In the news | August 2024

Welcome to our monthly round up of hot legal news during August, 2024.

Booming legal sector lifts UK economy

By Michael Cross, The Law Society Gazette

A booming legal services sector has helped the UK economy grow by 0.6% in the second quarter of 2024 - the highest rate of growth among G7 nations. Analysis of figures released today by the Office for National Statistics show legal revenues totaled £3.4 billion in June, 13.6% higher than in May - and a rise of 9.3% on June 2023. 

The June figure represents the second highest monthly billings on record, behind April this year. 

According to the ONS, the second quarter growth was powered by a strong performance in the dominant services sector, which expanded by 0.8% on the previous year. Liz McKeown, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said activity at law firms, along with IT businesses and scientific research, was driving the expansion.

Commenting on the figures, Julie Norris, legal services regulatory partner at London firm Kingsley Napley, said:

'The UK’s legal industry appears set for a record breaking year after two strong quarters of results. Nonetheless, with the pace of change in technology increasing and ongoing consolidation in the market, including investment from global consulting firms, firmwide leaders should not be resting on their laurels.'

The latest figures, accompanied by strong 2023/24 results at City firms, confound predictions two years ago that growth in the market had passed its peak. Results posted so far this year show an average revenue growth of 9.3%. 

Top lawyers quit X in protest against Elon Musk

Published by Legal Cheek

Billionaire accused of attacking UK justice system

A raft of leading lawyers have quit social media platform X in protest against the behaviour of its billionaire owner Elon Musk.

The outspoken tech boss, who has nearly 150 million followers on the platform, has been accused of “fanning the flames” of unrest with a series of posts on his account about the UK riots.

This includes a post where he described the prison sentences given to some rioters as “messed up,” suggesting that the UK has taken a harder line on far-right rioters, and another where he shared two stitched photographs — one pornographic — with the caption: “Found this pic of the UK justice system.”

Musk’s posts have led to several high-profile lawyers quitting the platform in protest.

In a post earlier this week, a barrister who goes by the name ‘Crime Girl’ and is followed by nearly 70,000 people announced that she would no longer be an “active participant” of X.

“Elon Musk fanned the flames that cause friends and colleagues in immigration to fear for their lives,” she wrote. “They have been unable to go into their offices. Building were set alight with refugee families inside. This is abhorrent in a free and peaceful democracy.”

Steven Peers, a professor of EU law and human rights law at Royal Holloway, also announced he was “done” and wouldn’t return “as long as the owner is a far-right freak.” Peers has over 150,000 followers on the platform.

Elsewhere, Outer Temple employment barrister and LBC radio presenter Daniel Barnett told his 20,000 followers that he was leaving X “at least for now and probably forever”.

Fellow barrister Gordon Exall also announced his departure. “This will be the last post on this account for the foreseeable future,” the Kings Chambers tenant wrote earlier this week. “I have joined the ‘legal exodus’ to Bsky @civlittweet.bsky.social”.

Meanwhile, One Pump Court one of the first barristers’ chambers to leave the platform, stating that the recent changes on X under Musk’s leadership “no longer resonate” with its “core principles”.

Sale of popular Prime energy drink 'not legal' in Denmark

Published by The Local DK

Sales of the ‘Prime’ energy drink, made popular by social media influencers, are illegal in Denmark, the Nordic country’s Veterinary and Food Administration has stated.

The agency has advised five different companies in the last week to cease selling the imported product, it said in a statement.

The drink can include ingredients not approved for sale in Denmark because they have not been given the relevant health approvals.

“If a product has not been reviewed then it is not legal to sell it in Denmark,” head of department Henrik Dammand Nielsen with the Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen) said in the statement.

Prime energy drinks contain a higher quantity of caffeine than Danish standards permit, according to the agency. The maximum caffeine content for energy drinks is 32 milligrams per 100 millilitres.

“If a producer such as Prime adds more vitamins, minerals, amino acids or caffeine than is allowed, there will be a risk to the consumer,” Nielsen said.

“That’s why it’s a requirement that products with additives are reviewed so the Veterinary and Food Administration can ensure harmful products don’t enter the market,” he said.

Prime has seen huge demand in other countries including the United States and UK after it was promoted and popularised by Logan Paul and KSI, social media influencers with huge followings.

Sales of the drink on secondary markets can reach prices several times higher than the regular retail cost.

Local media TV2 Kosmopol last week quoted a police officer who said that customers “shouted and screamed and disturbed traffic” outside a store in Copenhagen where free samples of Prime were being offered.