Manchester law firm converts to ABS in "difficult climate" of legal sector

Manchester-based personal injury law firm, Express Solicitors, has successfully converted to alternative business structure (ABS) status.

It was granted an ABS license from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) on 1 April 2014, which will help the firm drive forward with growth plans in the coming months.

Managing partner at Express Solicitors, James Maxey said: “We’re delighted to have secured an ABS license from the Solicitors Regulatory Authority, as it will simply put us in a stronger position to continue moving forward in what is a difficult climate for the legal sector.

“It will allow us to bring qualified non-legal professionals into the fold to help us further improve the quality of our services and it also makes external investment a possibility in the future.

“We’ve had consistently strong growth in profitability over the years - last year reporting a 35% increase in fee income to £7.2m for the year end in 2013 - despite the changes in law that actually make it harder for personal injury law firms to succeed. We believe operating as an ABS will keep us on the right track going forward.”

Express Solicitors currently comprises 148 employees including 13 partners and 47 earners. The firm specialises in personal injury and accident claims, medical and clinical negligence claims and serious injury cases.