Tag Results
Costs reform? ABSs are the big picture here
Wednesday, 30 March 2011In truth there were no great surprises in the litigation costs announcements yesterday. The claimant lobbying effort has been significant but apparently to no avail and as generally expected Lord Justice Jackson will see his recommendations implemented.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, claims management companies, Jackson report, personal injury
Posted in Blog
SGM threat recedes as SRA refutes suggestions that it changed ABS stance
Friday, 25 March 2011The Solicitor Sole Practitioners Group has backed away from its threat to call a special general meeting and postal vote of the profession to gauge support for alternative business structures (ABSs). Meanwhile, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has refuted suggestions that it shifted position on how it will regulate ABSs ahead of this week’s Law Society vote.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, Law Society, Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in Alternative business structures, News, Solicitors
SRA agrees compromises to help ABS application through council vote
Thursday, 24 March 2011The Solicitors Regulation Authority has compromised on aspects of its application to become an alternative business structure regulator, it emerged last night. Agreement was reached between the society and its regulatory arm on various changes to the application which the SRA’s board agreed last week.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, Law Society, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in Alternative business structures, News, Solicitors
Breaking news: Law Society council gives green light to SRA regulating ABSs
Wednesday, 23 March 2011The Law Society council has today approved the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s application to become a regulator of alternative business structures. It means the SRA should be ready to start taking applications from prospective ABSs from 6 August.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, Law Society, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in Alternative business structures, News, Solicitors
Anti-ABS group could decide as soon as tomorrow on calling Law Society SGM
Wednesday, 23 March 2011The Solicitor Sole Practitioners Group could decide tomorrow whether to seek a special general meeting of the Law Society that would authorise a profession-wide poll on solicitors’ opposition to alternative business structures.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, sole practitioners
Posted in Alternative business structures, News, Solicitors
ABSs to pay less to practise than law firms
Monday, 21 March 2011Alternative business structures (ABSs) will pay less to practise than traditional law firms, under proposals released by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. A consultation on the fees structure for ABSs recommends that they should not have to contribute to the Law Society’s representative activities, as law firms do.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, Law Society, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in Alternative business structures, News, Solicitors
Criminal standard of proof in disciplinary matters “could expose clients of ABSs”
Monday, 21 March 2011Regulators of alternative business structures could expose consumers to risk if they demand an overly high standard of proof in disciplinary hearings, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has warned. Meanwhile, the Bar Standards Board is to consider switching to a civil standard of proof.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, bar standards board, Council for Licensed Conveyancers, ILEX Professional Standards, Legal Services Consumer Panel, Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in Alternative business structures, Barristers, Consumer panel, News, Other lawyers, Solicitors
Kissing the frogs
Wednesday, 16 March 2011Viv Williams, chief executive of Legal Futures Associate the 360 Legal Group, looks at the challenges facing law firms in 2011 and says that, with a price war looming, it is time for smaller practices to look at the benefits of consolidation.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, Legal Services Act, mergers
Posted in Blog
Army major launches ABS brokerage
Wednesday, 16 March 2011A former major in the Army has launched a brokerage for alternative business structures, bidding to put law firms together with private equity investors. He predicts that it will be commoditised practices run along corporate lines that will most likely attract external investment.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, external investment
Posted in Alternative business structures, Market monitor, News
Plant in warning to Law Society as ABS application and new handbook approved
Tuesday, 15 March 2011City firms, conveyancers and other sectors of the legal profession could seek their own sector-specific regulation if the Law Society fails to approve the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s application to become an alternative business structures regulator, SRA chairman Charles Plant warned today.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, Law Society, outcomes-focused regulation, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in Alternative business structures, News, Solicitors