You rightly highlight growing unrest concerning non-lawyer ownership and management of legal firms (see [2006] Gazette, 6 July, 16). It is now coming from foreign bars in whose jurisdictions our international firms wish to increase their business.

The Solicitors Sole Practitioners Group (SSPG) has long argued that non-lawyer ownership and management is wrong in principle, and will be seen to be wrong in practice. Regulation will not be able to provide a satisfactory ringfence. The first practical implications so far as foreign jurisdictions are concerned are now becoming clear, and City firms which have supported this change will suffer.


It should be stopped at this stage and the SSPG has given evidence to this effect to the joint select committee considering the draft Legal Services Bill. There is still time to reject this misguided proposal driven by the consumer lobby, which will have the effect of damaging the interests of consumers and the provision of legal services in the long term.

Clive Sutton, SSPG honorary secretary, Lymington, Hampshire