Claire Ruckin legalweek
Penningtons Solicitors has become one of the first firms to promote a barrister to its partnership following recent regulatory changes by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) allowing barristers to act as law firm partners.
Nicole Curtis, who was called to the Bar in 1992 and was a member of 1 Paper Buildings until joining Penningtons’ professional regulation team in 2003, was promoted at the beginning of the month, taking the total number of partners at the firm to 51.
She becomes one of the first barristers to be admitted to a law firm’s partnership without first requalifying as a solicitor. She will be regulated by the BSB.
The move comes after the Legal Services Board (LSB) on 1 April approved BSB applications designed to relax Code of Conduct rules governing barristers’ working practices.
Significant changes to the Code of Conduct now for the first time permit barristers to:
•Become managers of Legal Disciplinary Practices (LDPs);
•Work in partnerships;
•Work in both a self-employed capacity and employed capacity at the same time (although not in the same case);
•Hold shares in LDPs;
•Share premises and office facilities with others;
•Investigate and collect evidence and witness statements;
•Attend police stations; and
•Conduct correspondence.
Before the LSB approved the amendments, the BSB granted waivers to 15 barristers to enable them to become managers of legal disciplinary partnerships, but the body has not yet received notification that any other barristers have done so.
Penningtons chief executive David Raine commented: “We are delighted that Nicole has joined the partnership, particularly as her appointment marks a milestone in the ongoing development of the legal profession.”
BSB chair Baroness Deech said: “The BSB is committed to making appropriate changes to permitted practice at the Bar to benefit its clients in terms of greater access to barristers’ services, broadening the range of services available from the Bar, giving consumers more choice and bringing down costs while maintaining the high standards associated with the Bar.”
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Full Article:
http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/1600321/penningtons-promotes-barrister-partnership-bsb-relaxes-rules
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