The only event for practice managers in small to medium law firms

One-day conference 

The only event for practice managers 

in small to medium law firms 

Tuesday 21 May 2013, London 

Sponsored by:

Feedback from last year’s inaugural event: 

“Excellent idea – targeted at a very 

specific audience so all material relevant. 

Much better than many other conferences 

I have attended over the last 10 years.” 

Ian Rintoul, practice director, Attwaters 

“A very enlightening event” 

Adrian Cooke, practice manager, Preston Redman 

“Excellent! Networking very useful, content 

and delivery was stimulating.” 

Kim Hobbs, practice manager, GT Stewart Solicitors 

“A great opportunity to meet fellow PMs.” 

Caroline Davison, operations director, Berwins Solicitors

Legal Support Network’s Legal Practice Management 2013 conference is the only 

event of its kind to specifically target practice managers and directors, heads 

of operations and heads of finance from small to medium UK law firms. Aimed 

exclusively at professional managers from on average 2-25 partner firms, this 

one-day event will provide you with a unique opportunity to discuss common 

challenges, share experiences and hear the latest thinking from your peers. 

Agenda 

09.00 Registration and coffee 

09.30 Welcome and opening address 

Vincent Denham, chief executive, Verisona 

09.35 Positioning your SME firm in the legal market, developing your brand and 

growing your market share 

• Where is the legal market heading and what does it mean for smaller firms? 

• Positioning your firm in the new legal marketplace: retain your independence, merge 

with another firm or join one of the big law firm networks 

• Focusing on your value proposition 

• Developing your firm’s brand and creating an identity to differentiate your firm from 

your competitors 

• How can you continue to grow your business and take advantage of new opportunities 

if you’re a smaller firm in a challenging and changing market? 

Andrew Hedley, director, Hedley Consulting 

Panel Discussion 

10.25 Risk management and compliance in practice: how are practice managers in SME 

firms addressing the challenges posed by the introduction of COFAs and COLPs? 

11.15 Coffee 

• How are COLP and COFA roles working in practice? What have we learnt so far? 

• What constitutes material and non-material breaches and when does a number of 

non-material breaches become a material breach? 

• Are firms reporting everything to the SRA? How much is too much? 

• How will the SRA apply the rules, how rigorous will they be and what action will they take? 

• How will risk assessments be conducted? Are there any guidelines? Can firms risk assess 

themselves using similar criteria to that applied by the SRA? 

• Outsourcing risk and compliance or integrating software that can help 

Clare Flynn, supervision team leader, Solicitors Regulation Authority 

Paul Lowe, operations director and head of risk and compliance, Darbys Solicitors 

Trevor Dyer, head of finance and administration, Brethertons Solicitors 

Moderator: Vincent Denham, chief executive, Verisona

Agenda 

11.45 STREAM 1 

Please choose one of the following three sessions 


Alternative business structures: how can SME firms compete and why have 

some SME firms taken the plunge? 

• How are ABSs changing the legal market? What challenges and implications 

do ABSs present? 

• How can SME firms compete with ABSs? 

• Why have some SME law firms become ABSs? 

• How are they benefitting? Is it successful? What are their objectives going forward? 

• How seriously should SME firms be looking at becoming an ABS? 

• What’s the process in becoming an ABS? 

Joanne Ormston, practice manager, Pearson Hinchliffe 

Matthew Briggs, CEO, Brilliant Law 

Christopher Mills, chief operating officer, Schillings 

Moderator: Paula Fowler, managing partner (non-lawyer), QualitySolicitors FJG 

STREAM 2 

Facilitated Workshop 

Using social media to market your firm more effectively and win more clients 

• Understanding the impact and influence of social media 

• Aligning the use of social media to your firm’s business objectives 

• Tips for using LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook etc. to build your firm’s reputation, form stronger 

relationships with existing clients and win new clients 

• Measuring the ROI of your social media activities 

• Using social media to identify what makes your clients tick and dovetailing your 

services accordingly 

Clive Meredith, practice director, Wollen Michelmore 

STREAM 3 


Influencing behaviour, securing support and driving change in a law firm 

• Tactics to help you persuade and influence partners 

• Changing lawyer attitudes and behaviour 

• Driving and managing change, for example with implementing a new system, working 

practice, structure or merger 

• Securing firm-wide buy-in and support 

• Putting processes, incentives and penalties in place to support change 

• Overcoming resistance to change 

• Dealing with difficult people 

Robert Talbot, practice manager, Hart Reade Solicitors




Pricing and profitability for SME law firms 

• Gauging client, matter and departmental profitability 

• Understanding how much it costs to do the work and what should be taken into account 

in the valuation 

• Embracing alternative fee arrangements to the billable hour 

• Getting your prices right to be able to compete, particularly with new entrants 

• If you can’t compete on price, what else can you offer? 

