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Sam Allcock, founder of Law Week

Founder & Editor-at-large

Sam Allcock

Two decades building and selling digital businesses, now on the commercial side of law.

Verified contributor Cheshire, United Kingdom

Sam Allcock is the founder of Law Week. He has spent more than two decades in UK media and marketing, and founded and later sold the agencies Custard and PR Fire.

His work has always centred on the commercial machinery behind professional-services firms: how they win instructions, build a reputation, price their work and adopt new technology. At Law Week he brings that lens to the profession, writing on the strategy, marketing, growth and market forces that shape law firms and the people who run them.

He writes in a personal capacity and stands behind everything published under his name. To reach him with a story, a correction or a right of reply, write to editor@law-week.com.

Analysis by Sam Allcock

  1. Legal Tech

    Spencer West selects Harvey AI platform firmwide after pilot

    The international law firm, which has more than 360 partners across 25 jurisdictions, is rolling out Harvey across its practice after a pilot and an evaluation of the legal AI market.

  2. People & Moves

    Womble Bond Dickinson confirms 18 UK promotions

    Womble Bond Dickinson said in an announcement on its website on 2 November 2026 that it had made 18 promotions across its UK teams.

  3. Regulation

    Legal Ombudsman ordered remedies in 118 of 176 decisions in 2026-2027 Q2, led by residential conveyancing

    The Legal Ombudsman's published decision data for 2026-2027 Q2 shows a remedy was required in 67% of ombudsman decisions, with residential conveyancing the largest area of complaint.

  4. People & Moves

    Flint Bishop promotes Rebecca Burrows to Partner and creates Legal Counsel post

    Flint Bishop announced on 2 November 2026 that Rebecca Burrows has been made up to Partner and given a newly created Legal Counsel role at the firm.

  5. Deals & M&A

    Squire Patton Boggs advises Samruk-Kazyna on new note programme and debut dim sum bond

    Squire Patton Boggs said in an announcement on its website on 2 November 2026 that it advised Sovereign Wealth Fund Samruk-Kazyna JSC on setting up a Medium Term Note Programme and completing its first offshore renminbi bond sale.

  6. Deals & M&A

    Morrison Foerster advised SoftBank Group on ¥1.7 trillion bond issuance

    Morrison Foerster said in an announcement on its website on 22 October 2026 that it acted as legal advisor to SoftBank Group on a ¥1.7 trillion bond issuance highlighted by the Nikkei.

  7. Courts

    HF says it and 1st Central defeated Northern Ireland credit hire claim

    Horwich Farrelly said on 28 October 2026 that its Northern Ireland team and insurer 1st Central had defended in full a credit hire claim the firm described as one of the region's largest, with proceedings subsequently discontinued.

  8. Courts

    HM Inspectorate of Prisons review finds much of the prison estate inadequate

    A review of living conditions published by HM Inspectorate of Prisons on 3 November 2026, drawing on inspections of 40 prisons and more than 6,400 prisoner surveys, found persistent problems across the estate. Nicola Maynard of Reeds Solicitors LLP said the findings were deeply concerning.

  9. Courts

    Kingsley Napley judicial review over overseas medics' NHS training rights reaches permission hearing

    Kingsley Napley said in an announcement on its website that a permission hearing in its judicial review of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 is listed for 4 November at the Administrative Court.

  10. People & Moves

    Stephenson Harwood hires Matthew Bodfield for energy transition practice

    Stephenson Harwood said in an announcement on its website on 2 November 2026 that Corporate Partner Matthew Bodfield has joined its Energy Transition and Infrastructure practice in London from Osborne Clarke.

  11. People & Moves

    Sidley Austin Hires Competition Litigator Elaine Whiteford From Willkie Farr in London

    Sidley Austin said in an announcement on its website on 30 October 2026 that competition and antitrust litigator Elaine Whiteford has joined its Litigation practice group in London from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.

  12. People & Moves

    Slater Heelis strengthens probate and Court of Protection team

    Slater Heelis said in an announcement on its website on 22 October 2026 that it had strengthened its Contentious Probate and Contentious Court of Protection team, bringing together specialists to cover probate, estate and Court of Protection disputes.

  13. People & Moves

    Reed Smith names Andrew Jenkinson as London Office Managing Partner

    Reed Smith said in an announcement on its website that Andrew Jenkinson has been appointed London Office Managing Partner, returning to a role he held between 2015 and 2024.

  14. People & Moves

    Peter Swinburn re-elected as Clarke Willmott chief executive for second term

    Clarke Willmott said in an announcement on its website that Peter Swinburn has been re-elected chief executive, with his second term running from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2031.

  15. Deals & M&A

    Latham & Watkins advises on financing for Ember's takeover of Ashtead Technology

    Latham & Watkins said in an announcement on its website on 30 October 2026 that it had advised the arranger on the financing for Ember Infrastructure Management's £505 million recommended takeover of Ashtead Technology Holdings plc.

  16. People & Moves

    Clifford Chance Partners Re-elect Adrian Cartwright as Senior Partner

    Clifford Chance said in an announcement on its website that its partners have re-elected Adrian Cartwright as Senior Partner for a second, four-year term, confirmed on 30 October 2026.

  17. People & Moves

    McDermott Will & Schulte hires structured finance partner from Fried Frank

    McDermott Will & Schulte has added Cameron Mitcham as a partner in its London Finance Practice Group, as the firm continues a run of strategic hires across Europe.

