Liverpool Law Jan 2016
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<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong><br />
The Magazine for lawyers in Merseyside and the North West<br />
<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2016</strong><br />
IN THIS ISSUE<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society<br />
New Committee<br />
PAGE 5<br />
Meet the new President<br />
of <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society<br />
PAGE 8<br />
Injury Reform - A<br />
False Economy<br />
PAGE 11
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From the Editor<br />
3<br />
Welcome<br />
Welcome to the first edition of the New Year.<br />
We have a new cover for <strong>2016</strong> chosen by our new President Alison Lobb. For those members who do<br />
not know Alison We have included a "get to know" interview with her in this months edition. She will<br />
continue to write the monthly President's Mentions outlining her activities on behalf of the LLS<br />
members.<br />
We will also continue to offer half a page each month to a charity to give them the opportunity to<br />
inform our members of their activities. If you have a charity you would like us to include please let me<br />
have their contact details. This is in addition to the CSR pages we also run.<br />
The general committee and local councillors summit takes place at the end of this month so please send<br />
any questions you would like us to raise to Jeremy Myers, details inside.<br />
Otherwise please keep your articles and photos coming, they are much appreciated.<br />
SYLVIA SHEPHERD<br />
EDITOR<br />
Editor@liverpoollawsociety.org.uk<br />
That leaves me to wish all our members a happy and prosperous new year.<br />
Sylvia Shepherd<br />
Editor<br />
editor@liverpoollawsociety.org.uk<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong><br />
Needs YOU!<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society<br />
Magazine is produced by and<br />
for <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society<br />
Members. This is our<br />
opportunity to share our<br />
news, events and<br />
celebrations with our friends<br />
in the legal community.<br />
All members' contributions to<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> are warmly<br />
welcomed. Please send your<br />
article (and photo captions<br />
where possible) or request<br />
for further information, or<br />
assistance to the editor at<br />
editor@liverpoollawsociety.org.uk<br />
.<br />
Photographs should be<br />
provided in the highest<br />
resolution possible to ensure<br />
a good reproduction.<br />
The views and opinions<br />
expressed in <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong><br />
are those of the individual<br />
contributed and not those of<br />
the <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society.<br />
Published by Baskerville<br />
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Diary Dates<br />
Wed 2nd March Management Conference<br />
Wed 16th March Public Child <strong>Law</strong> Conference<br />
Wed 8th June Regulatory Conference<br />
13 June - 1 July International Festival for<br />
Business<br />
Tue 4th October <strong>Liverpool</strong> Legal Walk<br />
Wed 19th October Private Child <strong>Law</strong> Conference<br />
Thur 10th November Annual Dinner<br />
Tue 29 November AGM<br />
Deadlines <strong>2016</strong><br />
18TH JAN FOR FEB<br />
15TH FEB FOR MARCH<br />
14TH MARCH FOR APRIL<br />
12TH APRIL FOR MAY<br />
16TH MAY FOR JUNE<br />
13TH JUNE FOR JULY<br />
18TH JULY FOR AUG<br />
15TH AUG FOR SEP<br />
19TH SEP FOR OCT<br />
17TH OCT FOR NOV<br />
14TH NOV FOR DEC<br />
Editorial Committee<br />
Dates <strong>2016</strong><br />
04/01/<strong>2016</strong> AT 13:00<br />
01/02/<strong>2016</strong> AT 13:00<br />
07/03/<strong>2016</strong> AT 13:00<br />
04/04/<strong>2016</strong> AT 13:00<br />
03/05/<strong>2016</strong> AT 13:00<br />
06/06/<strong>2016</strong> AT 13:00<br />
04/07/<strong>2016</strong> AT 13:00<br />
01/08/<strong>2016</strong> AT 13:00<br />
05/09/<strong>2016</strong> AT 13:00<br />
03/10/<strong>2016</strong> AT 13:00<br />
07/11/<strong>2016</strong> AT 13:00<br />
05/12/<strong>2016</strong> AT 13:00
4 From the President<br />
Sponsored by<br />
President’s Mentions<br />
Welcome, to my first edition of<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> as President of<br />
the society. It is somewhat<br />
ironic that, having served<br />
several years as editor of this<br />
wonderful magazine, chasing<br />
numerous people, including<br />
Presidents, for their<br />
contributions, I am now on the<br />
opposite end of that; and that<br />
our esteemed editor and<br />
publisher are now having to<br />
chase me. Those pigeons are<br />
now well and truly coming<br />
home to roost…..!<br />
One advantage of taking office in<br />
December is supposed to be that<br />
things start off fairly quietly on<br />
the events front, with everyone<br />
settling down in their own firms,<br />
preparing for Christmas. So it<br />
came as a bit of a shock to the<br />
system to attend the <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />
City Council “Fairness Summit”,<br />
on my first full day, (which you<br />
can read about in later pages) -<br />
when I was officially introduced,<br />
for the first time, to a room full of<br />
people as the President of<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society. It made<br />
me realise what a daunting<br />
prospect lies ahead, but I really<br />
hope I can do you all proud.<br />
Another of my first jobs was to<br />
subject myself to a grilling from<br />
Julia Baskerville, which you can<br />
also read about in this edition. In<br />
fact there seems to be a lot in here<br />
about me and I sincerely hope<br />
that is not going to be the case for<br />
the whole of the year and that<br />
many of the rest of you are going<br />
to contribute to this publication to<br />
stop that from happening. As I<br />
keep saying, this role is not all<br />
about me, it’s about all of you,<br />
and I look forward to hearing<br />
from as many of you as possible<br />
through the coming year.<br />
I am delighted that Sylvia agreed<br />
to continue as editor of this<br />
magazine, as she’s been doing<br />
such a brilliant job. One of the<br />
exciting parts leading up to taking<br />
over as President is deciding on<br />
the new front cover and colour<br />
scheme for <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong>. I am<br />
really pleased that we have used<br />
one of my own photos on the<br />
cover, as I think we live in such a<br />
beautiful city, and I often take<br />
snaps on my phone when I am out<br />
and about. The plan is to feature<br />
a different picture each month,<br />
and if you have any great ones of<br />
our <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society region<br />
then please do send them in and<br />
we will try to use them. It would<br />
be great to see lots of pictures<br />
from all over the area and not just<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> City Centre, as coming<br />
from a firm with branch offices I<br />
am always acutely aware that not<br />
everything takes place in the City<br />
Commercial district, and there are<br />
a lot of excellent lawyers doing<br />
good things all over our region!<br />
I am also pleased that we are<br />
going to continue with the charity<br />
feature each month, and if you<br />
know of any charities that you<br />
would like us to feature then<br />
please do let Sylvia have their<br />
details.<br />
Like all Presidents I am starting<br />
with good intentions and I aim to<br />
meet as many of you as possible,<br />
through our events and<br />
subcommittees, and coming out to<br />
see you when I can. For starters, I<br />
look forward to seeing many of<br />
you at the Newly Qualified<br />
Solicitors reception on 28th<br />
<strong>Jan</strong>uary as we welcome last year’s<br />
ALISON LOBB<br />
PRESIDENT<br />
qualifiers to the local profession,<br />
and take the chance to mix with<br />
our counterparts at the Merseyside<br />
Junior <strong>Law</strong>yers Division. It<br />
should be a great event and your<br />
support would be very much<br />
appreciated!<br />
Alison Lobb<br />
President<br />
CHARITY SPOTLIGHT<br />
The Whitechapel Centre<br />
The Whitechapel Centre is the leading<br />
homeless and housing charity for the<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> region. We work with people<br />
who are sleeping rough, living in<br />
hostels or struggling to manage their<br />
accommodation. We are committed to<br />
helping people find and maintain a<br />
home and learn the life skills essential<br />
for independent living.<br />
Last year we worked with 2,605 people -<br />
our support and advice found suitable<br />
accommodation for 1,174 who were<br />
homeless and prevented a further 948<br />
people from becoming homeless.<br />
Our Centre is open every day for rough<br />
sleepers, providing hot meals, showers,<br />
clean clothes, assessments, welfare and<br />
benefit advice, referrals to healthcare,<br />
learning and education. Our outreach<br />
team is out daily, engaging with people<br />
on the street and responding to calls to<br />
the No Second Night Out phone number.<br />
We support people into accommodation<br />
and provide a bond scheme, we jointly<br />
run two family hostels, drop-in housing<br />
advice sessions, peer-mentoring and<br />
complex needs support. We understand<br />
that helping people back to independence<br />
requires intensive and long-term support<br />
and we do all we can to help people get<br />
their lives back on track.<br />
Homelessness can happen to anyone. We<br />
have worked with chefs, barristers,<br />
hairdressers, academics, medical staff,<br />
managers, construction workers, the list<br />
goes on, with the causes of their<br />
homelessness ranging from relationship<br />
breakdowns, mental health issues and job<br />
loss to bereavement, domestic violence or<br />
addiction.<br />
Unfortunately homelessness is on the<br />
increase, recorded at 42% over the last<br />
four years, and so support from the<br />
general public and the business<br />
community is even more vital to ensure<br />
we can provide the necessary support to<br />
an increasing number of vulnerable<br />
people.<br />
There are a number ways people can<br />
offer their support. Vital to our success<br />
are the generous donations of money that<br />
mean we can invest in our services to<br />
ensure we can offer the expert advice and<br />
advocacy to help people resolve their<br />
situation. Please consider supporting The<br />
Whitechapel Centre financially through<br />
regular giving, taking part in a<br />
fundraising event or payroll giving.<br />
We also accept donations of clothing,<br />
towels, toiletries, food and starter packs<br />
that could include essentials such as<br />
cutlery, crockery, kettles and toasters for<br />
people being rehomed who have few<br />
personal belongings.<br />
You can also donate your time by<br />
volunteering in either our Centre or shop.<br />
For more information about The<br />
Whitechapel Centre and how you can<br />
get involved visit<br />
www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk
Local News<br />
5<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society’s AGM<br />
The Society’s 188th AGM was held on 24th November 2015<br />
at which Mr Peter Holland, Mrs Naomi Pinder, Mrs Sylvia<br />
Shepherd, Mr Chris Topping, Mr David Tournafond and Ms<br />
Nina Ferris were elected as directors for a three year term.<br />
They were welcomed onto the General Committee along with<br />
John Weate who takes up the position of Criminal Practice<br />
Committee chair.<br />
At the AGM, prizes were presented to the following for their<br />
achievements in professional examinations in the LPC:<br />
The Timpron Martin prize went to Miss Anna Barclay, DLA<br />
The Rupert Bremner prize went to Mr Gregory Chambers, DWF<br />
The Atkinson prize went to Mr Kevin Howard, Weightmans<br />
The E. Rex Makin Prize is awarded to the youngest Solicitor to be<br />
admitted to the roll in the <strong>Liverpool</strong> constituency.<br />
It went to Miss Kelly Marie Griffiths who is now at Allington<br />
Hughes.<br />
The Muir Matthews Prize is awarded to a young/trainee solicitor in<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> who is judged to have made the largest contribution on an allround<br />
basis.<br />
This prize was awarded to Ms May Lee, who works at Irvings, and<br />
is immediate past chair of the Merseyside JLD.<br />
2015/16 Officers and General<br />
Committee Members<br />
OFFICERS<br />
President - MS ALISON LOBB , Morecrofts<br />
Vice President - MR JOHN BALLAM , FPH <strong>Law</strong><br />
Hon. Treasurer - MR PHILIP ROONEY, DLA Piper UK<br />
Joint Hon Secretary - MS NINA FERRIS, Hill Dickinson<br />
Joint Honorary Secretary - MISS JULIE O’HARE, Carpenters<br />
Immediate Past President - MR EMLYN WILLIAMS, Weightmans<br />
COMMITTEE CHAIRS & OFFICE HOLDERS<br />
Access to Justice Committee Chair - MR CHRIS TOPPING,<br />
Broudie Jackson Canter<br />
Civil Litigation Committee Chair - MS KIRSTY MCKNO,<br />
Breens Solicitors<br />
Criminal Practice Committee Chair - MR JOHN WEATE,<br />
RMNJ Solicitors<br />
Editorial Committee Chair - MS SYLVIA SHEPHERD, DLA Piper UK<br />
Education & Charities Committee Chair - MR DAVID<br />
TOURNAFOND, Bermans<br />
Employment <strong>Law</strong> Committee Chair - MS NICKY BENSON, Bermans<br />
Family Business Committee Chair - MS ADELE SCHOFIELD,<br />
The Berkson Globe Partnership<br />
Regulatory Committee Chair - MS MICKAELA FOX, Weightmans<br />
Membership Officer - MS SARAH MANSFIELD, BLM<br />
Non Contentious Committee Chair - MS NAOMI PINDER,<br />
Quality Solicitors Jackson & Canter<br />
Parliamentary Liaison Officer - MR JEREMY MYERS,<br />
Husband Forwood Morgan<br />
Public Relations Officer - MR STEWART MCCULLOCH,<br />
Quindell Legal Services<br />
The <strong>Law</strong> Society Council Member for Merseyside & District<br />
MRS SARAH LAPSLEY, Cook & Talbot<br />
Training Committee Chair - MR JAMES MANNOUCH<br />
COMMITTEE MEMBERS<br />
MR BILL CHANDLER, Hill Dickinson<br />
MR PETER HOLLAND, DWF<br />
MRS GLENYS HUNT, Carpenters<br />
MR STEVEN ZDOLYNY, Riverview <strong>Law</strong><br />
The Prizewinners with<br />
Emlyn Williams and Alison Lobb<br />
With over 60 members Atlantic Chambers is able to offer a wide<br />
range of expertise within our specialist practice groups.<br />
Civil Litigation including Clinical Negligence,<br />
Family, Chancery & Commercial, Crime,<br />
Employment, Proceeds of Crime & Public <strong>Law</strong><br />
4-6 Cook Street, <strong>Liverpool</strong> L2 9QU<br />
T 0151 236 4421 F 0151 236 1559<br />
DX: 14176 <strong>Liverpool</strong> 1.<br />
E-mail: info@atlanticchambers.co.uk<br />
The General Committee<br />
Back L to R: Alistair Fletcher, Peter Holland, Emlyn Williams,<br />
Sarah Mansfield, Sylvia Shepherd, Jeremy Myers, Naomi<br />
Pinder, MJLD Rep Anthea Malley, Bill Chandler<br />
Front L to R: Nina Ferris, Philip Rooney, John Ballam, Alison<br />
Lobb, Julie O’Hare, David Tournafond, Nicky Benson
6 Cashiers Conference<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society 5th Annual Conference<br />
for Legal Cashiers and Managers<br />
It’s that time of year again and I<br />
was delighted to chair the 5th<br />
Annual Legal Cashiers and<br />
Managers Conference at the<br />
<strong>Law</strong> Society on Wednesday 18th<br />
November 2015. The training<br />
suite was full again with 50<br />
attendees including legal<br />
cashiers, accountants, COFA’s<br />
and solicitors . We welcomed<br />
back many attendees from last<br />
year’s conference and previous<br />
courses and we were pleased to<br />
welcome a large number of new<br />
faces.<br />
With a packed programme for the<br />
day we started the conference on<br />
time with our first speakers,<br />
Sharon Harrison and Richard<br />
Campbell from Barclays Bank,<br />
giving us a banker’s view on<br />
financial stability in the legal<br />
sector. This interesting session<br />
gave us an insight into how the<br />
bank and the law firm should work<br />
together to aim for financial<br />
stability finishing with some top<br />
tips for us follow. This session<br />
was followed by Peter Taffe,<br />
Managing Partner of B W<br />
Macfarlane, our sponsors for the<br />
conference, giving us a session on<br />
Compliance and the hidden<br />
advantages for our firm and also<br />
the pitfalls of getting it wrong.<br />
Following the coffee break we<br />
were pleased to welcome back to<br />
our conference, Darren Whelan, a<br />
former colleague of mine from the<br />
ILFM. Following a very<br />
successful session at our last<br />
conference and proving to be a<br />
popular speaker, Darren delivered<br />
an update on VAT: Disbursements<br />
or Recharges and Tax Points. Once<br />
again, Darren delivered another 45<br />
minutes packed with information<br />
and advice giving us a lot to think<br />