Robert Mowbray, owner, Taylor Mowbray 

STREAM 2 


Managing your office space and facilities more effectively as an SME practice 

• Planning the right premises strategy for your firm 

• Securing the best deal 

• Business partnering; developing a good working relationship with your surveyor or agent 

• Reducing your firm’s dependence on costly office space via remote working, office sharing 

• Using external procurement advisors to reduce costs and agree better service levels 

Caroline Davison, operations director, Berwins Solicitors 

Alan Cousins, practice director, Paris Smith 

Moderator: Adam Makepeace, practice director, Tuckers Solicitors 

STREAM 3 

13.05 Lunch 


Performance management for SME law firms 

• Putting a performance management policy in place 

• Setting appropriate aims and objectives 

• Conducting appraisals 

• Tips on securing buy-in from management to conduct appraisals effectively and training 

managers on how to do them 

• Dealing with performance issues 

• Performance management for practice managers; creating your own framework and 

structure to ensure your own continued development 

Paula Fowler, managing partner (non-lawyer), QualitySolicitors FJG

Agenda 




Approaching, managing and implementing a merger if you’re an SME law firm 

• Understanding the significant impact a merger has on a smaller firm, its culture 

and on staff morale 

• How to approach and prepare for a potential merger 

• Ensuring the merger is financially viable and conducting due diligence 

• Managing negotiations, particularly if you’re the smaller party 

• Implementing a merger, managing the practicalities and integrating the two firms 

• Retaining your role post-merger 

Frans Post, chief operating officer, Gates and Partners 

STREAM 2 


Securing the best PII cover for smaller firms and minimising your time spent 

on renewal 

• Update on changes to PII 

• Securing the best deal and terms 

• Developing a good relationship with your broker and underwriter 

• What new information are insurers likely to request at renewal this year? 

• What should you put into your renewal and making your renewal more manageable and less 

time consuming 

• Demonstrating best practice in risk management and putting the right standards in place 

Mandy Suchocki, practice manager, Barker Gotelee 

Trevor Dyer, head of finance and administration, Brethertons Solicitors 

Richard Brown, director, Prime Professions 

Moderator: Tim Prior, director, PNCR Legal 

STREAM 3 


HR management and resourcing for SME law firms; future-proofing your firm 

• Examining the changing structure of SME law firms with the rise of legal apprentices and 

paralegals and the reduction in training contracts 

• Resourcing strategies for today and tomorrow’s SME law firm 

• Managing, engaging and motivating overstretched staff in a difficult economic climate 

Paul Hinchliffe, managing partner (non-lawyer), Bott & Co 

Jenny Pelling, business director, CILEx Law School

14.50 Coffee 

15.40 Driving efficiency and effectiveness – key to survival 

• Why a radical and holistic view to firm efficiency and effectiveness is important for survival 

• How can you improve efficiencies around the practice of law? How can you leverage 

efficiency to drive both quality and profitability and compete effectively? 

• Client management – how to improve efficiency in client interactions and why this is so 

critical to success and growth 

• Digitisation – where can you drive efficiencies? What are the easy wins? 

Jitendra Valera, chief marketing officer, IRIS Legal 

Interactive Roundtable Discussion 

16.00 IT strategy and operations for smaller firms 

• What are the essential foundations of an IT strategy for a smaller firm; balancing big 

ambitions and a desire to be cutting edge with a tight budget and minimal resource 

• Keeping up to date with IT; an update on the latest tools and technology 

• Which are the best systems and why? Choosing the right software and hardware for your firm 

• Outsourcing IT or managing IT in-house 

Adam Makepeace, practice director, Tuckers Solicitors 

Martyn Bateman, practice manager, Breeze & Wyles Solicitors 

Moderator: Vincent Denham, chief executive, Verisona 

16.55 Summary and closing address 

17.00 Networking drinks reception 

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to network and share experiences with your peers 

Who should attend? 

