HB Public Law has become the second local authority shared services venture to be granted an alternative business structure by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The business comprises the merged legal teams of Harrow and Barnet councils in London.

Hugh Peart (pictured), HB Public Law’s Director, said:  ‘I am delighted that the SRA has seen fit to licence our new venture, and that we are one of the first authorities to have achieved this.  This will allow us to continue to provide excellent legal advice, even where council functions are outsourced to the private sector, for the benefit of service users and council tax payers.  This is new territory for us.’

Last week the first local authority ABS licence was awarded to Buckinghamshire Law Plus Ltd, a collaboration between Buckinghamshire County Council and the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority.