‘Panicked’ solicitor struck off after she hid complaint and sent false email March 17, 2022 A “panicked” solicitor has been struck off the register and told to pay £11,400 after she hid a complaint from her company’s compliance officer and then emailed the client pretending to be her firm’s compliance officer. Elizabeth Nedin, a solicitor at Welsh law firm Philip Avery & Co, intercepted emails complaining about her conduct, and [...]
UK government vows to crack down on use of ‘lawfare’ to silence ‘valid criticism’ March 17, 2022 The UK government is preparing to crack down on those using legal threats to intimidate journalists and silence the British press. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab will today set out plans to stop wealthy individuals and large businesses from “using the threat of endless legal action” to “stifle legitimate criticism”, the government said in a statement. [...]
Former Mishcon de Reya partner fined £17,500 for breaching anti-money laundering laws March 8, 2022 A former partner at London firm Mishcon de Reya has been ordered to pay £21,000 for his role in a money laundering scandal, which in January led to Mishcon being hit with a record £232,500 fine. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) fined former Mischon partner Michael Nouril £17,500 and told the M&A lawyer he must [...]
Solicitors’ watchdog warns lawyers against using ‘abusive litigation tactics’ to silence valid criticism March 8, 2022 The solicitors’ watchdog has warned lawyers against working for clients seeking to use meritless lawsuits to silence criticism, in a crackdown on the use of Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPP). The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) said lawyers have a duty to report situations in which they suspect the “underlying intention” of putting a lawsuit [...]
Major recruiter hits back at SRA after watchdog says it will crack down on workplace bullies February 13, 2022 The managing director of a major recruitment company has slammed the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for being out of touch, after the watchdog said law firms should stamp out bullying. The SRA said it plans to crack down on law firms that promote toxic workplace cultures, after releasing new guidance calling on the legal sector [...]
Law Society’s pay gap has gotten wider through Covid as men fill higher paying jobs and take home bigger bonuses February 9, 2022 The Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA’s) gender pay gap has widened since the start of the pandemic, according to new figures from the trade body. On average, men were paid 11.5 per cent more than women in 2021, and received 23.2 per cent larger bonuses. By comparison, men only received 10.6 per [...]
Solicitor suspended for a year after overcharging client with bill for £2.9m February 8, 2022 A solicitor has been banned from practicing for a year and ordered to pay costs amounting to £41,400, after a tribunal said he had tried to overcharge his client after asking more than £2.9m for his services. The tribunal said Nabeel Amer Sheikh had failed to act with “integrity” as it claimed the solicitor had [...]
Privately-educated lawyers fill top ranks of UK’s corporate law firms, figures show February 3, 2022 Privately educated lawyers are much more likely to become partners in Britain’s biggest corporate law firms, than their state-educated counterparts, according to new figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The figures show that one-third (33 per cent) of lawyers working in corporate law firms went to private school, compared to just 13 per cent [...]
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 [...]
Soophia Khan: Outspoken human rights lawyer jailed for contempt of court January 14, 2022 A prominent human rights lawyer has been jailed for contempt of court, after refusing to hand over files to the the body that regulates solicitors. High Court judge Mr Justice Leech sentenced 41-year-old Soophia Khan – often referred to as Sophie Khan in the media – to six months imprisonment, for breaching a High Court [...]