Professionals: Higgs & Sons; Solicitors Regulation Authority

HIGGS & SONS has recruited Claire Darley as a partner in its family law team, one of several appointments at the law firm.

She will join three other new partners at the Black Country firm, who have all been promoted internally – commercial property lawyer Richard Saxton, employment lawyer Simon Bond and Kirsty McEwen, who becomes a partner in its private client team.

The firm also has two new associates. Beth King-Smith has joined the dispute resolution team, moving from Clarke Willmott, and Sarah Potter has been promoted within the private client team.

“The experience we now have within the firm is, I believe second to none,” said Paul Hunt, managing partner at Higgs & Sons.

“We have followed a strategy of appointing experts within their individual specialisms and aim to grow the team even further in the future to match the needs of our clients.”

***

West Midlands solicitors are to have the chance to air concerns and make representations to their regulator.

The West Midlands Association of Law Societies (WMALS) is holding a round table meeting with the board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority next month.

The event will see the SRA board outline its thoughts and plans after which the meeting will be opened up to questions from the floor.
 
Bernard Shepherd, president of WMALS, said: “The board is keen to learn the priorities and concerns of solicitors across the country. As part of that initiative they have been talking to local law societies.

“It is an opportunity for lawyers to meet with, and hear from, the board and to let them know what they think about the work the SRA is doing, highlighting priorities and discussing issues such as professional values, consumer credit, cybercrime, handbook review, small firms, plus education and ways to enter the profession.”

Topics discussed are expected to include money laundering regulations, independent regulation of the profession and educational reform designed to develop a single professional exam for everyone wanting to qualify as a solicitor.

Close