about. Darren, again, delivered a<br />
very useful and interesting session.<br />
For our last session of the morning<br />
we were pleased to welcome a<br />
new speaker to our conferences,<br />
Richard Syers, Lead Policy Officer<br />
with the Information<br />
Commissioners Office (ICO).<br />
Richard spoke about data<br />
protection in law firms including<br />
what our main risks are, some<br />
examples of bad and good practice<br />
and gave some practical advice on<br />
complying with the Data<br />
Protection Act. With many<br />
questions being asked by the<br />
attendees, Richards delivered a<br />
very information session.<br />
Over a buffet lunch we all had a<br />
chance to mingle and chat with<br />
each other and the speakers with<br />
many questions being asked and<br />
business cards being exchanged.<br />
Following lunch we were pleased<br />
to welcome back, by very popular<br />
demand, Steve Wilmott, Director<br />
and MLRO at the SRA responsible<br />
for Intelligence, Investigations and<br />
Practice Standards. Steve has been<br />
at all our conferences from the<br />
beginning but was unable to attend<br />
last year due to commitments at<br />
the SRA so it was good to see him<br />
back. Starting with the first of his<br />
two sessions, Steve, brought us up<br />
to date with the national Money<br />
Laundering landscape and gave us<br />
an update on the SRA’s thematic<br />
review of AML compliance. Steve<br />
told us that the SRA are seeing an<br />
increase in reports concerning<br />
AML compliance with an<br />
increased interest in this area from<br />
law enforcement. Although the<br />
results of the thematic review were<br />
good Steve gave us a reminder that<br />
there is still a lot of work to be<br />
done in the legal sector.<br />
For his second session, Steve<br />
spoke to us on a topic very much<br />
at the front of everyone’s mind,<br />
cybercrime and information<br />
security. The SRA have seen an<br />
increase in the sophistication of<br />
cybercrime and other scams hitting<br />
the legal sector with funds lost<br />
ranging between £50k and £2m<br />
since <strong>Jan</strong>uary 2015. Steve spoke<br />
about the six key areas for us to<br />
concentrate on together with the<br />
risk of bogus firms. This was an<br />
Back: L-R: Darren Cox, Peter Taaffe, Steve Wallbank &<br />
Stephen Wilmott.Front: L-R: Richard Campbell, Sharon<br />
Harrison, Jo Morris & Darren Whelan<br />
excellent session giving us lots to<br />
think about!<br />
Following on from Steve, we<br />
welcomed another new speaker to<br />
our conferences, Stephen Wallbank,<br />
an Investigation Team Manager<br />
from the SRA, who delivered a<br />
very informative session on what<br />
the SRA are seeing in relation to<br />
forensic investigations. Packed<br />
with information, statistics and real<br />
life case studies this session gave<br />
us an insight into the world of<br />
forensic investigations at the SRA.<br />
Following on from our afternoon<br />
coffee break we were pleased to<br />
welcome back another popular<br />
speaker, Darren Cox, who is an<br />
Ombudsman and has worked at the<br />
Legal Ombudsman since 2010.<br />
Darren delivered a very engaging<br />
session on dealing with customer<br />
service complaints at the Legal<br />
Ombudsman and shared with us<br />
some great examples of complaints<br />
seen together with up to date facts<br />
and figures.<br />
It was then time for the last session<br />
of the day delivered by myself.<br />
The other speakers were all hard<br />
acts to follow so I decided to play a<br />
quiz and see how much<br />
information we had remembered<br />
from the day. This interactive<br />
session was an informative but<br />
light hearted and fun way to end a<br />
great day. Everyone was a winner<br />
taking home their prize of a smiley<br />
face pencil!<br />
All too soon it was time to bring<br />
the day to a close and say our<br />
goodbyes. Our thanks go to our<br />
speakers, many of them staying<br />
for the whole day, our sponsors for<br />
the day, B W Macfarlane and the<br />
staff at <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society,<br />
especially Jo and Emma for<br />
making the day run smoothly and<br />
a huge success. Special thanks go<br />
to our attendees for showing their<br />
support at this event – we couldn’t<br />
do this without them!<br />
Here’s a date for your diary!<br />
Wednesday 16th November <strong>2016</strong><br />
for our next Legal Cashiers and<br />
Managers Conference when I hope<br />
we’ll all meet again. I hope to see<br />
you all at one of the many<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society training<br />
courses in <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
Jo Morris<br />
<br />
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Local News<br />
7<br />
Commercial Litigation Conference<br />
This was the first time that LLS had held a CPD Conference<br />
devoted to this topic. It grew out of the Conferences on<br />
Personal Injury and on Costs.<br />
A more specifically-focused Conference was felt necessary after debate<br />
amongst members of LLS’s Civil Litigation Committee, chaired by<br />
Kirsty McKno. Jo Downey – LLS’s Director of Education and training<br />
– and a number of us amongst Civil Litigation Committee members<br />
began to discuss the topic areas for the Conference.<br />
The general feeling was that the Conference should meet practitioners’<br />
need for a practical look at many of the areas of commercial litigation<br />
which feature in the everyday life of a practitioner in this arena.<br />
That is why the topics comprised headlines such as drafting Statements<br />
of Case, drafting Witness Statements, Costs and Case Management<br />
Conferences and Maximising the Benefits of Mediation to name but<br />
some. Building Disputes, Judgment Debt recovery, Insolvency and<br />
Default Sanctions Relief also featured.<br />
The array of lecturers was particularly effective. HHJ Graham Wood QC<br />
– the designated Civil Judge in <strong>Liverpool</strong> – chaired the Conference with<br />
a number of helpful comments to support points made by lecturers. The<br />
fact that Barristers and Solicitors, both local and from outside<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong>, provided further balance and breadth of experience.<br />
As ever, it was not just at the formal sessions but also during the<br />
refreshments breaks that many issues were discussed, as well as<br />
attendees having the always welcome opportunity to catch up with old<br />
friends and colleagues.<br />
Jeremy Myers<br />
LLS General Committee Member and<br />
Parliamentary Liaison Officer<br />
Some of the conference speakers<br />
(L-R): Peter Goodbody, Professor Dominic Regan,<br />
HH Graham Wood QC & David Pilling<br />
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conveyancing<br />
enquiries<br />
into clients<br />
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davidopie@etsos.co.uk<br />
<br />
2 month<br />
FREE<br />
TRIAL *<br />
Councillors’ Summit –<br />
Thursday 21 <strong>Jan</strong>uary<br />
The links which LLS has<br />
developed with political<br />
figures extends across the<br />
full spectrum from local to<br />
national representatives.<br />
This is particularly<br />
important given the varying<br />
fields in which our<br />
representatives act.<br />
Thursday 21 <strong>Jan</strong>uary sees the next<br />
twice-yearly meeting between<br />
General Committee members and<br />
Councillors from Local<br />
Authorities in LLS’s geographical<br />
area. The Agenda will give us the<br />
opportunity to explain to<br />
Councillors our views on issues<br />
which they might be contacted by<br />
constituents or discover in news<br />
about Local Authority legal<br />
departments’ work.<br />
These include the impact of the<br />
new Small Claims Track PI<br />
proposed threshold, the topic of<br />
McKenzie Friends and other<br />
changes which access to legal<br />
advice (developing the themes<br />
which we have set out to<br />
Councillors in the regular Access<br />
to Justice Forum events held by<br />
LLS). Doubtless other current<br />
“hot topics” will be mentioned.<br />
In turn, the Summit always gives<br />
LLS the opportunity to glean an<br />
idea of topics being raised with<br />
Councillors by their constituents<br />
which have a legal element.<br />
Welfare changes – including<br />
Housing Benefit – are topics<br />
which could have an impact on<br />
the work of Legal Aid<br />
practitioners and is to feature on<br />
the agenda.<br />
Interaction with local<br />
communities is a significant<br />
element of the life-blood of many<br />
practices belonging to LLS. This<br />
regular meeting is a necessary<br />
means of discovering how lay<br />
people view their need for legal<br />
advice and consequently a way in<br />
which our Services and<br />
availability can be explained and<br />
circulated more widely.<br />
Do not hesitate to let LLS know<br />
about any topics which you feel<br />
could be raised.<br />
Jeremy Myers<br />
LLS Parliamentary Liaison<br />
Officer
8 Interview<br />
In Conversation with the President<br />
Alison Lobb, the newly elected<br />
President of <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society<br />
talks to Julia Baskerville...<br />
Alison Lobb, the Managing<br />
Partner of Morecrofts<br />
Solicitors was elected the<br />
President of <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong><br />
Society at December’s<br />
General Committee meeting.<br />
Alison will be the fourth<br />
President from Morecrofts,<br />
three of whom have been<br />
women.<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> born and bred, Alison<br />
trained at EAD Solicitors before<br />
joining the Legal Aid Board as a<br />
caseworker auditor. Alison joined<br />
the Litigation Team at Morecrofts<br />
in 1999.<br />
Alison spent many years acting<br />
for victims of childhood abuse,<br />
particularly in the various group<br />
actions which were going on at<br />
the time. Over time her caseload<br />
changed to include general<br />
personal injury work, claims for<br />
victims of negligence by social<br />
services, breach of confidence<br />
actions, and some education and<br />
judicial review work.<br />
In 2005 Alison became a Partner<br />
and Head of the Litigation Team,<br />
going on to join the firm’s<br />
management board. In 2014<br />
Alison was appointed Managing<br />
Partner on the retirement of Helen<br />
Broughton, a past President of the<br />
Society.<br />
Alison joined the General<br />
Committee of <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong><br />
Society in 2008 and has served as<br />
Deputy Public Relations Officer<br />
and was the Editor of <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />
<strong>Law</strong> for three years. She was<br />
appointed Joint Honorary<br />
Secretary in 2012 and Vice<br />
President in 2014.<br />
Alison acknowledges that these<br />
are very challenging times for the<br />
profession and it can be a difficult<br />
task representing all the various<br />
views represented within the<br />
society. Clearly the recent<br />
proposals announced in the<br />
Autumn Statement by George<br />
Osborne to increase the small<br />
claims limit for personal injury<br />
claims to £5000 and to end<br />
payments for soft tissue injuries<br />
such as whiplash will impact on<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> law firms. Alison says<br />
“This proposal has significant<br />
implications for our members,<br />
there are a lot of PI firms in<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> which have already<br />
suffered as a result of LASPO,<br />
and the Society will be takings<br />
soundings from both claimant and<br />
defendant firms. The Civil<br />
Litigation sub-committee will be<br />
considering the proposals in<br />
detail, and will be formulating a<br />
response - but it is important that<br />
we represent the views of all<br />
members.”<br />
The Society will also continue to<br />
offer support to criminal lawyers<br />
as the ongoing criminal legal aid<br />
fiasco rumbles on. Alison also<br />
predicts that the impact from the<br />
cuts to family legal aid will also<br />
become more marked in <strong>2016</strong>,<br />
with an increase in litigants in<br />
person and the Society will be<br />
talking to members on how to<br />
best deal with this crisis in the<br />
courts. She says, “Over the last<br />
few years the Society has done<br />
great work in campaigning for<br />
and highlighting Access to Justice<br />
issues and we need to keep the<br />
momentum going with regard to<br />
this”<br />
Each year’s President has their<br />
own ‘theme’ for the year. Alison<br />
says that her theme will be to<br />
encourage member firms to<br />
become more involved with the<br />
wider business community in the<br />
city. She says “<strong>Law</strong> firms need to<br />
become more involved in the<br />
city’s business organisations<br />
which offer numerous<br />
opportunities for networking and<br />
referrals. We are a profession, but<br />
we are also businesses that need to<br />
generate income just like any<br />
other. There are differences<br />
between the law and other types<br />
of business, with many law firms<br />
still working within the traditional<br />
partnership business model and<br />
the additional burden of<br />
regulation, but essentially we are<br />
businesses and need to recognise<br />
the benefits of becoming more<br />
involved. Some firms already do<br />
that very well, but others have yet<br />
to take up the opportunities on<br />
offer and by creating stronger<br />
links with those organisations,<br />
hopefully we can help them do<br />
that, and subsequently to grow”<br />
Running alongside side this theme<br />
Alison also hopes to raise the<br />
profile of <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society<br />
and its member firms within the<br />
city.<br />
<strong>2016</strong> will also see the<br />
International Festival of Business<br />
return to <strong>Liverpool</strong>. Alison is on<br />
the Steering Group which will be<br />
organising the fringe events<br />
around the IFB. She says “The<br />
IFB in <strong>2016</strong> will be shorter, but<br />
more concentrated than that in<br />
2014 and will run for three weeks.<br />
Organisers of the event, <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />
Vision, are hoping to draw in<br />
some big names from the world of<br />
business and some of the fringe<br />
events are planned to take the<br />
form of ‘Q & As’ with eminent<br />
speakers, as well as some more<br />
irreverent offerings as well”.<br />
Alison would also like to see more<br />
firms become involved with<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society, whether<br />
through joining one of the subcommittees,<br />
attending conferences<br />
and courses or one of their many<br />
social events. Alison says<br />
“<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society does a<br />
great job representing members<br />
from firms large and small and<br />
across all of the specialisms. The<br />
Sub-Committee members work<br />
tirelessly behind the scenes,<br />
responding to consultations and<br />
ensuring that members are kept up<br />
to date with the latest news and<br />
developments in their area of the<br />
law. Similarly, our course<br />
programme is constantly reviewed<br />
and updated so that we can offer<br />
up-to-date and informative<br />
courses and conferences that are<br />
relevant to members. I would also<br />
like to extend an invitation to<br />
members to come along to our<br />
social and networking events.<br />
Over the years I have made many<br />
friends through the Society and<br />
built up an extensive network of<br />
business contacts. There is plenty<br />
of value in networking with other<br />
lawyers – even though some may<br />
not realise that” New for <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
the Society are in talks with with<br />
Professional <strong>Liverpool</strong> about the<br />
possibility of hosting a <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />
Professionals dinner, which is<br />
planned for the Spring.<br />
Alison also wants to continue and<br />
develop Emlyn William’s theme<br />
of encouraging young people to<br />
join the legal profession and she<br />
will be hosting the second<br />
“Pathways to <strong>Law</strong>” event which<br />
will be held on 10th February<br />
<strong>2016</strong> at <strong>Liverpool</strong> Town Hall.<br />
Clearly Alison has a very busy<br />
year ahead of her, she concludes<br />
“I am delighted but somewhat<br />
daunted to be following in<br />
Emlyn’s footsteps. Each President<br />
puts their own stamp on the role<br />
and I have seen first hand that<br />
often that evolves as the year<br />
proceeds. Every year holds new<br />
excitements and fresh challenges<br />
and I can’t wait to get started and<br />
find out what the future holds.”
