Legal Aid Agency subject to cyber incident
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has confirmed it has been the victim of a cyber attack but has said it could not confirm what, if any, information had been compromised. It has acknowledged it was ‘possible’ payment information relating to legal aid providers may have been accessed. First reported on Sky News, the LAA has […]
Victims and Courts Bill introduced into Parliament
The newly introduced Victims and Courts Bill will ‘help victims get the justice they deserve’ say the government introducing a string of new measures including an express statutory power for judges to order offenders to attend their sentencing hearings and restricting parental responsibility for child sex offenders. The headline element of the bill, introduced into […]
New judicial protocol launched for cross-border cases where clients lack capacity
Greater cross-border collaboration and communication in cases involving adults who lack capacity has been formalised between the relevant judiciary with the publishing of a new protocol. Signed representatives from Scotland (Paul Cullen The Rt Hon Lord Pentland, Lord President of the Court of Session), England and Wales (Rt Hon Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the […]
Knights surpasses £200m revenue and strengthens South East presence with Birkett Long acquisition
Knights has announced the acquisition of Essex-based law firm Birkett Long, for an initial £10 million. The deal will bring around 90 lawyers and 10 financial advisers to Knights, who will join an existing team of 1,250 in 28 locations. The acquisition, which the firm says will increase revenues to more than £200 million, comes […]
Changes to AML guidance ratified by Treasury
Changes to anti-money laundering guidance submitted to HM Treasury have been formally ratified and published in the latest Legal Sector Affinity Group (LSAG) Anti-Money Laundering Guidance for the Legal Sector 2025. LSAG, which is made up of the AML regulators in the UK including the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and […]
Rapist who posed as professional photographer has sentence increased
Anthony Williams (40), from Gloucester, has had his eight-year sentence increased to 12 years by the Court of Appeal after the Solicitor General referred his case under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme. The court heard that Williams pretended to be a professional photographer, approaching women online and luring them to his makeshift studio at […]