Market monitor

Revenue and profits were down last year at NAHL plc, the company behind National Accident Helpline and owner of three alternative business structures, its annual results showed today.

Providing legal advice services in healthcare settings can both improve access to advice and support health services to manage non-clinical demand, but current provision in 380 centres is poorly funded.

City firm Ince & Co owed creditors £34m when it was sold in a pre-pack and went into administration, after partners refused to bail it out, it has emerged.

The ground-breaking ‘teaching law firm’ set up by Nottingham Law School has recovered more than £3m in benefits and compensation for clients since it was set up nearly five years ago.

The private equity investor that now has stakes in four law firms is on the lookout for more, it has told Legal Futures. Earlier this month, BGF made a “multi-million pound” investment in two practices.

More than 200 partners of DWF are selling shares as part of this week’s stock market listing, it has emerged. They will initially receive £19.5m collectively for selling a small proportion of their shares,

Shares in DWF will start trading publicly on Friday at a price that values the international law firm at £366m, the lower end of expectations, it was announced this morning.

Nearly two-thirds of solicitors at smaller firms are concerned about the impact of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s new rulebook, and much more than about Brexit, research has found.

Redde – the accident management group that owns two alternative business structures – saw nearly a quarter of its value wiped out on Friday after losing a major contract.

One alternative business structures combining conveyancing and mortgage advice, and other bringing together legal and corporate finance services are among a range of new licencees.

A law firm dedicated to animal protection, believed to be the first of its kind, has been launched by two solicitors experienced in the field. Advocates for Animals aims to work for charities and NGOs.

There has been a “slowly decreasing volume” of personal injury claims since 2016, the Association of British Insurers has said, but LASPO only helped reduce PI costs “slightly”.

Private equity firm BGF – which describes itself as the most active growth investor in the world – now has stakes in four law firms after adding two linked property practices to its portfolio.

Consolidator Metamorph Law has made its first acquisition for a year – and seventh in total in less than three years – by buying Hampshire legal practice Verisona Law and adding £5m to its turnover.

Almost two-thirds of solicitors active in the main consumer law areas expect their workload to increase over the next year – but there is looming pressure on fees, a survey has found.