AIIC posts record revenues and profits
The parent company of legal brands Taylor Rose, FDR Law and Kingsley Wood has reported record profits of nearly £10 million; a 118% increase on the previous financial year. AIIC Group’s latest results report an annual revenue increase of 27%, up to £124 million from £97.3 million and adjusted EBITDA of £12.2 million, up from […]
Judicial Appointments Commission seeks candidates for Recorder roles
The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is encouraging solicitors, barristers and Fellows of CILEX in England and Wales to apply for 128 Recorder roles, with vacancies across all jurisdictions. Recorders deal with cases within a mid-range of complexity and legal difficulty across the criminal, family and civil jurisdictions. Applicants should have at least seven years of […]
Survey finds strong demand for cohabiting rights, as requests for legal agreements rise 50%
YouGov data commissioned by Forsters reveals strong demand for rights for cohabiting couples and confusion over current legal protections. The data supports the London firm’s own evidence of a 50% increase in cohabitation agreement requests, which it says reflects rising concerns over legal gaps. The YouGov poll of 2,108 UK adults found that almost two […]
Freelance journalist wins reporting restrictions challenge in family proceedings
A High Court judge has agreed to release redacted documents from family proceedings to a journalist from The Observer despite some of the material containing information which could only be considered in closed court for reasons of national security. The journalist may also publish the fact that one of appellants is a serving member of […]
Victims and Courts Bill becomes law
The Victims and Courts Bill has received Royal Assent and has passed into law. The new legislation will restrict the exercise of parental responsibility by offenders sentenced for serious child sexual abuse, and where a rape has resulted in the birth of a child. It will also ensure that victims are not prevented from speaking out […]
Promotions, partners, collaborations and expansions at family law firms
Firms of family law solicitors and barristers’ chambers across the country are collaborating and expanding their services. Duncan Lewis Solicitors has promoted four lawyers to director positions within its Family and Child Care teams, which the firm says reinforces its continued investment in internal talent. Kohitoor Alam (main picture, far left) is now director, Family […]
Surveys reveal impact of ‘financially complex’ divorce trends
Surveys released this week by legal firms reveal the financial complexities of divorce across the UK and the ongoing emotional implications caused by financial pressures. Data from Stowe Family Law has identified a regional pattern in UK divorces, with eight out of 10 of the most financially complex cases taking place in southern England. And, […]
High Court to rule on property dispute between mother and son
A £2 million dispute over family property will be decided by the High Court if the parties cannot reach a settlement, after a judge refused a mother’s application to freeze the assets of her son and daughter-in-law. Moya Montgomorie applied for a freezing order to prevent her son Jason Minns (pictured) from selling her home, […]
SRA must ‘regain the trust’ of the profession and get back to the basics of regulation says new CEO
New Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) chief executive Sarah Rapson says the organisation needs to “regain the trust of solicitors, law firms and the wider public”. In a statement published on the SRA website, Rapson said the message is clear from the profession that the regulator is not getting the “basics of good regulation right” and […]
Ipswich firm is subject of latest SRA intervention – but no reasons provided
Ross Coates Solicitors in Ipswich is the latest law firm subjected to an intervention by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, following regulatory action this week. No details for the closure have been provided by the SRA to date, other than to say it was necessary to intervene to protect client interests. Proprietor Ross Coates is also […]
MoJ data reveals steep rise in private law applications
Analysis from the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory has revealed a steep rise in private law applications, with current levels last seen in 2020. But Nuffield FJO researcher Dr Caitlin Shaughnessy, reporting on the latest data from the Ministry of Justice, says the increasing number does not appear to have had an impact on the duration […]
Free LawCare webinar will share tips on handling difficult conversations
LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector, is hosting a free webinar exploring how to handle difficult conversations with colleagues, managers, teams and clients. Held on 14th May as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, the panel of legal professionals will explore practical ways to approach difficult conversations at work with confidence. Topics […]
Independent survey launched to understand ambitions and challenges of Welsh legal market
A new study aiming to provide the most comprehensive and authoritative insight into the Welsh legal market has opened for anonymous contributions by legal professionals in Wales. The study is being conducted by Legal News Wales in partnership with legal software provider Osprey Approach. The Welsh Legal Sector Transformation Report 2026 will gather input from […]
‘Outdated’ costs to be reviewed as Civil Justice Council launches consultation
“Outdated” solicitors costs and options for reform are to be examined by the Civil Justice Council (CJC). Announcing the launch of the consultation, the CJC acknowledged comments made by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, in the Court of Appeal’s decision in Belsner v. CAM Legal Services Ltd in 2022. In the written judgment, […]
Research highlights risk of homelessness as a result of cohabitee relationship breakdown
Homelessness as a result of cohabiting relationships breaking down is on the rise, according to a review of local authority applications where ‘relationship breakdown’ was recorded as a primary cause. The latest statistics published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest there are 3.5 million cohabiting-couple families in 2025 (17.6% of all families); an […]
Shortcomings in continuing competence prompt CPD consultation from SRA
Shortcomings in the continuing competence training regime have prompted the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to undertake a consultation into the future of ensuring solicitors complete regular and relevant training. SRA-regulated solicitors are required to maintain competence and professional knowledge as part of their obligations under the Code of Conduct for Solicitors. The ‘continuing competence’ regime […]
The Solicitors’ Charity partner calls for more action on wellbeing
The Solicitors’ Charity partner Lawsight is supporting the call for more tangible action on wellbeing in the law ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week in May. Lawsight is recommending practical steps that can be implemented to help protect people’s wellbeing at work. Satpal Kaur-Thompson, co-founder of Lawsight (pictured left) said: “The impact isn’t just personal. […]
Assisted dying bill stalls in House of Lords but supporters hopeful of imminent return
Efforts to introduce assisted dying in England and Wales have run out of time after the bill stalled in the House of Lords – with supporters accusing peers of holding up the legislation. Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Kim Leadbetter, who had launched the private members bill and championed its progress through Parliament […]
Potanina v Potanin to go ahead in UK court, with final hearing ordered for November
A Russian oligarch can’t continue to block a court battle that could result in one of the biggest divorce settlements in history, the Family Court has ruled. Vladimir Potanin had sought to delay ex-wife Natalia Potanina’s Part III claim for nearly £5 billion pending the outcome of proceedings in Russia, which would bar his ex-wife […]
Taylor Rose fined £160,000 by SRA
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has fined Taylor Rose more than £160,000 for compliance failures including failing to return client money promptly. The SRA directed the firm to pay a financial penalty of £160,059 and ordered to pay costs of £1,350. The regulator said it had fined the firm for failing to have effective systems […]