 Olswang Articles Olswang is considering bringing its patent attorneys and non-lawyer management into the partnership as part of a package of measures being considered under the Legal Services Act (LSA), it has emerged.The City law firm is considering making use of the measures in the Act allowing multi-disciplinary partnerships, hoping that the lure of partnership will help it recruit high-level non-lawyer professionals.The firm, which has a strong patent attorney-led prosecution practice, is looking at proposals to bring the group within the partnership once the Act comes into full force. It would also like to see some of its senior non-fee earners join the partnership.Chief executive officer Kevin Munslow, who is overseeing discussions, commented: "One of the things we are particularly interested in is multi-disciplinary partnerships. It would allow us to more aggressively develop our patent practice. We also have a number of non-fee earners who operate at partner level in a pseudo-director style management role, which we would like to bring into the partnership as well."The firm is also looking at the types of funding options available under the Act, though Olswang is not interested in pursuing a full public listing. However, less radical forms of securing outside investment are seen as potential options to fund expansion.Olswang, which is credited as being one of the firms at the forefront of discussions under the Act, has made a string of partner hires in the last year, growing its partnership almost 13% in 2007-08.Munslow added: "As traditional debt funding becomes harder to come by, and no doubt more expensive, innovative measures could take the risk out of expansion plans. We are a long way from implementing anything but we are making sure we are aware of the options." 
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