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Pulse UK
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October 23, 2025
SRA Risks Losing Staff, Budget As FCA Takes Over On AML
The Solicitors Regulation Authority could find itself with a smaller budget and a diminished workforce as a result of the government's decision to move all anti-money laundering oversight to the Financial Conduct Authority, experts have warned.
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October 23, 2025
Solicitor Referred To Tribunal Over Misconduct Allegations
The solicitors watchdog has referred a London litigator to a disciplinary tribunal to face accusations that he engaged in inappropriate behavior, including allegedly touching colleagues in an unwanted sexual manner.
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October 23, 2025
Law Firms Could Face £1.4B Bill Under Rumored Tax Change
Law firms' partners face paying up to £1.4 billion ($1.9 billion) more in tax each year if the government imposes a new tax on limited liability partnerships to help plug a hole in Britain's finances, UHY Hacker Young said Thursday.
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October 23, 2025
Squire Patton Hit With £3.7M Claim Over Tech Buyout Advice
A software company has sued Squire Patton Boggs for £3.7 million ($4.9 million) in a London court, alleging that the law firm's faulty advice led to a dispute over intellectual property that was fundamental to its acquisition of a rival business.
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October 23, 2025
Ex-Clifford Chance Pro Hit With £8M Libel Claim By Barrister
A barrister has sued legal commentator Dan Neidle and his think tank for £8 million ($10.6 million), accusing the former Clifford Chance partner of engaging in a vendetta against him, according to court filings that have now been made public.
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October 23, 2025
Albion Chambers Barrister Tapped For High Court Post
The government said Thursday that it has named as a High Court judge a senior criminal and regulatory barrister from Albion Chambers, who chaired an independent review into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Isle of Man government.
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October 22, 2025
Michelman & Robinson Opens First Overseas Office In London
Los Angeles-based Michelman & Robinson LLP announced it has made its first expansion outside the U.S. with the launch of a London office.
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October 22, 2025
UK To Crack Down On Fake Immigration Lawyers
The Home Office detailed plans to combat abuse in the immigration system on Wednesday by giving authorities new powers to confiscate the profits fake immigration lawyers make from providing unlawful advice.
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October 22, 2025
BHP Seeks To Block US Testimony In Pogust Goodhead Row
BHP urged a judge Wednesday to prevent Pogust Goodhead, which represents thousands of claimants in a £36 billion ($48 billion) trial over a Brazilian dam disaster, from obtaining information from a U.S. court in order to support proposed litigation against the Australian mining giant.
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October 22, 2025
Lawyers Could See Probes Double As FCA Takes Over AML
The decision to make the financial watchdog the sole regulator of AML and counter-terrorist financing for professional services providers could be "tricky" for lawyers in the short term, even as some experts predict it might ultimately help to simplify an overly complex regulatory regime.
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October 22, 2025
Email 'Did Not Cause' Barrister's Mistreatment, Stonewall Says
An email complaining about a gender-critical barrister's tweets was not the cause of discrimination against her, LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall argued Wednesday as it fought her appeal to hold the organization liable.
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October 22, 2025
Kingsley Napley Hires 1st Chief Legal Officer From Mishcon
Kingsley Napley has appointed a former Mishcon partner to serve as its chief legal officer, a newly-created board-level position.
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October 22, 2025
Oil Co. Loses £44M Costs Appeal Over Fraud At Top UK Court
Britain's top court rejected on Wednesday an attempt by an energy company to change the currency of its £44 million ($59 million) costs bill after it committed fraud, with the justices calling the dispute a "sorry tale involving human greed and corrupt practices."
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October 21, 2025
Debevoise Taps Goodwin Team For Private Funds Group
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has hired a team of secondaries lawyers from Goodwin Procter LLP, including a partner who will co-chair the firm's private fund transactions group.
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October 21, 2025
Outgoing SRA Chief Criticizes Solicitors Holding Client Funds
The chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority said Tuesday that the cost of regulation would decrease considerably if solicitors and their firms were no longer allowed to hold client money, as he prepares to step down after nearly 12 years at the helm.
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October 21, 2025
Trowers Accused Of Coercion In $1.1M Fees Dispute
An affordable housing provider has denied owing Trowers & Hamlins LLP more than £800,000 ($1.1 million) for work between 2023 and 2024, arguing that the law firm had used "coercion" to secure approval for out-of-scope fees from an unauthorized individual.
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October 21, 2025
Gender-Critical Barrister Fights To Blame Charity For Probe
A barrister argued at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday that LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall should be held liable for a complaint by one of its employees that prompted a discriminatory probe into her online activity.
