QualitySolicitors

QualitySolicitors is a grouping of law firms in the United Kingdom.[2] It was founded in 2009 and has over 200 branches. It is the first national chain of solicitors in the UK.,[3] following a franchise-type model based on independent ownership of small to medium High Street law firms trading under one brand name but sharing national marketing campaigns.

QualitySolicitors
IndustryLegal services
Founded2009 (Leicester)
Headquarters
St Ives
,
United Kingdom
Number of locations
200+
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
Ian Wheeler (chief executive) Craig Holt (Founder and President) Saleem Arif (Founder and chief operating officer)
Revenuecirca £300 million (system)[1]
Websitewww.qualitysolicitors.com

History

QualitySolicitors was founded in 2009 as an internet-based alliance of independent law firms in the United Kingdom.[4] In May 2010 member firms began to rebrand under the "QualitySolicitors" name, with 50 converting in November of that year.[2][5]

In April 2011 QualitySolicitors agreed a deal with the retailer WHSmith under which QualitySolicitors would place representatives in up to 500 of its branches.[4][6][7]

In October 2011 the private equity firm Palamon Capital Partners acquired a majority stake in the QualitySolicitors holding company in a deal estimated at around £100 million.[1][8][9] In March 2012 QualitySolicitors launched a £15 million television advertising campaign, the largest ever by a UK-based legal services provider.[10][11][12]

In September 2012 it was announced that QualitySolicitors had formed a partnership with the California-based online legal services provider LegalZoom, as part of which the companies will jointly offer online legal services in the United Kingdom including company formations and divorce documents.[13]

Operations

QualitySolicitors has over 80 branches across the UK and previously held locations in 160 WHSmith outlets.[9]

Member firms pay varying annual fees to the QualitySolicitors holding company. This revenue is used to fund central costs such as advertising.[9]


References
  1. "QualitySolicitors secures majority investment from private equity firm". Legal Week. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  2. "QualitySolicitors to launch 50 branches as talks with top 100 firms heat up". The Lawyer. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  3. "UK's first chain of 'high street lawyers' is set to revolutionise legal services". The Guardian. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  4. "QualitySolicitors to put desks in 500 WHSmith branches". The Lawyer. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  5. "Exclusive: QualitySolicitors launches high street network". Law Society Gazette. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  6. "Selling Pieces of Law Firms to Investors". The New York Times. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  7. "QualitySolicitors in WHSmith tie-up". Law Society Gazette. 7 April 2011. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  8. "Palamon Capital invests in QualitySolicitors". Financial Times. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  9. "Private equity buys into QualitySolicitors". Law Society Gazette. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  10. "QualitySolicitors: The Movie – the £15m ad campaign". Legal Week. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  11. "QualitySolicitors recruits in run-up to £15m ad campaign". Law Society Gazette. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  12. "QualitySolicitors set to kick off £15m ad campaign ahead of May TV blitz". Legal Futures. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  13. "LegalZoom to tie up with QualitySolicitors for British launch". The Lawyer. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.

Further reading
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