A synopsis of panel session 5, which takes place on 6 October at ICLR Singapore, kindly provided by the session’s moderator, Susan Saab Fortney – Professor and Associate Dean for Research, Texas A & M University School of Law. Conference materials will be made available to ICLR.net members after the conference. The session examines new regulatory…
The new route to qualification as a solicitor: the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)
In April 2017, the SRA announced that it would be introducing a new national licensing exam for those wishing to be admitted as solicitors of England and Wales, the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, or the SQE. Where did this idea come from? And why is reform necessary? What is the current system for qualification as a…
Focus on…cyber attacks
Cybercrime is now considered one of the leading risks to the global economy. Data is the world’s new natural resource. It is the new basis of competitive advantage, and it is transforming every profession and industry. Despite the lessons of the so-called ‘Panama Papers’ scandal of 2016, law firms continue to be soft targets for…
A review of the SRA’s ‘Trust and the Market’ Conference
On 22 June, the SRA hosted “Trust and the market: Building confidence”. The conference attracted more than 142 participants, reaching beyond the legal profession to regulators of other professions, government bodies, think tanks, parliamentarians and academics. SRA Chief Executive Paul Philip talked about the balance to be struck between building confidence and public protection, and…
Focus on… ABS investment activity
A major aim of the introduction of alternative business structures (ABS) in England and Wales was to allow new forms of capital into regulated law firms to improve market efficiency. Enabling external investment in law firms was designed to allow less reliance on short term sources of financing such as personal debt and overdrafts. The…
ICLR 2017 – Panel: “Protecting the Vulnerable”
A synopsis of panel session 7, which takes place on 6 October at ICLR Singapore, kindly provided by the session’s moderator, Lim Tanguy – Chief Executive Officer, Law Society Pro Bono Services Limited. Conference materials will be made available to ICLR.net members after the conference. This panel discussion will hear from regulators on the work that…
ICLR 2017 – Panel: “Disruption in the Legal Profession: Automated/Semi-Automated Online Delivery of Legal Services”
A synopsis of panel session 6, which takes place on 6 October at ICLR Singapore, kindly provided by the session’s moderator, Robert Hawley. Conference materials will be made available to ICLR.net members after the conference. Moderator: Robert A. Hawley – Former Deputy and Acting Executive Director, State Bar of California, USA Speakers: Crispin Passmore – Executive…
Focus on…Brexit
Legal regulators sitting in other parts of the world might be forgiven for thinking that ‘Brexit’, the decision by the UK to leave the European Union, is of general geopolitical and economic interest but has little direct relevance to their work. This is not necessarily the case. The UK legal services economy, which is estimated…
ICLR 2017 – Panel: “Overcoming Stigma”
A synopsis of panel session 4, which takes place on 5 October at ICLR Singapore, kindly provided by the session’s moderator, Tracy Kepler. Conference materials will be made available to ICLR.net members after the conference. Moderator: Tracy L. Kepler, Director, ABA Center for Professional Responsibility Panelists: Kuah Boon Theng – Vice-President of the Law Society…
Profile of a regulator: Roscoe Banks
Roscoe Banks – Qatar Financial Centre Authority (“QFCA”) Role: Legal Director Background: Attorney, Webber Wentzel Bowens, Johannesburg; Solicitor, Harbottle & Lewis, London; Senior Legal Counsel, Shell International Limited Tell us a little bit about yourself… I’m currently in my 5th year of living in Doha, Qatar having previously worked in private practice and the oil and…