Legal Services Act
ABS first as accident management company buys law firm
Vamco has become the first accident management company to buy a law firm after being awarded an alternative business structure (ABS) licence. The Surrey-based business has acquired Kingsley Law, previously part of the Nesbit Law Group.
National firm to use ABS licence to target non-legal acquisitions
National law firm Simpson Millar is eyeing up the acquisition of non-legal businesses as part of its expansion plans now it has secured an alternative business structure (ABS) licence, it has revealed.
Bristows becomes first large City firm to win ABS status
Commercial law firm Bristows has been granted an alternative business structure (ABS) licence, becoming the largest City practice so far to have taken the plunge. The 34-partner, 74 fee-earner firm is best known for its intellectual property work,
Caan returns to the legal den as he adds virtual law firm to portfolio
Virtual law firm Excello Law has become the second legal practice to join forces with ex-Dragon’s Den star James Caan as part of its bid to become the leading supplier of legal services to the SME sector. The firm has joined Knights Solicitors in Mr Caan’s Hamilton Bradshaw portfolio of companies.
Simpson Millar and DAS bring pre-paid legal services to the UK
National law firm Simpson Millar has joined forces with legal expenses insurer DAS to bring insurance-backed pre-paid legal plans to the UK, offering cover for a wide range of contentious and non-contentious work – including conveyancing and personal injury.
Specialist PI firm targets white-label deals with insurers after winning ABS licence
The latest personal injury law firm to become an alternative business structure is eyeing up the opportunity of offering insurers a specialist white-label service, it has emerged. Without the status, “you can’t get off the starting blocks,” said its chief executive.
Small firms left at the altar as mid-sized practices eye merger opportunities
Mid-sized law firms are looking more likely to secure mergers in the coming months than their smaller brethren, new research has indicated. The survey of 92 firms found that most of the firms that had received or made multiple approaches had at least 10 partners.
Simplify the Law owner unveils cash injection from external investor
Evident Legal, the law firm franchise turned online legal service Simplify the Law, has secured a cash injection from a venture capitalist to help it grow. The investor, ARC InterCapital, was set up by former Goldman Sachs vice-president Andrew Dixon.
If at first you don’t succeed… SRA tries again to increase £2,000 fining power
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is again lobbying the government to raise the amount it can fine traditional law firms after its previous attempt to catapult the limit from £2,000 to £250m was rejected last autumn. The revelation came in a consultation on proposed fining guidelines.
ABS specialising in claims by builders and cabbies eyes external investment
A law firm that has innovative web-based personal injury brands, including those directed at the building trades and taxi drivers, is to investigate external investment after winning its alternative business structure (ABS) license.
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