  18. People & Moves

    DAC Beachcroft recruits two insurance coverage partners from RPC

    DAC Beachcroft said in an announcement on its website on 2 November 2026 that Toby Savage and Will Jones had joined the firm as partners to strengthen its global Marine & Energy Insurance practice.

  19. Regulation

    This week in regulation: 0 strike-offs and 3 SRA decisions, 26 October to 1 November 2026

    Law Week's regulation stories of the past seven days, plus the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, SRA, Legal Services Board and Legal Ombudsman notices published from 26 October to 1 November 2026, each with a link.

  20. Firms

    Horwich Farrelly introduces Hempsons by HF brand

    Horwich Farrelly said in an announcement on its website on 29 October 2026 that it has launched a new brand identity, Hempsons by HF, for the health and social care law firm following its acquisition in May.

  21. Deals & M&A

    Womble Bond Dickinson advises Piper on investment in Reeve the Baker

    Womble Bond Dickinson said on its website on 29 October 2026 that it had advised Piper on an investment involving Reeve the Baker.

  22. Deals & M&A

    Milbank advises North Star on $63bn financing to back Anthropic AI compute capacity

    Milbank said in an announcement on its website on 26 October 2026 that it advised Northstar Compute LLC on a $63 billion debt and equity raise arranged by Bank of America, Blackstone, Citi and Morgan Stanley to fund AI compute capacity built on Broadcom technology for Anthropic.

  23. Deals & M&A

    Reed Smith advises Colefax Group plc on £5 million share buyback tender offer

    Reed Smith said in an announcement on its website on 23 October 2026 that it advised Colefax Group plc on a £5 million share buyback tender offer.

  24. Deals & M&A

    Ashtons Legal advises Euston Ventures on United Silicones acquisition

    Ashtons Legal said it advised Bordon Industries, part of Euston Ventures, on completion of its purchase of United Silicones Limited on 6 May 2026.

  25. Legal Tech

    Harvey announces Latham & Watkins collaboration and FedRAMP certification

    Harvey has set out a collaboration with Latham & Watkins on fund formation capabilities and said separately that it has achieved FedRAMP Class D Certification, according to the company.

  26. Deals & M&A

    Birketts advises Aspect Group Holdings shareholders on sale to Cardo Group

    Birketts LLP has acted for the shareholders of Aspect Group Holdings Limited on the sale of Aspect Group Services to Cardo Group, the firm said in a press release.

  27. Regulation

    Bar Council welcomes new legal advice service for sexual violence survivors

    The first national Independent Legal Advice service for adult survivors of sexual violence has launched, funded by the Ministry of Justice, with the Bar Council calling for wider support across the justice process.

  28. Deals & M&A

    Harvey acquires Aida in fifth deal of 2026

    Harvey has announced the acquisition of Aida, an AI-native sales execution platform, saying the deal will help law firms build their own ontologies.

  29. Deals & M&A

    Moves and deals of the week: 22 stories, 23 to 29 October 2026

    Every firm, deal and people story Law Week published from 23 to 29 October 2026, one line each.

  30. Deals & M&A

    Ashurst Perkins Coie advises HSBC Innovation Bank on Gan Integrity financing

    Ashurst said in an announcement on its website that its Ashurst Perkins Coie practice advised HSBC Innovation Bank on a Term Loan, RCF and Banking Facilities provided to Gan Integrity, an Apax Partners portfolio company.

  31. Deals & M&A

    Mills & Reeve advises AML Analytics on investment from Covalent Equity Partners

    Mills & Reeve said in an announcement on its website that its corporate team advised AML Analytics on a growth investment from Covalent Equity Partners, published on 29 October 2026.

  32. People & Moves

    Antonia Power joins Clarke Willmott's Taunton office as corporate partner

    Clarke Willmott said in an announcement on its website on 23 October 2026 that Antonia Power had joined its Taunton office as a partner in the corporate team.

  33. Courts

    Mastercard and Visa face CAT claims over UK card fees

    Hausfeld said in an announcement on its website on 20 October 2026 that collective claims alleging unlawful Mastercard and Visa consumer card fees had been filed in the Competition Appeal Tribunal on behalf of eligible UK businesses.

  34. Firms

    Stephenson Harwood to take on DLA Piper's Bangkok office

    Stephenson Harwood said it has agreed to acquire DLA Piper's Bangkok office, launching a new office in Thailand with more than 40 staff including four partners.

  35. Regulation

    Tribunal refuses to revoke 2006 restriction order against unadmitted man

    The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has dismissed an application by Kevin Edwin Francis Gregory to review or revoke a section 43 order made against him in 2006, and ordered him to pay costs.

  36. Courts

    High Court dismisses jurisdiction challenge in injury claims by Australian residents

    Stewarts said in an announcement on its website that the High Court has thrown out a defendant's attempt to have personal injury proceedings moved to Australia, ruling that the case belongs in England and Wales.

  37. Firms

    DAC Beachcroft opens first Dubai office with three partner hires

    DAC Beachcroft said in an announcement on its website on 26 October 2026 that it had opened its first Middle East office in the Dubai International Financial Centre, bringing in three partners from Clyde & Co.