• Practice managers 

• Practice directors 

• COOs 

• Heads of operations 

• CEOs 

• Business support directors 

• Heads of administration 

• Office managers 

• Heads of finance 

• Accounts managers

Expert speaker panel: 

Adam Makepeace, practice director, Tuckers Solicitors 

Adam is practice director at seven partner firm, Tuckers solicitors, the 

country’s largest criminal legal aid firm with 10 offices in and around London, 

Birmingham and Manchester, having previously spent four years as practice 

director of Duncan Lewis, the country’s largest civil legal aid firm. He is currently focused on 

developing a core back office infrastructure that would be scalable for use by any criminal legal aid 

practitioner, whether as a result of organic or acquisitive growth by Tuckers or as an arms-length 

service supplied to other criminal defence firms. 

Alan Cousins, practice director, Paris Smith 

As practice director for Southampton-based firm, Paris Smith, Alan 

is responsible for the main administration functions of this £10m, 28 

partner firm – HR, IT, accounts, compliance and general office. Alan also works with the partners 

on formulating the firm’s strategy and business plans. He recently undertook a comprehensive 

review of the firm’s office space strategy with the result that he wants to reduce dependency on 

accommodation overheads by at least 20% over the next three years. This will require cultural 

change, using IT to facilitate growth of lawyer teams and capacity whilst maintaining efficiency. 

Andrew Hedley, director, Hedley Consulting 

Andrew advises law firm leaders on issues of vision, strategy and 

change. Alongside project engagements, he is a sought after strategy 

group guide, partner retreat speaker, workshop facilitator and coach. 

Andrew has been admitted as a fellow of the Institute of Directors, the Strategic Planning Society, 

the Chartered Management Institute, Cambridge Marketing College and the Royal Society of 

Art. He is the author of Developing Strategic Client Relationships (2008) and Client Strategy in a 

Changing Legal Market (2011). Hedley Consulting is recognised as a leading boutique strategy 

consultancy within the legal sector. 

Caroline Davison, operations director, Berwins Solicitors 

Caroline joined Harrogate law firm Berwins as practice manager in June 

2005 and became one of the first non-lawyer directors in the country, and 

one of seven directors at Berwins, on incorporation in 2009. As operations 

director, Caroline heads Berwins’ operations support unit responsible 

for keeping the rest of the organisation in check, and enabling Berwins’ lawyers to provide the 

best possible service to its clients. Caroline has more than 20 years’ experience in legal practice 

management having previously fulfilled the role of practice manager at Ford & Warren. 

Christopher Mills, chief operating officer, Schillings 

As COO at Schillings, the six partner reputation management firm in London, 

Christopher is responsible for managing the four business units, the clients and 

marketing activity, people and talent management, operations, infrastructure and information security. He 

works alongside the firm’s CEO to develop the strategic direction and also has particular responsibility for 

driving forward the change management programme to achieve the firm’s vision. Schillings was granted its 

ABS licence in February and Christopher is currently working on transforming the brand to re-assert itself in 

the marketplace as an innovative multidisciplinary firm. The licence will also welcome non-lawyer advisers 

into ownership of the business, a position that Christopher will be appointed to in May 2013. 

Clare Flynn, supervision team leader, 

Solicitors Regulation Authority 

Clare joined the SRA in 2006 and currently works within the supervision 

unit. Clare manages a team of supervisors who are responsible for the 

risk-based oversight of the entire regulated community and central to the delivery of the 

outcomes-focused approach to regulation. As part of the management group, Clare also 

provides coaching support, technical leadership and operational delivery to the unit.

Clive Meredith, practice director, 

Wollen Michelmore 

Clive has many years’ experience of management gained 

initially in the hospitality and charities sector. With 10 years’ experience in his current role he has 

overseen two mergers which has resulted in the firm doubling in size having 14 partners and 115 

staff, based in four local offices. As practice director he has responsibility for HR, IT, marketing 

and business development. Clive works closely with the firm’s managing partner to oversee the 

strategic development of the firm. 

Frans Post, chief operating officer, 

Gates and Partners 

Frans joined Clifford Chance in 1990 and spent 17 years as 

their finance director in Amsterdam and New York. After leaving the States for London, he joined 

Olswang as CFO before becoming COO at niche aviation firm, Gates and Partners in 2011. The 

firm has 24 partners and offices in London, Brussels, Dubai and Singapore. Frans has been 

involved in a number of mergers throughout his career and will be able to provide valuable insights 

from his current experience. 

