Corporate lawyer launches online 'one stop shop'

YORKSHIRE corporate lawyer has launched a website designed to match financial and legal experts with the needs of individuals and business clients. Tim Maclean is behind LegalandFinancial100.co.uk, which provides free direct access to lawyers and financial specialists who will respond to user enquiries with details of their experience, location, firm and even charge out rates, allowing potential clients to gain more information before incurring costs of meeting with lawyers and financial professionals.

The website, which went live in March 2009, represents a six figure investment by former Keeble Hawson corporate lawyer Mr Maclean with the backing of NatWest Bank. It will give users direct, free access to 100 legal and 100 financial expert ‘members’ in a variety of specialism in law and finance across Yorkshire and the Humber. Once a confidential enquiry has been made through the portal by a potential client, the enquiry is passed anonymously to up to 10 of the most experienced professionals to deal with each particular enquiry.

Chief executive Mr Maclean said: “The aim of LegalandFinancial100.co.uk is to act as an exclusive ‘one stop shop’ for people seeking legal and financial advice, bridging the gap between professionals and potential clients by helping people to find the most qualified specialists in the field they require. “Too often, people use the same legal firm or financial advisers, regardless of the specific nature of the work they require. We are providing a very confidential and private way for individuals to easily identify, and get direct access to, the most qualified and experienced experts who can deal with their enquiry." Mr Maclean said members of the public often struggled to find the right specialist for their issue and had instead to approach firms. "Our service allows people to ‘window-shop’ and enquire about expertise before they make the leap to make an appointment to see an adviser for a particular problem or task they need assistance with," Mr Maclean added.

With more than 10 years’ experience as a corporate lawyer involved in corporate and private equity work, Mr MacLean developed the idea for LegalandFinancial100.co.uk two years ago and has since been developing the venture. As well as providing leads that are qualified and matched to various experts by the site’s trained staff, members, who will pay to join the site, will also be encouraged to network within the portal and benefit from cross-referrals from fellow professionals. More than 20 professionals who have assisted with feedback and testing of the website have already registered to be members.