SRA: “Significant Progress” On Post Office Disciplinary Action
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) announced significant progress in its investigation of the Post Office scandal, with more than 20 live investigations into solicitors and law firms linked to the case. While the regulator expects faster action on issues arising after the Horizon scandal, it is holding off disciplinary measures until the public inquiry’s final report to avoid undermining the process. The SRA is coordinating with the Bar Standards Board, Metropolitan Police and other bodies, and anticipates quicker enforcement for post‑scandal matters not tied to criminal proceedings.
Hand Arendall Harrison Sale Transforms Document Workflows and Sees Immediate ROI with Litera’s AI-Powered Drafting and Compare
Litera announced that Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, an 85‑lawyer southeastern firm, has deployed Litera One across Microsoft 365, iManage and mobile platforms. The AI‑powered drafting and compare solution eliminated document‑comparison friction, resulting in zero user complaints and only one help‑desk call...
ARAG Partners with The Purpose Coalition to Launch National Campaign on Widening Access to Justice
ARAG has teamed with The Purpose Coalition to launch the "Insuring Justice" campaign, positioning legal insurance as a core component of the UK’s social infrastructure. The initiative highlights how early legal protection can prevent disputes from escalating, safeguard financial stability,...
SRA Issues Warning over ‘No Win, No Fee’ Arrangements: What Law Firms Need to Know
The Solicitors Regulation Authority issued a Warning Notice in January 2026 targeting the use of ‘no win, no fee’ arrangements. The notice stems from a thematic review that flagged opaque fee structures, conflicts of interest, and risky third‑party referrals. It...
PE-Backed Group Finding Firms Propped up by Client Account Interest
Adeptio Law Group, backed by Horizon Capital, is pursuing a £100‑120 million turnover and £20 million EBITDA target but has yet to close a major acquisition. The firm discovered that client account interest can represent anywhere from 10‑15% to 90% of a...
Suspended Sentence for Online Harassment of Solicitors
A High Court judge sentenced Sophie Fleming, the partner of the late solicitor Brendan Fleming, to two suspended custodial terms for repeatedly breaching anti‑harassment injunctions. The injunctions had been issued to protect the executors and interim administrators of Fleming’s £8 million...
How Osprey Approach Is Supporting Hannays Solicitors’ Long-Term Compliance and Operational Confidence
Hannays Solicitors has relied on Osprey Approach’s cloud‑based practice and case‑management platform since 2009, citing enhanced data security and operational resilience. The software delivers 100 % accurate accounts, enabling the firm to pass every SRA audit without issue. Recent upgrades add...
From AI Ambition to Operational Reality
The OneAdvanced Legal Trends Report shows AI has become central to law firms, yet a stark gap exists between ambition and execution. Over 60% of firms face a software integration crisis and two‑thirds remain stuck in ‘automation purgatory.’ While senior...
SDT Faces £700k Costs Battle with Carter-Ruck Partner
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) ruled that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) must pay up to £700,000 in costs after its prosecution of Carter‑Ruck partner Claire Gill was summarily dismissed. The tribunal cited prolonged delays, shifting allegations and legal inaccuracies...
Claimant Funded by Solicitor Boyfriend “Cannot Claim Impecuniosity”
The Court of Appeal dismissed Ellen Kay’s attempt to rely on impecuniosity to extend the limitation period for her negligence claim against former law firm Martineau Johnson. Despite receiving substantial financial support from her solicitor boyfriend, the judges found she...
Using Legal Choices “Improves Understanding”
Research by Mustard for the Legal Choices portal shows that 29 of 40 participants reported increased knowledge of their legal issue after using the site. Half of the users felt more confident, and 15 said the experience influenced their next...
Why Data Integrity Is the Cornerstone of Faster, Safer Property Transactions
Data integrity remains a critical bottleneck in residential conveyancing, with 43% of transactions requiring extra enquiries due to incomplete or inaccurate information. Conveyancers report spending 41% of their workday chasing updates, directly eroding productivity and client confidence. Adoption of automation...
It’s Time for Law Firms to Own AML
Law firms are facing mounting anti‑money‑laundering (AML) obligations as regulators view them as the weakest link in the compliance chain. Criminals increasingly exploit legal transactions, from onboarding to conveyancing, to mask illicit funds. The article argues that relying on banks’...