  38. Deals & M&A

    Bevan Brittan reappointed to HALA legal panel

    Bevan Brittan said in an announcement on its website on 29 October 2026 that it had been reappointed to the HALA legal panel.

  39. Deals & M&A

    Birketts appointed to Allica Bank legal panel

    Birketts said in an announcement on its website on 23 October 2026 that it has joined Allica Bank's legal panel to act on commercial property transactions.

  40. Deals & M&A

    Bevan Brittan says it has secured place on public service legal panel

    Bevan Brittan said in an announcement on its website, published on 20 October 2026, that it had won a place on a legal services panel for public service bodies in the UK.

  41. Regulation

    Legal Ombudsman reports sharp rise in complaints as it reforms caseload reporting

    LeO and the Office for Legal Complaints say demand is growing faster than the scheme can resolve cases, as they prepare to consult on a new 2027-2030 strategy.

  42. Legal Tech

    Legaltech venture Sieyès pitches pre-launch briefing on nationality research tool

    Christopher Jackson, co-founder of a venture called Sieyès, has asked Law Week to consider an independent briefing before the company's planned release of a research platform for citizenship by descent cases.

  43. Regulation

    Solicitor fined £10,500 over accounts and anti-money laundering failures

    The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found Musa Audu breached the Accounts Rules and anti-money laundering regulations but cleared him of dishonesty and of disclosing information to a client against police instructions.

  44. Courts

    Peters & Peters reports Mozambique Attorney General's success in Safa family appeal

    Peters & Peters said in an announcement on its website on 21 October 2026 that the Attorney General of Mozambique had succeeded in a Safa family appeal, though the firm gave no further detail of the case.

  45. Courts

    Blandy & Blandy reports costs ruling in FAZ v MAZ family case

    Blandy & Blandy said in an announcement on its website that a costs judgment handed down on 19 October 2026 followed its earlier success for a father in a private law children case.

  46. Courts

    Leigh Day says Tesco loses bid for Supreme Court appeal in equal pay case

    Leigh Day said in an announcement on its website on 23 October 2026 that the Supreme Court has refused Tesco permission to appeal a Court of Appeal ruling in the equal pay litigation.

  47. Deals & M&A

    Mills & Reeve advises Olive Catering founders on sale to Sodexo

    Mills & Reeve said in an announcement on its website on 16 October 2026 that it had advised the founders of Olive Catering Services on the sale of the business to Sodexo.

  48. Deals & M&A

    Wedlake Bell advises management team on MBO of Reeve the Baker

    Wedlake Bell said in an announcement on its website on 26 October 2026 that it advised the management team on the management buyout of Reeve the Baker.

  49. Regulation

    Lord Chancellor rebukes shadow justice secretary over judge criticism

    Alex Norris MP has written to Nick Timothy MP defending judicial independence after criticism of the Deputy Chief Magistrate, warning that personalised attacks on judges risk undermining public confidence.

  50. Courts

    HFW says it helped ANTAM end Emerald Star High Court claims

    Holman Fenwick Willan said in an announcement on its website on 23 October 2026 that it had helped Indonesian state-owned miner PT ANTAM Tbk bring English High Court proceedings over the sinking of the M/V Emerald Star to a close.

  51. Regulation

    Osborne Clarke partner reacts to entrepreneur tax relief changes in Autumn Budget

    Michael Carter of Osborne Clarke has commented on cuts to Business Asset Disposal Relief and the introduction of a new Founders Relief announced in the Autumn Budget.

  52. Courts

    Ashtons Legal settles £1.35 million brain injury claim for work placement student

    Ashtons Legal said in an announcement on its website on 26 October 2026 that personal injury specialist Roger Loomes had settled a £1.35 million claim for a client left disabled by a brain injury sustained in a workplace warehouse incident.

  53. Courts

    Exeter inquest jury finds wholesale failures contributed to deaths of Payne and Carter twins

    Deighton Pierce Glynn said a Coroner's jury in Exeter concluded that failures by police, council, NHS and G4S probably contributed to the deaths of three elderly men killed by Alex Lewis-Ranwell in 2019.

  54. People & Moves

    Mills & Reeve names Peter Mayhew as VC partner from Shakespeare Martineau

    Mills & Reeve announced on 20 October 2026 that corporate lawyer Peter Mayhew has joined its venture capital team as a partner from Shakespeare Martineau.

  55. Deals & M&A

    Birketts advises YFM Equity Partners on investment in TWO Services

    Birketts said in an announcement on its website on 22 October 2026 that it had advised YFM Equity Partners on a deal to invest in the company behind commercial kitchen specialist TWO Services.

  56. Legal Tech

    Legal AI company Harvey raises $550m at a $15.5bn valuation

    Harvey, whose AI platform is used by law firms and in-house legal teams, announced on 9 September 2026 that it had raised $550m at a $15.5bn valuation, in a round co-led by Diffusion and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

  57. People & Moves

    Brabners appoints David Cole as real estate partner in Leeds

    Brabners said in an announcement on its website on 21 October 2026 that David Cole has joined its Leeds office as a real estate partner.

  58. People & Moves

    HFW hires Nelson Wang as insurance partner in London, expands China offering

    Holman Fenwick Willan said in an announcement on its website on 26 October 2026 that it has hired Nelson Wang as a partner in London to strengthen its global insurance and reinsurance practice and its Greater China capabilities.

