The new competitive landscape for legal services will start with an unlevel playing field, at least in regulatory termsAll the excitement surrounding the launch of alternative business structures (ABSs) over recent weeks ? Slater & Gordon merging with RJW, Duke Street?s private equity investment in Parabis, and this week LawVest?s launch of Riverview, offering barristers direct to General Counsel, all subject to securing ABS licences ? has focussed ontheir ability to raise external capital in order to build bigger businesses.