Taylor Rose First to Hit Landmark of 1,000 Consultant Solicitors
Taylor Rose became the first law firm to exceed 1,000 consultant solicitors, with AIIC reporting 1,009 fee‑earner consultants and 600 employed staff at the end of 2025. The hybrid model drove a 25 % increase in turnover and a 60 % rise...
Women Lawyers “Still Not Talking to Each Other”
Women lawyers are exiting firms at the senior associate level because they feel isolated and lack open peer communication, according to coach and former solicitor Mandy Rees. Rees founded the Next Generation Women in Law network to create confidential spaces...
“Participation More Important than Stars” In Law Firm LinkedIn Posting
Law firms that encourage broad LinkedIn participation outperform those relying on a few star accounts, according to TBD Marketing’s first social media barometer. The study measured firm, influencer, social army, and leadership scores, finding that firms like Hogan Lovells and Ashurst...
Why so Many Firms Lose Momentum with Copilot, and What Leaders Can Do to Get Things Moving Again
UK law firms have embraced Microsoft 365 Copilot, purchasing licences and running pilots, but usage has plateaued as enthusiasm wanes. The stall stems from a lack of governance, role‑specific training, and confusion between the free Copilot Chat and the full Copilot...
Craig Matthews, LEAP CEO: LegalEx London Shows How AI, Used Properly, Can Unlock Real Efficiency for Law Firms
At LegalEx London, LEAP CEO Craig Matthews emphasized that AI must be integrated, governed, and purpose‑built to deliver real efficiency for law firms. He warned that firms face daily pressures around productivity, risk, cybersecurity, and burnout, and that AI can...
Bundledocs Unveils Bundledocs Review Collaboration Platform
Bundledocs announced Bundledocs Review, a real‑time collaboration layer built into its cloud‑based document bundling platform for legal teams. The new solution adds secure shared workspaces, granular permission controls, live commenting, annotation and a full audit trail, eliminating the need for...
The New Leaders of Law
The UK legal market is undergoing a structural transformation driven by digital‑savvy leadership and new ownership models. Millennial and Gen Z lawyers now expect digital fluency as a baseline, prompting firms to appoint CEOs, COOs and CIOs who prioritize scalability, compliance...
Only 3% of Compliance Professionals Say Their Organisation Is Fully Prepared for AI Regulation
A VinciWorks survey of 230 compliance, legal and IT professionals reveals that only 3.5% of organisations feel fully prepared for the emerging AI regulatory regime. More than three‑quarters lack effective AI‑specific training, and 63% cannot describe their current preparedness. GDPR...
The UK’s Global Leadership in Lawtech Is at Risk if Women Are Left Behind
Professor Mimi Zou warns that the United Kingdom’s rapid lawtech expansion could stall if women remain under‑represented. The sector has grown more than 90% since 2020, driven by AI tools like ChatGPT and large‑language‑model platforms such as Harvey. Yet only...
World-Class Cybersecurity for UK Law Firms and Why It’s More Important than Ever
UK law firms are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, with 60% of attacks now stemming from credential compromise. Legacy on‑premise systems and fragmented security tools leave firms vulnerable, while modern SaaS platforms like OneAdvanced offer continuous patching, real‑time monitoring, and built‑in...
Are You Taking Source of Funds Seriously?
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s 2024‑25 AML report flagged source‑of‑funds checks as a persistent weakness, noting that 10% of reviewed files lacked any verification. Firms risk hefty fines, criminal prosecution, and reputational harm if they fail to match client funds with...
Training of Lawyers “Not Good Enough”, MPs Told
Leading legal academic Dr Liz Curran told the Justice Select Committee that lawyer training in England and Wales, both at law schools and through continuing professional development, is inadequate. She urged regulators to adopt an Australian‑style CPD framework that includes...
Public Sector and Probate Drive 7% Rise in High Court Claims
High Court claims rose 7% in 2025, reaching 8,271 filings, driven primarily by a 34% surge in public‑sector disputes and a 13% increase in probate matters. Public‑sector litigation grew across central government, local authorities and regulators, while probate claims reflected...
Lammy Backs LawtechUK for Next Three Years as He Sets Out AI Vision
Lord Chancellor David Lammy announced £4.5 million in funding for LawtechUK over the next three years, extending the programme’s total investment to £12 million since 2019. He outlined an AI‑focused vision for the courts, including a pilot AI listing assistant (J‑AI) for...
Why More Council Tenants Are Taking Legal Action over Dangerous Living Conditions
Over the last three years, legal actions by council tenants over unsafe or deteriorating homes have surged dramatically, driven by chronic under‑investment and mounting repair backlogs. High‑profile cases such as the death of Awaab Ishak have spurred new statutory duties,...