ADVERTORIAL<br />
<strong>2016</strong> – A POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE<br />
FOR INVESTORS<br />
Prediction is difficult, especially when dealing with the<br />
future. There are many claimed sources for this pearl of<br />
wisdom, but it is undoubtedly true. That does not stop<br />
people trying to envisage the future, and indeed it is a core<br />
requirement for most planning processes. It is perhaps<br />
useful when looking forward to understand the fallibility<br />
of the process, and therefore allow for contingencies<br />
and for the unexpected. With all that in mind, let’s<br />
take a look at how <strong>2016</strong> may turn out for investors.<br />
Policy makers’ great dilemma at present – at least in the<br />
UK and US – is whether the domestic economy is strong<br />
enough for interest rates to start to rise. Their hesitancy<br />
is partly a result of the opaque nature of even the short<br />
term future outlook, which is understandable but it is<br />
becoming unhelpful. Markets do not fare well in uncertain<br />
times and the “will they/won’t they” debate has resulted<br />
in nervous, volatile markets over the summer. Equally,<br />
boardroom decision makers will feel less confident if there<br />
is evidence of policy dithering. There is sufficient evidence<br />
to support a first, modest tightening of rates and focus<br />
and attention can then move forward. It will be quite<br />
some time before rates achieve a neutral level. Lower for<br />
longer will remain the mantra – but not zero for ever.<br />
So, why would rates be kept low? Well China seems<br />
to be regularly offered up as the reason. Chinese<br />
growth has been slowing for some time, but this is the<br />
price of a healthy rebalance of the economy to lessen<br />
dependence on infrastructure and exports. Currency<br />
devaluation raised concerns that the loss of momentum<br />
was accelerating, but we have written previously<br />
that we do not consider this to be an imminent or<br />
material threat to developed economies. This remains<br />
the case. Equally, especially from a UK perspective,<br />
Europe’s modest improvement is a material positive.<br />
Data releases elsewhere have been mixed, and data<br />
has been identified as the guiding light for the US<br />
Federal Reserve decision makers. Trying to determine<br />
longer term trends through short term data releases<br />
is fraught with danger, and the Fed should really be<br />
getting ahead of the curve and showing leadership.<br />
We believe there is sufficient evidence of stability and<br />
progress therefore for policy makers to lead us out of this<br />
extraordinary, and extended period of low interest rates.<br />
This in turn, whilst perhaps causing some short term nerves,<br />
ought to be interpreted by investors as a sign of confidence.<br />
So what about the investment outlook?<br />
On the basis of policy change as outlined, against a<br />
background of likely continuing global growth, we believe<br />
it sensible to continue to support risk assets – primarily<br />
stock markets – at the expense of traditionally safe assets<br />
– bonds and cash. The UK stock market carries the burden<br />
of a high exposure to natural resource companies (oil<br />
and mining) which continue to struggle. Away from these<br />
sectors, many companies offer good value, and attractive,<br />
secure and growing dividends. The US and Europe also<br />
offer attractions, but Asia is best sidelined for now. As ever,<br />
a well-constructed, balanced portfolio is the preferred<br />
approach as individual investment risk remains a concern.<br />
So, we look into <strong>2016</strong> with a positive perspective,<br />
also recognising that risks exist and that we<br />
continue to live in uncertain times.<br />
For more information, contact Simon Walker in <strong>Liverpool</strong>:<br />
simon.walker@quiltercheviot.com or 0151 243 2160.<br />
Investors should remember that the value of investments,<br />
and the income from them, can go down as well as<br />
up. Investors may not recover what they invest. Past<br />
performance is no guarantee of future results.<br />
SEE HOW WE’RE DOING<br />
THINGS DIFFERENTLY<br />
CALL SIMON WALKER<br />
TEL. 0151 243 2160<br />
OR VISIT WWW.QUILTERCHEVIOT.COM<br />
Quilter Cheviot is the trading name of Quilter Cheviot Limited, a private limited company registered in England with number 01923571, registered office at One<br />
Kingsway, London WC2B 6AN. Quilter Cheviot has established an office in Dublin, Ireland with number 904906, is a member of the London Stock Exchange, is<br />
authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules, under the Financial<br />
Services (Jersey) <strong>Law</strong> 1998 by the Jersey Financial Services Commission for the conduct of investment business in Jersey and by the Guernsey Financial<br />
Services Commission under the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) <strong>Law</strong>, 1987 to carry on investment business in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.<br />
Accordingly, in some respects the regulatory system that applies will be different from that of the United Kingdom.
10 Local News<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society and<br />
Accountants take a ‘Real Ale Trail’<br />
On a wet cold and windy November night an intrepid band<br />
of <strong>Liverpool</strong> lawyers braved the worst of the weather to<br />
venture out on a mystery journey around the Georgian<br />
quarter of <strong>Liverpool</strong>. The reason? – why, we had been<br />
hooked in with the promise of a “Real Ale Trail”. Anything<br />
for a spot of beer!<br />
The event had been arranged by Philip Silver, President of the<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> Society of Chartered Accountants, and it was a well mixed<br />
group that met on the steps of St Lukes, (the bombed out Church ).<br />
With 5 lawyers and 6 accountants, together with our two guides, Steve<br />
and Alan, the group was just the right size to benefit from the tour, and<br />
to mingle together, and indeed any more would probably not have fitted<br />
in to the bars of some of the pubs we visited!<br />
Our journey took us first to the Roscoe Head, one of only 5 pubs in the<br />
country to have featured in every edition of the Good Beer guide since<br />
its first publication on 1974, but now sadly in danger of closure, (If you<br />
are interested there is a petition you can sign to try to keep it open).<br />
After our first drink, and a history lesson about William Roscoe;<br />
lawyer, MP and abolitionist; we moved on to the Philharmonic where<br />
we varied our diets for the evening with a plate of fish & chips each,<br />
then onward to the Belvedere and finishing at the recently opened Old<br />
Blind School. With history lessons between, and often in each pub, the<br />
theme of the evening also of course required a sample of ale each time,<br />
which allowed us to try out some brews we had not heard of before. I<br />
even resisted the <strong>Liverpool</strong> Gin for once, deciding it would not mix<br />
well with the IPA!<br />
A good evening was had by all and we all made some new friends and<br />
contacts across the professions. Many thanks to the accountants for<br />
organising this enjoyable evening; not only was it an introduction to<br />
some new beers but a fascinating and informative lesson in the history<br />
of <strong>Liverpool</strong>. No matter how much you think you know, there is<br />
always more to learn! There are other routes available on the tour and<br />
it would certainly be worth doing it again.<br />
Alison Lobb<br />
Morecrofts LLP<br />
President<br />
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PI<br />
11<br />
Injury Reform – A False Economy<br />
George Osborne surprised insurers and lawyers alike with his recent announcement<br />
of reform to the personal injury market. The government intends to remove the right<br />
to recover general damages for minor soft tissue injuries, and to increase the small<br />
claims injury limit to £5,000. Ann Alister of Carpenters Solicitors outlines the<br />
consequences of the proposals...<br />
It was reported in the Insurance<br />
Post that insurers met with<br />
government officials on 9th<br />
December 2015 at No 10, and the<br />
rumours are that the reforms are<br />
“a done deal”. Certainly the<br />
Gazette has reported that the<br />
consultation will be on how to<br />
implement the proposals, rather<br />
than whether to do so. If there is<br />
any degree of truth to those<br />
rumours, then we are looking at<br />
far reaching reforms without<br />
proper consideration of the<br />
consequences for the tax payer, or<br />
for those innocent individuals who<br />
suffer pain and discomfort and are<br />
denied redress.<br />
The most recent consultation on<br />
the small claims limit, only two<br />
years ago, concluded the argument<br />
for change had not been made at<br />
that point. It is hard to see what<br />
has changed that could now<br />
justify a different view. Since that<br />
time there has been further change<br />
to the industry aimed at reducing<br />
costs and eliminating abuse of the<br />
system, such as the extension of<br />
the RTA Portal and the<br />
introduction of MedCo.<br />
The removal of liability on a<br />
tortfeasor to compensate his<br />
victim goes beyond the previous<br />
proposals, and will clearly require<br />
statute. For the first time in<br />
English legal history there will be<br />
a non-actionable injury.<br />
The Chancellor expects his<br />
reforms to save motorists an<br />
average of £40 to £50 per policy,<br />
which will feed back into the<br />
economy and support the<br />
recovery. If the Chancellor’s<br />
focus is the economic benefits,<br />
there are a number of key points<br />
that he must consider:<br />
1. Insurers are unlikely to pass on<br />
any saving in claims costs. There<br />
has been little evidence of any<br />
reduction in premiums following<br />
LASPO and the reduction in costs<br />
paid by insurers.<br />
2. Damages are spent and<br />
recycled in the economy. If the<br />
ability to bring injury claims is<br />
reduced or removed, that<br />
economic benefit will be lost.<br />
3. If fewer claims are brought,<br />
then CRU recoupment of benefits<br />
and NHS charges will be reduced.<br />
4. The demands on the NHS will<br />
be increased. The reality is that<br />
many claimants receive<br />
rehabilitation paid for by the atfault<br />
insurer under the current<br />
system, but if they are not brought<br />
within the claims process then the<br />
cost of that treatment will fall to<br />
the already stretched NHS.<br />
5. If injury claims can be brought,<br />
but only in the small claims court,<br />
the Court Service will collapse<br />
under the weight of litigants in<br />
person.<br />
6. The funds available to the<br />
Court Service to meet that burden<br />
will be reduced due to a<br />
significant drop in court fee<br />
income.<br />
7. We are likely to see a parade of<br />
claims management companies<br />
offering to help injured parties<br />
bring the claim themselves –<br />
undoing much of the recent good<br />
work in relation to fraudulent<br />
claims, and the exploitation of<br />
claimants. The government has<br />
failed to address malpractice in<br />
this area. We are all subject to<br />
nuisance texts and cold calls, and<br />
these changes will make the<br />
situation worse<br />
.<br />
8. Banning injury claims<br />
completely would inevitably mean<br />
job losses - not just for claimant<br />
and defendant lawyers, but also in<br />
support services, with the<br />
associated economic<br />
consequences.<br />
9. Tax revenue will be reduced -<br />
income tax receipts for the<br />
Treasury will drop, not to mention<br />
VAT on legal and support services<br />
and IPT on motor policies.<br />
It is hard to see the economic<br />
argument for the proposed<br />
changes.<br />
Have the reforms really been<br />
thought through? What is a<br />
“minor” injury, and how and when<br />
is that established? Injury lawyers<br />
will tell you that many chronic<br />
and debilitating problems, that<br />
attract significant awards, begin as<br />
apparently minor injuries that<br />
persist and restrict working<br />
capacity. There is a real risk that<br />
an effort to ban minor injuries will<br />
have wide-ranging unexpected<br />
consequences.<br />
If the Chancellor gets his way,<br />
then not only will the<br />
consequences for the economy be<br />
dire, but tens of thousands of<br />
injured people will receive no<br />
compensation, and the insurer of<br />
the responsible person will avoid<br />
payment. In addition serious<br />
injury claims will inevitably be<br />
missed.<br />
The author has a case concerning<br />
a family of four involved in a<br />
serious head on collision. The<br />
driver and youngest two children<br />
suffered orthopaedic and brain<br />
injuries. The oldest child, age 9,<br />
has minor whiplash injuries. Are<br />
we really saying that this child<br />
who has suffered a low value soft<br />
tissue injury should not receive<br />
damages? Is he not a genuine<br />
claimant with a genuine injury?<br />
The proposed reforms will deny<br />
justice and damage the economy,<br />
and the government needs to<br />
think again.<br />
Ann Alister<br />
Carpenters Solicitors
12 News growing existing businesses,<br />
within the City. That is<br />
something which many of<br />
us, and indeed many other<br />
professions, can contribute<br />
to. I was surprised to see<br />
very little representation<br />
in the room from the<br />
business community<br />
and commented on<br />
that. I may well be<br />
approaching our<br />
members, and talking<br />
to our other<br />
professional group<br />
contacts, in due<br />
course, as to way<br />
in which we can<br />
all further invest<br />
in the success of<br />
our city. So watch this<br />
space…. And if you would like to<br />
read the report it can be accessed<br />
through the website:<br />
www.gettingby.org.uk or hard<br />
copies are available from<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> City Council.<br />
Alison Lobb<br />
President<br />
In my first formal outing as<br />
