The Messenger June 2016

June 2016
October 09
1
North West Law
Counterfeit goods fraud - a problem in Manchester
Despite the concerted efforts
of such as the Intellectual
Property Office
and Trading Standards,
there is still a significant
trade in counterfeit goods
which is estimated to cost
the national economy
around £1.3billion per
year.
Manchester has a particular
problem, most notably in
Cheetham Hill, which was
identified as the counterfeit
goods capital of the UK in
January 2016 by the Intellectual
Property Office in its
report entitled “Counting
the Cost -
The Trade in Counterfeit
Goods in Manchester”.
Counterfeit goods can be
found in almost all areas of
business and increasingly
sophisticated methods are
allowing them to enter the
Child abuse solicitor, Deborah
Corcoran of QualitySolicitors
Abney
Garsden has secured
£500,000 under the Criminal
Injuries Compensation
Scheme, the
maximum amount that
can be awarded under the
scheme.
The award has been made
to her client, a 32 year old
female who as a child endured
many years of sexual
and physical abuse by her
father.
supply chain without detection.
Well known brands are
not immune; it has recently
hit the headlines that Procter
& Gamble have issued
proceedings against discount
store Poundstretcher
alleging the sale of fake
Head & Shoulders shampoo
and Ariel laundry powder.
In addition to the significant
legal costs and damages
Poundstretcher faces if it is
found to have been selling
counterfeit goods, the impact
on its brand and reputation
could be even
greater. Cases such as this
illustrate that it is crucial for
businesses to take all possible
steps to prevent counterfeit
goods from entering
their supply chain and to
take appropriate action if it
is discovered that such
goods have slipped in.
The local authority allowed
the girl to live alone with
her father despite the fact
he was a convicted paedophile.
The award takes
into consideration the sexual
abuse she suffered
along with the loss of past
and future earnings and any
care needs arising as a result
of the abuse.
Anyone who has been the
victim of a crime of violence
and has suffered a physical
or psychological injury as a
consequence, may be entitled
to apply for compensation
under the Criminal
Injuries Compensation
Scheme.
A Scheme for compensating
victims of crimes of violence
was first established in
1964. The Scheme is run by
the UK Government and applications
are processed by
a specialist agency known
as the Criminal Injuries
We must all be increasingly
alert in order to reduce the
risk to our clients and to the
local economy. If a client’s
goods have been counterfeited
we can assist by seeking
an injunction to prevent
further distribution or sale
of the infringing products
and/or seeking damages for
copyright or trademark infringement
and/or applying
to customs to detain goods.
For businesses, it is worth
remembering that if a deal
looks too good to be true
then it probably is. Businesses
can also adopt methods
of best practice to try to
prevent or limit unwitting
involvement in the counterfeit
goods trade:
• Businesses should try to
understand and test items
through the whole product
cycle, including verifying
batches and serial numbers.
Compensation Authority
(CICA). It was formerly the
Criminal Injuries Compensation
Board (CICB).
A plan of action should be
produced to identify steps
to be taken if any element is
found to be counterfeit.
• Businesses should seek to
build trusted and transparent
relationships with suppliers.
• If an importer becomes
aware that goods they are
seeking to import are counterfeit
(usually by receipt of
a notice from HMRC that
goods have been detained)
then, unless the goods can
be shown to be genuine,
they will likely be destroyed.
If the importer has other
stock from the same supplier
then it should be retained
in storage with a
view to authenticity being
confirmed. Goods should
not be transported, exported,
distributed or returned
to the supplier since
The Monthly Publication of the Manchester Law Society
In association with
this could constitute a criminal
offence.
• Where goods are discovered
to be counterfeit other
than by way of an HMRC notice,
Trading Standards
should be notified immediately
and the goods retained
in storage pending
instructions from Trading
Standards or other relevant
authorities.
• Purchasers of counterfeit
goods who fall within the
legal definition of a “Consumer”
have the legal right
to a refund within 30 days of
payment under the Consumer
Rights Act 2015. If it’s
been over 30 days but less
than six months since payment,
the seller is entitled to
provide a real version of the
item as a replacement or a
refund. Card issuers may
also provide assistance in
Child abuse Solicitor secures maximum £500k
Government payout
Commenting on the award,
solicitor Deborah Corcoran
said: “The abuse my client
suffered in her childhood
has affected her throughout
her life.
The settlement she has received
from the Criminal Injuries
Compensation
Authority reflects the extent
of her suffering and goes
some way to recognising
the failings of the local authority,
who allowed her to
live with a convicted paedophile.
I hope it will encourage
others who have
experienced this kind of
abuse to speak out.”
Deborah is a member of the
association of child abuse
lawyers, the association of
personal injury lawyers, and
has specialised in abuse
work since 1999. She has
acted as lead solicitor in a
number of successful high
profile group action cases
and represented hundreds
of clients, both adults and
children.
If you have been the victim
of child abuse you can contact
our specialist child
abuse solicitors in confidence
on 0845 604 7075 or
email us at abuselaw@abneys.co.uk.
Deborah Corcoran
Danielle Best
securing a refund if payment
for the goods was
made on a credit or debit
card.
• Purchasers of counterfeit
goods can report the seller
to Trading Standards which
may take legal action
against the seller.
Danielle Best
Associate,
Weightmans LLP
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Contents 3
North West Law
June 2016
Manchester Law Society
64 Bridge Street
Manchester M3 3BN
Tel: 0161 831 7337
Fax: 0161 839 2631
www.manchesterlawsociety.org.uk
Editor: Fran Eccles-Bech
News from the President
page 5
In this edition...
