Legal Services Act

The Solicitors Regulatory Authority should be able to process would-be alternative business structures wanting to bid for the new criminal legal aid ‘super-contracts’ in as little as three months, it has told MPs. The Bar Standards Board was more cautious about its regulation, however.

Famous logistics company Stobart Group now has a law firm to sit alongside its direct access barrister service, Legal Futures can reveal. The Solicitors Regulation Authority has granted an alternative business structure licence to One Legal Ltd, which was set up by the company.

Direct Line Insurance Group plc is to partner with alternative business structure Parabis Law to launch a wholly owned law firm, it announced yesterday. The insurer will offer a range of injury and non-injury services to existing and new customers.

A specialist public sector law firm is set to relinquish its alternative business structure licence after being acquired. London-based TPP Law has been bought by Geldards as part of the regional law firm’s bid to grow a national public services practice.

Alternative business structures with a turnover of more than £2m face fines of up to 2.5% of their turnover in cases of serious misconduct, under plans being considered by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

An accountancy firm for contractors, freelancers and self-employed professionals has launched its own law firm as the “missing piece in the client service jigsaw”. Brookson Ltd – based in Warrington – is only the second firm of accountants to become an ABS.

Alternative business structure Quindell Portfolio plc has signed a contract to provide white-labelled accident management services to Renault UK. Meanwhile, the white-label arm of Manchester law firm Pannone has announced a major hire.

Alternative business structures, law firms and sole practitioners looking for authorisation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority will for the first time fill in the same form as the regulator steps up its risk-based approach.

New entrants and alternative business structures have made their mark on the consumer legal services market by striking major affinity and partnership deals to win new business, according to an in-depth study of distribution relationships in place for legal services in the UK.

The legal profession needs to face up to “some hard facts” – including an oversupply of lawyers – that go beyond government plans for legal aid reform, justice minister Lord McNally warned yesterday.