Legal Services Act
Engineering consultancy launches ABS – but hopes to avoid competing with law firm clients
A leading provider of consultancy and expert witness services to the engineering sector has launched an alternative business structure (ABS) in a bid to add regulated legal services to its offering for corporate clients. The company is headed by the former senior partner of Wragge & Co.
Barrister with history of failing to co-operate with BSB and LeO suspended for two years
A commercial barrister has been suspended from practice for failing to comply with an order of the Legal Ombudsman and requests from his own regulator, only two years after a series of similar findings as well as a suspension for handling client money when he should not have done.
ABS targets continued expansion as ‘second cities’ strategy and non-legal services see turnover rocket
Fast-growing alternative business structure Knights Professional Services is on the look-out for its next acquisition and ‘second city’ location – as well as more non-legal services – after unveiling an increase of more than 60% in turnover over the past year to £33.5m.
Slater & Gordon yet to pay any deferred consideration to Quindell vendor
Slater & Gordon has yet to pay the company that used to be Quindell any deferred consideration from the 53,000 noise-induced hearing loss cases it bought, it emerged yesterday. It has also not launched the legal action against Watchstone Group that it announced seven months ago.
Law firm fee income up by 6%, benchmarking survey finds
The financial performance of smaller law firms has improved over last year, with both fee income and profits up significantly above inflation, according to an annual benchmarking survey published this week. Very little increase in salary costs, improved lock-up, and reductions in both WIP and debtor days contributed to the positive picture.
Exclusive: Family Law Café goes live with lawyer ‘mentors’ to help clients navigate their cases
A novel online family law service that uses experienced lawyers to mentor and manage clients through the legal process has gone live. Family Law Café is the brainchild of Joanna Toch, a barrister at Church Court Chambers in London, and she has secured financial backing from private individuals, including corporate lawyers.
QualitySolicitors looks to exploit network with national retailer deal
The QualitySolicitors network is to enter a three-month trial to supply legal services to retail chain Nisa, as it pushes to exploit its national network. Nisa is the UK’s leading member-owned organisation, providing benefits to 1,300 independent food and drink markets.
ABS turns thumping loss into profit with financial backing of corporate owner
One of the country’s largest personal injury practices has highlighted the benefits of being an alternative business structure owned by a large business after the write-off of a multi-million pound inter-company loan, and an £11m cash injection, helped it turn a huge loss into a profit in its last financial year.
Interim chair for Legal Services Board named with no sign of recruitment process
A former chief executive of Natural England is to take over as interim chairman of the Legal Services Board next week after Sir Michael Pitt’s term comes to an end without the recruitment exercise for his successor having even begun.
LeO keen on bringing unregulated providers within its remit
The Legal Ombudsman has pledged to avoid pursuing an “expansionist” strategy when considering expanding its jurisdiction, but nevertheless welcomed the Competition and Markets Authority’s suggestion that it could handle complaints against unregulated legal providers.
LSB to lead push for “minimum disclosures” by law firms on price and service
The Legal Services Board has said it expects frontline regulators to introduce compulsory “minimum disclosures” by law firms on price and service. The LSB was responding to the Competition and Market Authority market study of legal services.
ABS start-up led by CILEx Fellow bids for rapid growth
A chartered legal executive has launched a start-up alternative business structure specialising in personal injury but with ambitious plans for expansion into a variety of legal areas, including sports law.
ABS update: council bids to “commercialise” legal services, as virtual firm eyes investment
A local authority in Surrey is eyeing up an alternative business structure so it can “commercialise” its legal services in the wake of a partnership with another council coming to an end. Our latest ABS round-up also includes a virtual firm looking for investment to expand, a major deal for a leading probate ABS and a heavyweight appointment.
Outstanding value? LSB persuades legal regulators to publish annual costs statements
The Legal Services Board has persuaded all the legal regulators to produce straightforward annual statements on their costs so that practitioners can clearly see how their money is being spent, it has emerged. As a result, the LSB has shut down its cost of regulation project and publish its own statement of costs.
Cost of Legal Ombudsman to rise for first time as unpaid case fees cause problems
The Legal Ombudsman’s budget is set to rise for the first time since its creation – by £1m – with claims management companies not paying the case fees they have been charged the key cause and more expected to follow as they continue to go out of business.
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