‘Dear Sirs’ outdated and obsolete say the Law Society in updated guidance
The campaign to eradicate the use of “Dear Sirs” in legal correspondence is celebrating after the Law Society updated it’s guidance on the ‘outdated and obsolete practice’ and instead recommended solicitors use language which is more ‘representative and appropriate in today’s diverse society.’ In updated guidance published in the last few days the Law Society […]
Law Society appoints 181st president
The Law Society has inaugurated Mark Evans as the 181st president with Brett Dixon, vice president and Dana Denis-Smith, deputy vice president. Evans has spent the last 12 months as vice-president to incumbent Richard Atkinson. A proud Welshman, Evans is the third Law Society president to come from Wales and through his tenure said he […]
Consultancy model firm Setfords is fastest-growing entry in The Lawyer UK Top 100
National law firm Setfords, which supports over 650 lawyers in a platform-based consultancy model, has jumped 19 places to 76th in The Lawyer UK Top 100, making it the fastest-growing law firm in the rankings. Established in 2006 and headquartered in Guildford, Surrey, Setfords was the first full-service national law firm to launch a consultancy […]
Steele Raymond marks 21 years as Top Tier firm in The Legal 500 rankings
South coast law firm Steele Raymond has been ranked Top Tier in The Legal 500 rankings for the 21st consecutive year, as it continues to expand across the region. The 2026 guide recognises eight Steele Raymond practice areas, with commercial litigation, commercial property, residential development, and corporate & commercial all ranked Top Tier. Four teams […]
Sarah Sackman KC MP and Judge Fiona Monk to speak at CILEX Conference
CILEX have confirmed the speaking line up for their annual conference taking place on Thursday 13 November in Birmingham. FutureLegal 2025 takes place at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre, and brings together the CILEX membership community, including paralegals, Chartered Legal Executives, CILEX Lawyers and legal professionals from across the sector for a day of ‘insight, […]
High-profile line-up will discuss the role of legal technology at Legal Geek conference
Headline speakers including Sir Geoffrey Vos, the head of civil justice for England and Wales, Sarah Sackman KC, the minister of state for courts and legal services, and the former prime minister of Denmark Helle Thorning-Schmidt will join 4,500 leaders from the legal sector, business world and academia at the Legal Geek conference later this […]
TIC appoints new director to leadership team
The Intermediary Cooperative (TIC) has announced the appointment of Rachel Cohen as a new director to its leadership team. Cohen was one of the founders of TIC and served as a director for the first 18 months before stepping down to focus more on her case work. She re-joins the leadership team alongside Chair Paula […]
Fisher Jones Greenwood retains top Legal 500 ranking for 12th consecutive year
The family law team at south-east law firm Fisher Jones Greenwood (FJG) have retained their first tier status in the Legal 500 rankings for the 12th consecutive year. Led by Charlotte Knappett, the family team are one of seven divisions at FJG to be recognised by the benchmarking guide for its 2026 rankings. Commercial litigation […]
Coodes acquires local rival to ‘strengthen presence across Cornwall and Devon’
One of the UK’s longest established law firms has acquired a local rival in a move which ‘strengthens its presence across Cornwall and Devon’ after Coodes Solicitors acquired Christopher Key Solicitors. Coodes can trace its roots back to 1747 and currently operates from eight offices in Cornwall and Devon with 180 staff. The acquisition of […]
Courts continuing to fail children as timelines remain unmet
The latest Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures show children continue to be ‘trapped’ by the courts system, with decision times on public law cases still in excess of the 26 week time limit. There were 7,123 children involved in new public law cases from April to June 2025 according to figure published in the last […]
Ward Hadaway expands with 39 new hires across UK
Ward Hadaway has appointed 39 legal specialists across its Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle offices, as part of the Top 100 law firm’s long-term strategy to increase its market share and extend its client base. The new hires include partners, directors, managing associates, associates, solicitors and paralegals across a range of departments. In Birmingham, nine […]
Knights’ launches family team in Leeds as group revenues rise to £162 million
Legal and professional services business Knights has announced it has launched a dedicated family law team in its Leeds office with the appointment of Senior Associate Ella Dodgson and Associate Rebecca Laffan. Dodgson joins from Ward Hadaway where she specialised in complex financial settlements on divorce, including high-value and intricate asset division. She also advises on […]
Resolution recognises members through 2025 awards
Family justice body Resolution has announced the winners of its 2025 awards programme, hosted at Church House, Westminster on Thursday 18th September. The body, which represents more than 6,500 professionals, celebrated its annual awards which recognise innovation, impact and a shared commitment to the Code of Practice. Joanna Gosling, Resolution member, mediator and broadcaster hosted […]
Appointments and promotions; family lawyers on the move
Family law firms across the country have announced a raft of appointments with newly qualified solicitors choosing to remain after the training contracts and partner promotions. Guildford-based TWM Solicitors has confirmed that six second-year trainees have successfully completed their training contracts, with five choosing to remain at the firm as newly qualified solicitors. Among them […]
National Paralegal Awards recognises work of paralegals up and down the country
In its seventh year, the National Paralegal Awards recognised the work of paralegals up and down the country at a ceremony hosted at the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham last week. Sophie Wells, childcare law paralegal at Reading Borough Council took home this year’s Paralegal of the Year award and alternative legal services provider Pinsent Masons […]
Sarah Sackman MP to deliver keynote address at Family Mediation Council 10-year anniversary conference
Family Justice Minister Sarah Sackman KC MP will deliver the keynote speech when the Family Mediation Council holds its 10-year anniversary conference in London later this week. Over 200 delegates and speakers will attend the one-day event, at The Minster Building on Friday 26 September, marking a decade since the incorporation of the Family Mediation […]
Former partners set up boutique practice under consultant banner
Two former law firm partners have joined forces to launch their own family practice under the umbrella of the Excello Law consultant banner. G&G Law is a boutique family firm based in London’s Holborn, founded by former partner at Grayfords Legal 500 ‘leading partner’ Neil Graham, and Natasha Grande former Partner and Head of the […]
Flint Bishop acquires Yorkshire firm Lupton Fawcett LLP and sets sights on UK Top 100
Yorkshire firm Lupton Fawcett, which has had a presence in the county since 1895, has been acquired by Flint Bishop as part of the latter’s ‘ambitious growth strategy’. The transaction, due to complete at the end of September, will see Flint Bishop acquire the business and assets of the Yorkshire-based firm, enhancing its capabilities across […]
New Legal Aid portal nearly ready
The new Legal Aid portal, which will replace the previous portal which was hacked by cyber attackers earlier this year, will see a three-phase restoration starting from ‘early September’ though to October. Responding to a Parliamentary written question Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services Sarah Sackman said she expected services to be restored […]
Family court denies permission to relocate child to Dubai, citing their holistic welfare
A family court has denied permission for a mother to relocate her child to Dubai, citing child’s welfare and the importance of maintaining his relationship with his father. His Honour Judge Willans made the ruling in the case SA v JR [2025] EWFC 279 (B) at the West London Family Court; a dispute between separated […]