The essential guide to conduct, compliance and competence, and the Legal Services Act
Alternative business structures
RJW deal shows firms have a realisable value – and are getting “real” about business, say experts
Slater & Gordon’s takeover of Russell Jones & Walker is evidence that law firms are “joining the real business world” and that there is realisable value in legal practices, leading consultants have said.
News in brief: solicitors, accountants and IFAs join forces, “ABSs are future for conveyancing”, and more
Our latest news round-up takes in an innovative partnership to combine financial, taxation and legal advice, an update on ABS applications, the role for ABSs in the conveyancing market, growing fraud claims against solicitors, support for provisional assessment, and new blood at the OLC.
RJW sets sights on dominating consumer legal market
Russell Jones & Walker aims to use its new access to capital to become one of the two or three players that will “dominate” the consumer legal market in the years to come, its chief executive has said.
Slater & Gordon to enter UK market with £54m purchase of Russell Jones & Walker
The world’s first listed legal practice, Australia’s Slater & Gordon, is to enter the UK market after agreeing to buy national law firm Russell Jones & Walker for £53.8 million. All of RJW’s principals will continue to work in the new business and are becoming shareholders in S&G.
A4e sets sights on offering spread of “affordable” legal services to individuals and businesses
Leading welfare-to-work business A4e is planning to offer both consumers and businesses a broad range of legal services at a “more affordable” cost than currently seen in the market, it has confirmed.
Micro-managing LSB “risks independence of profession”
The Legal Services Board’s “unduly detailed approach to oversight” risks undermining professional independence, the Law Society president has claimed. John Wotton also argued that alternative business structures have “no magic bullet in competitive terms”.
AIM-listed company to buy Liverpool law firm in ABS first
Liverpool law firm Silverbeck Rymer is set to become the first legal practice acquired by a listed company, it was announced this morning. AIM-listed Quindell Portfolio plc is to spend £19.3m on the leading personal injury firm.
Irwin Mitchell ramps up ABS preparations by naming senior PwC partner as chairman-designate
National law firm Irwin Mitchell has named the former vice-chairman UK of PricewaterhouseCoopers its chairman-designate as it continues preparations to become an alternative business structure.
Co-op to ramp up staffing as it waits for ABS go-ahead
Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) has begun staffing its family division after launching what it described as the largest recruitment drive in its history. CLS is looking to appoint up to 150 new positions. It currently has around 400 staff.
Everyman Legal to pioneer “business hub franchises” for solicitors
Everyman Legal – the ‘virtual’ practice that last October became the first law firm to announce its intention to seek admission to a stock exchange – has announced plans to pioneer “business hub franchises” for solicitors.
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Associate News
Demystifying the banking process – what your bank looks for in your firm
QualitySolicitors Keith Park implements Peppermint Portal
David Thorpe joins fast-growing technology innovator Peppermint Technology
DAS appoints head of marketing
Take client interaction to the next level with the Peppermint Platform
LexisNexis Visualfiles Helps Essex Legal Services deliver savings for the Public Law Partnership
Roadshow highlights potential perils of new COLP/COFA roles
