Latest news
ABS to relinquish licence after acquisition
A specialist public sector law firm is set to relinquish its alternative business structure licence after being acquired. London-based TPP Law has been bought by Geldards as part of the regional law firm’s bid to grow a national public services practice.
ABSs face fines of up to 2.5% of turnover for serious misconduct
Alternative business structures with a turnover of more than £2m face fines of up to 2.5% of their turnover in cases of serious misconduct, under plans being considered by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Accountants become ABS to offer clients complete service
An accountancy firm for contractors, freelancers and self-employed professionals has launched its own law firm as the “missing piece in the client service jigsaw”. Brookson Ltd – based in Warrington – is only the second firm of accountants to become an ABS.
White-labellers unveil accident management deal and hire of Co-op pioneer
Alternative business structure Quindell Portfolio plc has signed a contract to provide white-labelled accident management services to Renault UK. Meanwhile, the white-label arm of Manchester law firm Pannone has announced a major hire.
SRA targets risk in streamlined law firm and ABS authorisation process
Alternative business structures, law firms and sole practitioners looking for authorisation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority will for the first time fill in the same form as the regulator steps up its risk-based approach.
Hudson: Law Society moving away from being a “noisy critic”
The Law Society is making a conscious effort to learn the lessons of last year’s Sound off for Justice campaign and be less of a “noisy critic” and focus more on lobbying the government, chief executive Des Hudson has said in the latest instalment of his exclusive interview with Legal Futures.
New entrants and ABSs “making inroads into market” through affinity deals
New entrants and alternative business structures have made their mark on the consumer legal services market by striking major affinity and partnership deals to win new business, according to an in-depth study of distribution relationships in place for legal services in the UK.
Minister tells lawyers to adapt to the “hard facts” of life
The legal profession needs to face up to “some hard facts” – including an oversupply of lawyers – that go beyond government plans for legal aid reform, justice minister Lord McNally warned yesterday.
Hudson questions SRA work on financial stability
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is biting off more than it can chew by trying to deal with the financial stability of law firms, the Law Society chief executive has suggested. He also said law firms would do well to be scared by new entrants to the market.
New alliance aims to help independent law firms compete with big brands
A legal business support firm and a legal training provider are creating an alliance to help independent firms resist the influx of big brand new entrants. 360 Legal Group, which works with around 700 member law firms, has joined forces with Central Law Training.
Blog
The best legal AI doesn’t replace rules-based engines – it completes them
There is a belief circulating in legal tech that AI can solve everything – that LLMs are universally superior to what came before. It is not always true, however.
Small steps, big impact: how SME law firms are making legal tech work
For SME law firms, the priority is turning the potential of tech into measurable impact: success is driven not just by the technology, but by how firms approach planning and implementation.
Why housing disrepair claims against councils have leapt by nearly 400%
Housing disrepair claims against councils have surged dramatically in recent years, with some areas reporting increases approaching a staggering 400%.