  59. People & Moves

    Hodge Jones & Allen Appoints Serious Injury Lawyer Daryl Robinson

    Hodge Jones & Allen said in an announcement on its website that it had appointed serious injury lawyer Daryl Robinson from Moore Barlow on 26 October 2026.

  60. People & Moves

    Clyde & Co recruits aviation partners Dave Pflieger and Tannie Kwong

    Clyde & Co said on 26 October 2026 that it had added two partners, Dave Pflieger and Tannie Kwong, to its global aviation practice.

  61. Deals & M&A

    Schofield Sweeney advises on sale of Yorkshire drinks wholesaler Tate-Smith

    Schofield Sweeney said in an announcement on its website on 23 October 2026 that its corporate team had advised the shareholders of Tate-Smith Limited on the sale of the business to Deckers Hospitality Group Ltd.

  62. People & Moves

    DAC Beachcroft appoints Clare Dewar as Scottish Real Estate partner

    DAC Beachcroft said in an announcement on its website that it has appointed Clare Dewar as a partner in its Real Estate team in Scotland, joining from Brodies.

  63. Firms

    Cygnet Law launches neurodiversity-aware legal service after Daisy Chain training

    Teesside firm Cygnet Law has launched a dedicated service for neurodivergent clients across its family, conveyancing and wills departments, after staff trained with the local autism charity Daisy Chain.

  64. Regulation

    SRA intervenes into Bruffell Williams Solicitors

    The Solicitors Regulation Authority has intervened into the remainder of Bruffell Williams Solicitors, a recognised body based in Guildford, saying the move was necessary to protect former clients.

  65. Deals & M&A

    Milbank Advises Bookrunners on Titan Global Finance Tap Bond Offering

    Milbank said in an announcement on its website that it advised the bookrunners on a tap bond offering by Titan Global Finance Plc, published on 27 October 2026.

  66. Deals & M&A

    Schofield Sweeney advises Freixenet Copestick on sale of Jascots Wine Merchants

    Schofield Sweeney said in an announcement on its website on 27 October 2026 that its corporate team had advised Freixenet Copestick on the sale of Jascots Wine Merchants to Italian company Compagnia del Gusto Holding.

  67. Deals & M&A

    Clifford Chance advises CICC on completed three-way merger with Dongxing and Cinda Securities

    Clifford Chance said in an announcement on its website that it advised China International Capital Corporation Limited on a three-way merger with Dongxing Securities and Cinda Securities, completed on 26 October 2026.

  68. Deals & M&A

    Ashurst Perkins Coie advises Ashtead Technology on £505m takeover by Ember Infrastructure

    Ashurst Perkins Coie said on 21 October 2026 that it is acting for Ashtead Technology Holdings plc on a recommended £505 million takeover by a vehicle backed by Ember Infrastructure Management.

  69. Regulation

    Solicitor reprimanded over unauthorised client account payment

    The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has reprimanded former Freeths LLP partner Peter Albany Baker after he admitted authorising a payment from the wrong client's account, following an agreed outcome with the SRA.

  70. Legal Tech

    Hogan Lovells Cadwalader adopts Harvey AI across three practice groups

    Hogan Lovells Cadwalader has adopted the legal AI platform Harvey in its Corporate and Finance, Litigation and Arbitration, and Regulatory and IP practices, Harvey announced on 16 October 2026.

  71. People & Moves

    Laytons ETL names Kathryn Beasley Head of Corporate

    Laytons ETL said in an announcement on its website that Kathryn Beasley has been promoted to Head of Corporate, a move it said reflects the progress made by the corporate team under her direction.

  72. Firms

    Leathes Prior takes new Norwich premises at Seebohm House in 150th year

    Leathes Prior said in an announcement on its website that it has taken on new office space at Seebohm House in Norwich, in the year it marks 150 years since its founding.

  73. Deals & M&A

    WFW advises Rabobank on Finnish battery storage project financing

    Watson Farley & Williams said in an announcement on its website, published on 26 October 2026, that it had advised Rabobank on the financing of a battery energy storage system project in Finland.

  74. Firms

    Administrators appointed to Rahman Ravelli Solicitors Ltd

    Andrew Hosking and Jamie Taylor of BTG Begbies Traynor have been appointed administrators of Rahman Ravelli Solicitors Ltd, according to a notice filed with the High Court.

  75. Firms

    Stone King acquires technology and media boutique Tacit Legal

    Stone King said in an announcement on its website that it had acquired Tacit Legal, bringing three partners into its commercial team to strengthen its technology, media and AI expertise.

  76. Regulation

    Solicitor rebuked over drink-driving conviction and late reporting to SRA

    Enyinda Chinda has agreed a regulatory settlement with the SRA after a conviction for driving with excess alcohol and a delay in reporting it.

  77. Regulation

    This week in regulation: 0 strike-offs and 10 SRA decisions, 19 to 25 October 2026

    Law Week's regulation stories of the past seven days, plus the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, SRA, Legal Services Board and Legal Ombudsman notices published from 19 to 25 October 2026, each with a link.

  78. Firms

    Mercury Legal LLP enters creditors' voluntary liquidation

    The Chester-based law firm passed resolutions to wind up voluntarily on 15 October 2026, with a liquidator appointed from Marshall Peters.