Jenny Pelling, business director, CILEx Law School 

Jenny qualified as a solicitor and practised employment law at a City 

firm before moving into legal education. Jenny has worked for CILEx 

Law School since 2004, and is a director of its board. Part of her role 

involves responsibility for creating in-house paralegal and apprenticeship programmes for legal 

organisations and helping with their staff development strategies. In the past twelve months, 

she has been heavily involved in the development work for the new government funded legal 

apprenticeship qualifications. 

Jitendra Valera, chief marketing officer, IRIS Legal 

Jitendra (JV) has a wealth of software and legal market experience, 

having successfully developed and managed enterprise software, services and internet companies 

in the UK, Europe and Asia Pacific. As chief marketing officer at IRIS Legal, JV has responsibility for 

setting the strategic direction for the business and the development and marketing of IRIS Legal’s 

range of software and services solutions for the legal market. Prior to IRIS Legal, JV also served as 

VP global strategy & marketing for Elite and executive director, legal online at Sweet & Maxwell. 

Joanne Ormston, practice manager, Pearson Hinchliffe 

Joanne has worked as practice manager for Pearson Hinchliffe since 

October 2004 having initially been recruited as a legal cashier in 2002. 

Joanne’s role encompasses everything from strategic planning and 

implementation, HR, IT, facilities management, compliance (as deputy COLP & COFA) and more 

recently as the finance director for an eight partner, three office ABS firm in the north-west. Joanne 

is a chartered management accountant and has a BSc honours degree in business management.

Expert speaker panel: 

Mandy Suchocki, practice manager, Barker Gotelee 

Mandy has been practice manager for Barker Gotelee – a six partner 

firm in Suffolk – for two years. In her first year she implemented a new practice management 

system and more recently has led a comprehensive review of the firm’s IT. She works with 

the partners on the strategy of the firm and is responsible for the finance, HR, IT, compliance, 

marketing and general office functions. Mandy is a chartered accountant with many years of 

experience in both practice and industry roles. 

Martyn Bateman, practice manager, 

Breeze & Wyles Solicitors 

Martyn is the practice manager for Breeze & Wyles – a nine partner firm with four offices in 

Hertfordshire and north London. Martyn leads business planning for the firm and heads the 

administration department which deals with the firm’s premises, people, IT systems and accounts; 

he is also the firm’s compliance officer for finance and administration and money laundering 

reporting officer. Martyn’s early career was in the courts service serving in crown and county courts 

throughout the Midlands before a short spell as a business management consultant. 

Matthew Briggs, CEO, Brilliant Law 

CEO Matthew Briggs is a non-lawyer business leader with broad experience 

of running and developing successful consumer-led businesses. A former 

CEO of Minster Law and Capita Insurance Services, Matthew is also director of Wigster.com – the world’s 

first and only legal services price comparison business. New alternative business structure Brilliant Law, 

is the world’s first law firm to be founded by non-lawyers, operating a corporate rather than partnership 

structure and offering a fixed fee service to SMEs, start-ups and consumers. Financially supported by 

Betfair founder Bert Black, the firm will seek further external investment in 2013 and has not ruled out 

floating on the stock exchange in the future or making strategic acquisitions. 

Paul Lowe, operations director and head 

of risk and compliance, Darbys Solicitors 

Paul is operations director and head of risk and compliance at Darbys 

Solicitors LLP, a 23 partner law firm with four offices in Oxfordshire, Essex and Manchester. Having 

been to The House of Lords and The European Court of Human Rights as a litigation lawyer, 

Paul decided to switch to full-time management in 2002. Along with being the firm’s COLP, Paul 

oversees the IT, reception and facilities departments. Paul also chairs the practice management 

group within Lawnet, the Nationwide grouping of 70 or so law firms. 

Paul Hinchliffe, managing partner (non-lawyer), Bott & Co 

Paul is a non-lawyer managing partner at Bott & Co, which he co-founded 

in 2001 with David Bott and Gary Froggatt. In this role, Paul is responsible 

for all aspects of operations, IT and human resources. With a keen interest in technology, 

Paul sees his primary role as maintaining and developing the infrastructure necessary to support 

the firm’s key asset – its staff – and their commitment to delivering the highest standards of client 

care. Prior to establishing Bott & Co, Paul was practice development manager responsible for 

fee earner training and development at a large Manchester-based road accident compensation 

claimant practice. 

