Tag Results
Council plans joint venture ABS with law firm to target public sector clients
Thursday, 3 May 2012Kent Legal Services – the legal arm of Kent County Council – is planning to launch an alternative business structure in conjunction with regional law firm Geldards, it has emerged.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, local authorities
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news, Market monitor
Will expanding your practice make you more profitable – or more vulnerable?
Thursday, 3 May 2012Any form of growth requires funding. Traditionally law firms have funded growth (or in some cases losses) from the high street banks. We have all recognised that this option no longer exists – or does it? The reality is that if you have a good solid history and a sound business plan, then most of the banks will still provide this badly needed access to capital. If you are not so fortunate, how are you going to expand without investing either your own cash, or someone else’s?
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, external investment, mergers
Posted in Blog
SRA hanging in-house lawyers out to dry with unclear ABS rule, Law Society claims
Wednesday, 2 May 2012Solicitors Regulation Authority is acting unreasonably by leaving it to in-house lawyers to decide whether the law requires that their legal teams become alternative business structures, the Law Society has claimed.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, Law Society, Legal Services Act, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news, Solicitors
Third edition of SRA Handbook in seven months goes live
Monday, 30 April 2012The third edition of the SRA Handbook in just seven months has gone live after being approved by the Legal Services Board. A fourth edition in less than a year since the Handbook went live on 6 October 2011 should be necessary in June.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, COFA, COLP, compliance officer for finance and administration, compliance officer for legal practice, conflicts of interest, immigration, insolvency, legal practice course, Legal Services Board, OFR, outcomes-focused regulation, sole practitioners, Solicitors Regulation Authority, SRA Handbook
Posted in Latest news, Solicitors
Italian firm plots multi-disciplinary ABS
Friday, 27 April 2012Leading Italian multi-disciplinary firm Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati has applied to become an alternative business structure, it has revealed. Pirola wants allow accountants and lawyers in its London partnership to share revenues and profits.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, MDP, multi-disciplinary practice
Posted in Latest news, Market monitor
Slater & Gordon awarded ABS licence as it unveils plans for further UK acquisitions
Friday, 27 April 2012The Solicitors Regulation Authority has given Australia’s Slater & Gordon the green light to take over Russell Jones & Walker after granting it the fifth alternative business structure licence. The move will kick-start a strategy that will include further acquisitions.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, Slater & Gordon, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news, Market monitor
Edmonds comes out fighting in defence of LSB
Friday, 27 April 2012It is far too early to talk about winding down the Legal Services Board, its chairman has argued, while also criticising the Law Society and Bar Council for their failure to embrace independent regulation quickly enough.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, diversity, internal governance rules, Legal Ombudsman, Legal Services Act, Legal Services Board, QASA, Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates
Posted in Latest news, Legal Services Board
Share and share alike
Friday, 27 April 2012Andrew Whitehouse of corporate finance house Smith Square Partners – which is targeting the legal market after tying up with ABS Advisory Partners – says that with consolidation set to accelerate, converting to a corporate structure is the best way for law firms to take advantage of it
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, corporate structure, Legal Services Act, mergers
Posted in Blog
New ABS targets joint ventures with insurers
Wednesday, 25 April 2012A law firm that aims to offer a white-label personal injury service to insurers and brokers yesterday became the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s fourth alternative business structure, and first in Wales.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, Law Society, personal injury, referral fees, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in Alternative business structures, Latest news, Market monitor
ABSs will spark City “litigation revolution” and de facto fusion, says SRA chief
Tuesday, 24 April 2012The UK is on the cusp of a “litigation revolution” involving boutique alternative business structures offering externally-funded contingency fee deals, according to the chairman of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, speaking at yesterday’s Legal Futures conference.
Tags: ABS, Alternative business structures, bar standards board, contingency fees, Council for Licensed Conveyancers, ILEX Professional Standards, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Posted in Alternative business structures, Barristers, Latest news, Legal Executives, Other lawyers, Solicitors