The number of barristers authorised as entities by the bar regulator has more than doubled to 33 since the initial wave of approvals in April.

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) began accepting applications from barristers to become entities – BSB-regulated businesses – at the start of this year.

Four QCs are now among the list of approved entities: Outer Temple Chambers’ Gerard McDermott QC; 1 Pump Court’s Simon Bickler QC; Atlantic Chambers head Simon Gorton QC; and St Philips Commercial Chambers’ Ed Pepperall QC.

Just one silk, Gorton, was among the first 13 barristers to be approved by the BSB in April.

The BSB said it has received 164 expressions of interest since launching the scheme, which allows for the creation of “advocacy-focused” partnerships between barristers and solicitors. 

Entities are “companies or partnerships that provide advocacy, litigation, and expert legal advice services”, according to the BSB guidelines.

“Previously, the BSB only regulated individual barristers. The BSB is now able to regulate businesses owned and managed by barristers and other lawyers,” the guidelines said.

However the addition of entities to the bar has been met with criticism by some who have accused the system of being a vehicle to enable barristers to pay less tax.

Since the implementation of the Legal Services Act 2007, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been authorising alternative business structures (ABS) that allow partnerships between solicitors and barristers.

The BSB confirmed it was not currently authorising barristers to set up ABSs, which allow for non-lawyer managers and owners, but said it intended to apply to the Legal Services Board to become an ABS-licensing authority.

Such a move would put it in direct regulatory competition with the SRA.

An entity has 21 days from receiving authorisation to show the regulator evidence it has appropriate insurance arrangements in place, without which it cannot provide legal services. The minimum level of cover each entity is expected to have is £500,000 per claim.

The full list of approved entities can be found on the BSB register.