Market monitor

A law firm and its owner are suing a former client for slander and malicious falsehood over comments allegedly made explaining why the firm was removed from its legal panel.

Investment in alternative legal services providers stepped up yesterday after a US private equity company took a majority stake in Factor, the managed services firm that used to be part of Axiom.

The prospects of creditors of what was Ince & Co have improved modestly over the past year, but they still face losing most of their money, according to joint administrators Quantuma.

The impact of Covid-19 on the justice system and the government’s response has led a mid-sized London set to announce its closure, saying members are not prepared to take the financial risk they are facing.

Solidarity – or not – between legal aid lawyers is under the spotlight this week, with solicitors from 200 law firms coming together to force a change to immigration fees, but criminal firms falling out.

The chairman of the world’s largest law firm, Dentons, has outlined a future of continued expansion, merging with both law firms and in time non-legal businesses around the world, including the UK.

Barristers may be keen to get back to work but they are not going back to chambers, and nearly a third of sets have given or are considering giving partial notice on their leases.

A judge has failed in his claim that he suffered discrimination, harassment and victimisation due to his race over how a complaint against him by a litigant was dealt with.

The company formerly known as Quindell has served a £63m claim against accountancy firm PwC for allegedly using confidential information to reduce the amount Slater & Gordon paid.

The Covid-19 pandemic may reverse the trend towards consolidation in the SME legal market, with start-ups emerging as effective competition, according to the former boss of Cartwright King.

Listed law firm Ince Group has had its brand valued at £17m, it announced yesterday as it unveiled turnover up 87% to £98.5m, reflecting the full impact of the acquisition of Ince & Co.

MPs have expressed concern that law firms, chambers and law centres may collapse because of the impact of Covid-19, and that lawyers from BAME and state-school backgrounds will be badly hit.

TV personalities Rachel Riley and Tracy-Ann Oberman have withdrawn their defamation claim against a London barrister who retweeted an article about them.

Solicitors are generally bullish about the future, despite nearly one in four believing Covid-19 will harm their clients’ prospects and many predicting lower demand for legal services.

An MP has urged select committees to investigate the role of law firms – and in particular Herbert Smith Freehills – in helping client companies accused of wrongdoing set up compensation schemes.