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25 February 2011 / Dr Jon Robins
Issue: 7454 / Categories: Opinion , Legal services , Profession
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An unfair divide

Is the ban on law firms hiving off unreserved legal work through associated entities the regulatory breach in the profession’s defences that will enable those new entrants to storm a newly liberalised legal services market?

Part 3: Jon Robins confronts an uncomfortable reality for lawyers

Is the profession’s failure to address the separate business rule “the equivalent of the Maginot line”, ponders Neil Kinsella, the senior executive of one of the largest claimant firms Russell Jones & Walker. Or, to put it another way, is the ban on law firms hiving off unreserved legal work through associated entities the regulatory breach in the profession’s defences that will enable those new entrants to storm a newly liberalised legal services market?

Radical change

This is the third and final article in a series exploring the consequences for a profession going through rapid and radical change where some 80% of its work falls outside the protection of “reserved” legal work (see 160 NLJ 7444, p 1662 & NLJ, 7 January 2011, p 7). Most practitioners

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Ward Hadaway—19 promotions

Ward Hadaway—19 promotions

19 promotions across national offices, including two new partners

Brabners—Ruth Hargreaves

Brabners—Ruth Hargreaves

Partner promoted to head of corporate team

Slater Heelis—Liam Hall, Jordan Bear & Joe Madigan

Slater Heelis—Liam Hall, Jordan Bear & Joe Madigan

Chester office expansion accelerates with triple appointment

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