![Eleanor Clarke - 029[8]](https://d1d8vslyhr7rdg.cloudfront.net/Pictures/274x183/1/5/1/120151_eleanorclarke0298_527574_crop.jpg)
Judge approves GLO to control mass Jaguar claims
Litigation order followed presentation of 42,000 claims against car giant.
Court interpreting inquiry: government contractor corrects profit 'assumption'
Global managing director tells inquiry thebigword makes a cashflow profit of 2 pence in every £1 from Ministry of Justice payments.
'Immovables rule' has not moved, Supreme Court rules
Judgment blocks the enforcement of Russian bankruptcy order by the English court.
SRA tells in-house lawyers they must report wrongdoing
Post Office scandal fallout prompts new ethical guidance for the 34,500 in-house solicitors.
Firm to pay solicitor £11,500 over unfair dismissal
Remedy hearing after Manchester tribunal found lack of trust between solicitor and firm.
Firm targets more acquisitions despite debts of £50m
Statement to London Stock Exchange reveals expectation of underlying half-year profit growth.
Law centre group takes £33k hit from employer NI hike
South West London chief says it would be 'wonderful' if charities were to be exempted from chancellor's tax raid.
Post Office Inquiry costs climb past £50m
Lawyers for core participants charged more than £6m for the last financial year.
Crimes changing with the seasons
January and February were for burglary, summer months were reserved for hotel theft, while October was the lorry hijack season.
SRA to be urged to go further on AML crackdown
Legal Services Board expecting a ‘step change’ in effort to clamp down on lawyers’ involvement.
Commercial leaseholds under scrutiny in Law Commission consultation
Possible reform is part of government plan to revive high streets and town centres.
Barristers rebel over 'advance equality' duty
Bar Council says the proposal is unclear, counterproductive and potentially unlawful.
Deathbed nod to solicitor accepted by court
Solicitor said she had no doubt that client had capacity to decide.
Sidhu was joking with 'twerk' message, tribunal hears
Person 1 questioned by Sidhu's legal team about messages and tells tribunal she did not think barrister was joking.
Firm that couldn’t find old AML documents fined £12k
SRA sanctions Devon firm despite being shown compliant current documents.
Badenoch takes aim at public law 'burden'
Rule of law does not mean having ever more laws to rule us, new Conservative leader says.
Profit surge shows opportunities in injury law, says leading firm
Number of new cases rapidly rising after £32m investment in lead generator.
Progress stalls on fixed costs for clin neg claims
Issue did not even arise at latest meeting of the Civil Procedure Rule Committee.
TV lawyers: which show is the least authentic?
Obiter's piece on how wills are executed in EastEnders hit a nerve with readers.
In depth: Supreme Court's Sky ruling sends 'shockwaves' through IP sector
Judgment in Sky trade mark saga clarifies both the law on bad faith registrations and the Supreme Court’s own remit. Brand owners must beware obtaining marks they have no intention of using
Kemi Badenoch appears at the Post Office Inquiry
The Post Office Inquiry has gone on so long that Kemi Badenoch, a junior minister when it started, is now leader of the opposition.
Sidhu made hotel room incident 'so normal', tribunal hears
Person 2, who undertook a mini-pupillage with former Criminal Bar Association chair, told the five-person panel she knew what happened with top silk ‘was wrong’.
More district judges sanctioned over delays
Lady chief justice and lord chancellor agree with formal advice for misconduct over months-long delays.
Firm closing high street offices to move to central hub
Farleys Solicitors will move teams from Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley to offices on a business park in the village of Altham.
Law firm ringside for Paul v Tyson
US firm spends big for the most exclusive seats in the house as Mike Tyson fights YouTuber Jake Paul.
In focus: Birmingham firm pioneers assistance dog policy for apprentice
Jemima Banks' assistance dog Albert has kickstarted a new approach by Gowling WLG.
'Capacity' concerns over assisted dying bill
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, introduced by backbencher Kim Leadbeater MP, has been promised parliamentary time by the government.
Justice secretary's legal aid advisers call for action on fees
Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board says situation has deteriorated since 2021 Bellamy review called for urgent uplift.
Usher who fell asleep in court did not suffer discrimination
Agency worker alleged she was treated differently because she was black.
Conveyancing solicitor fined after failing to disclose link to borrower
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal fines lawyer £12,500 and orders he pay almost £20,000 in costs.
