Direct access website founder urges barristers to focus on broader expertise, not advocacy
Lawyers who don’t believe the “writing is on the wall” that unregulated legal services will increase “may find themselves on the wrong side of history”, the founder of direct access website Absolute Barrister has warned. He advised barristers to focus on their legal expertise more broadly, rather than advocacy skills.
Legal finance company set to delist as it awaits Supreme Court ruling
A finance company for law firms has announced that it wants to delist from the stock exchange as it awaits a crucial Supreme Court ruling. It is the first of two Supreme Court cases that focus on interpretation of the minimum terms and conditions for solicitors’ insurance, the second of which was before the justices yesterday.
Merger mania takes hold up and down the country
There has been the usual spate of law firm mergers and acquisitions up and down the country coinciding with the end of the traditional indemnity year, including the continuing growth of national crime firm Tuckers and a Scottish firm entering England for the first time.
Offering fixed fees “a sign of entrepreneurial lawyers”
Offering fixed fees is a sign of entrepreneurial lawyers, according to research among small firms which also found that it helps “cement a better client relationship from the start”. The research, by LexisNexis, found that those offering fixed fees were investing more in processes, technology and marketing.
Success in litigation points to stock exchange performance
There is a correlation between a company’s success in litigation and its subsequent stock market performance, legal IT company Premonition has claimed. The US-based start-up, which operates in the UK as well, operates an artificial intelligence system that mines big data to find out which litigators win.
ABS moves to fill “gap in market” for law firms in advisory services
A solicitor-led investment consultancy has sought an alternative business structure licence as part of its plan to expand and exploit what it called a “gap in the market” for lawyers in advisory services. It has two solicitor partners and until now offered unreserved legal activities.
UK lawtech start-ups “struggling to compete with well-funded US rivals”
The author of a visual map of the lawtech start-up scene said it revealed the UK has a lower number of new technology ventures relative to the size of the legal market as a whole, compared with other European countries.
Exclusive: leading chambers sets up international law firm
Outer Temple Chambers has taken the unprecedented step of setting up what is effectively a separate international law firm, employing a solicitor. Outer Temple International, a Bar Standards Board-regulated entity, has now secured insurance and is set to go live this week.
Exclusive: ABS One Legal makes second crime firm acquisition
One Legal – the externally funded alternative business structure that saved leading crime firm Kaim Todner earlier this year – has made its second acquisition as it looks to create a new model for criminal law, Legal Futures can reveal. One Legal is headed by Trevor Howarth, the founder of now-defunct Stobart Barristers.
Litigation finance company opens its ABS for business
AIM-listed litigation finance company Burford Capital has finally activated its alternative business structure after hiring a solicitor to act in judgment enforcement matters. Burford Law was licensed in January 2016 but will now start operating after the company hired litigator Tom Evans as its head.
