The BPIF has become the first Trade Association to own a law firm after passing the stringent tests set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
The association is fully licensed and ready to launch a new entity, BPIF Legal Ltd, which will operate as the BPIF’s own law firm. It will be staffed by solicitors and will offer a range of legal services dealing with employment and commercial issues.
The legal services offered will be at competitive rates, and always on a fixed fee basis. Anne Copley, head of legal, said, ‘The main bugbear when considering using a solicitor is the ‘dripping roast’ nature of the relationship so that the client has no clear idea of the fees they may incur. We will completely remove that uncertainty. As industry-specific lawyers, we have always been the advisers of choice for our members, but were restricted in how we could deliver our services. That is now set to change and I am looking forward to the new challenges promised by this development.’
CEO, Charles Jarrold said, ‘The BPIF’s existing expert legal team will now be able to apply their highly relevant sector experience in helping our members, in a manner that they were not allowed to previously. We’ve had to meet extremely stringent criteria to be able to do this, so its tangible recognition of the professionalism and forward thinking that is a hallmark of the Association. A recent study indicated that SME’s are losing out through a lack of access to relevant cost effective legal advice, costing an estimated £14,000 per event, so this will be of real value to our members.’
BPIF Legal Plus member Barry Curryer, operations director at BCQ, said, ‘I have been very impressed by the BPIF legal services over the years, and have never quite understood the restrictions placed upon Anne Copley and her team. Being able to use lawyers with a profound understanding of my own industry is of huge benefit, and I am very pleased that I will now be able to work more closely with them.’
