Articles

This year’s professional indemnity insurance deadline may still seem far away, but you can make the process simpler and more cost-efficient for your firm by getting prepared now. Written by Francis Dingwall, this article first appeared in the May 2010 edition of Managing for Success, the magazine of the Law Society's Law Management Section- www.lawsociety.org.uk/lawmanagement.

Professional indemnity insurance is an important element of legal compliance. Francis Dingwall explains why firms should think about it before the mid-point in the policy year. Legal Compliance Bulletin, Mar 2010.

Published by Managing Partner. A collection of views and predictions on how market trends and regulatory changes are shaping the future of legal services. Contributors include Lord Hunt of Wirral, author of the Hunt review on the regulation of law firms, Robert Heslett, President of the Law Society, Tony Williams of Jomati Consultants LLP, Sir Nigel Knowles of DLA Piper and Frank Maher of Legal Risk LLP.

The difficult truth is that even the most competent professionals will make occasional mistakes in their day-to-day work. Law firms must understand the likelihood and repercussions of these human errors and then take steps to mitigate the significant risks. Written by Francis Dingwall for Managing Partner Special Focus Supplement on "Document accuracy: managing risk effectively". Dec 2009

Rule 5 (Supervision) of the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct 2007 and what it means in practice. FD Legal, Nov 2009.

Francis Dingwall and Frank Maher identify some of the challenges law-firm management teams should be addressing on their return from their summer break. FD Legal Aug/Sep 2009.

Successor practice implications when law firms downsize, split or even fold. Article by Frank Maher for FD Legal, July 2009.

Two recent headlines, involving severe penalties on financial institutions, serve as a timely reminder to monitor client risk, particularly in higher-risk jurisdictions and higher-risk practice areas. Frank Maher writes for FD Legal Feb/Mar 2009.

Following the theme from the previous article (see 'Covering your back in the credit crunch'), Frank Maher addresses a few more risk issues to think about whilst in an economic downturn.

Regulatory and financial developments in the last 12 months. Article by Frank Maher and Francis Dingwall,FD Legal Sept 2008.

While more firms may be looking more seriously than ever at their risk-management strategies, the potential threat of a major claim against your firm is still very real, especially as firms grow and find themselves practising across international jurisdictions. Frank Maher for FD Legal, Mar 2008.

Frank Maher tells us what other firms are doing and provides planning tips for the regulatory year ahead. FD Legal Sep 2007.

Under increasing pressure to perform and produce high fees, a few partners may be inclined to push the boundaries of acceptable behaviour. Managing Partner, Aug 2007.

Practical implications of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 for law firms. Article by Frank Maher for FD Legal, Feb 2007

Risk lessons learned following the largest law firm liability trial in the UK. New Law Journal, Nov 2006.

Frank Maher reviews the solicitors' professional indemnity market over the last year in an article in Insurance Times, Oct 2006,

Tony Summers, Consultant at Legal Risk, on lessons learned for professional practices after his return on board the BG Global Challenge round-the-world yacht race. Australian Law Practice Management, Aug 2006

Butterworths Contract Management in Practice, May 2006 p6.

Law firms need to protect themselves from being targeted by fraudsters. Insurance Times, May 2006.

Having an insurance policy may not be enough to protect firms from future claims. LMS'InFocus', Mar 2006.

How can partners best protect their assets? Limited liability partnership status is not the complete solution. LMS e-alert 'InFocus' p11 Nov 2005.

Sue Mawdsley reports on the APP workshop held in July 2005, addressed by Frank Maher, Richard Turnor of Allen & Overy and Alasdair Ritchie and Graham Nagus of JLT. APP newsletter - issue 14, Sept 2005

Lexis Nexis UK Legal News Analysis, Jul 2005.

New conduct rules, in force towards the end of 2005, will place Lexcel-accredited firms ahead of the game on compliance. Law Society Lexcel Link, May 2005.

Lexis Nexis Update, 7 Apr 2005

Marry in Haste, Repent at Leisure - article by Frank Maher for Australian Law Practice Bulletin

Mergers and acquisitions and due diligence issues. Article by Frank Maher for Managing Partner, Dec 2004.

Article by by Frank Maher for Managing Partner, Nov 2004 (The same article appears in Australian Law Practice Management with additional articles on law firm risk management).