Paula Fowler, managing partner (non-lawyer), 

QualitySolicitors FJG 

Paula has 25 years’ experience in legal practice management and is responsible for finance, 

premises, marketing, business planning, human resources and IT. QualitySolicitors FJG has six 

offices and 19 partners. Alongside her role within QualitySolicitors FJG, she is an executive director 

of the Colchester Business Enterprise Agency which is dedicated to helping new businesses start, 

grow and thrive. Paula is a LEXCEL accredited consultant, an associate member of CIPD, the 

firm’s COFA and has a post graduate certificate in legal practice management. She is currently 

studying for her MBA.

Richard Brown, director, Prime Professions 

Richard Brown has now spent over 30 years in the insurance industry with 

over 20 of those specialising in professional indemnity insurance. Richard is a 

director of Prime Risk Solutions with specific responsibility for sole practitioners 

and manages Prime’s relationship with The Sole Practitioners Group. Richard is a regular speaker 

at legal conferences and the advice that he gives covers risk management, where claims come 

from and how to approach renewal to achieve the best outcome. 

Robert Talbot, practice manager, 

Hart Reade Solicitors 

Robert joined Hart Reade in January 2013, a nine partner, three 

office firm in East Sussex. As practice manager, Robert is responsible for the support, IT, finance 

and facilities departments and plays a key role, along with the firm’s partners, in business planning, 

compliance and business development. Previously, Robert worked closely with the partners in 

driving growth in City law firm McGrigors, and then played a major role in the integration of staff 

and systems in the merger with Pinsent Masons. 

Robert Mowbray, owner, Taylor Mowbray 

Robert has worked exclusively with law firms for the last 20 years 

and has worked with close to 1,000 firms in 40 countries. He is a trainer and consultant who helps 

firms to increase profitability. In a market with severe fee pressure he can help firms to reduce 

costs without diluting quality and show them how alternative fees can be beneficial to both the 

client and the firm. He is the author of Maximising the Profitability of Law Firms and has recently 

undertaken a large financial benchmarking survey for NatWest. 

Tim Prior, director, PNCR Legal 

Admitted as a solicitor in 1986, Tim is also a fellow of the Institute of Risk 

Management. He is a specialist in risk management, compliance and professional 

indemnity insurance (PII). Through his niche consulting company, PNCR Legal, he 

draws on his many years’ experience of PII, to advise SME firms (amongst others) on 

their PII strategy and positioning, choice of broker and insurer, coverage issues and 

negligence claims. 

Trevor Dyer, head of finance & administration, 

Brethertons Solicitors 

Trevor joined Brethertons as practice manager over 20 years ago and 

has been instrumental in driving a growth strategy that has seen the firm 

change from a small, one location high street practice to a leading full-service 19 partner regional 

firm employing over 200 staff with four offices in the Thames Valley and West Midlands. As a main 

board member, Trevor has responsibility for all of Brethertons’ support functions. In addition, he 

is part of the firms’ strategic development team and also acts as Brethertons COFA and MLRO. 

Trevor became a non-lawyer partner on the first day that the Legal Services Act allowed such 

appointments in 2009. 

Vincent Denham, chief executive, Verisona 

Vincent is chief executive of Verisona, a three office incorporated 

firm in Hampshire. He began working with the legal profession in 1991 as a consultant and in 1996, 

became director of franchising for the government’s Legal Service Commission. After two years, he 

left to become one of the first non-lawyer chief executives at one of the largest barristers’ chambers 

in the UK, St Philip’s Chambers in Birmingham. Since 2001, Vincent has worked exclusively in 

legal services; holding roles of chief executive, business development and practice director at legal 

practices located in London, Liverpool, Bristol and Sydney.

Delegate fee 

One-day conference: 

£195+VAT 

Early Bird Discount: 

Book before 19 April and pay just £175+VAT 

To register your place 

Call Samantha Irvine on 0870 112 5058 

Email sami@lsn.co.uk 

Visit bit.ly/LPM2013 

Or scan this code with your smartphone 

Sponsored by:

The only event for practice managers in small to medium law firms

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