Legal Services Act

Well-known London law firm Schillings – which was granted two alternative business structure licences in March – has relaunched as a business that integrates IT security, legal advice and risk consulting to help companies and individuals protect their reputations.

Primary legislation will be required to bring complaints against claims management companies within the remit of the Legal Ombudsman, the government has admitted for the first time.

Lewis Hymanson Small – the law firm bought by AIM-listed Abbey Protection earlier this year – made a small dent in the company’s profits during a “tough” initial period, Abbey’s half-year results have shown. They also lay out how much it paid for the Manchester practice.

The Legal Services Board has urged the Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority to “actively look for savings opportunities” after the society’s budget increased by £11.5m for the next year. It also criticised a lack of consultation with fee payers over what they will have to pay.

Winn Solicitors – which has grown in a decade from nothing to a highly profitable £40m volume claimant personal injury firm – is set for further expansion after being bought by two international investment companies.

A single regulator for all legal services providers and a single code of conduct is the way forward for the market, the Legal Services Consumer Panel argued today. It essentially recommended tearing up the Legal Services Act 2007 and starting again.

Slater & Gordon has now formally acquired personal injury firm Goodmans, giving the alternative business structure (ABS) a Liverpool base for the first time. Meanwhile, Co-operative Legal Services has launched its academy to offer career progression to all staff.

The ban on referral fees in personal injury is set to cost Admiral Insurance around £15m this year, it emerged yesterday. The insurer also said its two new ABS joint ventures are “not expected to make a material contribution to group profits in the foreseeable future”.

Thomas Solicitors – which was bought by failed law firm Challinors three years ago – has been acquired by East Midlands practice Hawley & Rodgers. The firm has continued to trade profitably despite its parent company’s financial difficulties.

Co-operative Legal Services has revealed losses of £3.4m for the first half of 2013, which its parent group said reflected “the start-up nature of the business”. But The Co-operative Group affirmed its intention to “continue with our plans to develop this growing business”.