Legal Services Regulators

It is home to some of the largest legal services providers, many of whom have taken advantage of the liberal business structures available.  In contrast to other jurisdictions, England and Wales permits the external ownership of law firms and a wide range of practice structures regulated by ten front line regulators.

The underpinning statutory framework enables new regulators to enter the market and for existing regulators to change and develop their regulatory arrangements with the approval of the overarching regulator, the Legal Services Board.

Iain Miller and Jessica Clay have extensive experience in advising the majority of legal services regulators and supporting them in developing and operating their regulatory schemes.  Additionally, we have senior lawyers in our team who have worked extensively at legal services regulators in England and Wales. Our expert support in this area has recently included: drafting codes of conduct and other regulatory rules, assisting with applications to become a licensing authority for Alternative Business Structures (ABS) and preparing drafts of statutory instruments to extend or amend regulatory arrangements under Section 69 of the Legal Services Act 2007 (LSA).  Our clients also come to us for advice on interpreting the provisions of the LSA and other relevant statutes, policy development and other strategic issues.  We have also acted for legal services regulators in judicial reviews and other statutory challenges in respect of their decision making powers.

Our expertise in this area has also led to us advising legal regulators in other jurisdictions around the world on their schemes in the light of our experience of the England and Wales legal services framework.