Financial & Legal
Financial & Legal, a UK‑based insurer founded in 1995, provides in‑house underwritten After the Event (ATE) and Before the Event (BTE) insurance alongside assistance and ancillary cover. The firm is regulated by the PRA and FCA, fully Solvency II compliant, and...
Solicitor Faces Probe After Putting Client Documents Into ChatGPT
The Upper Tribunal warned lawyers after a solicitor uploaded client emails and Home Office decision letters to ChatGPT, breaching confidentiality and legal privilege. Judge Fiona Lindsley highlighted a surge in fictitious case citations that waste tribunal resources and erode public...
SRA Puts Conditions on Practice of Controversial Solicitor Milne
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has placed solicitor Andrew Milne under a supervision condition after his recent stalking conviction, limiting him to practice only under an SRA‑approved supervising solicitor. Milne, who runs Andrew Milne & Co, is also under investigation...
Just 15 Minutes of Lawyer Work – AI-Driven Law Firm Targets Remortgages
Former DLA Piper UK managing partner Paul Firth is launching AI‑driven law firm LEXcelerate, promising to cut remortgage lawyer time to 15 minutes and complete transactions in nine working days. The platform automates about 90% of administrative tasks, delivering roughly...
CJC Calls for Declaration About AI Use in Drafting Witness Statements
The Civil Justice Council (CJC) has issued an interim report proposing that litigators must declare they have not used AI to generate the content of trial witness statements, while allowing AI assistance for other court documents provided the responsible lawyer’s...
Valid8 IP
Valid8 IP Ltd provides secure client‑identification and verification services to claims‑management, insolvency, CMC and legal firms. Its platform delivers multi‑bureau credit reports, AML/KYC checks and vehicle‑data lookups via a consent‑driven portal or API integration. The company is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified, PCI DSS 4...
Litigation Begins to Fly Between SRA and Axiom Ince Insurer
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is facing two lawsuits from Travelers, the professional indemnity insurer for Axiom Ince, while simultaneously filing a subrogated claim against the insurer. Travelers alleges the SRA breached its duty of care, seeking up to £3 million...
Conveyancing Regulator Kicks Off Referral Fee Review
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has launched a review of referral fees after a BBC Panorama expose on estate agents’ conditional selling practices. The regulator will analyse disclosed fee data and is considering tighter regulation of estate agents to...
City Firm Sets Out Which Types of Client It Will Not Act For
Bellevue Law, a 35‑lawyer City firm and newly certified B Corp, has introduced a Sustainable and Responsible Legal Advice pledge that bars it from representing clients in sectors deemed controversial or ineligible by B Lab. The firm also refuses work...
SRA: Client Money Missing in “Potential Fraud” At PM Law
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has launched an investigation into a potential fraud at the recently collapsed PM Law, where client money is reported missing. The firm’s complex group structure has delayed quantifying the loss, while 80 affected clients have...
Private Equity Commits to Fletchers and Backs Higgs’ First Acquisition
Sun Capital has extended its ownership of serious‑injury firm Fletchers through a continuation fund, committing another four to five years of capital. The firm’s EBITDA surged from £8 m to £38 m and case volume rose 60%, prompting a large recruitment drive...
Coroner Struck Off for Underplaying Allegations Made Against Him
Senior solicitor‑coroner Chinyere Inyama was struck off after the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found he deliberately downplayed rape and sexual assault allegations, describing them as “touching up”, to the Chief Coroner’s Office. The tribunal labeled his conduct the “most serious form...
Peers Back Widening Eligibility to Become Crown Prosecutors
On 16 February 2026 the House of Lords voted to scrap the statutory ‘general’ legal qualification for Crown prosecutors, allowing CILEX lawyers and other non‑solicitor practitioners to apply. Justice Minister Baroness Levitt described the previous rule as an unnecessary barrier...
Legal Services Board Urged to Ratchet up Focus on SRA
The Law Society has urged the Legal Services Board (LSB) to tighten oversight of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) after the collapses of Axiom Ince and SSB Group exposed regulatory gaps. It highlighted concerns about the SRA’s ability to supervise...
Legal Director: An Alternative to Partnership
SA Law introduced the legal director role in 2025 as a formal alternative to partnership, with Clare Mackay becoming its first appointee. The position provides seniority, strategic influence, and professional gravitas while avoiding the capital investment and personal risk associated...