Journalist and managing editor of the Today’s Media publications: Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Family Lawyer and Today’s Wills and Probate.
The latest inheritance tax receipts from HMRC, covering April to August, show an increase of £0.1 billion compared to the same period last year, with a total of £3.8 billion. Receipts in June 2026 were
Housing wealth will play an increasingly important role in maintaining retirement living standards over the next 50 years, an Equity Release Council (ERC) report claims, with 15 million people estimated to be under-saving for retirement.
STEP has written to the Treasury to highlight what it says are “serious issues” in the proposed pensions tax changes that will result in families owing tax before probate is granted. The letter sets out
A social media campaign from regional firm Dutton Gregory shines a spotlight on the people behind the firm. The campaign will see 12 of the firm’s legal team publish short films under their own name,
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its final Pure Protection Market Study report, setting out the work it will do to protect consumers. In a statement accompanying the report, the FCA said: “While the
TWM Solicitors and Napthens have welcomed new intakes of trainees starting out in their legal careers. At TWM Solicitors, Abigail Stark, Charlie Behan, Ella Dhillon, Imogen Barton, Melissa Parker and Olivia Beks (pictured) are all
Two fast-growing legal services groups have shared details of their latest acquisitions. Orwins and Lawfront have each acquired two firms, with the groups eyeing revenue of £50 million and £175 million respectively. Yorkshire law firm
A cross-party group of over 100 peers has criticised the “delaying tactics by a small minority” of lords who prevented a vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill earlier this year. In
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will begin supervising businesses for anti-money laundering compliance before the end of 2028, with a “broad aim” for all firms within scope to be included by mid-2030. The plans were
The Solicitors Regulation Authority missed multiple opportunities to address serious failings at PM Law Group from as far back as 2023, with investigations conducted without access to management accounts and explanations provided by PM Law
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has initiated further enforcement action to secure “urgent improvements” at the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The oversight body said it is “disappointed” by the standard of leadership and accountability demonstrated
The prime minister will not vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill when it returns to parliament next month to avoid influencing debate, he has told government ministers. In a personal minute
HM Revenue and Customs has issued a technical note setting out the how pensions will be taxed as part of inheritance tax from April 2027, and the obligations placed on personal representatives administering estates. Named
Later life lending figures from UK Finance show a 13.4% annual increase in the number of new loans advanced to borrowers aged 55 or over in Q2 2026. The Later Life Lending Update Q2 2026
A new AI operating system for the legal sector promises to enable AI adoption alongside firms’ existing technology infrastructure and case management systems. ClearPathOS, developed by ClearPath AI, understands the context surrounding a matter, case
Inheritance tax receipts increased by £100 million in July compared to the same period last year, reaching £3.2 billion. Although growth has slowed in recent months, the receipts indicate a longer-term trend that “remains firmly
Knights has agreed to acquire the commercial and private wealth service lines of full-service law firm Moore Barlow LLP, in a move the increasingly expanding firm says will build further scale in the “attractive” markets
The wills and probate sector has shared more responses to the government’s A Fairer End to Relationships consultation, which closed last week. While the overall view is positive, the responses come with caveats that changes
Two wills and probate solicitors have been issued with rebukes by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for the way they dealt with the administration of estates. Susan Mary Carpenter, a solicitor with Powell & Co in
A Kings Lynn firm has been fined £12,366 and ordered to pay costs of £1,452 for client account breaches relating to the administration of an estate. The Solicitors Regulation Authority fined Hawkins Ryan LLP for
Sara Morgan, chair of STEP’s England and Wales Regional Committee, has joined Joseph Hage Aaronson & Bremen LLP as partner within its expanding private client team. Morgan (main photo) is a solicitor and chartered tax
With the government’s consultation on its proposals to reform rights for cohabitating couples set to close at 11.59pm tonight, representatives from the legal sector have begun to share their responses. The Law Society of England
Lawyers have rejected claims by Baroness Deech that cohabitation reform has no public mandate and will create “profound constitutional change”. In a statement accompanying her response to the government’s consultation on cohabitation rights and proposals
The government has no clear public mandate for introducing automatic legal rights and obligations for cohabiting couples without their consent, Baroness Ruth Deech has warned the justice secretary, Alex Norris. In her response to the
A law firm acting as a joint executor of an estate was not entitled to charge over £53,000 for its services, the High Court has ruled. In his written decision in Royal Holloway and Bedford
The Court of Appeal has ruled that the use of a controversial ‘home loan’ scheme successfully removed the obligation to pay inheritance tax on a property. The scheme was arranged by Leslie Elborne in 2003
The son of footballer Jack Charlton has been told he must pay £200,000 in inheritance tax (IHT) for the World Cup winners’ medal his father received following the England team’s 1966 victory over West Germany.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is seeking feedback on a new package of reforms designed to improve transparency, strengthen access to market-wide information and support confidence in UK equity markets. The package confirms the framework
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced two new appointments to its executive leadership team. Alan Evans joins the regulator as its new executive director, general counsel, risk and compliance and will take up his
A former funeral director has been imprisoned for 20 years for multiple counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial, after remains were found in his Hull funeral premises in 2024. Robert Bush, 48, formerly
The Equity Release Council has appointed John Godfrey as its new chair, replacing David Burrowes who steps down in October after nine years. Godfrey has more than four decades of experience gained from senior leadership
HM Courts and Tribunals Service has introduced a new probate application escalation process for cases that haven’t been resolved after 12 weeks. The process also provides an additional route for cases that have already been