Legal Services Act

The AA – which research found recently to be the UK’s most trusted brand – has launched a conveyancing service in its first move since receiving an alternative business structure (ABS) licence in late 2013.

Flight compensation specialist Bott & Co is lining up a “series of similar niches” in the consumer world to capitalise on its successes with aviation, with a focus on IT, processes and client care.

The changing of the guard at the top of the legal regulators has continued today with news that Chris Kenny, who has been chief executive of the Legal Services Board since its creation in 2009, will step down at the end of November.

Brilliant Law – the alternative business structure start-up backed by gambling millionaire Bert Black – has adopted a new name and new strategy as it bids to become a top-30 commercial firm within the next five years.

In a major speech on the future of the law, the Lord Chief Justice has said “there has to be a single regulator” for the legal professions. He also predicted a raft of radical reforms to the litigation process to make it more affordable.

Leading retailer Greg Tufnell, new non-executive chairman of innovative legal practice Radiant Law, has told Legal Futures that changed expectations among clients over pricing is one of the key elements driving disruption in the legal market.

Quindell plc is on track to nearly double the number of staff working in its legal division to 1,500 this year as part of a plan that is seeing the alternative business structure target noise-induced deafness claims as a major growth area, it revealed this week.

Nearly one in five criminal and family barristers are considering joining alternative business structures with non-lawyer owners and four out of ten plan to apply, or are thinking of applying, for authorisation to conduct litigation, according to a major survey.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s proposed indemnity insurance reforms have been attacked from all sides by the legal services consumer panel, the Law Society and the insurance industry itself.

Fairpoint Group plc has officially entered the legal market after the Solicitors Regulation Authority approved its £15m acquisition of national law firm and alternative business structure Simpson Millar.