Leaseholders in blocks of flats have the ‘right to manage’ (RTM) their homes by setting up a management company to take-over management from the freeholder. However, at present few exercise the right as it is seen as too uncertain and…read more
Pay-outs for inadequate pension advice double in three years. Published March 2019
Compensation payments for inadequate pension transfer advice have hit £40 million, doubling in three years, the Financial Times has reported. The jump in compensation follows a seven-times increase in the value of defined benefit (DB) pension transfers over a similar…read more
Pension administrator liable for investment in ‘green oil’ fraud. Published February 2019
A pension administration firm has failed to overturn a Financial Ombudsman’s (FOS) decision after it invested a client’s money in a fraudulent ‘green oil’ scheme. Berkeley Burke, a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) administration firm, was ordered to compensate its client,…read more
Judge allows increase in court costs budget. Published February 2019
The High Court has approved a substantial increase in a costs budget after a ‘significant development’ in the case. The move has been welcomed by costs lawyers as it shows that the courts are willing to be flexible on budgets. …read more
Fully-video court hearings extended to CCJ set aside applications. Published January 2019
The courts have moved another step towards fully-video hearings. A pilot scheme in Manchester and Birmingham will test a procedure for applications to set aside County Court default judgments. The trial follows the first fully-video hearings of tax tribunal appeals,…read more
Plans to reduce solicitors’ professional indemnity insurance cover postponed. Published February 2019
Plans to reduce the level of professional indemnity insurance (PII) cover required by solicitors have been put on hold by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The regulator had been expected to make moves to reduce the minimum PII cover from…read more
Solicitors warned about acting as ‘hired guns’. Published January 2019
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors not to become ‘hired guns’ who carry out their clients’ instructions whilst ignoring their wider duties to the courts, third parties and the public interest. The regulator’s reminder comes in the wake…read more
