QualitySolicitors’ owner in new private equity deal (LSG)
The private equity owner of QualitySolicitors, Palamon Capital Partners, has acquired a controlling stake in The Simplify Group, a conveyancing and probate business with a turnover of £60m.
Most ABSs would “do things differently” if they applied again (LF)
A large majority of alternative business structures, 89%, would tackle their application differently if they applied to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for a licence again, research has revealed.
VouchedFor aims for 1,000 solicitors (LF)
Financial adviser rating and review website VouchedFor has said it is aiming to sign up 1,000 solicitors in the next few weeks.
City lawyers lambast plans for direct tax debt recovery (LSG)
City lawyers have expressed ‘fundamental objections’ to government plans to allow HM Revenue & Customs to recover tax and tax credits directly from debtors’ bank accounts.
Reform of guideline hourly rates in shreds (LSG)
A project to reform guideline hourly rates (GHRs) for civil litigation is in shreds following master of the rolls Lord Dyson’s rejection of key recommendations made by a Civil Justice […]
MP triggers debate on future of stamp duty (EAT)
An MP is to stage a special all-party parliamentary debate on the future of stamp duty on homes and the way in which, she says, it distorts the housing market.
The LSCP opposes a minimum indemnity insurance limit of £500,000 for solicitors (LF)
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has hit back at criticism by the SRA that it opposes a minimum indemnity insurance limit of £500,000 for solicitors, while supporting it for accountants.
Law Society Sharia wills guidance “cannot change the law”, justice minister says (LF)
The government has refused to be drawn into the row over controversial advice from the Law Society on Sharia-compliant wills, but insisted that it “does not, and cannot, change the […]
LSB paves way for CLC to expand beyond conveyancing (LF)
The statutory framework of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) could be changed in a way that would potentially enable it to regulate all reserved legal activities, under plans outlined […]
Paralegals granted new training short cut (LSG)
Paralegals who have passed a legal practice course (LPC) may now qualify as solicitors without having to complete a formal training contract, under guidance published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority […]
The buying and selling process has not improved during my forty years in conveyancing (EAT)
Forty years ago this week, as a spotty 16 year old, I first began working in the legal profession. In fact, I still have the letter from J. W. Ward […]
World’s first all-online auction this autumn (EAT)
The first-ever all-online property auction – where a contract is emailed and digitally signed by sellers and buyers, so the entire procedure happens via email and the internet – is […]