Market monitor

Nottingham Law School, part of Nottingham Trent University, has applied to the Solicitors Regulation Authority for an alternative business structure licence that would allow it to create a “teaching law firm”.

Insurance giant RSA, formerly Royal and Sun Alliance, has entered the legal services market by obtaining a licence for an alternative business structure in partnership with national firm Parabis. RSA Law will go live next month.

An online family law service that uses barristers to triage a client’s requirements and connect them with the experts needed to assist – whether they are barristers, solicitors, mediators, financial advisers, arbitrators, collaborative lawyers or therapists – has gone live this week.

A large majority of law firms think that, over the next five years, “innovation in providing legal services will be paramount” as they reach the limit of cost-cutting measures, a survey has found.

Large law firms are most worried about the threat from alternative business structures (ABSs) and accountancy firms, but interest in becoming ABSs themselves is waning fast, new research has found.

London-based Mishcon de Reya, a rural firm in the Lake District, and a firm that currently carries out no reserved legal work at all are among the latest businesses to obtain alternative business structure licences.

NewLaw Solicitors is eyeing up another three alternative business structure joint ventures, its publicly listed owner revealed yesterday. NewLaw – itself only the fourth ABS licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority – already has four joint venture ABSs

An international lawyer is bringing new meaning to the idea of a multi-disciplinary practice after launching a business in London that combines legal advice for DIY divorce clients with anti-ageing serums and sex therapy.

Alternative business structure Quindell plc indicated today that progress is being made on Slater & Gordon’s acquisition of its legal arm. The AIM-listed company’s shares jumped by 40% in early trading as a result.

Liverpool-based 7 Harrington Street Chambers has launched what is believed to be the first alternative business structure attached to a barristers’ chambers. It opened for business last week, with three barristers and 7HS practice director as its directors.