Market monitor
Strong year for Law PLC as most firms’ shares surge
Several listed legal businesses surged ahead of the market during 2019, with regional law firm Knights providing investors with a particularly rich return, a Legal Futures analysis has shown.
Knights continues acquisition spree
Knights has unveiled the sixth acquisition in its 18 months as a listed firm to boost its recently established presence in Birmingham. Fellow listed firm Rosenblatt has hired a former Met Police commissioner.
More listed law firms to come as sector “outperforms market”
The listed legal sector is a “clear outperformer” against broader markets, with “many more” law firms – both corporate and consumer – likely to come to market, a new analysis has found.
Personal injury ABS joint venture collapses
The joint venture between NAHL plc – which owns marketing network National Accident Helpline – and Bristol-based law firm Lyons Davidson has collapsed, it emerged today.
US-owned London ABS grows European client base
A US-based legal services provider with a London-based alternative business structure focused on processing routine contract documents is steadily building its European client base.
PI firm which diversified could quadruple in size
A former specialist personal injury firm which has diversified into other kinds of volume litigation could quadruple in size by the end of next year.
F4L unveils referral fee-compliant ‘pay per enquiry’ model
Marketing collective First4Lawyers has unveiled a new lead generation model that it says allows firms to pay a fee per enquiry while complying with the referral fee ban.
MoJ’s bill for part-time judges’ pensions “could reach £1bn”
The Ministry of Justice – whose budget has faced major cuts over the past decade – faces having to pay up to £1bn in pensions for part-time judges, according to the claimants’ solicitors.
Newly listed law firm raises £31m for growth plan
The seventh law firm to list – although it describes itself as an asset management consultancy – raised £31.4m as its shares began trading last week. MJ Hudson had a market capitalisation of £98m.
Bar Council chair: I’m no apologist for Chinese regime
The chairman of the Bar Council has hit back at criticism of his attendance at a Chinese legal conference that did not address human rights in the country, saying he was “not an apologist for the Chinese regime”.
Blog
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%.
Client accounts: Opportunity, obligation and the risks in between
The profitability gap between well-run firms and the rest is not primarily a function of size, location or practice area – it is a function of financial management.
