East coast law firm Colin Biggers & Paisley incorporated as from 1 July 2015 ending over a hundred years of trading as a partnership. It is now trading as Colin Biggers & Paisley Pty Ltd in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

Over 60 partners voted in favour of the change and the decision to incorporate was a logical one. It follows a period of rapid growth in the last five years due to mergers with law firms in Melbourne and Brisbane which resulted in a hybrid structure; a partnership model in New South Wales and Victoria but an incorporated model in Queensland.

Converting to incorporation allows the practice to achieve uniformity and operational efficiencies across the three offices, relieving the burden on support teams who were faced with the complexity of dealing with different entities. One trading name makes it easier in terms of branding and streamlining processes, in particular in accounts, which will inevitably be of benefit to the practice’s clients.

While incorporation allows the practice flexibility to change its business model, there are currently no plans for changes to remuneration or partnership structures.

Incorporation is also in line with Colin Biggers & Paisley’s plans for continued growth. Managing partner Dunstan de Souza believes that the new structure will allow the practice to attract new people in the areas it is expanding in.