Just weeks after resigning from Manchester-based consumer services and personal injury (PI) firm Pannone following its £33m acquisition by ASX-listed Slater & Gordon, the firm’s former executive board member and chief executive of Connect2Law David Jabbari has joined Parabis as a partner.
At Parabis, which last month partnered with Direct Line Group as the insurance giant obtained authorisation from the Solicitors Regulation Authority to become an Alternative Business Structure, Jabbari (pictured) will establish a Connect2Law-style branded network of leading regional law firms in the UK.
The network will offer firms a combination of back office shared services, quality assurance, branding and marketing support and, speaking to Legal Business, Jabbari said: ‘It’s a totally perfect fit – Parabis’ business model is business-to-business services. What they’re attracted to is a law firm network for consumer law services. Having the link to put work out and do a franchise offering is a neat fit.’
Parabis has been active in establishing ABS structures for companies offering consumer legal services to their customers in areas such as conveyancing, wills and probate, matrimonial, and employment.
It has further invested in increasing its capability to supply commercial and corporate legal services to in-house legal departments, SMEs and larger companies. It is thought that the new law firm network could play a role across these initiatives.
Jabbari’s arrival at Parabis comes after Slater & Gordon finally announced its acquisition of Pannone in late November.
During the final stages of negotiations it emerged that Jabbari, who joined Pannone over a year ago from his role as chief operating officer at Clyde & Co, had resigned. Jabbari was formerly the chief executive (CEO) of Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, where he handled both the acquisition of Halliwells’ insurance business and the firm’s merger with Clyde & Co. Before that he spent nine years at Allen & Overy in a global management role.
CEO of The Parabis Group, Tim Oliver said: ‘We have identified consumer law as a growth area. We already have excellent capability in this area and with David on board we can take it to the next level.
‘We will offer sophisticated support to ABSs and affinity groups, from sales conversion through to the widest range of delivery options. For example, the new law firm network will provide our clients’ customers with access to high quality face to face legal services across the UK.’
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk