In 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.

That the Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority are not the best of friends is not news to those close to the world of legal regulation. They generally keep it reasonably well hidden from public view but this week we have seen a bit of a “he said, she said” over what happened in the week between the SRA approving the ABS licensing application and the Law Society council agreeing it.

Barbara Hamilton-Bruce looks at the significant problems caused to clients when law firms suddenly shut their doors “voluntarily” and what can be done by solicitors and the SRA to make it a far smoother experience for the public

Tomorrow the Law Society council will make its much-trailed decision on whether the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) should become a regulator of alternative business structures. President Linda Lee has talked about the importance of the decision, as has SRA chairman Charles Plant. I would like nothing more than to be there to report on the debate. Sadly I cannot, as the debate and vote are being held in private.

Viv 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.