President, I was invited to<br />
attend the <strong>Liverpool</strong> City<br />
Council Fairness Summit on 9th<br />
December.. This was the final<br />
meeting of a project which had<br />
been going on for two years,<br />
and my predecessor, Emlyn,<br />
had attended on previous<br />
occasions.<br />
I was already aware of the report,<br />
“Getting By”, which had been<br />
prepared by the Fairness<br />
Commission, which had been set<br />
up by the Mayor, Joe Anderson.<br />
This report followed 30 working<br />
families in <strong>Liverpool</strong> over the<br />
course of a year, looking at how<br />
they managed their income and<br />
households. It’s a surprisingly<br />
interesting read, especially if you<br />
are interested in social history, but<br />
the shocking statistic that it<br />
emphasises is that there is more<br />
in-work poverty than out of work<br />
poverty in <strong>Liverpool</strong>, and that<br />
remains a problem. The Summit<br />
brought people together to debate<br />
those issues, to report on their<br />
efforts to improve the position,<br />
and to discuss what more could be<br />
done.<br />
Space constraints prevent me from<br />
going into all of the issues<br />
discussed here, but I will be<br />
reporting in more detail to the<br />
Access to Justice Committee on<br />
the discussions that were had, and<br />
what I think <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong><br />
Society and our members can<br />
contribute to this project, which<br />
will continue, albeit in a different<br />
form, and will be steered forward<br />
by Councillor <strong>Jan</strong>e Corbett and<br />
the Bishop of <strong>Liverpool</strong>, The<br />
Right Reverend Paul Bayes.<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society was<br />
invited to attend this forum as a<br />
result of our work on Access to<br />
Justice issues. However, from<br />
what I have seen and the<br />
conversations that were had in<br />
round table groups, there is scope<br />
for involvement with this group<br />
on many other fronts. For<br />
example, one of the discussions<br />
which took place was on the<br />
theme of reducing unemployment,<br />
creating more businesses, and<br />
Fairness Summit<br />
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<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society<br />
2015 in numbers <br />
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Pay-per-Probate versus<br />
Capital Spend Comparison<br />
Pay-per-Probate, sometimes referred to as Pay-asyou-Go,<br />
might at first glance seem to make good<br />
financial sense. For the smaller practice with very<br />
few estate administration matters that is certainly the<br />
case.<br />
In this example, we use figures from Isokon Software<br />
which provides a complete probate accounting<br />
system with an integrated case management<br />
component. The Pay-per-Probate model by contrast<br />
is a case management system, without the benefit of<br />
a backend accounting database to contain the<br />
plethora of financial details involved in handling a<br />
probate matter.<br />
Any more than 3.5 cases will leave you out of pocket<br />
using the PPP model.<br />
Let’s not forget that after 5 years your costs on the<br />
PPP model will continue at a significantly higher rate<br />
than the capital spend model. Comparing the<br />
ongoing support costs, your ongoing annual cost for<br />
support on the capital spend model (after the capital<br />
spend has been completed) for three users will be<br />
£1,570 annually for an unlimited number of cases.<br />
Let’s consider the costs over 5 years for a case<br />
management system, without the benefit of a full<br />
accounting system, charging £60 per probate matter<br />
for a firm receiving an average of 10 matters per<br />
month, which equals 120 matters x £60. Your annual<br />
costs in this example would be £7,200. Over a five<br />
year period your total spend would be £36,000.<br />
By contrast your capital spend on a system with<br />
three fee earners (who with effective software could<br />
easily handle 120 cases annually) would be £7,850<br />
plus five years support at £1,570 per annum over<br />
five years. This would equal a total capital spend of<br />
£15,700 - a difference of more than £20,000<br />
This represents a massive saving compared with the<br />
pay-per-probate model. The PPP model only begins<br />
to compete financially if your intake of estate matters<br />
is approximately four per month.<br />
On this basis of four probates a month, you would<br />
clearly not require as many fee earners.<br />
Consequently your capital spend on a capital<br />
purchase including support would be reduced to<br />
£12,800 over the five year period. For your PPP<br />
model to compare with this figure, you would need to<br />
be receiving fewer than 3.5 new cases per month<br />
(3.5 PPP cases x £60 = £210 per month x 12<br />
months = £2,520 per annum x 5 years = £12,600).<br />
By contrast receiving any more than 2 cases per<br />
month using the PPP model (2 PPP cases x £60 =<br />
£120 per month x 12 months = £1,440) will be akin<br />
to throwing your money away.<br />
The capital purchase model will provide you with a<br />
complete accounting system combined with<br />
integrated case management, whereas the PPP<br />
model will only provide you with case management.<br />
Conclusion: the capital spend model provides more<br />
software for less money.<br />
Isokon<br />
For further information please contact:<br />
Gregory van Dyk Watson, Managing Director of Isokon Limited.<br />
Email: gregory@isokon.com or call 020 7482 6555.<br />
Alternatively visit www.isokon.com<br />
Isokon was founded by Gregory van Dyk Watson in 1999. The company has invested 44,000 man hours in<br />
development of the product over the last 16 years.<br />
Isokon is currently the leading supplier of software for Probate and Private Client work. It is used by 40% of law<br />
firms who do private client work. Isokon is used by more than 2,000 individual users for the most complex<br />
estates, as well as basic estates. Isokon is based on an accounting database engine with an integrated Isokon<br />
case management component.
14 Movers and Shakers<br />
Steve Cornforth named Best Legal<br />
Entrepreneur at Livercool Awards<br />
Maxwell Hodge Solicitors<br />
expands Woolton Team<br />
One of <strong>Liverpool</strong>’s longest established independent solicitors<br />
is growing its new Woolton office with four key<br />
appointments.<br />
Maxwell Hodge has brought in three new faces – Chartered Legal<br />
Executive Lisa Neary and Legal Secretaries Norma Cummins and<br />
Natalie Allcock – and moved experienced Solicitor and Office Manager<br />
Jennifer Howell from Heswall to the Allerton Road site.<br />
Company Director, Denise Scoular, also joins the team at the Woolton<br />
office, adding 27 years of experience in wills, probate and lasting<br />
powers of attorney to the branch’s offering.<br />
Downtown In Business <strong>Liverpool</strong> held their prestigious Livercool<br />
Awards Dinner at the Crown Plaza Hotel on Thursday 19th<br />
November 2015.<br />
Downtown in Business is one of the North West’s major business<br />
organisations advocating on behalf of local businesses and creating<br />
networking opportunities. The awards cover all areas of commerce.<br />
Winners included Andrew Cornish CEO of <strong>Liverpool</strong> John Lennon<br />
Airport and Bob Prattey from <strong>Liverpool</strong> Exhibition Centre.<br />
The single legal award was for Best Legal Entrepreneur and the winner<br />
was Steve Cornforth – Senior Partner at EAD Solicitors and a Past<br />
President of <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society.<br />
Steve said – ‘EAD is pleased to be associated with Downtown in<br />
Business <strong>Liverpool</strong>. They provide an important bridge between the<br />
legal profession and the local business community. I was particularly<br />
proud to win this award alongside so many influential <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />
business leaders.’<br />
I would encourage <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society Members to consider joining<br />
up!’<br />
Conveyancing and property law specialist Lisa is a Fellow of the<br />
Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and brings with her 11 years of<br />
experience in property law.<br />
“Joining a firm with such a rich history that is still expanding is really<br />
exciting,” she said. “Maxwell Hodge has created a fresh team filled<br />
with great experience in a brand new office, which is perfectly<br />
positioned to support the local community in Woolton and the wider<br />
South <strong>Liverpool</strong> area.<br />
Our new team is focused on providing friendly and accessible advice to<br />
its new clients from the purchase of a first home, right through to<br />
creating a lasting legacy for families with its experienced wills and<br />
probate team. I am sure that when clients come in they will have<br />
confidence they are getting the best quality legal advice.”<br />
Legal Secretary Norma Cummins brings 19 years of specialist<br />
experience in conveyancing and is keen to utilise her skills honed<br />
working in the city centre to develop the business in South <strong>Liverpool</strong>.<br />
Fellow Legal Secretary Natalie Allcock also brings property experience<br />
and will strengthen the Lifetime Planning Department.<br />
Office Manager Jennifer said that the team assembled in Woolton<br />
Village underlined Maxwell Hodge’s commitment to delivering quality<br />
legal representation in a relaxed environment.<br />
“Maxwell Hodge has 150 years of heritage,” she said. “The firm is still<br />
growing because of our commitment to delivering high quality legal<br />
advice in a friendly, accessible way.<br />
The Great Legal Bake is taking place<br />
across a week (Monday 1st to Friday<br />
5th) in February <strong>2016</strong>. The main day,<br />
when most bakes will happen, will be<br />
Wednesday 3rd February. Last year we<br />
had over 100 groups baking and<br />
selling all over England and Wales who<br />
raised over £15,000!<br />
For more information visit<br />
www.londonlegalsupporttrust.org.uk/<br />
our-events/great-legal-bake-<strong>2016</strong>/<br />
“I welcomed the opportunity to manage the new office with the<br />
experienced team we have brought together here.<br />
L-R: CEO Simon Leyland, Company Director Denise Scoular,<br />
Director of Business Services Carol Head Legal Executive,<br />
Lisa Neary and Legal Secretaries Natalie Allcock and Norma<br />
Cummins.
Movers and Shakers<br />
15<br />
Free Briefing Event 26 <strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2016</strong>:<br />
Training for Tomorrow & Trailblazing<br />
within the Legal Sector<br />
Fletcher’s Solicitors in partnership with Southport College<br />
are hosting an information event to update the sector on new<br />
Apprenticeship Trailblazers and the associated training<br />
opportunities available.<br />
Apprenticeship Trailblazers are a new way of delivering training and<br />
have been developed for the legal industry by a group of legal sector<br />
employers recognised by the Government. The Trailblazers containnew<br />
apprenticeship standards which describe the knowledge, skills and<br />
behaviours that an individual needs in order to carry out their role<br />
effectively within the legal field. This employer-led approach has<br />
already proved to be successful in other parts of the country and is now<br />
available in the North West.<br />
Members of the <strong>Law</strong> Society and other Legal professionals within the<br />
sector are most welcome to attend this free event to learn more about<br />
how Apprenticeships can benefit their businesses. The event takes<br />
place at Southport College’s Clouds Restaurant on Tuesday 26th<br />
<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2016</strong> from 5 pm until 6.30 pm. There event includes short<br />
briefings from Fletcher’s solicitors, the University of <strong>Law</strong>, National<br />
Apprenticeship Service and Southport College as well as an overview<br />
of how the scheme has worked from current apprentices.<br />
Refreshments will be available on arrival.<br />
To confirm your attendance please RSVP to<br />
marketing@southport.ac.uk<br />
Michael Sandys Joins Guy<br />
Williams Layton Solicitors<br />
Michael Sandys has very recently joined GWL at their <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />
Office bringing with him commercial law experience having worked<br />
in-house in the 1990’s in <strong>Liverpool</strong> at GPT/ Marconi and Meredith<br />
Jones (cotton traders once of Yorkshire House). He then spent<br />
some 9 years at two large Manchester law firms before coming<br />
across to <strong>Liverpool</strong> in 2006. He has more recently established a<br />
Commercial Department at a local <strong>Liverpool</strong> firm but now joins as<br />
a Partner to help GWL expand their Company and Commercial<br />
offering to business clients.<br />
Michael commented: “I am really excited about the opportunities at<br />
GWL going forward and am pleased to be working with a dedicated and<br />
very experienced team of commercial lawyers.”<br />
One of his specialisms is Intellectual Property (both contentious and<br />
transactional). He also has acted for “tech” and “spin out” companies<br />
in equity finance deals and in helping them with their contracts and<br />
commercialisation of IP.<br />
He has many years’ experience in dealing with all types of commercial<br />
contracts and transactions. He acts for seller and buyer in a wide range<br />
of company acquisitions, most recently including a commercial fence<br />
company and the sale of a software development company to a<br />
competitor.<br />
Clients he has acted for previously range from blue chips to smaller<br />
businesses and local SME’s. He is also currently Vice-Chair of<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> and Knowsley FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) and a<br />
Director at DaDa charity (disability and deaf arts). Michael has three<br />
children and a wife he also works with.