Former LCJ on Gauke's sentencing review panel
Lord Burnett of Maldon is among those supporting former Conservative lord chancellor as review issues call for evidence.
Solicitor culpable over fraudulent trading ahead of LCF collapse
High Court judgment finds number of defendants, including lawyer, liable to LCF for their knowing participation in the fradulent conduct of LCF’s business.
Lawyers link mental health struggles to their finances
Review finds lawyers with financial worries reported feeling anxious, a lack of motivation and sleepless nights.
SRA wants to stop solicitors pocketing interest on client money
Firms continuing to profit from holding cash on behalf of clients is no longer appropriate, regulator says in long-awaited consumer protection consultation.
Judges urged to call out litigators working to hide the truth
Professor Richard Moorhead says culture of ‘can we get away with it’ is being aided by lawyers.
Former criminal bar chair Sidhu groomed aspiring lawyers for favours, tribunal hears
Sidhu’s alleged misconduct centres on his ‘predatory behaviour’ towards young women, a bar tribunal heard yesterday.
Barrister who accepted client's money rightly suspended, rules judge
Barrister of 42 years had argued the tribunal did not consider his experience and clean record.
£57k in fines in two days: SRA ramps up AML action
Firms from Oldham, Surrey, London, Wolverhampton and Birmingham all sanctioned.
Justice secretary finds extra cash for criminal legal aid
Lord chancellor announces £18.5m for police station work and £5.1m for youth court fees.
Climate campaigners stage protest at London law firms
Coalition of groups accuses global legal giants of profiting from climate catastrophe.
Memory lane
Lords urged to throw out HIPs, legal advice for Princess Diana, obscenity and the law and working mothers: a stroll down Gazette memory lane.
Law firm to be led by three managing partners
South east firm with ambitions to break the top 200 opts for a joint leadership model.
Hill Dickinson’s top earner nets £1.2m as profits surge again
Liverpool-headquartered practice records 29% rise in profit before member remuneration.
Sky’s the limit: Supreme Court rules in marathon trade mark dispute
Judgment handed down in public interest despite request by both parties to withdraw appeal.
Recorder sanctioned over delayed court order
Judicial Conduct Investigations Office says delay was serious enough breach to require disciplinary measure.
Witness thrown under the bus
Judge rules it plainly inappropriate for video evidence to be given while on public transport.
Allegations against former CBA chair Jo Sidhu ‘exceptionally serious’, tribunal told
Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service turns down stay application following failed privacy and anonymity application.
Aberavon solicitor who stabbed colleague leaves profession
Decision taken earlier this year to agree that practitioner could come off the roll.
CFA success fee ‘excessive’, Strasbourg rules in Daily Mail case
European Court of Human Rights rules obligation to pay £250,000 uplift contravened right to freedom of expression.
Criminal bar champion Sidhu fails in tribunal privacy bid
Five-person panel dismisses privacy and anonymity application, which means case against Sidhu can be heard in public.
Firm deploys AI to 'supercharge' probate process
Manchester boutique is willing to write off fixed fee for simple grant applications not submitted to Probate Registry within six weeks.
Director blasts ‘egregious waste of money’ after failed SRA case
Allegations against Barings Law over misleading clients and due diligence failures were thrown out by tribunal.
Firm must pay part-time paralegal £41,000 over employment dispute
Employment judge awards £22,500 for hurt, distress and humiliation as part of £41,000 total remedy.
Solicitor abandoned 'chaotic' firm and left clients stranded
Solicitors Regulation Authority had to intervene after landlord got in touch to say solicitor was gone owing £22,400 in rent.
HSF merger to create $2bn firm
Profit pool from day-one will 'supercharge the firms’ offerings', joint announcement states.
Solicitor referred to SRA by judge over 'fabricated' £260k costs bill
Costs Judge James says fees being charged in boundary dispute were of ‘grave concern’.
Courtroom closures prompt fresh criminal justice despair
Fewer courtrooms operating at Woolwich Crown Court this week due to three judges being on leave.
SRA chief urges experts to report bias ‘pressure’ from solicitors
Expert Witness Conference also hears from bar chair Sam Townend KC, who warned that a ‘crisis point’ has been reached.
Firm’s £1.1m fee increase was not explained, judge rules
Client accuses former solicitors of trying to have their cake and eat it in dispute with hotel group.
In depth: SRA compliance conference was exquisitely timed
In the wake of the LSB’s Axiom Ince report and with a consumer protection shakeup in the offing, the SRA’s compliance conference could not have been better timed.
