John Hyde

3 days ago | lawgazette.co.uk | John Hyde

Solicitors convicted of drink-driving will no longer face a penalty from their regulator following a backlash from the profession and accusations of double jeopardy. The Solicitors Regulation Authority board revealed yesterday that it approved a rule change at its meeting last month to stop imposing financial penalties for offences relating to drink driving, except in 'exceptional circumstances'.

3 days ago | lawgazette.co.uk | John Hyde

A family judge has said that a couple running up costs of £13,000 over a dispute worth £2,000 at most is damaging to the reputation of lawyers. Deputy District Judge Hodson dismissed an application from the wife in DSD v MJW for an interim £500 a month from her husband, ahead of a final financial remedy hearing in July. The wife, represented by Scott Bailey LLP, incurred costs of £8,716 on making the application while the husband incurred £4,170 responding.

3 days ago | lawgazette.co.uk | John Hyde

A former project coordinator with international firm Eversheds tried to charge costs for a matter where the firm was working pro bono, the regulator has revealed. According to a Solicitors Regulation Authority notice, Thomas Elliott created invoices on the firm’s system for a case that was not supposed to incur charges. As a non-solicitor he was made subject to an order preventing him from working in the legal profession without permission.

3 days ago | lawgazette.co.uk | John Hyde

A new administrators’ report covering the closing weeks of a claims firm has lifted the lid on missed payments, creditor wrath and allegations of misleading financial statements. Manchester-based Sandstone Legal entered administration in February when specialists from Smith & Barnes Insolvency Practitioners were appointed. They have now published the first statement of proposals and outlined details of the last days of the firm.

3 days ago | lawgazette.co.uk | John Hyde

A family judge has said that a couple running up costs of £13,000 over a dispute worth at most £2,000 is damaging to the reputation of lawyers generally. Deputy District Judge Hodson dismissed an application from the wife in DSD v MJW for an interim £500 a month from her husband, ahead of a final financial remedy hearing in July. The wife, represented by Scott Bailey LLP, had incurred costs of £8,716 on making the application while the husband incurred £4,170 responding.