16 Charity News<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> Merchants Guild<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> Merchant’s Guild offer regular payments or one-off grants to<br />
qualifying beneficiaries in <strong>Liverpool</strong>. If any member of the <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society<br />
knows of anyone who may qualify for assistance they should contact the Guild.<br />
What is the <strong>Liverpool</strong> Merchants Guild and why was it formed?<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> Merchants Guild is a Registered Charity which was instituted in 1880 and incorporated by Royal<br />
Charter in 1914. It was initially formed to manage a legacy bequeathed in the Will of Catherine Wright who<br />
died in 1868 and left a sum of £10000 for the purpose of founding an Institution or Fund to be called<br />
“Wright’s Institution”, the object of which was to grant pensions to aged or distressed members of the upper<br />
and middle classes of society. This fund was managed by <strong>Liverpool</strong> people, mainly members of the Clergy,<br />
local Merchants and Ship Owners. Over the years various legacies were bequeathed to the Guild to be used<br />
along the lines of the original Trust so with the help of the Charity Commission Schemes were set up in 1972<br />
and then in 2006 which enabled all the separate funds to be administered as one large fund. In 2006 a revised<br />
Royal Charter was granted which amended and updated the original Charter to reflect the change in the<br />
structure of society and administrative procedures that had taken place since the original Royal Charter was<br />
granted.<br />
THE<br />
LIVERPOOL MERCHANTS’ GUILD<br />
1914<br />
Who does the organisation help?<br />
The Guild helps individuals aged 50 years and over, of limited means who live in Merseyside or have lived in<br />
Merseyside in the past for a continuous period of 15 years and who has been a professional or self employed<br />
person, a person who worked in a supervisory capacity, a clerical or non-manual worker, or be the dependant<br />
of such a person.<br />
What kind of help is available to recipients?<br />
The Guild offers help to its beneficiaries either by means of a regular payment or a one-off grant. Such<br />
support supplements their income and normally takes the form of payments of up to £6000 per annum. The<br />
Guild are particularly keen to support independent living and are also able to make grants towards items of<br />
exceptional expenditure or adaptations to an individual's home. However, any grant made together with any<br />
regular payment cannot exceed the maximum of £6000 per annum.<br />
What is the process for applying for help from the <strong>Liverpool</strong> Merchants Guild?<br />
Applicants are required to complete an application form and supply various supporting documents. Following<br />
receipt of the completed application form, this is reviewed by the Secretaries who may require further<br />
clarification or information from the applicant. Once all the necessary information is to hand the application<br />
will be considered by the Trustees at the next meeting of the Selection Committee. These meetings are held<br />
on a quarterly basis.<br />
How can individuals apply to the <strong>Liverpool</strong> Merchants Guild for assistance?<br />
An application form is available for download from the Guild’s website, www.liverpoolmerchantsguild.org.uk<br />
or from the Secretaries, Moore Stephens (North West) LLP, 110-114 Duke Street, <strong>Liverpool</strong> L1 5AG. If an<br />
applicant is applying for a grant for a particular item then a supplementary grant application form is also<br />
required. Again this is available via the website or the Secretaries. It is often useful if a potential applicant<br />
contacts the Administrator, Alison Rawlinson, for an informal chat prior to completion of the application form<br />
to establish eligibility.<br />
Any futher information?<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> Merchants’ Guild is managed by a Board of Management consisting of 12 Trustees, who come<br />
from various walks of life, including solicitors, financiers, occupational therapists and social workers, all of<br />
whom are volunteers and who all give their time and effort free.<br />
Need an expert in medical or<br />
dental negligence?<br />
Refer to us. City : Allerton : Garston<br />
0151 733 3353<br />
www.gadllp.co.uk
Sam’s big<br />
solo started<br />
with an<br />
Indemnity<br />
Policy from<br />
Stewart Title.<br />
When the lender required cover to protect their funding, Matt feared his client would<br />
miss her deadline to complete – and that he would miss his son Sam’s starring role in<br />
the school concert that night. Fortunately, Matt turned to Stewart Title. Our policies<br />
are accepted by most major lenders, and our team was able to offer cover promptly.<br />
That meant Matt’s client could complete on time – and Matt could take his front row<br />
seat before the lights went down.<br />
Contact us today to see what we can do for you. Call 020 7010 7820 or visit<br />
stewarttitle.co.uk.<br />
© 2015 Stewart. All rights reserved.
18 Council Report<br />
Council Member’s Report<br />
I attended a Council Meeting<br />
on the 9 December 2015. It was<br />
quite a packed Agenda, and<br />
you will find attached the<br />
prepared Summary of some of<br />
the issues was discussed.<br />
It was a pleasure to see Sarah<br />
Lapsley at the Council Meeting ,<br />
my newly elected Co Council<br />
Member for Merseyside and<br />
District. I wish Sarah all the best<br />
in the role and I hope that you<br />
thoroughly enjoy it.<br />
It will come as no surprise to<br />
know that Veyo, also known as<br />
LPT, took up quite a lot of time.<br />
The decision to put no further<br />
funding into the project is a<br />
sensible one in my view. There is<br />
to be a lessons learned exercise,<br />
and until that is concluded, it<br />
seems inappropriate to make<br />
detailed comment further. I am of<br />
course prepared to discuss with<br />
any constituent any aspect of it<br />
should they wish to do so. For<br />
my part , and I am not a<br />
conveyancer, it seems a shame as<br />
the concept in principle of a<br />
conveyancing centralised hub , to<br />
take cost out of the process, and<br />
thereby save money for the<br />
customer, seemed a good one. Of<br />
course it required buy in from all<br />
conveyancing participants, and<br />
perhaps that was the problem.<br />
This can be differentiated from<br />
the way in which Personal injury<br />
claims under £25K are processed,<br />
through a central hub. The latter<br />
was a government imposed<br />
system which all partakers had to<br />
sign up for. There was no required<br />
obligation to sign up for Veyo.<br />
Also discussed was the recently<br />
mooted process for entry into the<br />
profession, suggesting that<br />
potential entrants would not need<br />
to do a law degree but rather an<br />
entrance exam. There has been<br />
much comment about this in the<br />
legal press, and considerable<br />
concern expressed. The Society<br />
will be responding to the<br />
consultation. The key, as ever, is<br />
to maintain the quality of entrants,<br />
and this must be preserved.<br />
Much the same applies to the<br />
government’s indication that they<br />
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wish to open up the profession to<br />
make it easier for businesses such<br />
as supermarkets and estate agents,<br />
among others, to offer legal<br />
services like conveyancing,<br />
probate, and litigation. I have<br />
some confusion as to why there<br />
should be any requirement to<br />
make it easier. Some institutions<br />
who have already formed ABSs to<br />
enable them to do so have already<br />
found it is not as easy as it<br />
appears when sitting in the<br />
marbled corridors of government,<br />
and on occasions their<br />
shareholders are far from chuffed.<br />
Also, do the public really want<br />
their legal services to be provided<br />
by organisations that in the past<br />
might have sold horse meat<br />
suggesting it is in fact another<br />
animal, or , completely masked<br />
their finances to make them look<br />
good, when in fact they were not ?<br />
I hope not, and I hope the Society<br />
stands firm on this , ensuring that<br />
if there is to be an opening up to<br />
encourage competition ,<br />
regulatory standards and<br />
safeguards are maintained at a<br />
very high level , that the new<br />
providers are fully insured, and<br />
that quality , not quantity, is the<br />
key.<br />
The shambles that is the<br />
government’s new criminal law<br />
contract arrangements following<br />
the tender process was discussed.<br />
The proposed start date of 11<br />
<strong>Jan</strong>uary appears to be on the back<br />
burner. The Society has called for<br />
an independent review of the<br />
tender process, and that litigation<br />
is resolved as soon as possible , so<br />
that criminal colleagues affected<br />
can at least have some idea as to<br />
their future.<br />
Shambles , albeit not a legal word,<br />
is the right word for it, and there<br />
is a great danger of the<br />
Government making a mess of<br />
things again, in relation to<br />
comments in the Chancellors<br />
autumn statement touching on the<br />
SCT and damages ( or if the<br />
Chancellor has his way lack of<br />
them ) for soft tissue injuries.<br />
Council discussed this, and there<br />
is grave concern from all.<br />
It is yet another example of short<br />
termism by a government: coming<br />
up with ideas which on the face of<br />
it saves( someone ) money , but<br />
when examined in detail , not only<br />
fails to saves money, but also<br />
results in much greater cost due to<br />
Charlie Jones<br />
associated issues arising.<br />
Governments simply do not<br />
understand the concepts of impact<br />
assessment and preparation,<br />
concepts that as lawyers we must<br />
understand to run businesses, and<br />
which over the years in England<br />
and Wales, has made our<br />
profession and legal system great,<br />
and the envy of other<br />
jurisdictions. As Peter Paul and<br />
Mary once sang :’ When Will<br />
They Ever Learn? ‘<br />
So lots for the Society to do, and<br />
plenty of opportunity to adopt and<br />
put to use the Strategy launched<br />
at the beginning of November<br />
which I hope you have all read<br />
cover to cover.<br />
Please do contact me and discuss<br />
if you like. I would welcome your<br />
views.<br />
In the meantime, I wish you all a<br />
very happy and prosperous <strong>2016</strong>,<br />
and also hope that you have<br />
managed to enjoy time with your<br />
families and nearest and dearest<br />
over the holiday season, and had<br />
a restful and recharging of<br />
batteries time.<br />
Charlie Jones, Partner,<br />
Weightmans LLP<br />
Co Council Member for<br />
Merseyside and District.
The <strong>Law</strong> Society<br />
19<br />
<strong>Law</strong> Society<br />
Council Summary<br />
9 December 2015<br />
Council's last meeting of the 2015 calendar year saw a busy<br />
programme of reports and papers. Council was glad to hear of the<br />
public launch of the <strong>Law</strong> Society's strategy which had been signed<br />
off in October and was launched in November through a wide<br />
variety of email, web-based and social media channels as well as<br />
hard copy. The strategic aims, which remain a key benchmark for<br />
Council decisions, are:<br />
• We will represent solicitors by speaking out for justice and on legal<br />
issues.<br />
• We will promote the value of using a solicitor at home and abroad.<br />
• We will support solicitors to develop their expertise and their<br />
businesses, irrespective of whether they work for themselves, in-house<br />
or for a law firm.<br />
The review of the governance of the <strong>Law</strong> Society is now getting under<br />
way with several streams of preparatory work including identifying<br />
Council members to form a review working group. The Council agreed<br />
that the review would help ensure that the <strong>Law</strong> Society was able to<br />
deliver its strategy, representing, promoting and supporting the<br />
profession effectively, and to respond in a flexible and agile way to<br />
changes in the external environment.<br />
Criminal legal aid and court issues<br />
Council discussed the concerns over the tender process run by the Legal<br />
Aid Agency (LAA). Legal proceedings have been issued in 69 of the 85<br />
procurement areas, and an alliance of firms began judicial review<br />
proceedings on 12 November. The LAA has now accepted, at our<br />
urging, that the target date of 11 <strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2016</strong> for starting the new<br />
services is unrealistic. We are continuing pressure on the LAA's<br />
contingency plans to finalise these. We are also calling for an<br />
independent review of the tender process with a view to resolving the<br />
litigation as quickly as possible to end the current uncertainty. Council<br />
heard that the Society was calling for an independent review of the<br />
tender process and writing to Ministers to voice concerns, as well as<br />
raising them in meetings with the Justice Select Committee. This is in<br />
addition to a programme of support materials targeted directly at our<br />
members.<br />
Council was pleased to hear of the withdrawal of the proposals on the<br />
criminal courts charge, an issue the <strong>Law</strong> Society had lobbied hard to<br />
reverse and also noted the Society's strong response to the government's<br />
consultation on criminal advocacy, and our campaign, with others,<br />
against court closures.<br />
Other activity to support the strategy<br />
Council heard about a range of other activity supporting the strategy.<br />
This included a discussion on legal professional privilege in the digital<br />
age as part of our activity for the Opening of the Legal Year, and work<br />
to support our members in promoting access to justice by vulnerable<br />
clients. Council also heard about ways in which the <strong>Law</strong> Society is<br />
raising its game on targeted electronic communication with our<br />
members, and developing a new stakeholder relations strategy, to<br />
ensure that we are well placed to support and represent our members.<br />
Internationally, the President and colleagues attended the International<br />
Bar Association (IBA) conference, with the Society this year securing a<br />
record number of ten speaking slots at the main conference, and<br />
promoting the profession by holding stakeholder relationship meetings<br />
with global firms that are prominent in the IBA. Council also noted that<br />
since the last meeting the <strong>Law</strong> Society has made 26 responses to<br />
consultations or calls for evidence, showing significant thought<br />
leadership in our representative and influencing role. This is in addition<br />
to wide coverage of our report on the potential impact of a British exit<br />
from the EU.<br />
Equality, diversity and inclusion<br />
Council noted a substantial programme of work, including a series of<br />
events in October and November for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic<br />
members. The Black History Month inspiration evening was attended<br />
by over 200 people, with other events to support career development for<br />
BAME lawyers, as well as a celebration of the Hindu festival Diwali<br />
attended by 100 people. Equal Pay Day on 9 November was marked by<br />
the Equal Pay practice note and toolkit. Council looks forward, at its<br />
next meeting, to considering the new <strong>2016</strong>-2019 Equality and Diversity<br />
Framework which sets out plans for promoting equality, diversity and<br />
inclusion in the profession and in the Society's workforce.<br />
Legal Practice Technologies (LPT)<br />
Council noted that it had been announced that the Society would not be<br />
making any further investment in Legal Practice Technologies, the joint<br />
venture company with our partners Mastek who were to deliver Veyo.<br />
As indicated, this was essentially because other software providers<br />
operating in the conveyancing market had been responding to our<br />
members’ needs and the cost and time taken to get a viable product to<br />
market would be too much. Faced with the reality that the market had<br />
developed significantly since we started to develop Veyo, the costs of<br />
continuing outweighed the benefit to our members. Council had the<br />
opportunity to discuss the decision in detail, and to consider how we<br />
should now develop our support for firms which undertake<br />
conveyancing<br />
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Local Enterprise Partnership<br />
21<br />
I<br />
Created a Local Growth Hub<br />
for businesses to access a wide<br />
range of support and expertise<br />
Over 1,000 jobs<br />
have been created<br />
The LEP’s New<br />
or safeguarded<br />
Markets Programme<br />
has engaged with<br />
over 400 SMEs to<br />
Grant<br />
Business<br />
through the Growth<br />
LEP’s<br />
S<br />
grow their businesses<br />
Helping to<br />
Working with our<br />
deliver the<br />
partners to develop<br />
220.9million<br />
the open Innovation<br />
EU Programme<br />
the Eco-system<br />
City Region across<br />
2014-2020<br />
Join us as one powerful voice<br />
to develop economic priorities,<br />
engage with Government<br />
and secure investment.<br />
Working together<br />
to drive economic growth<br />
across <strong>Liverpool</strong> City Region<br />
3 year agreement<br />
with Marketing<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> to deliver<br />
destination marketing<br />
Launched<br />
a new LEP<br />
website with<br />
an enhanced<br />
Members’ area<br />
Pioneered<br />
Industry 4.0<br />
(LCR 4.0) and<br />
Internet of<br />
Things<br />
strategies for<br />
the City Region<br />
£1.5m<br />
allocated to<br />
FE Colleges<br />
for energy<br />
efficiency<br />
measures<br />
membership@<strong>Liverpool</strong>LEP.org<br />
@<strong>Liverpool</strong>LEP<br />
12 Princes Parade, <strong>Liverpool</strong>, L3 1BG<br />
t:<br />
+44(0)151 227 2727<br />
w: <strong>Liverpool</strong>LEP.org<br />
2015/<strong>2016</strong><br />
ww ww.Liver<br />
poolLEP.org<br />
ww ww.<strong>Liverpool</strong>LEP.org<br />
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR <strong>2016</strong><br />
Local Growth Hub<br />
for businesses<br />
a<br />
Promoting the City<br />
Region’s key assets<br />
The LEP will establish a Place Marketing Strategy around the<br />
City Region’s key assets and growth sectors. The project is<br />
intended to develop the City Region’s overarching brand<br />
proposition and will deliver a range of inward investment<br />
and marketing activities to help secure investment and<br />
support SME growth.<br />
localgrowthhub.com<br />
The Local Growth Hub will provide a simple point of access for local businesses to<br />
easily access a wide range of support and expertise. By co-ordinating and simplifying<br />
business support across the City Region, the Local Growth Hub will join up national,<br />
local, public and private support to create a seamless customer experience for<br />
businesses. The Local Growth Hub will be live in <strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
Developing a single Growth<br />
Strategy for the <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />
City Region<br />
The Combined Authority and LEP Strategic Board have<br />
agreed to develop a single Growth Strategy for the <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />
City Region. This strategy will outline a clear vision and focus<br />
to deliver sustained, ambitious growth for the future of the<br />
City Region. The strategy will be delivered by April <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
International<br />
Festival for<br />
Business <strong>2016</strong><br />
The LEP will be supporting the International Festival for Business <strong>2016</strong> as well as leading<br />
on a complementary Fringe Festival next year. The Edge is an innovative, creative and<br />
dynamic programme of events and activities all of which have been designed to ensure<br />
that businesses in the City Region derive maximum tangible benefits from the festival.<br />
Innovation Assets<br />
The City Region has world class innovation assets, from<br />
Haretree in Daresbury to Alder Hey in <strong>Liverpool</strong>. Working<br />
with our partners in universities, colleges, hospitals, business<br />
and local authorities we will be promoting these assets,<br />
attracting further investment and helping to realise their<br />
huge commercialisation potential.
