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15 October 2015 / Kerry Underwood
Issue: 7672 / Categories: Opinion , Legal services , Profession
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We need to talk about the ABS fiasco

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Why is everyone ignoring the obvious when it comes to ABSs? Kerry Underwood can’t hide his disbelief

In my recent NLJ series “Chronicle of a Death Foretold” I looked at the spectacular failure of alternative business structures (ABSs) (see NLJ, 8 May 2015, 15 May, 29 May, pp 22). Since then, Slater and Gordon’s share price has slumped following the well-publicised travails of Quindell. Curiously, when I click on “S and G in the News” on their website 99% of recent news about this alternative provision of legal services flagship is not there, neither can I see any obvious reference to Quindell. Can’t think why. Co-op, Stobart, Quindell: a litany of failure.

Game over surely? No, not for the flat-earthers, who include the Shadow Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer, the Legal Services Board (LSB), and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Mission accomplished?

In one of its most bizarre statements—and there is plenty of competition—the LSB has now concluded that the goal of promoting innovation and diversity in

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Gateley Legal—Caroline Pope & Bob Maynard

Gateley Legal—Caroline Pope & Bob Maynard

Construction team bolstered by hire of senior consultant duo

Switalskis—four appointments

Switalskis—four appointments

Firm expands residential conveyancing team with quadruple appointment

mfg Solicitors—Claire Pope

mfg Solicitors—Claire Pope

Private client team welcomes senior associatein Worcester

NEWS
What safeguards apply when trust corporations are appointed as deputy by the Court of Protection? 
Disputing parties are expected to take part in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), where this is suitable for their case. At what point, however, does refusing to participate cross the threshold of ‘unreasonable’ and attract adverse costs consequences?
When it comes to free legal advice, demand massively outweighs supply. 'Millions of people are excluded from access to justice as they don’t have anywhere to turn for free advice—or don’t know that they can ask for help,' Bhavini Bhatt, development director at the Access to Justice Foundation, writes in this week's NLJ
When an ex-couple is deciding who gets what in the divorce or civil partnership dissolution, when is it appropriate for a third party to intervene? David Burrows, NLJ columnist and solicitor advocate, considers this thorny issue in this week’s NLJ
NLJ's latest Charities Appeals Supplement has been published in this week’s issue
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