Environment Agency announces shale gas consultation
The Environment Agency has announced a second consultation has begun into shale gas exploration at three sites in Lancashire. They propose that strict conditions are set out in the permits to ensure local communities and the environment is protected. Bowland Resources Ltd, a subsidiary of Cuadrilla, has applied for permits to manage waste flowback water […]
Property fraudsters jailed
BBC news has reported that two men from London have been sent to jail after being found guilty of defrauding Allied Irish Banks and Bank of Scotland £61m. Achilleas Kallakis and Alexander Williams, both 44, were sentenced to seven years and five years respectively, at Southwark Crown Court. Between 2003 and 2008, they duped the […]
Legal Services Board calls for simplification of regulation
Following the release of the OFT report on the regulation of legal services the Legal Services Board has said there is a danger of regulation not keeping up with the market. They said the report pointed to the need for continued simplification of the regulatory regime. In particular with regards to both ABS approvals and […]
Legal Ombudsman updates complaints handling rules
Changes to various aspects of complaints handling from the Legal Ombudsman are set to take effect from 1 February. The changes include increasing the Ombudsman’s financial limits from £30,000 to £50,000, an increase in time limits for accepting a complaint to six years and introducing an opportunity for prospective customers to complain. As announced previously, […]
Joint research into solicitors firms published
The Law Society, the Legal Services Board and the Ministry of Justice have published the results of a research project into the supply of legal services by solicitors’ firms. The report is entitled “A time of change: solicitors’ firms in England and Wales” and follows one of the largest ever surveys into the activities of […]