Knights has announced the acquisition of one of the North East’s longest standing law firms for just over £5m, expanding their operations and adding a 17th location across the country. Archers Law LLP is a
Reform of Family court reporting could see greater transparency of proceedings, a notoriously opaque and confusing system according to Sir Andrew McFarlane following the release of a review into transparency in the justice system. The
New data from recent reports suggests that despite increased warnings to businesses and individuals to review cyber security measures, phishing scams and nuisance attacks are on the rise. A report released by the UK’s Information
With surrogacy statistics now showing that Parental Orders have increased four-fold in the last ten years in England and Wales, it is an encouraging sign that England and Wales are beginning to identify itself as
Thomas Sismey v Marissa Salandron This case is the first which sees section 11 of the Inheritance Act 1975 being litigated to trial, providing significant consequences for both estate, family and insolvency law. Imogen Halstead,
Changes to the money laundering regulations should focus on increasing the effectiveness of efforts to tackle money laundering through a more risk-based and proportionate approach, said the Law Society of England and Wales in response
Rishi Sunak launched his latest budget with a stirring defence of current policy, claiming that jobs growth, economic recovery and wage rises pointed to the success of the investment the government in making as part
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published its 2021-22 business plan, outlining its key areas of work for the coming year. Publication follows a consultation exercise earlier this year which saw more than 8,000 people
Family justice group Resolution today revealed the winners of the Resolution Awards 2021 during the final day of its Family Practice Conference. Alongside the already established John Cornwell Award, the inaugural Resolution Awards saw three
New figures reported by the BBC show a significant increase in the numbers of dropped domestic abuse cases due to expired time-limits. Data shows that almost 13,000 cases were dropped in England and Wales over
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has concluded that legal unbundling services should be promoted more proactively in a bid to reduce scepticism and encourage more firms to offer the service. Defined as “the separation of
Twenty-eight divorce petitions filed by the same company have been dismissed by a family court judge after they were deemed to be identical to each other. The petitions were dismissed by Mr Justice Moor in
Cafcass figures for September show a slow in total case demand although open active children’s cases remain high. In September’s Cafcass report, total year-to-date figures reveal a decrease of 3.5% in new case demand compared
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued new guidance to companies operating a remote or hybrid working model asking them to provide evidence that any lack of centralised location or remote working does not or
A review completed by the Solicitors Regulations Authority into law firm anti-money laundering failures has identified a 40% increase in the number of potential AML breaches reported to the SRA, with the number one area
The Government is investing in a £40 million initiative to cut carbon emissions of courts across England and Wales. The investment will see a range of new measures designed to improve the sustainability of HM
At the Jersey Family Law Conference last week president of the Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane revealed the extent of the success of the mediation voucher scheme launched in March 2021. The vouchers were introduced
The digitisation of HMCTS, a £1bn programme of reform, is being supported by a new national service following an extensive pilot and tender process. Beginning in October, a £10m investment will see We are Digital
In a national survey of full or part-time employed people 9 in 10 workers (92%), who now increasingly divide their time between home and the office, would be willing to commute further to buy or
The news that all children aged 12 to 15 in the UK will be offered one dose of a Covid vaccine will come as a relief to some parents and children alike. But for separated
Winckworth Sherwood, the leading full-service UK law firm, today announces that Sarah Ingram has joined the Family practice as Partner. Sarah brings with her invaluable experience, having worked on many cutting-edge family law cases over
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) today announced that more than a thousand people have signed up to take the first ever Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) assessment in November. The new single rigorous examination means that
Solicitors are calling for more “pet-nup” clauses following surge in post-pandemic pet disputes. An estimated 3.2 million UK households have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers’
On 6th September, the Government announced an overhaul of the UK’s fertility laws, with plans to extend the storage limit for gametes (sperm and eggs) and embryos from 10 to 55 years for everyone. This
Resolution has announced the shortlist for the inaugural Resolution Awards which will celebrate the achievements of professionals who have supported families and children during a global pandemic. This year sees three new award categories join
One of the Midlands leading independent law firms has appointed a new CEO to help it capitalise on a record year of performance. Talbots Law, which employs more than 280 people across its six offices
Official family court statistics for April to June 2021 published on 30 September show there were an estimated 66,357 new family law cases – up 14 per cent compared to the same period in 2020.
A landmark survey into the experiences of LGBT+ lawyers and LGBT+ equality in the profession conducted by the Law Society of England and Wales has identified significant progress, but more is needed. “In the last
Solicitors in England and Wales will celebrate Black History Month by embracing the ‘Proud to Be’ theme, which encourages Black people to celebrate and share the pride they have in their heritage and culture. Law
The British Wills and Probate Awards sponsored by Executor Solutions returns on 21st October 2021. Today’s Family Lawyer invites its readers to share the details with colleagues to get involved in celebrating the achievements of
Cybercriminals are becoming more aggressive, a recent report reveals. The report shows that cybercrime gangs are using even more sophisticated ransomware to extort millions from firms across the UK. The average ransomware demand has also
Employers in the legal sector have been provided with guidance by the Law Society and Cardiff University, outlining the reasonable adjustments firms and organisations could make to help them recruit and employ disabled staff. It
In June 2021, the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary published its review of policing domestic abuse during the pandemic. While the review stated the UK had not suffered an increase in reports of domestic violence that
Children law in your hands When is the last time you picked up a text book? In this digital homeworking age, so much of our research and reading is now through a screen, but this
Chief executive of the Law Society of England and Wales Paul Tennant will be leaving the organisation at the end of the year. He will join the Abbeyfield Family and take up a new role
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has won a further grant from the latest round of Regulators Pioneer Fund (RPF) to help connect those using new legal technologies with those who need their services. The award