South-east firm Fisher Jones Greenwood has today announced it is to leave the QualitySolicitors network.

The firm, based in Essex and Central London, joined the QS organisation in March 2012 but has decided to go it alone.

In a statement, managing partner Paula Fowler said her firm had taken a great deal from its membership of QS and she wished its remaining members well.

But after feedback from clients and professional connections, the firm decided it was sufficiently strong to ditch the QS brand.

Fowler added: ‘We hope that we have been able to contribute significantly as well as taking lessons from the network.

‘We now want to focus on developing our own regional brand in Essex and London rather than remain as part of a national brand.’

On the high street, QS has a presence in more than 200 towns and cities across England and Wales.

The company officially launched in May 2009 as an internet-based alliance of independent law firms and opened stalls in branches of WH Smith in 2011. That arrangement has since ended.

In October 2011, QS announced an investment in the company by private equity firm Palamon Capital Partners, who secured a majority stake, and the company has said it is preparing to unveil details of its future plans with US legal services business LegalZoom.

Claire Smith, partner firms director at QS, said: 'Naturally we're sorry to lose Fisher Jones Greenwood from the QualitySolicitors network. We understand their decision and wish them every success for the future.'