Octopus Legal Services has announced the acquisition of the private client team of NewLaw Solicitors, growing the headcount at the private equity backed firm by a third. The SRA-regulated arm of Octopus Legacy said the
With the Financial Conduct Authority’s market study of the later life lending sector underway, one whole-of-market later life lending business says it is engaging with the regulator on product suitability, accessibility and consumer outcomes, leveraging
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has published its latest raft of public interest decisions, revealing “serious failings in the delivery of legal services”. The six new decisions reveal failures to provide clear advice, carry out essential
The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) review into how consumer investment firms support bereaved customers and whether they’re getting it right has been welcomed by a provider of bereavement services. The Estate Registry, which operates the
“Effectively procuring, adopting, and using technologies takes skill and resources” the Bar Standards Board (BSB) says in newly published guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in practice. Guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence
A conference focused on small and mid-sized law firms is being staged by legal and professional services marketing firm Consortium in October. The Legal Conference 2026 will take place on Thursday 15th October 2026 at
The early bird entry deadline for The British Wills and Probate Awards 2026, sponsored by Arken, is midnight tonight (Friday 22nd May). The special rate of £129 +VAT increases from tomorrow to £169 +VAT which
Over 1,000 CILEX lawyers have successfully obtained litigation practice rights, enabling them to carry out litigation without the need for supervision, in the wake of the Mazur judgment. CILEx Regulation (CRL), which oversees the education,
Private client law, including wills, probate, tax, trust and estate-related advice is the most profitable area of law for small law firms, alongside litigation and dispute resolution, according to the latest Bellwether Report from LexisNexis.
Low and middle earners, the self employed, and women are not saving enough money for retirement leaving large groups of society facing a “severe cliff-edge” when they retire. An interim report on the state of
National law firm Irwin Mitchell has said it is moving away from offering a volume wills service to third-party organisations and will instead “(refocus) its private client growth strategy towards complex advice” after a strategic
The latest Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast turns its attention to one of the profession’s most persistent, and least openly discussed, challenges: the impact of maternity leave on women’s careers in law. While the legal
A South Yorkshire law firm has raised £79,091 in an annual charity will-writing campaign, making it the highest-donating firm across the UK this year, and the highest amount ever donated by a single firm in
AIIC, the legal group behind law firms Taylor Rose, FDR Law and Kingsley Wood, has announced several leadership changes to define clearer separation between group‑level leadership and the leadership of Taylor Rose. Adrian Jaggard (pictured)
The Estate Registry has joined the Professional Probate Partnership (PPP) as an official partner, linking it with a network that includes founding members including Move with Us, The National Will Register, Probate.Auction and CLSQ. Launched
Legacy gifting remains resilient but the number of people who give to charity is falling, particularly amongst the younger generation, according to the latest legacy giving report from Legacy Futures and Smee & Ford. The
A survey has revealed nearly two thirds of fee earners admit to using open source artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, potentially compromising client data and confidentiality. The research by legal software company Access Legal
Less than half of bereaved finance customers (47%) felt they received the support they needed from firms, according to research by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The regulator is conducting a review into how consumer
The Law Society of England and Wales is calling for a public consultation on the use of artificial intelligence in the courts and tribunals service. In its response the Civil Justice Council’s (CJC) consultation on
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has proposed a £50 increase in individual practising fees, taking the annual fee to £240. Compensation fund contributions are expected to be set at £120 for an individual solicitor and
A will that was made by a woman living with advanced dementia just four months before she died has been overturned by the High Court. Master Katherine McQuail declared the 2021 will of Peggy Dalton
The deadline to take advantage of early bird entry for The British Wills and Probate Awards, sponsored by Arken, is one week from today, on Friday 22nd May. After that date, the fee to enter
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has published new guidance on the correct VAT treatment of disbursements. The guidance note brings together information and resources with the aim of supporting firms in determining how to
Lack of estate planning and communication within families is fuelling a significant rise in inheritance disputes, with blended families at most risk of conflict, according to research from STEP, the professional body for trust and
Two thirds of those who have arranged a funeral have had either no or just partial instructions from the person they have lost, according to new research from a crematorium and cemetery operator. Westerleigh Group,
A new legal careers platform promises to offer verified profiles for almost 9000 SRA-regulated firms, with dedicated career pages covering probate, estates, wills and trusts, and private client work. LawBoard, which launched last month, includes
Gary Shaw has 20 years’ experience specialising in revenue and portfolio growth within the legal and financial services professions, specifically in private client. He is the managing director of probate property specialists Property Solutions Group,
A disinherited son’s application to have his father’s will overturned due to undue influence from his partner has been rejected. Jonathan Saville Thurston (pictured) claimed a 2019 will made by his father, John Saville Thurston,
As Mental Health Awareness Week gets underway, the Law Society of England and Wales is urging the UK government to formally consult with experts and those with lived experience to develop a code of practice
The early bird deadline for tickets to the upcoming TWP Festival is today (Friday 8th May). The discounted rate of £119 +VAT per ticket increases from 9th May to £149 +VAT for an all-access pass
The High Court has reversed a decision to pass a life interest in £4.4 million worth of estate properties from mother to daughter to avoid paying inheritance tax, after the “grave and unintended” mistake resulted
LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector, is encouraging legal professionals to take simple practical actions to support their own and others’ wellbeing during Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from the 11th