Why is the Society holding a referendum and an SGM on ABSs?
The Society has agreed to hold an SGM following a requisiton for a general meeting from the Scottish Law Agents Society. On Friday 5 March, the Society’s Council decided that a referendum, in the form of a private ballot, and run independently by the Electoral Reform Services would be a better method to encourage the profession to vote on the Society’s policy regarding alternative business structures. The SGM papers, which were sent to all Scottish solicitors, included a letter from the Society’s president Ian Smart, in which he said: ‘Your Council has called a referendum to allow all members to decide on our policy on alternative business structures (ABS) and whether we should be an ABS regulator. The outcome of the 2008 AGM in favour of supporting the introduction of ABSs in Scotland continues to be questioned and, rather than repeat that voting format – however democratic – at the planned SGM, only an independent ballot of all members could settle this question to everyone’s satisfa
