The SRA has issued detailed guidance following the Mazur case, redefining supervision in legal practice. Click here to listen. Happy listening!

This past weekend (Saturday, 13 June 2026), Sheffield city centre became the focal point of a tense and highly visible demonstration, as an anti-immigration march by the group “Raise The Colours” was met with a large counter-protest from anti-racism organisations and community groups. The events highlighted deep national tensions around immigration, identity, and community cohesion, issues that are now playing out not just in Westminster, but on the streets of cities like She

What do International Property Investments Advisors and Mortgage Advisors to Finance Professionals have in common? Well over on LinkedIn this weekend they outed themselves for what I already knew. Allow me to explain. Elon Musk, Trillionaire. (c) BBC This post about Elon Musk caught my attention. So, I left a comment saying that children were still starving. Cue a few spikey exchanges with one particular individual, who I can most politely describe as being lost up his own co

The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s recent proposal to require law firms to separate the roles of COLP (Compliance Officer for Legal Practice) and COFA (Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration) has sparked understandable concern across the profession. While the intention is to strengthen governance and clarify accountability, the proposal risks creating disproportionate burdens, particularly for small firms and sole practitioners who already operate under intense

In recent years, Stonewall, once the UK’s most influential LGB rights organisation, has faced a series of high‑profile controversies that have reshaped public debate around equality, governance and institutional influence. At the same time, Pride Month has become a focal point for wider cultural and political tensions. Understanding these debates requires separating support for LGBTQ+ individuals, which remains essential, from scrutiny of organisations, policies and public‑se

The Data is Out There The collapses of Axiom Ince and PM Law, together involving more than £100 million in missing or mismanaged client funds, have exposed a critical weakness in the legal sector’s risk‑monitoring framework. While regulators and insurers have been criticised for failing to intervene early, a growing body of evidence suggests that warning signs were visible long before these firms collapsed, particularly through online reviews, consumer complaints and public‑d

Online review platforms have become the modern public square for consumer opinion. Whether choosing a solicitor, a restaurant, or a tradesperson, people rely on reviews to guide decisions that can have real financial and personal consequences. But what happens when the platforms presenting themselves as neutral, trustworthy, and consumer‑focused are quietly shaping the narrative behind the scenes? Recent revelations about the legal sector’s review ecosystem show just how frag

In today's fast-paced world, the constant barrage of tasks and responsibilities can lead to overwhelming feelings of stress and disorganization. Many professionals are seeking ways to enhance their productivity while maintaining their well-being. Mindfulness has emerged as a powerful tool, not only for enhancing personal growth but also for significantly increasing productivity. This blog post explores the connection between mindfulness practices and heightened productivity.

Some say that this was foreseeable, especially in light of the information already out there in the public domain. Indeed, I did my own data profiling ahead of the collapse. So what was going on? Did it happen whilst backs were turned - or more worryingly, were blind eyes turned? Eyes everywhere but where they should be? The collapse of PM Law, with an estimated £39.5 million in missing client money , represents one of the most serious regulatory failures in the recent histor

What does a newly-established Parkrun event have in common with one of the most significant events in recent social and political history? As it happens, quite a lot. Today, I'm discussing the trend of urban renaming and why I find it both frustrating and arguably, morally questionable. Waverley 10K Race - There I am - No. 8 The Frustration of Urban Renaming: When Places Get Rebranded to Hide Their Past Last Saturday, a new Parkrun event commenced at 'Waverley Lakes', just on

Now that Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, has removed Mazur from his Inbox, this week he highlighted how AI is transforming legal practice, requiring future lawyers to adapt to new technologies and changing client expectations. "Judgment For The Claimant" Law firms are revising business models as AI impacts judicial decision-making and client interactions. You can hear my own thoughts on this issue in my latest podcast. Click here to listen. Happy listening!

Hypnotherapy is often misunderstood, yet it holds significant potential for those seeking effective ways to manage stress, improve mental health, and enhance personal and professional performance. I first studied it back in the 1990s, and as someone who has explored various therapeutic approaches, I find hypnotherapy particularly intriguing due to its unique method of accessing the subconscious mind. This blog post will explore the benefits of hypnotherapy, its effectiveness,

Achieving regulatory compliance and operational excellence is a priority for many small to medium-sized law firms. One way to demonstrate this commitment is through the Lexcel Standard. But what exactly does this standard entail? In this post, I will walk you through the key elements of the Lexcel Standard, explaining how it can benefit your practice and help you maintain high-quality management and client care. Understanding the Lexcel Standard is essential for firms aiming

Meritocracy is one of those concepts that sounds unassailably fair at first glance. Who wouldn’t want a society where people rise by talent, effort, and ability rather than birthright or privilege? It promises a clean moral logic: those who work hardest and contribute most should advance. Yet the more closely we examine how meritocracy functions in practice, the more its cracks become impossible to ignore. What presents itself as a neutral system of reward often entrenches in

I've been analysing the implications of the Court of Appeal’s Mazur judgment for supervision of unauthorised individuals in legal practice, and the evolving role of regulators in ‘policing’ this area. How will this all be carried out and moreover, how effective will it be? Let's delve and take a look. For clarity, all the factual statements are grounded in the recent reporting on the judgment. An inspector calls - supervision Supervision After Mazur: What the Court of Appeal

A landmark determination - Unauthorised legal caseworkers aren't criminals after all! Click here to listen. Happy listening!

Donald Trump keeps telling us the job is done - whatever that means. The only certainty is the uncertainty. This epoch of heightened conflict and instability in the Middle East might feel distant for Joe Public, but for UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) they know the reality - the effects often show up quickly in day-to-day operations: costs rise, deliveries slip, customers hesitate, and risk management becomes more complex. While each business is different, there

In the dynamic world of business, one strategy stands out as particularly valuable: forming partnerships. Here at Fraxinus Business Associates, I'm always delighted to engage with other businesses. It rarely matters what your business does. There will still be benefits from collaboration with another business, even if it seems that they are poles-apart in what they do or services that they provide. Let me give you an example. Say you you run a gym. Why not branch-out into rel

Instagram and YouTube are addictive. So says a jury in a Los Angeles Court. As a result, Meta and Google, the respective owners have been fined £4.5 million. That's a drop in the ocean in relation to turnover. However, the implications are far wider-reaching and the litigation floodgates are now potentially wide-open. But are we ourselves blameless? That's the question I'm looking at today. Am I an addict? Who Bears Responsibility? The pervasive nature of social media has spa

Employing neurodivergent individuals to comply with UK equality and anti-disability discrimination laws presents significant challenges for businesses. Adjustments in workplace practices, additional training, and potential productivity concerns may increase costs and uncertainty. Listen to the argument here. Happy listening!