The Law Society of England and Wales is to bring forward its controversial review of conflicts rules as Chancery Lane moves to head off criticism that it is failing to police City law firms.

The move, revealed this month by Legal Director’s sister title Legal Week, will see the society push through a relaxation of its conflicts of interest rules ahead of the flagship overhaul of solicitor conduct rules, with a timetable to finalise the updated conflicts regime at its December council meeting.