The Equity Release Council’s latest quarterly market report for Q1 2025 showed that the market had a strong start to the year with £665m worth of housing equity accessed by customers. This is a 32%
In its business plan for 2025/26, published, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has outlined its priorities, aimed at improving outcomes for consumers and the public. These priorities include work to improve ethical standards within the
The Law Society is proposing a 1.9% rise in its share of the annual practising certificate (PC) fee for the 2025–26 year. Chancery Lane has put forward a proposed PC fee contribution of £37.5 million,
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) is set to undergo a ‘transformation’ in 2025/26, due to a proposed £20 million budget – a significant 11.4% increase from the previous year. The move is part of a new
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has highlighted that banks and building societies can improve how they treat customers affected by bereavement or registering a power of attorney. Since the introduction of the Consumer Duty, some
Over-65s own property wealth of £2.944 trillion outright which could be put to use supporting their retirement planning and give a boost to the property market, data from Key Later Life Finance shows. Its data
The Law Society of England and Wales has backed the amendments to the Mental Health Act 1983, which is a positive step towards ensuring that essential mental health services guarantee dignity, respect and access to
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the performance of legal regulators. Speaking at a recent meeting, LSB Chief Executive Craig Westwood outlined the Board’s approach leading up to the next
The two largest legal regulators in England and Wales have fallen short of expected standards, according to the latest annual performance assessment published by the Legal Services Board (LSB). The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and
A senior executive at the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has reassured solicitors that no firm decision has been made regarding the potential removal of client accounts, as reported by The Law Society Gazette. The recent
As the Law Society of England and Wales celebrates its bicentenary in Bristol on 13th March, they reflect on the significant impact solicitors in the Southwest region have had on the legal landscape, the local
In the last week four law firms have been fined a combined total of £47,666 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for failing to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. The breaches, spanning several years,
The parent of consultant style firms Taylor Rose, FDR Law and KingsleyWood has been listed in Financial Times 1000 list of Europe’s fastest-growing companies for the third consecutive year. AIIC Group reported compound annual growth
96% of leaders are confident in their firm’s ability to comply with evolving anti-money laundering (AML) regulations but acknowledge staying up to date, ensuring staff are trained, and property completing client due diligence remain key
Law firms saw steady growth in 2024, according to the Law Society’s new Financial Benchmarking Survey. The research shows that the legal sector remains resilient even in uncertain times, providing stability and contributing to the
This International Women’s Day (8th March 2025), the Law Society of England and Wales encourages the profession to continue supporting women’s progress to senior levels. In 2023, more new female solicitors (832) attained partner equivalent
New regulatory measures to strengthen ethical standards in the legal sector have been proposed today, to initiate a significant shift in how lawyers’ ethics are taught, overseen and supported in workplaces. The Legal Services Board
Roche Legal Limited, a recognised body, authorised and regulated by the SRA has agreed to pay a financial penalty in the sum of £4,698 for for failure to comply with money laundering regulations. The SRA
Since 2019, private equity firms have invested over £1.18 billion into UK law firms, with a record £534 million injected in 2024 alone, according to research by Acquira Professional Services. Traditionally resistant to external ownership,
Paul Philip, chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), will retire towards the end of 2025 after nearly 12 years in the role, the regulator announced. His departure follows that of Alan Kershaw, chair
Knights has strengthened its presence in the South East with the acquisition of IBB Law LLP for an initial £21 million. The acquisition will bring 140 lawyers to Knights – joining a team of more
Nexus Solicitors Limited, a Licensed Body, authorised and regulated by the SRA has agreed to pay a financial penalty in the sum of £31,217 for for failure to comply with money laundering regulations. Nexus Solicitors
Lawyers are ‘impatient’ as they wait for firms to invest in technology and innovation with just one in five (18%) saying their firm was ‘fast’ or ‘very fast’ at implementing new technology. Nearly half (47%)
The Law Society of England and Wales has warned against the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) proposal to move away from client accounts to third-party managed accounts. This forms part of the Law Society’s response to
The Law Society of England and Wales has responded to the Legal Services Board’s (LSB) consultation on guidance for the new regulatory objective of ‘promoting the prevention and detection of economic crime’ under the Economic
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has flexed its regulatory muscles with a series of fines levied on firms and individuals for failure to comply with money laundering regulations. Fines totalling over £66,000 have been levied
Mental health and wellbeing charity LawCare says it experienced a 13% increase in support requests last year compared to 2023, with 2024’s number its highest on record. Stress and anxiety (39%) were the most common
The Legal Services Board (LSB) is consulting on the content of its business plan and budget for 2025/26, highlighting five key priorities for the super-regulator. In its final board meeting on 2024 it reaffirmed its
Maidstone and Canterbury based full-service firm Brachers LLP is the latest acquisition by private-equity backed Lawfront in a deal that takes the group past £100m revenue. Brachers is Lawfront’s fifth large regional firm acquisition and
For the first time since Q3 2023 more than 15,000 customers became active in the equity release market according to the latest quarterly market report from the Equity Release Council, tracking activity across new plans,
Reading-based law firm Harrison Thames Valley Solicitors LLP has been fined £25,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) following ‘serious breaches’ of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer)
To commemorate the Day of the Endangered Lawyer (24th January), the Law Society of England and Wales draws attention to the risks lawyers face across the globe. There are lawyers that are targeted by certain