Manchester-based Pannone is to roll out its Connect2Law referral scheme across the UK after signing up seven major law firms to act as regional hubs.


The scheme, which has earned Pannone £8 million since it was launched in 2003, sees smaller firms refer work they are unable to handle to a large city centre

practice.



In return, they receive a share of the fees generated, technical as well as soft-skills training, IT and strategic advice and the chance to be part of a buying group.



Member firms are also able to market their practices as offering a wider range of services. Some 600 firms are part of Connect2Law in the north-west.



The firms that have signed up to act as hubs are Nelsons in the midlands, Newcastle-based Ward Hadaway, Shoosmiths in Birmingham and parts of the south, Oxford's Darbys, Hull-based Andrew M Jackson, Hugh James in Wales and Harper McLeod in Scotland. Pannone is also in negotiations with practices in London and Bristol.



Simon McCrum, the Pannone partner who developed Connect2Law, said the scheme helps smaller law firms keep hold of their clients at a time of major upheaval in the legal services market.



He said: 'Each hub firm helps their local small firms to survive and indeed thrive. We are not out to take member firms' clients but to help them keep them. When a client gets to a certain size, they begin to look outside the small firm they have always used.



'Small firms used to have to keep hold of work that they may not have felt comfortable doing. Now they send that work to the hub firm and the risk of mistakes is reduced.'



Member firms receive a non-poaching agreement from their hub firm, he added.



Philip Hoult