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14 April 2011 / Dr Jon Robins
Issue: 7461 + 7462 / Categories: Opinion
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March of the big brand

Lawyers talk about “Tesco Law” and the ongoing liberalisation of legal services...

Jon Robins offers some predictions on how deregulation will affect the legal services market

Lawyers talk about “Tesco Law” and the ongoing liberalisation of legal services, as though the 6 October start date for alternative business structures (ABSs)will mark a latter day “gold rush” led by big name supermarkets and banks. But what do the consumers want? Do they really want to buy their legal services through Virgin, the Co-Op or—for that matter—KwikFit? It’s a blindingly obvious question but one that is all too infrequently raised.

Recent research from the pollster YouGov reveals that, yes, around six out of 10 (60%) of adults are interested in receiving legal advice from well-known brands. The most popular being Barclays (19% would consider them), followed by the Co-Op and AA  (18%). Tesco who has lent its name to the movement (but shown little interest in it) also scored highly (16%) as did Virgin (15%). Not everyone was a winner though. Apparently,

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DWF—Chris Air

DWF—Chris Air

Firm strengthens commercial team in Manchester with partner appointment

Dorsey & Whitney—Mark Churchman

Dorsey & Whitney—Mark Churchman

Private equity specialist joins as partner in London

Haynes Boone—Philipp Kurek

Haynes Boone—Philipp Kurek

International arbitration practice bolstered by London partner hire

NEWS
The government will aim to pass legislation banning leasehold for new flats and capping ground rent, introducing non-compulsory digital ID and creating a ‘duty of candour’ for public servants (also known as the Hillsborough law) in the next Parliament

An Italian financier has lost his bid to block his Australian wife from filing divorce papers in England on the basis it was no longer her domicile of choice

Reforms to the disclosure regime in the business and property courts have not achieved their objectives, lawyers have warned
The Law Society has urged ministers to hold a public consultation on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the justice system as a whole
Ministers have proposed bringing inquest work under a single fee scheme for legal help and advocacy legal aid work
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