22 Charity & CSR<br />
Charity and CSR Matters<br />
Hello and welcome once<br />
more to our Charity and<br />
CSR Pages!<br />
I was pleased to be<br />
informed this month that<br />
these pages have already<br />
had an impact with<br />
volunteers having already<br />
put themselves forward in<br />
response to the opportunities<br />
we have published. Don’t<br />
forget, if you have taken part<br />
in a sponsored challenge,<br />
hosted a charitable event or<br />
done some pro-bono work that<br />
you want to shout about then<br />
send me an article. Equally, if<br />
you want to get other lawyers<br />
involved in offering pro-bono<br />
advice, know of an opening<br />
for a charity Trustee or want<br />
us to feature a particular<br />
charity, then let me know too.<br />
You can e-mail me at<br />
matthew.smith@weightmans.com<br />
MATT SMITH<br />
Matthew.Smith@Weightmans.com<br />
Merseyside Welfare Rights<br />
What can you do...?<br />
What do you do with your old computers when you replace them with<br />
newer models? Merseyside Welfare Rights would be grateful for any<br />
spare computers. The ones MWR use are very old and keep breaking<br />
down.<br />
Please contact: Ms Peggy Kelly, 1st Floor, 35-37 Bold Street,<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> L1 4DN.<br />
T: 0151 709 0504 EX 21<br />
E: peggy.kelly@mwr.uk.com<br />
<strong>Law</strong>Works is a charity working to support and facilitate the provision<br />
of legal pro bono. Pro bono is not, and should not become, an<br />
alternative to legal aid, but it makes an important contribution to<br />
enabling access to advice and representation.<br />
<strong>Law</strong>Works says “We support a network of independent local clinics<br />
across England and Wales, and provide assistance for lawyers, trainees,<br />
law students and others seeking to establish new pro bono clinics. We<br />
provide information and resources for clinics and volunteers, including<br />
online materials from our training events, and promote pro bono<br />
volunteering opportunities for our member firms and in-house legal<br />
teams.<br />
Through our Not-for-Profit programme, we connect smaller charities<br />
and community groups with lawyers, from among our members, willing<br />
to provide advice and support on a range of legal issues. These could<br />
include, for example, drafting a contract, reviewing a lease, updating a<br />
constitution/articles, or clarifying rights in a commercial dispute. We<br />
ask about an organisation’s ability to pay for legal advice, and ensure<br />
volunteer lawyers have the information they need before applications<br />
are accepted.<br />
Contact: Further information, and details of how charities and<br />
communities groups can apply, is available on the <strong>Law</strong>Works<br />
website at www.lawworks.org.uk or contact Olga at<br />
olga.ivannikova@lawworks.org.uk<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Clinic, University of <strong>Liverpool</strong>, is a well-established<br />
Clinic offering a general legal advice service (especially employment,<br />
family, housing, small claims, and occasionally commercial law) and a<br />
specialist asylum and statelessness project. The <strong>Law</strong> Clinic says<br />
“We also have on-going work on criminal appeals and Hillsborough<br />
Inquests with Broudie Jackson Canter solicitors, and work with the<br />
CAB focussing on welfare benefits cases. The Clinic has identified the<br />
following as particular needs at present:<br />
1. Volunteers to supervise in our free legal advice service. The time<br />
commitment involved is a minimum 5 hours to supervise a single case,<br />
including a two hour period in the Clinic to supervise a client interview.<br />
However, the time commitment can vary and some complex cases<br />
take additional time to supervise. Ideally volunteers would be<br />
prepared to supervise one case twice a year. Volunteers need to be<br />
fully qualified.<br />
2. Case referrals – can you take on a pro bono case once or twice a<br />
year? Some of our clients using our general advice service very<br />
much need a legal representative and we cannot offer this ourselves;<br />
because of legal aid cuts there is nowhere to refer them for<br />
representation.<br />
3. Typing – our legal staff members are self-servicing and secretarial<br />
support would expand our capacity considerably. Can your firm offer<br />
to type about 20 letters maximum a week mostly for our immigration<br />
and asylum cases?<br />
4. Billing – our solicitors conduct around five judicial review cases per<br />
year, sometimes funded by legal aid, and these matters sometimes have<br />
a pro bono costs order or a legal aid order and require bills to be drawn<br />
up.<br />
5. Funding – can you include us as a recipient of charitable funds<br />
raised by your firm or money that cannot be returned from your client<br />
account? Our immigration and asylum work involves disbursements for<br />
interpreters, medical reports documenting torture and psychiatric<br />
conditions and expert reports on country conditions. Our clients cannot<br />
obtain legal aid and many are totally destitute. A single case can<br />
involve many hours of client appointments, and we estimate that the<br />
cost for interpretation if the client does not speak English is, on<br />
average, £400. We have some funding for this from the North West<br />
Legal Support Trust and from the Access to Justice Foundation, but are<br />
always grateful for more support for this work.”<br />
Contact: Sarah Woodhouse, <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Clinic Director<br />
T: 0151 794 5782<br />
E: s.woodhouse@liv.ac.uk<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> John Moores University’s Legal Advice Centre (“LAC”)<br />
was established in April 2014 and is based in the School of <strong>Law</strong>,<br />
Brownlow Hill. The LAC’s clinics advise on family, employment, wills<br />
& administration and commercial law advice. It also runs drop in clinics<br />
in family and commercial law.<br />
The LAC is hoping to pilot a housing drop-in clinic during this<br />
academic year and have told us they would welcome volunteers able to<br />
advise in this area. Volunteers should be prepared to offer a total<br />
commitment of ten hours per academic year, to include assistance with<br />
training our students and supervising and advising the clinic itself,<br />
which will be based in the University and will run twice a month during<br />
an initial four month period.<br />
The LAC is also experiencing a huge demand for family law advice and<br />
have told us they are seeking anyone able to commit to advising at one<br />
or more of the two hour drop-in sessions.<br />
Contact: Rachel Stalker, Legal Advice Centre Coordinator<br />
T: 0151 231 3530<br />
E: R.Stalker@ljmu.ac.uk
Charity & CSR<br />
23<br />
Toxteth Food Central Fundraising Appeal<br />
On Sunday 10th of October 2015 a devastating fire destroyed<br />
community food hub Toxteth Food Central (TFC) just 7 weeks<br />
before it was due to open. This exciting development has been<br />
stalled but will not be stopped!<br />
Becky Vipond, Co-director at Squash Nutrition, the organisation behind<br />
the project has provided the following information:<br />
We have been overwhelmed by the public response since the fire.<br />
Nearly £12,000 towards a target of £25,000 to help support the rebuild<br />
has already been raised through a crowd-funding appeal. Local school<br />
children from neighbouring schools have been getting stuck into the<br />
fundraising too. Windsor CP School donated the proceeds of their end<br />
of term disco to the appeal, and the choir from Holy Name CP School<br />
sang at our Winter Market to help raise funds.<br />
In the New Year our fantastic builders will be back on site and gearing<br />
up for the 20 week<br />
build. TFC will rise<br />
from the ashes and is<br />
due to open in June<br />
<strong>2016</strong>.<br />
volunteers and local<br />
residents. Together we<br />
have been developing<br />
ideas for a vital<br />
community food hub for<br />
Windsor Street. TFC was<br />
one of only 6 projects in<br />
the UK which gained<br />
funding from the Social<br />
Investment Business Fund<br />
to fully cover the costs of<br />
the build.<br />
Background to Toxeth<br />
Food Central<br />
TFC is the result of 2<br />
years of work by a<br />
committed group of<br />
Squash Nutrition staff,<br />
TFC will be a new, pioneering, community-led food hub that will house<br />
and share dynamic, progressive and integrated health, arts and<br />
environmental practice.<br />
TFC will house a community café and affordable food store with an<br />
integrated accessible and friendly food education programme. There<br />
will be a dedicated training space and kitchen from which we will run<br />
our creative health, nutrition and cooking courses. The garden will also<br />
be a training space for urban food growing. Our ambition is that TFC<br />
becomes a national model of good practice in terms of local solutions to<br />
health inequality.<br />
The design team have all been on an incredible journey, learning so<br />
much on the way. Marianne Heaslip from URBED architects has led the<br />
design team through a process where we have been able to consider and<br />
plan every aspect and detail of the building.<br />
The building has excellent eco-credentials. With its timber frame, Welsh<br />
steel roof, recycled paper insulation and Scottish larch timber cladding,<br />
it will be a thing of eco-beauty!<br />
Alongside the cash donations we have received support from<br />
professionals, organisations and businesses who have volunteered time<br />
and services to help the project.<br />
About Squash Nutrition<br />
Squash Nutrition is a health education organisation that has been<br />
making successful projects with disadvantaged communities across<br />
Merseyside and specifically Toxteth, since 2007.<br />
In that time we have provided essential cooking and food growing<br />
training for over 10,000 people experiencing poverty and we know that<br />
there are many more people who could benefit.<br />
We work with and for the wider community across Merseyside, using<br />
food as tool for and as a means of social inclusion, employability,<br />
wellbeing and change. Food plays a key role in dealing with some of<br />
today’s most pressing social, economic and environmental problems.<br />
From obesity and diet-related ill-health to food poverty and waste,<br />
climate change and biodiversity loss to declining prosperity and social<br />
isolation, we believe that food is not only at the heart of some of our<br />
greatest problems, but also a vital part of the solution.<br />
Get Involved<br />
If you would like more information, please visit our website or contact<br />
us for more details.<br />
Website www.squashnutrition.org<br />
Twitter @squashnutrition<br />
www.facebook.com/squashnutrition<br />
Squash Nutrition<br />
0151 7077897 or 07791155998<br />
Roberto backs Blue Box Appeal<br />
with Weightmans<br />
Everton Manager, Roberto Martinez, was at December’s Everton’s<br />
Ladies Lunch to urge supporters to get involved in the BlueCrimbo<br />
Blue Box Appeal.<br />
Supporters of the appeal filled shoeboxes with essential items to help<br />
some of the most underprivileged members of our community have a<br />
happier Christmas. Through the Club’s official charity, Everton in the<br />
Community, the Blues delivered the donated boxes to underprivileged<br />
children and children in care, low income families, homeless people and<br />
the elderly.<br />
Weightmans <strong>Liverpool</strong> Regional Office also got behind the Appeal with<br />
staff donating boxes and the company offering its premises on Old Hall<br />
Street as a drop off point. Nick Peel, Weightmans Partner and <strong>Liverpool</strong><br />
Regional Office Head, said: “We are extremely proud to be supporting<br />
Everton’s inaugural Blue Box Appeal. At Weightmans, supporting<br />
Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives to help those less fortunate<br />
than many of us ties in with our culture of shared moral responsibility<br />
and using our talents and resources to support our local communities<br />
and their needs. The work being done by Everton in the Community is<br />
vital to our shared goals.”
