Pioneering ABS combines legal and accounting services


Accountancy services: unique combination with legal advice

The first alternative business structure (ABS) to market itself as a firm offering both legal and accountancy services has been licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Direct Law & Finance Ltd is a firm of solicitors and accountants based in Brentford, west London. It launched in May 2012 but was not an authorised law firm up to this point.

Though there have been two firms of accountants which have become ABSs to add legal services to their offerings – Price Bailey and Brookson – Direct Law & Finance is the first firm to put law and accountancy side by side.

The firm, which did not respond to questions from Legal Futures, offers town and country planning, general litigation and swearing documents in the legal sector. Accountancy services include bookkeeping, management information, VAT, payroll and business plans. The firm’s masthead says it also offers consultancy services.

Felix Joseph, who has held legal positions with a number of local councils, is the head of legal practice, and Joanne Joseph head of finance and administration. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

In the ‘about us’ section of its website, Direct Law describes itself as a “dynamic company of solicitors and accountants”.

It says: “Our vast experience has been gained by advising in a range of disciplines from private individuals to multinational organisations, private companies, MPs, committee groups, central and local government departments, churches, charities and organisations, youth groups and sports clubs.”

There are now 171 ABSs licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and a further 38 by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.

Tags:




Leave a Comment

By clicking Submit you consent to Legal Futures storing your personal data and confirm you have read our Privacy Policy and section 5 of our Terms & Conditions which deals with user-generated content. All comments will be moderated before posting.

Required fields are marked *
Email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Blog


GEO – the impact of AI on digital marketing for law firms

GEO represents the biggest change in online business generation that I can remember. You cannot afford to stick with the same old engine optimisation techniques.


What the law can learn from fintech’s onboarding revolution

Client onboarding has always been slow. It’s not just about the paperwork and manual workflows; it’s also about those long AML checks and verifications.


Civil enforcement – progress at last with CJC report

‘When do I get my money?’ is a question that litigators acting for successful parties are used to fielding. The value of judgments is of course in the recovery made.


Loading animation