The move follows the approval by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) of PwC Legal as an alternative business structure (ABS) in 2014, allowing PwC to become an owner of PwC Legal.

Kevin Burrowes, head of clients and markets and executive board member at PwC, said: ‘This is the natural next step. PwC Legal has a simple strategy to offer advice that complements services provided by PwC. By fully integrating PwC Legal into the rest of our business we are better placed to meet increasing client demand for more holistic advice.　

‘The ability to embed legal advice more fully into our advisory services allows us to better help our clients solve their complex challenges and problems, particularly as the UK heads towards the unchartered territory of Brexit.’　

PwC Legal has 16 partners, 26 directors and a 350-strong UK team in total, based in London, Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester and Belfast, providing advice in areas such as cyber security and data protection, corporate reorganisation, disputes, employment, immigration, M&A, pensions and technology.　

Crispin Passmore, SRA executive director, policy, said: ‘Clients have always had needs that cut across professional boundaries and subject specialism. A multi-disciplinary service allows those clients to get access to all the services they need, organised at their convenience rather that the convenience of professions.　

‘We welcome PwC's shift to become a full multi-disciplinary practice. It is one more example of how modern regulation can work to support innovation.’