*/
“Unanswered questions” remain over whether alternative business structures (ABSs) should have been permitted, Alistair MacDonald QC, told a conference in the US.
The Bar chair raised concerns in a speech to the Australian Bar Association in Boston in July, weeks after the Bar Standards Board submitted its application to the Legal Services Board to become an ABS regulator.
MacDonald said there are a “raft of concerns and questions” about independence and conflicts of interest.
He asked whether in criminal legal aid it was “appropriate” to have entities whose primary purpose is maximising profit.
ABSs, he suggested, may be an example of the government’s “insatiable appetite to tinker with institutions without fully appreciating the effects of their actions”.
“Unanswered questions” remain over whether alternative business structures (ABSs) should have been permitted, Alistair MacDonald QC, told a conference in the US.
The Bar chair raised concerns in a speech to the Australian Bar Association in Boston in July, weeks after the Bar Standards Board submitted its application to the Legal Services Board to become an ABS regulator.
MacDonald said there are a “raft of concerns and questions” about independence and conflicts of interest.
He asked whether in criminal legal aid it was “appropriate” to have entities whose primary purpose is maximising profit.
ABSs, he suggested, may be an example of the government’s “insatiable appetite to tinker with institutions without fully appreciating the effects of their actions”.
Now is the time to tackle inappropriate behaviour at the Bar as well as extend our reach and collaboration with organisations and individuals at home and abroad
A comparison – Dan Monaghan, Head of DWF Chambers, invites two viewpoints
And if not, why not? asks Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Head of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, discusses the many benefits of oral fluid drug testing for child welfare and protection matters
To mark International Women’s Day, Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management looks at how financial planning can help bridge the gap
Casey Randall of AlphaBiolabs answers some of the most common questions regarding relationship DNA testing for court
Maria Scotland and Niamh Wilkie report from the Bar Council’s 2024 visit to the United Arab Emirates exploring practice development opportunities for the England and Wales family Bar
Marking Neurodiversity Week 2025, an anonymous barrister shares the revelations and emotions from a mid-career diagnosis with a view to encouraging others to find out more
David Wurtzel analyses the outcome of the 2024 silk competition and how it compares with previous years, revealing some striking trends and home truths for the profession
Save for some high-flyers and those who can become commercial arbitrators, it is generally a question of all or nothing but that does not mean moving from hero to zero, says Andrew Hillier
