Market monitor

Metamorph Law, which has bought eight law firms in the past three years, is planning to list on the stock market in 12-18 months – the first move of its kind for a UK consumer law firm.

Listed law firm Ince Group is examining how it could take advantage of the new rules allowing solicitors to practise from unregulated businesses, it said today as it announced strong half-year results.

A minority of personal injury claimants, 43%, would be willing to use the government’s new portal for road traffic accident claims worth up to £5,000, a report has found.

A private investor has provided £1m in start-up funding for a Liverpool litigation boutique and alternative business structure specialising in complex and high-value commercial cases.

The traditional big law firm model is “backward looking” and the Big Four accountants pose “a seismic competitive change to practices of all types, sizes and locations”, Dentons has warned.

A tribunal has increased an £80,000 fine meted out to a telemarketing company found to have made personal injury claims calls to people signed up to the Telephone Preference Service.

The Labour Party’s election manifesto, launched today, suggests the party is only going to roll back one element of the planned personal injury reforms if it forms the next government.

Only 19% of home buyers use online conveyancers, despite the dominance of online searches as a way of finding property, new research has found.

Listed law firm DWF will report revenue growth of “not less than 10%” for the last six months, it told investors today, sending its share price to a new high.

Co-operative Legal Services has recorded a 29% increase in turnover in its last financial year as it consolidates its position as the country’s largest probate provider.

Lady Hale, president of the Supreme Court, has called on the courts to learn lessons from the tribunal service in improving the diversity of judges.

A niche alternative business structure working with companies that build the global infrastructure of technology has used it to take on external funding and non-lawyers who can help the business grow.

A boutique law firm catering only for “sophisticated” capital funders is offering what is believed to be the first combined legal, commercial and political advisory service.

Most people know very little about how the law works in the UK, research has found, with 44% admitting that they did not know the difference between a solicitor, lawyer or barrister.

The Welsh government has pledged rapid action on a major report that recommended substantial reform to the way the law is administered and legal profession supported in Wales.