A business adviser specialising in small companies is the latest professional services firm to enter the legal services market.

Manchester-based Leonard Curtis Business Solutions Group (LCBSG) announced today that it had set up a standalone legal services division.

Leonard Curtis Legal will be headed by Andrew Gregory (pictured), a restructuring specialist and former managing partner at national firm DWF's Manchester office. It will operate from today as an alternative business structure regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. 

Legal services offered will include advice on startups, business finance, contract reviews, employment advice, cash management, debt recovery and dispute resolution.

The firm will offer fixed fees 'wherever possible', Gregory said.

Examples of fixed-fee work included the sale of a children's nursery, drawing up shareholder agreements and giving an opinion on the prospects of litigation. 

The new venture, based at Spinningfields in Manchester, will provide services to the Leonard Curtis Group, which specialises in advising small and medium-sized businesses.

The group will continue to refer specialist work to its network of external firms, Gregory said, including DWF.

'We have our natural areas of expertise in the team, and we will draw on those from private practice with the right skills whenever appropriate to best service our clients and contacts.'