SME & Boutique Law Firm Alliance -read Our Open Letter to SRA and The Law Society re COLP/COFA

Posted on21 October 2026

Owners, managers, solicitors, and compliance professionals from across the legal profession have come together to raise concerns regarding the Law Society proposals with the SRA. Our open letter outlines the evidence, the practical consequences for affected firms, and the alternatives we believe should be considered.

If you agree that the SRA should pause, publish the evidence, and engage properly with the firms affected before implementing these changes, please add your name to our call for SRA engagement.

DOWNLOAD letter to SRA

If you agree that the Law Society should be representing member views in this matter, please add your name to our call for the Law Society engagement.

DOWNLOAD letter to The Law Society

Why the SME & Boutique Law Firm Alliance exists

There are thousands of small, medium-sized, and boutique law firms across England and Wales. However, when regulatory changes are proposed, these firms often lack the time, resources, and collective infrastructure needed to assess the impact, gather evidence, and have their voices heard. The SME law firm alliance exists to change that.

We mobilise firms around key issues, gather evidence on the real-world impact of proposed reforms, coordinate collective responses, and engage constructively with regulators, government, and representative bodies. Our law firm regulation advocacy aims not to resist regulation but to ensure that the rules affecting SME and boutique law firms are proportionate and informed by the realities these businesses face.

By maintaining an active network instead of mobilising from scratch whenever a consultation arises, we can respond swiftly and ensure that the interests of those most affected are represented.

Our goal is straightforward: to ensure that decisions impacting boutique law firm support and SME law firms are made without excluding their input.

Check out our website

Burges Salmon has been an enthusiastic supporter of BLS for many years. BLS provides a valuable role in uniting and promoting the whole of the legal sector across Bristol to benefit both its members and the city. It facilitates collaboration across the sector to ensure that we can all make a difference. Whether that is driving important initiatives in, for example, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the use of new technologies, liaising with stakeholders and charities in our wider community or providing training to generations of lawyers, the service and support provided by BLS is invaluable. More recently BLS has taken a lead on promoting Bristol’s legal brand, encouraging legal and business services talent to come to the city, which in turn attracts clients and inward investment to our thriving and vibrant commercial community. BLS breaks down barriers and brings those in the profession together for the greater good. We are proud of our long-standing association with BLS.
Roger Bull - Managing Partner, Burges Salmon
Three things to say about my experience of working with Bristol Law Society. Their central team, council members and general hangers-on are just about the nicest, most generous group of people working in the legal sector today. The numerous events, awards, socials and conferences I’ve had the pleasure to attend over the years have been, without exception, top quality and supremely organised. And, thirdly, they consistently exceed and challenge the boundaries of what lawyers might assume a regional Law Society will restrict activities to – from a hugely successful charitable school meals drive to corporate social responsibility and diversity campaigns to being joint architects and coordinators of the region’s unique Bristol+BathLegalTech group, which it has been my privilege to co-chair for the last five years.
Chris Bull - Principal, Edge International
As one of the leading Insurance brokers for law firms in the UK and with a large presence in Bristol it seemed only natural for us to support the Bristol Law Society. Bristol Law Society is one of the oldest and most vibrant of the Law Societies in England and Wales. We are pleased to be working with them on important matters relating to law firms’ liability insurances and Risk Management. From Sole Practitioner to Top 20 law firms we are sure our two organisations can provide excellent support and assistance for the challenges faced by the legal profession.
Matthew Baker - Financial Lines Group, Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
Joining BLS in 2013 and becoming President in 2018/19 has created many longstanding friendships and business relationships, whilst also unlocking doors to other opportunities in the City. BLS enabled a perfect balance of professional development and also opportunities to give back to the legal and wider community. I am pleased that my Firm has supported BLS in many capacities since 2013 and continues to do so.
Nicholas Lee- Managing Director of Paragon Costs Solutions and Past President of BLS