  79. Regulation

    Solicitor appealing stalking conviction referred to SDT, allegations unproven

    The SRA has referred Andrew Jonathan Milne to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, which has certified a case to answer on allegations that include his conviction for stalking. The allegations are unproven, and Mr Milne is appealing the conviction.

  80. Courts

    Mother ordered to pay father £27,109.75 in costs over unproven abuse claims

    Mr Justice Poole found a mother acted unreasonably in pursuing sexual abuse allegations against the father that were not proved, and ordered her to pay a quarter of his assessed costs of the fact finding hearing.

  81. Regulation

    Report calls for holistic overhaul of justice system, including single legal regulator

    A report by Christopher Hodges OBE, commissioned by the Nuffield Foundation, sets out proposals to restructure civil and administrative justice around prevention and learning, including replacing the existing eight frontline legal regulators with one body.

  82. Courts

    Judge rebukes Defence Secretary over repeated missed deadlines in Afghan relocation cases

    Mr Justice Chamberlain ordered the Secretary of State for Defence to pay costs on the indemnity basis, if not agreed, after a late application to extend time, the latest in a series, led to the adjournment of the substantive hearing in three linked judicial reviews.

  83. Firms

    Duty solicitor numbers rise to 3,944, still 25% below 2017

    Legal Aid Agency figures published on 24 September 2026 count 2,012 contracted legal aid providers and 3,944 duty solicitors, against 5,240 duty solicitors in October 2017.

  84. Regulation

    CMS report names UK among top class action risk jurisdictions in Europe

    The sixth annual CMS European Class Action Report flags the UK, Netherlands and Portugal as the highest-risk jurisdictions for collective claims, with Spain one to watch.

  85. Regulation

    Bar Council joins call for withdrawal of US sanctions on ICC

    The Bar Council of England and Wales has signed a joint statement with other bar and law associations urging the US administration to withdraw sanctions against the International Criminal Court and its personnel.

  86. Firms

    Administrators appointed to Riverside Legal Services, trading as MSR Solicitors

    Sandra Fender of Sanderlings LLP has been appointed administrator of the company, which trades as MSR Solicitors from an address on New Bridge Street, London.

  87. Regulation

    SRA pauses rules on separating compliance and firm leadership roles

    The regulator says it will not roll out planned rules requiring separation of compliance and unilateral roles in firms as scheduled in January, after feedback on potential unintended consequences for smaller firms.

  88. Regulation

    SRA bars apprentice solicitor over dishonesty about arrest

    Owen Goodhand was made subject to a section 43 order after he lied to his firm about being arrested and later admitted the dishonesty to its compliance officer.

  89. Regulation

    SRA intervenes into Preston firm Gowlings Solicitors

    The Solicitors Regulation Authority has intervened into Gowlings Solicitors Limited, appointing an intervening agent to protect clients' interests.

  90. Regulation

    This week in regulation: 0 strike-offs and 5 SRA decisions, 12 to 18 October 2026

    Law Week's regulation stories of the past seven days, plus the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, SRA, Legal Services Board and Legal Ombudsman notices published from 12 to 18 October 2026, each with a link.

  91. Regulation

    Judge issued formal warning over year-long delay in tribunal case

    Her Honour Judge Lynn Griffin has received a formal warning after a nominated judge found she failed to progress proceedings with due diligence, delaying judgment for over a year.

  92. Regulation

    LawCare joins new Solicitor Wellbeing Alliance for England and Wales

    LawCare, the Law Society of England and Wales, the Solicitors' Charity and the Mindful Business Charter have launched a joint alliance to coordinate support for solicitors' mental health and wellbeing.

  93. Courts

    Axiom Ince executive enters further not guilty plea over document destruction charge

    Muhammad Ali has pleaded not guilty to a further count of conspiracy to destroy documents in the SFO's ongoing prosecution over the collapse of Axiom Ince.

  94. Deals & M&A

    Moves and deals of the week: 3 stories, 9 to 15 October 2026

    Every firm, deal and people story Law Week published from 9 to 15 October 2026, one line each.

  95. Firms

    Hillingdon Law Centre shuts for good after funding shortfall

    The west London law centre, which had served the area for more than 40 years, has permanently closed after an earlier temporary suspension, the Law Centres Network has confirmed.

  96. Regulation

    Barrister disbarred after legal aid fraud conviction

    An independent disciplinary tribunal ordered Rasib Ghaffar to be disbarred following his conviction for conspiracy to defraud the legal aid fund, the Bar Standards Board has said.

  97. Regulation

    SRA names Caroline Corby as new Board Chair

    The Solicitors Regulation Authority has confirmed Caroline Corby will take over as Chair of its Board from 23 November 2026, succeeding Anna Bradley.

  98. Deals & M&A

    DMH Stallard merges with Godalming firm GBH Law

    Southeast law firm DMH Stallard has announced a merger with GBH Law, a Godalming-based legal practice.

  99. People & Moves

    SRA appoints Shrin Honap and Ben Allgrove to its Board

    The Solicitors Regulation Authority has named two new Board members who will join in January, replacing Liz Smart and Rob McWilliam.

  100. Firms

    Solicitor firm numbers fall to 8,923 as sole practices shrink

    SRA figures for August 2026 count 8,923 regulated law firms, down 110 on a year earlier, while the number of practising solicitors rose by 4,917 to 179,054.

