Legal alternative

AS representatives from Scotland's legal community we write to express our support for arguably the most important change to our profession in its history – Alternative Business Structures (ABS).

Law firms are currently heavily restricted in the way they are allowed to run their businesses and the introduction of ABS will give firms of all shapes and sizes the flexibility we need to choose how to grow our businesses, stay competitive and invest in resources to give clients a better service.

Often we are competitors, but today we are united in our belief that the Legal Services Bill in Scotland must be supported. ABS will empower our businesses to better meet our clients' needs, from allowing firms on the high street to decide how to structure their business to compete more effectively to ensuring our biggest firms can contend with the legal giants south of the Border. Without these changes there is a real risk that Scotland's law firms will be left unable to compete.

ABS has already been passed in England and Wales. To ensure the continuing success of Scotland's thriving legal industry, we feel it is crucial that Scottish law firms are given the option to access ABS and a level playing field with England and Wales is maintained.

ANDERSON STRATHERN

AUSTIN LAFFERTY SOLICITORS

BLACKADDERS

DUNDAS & WILSON

HARPER MasLEOD

HBJ GATELEY WAREING

LINDSAYS WS

MACLAY MURRAY & SPENS

McGRIGORS

SEMPLE FRASER

SHEPHERD & WEDDERBURN

PAGAN OSBORNE

TURCAN CONNELL