New Year ABSs From the SRA

The start of the New Year saw a flurry of alternative business structure (ABS) approvals. Within a 24 hour period the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) authorised seven new ABSs, bringing its total count to over 60.

International legal consultancy firm, Omnia Strategy LLP, founded in 2011 and chaired by Cherie Booth QC, is now licensed by the SRA to undertake the conduct of litigation.

Everyman Legal, a franchise of individual lawyers set up in 2007 by James Hunt, a former partner of Needham & James, was granted an ABS licence, effective from 7 January 2013. The firm was authorised to undertake five reserved legal activities, including conduct of litigation and probate.

Anderson Longmore & Higham with Bevis Rowntree, a Sussex company with five offices across the UK, is also among the newly-licensed ABSs. This status will help the company appoint non-lawyers as equity partners, raise external investments and grow its business, senior partner Christopher Wise said.

Other new ABSs include Brilliant Law, Jigsaw Law, a northwestern claims management company, Cambridge-based Houlden Sweeney and Kent law firm, Tassells.