  101. Courts

    Children cases between separated parents took 52.7 weeks in London against 14.5 in Wales

    Private law children cases in England and Wales took 33.5 weeks on average to conclude in April to June 2026, Ministry of Justice figures show, and neither party had a lawyer in 51% of them.

  102. Courts

    Civil claims took 69.1 weeks to reach trial, with Oxford the slowest of the busier county courts

    Ministry of Justice figures for April to June 2026 show fast, multi and intermediate track claims took an average of 69.1 weeks from issue to trial. At Oxford the average was 90.4 weeks.

  103. Regulation

    SRA consults on changes to solicitor competence framework

    Regulator seeks views on updates to the Statement of Solicitor Competence and functioning legal knowledge, with changes due to take effect from September.

  104. Regulation

    Solicitor struck off for practising without insurance and misleading SRA

    Andrew Lee, former sole director of Prometheus Law, has been struck off the Roll after the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found he acted dishonestly over three years.

  105. Regulation

    Solicitor struck off after backdated letter misled court over missed service deadline

    Gabriel Awosika missed the deadline to serve a clinical negligence claim on an NHS trust, then told a judge he had served it on time and produced a letter the court found was backdated. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found him dishonest and struck him off.

  106. Legal Tech

    Disclosure and predictive coding: how courts scrutinise technology-assisted review

    Technology-assisted review is now a routine part of large disclosure exercises, but using it properly means satisfying the court, not just the software vendor.

  107. Regulation

    Evidence, Costs and Appeals: The Rules Behind an SDT Case

    Beyond the headline sanctions, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal runs on its own rules of evidence, costs and appeal that shape how every case actually plays out.

  108. Deals & M&A

    From Red Flag to Resolution: How Due Diligence Issues Get Negotiated Away

    A red flag in due diligence is rarely a deal-breaker on its own; what matters is how buyers and sellers negotiate it into the contract.

  109. Regulation

    How a Case Reaches the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

    Before any hearing takes place, a case has to travel a long road from complaint to referral, and most never get that far.

  110. Courts

    Leapfrog Appeals: How Some Cases Skip the Court of Appeal Entirely

    A look at the little-used procedure that lets certain cases jump straight from the High Court to the Supreme Court, bypassing the Court of Appeal.

  111. Firms

    Lockstep or eat-what-you-kill? How law firms decide what partners earn

    Behind every partnership agreement sits a remuneration system, and the choice between lockstep, merit-based pay and hybrid models shapes how a firm behaves as much as how it pays.

  112. Deals & M&A

    Materiality, Scope and Reliance: What a Red Flag Report Leaves Out

    Red flag reports are built around deliberate limits on scope and materiality, and understanding those limits matters as much as reading the flags themselves.

  113. Courts

    Permission to Appeal: The Gatekeeping Test That Decides Who Gets a Second Hearing

    Most appeals in England and Wales never get off the ground because a judge has to grant permission first, and understanding that filter matters as much as understanding the appeal itself.

  114. Regulation

    Privilege in internal investigations: why the 'dominant purpose' test matters so much

    Legal professional privilege works differently depending on whether a business is seeking legal advice or facing a regulatory probe, and getting the distinction wrong can expose sensitive material to disclosure.

  115. Legal Tech

    Running an E-Discovery Project: The Practical Workflow Behind the Technology

    Beyond the courtroom debates about predictive coding, e-discovery is a project that firms and clients have to plan, cost and manage, and understanding the workflow explains why it costs what it does.

  116. Legal Tech

    When a Smart Contract Goes Wrong: Disputes, Jurisdiction and Remedies

    Code can execute automatically, but when something goes wrong the law still has to work out who is liable, which court hears it and what the remedy looks like.

  117. People & Moves

    Training contracts, the SQE and apprenticeships: choosing your route into the profession

    With several ways to qualify as a solicitor now running side by side, the practical choice for aspiring lawyers is less about rules and more about funding, structure and which employer path suits them.

  118. People & Moves

    Who Does What: How Barristers, Solicitors and Legal Executives Work Together on a Case

    Three different professionals can all call themselves lawyers in England and Wales, but understanding who actually does what helps you make sense of your bill and your case.

  119. Regulation

    Legal professional privilege: when it can be lost, waived or challenged

    Privilege is often described as absolute, but in practice it has sharp edges, and understanding where those edges lie matters as much as understanding the protection itself.

  120. Regulation

    SDT Sanctions Explained: From Reprimand to Striking Off

    When the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal finds a case proved, the sanction it imposes can range from a formal warning to permanent removal from the profession, and each carries different practical consequences.

  121. Regulation

    What the SRA's Role Actually Is in Regulating Solicitors

    The Solicitors Regulation Authority exists to protect the public and uphold trust in legal services, but its remit has firm boundaries that are often misunderstood.

  122. Firms

    Making Partner: The Financial Mechanics Behind Equity and Salaried Status

    Beyond the job title, becoming an equity partner changes how you are taxed, how you are paid, and what you personally stand to lose.

  123. Opinion

    Why Fixed Fees Are Reshaping How Firms Price Work

    Fixed pricing is forcing law firms to understand their own costs properly for the first time, and that shift matters more than the fee arrangement itself.

  124. Legal Tech

    What a Smart Contract Can and Cannot Do Legally

    Self-executing code is often marketed as a replacement for lawyers, but English law treats a smart contract as a tool for performing an agreement, not a substitute for one.

