Freshfields to be investigated by legal regulator over review into UBS rape allegations April 8, 2019 Magic Circle law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is being investigated by the legal regulator over its review into rape allegations at UBS. The City law firm was called in to conduct an independent review after a former trainee graduate alleged she was raped by a colleague nearly 20 years her senior. Read more: Former graduate [...]
Solicitor at magic circle law firm Allen & Overy facing disciplinary action over Harvey Weinstein non-disclosure agreement April 3, 2019 A solicitor at magic circle law firm Allen & Overy has been referred to a disciplinary tribunal over a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) signed by a former assistant of Harvey Weinstein. Paul Philips, the chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), told MPs today that the case was referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal last [...]
Solicitors Regulation Authority says Money laundering reports involving law firms up 67 per cent | City A.M. July 25, 2018 The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) said today that money laundering reports, cyber crime and dubious investment schemes involving law firms are all increasing. According to a new report, money laundering reports from law firms are up 67 per cent in 15 months. Sixty cases were reported to the SRA in the first quarter of 2018 [...]
Post-Weinstein can the legal sector change its secretive cover up culture March 25, 2018 In the less than six months since Ronan Farrow published his explosive New Yorker expose on movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, behaviour that would previously have been hushed up or talked about in whispers in the media and business world is now being exposed to the cold light of day. The legal sector is no different [...]
Former Labour home secretary brands proposed new solicitors’ exam a potential matter of “national concern” March 6, 2017 A former Labour home secretary said today proposed changes to qualifying exams for solicitors should be treated as a matter of national concern. Both Lord Blunkett and Lord Low of Dalston, the latter of whom brought the question forward for debate in the House of Lords, argued the Solicitors Qualifying Exam put forward by the Solicitors [...]
City Moves for 5 December 2016 | Who’s switching jobs December 5, 2016 Markel International Markel International, the specialist insurer, has appointed Naomi Murray as senior claims adjuster in its trade credit and political risk team. Naomi is a highly experienced claims handler having spent nearly 20 years in the role. She has worked for Coface, Amlin, RPC Loss Adjusting and for the last 11 years as a [...]
Don’t rock the legal sector post-Brexit vote, pleads Law Society chief executive June 28, 2016 The Law Society's chief executive has today urged policymakers not to pick away at regulation surrounding the legal sector so close to the EU referendum result. Speaking ahead of a justice committee hearing on legal services regulation, Catherine Dixon warned that key legal changes that could be sparked by Brexit would take years to put [...]
Decision on super exam for lawyers delayed June 1, 2016 The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has today delayed making a decision on the introduction of a so-called super exam. While the SRA maintained in its announcement that it still believed there was a strong case for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, it has extended its timetable to work out some of the detail. Read more: Criminal justice system [...]
The glass ceiling: women make up half the UK’s lawyers but only a quarter of partners in top firms May 17, 2016 Women make up around half of all lawyers in the UK, but only a quarter of partners in large law firms are female, indicating that the glass ceiling is still very much in place. A survey into diversity in the legal sector by the Solicitors Regulation Authority found that while 47 per cent of qualified [...]
AA to run-off AA Law, its Alternative Business Structure run by Lyons Davidson January 20, 2016 AA has effectively placed its Alternative Business Structure (ABS) venture, AA Law, into run-off, City A.M. can confirm. The breakdown cover provider has decided that the number of customers using AA Law, which was originally set up as a joint venture with solicitors firm Lyons Davidson, does not justify running it as a standalone business. While Lyons [...]