News

---

The SSB Group scandal – which has seen former clients pursued for costs of claims when they thought they had ATE insurance – has now extended to another collapsed firm, Pure Legal.

The Law Society has expressed its disappointment at the prospect of a special general meeting, after the required 100 signatures were gathered in less than 24 hours.

It is wrong that no law firms have been prosecuted for criminal breaches of anti-money laundering rules “despite the mountains of evidence”, the shadow foreign secretary has said.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority spent £20m closing down a record number of law firms last year, according to new figures.

Pressure is growing on the Law Society over the TA6 and TA7 conveyancing forms, with a property lawyers group set to bring a motion of no confidence in its leadership.

A barrister who sent “grossly offensive” private Instagram messages to his former partner following the breakdown of a “toxic” relationship has been reprimanded by a Bar disciplinary tribunal.

An employment solicitor who failed to correctly name his law firm when bringing a claim against it for unfair dismissal has been ordered to pay £3,000 in costs.

A prosecuting barrister suspended for “unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature” towards a “very vulnerable” female defendant acted intentionally rather than recklessly, a tribunal has ruled.

The reasonable costs of a £25m class action settlement are “probably well in excess of £10m” but the lawyers and funder will only receive that if many of those entitled to damages do not claim them.

CILEX switching regulator to the Solicitors Regulation Authority may be a good idea but both have failed to provide the evidence to prove it, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has said.