A firm of solicitors in Newcastle has seen an increase in turnover of 7% in the last year and has become one of the first law firms in the country to be granted multiple alternative business structure (ABS) licences.
Irwin Mitchell has been approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for for five different ABS licences which will cover several different businesses in the company’s group.
The SRA has also approved two new appointments at Irwin Mitchell; Glyn Barker, who will joins the firm from his role as the chairman UK vice-chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers, and will act as chairman for Irwin Mitchell’s parent company, IMCO Holdings and Mel Egglenton who joins the firm as a second non-executive director and chairman of the company’s audit committee. Mr. Egglenton previously worked in the same role at accountants KPMG.
The five new licences that have been granted to the law firm will cover Irwin Mitchell LLP; debt collection services firm Ascent Collections Ltd and insurance claims handling company Coris UK Ltd.
The other licences relate to Irwin Mitchell Trustees Ltd and the Irwin Mitchell Trust Corporation Ltd.
John Pickering, group chief executive said: “This is a major step forward for Irwin Mitchell as a group and we are delighted that we have received the licences for which we applied.
“It’s a very significant day for us – an important milestone which positions us well to take advantage of the opportunities which we think will arise from the changing legal landscape.
“Conversion to ABS status sends a clear signal that we intend to move forward with our strategy.
“We are also pleased to be the first multi-licensed ABS, which reflects the breadth of our offering to clients. Our group structure has been built with that strength of diversity in mind and we believe it puts us in a very strong position in the changing legal sector.”