Blog
Private prosecutions – A route to justice for the charity sector
Sophie Tang
30 July 2021
A new frontier in the boundary between professional and private life – solicitors’ undertakings
One of the hottest topics in solicitor regulation is how far the SRA’s regulatory powers reach beyond a solicitor’s professional life. This topic has caused heated debate when dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate posts on social media. One would expect that the world of solicitors’ undertakings would not be part of this debate. However, the recent decision of the Supreme Court suggests that a true solicitors’ undertaking arises in relatively narrow circumstances and as such many undertakings given by solicitors fall outside their professional work and should not engage the SRA Codes of Conduct.
30 July 2021
Doing business in the EU
The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement will greatly affect the way we do business
with the EU. Jessica Clay and Ilda de Sousa look at the impact on solicitors.
28 July 2021
What does good audit practice look like? A thematic analysis of the FRC’s Annual Audit Quality Inspection Results 2020/21
Just a couple of weeks after the BEIS’ white paper consultation on audit and corporate governance reform closed for responses, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published its annual audit quality inspection results for 2020/21 of Britain’s 7 largest audit firms (the ‘AQR results’).
26 July 2021
Harcus Sinclair v Your Lawyers - Another nail in the coffin of solicitors’ undertakings?
Every solicitor knows that an undertaking is serious stuff. Arguably it is the greatest power available to a solicitor. A promise, if broken, that will lead to immediate and serious consequences for the giver. As such it can be relied upon to the ends of the earth. The power of undertakings has meant that they sit at the heart of every property transaction, bridging the time gap between the sending of money and the receiving of title. They are also used in other areas of commercial life and as part of litigation. The “brand” of a solicitor’s undertaking is so powerful that little thought is given as to where their power comes from.
22 July 2021
Student misconduct investigations – What is #trending ?
Poor investigation and disciplinary proceedings in universities for students accused of academic or non-academic misconduct are unfortunately common. But what should Universities be doing to support those who are the subject of an investigation and how should universities ensure their procedures protect all parties involved?