Top chambers including Matrix and Outer Temple are looking at opportunities available through alternative business structures (ABS) as the Legal Services Act (LSA) gains momentum at the Bar.

A number of sets are considering how they can benefit from the new structures, which would allow for outside investment into chambers as well as partnerships with non-barristers.

Matrix is among those actively looking at its options. The chambers, which set up a working group more than a year ago to look at ABS, is considering a number of possibilities, including bringing in solicitors, paralegals and administrators for civil legal aid work.

Meanwhile, Doughty Street Chambers also has a strategic group in place. It is still only looking at the idea in principle and has made no decisions but is focusing its review on outside investment opportunities.

Doughty Street director of services Robin Jackson said: "The ability to borrow money for specific investment such as the redevelopment of chambers property is a welcome option and something we are looking at."

Outer Temple Chambers has also held a number of talks for tenants and clients on the LSA and held a strategy session last week (18 October) which largely centred on the topic. The set has been looking at branding and redefining its practice in the changing market.

Outer Temple commercial director, Christine Kings (pictured) commented: "It is interesting, exciting and at the same time scary. Most barristers' chambers think that they will not be affected by it, but it is about what the future will bring and what will happen when big corporates get into the market and the impact that will have."

Matrix chief executive Lindsay Scott added: "We have not decided on anything yet. However, we cannot stick our head in the sand and think nothing is going to change. There is more occurring presently than has happened over the last 200 years, if we are going to be a modern profession then the business needs to look at opportunities and embrace them."

The moves at the Bar come after the launch of a new company in April this year to advise barristers and solicitors about the opportunities available under the LSA.

Clarity Legal Services – for solicitors – and Bar Futures – for the Bar – was set up by Ian Dodd and Stephen Allen, former chief executives of Manchester set Peel Court Chambers and London's Seven Bedford Row respectively. It has already started working with a number of firms and sets.