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

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.