Oxfordshire law firm £20,000 after finding it “reckless” in failing to comply with the anti-money laundering (AML) requirements.’

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Legal Futures, 18th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA sanctioned for wrongly publishing trainee’s ban – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been sanctioned in costs after prematurely stating on its website that it had banned a former trainee solicitor from working for law firms.’

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Legal Futures, 16th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitor can sue ex-firm for misuse of private WhatsApp messages – Legal Futures

‘A High Court master has rejected what he described as a law firm owner’s attempt to “stifle” a misuse of private information (MPI) claim by a junior solicitor he dismissed by applying to have her case struck out.’

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Legal Futures, 11th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firm did not discriminate against disabled paralegal – Legal Futures

‘An employment tribunal has rejected disability discrimination claims made against a Welsh law firm by a paralegal dismissed after just nine days for his poor timekeeping.’

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Legal Futures, 10th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Can the tables ever be turned: when can professionals sue their clients for breaching duties to them? by Helen Evans KC – 4 New Square Chambers

‘When professionals are sued, it’s not unusual for them to make an assertion that their clients were “up to something”, or to complain that they had provided wilfully misleading or incomplete instructions.’

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4 New Square Chambers, 7th December 2022

Source: www.4newsquare.com

BSB mulls SLAPPs guidance as Zahawi’s solicitors are referred to SRA – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is considering following the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in issuing guidance on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).’

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Legal Futures, 5th December 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

One for all: SRA regulation for staff – Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog

‘All those who work in law firms, not just lawyers, are liable to sanction by both their employer and the SRA for acts of misconduct…’

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Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog, 29th November 2022

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

Belsner faces £130k costs payment but Checkmylegalfees “has a future” – Legal Futures

Posted November 16th, 2022 in costs, indemnities, law firms, news, third parties by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has signalled the possibility of a non-party costs order in the Belsner case after ordering the claimant to make an interim costs payment of £130,000.’

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Legal Futures, 16th November 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court curtails Checkmylegalfees’ ‘fishing expedition’ for ATE details – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 14th, 2022 in costs, disclosure, insurance, law firms, news, personal injuries by sally

‘The costs recovery outfit chasing personal injury firms on behalf of former clients has suffered another body blow through a new losing court judgment.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th November 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitor awarded £32,000 over anxiety during employment transfer – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A solicitor whose employment was transferred to another firm without notice or consultation has succeeded in a claim for constructive dismissal.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 10th November 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Personal injury solicitor awarded £32,000 for unfair dismissal – Legal Futures

‘A personal injury solicitor who was transferred to a new law firm without notice or consultation has been awarded just under £32,000 in damages by an employment tribunal.’

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Legal Futures, 10th November 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Mothers in law still struggle to juggle despite more supportive employers – Legal Futures

Posted October 31st, 2022 in children, families, law firms, legal profession, news, statistics, women by sally

‘The vast majority of mothers (84%) working in the law still find it difficult to balance working life with the demands of being a mother, despite some signs of progress.’

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Legal Futures, 31st October 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Belsner: Lawyers win in crucial costs recovery ruling – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 28th, 2022 in appeals, codes of practice, costs, damages, law firms, news, personal injuries, solicitors by sally

‘Lawyers have won their appeal in a court ruling that will come as a massive relief across the personal injury market. Judges in the Court of Appeal ruled in Belsner v CAM Legal Services this morning that the firm’s personal injury client had made fair and reasonable deductions from her damages. The deductions were therefore lawful and did not need to be paid back.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 27th October 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Only 90 of 13,000 partners at England and Wales law firms are Black – report – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2022 in diversity, equality, law firms, news, statistics by sally

‘Just 90 of more than 13,000 partners at major law firms in England and Wales are Black, according to a report, which says more must be done to address the underrepresentation.’

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The Guardian, 19th October 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Solicitor engaged in ‘pathological’ litigation handed civil restraint order – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 10th, 2022 in civil justice, injunctions, law firms, news, solicitors, vexatious litigants by sally

‘A law firm has been barred by the High Court from making any further court applications for at least 18 months after failing to heed warnings to stop.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 7th October 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk