The Solicitors Regulation Authority has rewritten its guidance on referral fees to clarify solicitors' duties to their clients and the requirement of independence, ahead of a thorough review of the rules by the Legal Services Board next year, Solicitors Journal can reveal.
The role of grandparents and the rise in shared residence orders are two of the main trends the family courts have been grappling with when considering a child's best interests. Noel Arnold reports
Disclaiming a lease is a standard option where tenants become insolvent, but it does not extinguish the rights of third parties such as guarantors or former tenants, warns Julian Sidoli del Ceno
New rules on expert witnesses encourage the use of just one witness but it may remain in the client's best interests to call in a separate expert, argues Catherine Carter Shaw
Voluntary arrangements allow insolvent firms to continue trading, giving them the opportunity to pay off their debts and remain appealing to outside investors, says Joanne Wright
With careful planning, a realistic view of the claim's value and cooperation between the parties, litigants can legitimately reduce their court fees, says DJ Tim Jenkins
North West firms that have survived the recession are focusing on growth, restructuring and modernisation, but to succeed they know they must adopt a clear strategy. Jean-Yves Gilg reports
