By: Maria Ward-Brennan

Professional Services Editor Maria Ward-Brennan is the Professional Services Editor at CityAM, focused on law, Big Four, and other management and accounting consulting firms. She was previously a litigation reporter at The Lawyer. Contact her via email at [email protected] or X (Twitter) @MariaW_B.

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Octopus Group enters legal services market after buying divorce business

December 7, 2023

Octopus Group has acquired a majority stake in a legal service business that focuses on helping customers navigate legal issues surrounding divorce. The group, which is the parent company to energy giant Octopus Energy, has dived into the legal services market by acquiring Amicable. Amicable was was founded in 2015 to serve as a legal [...]
Big Four: KPMG set to merge UK and Swiss businesses to chase down rivals

December 7, 2023

KPMG UK has begun exploratory discussions with its partners over a plan to merge its business with KPMG Switzerland.
Government faces court challenge after failing to hike legal aid fees

December 7, 2023

The UK government faces a High Court challenge next week over its failure to increase criminal barristers' legal aid fees despite agreeing to do so in September last year.
Entain’s £585m fine shows flourishing ‘maturity’ of Crown Prosecution Service

December 6, 2023

Corporations need to be wise to the fact that a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) can come from all prosecuting bodies, not just the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), warns lawyer. News broke that the company behind Coral and Ladbrokes will pay £585m after a probe into alleged bribery at a former Turkish subsidiary. The DPA action [...]
SFO launches criminal investigation into British aircraft parts supplier

December 6, 2023

The Serious Fraud Office has launched a criminal investigation into a British aircraft parts supplier over suspected fraud.
Former Liverpool player claim against law firm dismissed

December 6, 2023

The High Court dismissed a former Republic of Ireland and Liverpool football player's claim against a national law firm.
Trafigura and former exec charged over alleged bribery in Angola

December 6, 2023

Trafigura and its former chief operating officer have been charged in Switzerland over allegations of bribery, the country's prosecuting authority announced today.
Paragon Bank: Shares jump 10 per cent as specialist buy-to-let lender announces new buyback

December 6, 2023

Nigel Terrington, chief executive of financial lender Paragon Bank, announced a further £50m share buyback for 2024 financial year.
Legal industry regulators under the scope at justice select committee

December 6, 2023

The regulator of the legal sector was under the microscope Tuesday at a House of Commons justice select committee, over potential industry payouts over Axiom Ince. Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) chair Anna Bradley and chief executive Paul Philip were amongst those called to give evidence on the regulation of the legal profession and whether existing [...]
FCA new proposals aim to ‘improve competition’ and credit information quality

December 5, 2023

The UK’s financial watchdog released its report today with proposals aimed at improving the credit information market.

Royal Ascot worth £140m to UK economy

Royal Ascot worth £140m to UK economy

The best places to eat sandwiches in Lisbon, from bifanas to pregos

By: Maria Ward-Brennan

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