North West law firm Stephensons Solicitors LLP has appointed its first non-lawyer partner, following the firm’s approval as an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Neil Ireland-Davies, head of the firm’s Costs department, takes the number of Stephensons partners to 31 when the new structure becomes effective on January 7th 2013.
Neil joined the firm in 2001 as a Cost Draftsman. Under his leadership, the costs team has grown significantly into a 24-strong department which supports all of the firm’s legal teams with costs drafting services.
In addition, Neil’s team services external contracts and Stephensons was appointed, as a result of a competitive tendering process, a supplier to The Government Procurement Service’s Law Costs Draftsman Services Framework Agreement.
Ann Harrison, Stephensons’ chairwoman, said: “It is with great pleasure that we welcome Neil Ireland-Davies as our first non-lawyer partner. One of the key reasons in applying for an ABS licence is to bring talented people into our partnership who are not solicitors but have the skills and drive to take our business to new levels.
“We are delighted that the SRA has granted our ABS licence, making us one of just fewer than 60 firms to hold the licence. With new entrants making their way into the legal services sector since ABSs were introduced in 2012, the future will undoubtedly present challenges as well as opportunities.
“Stephensons is a forward-thinking and innovative firm and we are always looking for ways to provide legal services in the way our clients want them. Most recently this has involved investment in online services, implementing fixed prices and several local mergers to expand our ‘footprint’ across the North West region and beyond.
“We see the ABS licence as a fantastic springboard to thrive in the new, more competitive, legal marketplace.”
Stephensons is committed to providing legal services to all parts of the community, and is the third largest supplier of civil legal aid services in England and Wales. The firm employs almost 400 staff across eight offices in the North West. In 2011/2, turnover was £14.3million.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About Stephensons:
Stephensons is an award-winning North West law firm with a national reputation and reach, with eight regional offices in Altrincham, Wigan, Leigh, Bolton, Manchester and St Helens.
Media information: Lianne Tracey
Stephensons Solicitors LLP
T: 01616 966 229
E: lianne.tracey@stephensons.co.uk