Fletchers Solicitors aims for top 100 spot following ABS approval

Medical negligence outfit Fletchers Solicitors has set its sights on becoming a top 100 law firm by 2018, following approval by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to convert into an alternative business structure (ABS).

The Southport-based firm, which has 280 employees and a turnover of £12m, becomes the latest UK firm to make the change, despite research showing a reluctance from firms to change their structure.

'Fletchers has been successful by doing things differently,' said the firm's chief executive, Ed Fletcher. 'We've been changing business processes to become more agile and innovative than the competition.'

Fletcher, pictured, continued: 'Importantly, being an ABS means we can bring in top talent and further our leadership of the medical negligence sector.'

This is the latest development taken by the business, which has reported significant growth over the past five years and now claims to handle one in ten medical negligence cases in the UK.

The North West firm has already utilised its new ABS status by appointing Gary Carrington as finance director in addition to three non-lawyer non-executive directors: Nigel Savage, former CEO of the University of Law, Paul Duncanson, a marketing and brand specialist, and David Walmsley, whose own company, Verus UK, provides financial advice for law firms.

'Our non-solicitor directors can now be acknowledged officially by Companies House, and it paves the way for us to attract future talent to the board, both internally and externally, to ensure we have the best possible leadership to achieve our vision,' added Fletcher.

The CEO said that bringing in talent from different industries would help to increase the breadth of business experience, giving the firm a competitive advantage over its rivals.

'Innovation in the legal sector is crucial to success and we aim to remain at the forefront of the industry by continuing to break down traditional barriers,' he concluded.

In addition to its new ABS status, Fletchers has launched its Patient Claim Line, a consumer-facing brand, and Medical Law Network, a panel which offers other firms a way of bringing their services to market.

Matthew Rogers is an editorial assistant as Solicitors Journal
matthew.rogers@solicitorsjournal.co.uk