A LAW firm which increased its turnover by nearly seven per cent last year has become one of the first in the country to be granted multiple alternative business structure (ABS) licences.

Irwin Mitchell, which has an office in Newcastle, has been approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for five different ABS licences covering several businesses within its group.

The SRA has also approved the appointments of former PricewaterhouseCoopers UK vice-chairman Glyn Barker as chairman of Irwin Mitchell’s parent company, IMCO Holdings, and Mel Egglenton as a second non-executive director and chairman of the company’s audit committee – a role he previously held with accountants KPMG.

The five licences granted to Irwin Mitchell cover businesses operating separately within the firm’s group structure, including Irwin Mitchell LLP; Ascent Collections Ltd which offers debt collection services; and Coris UK Ltd, which offers insurance claims handling services.

Further licences have been granted to trustee, executor and estate administrators Irwin Mitchell Trustees Ltd; and also to Irwin Mitchell Trust Corporation Ltd, which accepts appointments to act as deputy from the Court of Protection.

Group chief executive John Pickering said: “This is a major step forward for Irwin Mitchell as a group and we are delighted that we have received the licences for which we applied.

“It’s a very significant day for us – an important milestone which positions us well to take advantage of the opportunities which we think will arise from the changing legal landscape.

“Conversion to ABS status sends a clear signal that we intend to move forward with our strategy.

“We are also pleased to be the first multi-licensed ABS, which reflects the breadth of our offering to clients. Our group structure has been built with that strength of diversity in mind and we believe it puts us in a very strong position in the changing legal sector.”