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09 September 2016 / Frank Maher
Issue: 7713 / Categories: Features , Brexit
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Brexit: a risky business?

What does Brexit mean for law firm risk, asks Frank Maher

Already there are press reports that some leading law firms are battening down the hatches in anticipation of either a full recession, or at least a downturn in activity in particular sectors such as real estate, following the UK’s referendum decision on 23 June 2016 to leave the European Union.

The risks to business and the wider economy have been widely explored in the press, and law firms can expect, to some extent, to follow the fortunes of their clients, but what are the professional liability risks which law firms may face? As we enter uncharted waters, this article attempts to explore some preliminary thoughts on where those risks may lie.

Cream of the crop

Many of the lawyers advising on Brexit issues will be among the cream of the profession and will doubtless have a thorough grounding in the area of law in which they practise. Errors of law were an infrequent source of claims in the past, but this is

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

From mowing lawns to life at the Bar: Stephen Ward reflects on an unconventional career

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Commercial property partner joins Clarke Willmott in Southampton

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Robert Tiffen joins Ellisons as Partner in growing Norwich office

NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

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