Solicitors have been issued with a stern warning not to become ‘hired guns’ when engaged in litigation. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) this week refreshed its Balancing Duties in Litigation paper on professional misconduct. While solicitors have a duty to act in the best interests of clients, they also have obligations to the courts, third parties and to the public interest, and must act with integrity and uphold the rule of law. SRA chief executive Paul Philip gave as an example of misconduct ‘including clauses in non-disclosure agreements which seek to prevent lawful disclosure of harassment or discrimination’.
28 November 2018
No ‘hired guns’, SRA warns
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke
Shakespeare Martineau strengthens Sheffield regulatory practice with new hires
Sackers—Louise McRae & Annabella Hwang
Sackers recruits new associates
McHale & Co—Shaun Little & Patrick Byrne
Firm bolsters senior team with head of corporate and head of employment
NEWS
A wide-ranging Civil Way column highlights developments from insolvency procedure to employment law, but one case stands out for its lessons on bankruptcy, family homes and digital communications
A sprawling Intellectual Property Office battle between House of Fraser and Frasers Property has delivered a masterclass in modern trade mark law
Courts in England and Wales and Singapore are increasingly confronting complex disputes over international child relocation as families become more globally mobile
The government’s long-awaited family law reform consultation could mark a turning point for domestic abuse victims navigating financial remedy proceedings, but significant challenges remain
A new commercial court pilot giving the public access to documents used in hearings, including expert reports, is raising difficult questions about transparency and privacy
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