UK is losing fight against fraud as anti-corruption watchdogs are “under-resourced” January 24, 2022 An anti-corruption think-tank has warned the UK is losing the fight against financial crime, as a lack of funding has left the country’s law enforcement agencies “over-stretched” and “under-resourced.” In a report, the think-tank called on the government to reinvest money recuperated from criminals into the government agencies fighting corruption and financial crime, as it [...]
Nine in ten businesses say Covid has made them a target for fraudsters January 24, 2022 Almost nine-in-ten businesses believe the pandemic has made them more susceptible to fraud, according to survey from BDO. More than four-fifths of businesses were victims of fraud last year, while more than a third of companies said levels of fraud increased between and 2020 and 2021. On average, businesses lost £223,000 to fraud last year, [...]
EY to open office for “neuro-diverse” tech workers in Manchester January 24, 2022 Accountancy firm EY is set to open an office for “neuro-diverse” tech workers in Manchester. EY said it will hire 100 people with “cognitive differences” such as ADHD, dyslexia, and autism, to work on projects involving emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, and the blockchain. The Manchester Neuro-Diverse Centre of Excellence (NDCoE) is set [...]
Government invests £1.3m into family mediation scheme, to cut divorce court backlog January 24, 2022 The government is set to invest a further £1.3m into its family mediation scheme, in an effort to keep divorce cases out of court. The new funding will provide an additional 2,440 vouchers for mediation services, with a view to freeing up space in divorce courts to cut the backlog built up during Covid-19. In [...]
Law firms opt for M&As over listing in plans to grow in 2022 January 24, 2022 Almost half (47 per cent) of UK law firms are considering mergers and acquisitions, as they seek to expand their geographical footprints and scale up their businesses, according to a poll commissioned by M&A broker Acquira. In a poll of 100 law firms, 47 said they are currently planning a merger or acquisition, with small- [...]
UK government to recruit 4,000 new magistrates in biggest court recruitment drive in 650 years January 24, 2022 The UK government is set to recruit 4,000 new magistrates from all sections of society, in a bid to make magistrates courts more representative and cut the court backlog built up during Covid-19. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said its plan to launch the largest recruitment drive in the Magistrates Courts’ 650-year long history could [...]
FTSE 100 firms are failing to tackle poverty, despite embracing ESG agenda January 23, 2022 Britain’s major companies are ignoring the “social” aspect of the ESG agenda by failing to pay attention to poverty, a think-tank has warned. James Kirkup, director of the Social Market Foundation, accused Britain’s biggest companies of “ignoring the S in ESG,” as he called on FTSE 100 firms to do more to tackle poverty. [...]
Law firms investigate Activision deal over claims board sold for cheap to avoid sexual harassment lawsuits January 23, 2022 Seven different law firms have launched investigations into Activision Blizzard’s decision to sell itself to Microsoft, over claims Activision’s board decided to sell up in a bid to get away from the sexual discrimination lawsuits facing company. In a statement announcing its investigation, San Diego law firm Johnson Fistel said: “It appears that the Activision [...]
Greenberg Traurig opens Hamptons office in push for “work-near-home” January 23, 2022 Greenberg Traurig has become the first major law firm to open offices in the Hamptons, as it seeks to adapt to the “new normal” in a vote of confidence that the changes brought about by the pandemic “are here to stay”. The law firm’s decision to open offices in the wealthy seaside resort comes as [...]
Law Society flags attainment gap between white and ethnic minority students January 23, 2022 The head of the Law Society has raised concerns about the “attainment gap” between white and ethnic minority students, in the exams students must pass to become a solicitor. According to figures published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, 66 per cent of white students passed the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE1), compared to 39 per cent [...]