Market monitor

Alternative business structures in the personal injury market will do little to improve injured people’s access to justice but will benefit larger law firms at the expense of smaller ones, a new survey has found. Firms were split over whether their business models can survive the Jackson reforms.

A new national marketing network of solicitors specialising in personal injury claims will be launched in the New Year with funding to spend more than £3m a year on advertising as firms come to terms with the upcoming ban on referral fees. Meanwhile new ABS Thompsons hinted at possible alliances with trade unions.

Connect2Law – the largest network of law firms in England and Wales – is planning to raise its profile and make itself the “UK’s leading response for law firms” to the post-Legal Services Act market. As a sign of intent it has recruited David Jabbari as its new chief executive.

The growing interest in alternative business structures (ABSs) among corporate law firms has been highlighted by another survey, with 46% of those polled saying they are likely to use the ABS regime in the next three years.

AIM-listed Quindell Portfolio has continued its acquisition spree by agreeing to buy leading claims manager Accident Advice Helpline for £70m – the first major deal involving a claims management company ahead of the referral fee ban next April – as well as yet another law firm.

The outsourcing arm of FTSE 250 construction company Carillion could become an alternative business structure (ABS) as it looks to grow its advice services team beyond in-house and legal aid work, it has emerged.

Sports and media stars will be among the wealthy clients of a new alternative business structure (ABS) which has already made a high-profile legal hire while awaiting its operating licence. BlackStar Legal is associated with the tax and wealth management giant, BlackStar Group.

All lawyers will be able to have their profiles on the Rocket Lawyer website for free from early next year, Legal Futures can reveal. Founder Charley Moore said the company’s mission is to make law more “affordable and simple” for UK businesses and consumers.

US online legal document service Rocket Lawyer formally launches in the UK today, selling consumers and businesses annual packages starting at £40. Some 20 law firms have signed up to its ‘On Call’ panel, offering a 33% discount on their fees to users.

A conveyancing business set up by a technology specialist has become the latest alternative business structure. Peter Ambrose, the owner of The Partnership, based in Guildford, Surrey, described its licence as an “endorsement”.

Nearly seven out of ten people are attracted to the idea of finding legal services on the internet and a similar number of younger adults are likely to go to supermarket providers, according to a survey.

Merger and acquisition talks are rife among law firms, although there is little evidence of many making it through to a deal, new research has suggested. According to the survey by NatWest, 62% of firms had received or made approaches in the past year.

Investment by Dragon’s Den star James Caan has given the law firm Knights privileged access to clients and helped boost fee income by 20%, according to its managing partner. Meanwhile Parabis chief executive Tim Oliver has warned about the entry of the big accountants.

QualitySolicitors (QS) has admitted its campaign of attack ads on ‘faceless’ legal advice may have been premature, but defended it on the grounds that the network’s solicitors wanted the message publicised.

A new high street franchise that aims to market member law firms to “lower” demographics in thousands of branches of independent food retailers working under brands like Costcutter, Nisa and Premier Stores went live yesterday.