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At a meeting in April 2011, we took the decision to regulate advocacy focused  Alternative Business Structures, Legal Disciplinary Practices and Barrister Only Entities, collectively referred to as 'entities'. However, we will not extend our remit to regulate Multi-Disciplinary Practices.

The decision is the culmination of a high level consultation entitled 'Regulating Entities,' which sought to explore the developments brought about by the Legal Services Act 2007.

We decided in principle that:

• BSB regulated entities and self-employed barristers will be permitted to apply to conduct litigation should they so wish
• BSB regulated entities will be permitted to provide the same services as those currently provided by the self-employed Bar
• All owners of BSB regulated entities must also be managers; there will be a 25% limit on non-lawyer owners /managers of Alternative Business Structures 
• A majority of the owners/managers of ABSs regulated by the BSB must be barristers or other advocates with higher rights of audience
• BSB regulated entities and self-employed barristers will not be permitted to hold client money
• All managers of BSB regulated entities (barristers, solicitors and non-lawyers) will be subject to the same conduct rules.

We are now consulting on a new BSB Handbook and our proposals to become a regulator of entities. Visit the new BSB Handbook and Entity Regulation consultation hompage to read and respond.