The eminent criminal law practice announced last month that it would be closing its doors with a tweet posted by founder and longtime managing director Karen Todner which read: 'Kaim Todner moving towards controlled and orderly closure in March. Clients and solicitors placed and cared for. New ventures ahead!'. Now it has been revealed just what that new venture will be. Manchester-based ABS One Legal has reportedly agreed to acquire the high-profile criminal practice for an as yet undisclosed amount. The firm will continue to operate as Kaim Todner as part of One Legal.
Quick pick-up
One Legal was jointly founded in 2013 by then Stobart Barristers legal director Trevor Howarth and employment barrister Tim Edge. The ABS reportedly contacted Ms Todner just one day after her tweet about Kaim Todner's closure hit the web. It is understood that One Legal's absorption of Kaim Todner—which is renowned for its decade-long defence of 'Pentagon hacker' Gary McKinnon—will not result in any redundancies. Instead, an additional office space has been opened in London to accommodate private clients trading under Kaim Todner, with new extradition lawyer and duty solicitor recruits reportedly on the way.
Innovating the model
Mr Howarth is a vocal advocate of innovating the legal aid firm model—once going so far as to describe traditional legal aid firms as 'wounded animals waiting to die'. Announcing Kaim Todner's decision to link up with One Legal, he said that the criminal practice had 'effectively rationalised and delegated administrative processes to enable [Kaim Todner] to reduce and control running costs whilst simultaneously freeing fee-earners to focus on what they do best, namely providing prompt, efficient and quality legal services to clients and others within the wider criminal justice system. Kaim Todner is One Legal's first acquisition, though the ABS is understood to be negotiating similar deals with other firms. Sources: Law Society Gazette; Legal Cheek
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
