The prospect of solicitors joining other professionals in one-stop shops for clients with issues that cross disciplinary boundaries has come a step closer with an alliance between law firms and accountants.

LawNet, a national network of mid-tier firms set up in 1989, has formed a collaborative arrangement with the Charter Group, an accountancy network.

Under the agreement, the two networks will refer business to each other, and share expertise.

Such arrangements could be the shape of things to come, said Professor Stephen Mayson (pictured), director of the Legal Services Policy Institute at London’s College of Law. ‘The short-term issue will be making sure such relationships are compliant with the regulatory provisions for legal disciplinary practice or alternative business structures,’ he said.

John Thomas, LawNet’s chief executive, admitted that the ‘buddy’ arrangement could be a step to closer collaboration once the provisions of the Legal Services Act 2007 allow this, but at present the groups remain separate entities and cannot share profits or invest in each other.

Gary Corbett, head of the Charter Group, an alliance of 56 independent accountancy firms with total fee income of £185m a year, said closer collaboration was a possibility, but the main aim now is to provide a better service. ‘There is a good fit between our two groups and the collaboration will enable us to offer a one-stop service to our clients.’

Thomas said the network is looking to pair up with other professional services networks.