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October 21, 2025
SRA Chief Downplays Mazur Impact Ahead Of New Guidance
The solicitors' watchdog promised Tuesday to publish more guidance for lawyers after a ruling on who can litigate fee disputes for law firms, as its chief said the decision didn't change the law but called into question how "diluted" litigation outfits might have become.
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October 21, 2025
FCA To Take Reins Of AML Regulation From SRA
The government said Tuesday that the Financial Conduct Authority will become the sole regulator of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing for professional services providers, slashing the supervisory role of the Solicitors Regulation Authority and other industry watchdogs.
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October 20, 2025
Reed Smith Opens 3rd Middle East Office In Saudi Arabia
Reed Smith LLP announced Monday that it has expanded its Middle East operations by launching an office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the help of three new hires from local law firm Mahassni & Co.
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October 20, 2025
Firms In 'Purgatory' As Regulators Respond To Mazur Fallout
A recent court ruling that trainees and paralegals cannot conduct litigation, even under supervision, has left some firms "in purgatory" as they grapple with a judgment that, lawyers warn, could make swathes of work unviable.
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October 20, 2025
HBOS Fraud Victims Hit Gunnercooke With Negligence Case
A family driven into bankruptcy by a £245 million (£329 million) fraud against HBOS are suing Gunnercooke LLP, alleging that the firm caused them to lose more than £4 million by bungling a settlement with their bankruptcy trustee.
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October 20, 2025
Solicitor Fined For Missing Fraud, Money Laundering Signs
A solicitor who admitted missing signs of potential fraud and money laundering when carrying out property transactions on behalf of two lenders was fined £15,000 ($20,000) by a tribunal on Monday.
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October 20, 2025
UK Firms' Fees On The Rise But AI Threatens Model, PwC Says
The top 10 law firms whose headquarters are in the U.K. drove fee income growth in 2025 by raising rates by more than 10% — but sustaining increases above inflation might be difficult as generative AI threatens the billable hour model, a report published Monday warned.
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October 20, 2025
Clifford Chance Hires A Team Of 15 For Frankfurt Office
Clifford Chance said Monday that it has hired a team of 15 lawyers for its Frankfurt office in Germany from rival White & Case, joining the law firms poaching large groups to make a rapid increase in their market share.

AI Startup Legora Aims To Reshape Law Firm-Client Dynamics
In-house lawyers might send an email or get on the phone when they want to talk to outside counsel. But the head of artificial intelligence startup Legora tells Law360 he sees a future where a client's first port of call might be an artificial intelligence tool offered by a law firm.

Judge's Case To Shine Light On Secretive Selection Process
A judge's challenge on Wednesday to the lawfulness of a secretive process used to appoint judges will shine a light on part of the U.K. legal system that is often criticized but largely opaque.

Incoming Law Society Leader Has Her Eye On Modernization
When Dana Denis-Smith launched her campaign to become president of the Law Society of England and Wales, her message was clear: the legal profession has changed dramatically over the past two decades — and must keep evolving.

AI-Driven Fake Evidence Could 'Play Havoc' In Legal Disputes
A recent High Court judgment exposed how nonexistent artificial intelligence-generated citations had been used in legal arguments — but experts say this could be the tip of the iceberg for increasingly sophisticated fake evidence making its way into disputes.
Editor's Picks
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The Revolving Door: Sullivan & Cromwell Bags Finance Head
Over the past week, the head of Allen Overy Shearman Sterling's financial services group joined Sullivan & Cromwell, Baker McKenzie swiped an investment funds specialist from Latham & Watkins, and a cyber heavyweight exited Deloitte Legal for Reynolds Porter Chamberlain.
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The Revolving Door: Addleshaw Hires Cyber Chief From Bird
Over the past week, Addleshaw Goddard LLP hired a new director of cyber investigations from Bird & Bird LLP, Dechert LLP saw two experts in international capital markets transactions move to Baker Botts LLP, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP recruited an expert in secondaries transactions from Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
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AI-Powered Law Firm Sparks Debate On Legal Sector's Future
The country's first approved artificial intelligence law firm could be a turning point, making it easier for individuals and small businesses to get legal support. But the proliferation of artificial intelligence in the legal sector could also put considerable pressure on small firms and solo practitioners.
Expert Analysis
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Series
Practice Leader Insights From Freshfields' Kathleen Healy
Kathleen Healy, partner in London and co-leader of Freshfields' people and reward practice in Asia, discusses the challenges of advising on employment and industrial relations during the financial crisis, why the employment tribunal system would benefit from additional funding, and how reforming noncompete clauses will create plenty of legal and practical issues.
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Series
Practice Leader Insights From HSF Kramer's Sarah McNally
Sarah McNally, head of the global insurance disputes practice at HSF Kramer, discusses the challenges of orchestrating an expedited proceeding during the pandemic, how document disclosure in litigation is becoming a huge burden, and why insurance is all-pervasive, and accordingly interesting and varied.
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Practice Leader Insights: Shakespeare Martineau's Phil Pepper
Phil Pepper, head of employment at Shakespeare Martineau, discusses the challenges of working on a high-stakes case that progressed to the European Court of Justice, the need for reform of employees' rights legislation when a business transfers, and why lawyers should develop soft skills early in their careers.
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Practice Leader Insights From Forbes' Kella Bowers
Kella Bowers, head of insurance at Forbes, discusses the challenges of balancing the needs of the people and institutions involved in child sexual abuse exploitation cases, why a preaction protocol for abuse work is needed, and how insurance law can enable lawyers to work on many hard-hitting issues.
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AI Risks Legal Sector Must Consider In Dispute Resolution
Artificial intelligence presents significant opportunities to lawyers and decision-makers navigating increasingly data-heavy legal proceedings, but two recent cases provide a sobering reminder of the potential for misuse, say lawyers at White & Case.
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Practice Leader Insights: Harbottle & Lewis' Yvonne Gallagher
Yvonne Gallagher, head of employment at Harbottle & Lewis, discusses the challenges of dealing with clients' emotions, the significance of the widening scope for discrimination disputes, and why junior lawyers should focus on learning the basic contractual and statutory principles of employment law.
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How Cos. Can Straddle US-UK Split On Work Misconduct, DEI
With U.K. regulators ordering employers to do more to prevent nonfinancial misconduct and discrimination, and President Donald Trump ordering the rollback of similar American protections, global organizations should prioritize establishing consistent workplace conduct frameworks to help balance their compliance obligations across the diverging jurisdictions, say lawyers at WilmerHale.
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Viral Comms Crises Create Dual Corp. Governance Threats
As legislative hearings increase in frequency and social media fuels their reputational impact, corporate legal teams face a new dual challenge that reflects a fundamental shift in accountability and demands new strategies, governance frameworks and organizational capabilities, says Joanna Ludlam at Jenner & Block.
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Series
Practice Leader Insights From Mishcon's Richard Leedham
Richard Leedham, head of the commercial litigation practice and insurance disputes team at Mishcon de Reya, discusses the challenges of coordinating a complex lawsuit during lockdown, why the remedy for damages for late insurance claim payments is practically worthless, and the importance of focusing on hard legal argument in class actions.
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Practice Leader Insights From V&E's David Berkery
David Berkery, head of aviation finance at Vinson & Elkins, discusses the challenges of striking an asset-backed securitization deal after the 2008 financial crisis rewrote the rules, why sustainable aviation goals need more government encouragement, and why young attorneys should focus on finding people they enjoy working with.
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Practice Leader Insights From Gibson Dunn's Sandy Bhogal
Sandy Bhogal, co-chair of Gibson Dunn's tax practice, discusses the challenges of working on a complicated restructuring during the financial crisis, the difficulty of dealing with rules that are adjusted by nonbinding guidance, and why tax lawyers need to know the law as well as they possibly can.
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SRA Ruling Raises Issue Of Jurisdiction Over Private Conduct
The recent Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal ruling, suspending a former Orrick associate after determining that a criminal offense of nonconsensual touching had occurred, serves as a cautionary tale that the regulator's jurisdiction may extend into private social settings, even where no abuse of power is proven, says Nick Brett at Brett Wilson.
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Why Leveson Review Is Significant For UK Court System
Brian Leveson’s recent review into the U.K. criminal justice system calls for judge-only trials in serious and complex fraud cases, a controversial recommendation that is sparking debate over the future of jury trials, says Louise Hodges at Kingsley Napley.
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Series
Practice Leader Insights From V&E's Ben Higson
Ben Higson, head of Vinson & Elkins' London transactions practice, discusses the complexities of knitting together businesses across the world into a joint venture, how warranty and indemnity insurance has altered the way deals are conducted, and why discipline and resilience are key for M&A lawyers.
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Challenges Law Firms Face In Recruiting Competitor Teams
Since the movement of lawyer teams from a competitor can bring legal considerations and commercial risks into play, both the target and recruiting firms should be familiar with the relevant limited liability partnership deed to protect their business, say lawyers at Fox & Partners.