According to Janis Purdy, 'the big firms would love to see the end of sole practitioners' and to 'gobble up the small firms' (see [2006] Gazette, 1 June, 15). This may or may not be true in Ms Purdy's line of work, but in the intellectual property/commercial sector, it is certainly not the case: there is plenty of room for sole practitioners and firms of all sizes to co-exist happily.

If anything, it is the largest firms that are feeling the tightest squeeze, as clients are not prepared to pay inflated City rates for services that can just as easily be provided out of your front room, with a decent computer and telephone system. The trend is towards having smaller firms offering niche services at more cost-effective rates.


Sole practitioners can be highly successful and need not be pitied. It all depends on their area of practice.


Mark Anderson, Anderson & Company, Shillingford, Oxfordshire