Market monitor

The latest instalment of our Legal Pioneers series looks at the Whale Rock Professional Services Group, which has legal, accountancy and company secretarial arms. Clients already enjoy the benefits of the one-stop shop, writes Dan Bindman, but becoming an MDP will help considerably.

QualitySolicitors is generating nearly 100,000 leads per month for its member firms, pioneering research into find-a-solicitor type services has revealed, while around a fifth of such businesses have disappeared since 2010.

The first law firm franchise formally opens for business today under the face2face solicitors brand. The plan eventually is to have 600 franchises across England and Wales as part of a national legal brand. More are set to open by Christmas.

A leading law firm and an accident management company have joined forces to offer insurance companies and brokers a ‘white label’ alternative business structure combining legal and non-legal operations to revolutionise motor claims processes.

Recognition of the QualitySolicitors brand is registering low among consumers, Law Society research has found, which it says justifies the efforts with its new advertising campaign to ensure the network does not appropriate the word ‘quality’.

Legal publishing giant LexisNexis has become the latest entrant to the automated document assembly market with the launch of LexisSmart. It will next month be linked up to the company’s LawyerLocator referral service so that customers can seek a lawyer review of documents.

In-deed, the AIM-listed online conveyancing service, may alter its business model after struggling to convert quotes into instructions, its chairman has revealed. Nonetheless, it is preparing to move into wills next year and planning a television advertising campaign.

Clients view fixed fees and online access to the progress of their case – but not brand names – as key elements of legal services they would buy, according to unique new research, while law firms are waiting for competitors to close under pressure from ABSs and legal aid.

The spiralling costs of legal services is prompting some leading general counsel to consider a “production line” approach to handling legal work, with more companies looking to go offshore or in-house, according to new research from an Oxford professor.

The latest national marketing organisation for solicitors could be an attractive takeover target for a big brand looking to enter the legal market, its founder has admitted. Lawyers2you, the consumer-facing brand of Birmingham law firm Blakemores, is being rolled out nationally.

A host of major businesses are being lined up to offer a new service providing consumers with help to handle a wide range of legal matters for an annual subscription of £59.99, we can reveal. CPP recently launched ‘Your Law’ and is to roll it out to high-profile business partners.

Turcan Connell has signalled its intention to become one of the first alternative business structures in Scotland, while its joint senior partner has called for law firms to be subject to capital adequacy requirements. Douglas Connell said the introduction of ABSs provides a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for lawyers.

Co-operative Legal Services is planning a more extensive pilot of face-to-face advice in its bank branches later this year as it bids to become consumers’ “lawyer of choice”, the company has confirmed. The Co-op has also merged its legal and funeral businesses.

Australia’s Slater & Gordon, the world’s first publicly listed law firm, is “more seriously” evaluating the opportunities available in the UK, the company has revealed. The news comes as S&G and Integrated Legal Holdings – the only other listed legal practice, also in Australia – both announced strong results.

Pioneering US legal services business LegalZoom is planning to launch in the UK next year, Legal Futures can reveal. Senior management are in the UK this week to view possible headquarters for the operation, which has been described as the most recognised legal brand in America.