Market monitor
Slater & Gordon launches “revolutionary” digital legal services offering
Slater & Gordon has launched ‘miplatform’, what it says is a ‘first of its kind’ digital legal service that enables clients to progress their matters with little or no direct contact with a lawyer.
Consolidator and investor target IPs handling distressed law firms
An acquisitive North-West law firm and a private equity investor have joined forces to offer a service for insolvency practitioners looking to sell distressed consumer practices.
Consumers willing to use lawyer anywhere in country, research finds
The proportion of consumers going on review websites to help find their lawyer has hit double figures, while a majority would use a firm anywhere in the country, research has found.
DWF shares return to pre-Covid levels on back of profits and bolt-ons
Shares in DWF jumped 12% to their pre-Covid level after the only law firm listed on the main London Stock Exchange revealed a strong performance in the last financial year.
NAHL to exit conveyancing as it targets PI law firm growth
NAHL plc is set to sell its residential conveyancing business as it looks to focus on growing its personal injury law firm in the wake of a difficult Covid-affected year for the business.
“Startling” – SME firms saw profits per partner rise during lockdown
A 6% increase in profits per partner recorded by small and medium-sized law firms in the first six months of the pandemic was a “startling outcome”, according to a report.
Exclusive: Pioneering legal services advice app shut down
An American company that sought to bring subscription-based legal services to the mainstream consumer market in the UK has shuttered its operation after less than two years.
Five-star Trustpilot reviews becoming “hygiene factor” not differentiator
More than eight in every 10 reviews on Trustpilot award law firms five stars, making them increasingly a “hygiene factor” rather than a differentiator, new research has indicated.
Leading PI firm recruits as it diversifies into business energy claims
Private equity-backed Winn Solicitors is ramping up its operation to handle mis-sold business energy contracts as it bids to diversify from its core personal injury business.
Remote negotiations “speeding up law firm mergers”
Remote communication during Covid has sped up law firm mergers, rather than acting as a hindrance, according to the chairman of the Association of Law Firm Merger Advisers.
App launches with huge range of legal help to consumers and SMEs
An app for SMEs to diagnose and get guidance on their legal problems has now launched a consumer version that helps users find and book a lawyer, and is integrated with government services.
Oxford firm embraces employee ownership in response to Covid
A 40-strong law firm based in Oxford has become the latest to embrace employee ownership, with the firm’s managing director saying she was inspired to act by how staff rallied during Covid.
Jail for conman who cloned CMC and sold fake PI claims to law firm
A man has been jailed for orchestrating fraudulent motor insurance claims and cloning a claims management company to pass them to a firm of solicitors in return for referral fees.
Smaller firms reducing office space as recovery gathers pace
A quarter of small and mid-sized law firms have either downsized their office space this year or expect to shortly, according to Law Society research which also found growing confidence in the market.
Boss of listed law firm cashes in nearly £10m worth of shares
James Knight, chief executive of Keystone Law, has become the latest boss of a listed law firm to cash in a substantial number of their shares, generating £9.45m.