SSB chief barred from being involved in CFA claims
Limits placed on Jeremy Brooke’s practising certficate following cavity wall claims firm’s collapse.
In depth: Hired guns but no wild west - Expert Witness Survey 2024
Should the SRA help resolve difficulties arising between experts and solicitors?
Law firms upbeat on performance as revenues roll in
NatWest’s 10th legal report, based on a survey of 100 firms with an average turnover of £20m, reports 90% of respondents declaring optimism.
New global support network for judges
Network will provide safe space for judges to raise concerns and connect them with health professionals.
Post Office Inquiry: Commercial lawyers' 'cultural clash' delaying compensation
Senior civil servant Lorna Gratton tells the inquiry that external lawyers instructed by the Post Office had taken a ‘conventional legalistic approach’ to negotiations.
High Court throws out complaint over solicitor's 'settle' advice
Even if advice in bankruptcy mediation had been negligent, claimant failed to show it caused any loss.
Solicitor involved in false PI claim loses strike-off appeal
Judge says solicitor was lucky not to be prosecuted over fabricated road traffic accident claim.
Former City solicitor rebuked following drink-driving conviction
Solicitor notified regulator on the day he was charged with offence and pleaded guilty at first court appearance.
City solicitor dismissed unfairly after colleague’s assault lie, tribunal finds
Claimant alleged that tensions existed in firm between English speakers and Russian lawyers.
Survey: Expert witnesses berate solicitors for bias 'pressure' and late payment
Annual Bond Solon report finds vast majority of experts want new process to complain to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Makin reported to SRA - after a year-long wait
Prominent solicitor advocate criticised over conduct in action against Ministry of Justice over subject access request.
Soap slips up on will signing
Association of Lifetime Lawyers has a run-in with EastEnders.
Law Society extends TA6 'two-form approach' period
Chancery Lane currently working through significant volume of feedback received during consultation process.
Firm fined £20,000 for 2022 compliance failings
£20,000 fine and £10,000 costs approved after agreed outcome with Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Surrey magistrates' 'standard practice' declared unlawful by High Court
Justices in Guildford had ordered a gas engineer to pay £22,000 within 28 days after hearing he only had £250 a month to spare.
Act now on new ‘failure to prevent’ offence, GCs warned
Government publishes guidance on offence created under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act.
French court 'wholly responsible' for 20-year delay in arresting Welsh man
Mickael Hiscox had no idea he had been convicted in his absence of drug trafficking offences in February 2004, the High Court heard.
Firm loses appeal against directors who quit to run their own business
Judge finds that pair continued to work faithfully while preparing to start own firm.
Solicitor Harman honoured with lifetime achievement award
Solicitor Harriet Harman delivers rousing speech at Inspirational Women in Law awards ceremony.
Shadow of a colossus
Obiter has been keeping an eye on the omnivorous mega trial in Municipio de Mariana, Rodovia Juscelino Kubitschek and others v BHP Group Ltd and another.
Mexico: Supreme Court fails to halt reform
Elections will be held in June 2025 to replace a wide range of judicial positions.
Solicitors braced for potential changes to client account
SRA planning to open consultation next week in response to consumer protection review.
'Changing lives': Pro Bono Week gets under way
Law Society urges more solicitors to ‘make a difference’ - but warns that voluntary advice can never be a substitute for legal aid.
Minister pledges to 'fundamentally reform' SJP system if poor practice continues
Single justice procedure (SJP) has been beset by scandals and is facing calls for reform, including from magistrates.
Phase out the word 'shoplifting', Lords committee tells Home Office
Home Office told perceived inadequate response to shop theft risks undermining public confidence in the criminal justice system.
Drug baron sacked solicitors to 'manipulate' trial process
Man jailed for 25 years loses appeal after criticisms of his solicitors were found to be ‘without substance’.
SRA chair says Axiom Ince issues are 'history for us'
Chief executive Paul Philip admits Axiom Ince debacle ‘damaged trust’ – but not as badly as the Post Office scandal.
New MPs urged to 'travel to the legal aid coalface'
Guide and directory to support MPs with constituency casework unveiled at parliamentary event to mark Pro Bono Week.
Quires invisible
A pleasing reduction in paper consumption at the Supreme Court.
Judge's 'swearing in the north' remarks make national headlines
Employment judge made the comments before finding a delivery driver was unfairly dismissed over his language.