The Law Society is to hold urgent talk with retail bank Abbey next week after reports that the bank has removed many firms from its approved panel of solicitors without notice.

This has affected new start-ups, sole practices and firms not instructed by Abbey for a specific period of time.

The Society said it is ‘particularly concerned about the impact of these actions on small firms and the potentially disproportionate impact on black and minority ethnic solicitors’.

Firms affected are asked to let the society know at: president@lawsociety.org.uk.

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