Manchester-based Leonard Curtis Business Solutions Group has announced the launch of Leonard Curtis Legal, a standalone legal services division that operates as an alternative business structure regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Headed by Andrew Gregory, a restructuring specialist and former managing partner at law firm DWF's Manchester office, the new venture provides legal services for the Leonard Curtis Group and a legal offering to partner with its accountant contacts and clients to complement the other services already on offer.

Fixed fees

The new division is headquartered in Manchester and will advise on areas including startups, business finance, contract reviews, employment advice, cash management, debt recovery and dispute resolution. Mr Gregory told the Law Society Gazette it will offer fixed fees ‘wherever possible.’

External firms

The LCBSG will continue to refer specialist work to its network of external firms, he added, including DWF: 'We have our natural areas of expertise in the team, and we will draw on those from private practice with the right skills whenever appropriate to best service our clients and contacts.'

‘A natural next step’

The move makes LCBSG one of the first UK multi-disciplinary practices in the SME market to take advantage of the changing regulation around the provision of legal services. Director Daniel Booth commented: ‘The wider group sees more and more situations that need a solution which crosses over professional disciplines and services in the SME space. Adding legal services was a natural next step.’