Phillips Law Group Now Working with Alternative Business Structure (ABS) Firms: Partnership and Litigation Support
As the legal industry adapts to new business models, Alternative Business Structure (ABS) firms are emerging as a transformative solution. The Arizona Supreme Court website defines ABS as, “a business entity that includes nonlawyers who have an economic interest or decision-making authority in a firm and provides legal services in accord with Supreme Court Rules 31 and 31.1(c).”
What Is an ABS?
An ABS is a type of firm ownership structure that incorporates practicing attorneys and non-lawyers. ABS structures allow law firms to share ownership with non-lawyer professionals, facilitating collaboration across disciplines like finance, technology, and marketing.
In January 2021, Arizona officially lifted the ban on fee sharing and referral payments between law firms and non-attorneys following the abolition of Ethical Rules 5.4 and 7.2(b) by the Arizona Supreme Court. The Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct now allow law firms to provide compensation to non-lawyers and people who do not work for the firm in exchange for case referrals. Before these changes, attorneys were only allowed to pay referral fees to other attorneys under special circumstances.
According to the Task Force on the Delivery of Legal Services from the Arizona Supreme Court, the purpose of the ABS program is “rooted in the idea that entrepreneurial lawyers and nonlawyers would pilot a range of different business forms” that will improve access to justice and legal services.
Phillips Law Group is open to working with new ABS firms. Our firm’s extensive experience in personal injury law positions us as a strategic partner for this type of collaboration, offering litigation expertise, full-service cooperation, and tailored guidance on this innovative model.
ABS Partnerships With Phillips Law Group
Through our partnerships, we provide ABS enterprises with specialized litigation services, allowing non-lawyer-owned ABS structures to focus on what they do best — serving clients with streamlined operations and diverse service offerings. With our litigation support, ABS firms can deliver exceptional client service without the burden of building internal legal departments from scratch.
The team at Phillips Law Group can also offer ABS firms insights into the unique regulatory and ethical considerations that come with this structure. For instance, we can help ABS firms understand the intricate legal responsibilities set forth by state governing bodies, such as Arizona’s ABS certification process, to ensure compliance and maintain high standards. Our firm also acts as an educational resource, sharing our knowledge of personal injury law and regulatory navigation to help new ABS firms thrive in this evolving marketplace. We can partner with you and teach you every step of the way.
With more than 30 years of experience serving the Arizona community, Phillips Law Group is well-equipped to help ABS firms expand their capacities while maintaining compliance and ethical standards. Together, we can build innovative, compliant ABS firm partnerships capable of meeting clients’ evolving needs in the modern legal landscape.
Our firm is now accepting case referrals and partnering with ABS firms. We are passionate about making our legal services accessible to everyone who needs them and believe working with Alternative Business Structure firms can only help to further that goal.
For more information about the program please reach out to our office directly by calling 602-222-2222 or filling out the contact form on this page now.
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