First sole practitioner ABS licence from the ICAEW

THE FIRST sole practitioner has been authorised for probate work by the ICAEW.

Dorset-based Hope Shaw, run by David Robinson, is a general accounting practice operating for small local businesses and individuals.

The institute gained its regulatory licence for probate and alternative business structures (ABSs) in August 2014. So far Kingston Smith is the only firm licensed through the institute. Price Bailey, KPMG and PwC Legal all hold ABS licences through the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Vernon Soare, ICAEW executive director, said: “Hope Shaw is exactly the type of firm that we wanted to apply to do probate work and why ICAEW became a licensing authority and regulator. It makes sense for practices such as Hope Shaw to provide this extra service when they are already providing inheritance tax and succession planning advice.”

Robinson said the move was a “logical step” as providing probate was an extra service required by clients.

“At this firm we are very much part of the extended family and it gives me and my team immense job satisfaction to help our customers, many of whom I have known for a number of years,” said Robinson.

“It was natural to use ICAEW as the regulator given that it already regulates the other services I provide as a chartered accountant.”