Market monitor
Listed group eyes PI acquisitions as lawyer directors cash out
Anexo Group plc – the listed business which combines legal services with credit hire – has raised £7.5m with a view to acquisitions, while two of its lawyer directors have sold shares for £3.2m.
Virtual legal business launches US subsidiary
A virtual law business that uniquely combines regulated and unregulated legal practices, with lawyers in the UK and across the world, has launched a subsidiary in the USA.
Shock change at the top of listed law firm DWF
The man who steered DWF onto the public markets as the first law firm to be listed on the main London Stock Exchange has suddenly stepped down in the face of the firm’s Covid-19 difficulties.
Gina Miller takes on new campaign: wills reform
Businesswoman Gina Miller has turned to the “outdated” wills legislation in her latest campaign, calling for emergency measures to help people make wills during the Covid-19 crisis.
Firms “avoiding radical staff measures” during crisis
Most law firms have continued to resist radical measures to cope with the Covid-19 crisis, taking “moderate steps in the short term to ensure resilience in the long term”, new research has found.
Crisis gives firms “platform to accelerate change”
The coronavirus crisis has given law firms a “platform to accelerate change” in promoting equality, the chief operating officer of Bristol-based law firm Burges Salmon has said.
Gateley redeploys staff to “busy” counter-cyclical areas
AIM-listed law firm Gateley has moved underemployed staff to support counter-cyclical services that are “extremely busy”, it reassured investors yesterday.
Conveyancers lobby for furloughing flexibility
Conveyancers and other property stakeholders have called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to allow them to move staff in and out of furlough on a weekly basis as the home-moving market recovers.
Signs of market “stabilising” but listed firms cut dividends
There are “early signs” that the market is stabilising after the initial impact of lockdown saw instructions fall 20%, listed firm Knights has said. But it will not pay a dividend, while Rosenblatt has cut its payout.
ODR and sandbox at heart of major lawtech push
An online dispute resolution platform for SMEs and a ‘lawtech sandbox’ were unveiled today as cornerstones of a concerted push to develop digital legal services in the UK.
Consumer law firm nets big acquisition and investment
Fast-growing consumer law firm Taylor Rose TTKW has more than doubled in size after taking over private equity-backed McMillan Williams – and has taken investment of its own, we can reveal.
Listed firms make lawyers multi-millionaires – on paper
The solicitor boss of listed law firm Knights entered the Sunday Times Rich List at the weekend, and our calculations show that lawyers at other listed firms are also worth many millions – on paper at least.
Barrister in libel battle with TV personalities
Comments about TV stars Rachel Riley and Tracy-Ann Oberman made in an article retweeted by a London barrister were defamatory, the High Court has ruled in a preliminary hearing.
Company “no longer a suspect” in SFO Quindell probe
The AIM-listed company formerly known as Quindell is no longer a suspect in the Serious Fraud Office’s investigation of what happened before the sale of its legal arm to Slater & Gordon.
City firm aims to help companies “repurpose”
City firm Mishcon de Reya has launched an advisory service for companies wanting to build “more sustainable and resilient” businesses as they emerge from the coronavirus crisis.