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Partnership decline

15 March 2012
Issue: 7505 / Categories: Legal News
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ABSs & LDPs will be the practice structure of choice, predicts legal expert

Law firm partnerships will cease to be the norm in future, as banks become less willing to lend and lawyers wise up to the benefits of external investment.

Instead, alternative business structures (ABSs) and legal disciplinary practices (LDPs) will be the practice structure of choice, writes NLJ consultant editor David Greene, senior partner at Edwin Coe.

Recent events such as Australian firm Slater & Gordon’s takeover of Russell Jones & Walker, and Quindell Portfolio’s approach to personal injury firm Silverbeck Rymer indicate the potential scale of reform.

“These changes are likely to receive a fillip from other changes in litigation services and in particular the Jackson reforms,” writes Greene.

He notes how the proposed ban on referral fees in personal injury cases is likely to push both insurance companies and case-management companies into forming ABSs in order to profit from the litigation process.

Issue: 7505 / Categories: Legal News
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

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James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
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