A message from Paul Toghill, the new CEO of Kings Court Trust
As part of King Court Trust’s continued commitment to deliver exceptional estate administration services, we are delighted to welcome Paul Toghill as our new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Paul brings a wealth of leadership experience and strategic insight, with a strong track record of guiding organisations through periods of growth and transformation. His appointment marks an important step […]
Birchall Blackburn Ensures Due Diligence with Estatesearch and Exizent
Birchall Blackburn is a trusted legal partner with offices throughout the North West. Rosemary Johns, Partner, is based in the Chorley office and along with the private client team of more than 20 team members across the different locations including Preston, Leyland, Southport and Morecambe, Birchall Blackburn offers professional client focused legal services locally, where […]
Trust corporations launched by two established firms
Two long-standing private client firms have announced they have launched trust corporations to manage deputyships, trusteeships, executorships and attorneyships; and expand their services in independent estate administration. London-based Kingsley Napley, and 7-branch Yorkshire firm Walker Foster have both announced the launch of trust corporations. Walker Foster’s WF Trust Corporation Limited will specifically be used to […]
Acquisition of WSL sees Octopus lay claim to second spot in estate planning sector
Octopus Legacy claim to have become the second largest estate planning firm in the UK in less than three years following the acquisition of WSL Will Writing. Founded by Sam Grice, Octopus Legacy started out life as Guardian Angel, set up following the unexpected passing of his Mum. Guardian Angel was acquired by Octopus Group, […]
Rallying call as HMRC pauses IHT30 clearance requests
The confirmation HMRC is not currently processing any IHT30 clearance requests has been described as ‘deeply concerning’ by the profession with calls to petition regulatory bodies and Parliament to avoid further consequences for clients. The comments come from Adam Scott, a partner at Trethowans who adds that with planned date for the resumption of the […]
CILEX responds to LSB’s Upholding Professional Ethical Duties consultation
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) has responded to the Legal Services Board’s (LSB) Upholding Professional Ethical Duties consultation saying it feels annual training on ethics should be mandatory. The consultation, which closed on 29th May, proposed a draft statutory statement of policy setting out the LSB’s expectations of how frontline regulators will improve […]
Former journalist appointed as new Law Society deputy vice president
Former journalist Dana Denis-Smith OBE has been elected as the new deputy vice president of the Law Society of England and Wales, taking office from October 2025. Denis-Smith OBE spent a decade as a journalist before qualifying as a solicitor with Linklaters and is currently CEO of Obelisk Support, a legal services provider offering flexible legal solutions. She is […]
More to later life lending than equity release say LiveMore
A mortgage lender for people 50 to 90 plus is calling for greater clarity and meaning on what ‘later life lending’ really means as it raises concerns it has become a synonym for equity release when there are other options available to older borrowers. Leon Diamond, LiveMore founder and CEO said the term ‘later life […]
Arken announce leadership transition as Newick departs
Estate planning and digital legal technology provider Arken have announced CEO Dave Newick will step down with immediate effect, to be replaced by Anthony Philips. Newick, a New Zealander, came to the UK to lead Arken having been appointed in 2018 after it rebranded from DPL Professional. He has served as CEO during a ‘pivotal’ […]
Formal recognition for paralegals under Royal Charter amendment
Paralegals will receive formal recognition under amendments to CILEX’s Royal Charter which bestows the title of CILEX Chartered Paralegal to professionals who can demonstrate they have worked in a legal role for over five years and show extensive legal knowledge and competence across key duties and behaviours. It provides career paralegals with a formal status […]
Misconceptions around estate planning could cost families dearly
Many people in the UK are confused about estate planning, writing a will and the laws of succession, latest research shows. A survey published last week by financial services giant Canada Life found that almost one in four (38 per cent) of respondents wrongly believed they would avoid probate if all their assets passed to […]
SRA seeks 23% budget increase to tackle ‘shifting risks’
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is seeking views on its new draft business plan, which it says will require a 23% budget increase in response to a legal market that is ‘changing rapidly’. The final year of work outlined in the SRA’s corporate strategy for 2023-2026 will address ‘shifting risks’, including large firm failures, the consumer […]
Law Society ‘slams’ SRA proposals to remove client accounts
The Law Society of England and Wales has warned against the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) proposal to move away from client accounts to third-party managed accounts. This forms part of the Law Society’s response to the SRA’s consultation on client money in legal services, which was launched following the collapse of the firm of Axiom […]
“Value over volume” for newly launched legal recruitment business
A new recruitment agency dedicated to the legal services sector has opened its doors to ‘address the evolving needs of the legal sector’ says its founders. VacantC Legal Recruitment has been co-founded by Bold Legal Group CEO Rob Hailstone, and technology executive Craig Taylor who was until recently Chief Revenue Officer at Thread Legal Software […]
Firm takes three-pronged approach to management
A Kent and London law firm has described how it is ‘rewriting the rule book’ by appointing three new managing partners to take the firm forward into 2025. Bromley-headquartered Thackray Williams will appoint three new managing partners when current Managing Partner Sean Sanders steps down in March 2025. Vikki Herbert, Anthony Macey and Emma Thompson […]
Fraser and Fraser helps unite a Dutch man with a Fallen Hero
Fraser and Fraser, a leading genealogy and international probate research firm, recently completed a unique and heart-warming case that bridged continents and generations. The firm successfully traced the family of Corporal David Kilgour Mitchell, a Scottish Soldier who perished during World War II. Corporal Mitchell, a members of the 1st Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highland […]
Consultant fee sharing models now employ 4,000 lawyers – Report
Consultant or platform law firms continue to grow with 4000 lawyers reported to be operating under the fee sharing model in England and Wales according to the latest insight. Despite it remaining a small fraction of the overall legal market; the sector is growing and developing into new areas of law according to a new […]
Artificial intelligence to power newly launched fixed fee probate service
A Manchester-based legal start-up is adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to ‘speed up and simplify’ the process of managing their probate estates. My Probate Solicitors (MPS) has been co-founded by Tasnim Khalid, Paul Gotch, Nicola Walker, Jean Warde, Alvin Oliva and Ryan Lewis and plans to disrupt the fixed fee probate legal market. Chief Operating Officer […]
QS acquisition creates multi-disciplinary professional services group
QualitySolicitors (QS) has announced it has brought an independent body of accountancy practices under a new multi-disciplinary umbrella group to ‘enhance capability, drive sustainable growth and improve efficiency, effectiveness and safety’ of member firms. CharterGroup, established in 1986, is a membership body for accountancy firms in UK and Ireland, and a member of the global […]
Acquisition cements position as top probate provider by volume
A Bedford-based law firm has cemented itself as one of the largest (by volume) probate practices in England and Wales with its first acquisition of 2024. Premier Solicitors has today (25th September) acquired Trustd Legal Services, a provider of direct-to-consumer services, for an undisclosed fee. Trustd currently offer probate, Will writing, and Conveyancing services through […]
