The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s annual assessment of continuing competence has found most solicitors keep knowledge and skills up-to-date, with evidence of robust systems and controls in firms to ensure solicitors remain competent and deliver good
Hannah Livesey is a partner specialising in family law at Knights. She has over 12 years’ specialist experience in high net worth financial remedy claims, asset protection work and TOLATA claims together with Schedule 1
The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has called for widespread reforms to the children’s social care system to improve the quality of support and life-long outcomes for people in care and care leavers. Around
The latest data tracker from the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory reveals foster care (kinship and non-kinship) remains the mainstay of homes in England’s care system. Nuffield’s analysis reveals the number of approved foster carers in
Jenniffer Brunt is head of family law at Slater & Gordon. She has more than 21 years’ experience in family law, specialising in divorce and complex financial remedy cases, including those involving businesses, pensions and
Flint Bishop has relocated to a new Sheffield base as part of a wider programme of investment across its office network after record-breaking growth, with the firm surpassing a £43 million in revenue for year
The government’s long-awaited consultation on cohabitation reform has received a mixed reaction from professionals. To make sense of the proposals the Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast welcomes partner and head of family at William Sturges, Graeme
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) should ensure proposals for new reporting requirements for firms are evidence-based, proportionate and do not create unnecessary administrative burdens, particularly for smaller firms, the Law Society of England and Wales
Knights has acquired Thames Valley-based THP Solicitors in a move the firm said will enhance its capability “in one of the UK’s most economically significant growth regions”. The acquisition is the second in the area,
Hallucinations and client confidentiality are two major concerns cited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in a new Misuse of AI warning notice issued by the regulator. Acknowledging the increased use of AI across the legal
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has approved plans to separate the roles of compliance officers from senior managers and owners, in an addendum to Rule 8 of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Authorisation of Firms
Law firm consolidator Oak Legal Group has acquired Harpenden-based Perrin Myddelton out of administration. The news was shared on social media by Colm McGinley, CEO of the private equity group backing the venture. Oak Legal
Divorce and separation service amicable has announced plans to set up a regulated law firm after submitting its application to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in July. The new and separate law firm will serve
In the latest judgment in the 12-year litigation involving the divorce of Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin and his ex-wife Natalia Potanina, the court has refused to continue allowing injunctions preventing Potanin from relying on an
The Today’s Family Lawyer podcast has achieved 10,000 downloads since launching, welcoming over 70 individuals, firms and business who contribute to the success of the family law sector. Launched in 2022, the podcast has tackled
A new free search site lists every solicitor firm in England and Wales, along with legal aid data, without any paid rankings, sponsored listings or paid lead generation. LawStreet is the first in the UK
Charlotte Quain joined Blythe Liggins in June 2025 to support the firm’s thriving Family department. After qualifying in 2009 into the family law department of a national law firm in Birmingham, she has since worked
Half of separated parents say they come into conflict with their former partners as a result of trying to make plans over the summer holidays, with a quarter abandoning holiday plans altogether, according to research
A case concerning the division of over £26 million in assets after the breakdown of a relationship has highlighted the growing recognition of nuptial agreements in UK courts. Despite describing the pre-nuptial agreement as “a
A legal service that enables pet owners to name an animal guardian and sets out clear instructions for their ongoing care in the event of their death or incapacitation has been awarded £75,000 by Innovate
Domestic abuse survivor charity Refuge has criticised the government’s review of the early prison release scheme, raising concerns about risk of harm to survivors if perpetrators of domestic abuse are released as part of the
A company operating three unregistered children’s homes and its directors have become the first to be prosecuted after the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) was granted new powers to bring
Applications for a government-funded legal tech incubator launched by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) are now open, with submissions encouraged from across legal services. Legal services is the first sector to participate
A card game has been created to help firms tackle the challenge of training and maintaining understanding around source of funds. The brainchild of two compliance consultants, the game “helps fee earners and support staff
The new secretary of state for justice, Alex Norris, is being urged to strengthen family mediation and protect legal aid provision by the Family Mediation Council (FMC). In a letter from the organisation, FMC chair
A report into the differing guidance provided by regulators in the wake of the Mazur case has highlighted how “insufficient cross-regulator engagement” resulted in inconsistent interpretations of the Legal Services Act and the subsequent guidance
Safeguarding minister Natalie Fleet has stepped down from her role with immediate effect. Announcing her departure on social media, the Labour MP for Bolsover said: “Honour of lifetime to be Minister for Safeguarding. Quickly found
The Court of Appeal has ordered a retrial of a high-profile divorce dispute involving allegations of hidden wealth, non-disclosure, false evidence and contested ownership of a multi-million-pound former matrimonial home. The original decision, handed down
Newly formed private equity backed legal services firm Orwins has announced its latest acquisition, with Newcastle-based Clarke Mairs joining the group. Formed earlier this year and backed by Scottish PE firm Aliter Capital, Orwins was
A Justice Committee report has called for urgent government intervention into legal aid to increase fees and enable better access to justice. Access to Justice: Legal Aid calls for the findings of 2022’s Legal Aid
Research published by the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) shows while there are now more children’s homes than ever before, homes are getting smaller, are often not in the right
A petition to change surrogacy law to recognise intended parents from birth will be debated in parliament after hitting the threshold for signatures. The petition, which calls for families who have children via a surrogate
Private equity house CKM3 has invested in Oxford-based Hedges Law through a new legal services vehicle, Oak Legal Group, it has announced. Oak Legal Group formally launches as a “deliberate step to build something fundamentally
A West Midlands firm has introduced a fixed-fee pathway for fathers navigating child arrangements on separation or divorce. The service from Higgs LLP brings together legal advice, mediation and, where needed, access to specialist representation
Following the accession of Andy Burnham to Labour leader, the Law Society of England and Wales has called on the new prime minister to work with the legal sector to support growth across the country.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has signalled it will shift a greater proportion of contributions to the Compensation Fund on to individual solicitors following its consultation on the 2026/27 business plan. Where currently 50% of