Market monitor

A joint venture alternative business structure specialising in dispute resolution for SMEs is launching a new service for law firms which it compares to “a concession in a department store”.

Senior in-house lawyers at large private equity firms are responsible for the cost of instructing law firms but lack the power to control it, a study has found.

Six in 10 barristers, rising to 80% of those doing publicly funded work, have taken on personal debt or used savings to get through Covid-19, while a quarter have taken on additional paid work.

The boss of listed law firm Knights has outlined his ambitions to continue expanding the business across England, with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland also in his sights.

A law firm that works with non-legal businesses to offer SME clients a multi-disciplinary service is to convert to an alternative business structure so that they can share fees.

Leading commercial firm DAC Beachcroft has launched an “in-house chambers” which plans to expand rapidly and become “the biggest of its kind” by end of the year.

The year has kicked off with a spate of law firm expansion activity, whether through mergers, huge team hires, file acquisitions or one Essex law firm maintaining EU links by opening in Malta.

Talks about a reverse takeover of NAHL Group – the owner of National Accident Helpline – by fellow AIM-listed company Frenkel Topping have been called off.

Rising income from listed law firm Gateley’s non-legal businesses almost made up for the loss in turnover from its core legal work during last year’s first lockdown, its interim results have shown.

A commercial QC has taken the unusual step of setting up an alternative business structure with an accountant, in contrast with what he described as the “outmoded” chambers structure.

The Lord Chancellor today announced yet another delay to implementation of the whiplash reforms, pushing the date back a month to May this year, but lawyers are saying that more time is needed.

Acquisitive regional practice Knights was the only listed law firm to defy the Covid gloom and end 2020 with its share price higher than where it began, a Legal Futures analysis has shown.

A group of claimant and defendant representatives and judges has outlined a range of concerns about next year’s whiplash reforms, including claims management companies exploiting injured people.

Talks about a reverse takeover of NAHL Group – the owner of National Accident Helpline – by fellow listed company Frenkel Topping are to continue into the New Year, they announced today.

More than a third of consumers believe that video witnessing of wills is “a good alternative” to being there in person, according to a major study, while a majority are happy to have an online consultation.