24 Review<br />
Politics and Protest Songs<br />
The Great British Folk Festival<br />
At the beginning of December I made, what has now become,<br />
my annual pilgrimage to the Great British Folk Festival at<br />
Butlins Skegness. Now in its sixth year, the festival has gone<br />
from strength to strength, attracting more guests and some<br />
of the biggest names in folk music.<br />
Friday night commenced with Merlin’s Keep, a five piece band from<br />
Grimsby. All of their songs were self penned and mainly about<br />
Grimsby. They were excellent musicians, but didn’t really do it for me.<br />
Then came the highlight of my weekend Billy Bragg. He played some<br />
of his best known tracks interspersed with commentary on the<br />
government, the bombing of Syria and general observations on the state<br />
of the nation. Billy isn’t considered a folk musician in the traditional<br />
sense, but many of his songs are little tales or stories. I overheard some<br />
people complaining about his songs and comments and wondered why<br />
they had gone to see Billy, who is well known for his socialist views<br />
when there were other bands to see. Folk music in particular, along with<br />
jazz and the blues, has a rich history of telling the tales of ordinary<br />
people, of troubles, woe and strife. In fact, some of the greatest folk<br />
musicians, such as Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Woodie Guthrie and Ewan<br />
McColl have penned some legendary songs many of which were protest<br />
or politically-themed songs. “Hurricane” by Bob Dylan is about the<br />
wrongful imprisonment of boxer ‘Hurricane’ Carter, similarly “Eve of<br />
Destruction”, written by Barry Maguire, but covered by Dylan is about<br />
the Vietnam war, “Strange Fruit’ immortalised by Billie Holiday is<br />
about the lynching of black people in the Deep South, and “Moving on”<br />
by Ewan McColl highlighted the plight of travellers. Even Bruce<br />
Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” is a tribute to soldiers returning from<br />
the Vietnam war, and the list goes on....If people want to listen to music<br />
that has no meaning or depth then perhaps they should listen to One<br />
Direction or watch the X-Factor. (I’ll get off my soap box now!)<br />
The CC Smugglers followed Billy Bragg. They are a 6 piece band from<br />
Bedfordshire who play high tempo roots music. Their music is so<br />
infectious that the dance floor was packed. The band are touring in<br />
Spring <strong>2016</strong>, if you have the chance to go an see them, go - you won’t<br />
be disappointed and don’t forget to wear your dancing shoes!<br />
Saturday evening also started with a political theme, with Tom<br />
Robinson taking to the stage. During the late 1970s Tom was a<br />
campaigner for gay rights and “Sing if you’re glad to be gay” has<br />
become an anthem for the gay community. Tom has recently released a<br />
new album “Only the Now” which includes a track “The Mighty Sword<br />
of Justice” perhaps the first protest song about legal aid, and one which<br />
highlights the cuts in funding and includes the lines:<br />
The mighty sword of justice stands high above us all;<br />
All citizens stand equal before her mighty laws;<br />
But even mighty justice has one almighty flaw;<br />
There is one law for the rich and one law for the poor.<br />
Newcastle band, The Unthanks followed Tom. They perform their own<br />
arrangements of traditional “Geordie” folk songs. The sisters who lead<br />
the band, Becky and Rachel Unthanks, have fantastic voices and their<br />
harmonies are wonderful, but personally I find one song merges into the<br />
next and may have nodded off for a couple of minutes much to my<br />
husband’s horror. Later though I heard someone comment that The<br />
Unthanks were so good they thought they had ‘died and gone to<br />
heaven”!<br />
Sunday saw the Rik Sanders Trio take to the stage. Veterans of the folk<br />
music scene, these exceptionally talented musicians played a great mix<br />
of old blues classics from the likes of Leadbelly, Mississippi John Hurt<br />
and Memphis Minnie as well as some classic folk tunes.<br />
Finally Fotheringay headlined Sunday evening. The classic folk legend<br />
band first formed in the late 60’s but disbanded after the death of<br />
vocalist Sandy Denny. In 2015 the band reformed, with Jerry Donahue<br />
from the original line up. He is joined by Gerry Conway, who has<br />
played with Steeleye Span and Jethro Tull, bass player Pat Donaldson,<br />
PJ Wright, Kathryn Roberts and Sally Barker, who has toured with both<br />
Bob Dylan and Tom Jones. They did a great set, and Sally Barker’s<br />
gritty vocals really added to the performance.<br />
Butlins isn’t everyones ‘cup of tea’, the rooms are basic but<br />
comfortable, the food is good and the staff are fantastic. They are so<br />
polite, helpful and friendly, and put the staff at some ‘luxury’ hotels to<br />
shame. Skegness is fairly grim, cold and windy, but at least I wasn’t<br />
camping!<br />
For folk fans, Butlins have already announced that the Levellers, folk<br />
legend Donovan and Kate Rusby will be headlining this year’s Festival<br />
which runs from Friday 2nd to Monday 5th December <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
Julia Baskerville<br />
Billy Bragg<br />
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<strong>Law</strong>Care<br />
25<br />
All About <strong>Law</strong>Care<br />
Since 1997 <strong>Law</strong>Care, through its free,<br />
confidential and independent helpline service<br />
has been helping members of the legal<br />
professions, their support staff and families<br />
by providing information and support with<br />
any issues affecting them.. However, there<br />
are still many lawyers who are not aware of<br />
the support available and we are often asked<br />
questions about what we offer.<br />
How are you funded?<br />
<strong>Law</strong>Care is a registered charity funded<br />
primarily by the professional bodies for legal<br />
groupings throughout the British Isles. Although<br />
we do welcome any donation, however small.<br />
Is <strong>Law</strong>Care part of any of the professional<br />
bodies?<br />
No. <strong>Law</strong>Care is entirely independent of all the<br />
professional bodies and only reports statistics to<br />
them.<br />
Is it a counselling service?<br />
Callers to the <strong>Law</strong>Care helpline are provided<br />
with initial support from our staff, who all have<br />
experience of working in the legal professions<br />
and have had some training in telephone<br />
counselling skills. They can discuss problem<br />
with the callers and help them plan a way<br />
forward.. This may include helping to identify a<br />
professional counsellor or another specialist<br />
service, such as a treatment centre.<br />
What problems can you help with – and<br />
what don’t you do?<br />
<strong>Law</strong>Care offers support on anything which is<br />
troubling you, be it business or personal, big or<br />
small. We are impartial and can provide<br />
reassurance and even if a solution does not<br />
immediately present itself, talking about it can<br />
be very cathartic. We do not offer legal advice<br />
but our helpline personnel have experience of<br />
the legal profession and an understanding of the<br />
issues that arise. If more specific advice is<br />
required, then, in most instances, we can<br />
signpost you to someone who can help.<br />
Can anyone phone <strong>Law</strong>Care?<br />
Anyone in the legal profession, from a Judge to<br />
a paralegal, their immediate families and staff,<br />
are welcome to use <strong>Law</strong>Care’s service. This<br />
includes students and trainees.<br />
Is it free?<br />
<strong>Law</strong>Care’s helpline service is entirely free.<br />
However, if we help identify a counsellor, other<br />
therapist or treatment unit then funding will<br />
normally need to be provided by the caller,<br />
though wherever possible we will assist to source<br />
funds if necessary.<br />
Is it confidential?<br />
Confidentiality is at the heart of what we do. You<br />
don’t have to give your name if you’d rather not,<br />
and the records we need to keep are stored on a<br />
secure and closed computer system accessible<br />
only to <strong>Law</strong>Care staff. We are non judgmental<br />
and our service is one of support.<br />
Is there a limit to the number of times people<br />
can call?<br />
No. Many people do call back a number of times<br />
for further support and encouragement, often<br />
over a long period of time. However, there is a<br />
limit to what we can achieve and a regular caller<br />
might need to consider<br />
whether they need a higher level of support than<br />
<strong>Law</strong>Care can offer – such as a mental health<br />
professional. But wherever possible, we will be a<br />
supportive, listening ear.<br />
What other services does <strong>Law</strong>Care offer?<br />
We also try to prevent problems arising by<br />
offering training and education on wellbeing and<br />
are involved in other work relating to<br />
researching and promoting professional wellbeing<br />
in the legal workplace. Our website provides an<br />
overview of the support available and our range<br />
of helpful factsheets can be found there for<br />
downloading.<br />
How do I contact you?<br />
Our free and confidential helpline is available on<br />
0800 279 6869 and information is also available<br />
on our website at<br />
www.lawcare.org.uk<br />
<strong>Law</strong>Care Ltd is registered as a charity in<br />
England and Wales no. 1061685 and in<br />
Scotland no. SCO39335.<br />
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<br />
VFS LEGAL FUNDING<br />
RELEASING CASH FLOW<br />
Do you want to improve<br />
your Cashflow?<br />
VFS provides quick, simple and cost effective funding<br />
solutions that release YOUR funds locked up in YOUR profit<br />
costs and disbursements.<br />
The funds can be used by you for any purpose. Including, for<br />
example, Tax and VAT payments, removing the need to rely on<br />
costly, fixed term repayment loans from secondary funders.<br />
Disbursement funding (‘DCF’)<br />
VFS funds the ongoing disbursements incurred on PI, Clinical<br />
Negligence and Litigation cases until their natural conclusion.<br />
Costs advance facility (‘CAF’)<br />
VFS can provide immediate funding against most bills that<br />
have been served – releasing cash back into the practice.<br />
For a no obligation discussion please call 020 3747 9333<br />
or email enquiries@vfslegal.com or visit vfslegal.com
28 News<br />
Media<br />
Round-Up<br />
Public Relations matters:<br />
December 2015<br />
<strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Society assisted<br />
Freelance journalist Catherine Baksi<br />
who was seeking trainees or newly<br />
qualified lawyers who had made a<br />
decision to quit London and to either<br />
train or practice in the regions to<br />
feature in her article for the online<br />
Guardian Student <strong>Law</strong> section before<br />
her deadline of 11th December 2015.<br />
Members were invited to respond via<br />
a request on the <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong><br />
Society’s website and social media<br />
channels.<br />
On Twitter<br />
@<strong>Liverpool</strong><strong>Law</strong>Society<br />
Let it snow let it snow let it snow<br />
@Morecrofts LLP<br />
Congratulations to our managing<br />
partner @AlisonLobb1 who today<br />
became president of the<br />
@Lpool<strong>Law</strong>Society<br />
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The <strong>2016</strong> C<br />
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6 Costs Confere<br />
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osts Conference<br />
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WINNER OF THIRTY TWO PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS
30 Regulation<br />
Regulation Update<br />
The latest regulation news from Michelle<br />
Garlick of Weightmans LLP<br />
Happy New Year everyone! And<br />
what a year it is likely to be in<br />
the regulatory world. 2015 was a<br />
year of change, competition and<br />
consultations, and based on<br />
announcements made both by<br />
the SRA and the government in<br />
the last month or so, we can I’m<br />
sure be guaranteed more of the<br />
same this year.<br />
All Change?<br />
The SRA has outlined its “vision<br />
for the future” and has issued a<br />
position paper which can be found<br />
on its website setting out their<br />
plans to push ahead with a shift<br />
away from prescriptive rules in<br />
favour of setting out the principles<br />
that solicitors should follow. But<br />
wasn’t that what the SRA did in<br />
2011when the SRA Handbook and<br />
OFR was introduced, I hear you<br />
ask? Yes it was but clearly this<br />
isn’t enough for the SRA and they<br />
plan to make further significant<br />
changes to the Handbook. At a<br />
recent conference I attended,<br />
Crispin Passmore of the SRA made<br />
it very clear that he would love to<br />
see the Handbook reduced in size<br />
down from 600(+) pages to 50!<br />
The desire is to give law firms the<br />
freedom to run their businesses as<br />
they see fit whilst at the same time<br />
still ensuring clients are protected.<br />
It is hoped that such changes will<br />
give flexibility to help law firms<br />
adapt to the ever changing legal<br />
market. The paper discusses the<br />
possibility of removing nonmandatory<br />
guidance/Indicative<br />
behaviours and provide “useful,<br />
relevant and supportive on-line<br />
resources including case studies<br />
and toolkits”. I remember all too<br />
well the concerns that many people<br />
had when OFR was introduced<br />
about the lack of rules and<br />
guidance from their regulator and<br />
these proposed changes will I’m<br />
sure bring those concerns to the<br />
fore once again. That is not to say<br />
that reducing the size of the<br />
Handbook would be a bad thing<br />
but in my view, the SRA will need<br />
to do a lot of work internally to<br />
provide meaningful case studies to<br />
guide firms as to what the SRA<br />
expects from them and make its<br />
enforcement strategy and<br />
procedures much more transparent<br />
than they are currently.<br />
The SRA will also be looking at<br />
allowing solicitors to practise in<br />
unauthorised businesses. Currently,<br />
the rules say that solicitors in firms<br />
not authorised by the SRA or<br />
another legal services regulator<br />
cannot deliver legal services to the<br />
public (except in very limited<br />
circumstances). Under the<br />
proposals, solicitors would be free<br />
to practise in the wider legal<br />
market, delivering non-reserved<br />
legal services outside of law firms.<br />
This means that the SRA needs to<br />
look at regulating the solicitor as<br />
an individual on the basis of the<br />
services they provide (and to<br />
whom) rather than on the type of<br />
organisation/entity they work in.<br />
How this will affect the solicitor<br />
brand is something no doubt<br />
people will have strong feelings<br />
about – the SRA’s view is that it<br />
would not be diluted – on the<br />
contrary, such changes would, in<br />
its view, strengthen the solicitor<br />
brand. Again, your views will be<br />
sought when the consultation<br />
opens.<br />
The government has also<br />
announced in its paper “A better<br />
deal: boosting competition to bring<br />
down bills for families and firms”<br />
that it wants to further reduce<br />
barriers to make it easier for<br />
alternative business structures,<br />
such as supermarkets and estate<br />
agents, to offer legal services like<br />
conveyancing, probate and<br />
litigation. Extending the types of<br />
organisations that solicitors could<br />
work in coupled with the<br />
governments intentions really does<br />
open up the possibility that the<br />
public could buy legal advice<br />
alongside their tins of beans in the<br />
future!<br />
Competition<br />
Government proposals regarding<br />
PI whiplash claims and the<br />
increase in the small claims limit<br />
will be of great concern<br />
particularly in the north west. I am<br />
sure this will be covered in much<br />
more detail elsewhere but from a<br />
regulatory perspective, any firms<br />
affected will need to be keeping a<br />
very close eye on developments,<br />
starting to think about contingency<br />
plans and their firm’s financial<br />