  125. Legal Tech

    How E-Discovery and Technology-Assisted Review Work

    Large disputes now turn on millions of documents rather than a few box files, so lawyers rely on structured e-discovery workflows and predictive software to find what matters without reading everything by hand.

  126. Deals & M&A

    How Conditions Precedent Work in an M&A Completion

    When a deal signs but does not complete on the same day, conditions precedent are the gateway that must be cleared before ownership actually changes hands.

  127. Deals & M&A

    What a Legal 'Red Flag' Report Is in Due Diligence

    A red flag report is the short, prioritised summary lawyers produce during due diligence to flag the issues that could actually affect whether a deal happens or on what terms.

  128. Courts

    What Pre-Action Protocols Require Before a Civil Claim

    Before anyone issues proceedings in the civil courts of England and Wales, they are expected to follow a set process of warning, disclosure and negotiation, and getting it wrong can be costly.

  129. Courts

    How the Appeals System Works in England and Wales

    A decision going against you is not usually the end of the road, but appealing is narrower and harder than most people expect.

  130. People & Moves

    Barrister, Solicitor or Legal Executive: The Three Routes Through the Legal Profession

    England and Wales has three distinct legal professions, not two, each with its own regulator, training route and way of working with clients.

  131. Courts

    Binance group action grows to 2,700 claimants as KP Law puts claim above £250m

    More than 1,000 retail investors in England and Wales have joined the High Court claim over crypto derivatives allegedly sold without FCA authorisation, days before the regulator opens its new crypto authorisation gateway.

  132. People & Moves

    Qualifying work experience: how solicitors now train under the SQE system

    The traditional two-year training contract has been replaced by a more flexible system of qualifying work experience, and it changes how firms bring on new solicitors.

  133. Regulation

    Legal professional privilege: how it protects client communications

    A guide to the rule that lets clients speak candidly to their lawyers, why it matters, and where its limits lie.

  134. Regulation

    What Happens in a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal Case

    When a solicitor's conduct is serious enough to go beyond an SRA fine, it can end up before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, a separate court-like body with the power to strike a solicitor off.

  135. Firms

    Equity vs Salaried Partnership: How Law Firm Ownership Really Works

    Not all partners own the firm; here is the difference between equity and salaried partners, and why it matters to clients and lawyers alike.

  136. Firms

    The Billable Hour Explained, and How Alternative Fee Arrangements Work Differently

    Law firms have priced work by the hour for decades, but fixed fees, caps and contingency arrangements now sit alongside it, each shifting risk between client and lawyer in a different way.

  137. Legal Tech

    How law reports and legal citations work

    Those strings of brackets and abbreviations after a case name are not decoration. They are an address system for the law, telling lawyers exactly where a judgment lives and how much authority it carries.

  138. Legal Tech

    Legal fee-finance platform LawyerClientConnect reports 850 fee earners signed up

    LawyerClientConnect, an FCA-regulated credit broker offering finance for legal clients and fee earners, says around 850 fee earners are now represented on its platform six months after launch, and is preparing to launch a fee-advance product for lawyers.

  139. Firms

    Express Solicitors reports record £117.2m turnover

    Manchester-based Express Solicitors says it has recorded turnover of £117.2m, according to a statement issued by the firm.

  140. Firms

    Conveyancing explained: the legal side of moving home

    Buying a house is not just handing over money for keys. Conveyancing is the legal machinery that transfers ownership, from searches and contracts to exchange, completion and registration - and to the point of no return.

  141. Firms

    Wills and probate: how the process works

    When someone dies, their estate has to be gathered in, debts and tax paid, and what remains passed on. How probate authorises that, what changes when there is no will, and where solicitors fit in.

  142. Courts

    Employment tribunals: how workplace disputes are decided

    Unfair dismissal, discrimination, unpaid wages - the forum for most disputes between workers and employers is the employment tribunal. How a claim gets there, the tight deadlines, and why it is now free to bring.

  143. Courts

    How legal aid works in England and Wales

    Public funding for legal help exists, but it is narrower than many assume. What legal aid covers, the means and merits tests that gate it, and why so much civil law now falls outside its scope.

  144. Courts

    Mediation and arbitration: resolving disputes outside court

    Most disputes never reach a judge. The two main routes around the courtroom - a mediator who helps parties settle, and an arbitrator who decides - work in very different ways, and the courts increasingly expect them to be tried.

  145. People & Moves

    Rights of audience: who can speak in which court

    The right to stand up and argue a case in court is not open to every lawyer. It is a reserved legal activity, and the rules on who has it separate barristers, solicitor-advocates and everyone else.

  146. People & Moves

    What in-house legal counsel do

    A growing share of solicitors work not in law firms but inside companies, charities and public bodies. How the in-house role differs from private practice, and why privilege is trickier when your only client is your employer.

  147. Regulation

    Conflicts of interest: when a solicitor cannot act

    A solicitor owes undivided loyalty to a client, and the conduct rules are strict about when a conflicting interest means a firm has to decline or drop the work. How the two kinds of conflict are treated differently.

  148. Regulation

    Professional indemnity insurance: the cover every law firm must carry

    Firms regulated by the SRA cannot practise without qualifying insurance on strict minimum terms. What that cover protects, why it is unusually demanding, and what happens when a firm closes.

