Legal Services Act
The Unilever of law? Shakespeare Martineau’s big ambitions
Shakespeare Martineau has outlined its ambition to be a top 30 law firm by 2025 as it rolls out its unique new ‘house of brands’ strategy, with “crowdfunding” staff investment one possible way to raise finance.
Profession welcomes Sunak’s justice system cash injection
The Law Society and Bar Council have welcomed Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s £1.6bn injection into the justice system but warned that it cannot be a one-off.
Legal Services Act a decade on: Much to celebrate but much to do
There is “much to celebrate” from the first decade of the Legal Services Act but the basic legal needs of many citizens are still not being met, the Legal Services Board said today.
First approval given for Legal Ombudsman’s in-year budget increase
The Legal Ombudsman’s first ever in-year call for supplementary budget, seeking an extra £344,000, has gone to the Lord Chancellor for approval after being given the green light by the Legal Services Board.
Knights hits the acquisition trail again with move into South-West
Listed law firm Knights has returned to the acquisition trail and its strategy of targeting secondary legal locations by striking a deal to move into Exeter, while also reporting “robust” trading.
“Massively busy” ABS plans further growth
An alternative business structure which launched as a specialist conveyancing firm with three staff in March 2019 is aiming to hit 50 staff across a range of practice areas by the end of 2021.
Leading firm eyes rapid growth by building “house of brands”
Midlands-based law firm Shakespeare Martineau has outlined a strategy to attract mergers, acquisitions and hires to a “house of brands” and double in size by 2023.
Hundreds of Gateley staff sign up to share options
Around a third of Gateley’s 1,000 staff have taken up options under the listed law firm’s latest save as you earn share scheme, while Ince Group has a new major shareholder.
Lawyer founders of listed business to make £46m in share sales
The two lawyers behind Anexo Group – the listed business that owns leading PI law firm Bond Turner – are set to receive £46m after selling some of their shares to a private equity investor.
Acquisitions show shape of PI market consolidation
PI firm Express Solicitors has made good on its plan to buy practices looking to exit the market by buying a Liverpool firm, while another targeting motor claims has sold its clinical negligence practice.
Blog
Could unpredictable AI costs finally lead firms to true value pricing?
For years, the legal profession has talked of moving away from the billable hour to value-based pricing without quite managing it.
Is your Google Ads budget funding your competitors’ AI visibility?
If your cost-per-click has crept up again this year, you’ve probably assumed the market simply got more expensive. That’s the wrong way to read what’s happening.
Containing the spread of unapproved AI
Nearly 60% of fee-earners admit to using unapproved tools (like free versions of ChatGPT). Yet 68% of firm leaders are confident there is zero risk of unapproved AI being used for client work.
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