We received 2,090 reports about concerns of solicitors acting without integrity or ethics in 2017, and 1,350 in the first three quarters of 2018. Although these reports have reduced this year, any evidence of a solicitor acting without integrity is serious.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is imposing a penalty on the enablers of tax avoidance schemes where they defeat a scheme that has abused the tax law. Enablers include solicitors advising on schemes and those that create companies or trusts for schemes. When a company has had 50 or more penalties or has received a penalty over £25,000, HMRC can publish their details. HMRC has produced a fact sheet on the penalties that it can apply to enablers of tax schemes that it defeats.
Our updated paper, Balancing duties in litigation includes warnings about using non-disclosure agreements to take unfair advantage of someone or to conceal criminal activity. We have received and are investigating more than 50 reports about allegations of harassment by solicitors. We will take action where needed.
We take inappropriate behaviour in the workplace very seriously. We have asked the largest firms that we regulate about how they prevent, and respond to allegations of, sexual harassment in the workplace. We have asked them to tell us about their training for staff and how they support a person making an allegation of sexual harassment. We are reviewing their responses and we will share examples of good and poor practice.
We are working with the Equality and Human Rights Commission and other legal regulators about what more we can do to promote awareness and encourage good practice among law firms to tackle sexual harassment.