  149. Opinion

    When drafting is commoditised, judgement is the product

    If machines can produce a competent first draft of almost anything, what is a lawyer actually being paid for? An argument about where the value now sits.

  150. Legal Tech

    AI in legal practice: what it can do and where it goes wrong

    Generative AI is spreading through law firms, but a series of court rulings has shown what happens when lawyers trust it too far. The uses, and the risks.

  151. Deals & M&A

    Litigation funding explained: how third-party funding works

    A funder with no stake in the dispute pays the legal bills in exchange for a cut of any win - and a 2023 Supreme Court ruling has left much of the market's paperwork in legal limbo ever since.

  152. Courts

    How the civil courts of England and Wales are structured

    From the County Court to the Supreme Court, a guide to the hierarchy that decides civil disputes and how a case moves up it on appeal.

  153. Firms

    Magic Circle and Silver Circle law firms, explained

    Neither term is an official ranking, but both shape how the City's legal market talks about itself - what the two tiers mean and which firms sit in them.

  154. Regulation

    What the Legal Ombudsman does

    When a complaint about a lawyer cannot be resolved with the firm, it can go to the Legal Ombudsman. How the free, independent service works and what it can order.

  155. Courts

    How civil claims are allocated: small claims, fast, intermediate and multi-track

    Since October 2023 there have been four tracks, not three - how the value and complexity of a civil claim decides which procedural path it takes through the courts.

  156. Regulation

    How the SRA regulates solicitors and law firms

    The Solicitors Regulation Authority sets the rules for solicitors in England and Wales and enforces them. What its powers are and how discipline works.

  157. People & Moves

    What is the SQE, the route to qualifying as a solicitor?

    Since 2021 the path to becoming a solicitor in England and Wales runs through a single national exam. How the SQE works and what it replaced.

  158. People & Moves

    Barristers and solicitors: what is the difference?

    England and Wales splits its legal profession in two. What each branch actually does, how they are regulated and where the old dividing lines have blurred.

  159. Courts

    What is judicial review, explained

    Not an appeal against a decision, but a challenge to how it was made - how judicial review holds public bodies to the limits of their own powers.

  160. Deals & M&A

    What legal due diligence in an M&A deal involves

    Before a company changes hands, lawyers pull it apart on paper. A guide to what due diligence looks for and why it shapes the whole transaction.

  161. Firms

    How solicitors must handle client money

    The SRA Accounts Rules keep the money a firm holds for its clients strictly separate from its own. Here is why that ringfence is one of the profession's most important protections.

  162. Firms

    How legal fees and costs work in England and Wales

    Hourly rates, fixed fees, no-win-no-fee and the loser-pays rule: a plain guide to how lawyers charge and who ends up paying.

  163. Firms

    How a UK law firm is structured as an LLP

    Most sizeable law firms in England and Wales trade as limited liability partnerships. Here is what that legal form actually means for the people who own and run them.

  164. Legal Tech

    Firms move generative AI from pilot to everyday practice

    Adoption of generative AI tools is spreading from innovation teams to fee-earners, prompting fresh guidance on supervision, confidentiality and professional competence.

  165. Courts

    Litigation funders await clarity as market reform nears

    The sector is bracing for the Civil Justice Council's recommendations on third-party funding, two years after the Supreme Court's PACCAR ruling upended standard agreements.

  166. Opinion

    When AI can draft anything, reputation is the last moat left

    As machines commoditise the mechanics of legal work, trust, brand and named authority become the only differentiators a firm cannot be undercut on.

  167. Regulation

    Companies House identity checks become mandatory for directors

    New rules under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act require directors and people with significant control to verify their identity, reshaping day-to-day incorporation work.

  168. People & Moves

    Partner hiring market stays competitive heading into autumn

    Firms continue to pay up for laterals in disputes, restructuring and energy, even as some practices quietly trim less profitable teams to protect partner profits.

  169. Firms

    City firms post another year of revenue growth

    The latest reporting season points to a resilient top line across the largest UK practices, though partners warn that rising costs are steadily squeezing margins.

  170. Opinion

    The billable hour isn't dying, but the firms clinging to it are

    AI is collapsing the time it takes to do legal work, and firms that still sell time by the hour are quietly pricing themselves out of their own efficiency.

  171. Deals & M&A

    Deal lawyers see M&A pipeline rebuild as rate cuts loom

    Corporate teams report a steadier flow of mid-market mandates after a subdued couple of years, with private capital driving much of the renewed activity.

  172. Opinion

    Most law firms still market like it's 2005, and the sharp ones are quietly eating their lunch

    The brochure-and-directory playbook still dominates legal marketing, yet the firms winning the best work have swapped it for something closer to publishing.

  173. Regulation

    SRA widens anti-money-laundering crackdown on law firms

    The regulator has signalled tougher enforcement and more thematic inspections as it presses firms to close persistent gaps in client due diligence and source-of-funds checks.

  174. Deals & M&A

    Private equity deepens its push into legal services

    Investors are stepping up acquisitions of consumer-facing firms through alternative business structures, testing how far outside capital can reshape the profession.

  175. Firms

    Restructuring teams stay busy as corporate insolvencies hold high

    Elevated company failures and a steady stream of director disqualifications are keeping insolvency and restructuring lawyers among the busiest in the market.