Neil Rose

1 week ago | legalfutures.co.uk | Neil Rose

A tribunal judge who let a solicitor bypass security checks to enter a courthouse – leading to a confrontation with security staff – has been given formal advice for misconduct. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) said Judge Jenna McKinney had apologised for her actions, which she took in order for a case to proceed. At the time (May 2024), Judge McKinney held appointments as a magistrate and a tribunal judge in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

1 week ago | legalfutures.co.uk | Neil Rose

A law firm owner has been suspended for not disclosing conflicts of interest to clients, including that his wife was a director of the property development company they were buying from. This meant Waheed Ur Rehman Mian should not have acted for them, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) said. Clients lost money because the development failed and they have been reimbursed by Mr Mian’s insurers.

1 week ago | legalfutures.co.uk | Neil Rose

Solicitors are set to pay £38m towards being represented by the Law Society after it announced plans for a 2% rise in the income it takes from the coming year’s practising fees. The practising certificate fee (PCF) was £307 last year and, until the Solicitors Regulation Authority reveals its budget for the next financial year, it will not be known whether this will go up for 2025/26.

1 week ago | legalfutures.co.uk | Neil Rose

Pioneering listed law firm Gateley has announced a new £80m revolving credit facility as it eyes further acquisitions alongside organic growth. The firm has made 14 acquisitions since becoming the first law firm to list in London, back in 2015, of which 11 have been non-legal businesses. Its most recent half-year results showed that non-legal professional services now account for 30% of its revenues.

1 week ago | legalfutures.co.uk | Neil Rose

Five more leading law firms – including Anglo-American giant A&O Shearman – struck deals with President Donald Trump this weekend to avoid being targeted by punitive executive orders. Kirkland & Ellis, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Latham & Watkins – along with A&O Sherman – have each agreed to provide $125m (£96m) in pro bono and other free legal services “to causes that President Trump and the law firms both support and agree to work on”.