A review of 25 firms by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), published this week, uncovered lack of awareness of the SRA’s latest guidance on conduct in disputes, lack of policies and procedures for this work and lack of specific training.
It found three cases where a firm had identified potential abusive litigation by another firm but had not reported it, despite there being a professional obligation to do so.
Concern about SLAPPs has increased since the invasion of Ukraine, with complaints that wealthy individuals are silencing criticism by threatening potentially ruinous but unmerited defamation proceedings.
Paul Philip, chief executive of the SRA, which has 40 live investigations linked to SLAPPs, said: ‘This review shows some firms need to do more.’
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