Weightmans has a proven track record of providing advice for solicitors in relation to the issues that arise in their professional and personal lives. The width and breadth of our team of independently recognised experts means that, amongst law firms, we are perfectly placed to provide a service that is truly holistic.
We advise on all aspects of the issues that legal practitioners encounter — from highly experienced managers and equity partners, to those taking up partnership for the first time, and from assistant solicitors to trainees.
We can provide expert advice on the following:
Advising on regulatory and disciplinary issues
We regularly advise on regulatory issues and provide representation in SRA investigations, SRA disciplinary proceedings and Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal proceedings.
Our highly experienced team is recognised as one of the leading firms in this field, securing the best possible outcomes for our clients who range from partners in large international firms to sole practitioners and from solicitors to trainees. Our expertise is reflected in the fact that we have been listed in Tier 1 of the leading independent directories, the Legal 500 and Chambers UK, for years. Members of our team regularly represent clients in cutting edge cases.
Our team includes contributing editors for the Law Society’s Solicitors Handbook, Cordery on Legal Services, and Atkins on Legal Services. We publish summaries of recent legal developments for one of the leading practitioner online resources, PLC and we act as cases editor for the Law Society’s Legal Compliance Bulletin. Learn more about our capability in defending solicitors in disciplinary proceedings.
Solicitors’ LLP and partnership disputes
Our respected partnership team specialises in acting for solicitors in partnerships, including limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and has decades of experience in solicitors’ disputes. We are routinely ranked as leaders in partnership law in the leading independent directories.
Our experience ranges from dealing with outgoing partners and teams of lawyers to advising on internal political disputes, disagreements regarding the distribution of profits and all aspects of the cut and thrust of life in legal practice.
Managing risk in legal practice and defending professional negligence claims
Our professional negligence solicitors provide a full risk, reputation management and claims resolution service for business professionals and their insurers. We appear on the panels on a number of specialist legal insurers.
We also offer Compli, a bespoke risk management and compliance consultancy service which can help to manage and eradicate risk in all aspects of legal practice, including compliance and AML processes and procedures.
AML audits
We have solicitors who specialise in independent AML audits for solicitors’ firms.
Employment law issues
Whether you are an employed legal advisor or employ personnel in your own legal business, as most solicitors and legal advisers do, we can assist you with all aspects of employment law including:
- employment contracts;
- policies and procedures;
- employment tribunal claims of all types and complexity;
- grievance and disciplinary advice;
- HR investigations; and
- settlement agreements.
We are used to advising managers of solicitors firms and individual solicitors on SRA reports on HR and employment matters and the SRA’s requirements on NDAs. Sejal Raja has specific experience in this area.
Law firm mergers and acquisitions and tax issues
During the last ten years we have seen hundreds of law firms merge, restructure and, in some cases, dissolve. We have significant experience in the area of law firm mergers and acquisitions and can advise on the best way to structure transactions between legal advisory firms.
Working in conjunction with our regulatory team, we advise concerning the complications arising from SRA regulations applicable to law firm mergers and amalgamations.
We can also advise on the tax consequences involved in mergers and acquisitions, succession issues and structures in legal practices, generally.
Our Partner-led team includes Stephen Blair, Gary Jones and Sumaira Choudary.
Law firm insolvency
It is a sad fact of life that the pressures of modern professional practice have increased significantly over the last 30 years. Our insolvency team is on hand to advise when issues regarding the future prospects of a law firm and its solvency arise.
Our insolvency team undertakes both personal and corporate insolvency work and can assist those in financial difficulties to realistically assess debt, restructure and insolvency options.