stability. Paul Philip has just also<br />
announced that the SRA will be<br />
carrying out research on the<br />
“competence” of personal injury<br />
lawyers to gain an understanding<br />
of the profile of firms/entities<br />
providing legal services to<br />
claimants and discover the main<br />
changes firms have implemented<br />
in response to LASPO. Given the<br />
previous thematic risk project<br />
when LASPO was introduced and<br />
the number of ABS applications<br />
involving PI firms, its an<br />
interesting admission on the SRA’s<br />
part that it still needs to understand<br />
the PI market.<br />
And talking of firm closures and<br />
ABSs, we have recently seen the<br />
news about Parabis going into<br />
administration. Parabis was of<br />
course one of the first ABSs with<br />
external investment and it will<br />
inevitably lead many to question<br />
whether the concept of ABS is<br />
dead in the water. Personally, I<br />
don’t think it is but having assisted<br />
many businesses with their ABS<br />
applications, it is clear that, as with<br />
any other law firm business, the<br />
key to long term success is to be<br />
found in strong management, good<br />
procedures and a well defined<br />
business plan involving horizon<br />
scanning and the ability to change<br />
depending upon changes in the<br />
marketplace.<br />
Independent regulation<br />
In the same paper mentioned<br />
above, the government has also<br />
indicated an intention to consult on<br />
making regulators independent<br />
from representative bodies. The<br />
SRA has made it clear that it is<br />
strongly in favour of this change.<br />
The <strong>Law</strong> Society understandably is<br />
less keen, Catherine Dixon<br />
commenting that “the profession<br />
should be free to set its own<br />
standards and rules, and to “own”<br />
legal education and training”<br />
Other news<br />
Onto more positive news! The<br />
SRA has published a new report on<br />
regulation for small law firms<br />
which summarises the changes the<br />
SRA has made that are relevant for<br />
small law firms and includes<br />
tailored risk management<br />
information and case studies based<br />
on experiences from small firms.<br />
For any of you who offer<br />
MICHELLE GARLICK<br />
WEIGHTMANS LLP<br />
unbundled services, some good<br />
news from the Court of Appeal.<br />
The case of Minkin v Lesley<br />
Landsberg has held that solicitors<br />
instructed on a limited retainer do<br />
not have a broader duty of care to<br />
their clients, thus asserting the<br />
importance of ensuring that<br />
lawyers can offer unbundled<br />
services. However, offering such<br />
services does not come without<br />
risk and there is a very clear need<br />
to ensure that your supporting<br />
client care letters and formal<br />
written retainers are drafted with<br />
care to reflect the client’s specific<br />
instructions and what you have<br />
agreed to do for the client. There is<br />
a practice note on the <strong>Law</strong><br />
Society’s website about this or do<br />
get in touch with myself or any of<br />
the Compli team who will be able<br />
to help.<br />
And finally, the Legal Ombudsman<br />
has announced that complaints<br />
about law firms are projected to<br />
have fallen 22% in four years. Its<br />
not entirely clear why this is, the<br />
Legal Ombudsman identifying a<br />
number of possibilities including<br />
“silent sufferers”(who will tolerate<br />
poor service without complaining),<br />
more clients acting as litigants in<br />
person or using unregulated<br />
providers and so have no redress<br />
from the LeO, but also (and here’s<br />
the positive bit!) that solicitors are<br />
getting better at responding to<br />
complaints during the first tier<br />
process. Watch out though if you<br />
are one of the firms who behave<br />
poorly because the LeO is looking<br />
at the possibility of using its name<br />
and shame powers to greater<br />
effect!<br />
Michelle Garlick<br />
Weightmans LLP
S Code<br />
Date<br />
Time<br />
<strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>2016</strong><br />
Speaker<br />
CPD<br />
S3830<br />
14th<br />
4<br />
.30<br />
- .15<br />
7 SRA Roadshow:<br />
A Question Of Trust<br />
Various<br />
-<br />
S3<br />
668<br />
2 0t<br />
h<br />
5<br />
.0 0 - 7 .0<br />
0<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Various<br />
1.5<br />
S3695<br />
21st<br />
1<br />
2.30<br />
- 3.45<br />
Highway Claims<br />
<strong>2016</strong><br />
Nicky<br />
Carter<br />
3<br />
S3702<br />
22nd<br />
1<br />
.30<br />
- 4.45<br />
Personal Insolv<br />
ency:<br />
A Practical Guide<br />
Chris Beanland<br />
3<br />
S3751<br />
26th<br />
9<br />
.30<br />
- 11.00<br />
Feeling Left<br />
Out?<br />
Capacity, Estoppel and 1975<br />
Act<br />
Claims 3 Topics of Interest<br />
to Those who want<br />
to<br />
Challenge Wills<br />
Matthew Hall,<br />
Richard Lander &<br />
Nathan Smith<br />
1.5<br />
S3731<br />
26th<br />
9<br />
.30<br />
- 4.45<br />
Solicitors Accou<br />
nts Rules<br />
Jo Morris<br />
6<br />
S3712<br />
27th<br />
9<br />
.30<br />
- 12.45<br />
Commercial P<br />
roperty<br />
Update<br />
Richard Snape<br />
3<br />
S3769<br />
27th<br />
1<br />
.30<br />
- 4.45<br />
10 Tricky<br />
C<br />
ommercial Lease<br />
Problems & Solutions<br />
Richard Snape<br />
3<br />
S3782<br />
29th<br />
9<br />
.30<br />
- 10.30<br />
Introduction To<br />
Medico Legal Medicine<br />
Dr Andre Brittain<br />
-Dissont<br />
1<br />
S3792<br />
29th<br />
12 - 2.00<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Insurance related aspects of the<br />
Deregulation<br />
Act<br />
2015 (lunch included)<br />
David Holt<br />
1.5<br />
S<br />
Code<br />
D<br />
ate<br />
Time<br />
February <strong>2016</strong><br />
Speaker<br />
CPD<br />
S3708<br />
2nd 1<br />
.30<br />
- 4.45<br />
Short Term Re<br />
sidential Tenancies<br />
Paul Butt<br />
3<br />
S3730<br />
3 rd 9<br />
.30<br />
- 12.45<br />
*NEW* First Class<br />
Client Services<br />
Jo Morris<br />
3<br />
S3755<br />
5 th<br />
9<br />
.30<br />
- 12.45<br />
*NEW* Excellent<br />
Solicitors<br />
Client Care For Newly Qua<br />
lified<br />
Candy Bowman<br />
3<br />
S3813<br />
9 th<br />
9<br />
.45<br />
- 4 .30<br />
Running Care<br />
Cases<br />
Safda Mahmood<br />
5.5<br />
S3821<br />
10th<br />
9<br />
.30<br />
- 12.45<br />
Travel <strong>Law</strong>: Pla<br />
nes, Trains and<br />
Automobiles (& boats!)<br />
Joanne Berry &<br />
Matthew Mawdsley<br />
3<br />
S3781<br />
17th<br />
1<br />
.15<br />
- 1.45<br />
30 Useful Minute<br />
es with<br />
a Chancery Judge<br />
Judge David Hodge<br />
QC<br />
S3823<br />
23rd<br />
9<br />
.45<br />
- 4.00<br />
Development<br />
s In<br />
Domestic Abuse <strong>Law</strong> & Pro<br />
cedure<br />
Safda Mahmood<br />
5<br />
S3814<br />
24th<br />
9<br />
.45<br />
- 4.30<br />
Stand & Delive<br />
r!<br />
Child Care Casess<br />
Conducting Eff<br />
fective<br />
Advoc<br />
acy in<br />
Safda Mahmood<br />
5.5<br />
S3696<br />
25th<br />
1<br />
2.30<br />
- 3.45<br />
Loss Of Earnin<br />
gs - An Update For <strong>2016</strong><br />
Nicky<br />
Carter<br />
3<br />
S3783<br />
26th<br />
9<br />
.30<br />
- 10.30<br />
Low Velocity Impact<br />
& Whiplash Injuries<br />
Dr Andre Brittain<br />
-Dissont<br />
1<br />
S3774<br />
26th<br />
9<br />
.30<br />
- 12.45<br />
10 Current P<br />
roblem Areas for Criminal Pract<br />
itioners<br />
Colin Beaumont<br />
3<br />
S3805<br />
26th<br />
1<br />
.30<br />
- 4.45<br />
Civil and Ancilla<br />
ry Orders in<br />
the Adult/Youth<br />
Court<br />
Colin Beaumont<br />
3<br />
S Code<br />
Date<br />
Time<br />
March <strong>2016</strong><br />
Speaker<br />
CPD<br />
S3713<br />
1st<br />
9.<br />
30 - 12. 45 Conveyancing La<br />
w Update<br />
Richard Snape<br />
3<br />
S3770<br />
1st<br />
1.<br />
30 - 4. 45 Buy To Lets For<br />
Conveyancers<br />
Richard Snape<br />
3<br />
S3831<br />
2nd 9.<br />
30 - 4. 45 <strong>2016</strong> Management Conference<br />
S3775<br />
4th 9.<br />
30 - 12. 45 The Billing of Cri<br />
minal Legal Aid Work for Experiee<br />
nced<br />
Practitioners<br />
S3806<br />
4th 1.<br />
30 - 4. 45 75 Things That<br />
Criminal <strong>Law</strong>yers Need To Know In <strong>2016</strong><br />
Various<br />
Colin Beaumont<br />
Colin Beaumont<br />
5.5<br />
3<br />
3<br />
www.facebook.com/ m/<strong>Liverpool</strong><strong>Law</strong>Society<br />
www.linkedin.com/company/livny/liverpool-law-society<br />
@Lpool<strong>Law</strong>Society
32 MJLD and WLD<br />
News from the MJLD<br />
December saw MJLD members get into the Christmas spirit with a<br />
Christmas quiz. Members were encouraged to come in their best<br />
Christmas jumper, the finest of which was worn by Nick Hemus at<br />
Hill Dickinson. Nick’s efforts were rewarded with a bottle of<br />
Prosecco to celebrate.<br />
Members sat down in their teams of up to 5 and the venue at Ma<br />
Boyle’s was filled.<br />
The competition started with a test of general knowledge, followed by<br />
an examination of legal knowledge, including the questions;<br />
‘What was the name of the dog in the film Legally Blonde?’<br />
‘What was the name of the law firm in Ally McBeal?’<br />
Film, music, sport and all things Christmas were then quizzed, with a<br />
break in between for competitors to refuel with a tasty buffet selection.<br />
The competition was fierce throughout the evening, but mainly confined<br />
to the buffet queue.<br />
During the evening raffle tickets were sold in aid of our chosen charity,<br />
Zöe’s Place, with prizes including money to spend at the bar and a<br />
cocktail pitcher. In total £155.20 was raised on the night for the charity<br />
and will be added to the running total for Zöe’s Place raised by the<br />
MJLD 2015-<strong>2016</strong>.<br />
After totting up the scores, Team Elf of Morecrofts were declared<br />
champions of the quiz.<br />
A big thank you to all of our members for attending, to our sponsors,<br />
BCL Legal for making the event possible, and to our venue, Ma Boyle’s<br />
for providing an excellent venue, tasty buffet and drinks selection.<br />
MJLD look forward to working with you all again in <strong>2016</strong>.<br />
News from the WLD<br />
Pudding Club – Thursday 26th November 2015<br />
As always Pudding Club proved to be one of the more popular events<br />
in the WLD calender.<br />
!<br />
Due to the popularity of the event the evening was hosted by Leaf at a<br />
function room in Fact cinema; this ensured it was a private event and<br />
that there was an increase in the number of tickets available to our<br />
members. Members arrived at 6pm and were seated and ready to<br />
induldge by half past. The night consisted of 5 different course.<br />
Impressively the portion sizes were generous and each delicious cake<br />
was served with a refreshing flavoured tea to compliment the sweet.<br />
WLD would like to thank Leaf for providing the raffle prize on the<br />
night. Raffle ticket sales generated a £44.00 all of which will go to our<br />
nominated chairty, the Whitechapel Centre. The raffle prize was a lovely<br />
metal tea infuser with a selection of festive teas.<br />
The Whitechapel Centre Collection<br />
The WLD chair Jennifer Crompton coordinated a collection on behalf of<br />
the Whitechapel Centre, a homeless charity based in <strong>Liverpool</strong> City<br />
Centre. Slater & Gordon <strong>Law</strong>yers <strong>Liverpool</strong> Waterloo office was the<br />
nominated collection point. The collection was a great success with<br />
people generously donating many items ranging from adult and<br />
children’s clothes, toys and toiletries. The items have now been<br />
delivered to the Whitechapel Centre.<br />
WLD are proud to support the Whitechapel Centre which provides an<br />
important service to rough sleepers, people living in temporary<br />
accommodation and those at risk of becoming homeless. To find out<br />
more about the centre, click here<br />
http://www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk/what-we-do.html
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34 Almost Irrelevant<br />
Almost Irrelevant<br />
A humorous look at life in the law....<br />
Virtual assistants<br />
As regular readers will know, Wirral-based legal outfit<br />
Riverview <strong>Law</strong> has been working with a number of<br />
organisations, including <strong>Liverpool</strong> University, in developing<br />
the “virtual” legal assistant, that is, a computer program which<br />
can perform many of the tasks traditionally carried out by<br />
junior layers and paralegals.<br />
Riverview has now announced that it is ready to roll out its<br />
team of virtual legal assistants to inhouse lawyers and other<br />
legal businesses. The assistant is known as “Kim”: thankfully,<br />
not named after Kim Kardashian; rather, “Kim” stands for:<br />
Knowledge, Intelligence, Meaning, all three attributes the<br />
virtual legal assistant is said to have.<br />
As the chief executive of Riverview <strong>Law</strong> has said: in the<br />
future there will be fewer lawyers, and those there are will be<br />
doing different jobs to those traditionally performed by<br />
qualified lawyers.<br />
One of the major outcomes of the use of technology for more<br />
routine legal work is likely to be reducing access to the legal<br />
profession to students. Many of the jobs which they have<br />
carried out in the past with a view to gaining a training<br />
contract at a law firm are likely to disappear, with the work of<br />
junior lawyers being done by computers, making it a lot<br />
harder for those without connections to join the legal<br />
profession.<br />
Town and Gown<br />
It was good to see so many of the legal profession at the recent<br />
launch of <strong>Liverpool</strong> University <strong>Law</strong> School’s alumni<br />
association. The University is seeking to maintain and<br />
strengthen the links between its teaching staff, the law students<br />
and the professionals practising the law in the region, whether<br />
judges, barristers, solicitors, legal executives or paralegals.<br />
A number of presentations were made outlining the work and<br />
achievements of the <strong>Law</strong> School and the formal part of the<br />
event concluded with the awarding of prizes to some of the<br />
leading students.<br />
It is heartening to learn of the success of young students, even<br />
though, as His Honour Judge Ross Duggan was heard to say,<br />
some of the legal topics which are taught nowadays are<br />
somewhat different to the core subjects taught back in the days<br />
when many of the alumni present were students, and when the<br />
University of <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> School was known as the<br />
University of <strong>Liverpool</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Faculty.<br />
Golden Goodbye<br />
Finally this month, a cautionary tale about what may happen<br />
when law firm partners fall out.<br />
When partner James Parry left the firm of solicitors Nadim<br />
Associates, based in Birkenhead, an allegation of theft was<br />
made against him by one of the other partners in the practice.<br />
Mr Parry was invited to attend a police station for interview by<br />
Merseyside Police, which he duly did on a voluntary basis, but<br />
on arrival he was promptly arrested and held at the station for<br />
over five hours.<br />
No charges were brought and the Police have confirmed that no<br />
further action will be taken in respect of the theft allegation.<br />
However, Mr Parry brought an action against Merseyside<br />
Police for wrongful arrest. The case reached trial, where the<br />
judge found in favour of Mr Parry, ordering the Police to pay<br />
him damages of £9,000, on the basis that the arrest had not<br />
been necessary.<br />
Usual measure for dealing with departing partners include<br />
garden leave and enforcement of restrictive covenants, but<br />
having to deal with an arrest and detention at a Police station is<br />
probably one of the more extreme measures which a partner<br />
leaving a law firm has had to endure.<br />
Please feel free to send me your comments, observations or<br />
photographs to ai@liverpoollawsociety.org.uk
At Clayton Legal your talent matters...<br />
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For more on these and other visit vacancies our website: please www.clayton-legal.co.uk<br />
contact Clayton Legal<br />
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