The Lancashire based group are now just awaiting SRA approval to get the go-ahead. Simpson Millar will still run under the existing management team but will operate as a business within the Fairpoint Group. Chris Moat, chief executive at Fairpoint said the company spent a 'considerable amount of time finding the right partner'. The chairman of  Fairpoint is David Harrel who was a founding and managing partner of city law firm SJ Berwin where he remains a consultant. Alternative business structures (ABS) came into being  in 2012 and 454 firms have made applications. Source: Solicitors Journal