Scottish lawyers have marginally voted in favour of the introduction of alternative business structures (ABS) in Scotland.

The referendum, which closed yesterday (7 April), saw 2,245 vote in favour of ABS – on the condition that appropriate regulation is put in place – while 2,221 voted against.

In addition, 81% of respondents voted in favour of the Law Society of Scotland (LSS) applying to become an approved regulator of ABS if they are introduced.

A total of 4,466 solicitors voted – representing 43% of the Society's membership – in the biggest-ever turnout for a LSS referendum.

LSS president Ian Smart (pictured) said: "The narrowness of the result clearly illustrates just how the issue has brought out widely divergent views across the profession."

He added: "While there have been a few heated remarks on the wider fringes of the debate, I believe that the vast majority of solicitors still wish to try and find a united way forward. These results will therefore inform the ongoing policy debate which will also continue both in private and reconvened special general meeting later this month.

"There are, I believe, already areas of consensus on some models of ABS but more work is still required to be done to find an overall solution to what is, undoubtedly, one of the most important issues faced by the Society in my more than 30 years of professional life. Trying to find an agreement will continue to be the number one priority of all of us within the leadership of the Society."

A special general meeting to discuss the ABS issue going forward will be held on 16 April.

Earlier this year the Legal Services Board confirmed that companies will be able to apply for a licence to become an ABS from next summer, with successful applicants set to be up and running from 6 October 2011.