The government has confirmed that reform of the conditional fee agreement (CFA) regime will see a single set of simpler regulations put in place - in a move it hopes will persuade clients to bypass claims farmers in favour of direct contact with solicitors.

Speaking at the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) annual conference in London last week, Department for Constitutional Affairs minister David Lammy said it was gearing up to make an announcement on the changes 'very soon'.

But he said: 'I can confirm that we intend to replace the existing CFA and collective CFA regulations with simpler requirements contained in one set of regulations, setting out the minimum statutory framework.

Client care and contractual responsibilities will be focused in the Law Society's client care code.'

Mr Lammy, who said he did not believe there was a compensation culture, questioned why clients choose claims intermediaries over lawyers, and concluded that the government needed to cut out 'unnecessary and complex regulation' if solicitors are to become more approachable.

'The simplification of CFAs I [have] referred to is a good example of this,' he added.

Meanwhile, outgoing APIL president David Marshall told delegates that it would argue in its response to consultation on the Clementi review that retaining the status quo was not a viable option as there was a lack of public confidence in the current system of regulating lawyers.

Mr Marshall said APIL was 'leaning towards' Sir David's 'B+' model, which would see a separation of professional bodies' representative and regulatory functions, under the supervision of a legal services board.

Paula Rohan