Pulse UK

  • October 24, 2025

    Ex-Law Firm Manager Barred For Misappropriating £163K

    The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has barred the former manager of a London law firm from practicing as a solicitor after he misappropriated client funds for four years and caused a shortage of more than £163,000 ($217,000) to arise on its client account.

  • October 24, 2025

    Property Purchaser Can't Revive Simmons & Simmons Case

    A London appeals court denied a prospective property buyer permission on Friday to challenge an earlier finding that there was no case to answer over his allegation that two Simmons & Simmons lawyers had breached money laundering regulations.

  • October 24, 2025

    SRA Plans 'Intrusive' Regulation After Axiom, SSB Failures

    The solicitors' watchdog has warned the profession that it might take "a far more intrusive" approach to regulation after the Legal Services Board penalized it over the collapses of Axiom Ince and SSB Group.

  • October 24, 2025

    UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

    This past week in London has seen the Financial Conduct Authority launch legal action against a Chinese cryptocurrency exchange, The Londoner magazine face a defamation claim from an entrepreneur accused of "scamming" Knightsbridge landlords, and Gucci sued by its cosmetics supplier as L'Oréal announces plans to buy the Italian fashion house's beauty brand. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • October 24, 2025

    The Revolving Door: Simmons Names Global Pensions Head

    Over the past week, Simmons & Simmons has appointed its global head of pensions from DLA Piper, Travers Smith lost its head of tax to King & Spalding and CMS fueled its energy practice with an automotive specialist.

  • October 24, 2025

    Bank Of England General Counsel Exits After 10 Years

     The Bank of England has lost its lead lawyer, a former partner at Clifford Chance LLP, after she spent a decade managing and mitigating its legal risks.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • October 23, 2025

    Law Firms Could Face £1.4B Bill Under Rumored Tax Change

    Partners at law firms 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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."

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Expert Analysis

  • Challenges Law Firms Face In Recruiting Competitor Teams

    Author Photo

    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.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights: Travers Smith's Louisa Chambers

    Author Photo

    Louisa Chambers, head of technology and commercial transactions at Travers Smith, discusses the challenges of working on a series of deals under time pressure, why data subject access requests can be a disproportionate burden on businesses, and how a career in technology and intellectual property will suit a lawyer with energy and creativity.

  • Practice Leader Insights From Bristows' Gareth Wadley

    Author Photo

    Gareth Wadley, head of the employment and immigration team at Bristows, discusses the challenges of resolving disputes where compensation is not the primary driver, why employment status law needs to better reflect the realities of modern work, and how neurodiversity is reshaping the workforce in a positive way.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Linklaters' Julia Schönbohm

    Author Photo

    Julia Schönbohm, global head of technology, media and telecommunications and intellectual property at Linklaters, discusses the challenges of deciding patent validity in complex litigation cases, why the enforcement of standard essential patents is an area in need of reform, and how the advent of the Unified Patent Court is having a significant impact on patent litigation in Europe.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Walker Morris' Andrew Rayment

    Author Photo

    Andrew Rayment, head of employment at Walker Morris, discusses the challenges of dismissing employees at a coal mine, how the proposed employment law reforms could create logistical burdens for businesses, and why prioritizing effectively is key for a lawyer.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Kennedys' Matthew Poli

    Matthew Poli, head of Kennedys' corporate M&A transactions team, discusses the challenges of rushing to close transactions ahead of possible budgetary changes, why reform is needed in the way a company's statutory books can be altered at Companies House, and that client service needs to be a lawyer's watchword.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Broadfield's Caroline Yarrow

    Author Photo

    Caroline Yarrow, head of Broadfield's employment practice, discusses the challenges of analyzing huge volumes of data in a service provider transfer of 2,000 employees, why the employment tribunal system needs urgent review, and why being pragmatic and commercial when giving advice is important.

  • 8 Ways Law Firms Can Prepare For SRA's AML Offensive

    Author Photo

    The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s recent plans to intensify anti-money laundering enforcement means firms need to concentrate on strengthening client matter risk assessments, policies and procedures, source of funds checks and firmwide risk assessments, says Harriet Holmes at Thirdfort.

  • How Fostering Well-Being Can Drive Law Firm Profitability

    Author Photo

    To counter the common assumption that prioritizing lawyer’s well-being damages profitability, firms should look at the role itself and build strategies to reduce stress, especially with the current focus on delivering more billable hours in light of artificial intelligence tools creating new capacity, says Charlotte Clegg at The Mindful Business Charter.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Bristows' Robert Burrows

    Author Photo

    Robert Burrows, joint head of patent litigation at Bristows, discusses the challenges of remote working when preparing cases, the need for reform in respect of second medical use patents, and whether recent European Union court decisions could mark the beginning of a shift in European litigation practice.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights: Farrer & Co.'s Kathleen Heycock

    Author Photo

    Kathleen Heycock, leader of the employment practice at Farrer & Co., discusses why challenging cases foster a sense of achievement, how an increase in workplace investigations has affected her practice, and the importance of emotional intelligence when working on both positive and negative employment matters.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Morgan Lewis' Timothy Corbett

    Author Photo

    Timothy Corbett, leader of Morgan Lewis' London corporate and business transactions practice, discusses the challenges of divesting a company of its Russia operations under wartime conditions, the need to align regional regulatory approaches to artificial intelligence across global businesses, and why junior lawyers should develop an area of special interest.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Covington's Gregor Frizzell

    Author Photo

    Gregor Frizzell, head of the EMEA corporate group and vice chair of the global corporate practice at Covington, discusses the creative challenges of merger and acquisition document provisions, how modernizing the archaic stamp duty regime would be welcomed by tax lawyers, and the guidance offered by a recent case on the interpretation of material adverse clauses.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Farrer & Co.'s Simon Ward

    Author Photo

    Simon Ward, leader of the private capital practice at Farrer & Co., discusses the challenges of coordinating an acquisition with lawyers from other practice areas, why finding ways to connect education institutions to regulators and decision-makers would be a positive shift, and why young lawyers should get involved in the business world early on.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Morgan Lewis' Nick Bolter

    Author Photo

    Nick Bolter, leader of the London intellectual property practice at Morgan Lewis, discusses the challenges of acting in disputes where the other party is a lay person representing themselves, the need to refocus trademark law on consumer protection, and why IP is a challenging area of law.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Pulse UK archive.