South Coast law firm Ellis Jones Solicitors has been licensed as an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
The law firm—with more than 170 staff in six offices—has stepped up its growth plans with the new status.
It has seized the opportunity to promote private client consultant Andy Kirby to partner—becoming the first non-lawyer Partner in Ellis Jones’ history.
Dual-qualified Andy (pictured right), who specialises in wills, trust and probate, is a member of the Association of Taxation Technicians and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
He becomes Ellis Jones’ record 22nd partner after six years with the firm and 25 year in the legal sector overall.
Nigel Smith, Managing Partner at Ellis Jones Solicitors (pictured left), said: 'These are exciting times.
'We are one of the few law firms in the area to have obtained ABS status, which will allow us to seize more opportunities and continue to grow the firm.
'The immediate promotion of Andy as our first non-lawyer Partner is a proud moment and puts a marker down for our future ambitions under our ABS status.
'It also reflects the status and esteem in which Andy is held with a richly-deserved reputation for excellence among financial advisors and chartered accountants, especially in regard to his expertise in tax and trusts.'
ABS status allow Ellis Jones greater freedom, access to more external funding and the ability to appoint non-lawyers as Partners.
Nigel added: 'Ellis Jones has a long track-record of embracing innovation while staying true to its core values.
'As well as allowing us to continue to grow, our new ABS status will help us deliver a greater service for our many valued clients.'
Andy’s areas of expertise include trusts and estates, inheritance tax, income and capital gains tax, deeds of variation and will planning.
The new ABS licensing took effect at Ellis Jones on 1 January 2023.
Ellis Jones has in offices in Bournemouth, Poole (Canford Cliffs), Ringwood, Swanage and Wimborne as well as London.
