Latest news
The doctor will see you now – niche medical law firm plans post-ABS expansion
A niche medical law firm has become an alternative business structure with the ambition of becoming a one-stop shop for healthcare providers. DR Solicitors was created under a brand designed to appeal to its primary care doctor, dentist and consultant clients.
AIM-listed accident management company launches ABS
Leading AIM-listed accident management company Helphire Group has linked with a start-up personal injury law firm within an alternative business structure, Legal Futures can reveal. Principia Law Limited is managed by solicitors and barristers.
BSB hopes JR will close floodgates on costs
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is to judicially review (JR) a disciplinary tribunal decision ordering that an acquitted barrister who represented herself be paid £27,500 costs, fearing that if it went unchallenged, similar claims could follow.
Riverview plots major expansion
Riverview Law, the fixed-priced commercial law business, is to double in size by creating up to 100 new posts over the next year, it announced today. The firm said the appointments are a result of “recent contract wins with a number of FTSE 100 businesses”.
Corporate clients pile on pressure over human rights
Law firms “cannot afford to ignore” human rights any longer, a member of a group set up to advise firms on adopting UN rights principles has urged, while another member reported corporate clients were demanding that firms examine their own ethical credentials.
ABA: US lawyers can share fees with ABS non-lawyers
An American Bar Association (ABA) ethics opinion has opened the door to US law firms sharing fees with counterparts in the UK, even though non-lawyers within alternative business structures (ABS) will also benefit.
Challinors lawyers hired as firm goes under
The dispersal of failed Midlands firm Challinors ended yesterday as the firm went under with 46 redundancies, but there were also hires by multi-office firms Shoosmiths, Clarke Wilmott and Cartwright King.
Pooling interest will soften LASPO cutbacks, says think tank
The government should introduce a compulsory scheme that uses extra interest law firms could earn by grouping client funds, to mitigate the impact of the LASPO reforms, a think tank has urged.
Horwich Farrelly appoints Allianz boss to board
Specialist insurance litigation firm and alternative business structure (ABS), Horwich Farrelly, has boosted its bid to diversify into new markets by appointing to its board the chairman of the UK business of an insurance company with a global turnover of almost £2bn.
Slater & Gordon acquires Fentons and extends its PI reach
Slater & Gordon Lawyers (S&G) has today confirmed that it will acquire leading claimant personal injury firm Fentons Solicitors LLP, as its managing director pointed to “terrific opportunities” brought by UK regulatory changes.
Blog
Which legal AI will still matter in 12 months?
Four years ago, when senior partners asked me which legal AI they should buy, I would have walked them through a vendor comparison. Now I tell them the question is wrong.
Supreme Court redraws line between member and employee in LLPs
For anyone advising professional services firms on LLP structuring, and of course for those in LLPs themselves, last week’s Supreme Court ruling is an essential read.
Charting a new course for publicly funded legal services
The current Legal Aid Agency model is inherently flawed and it goes beyond mere data breaches – it cannot innovatively respond to increasing challenges.