NEWS
New appointment signals growth for HRC
Law
Milestone one millionth case reached
Double celebration for Nigel Shepherd
after appointed as head of family law at
Mills & Reeve and chair of Resolution
6
8
9
Editorial Committee
Raana Afsarpour, JMW Solicitors LLP
Such Amin, Aequitas Legal
David Anderson, St Johns Buildings
Julia Baskerville, Baskerville Publications Ltd
Fran Eccles-Bech, Manchester Law Society
Danielle Best, Weightmans LLP
Adam Entwistle, JMW Solicitors LLP
Mark Fitzgibbon, Hill Dickinson
Jemma Goldstone, JMW Solicitors LLP
Michael Hardacre, Slater & Gordon
Helen Kanczes, Clyde & Co
Steve Kuncewicz, Bermans LLP
Adrian Kwintner, Mills & Reeve
Jeff Lewis, Brabners LLP
Louise Straw, Burton Copeland
Matthew Taylor, Eversheds LLP
Slater Heelis appoints Nicky Collins as
partner
10
Published by
Elaine Chan
page 12
China trip to help forge new trade links
FEATURES
Have you got money asleep in your Client
Account?
12
14
Baskerville Publications Ltd
25 Southworth Way
Thornton Cleveleys
Lancashire FY5 2WW
Advertising enquiries
Julia Baskerville
01253 829431 j.baskerville@jbaskerville.co.uk
www.locallawsocietypublications.co.uk
Making a Difference
page 16
Making a Difference
REGULARS
News from the President
Management Matters
16
5
18
All rights reserved, reproduction in whole or part
without written permission from the Publisher and
Manchester Law Society is not permitted.
Photographic material and manuscripts are supplied at
owners risk, neither the company not its agents accept
any liability for loss or damage.
The Society welcomes articles and letters from members
on any topic and items should be sent to the above
address
Management Matters
page 18
Monthly Competition
Win a meal for two with a complimentary bottle of house
wine at Scene Indian Street Kitchen
29
The views and opinions expressed in the Manchester
Messenger are those of the individual contributors and
not of the Manchester Law Society
Printed by
Buxton Press

4 Manchester Law Society News
News from Bridge Street
Lunch with a Legend
HIS HONOUR JUDGE PELLING QC
CHANCERY JUDGE
April 2016
Dear Colleagues:
Manchester CJC Advocates Suite
I apologise for the impersonal nature of this letter, which is the result of a requirement
to communicate with a large number of people as efficiently as
possible.
As you may know, a number of County Courts within the Greater Manchester
area are to be closed over the next 12 months. As a result, it will be necessary
to accommodate a significant number of HMCTS staff as well as a
number of District Judges in the Manchester CJC. In order to facilitate these
changes, it will be necessary to construct a number of additional courts,
hearing and retiring rooms within Manchester CJC. As part of this process,
it will be necessary to permanently close the Advocates Suite on Level 4
from 5.00 p.m. on 30 September 2016.
The purpose of this letter is to give all practitioners notice of this change
and to request the removal of any personal belongings from the Level 4 Advocates
Suite well before that date.
From 3 October 2016, the only Advocates Suite in the building will be that
located on Level 10. It will not be affected by these changes.
I apologise for any inconvenience that these changes may cause.
Yours faithfully
Mark Pelling,
Chair,
Greater Manchester CFT Local Leadership Group.
We are pleased to invite members and
their guests to this unique networking
lunch opportunity organised in partnership
with the Greater Manchester Chamber
of Commerce & Industry.
The event is taking place on Wednesday,
15th June, 2016.
Why not come along and enjoy a 2-course
lunch, complimentary match ticket and free
parking (subject to availability) whilst Lancashire
do battle with their county rivals Yorkshire, during this Royal London
One Day Cup.
The game will be a 50 over match with an estimated finish time of 10.00pm
and the match can be watched in "The Point" on the balcony or seating underneath.
There will be a cash bar available all day.
Entertainment will be provided after the meal and the event will be hosted
by Warren Hegg, ex-England and Lancashire Legend, who captained Lancashire
during an outstanding career.
Registration:
Lunch:
Match commences:
Match concludes:
12.00noon
12.30pm
2.00pm
@ 10.00pm
For more details and to register for this lunch please visit
http://www.gmchamber.co.uk/events/1141
Forthcoming Events
Regulatory Conference
Date: Thursday, 9th June 2016
Venue:
Manchester United Football Club, Sir Matt Busby Way,
Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0RA
Cost:
MLS Members £110.00 + VAT (£132.00) Non-members
£150.00 + VAT (£180.00)
Timings: 09:00 for a 09:30 start and 16:00 finish
CPD:
5 hours
This is your once in a year chance to hear from and question your regulators
and experts on compliance and regulation all in one day! With
anticipated changes to the SRA Handbook including the accounts rules
expected within the forthcoming year, find out from the SRA and RSM
partner Andrew Baker on what might be in store.
Fraud being on the increase, we will also focus on what the latest issues
are and ways to avoid falling victim to it. Receive the latest updates on
Anti-Money Laundering and PII as well as tips on auditing and learning
from mistakes. And you won’t just hear from one regulator but two –
The Chief Legal Ombudsman will wrap up the day with her thoughts
and tips on complaints handling.
Family Law Conference
Date: Tuesday, 21st June 2016
Venue:
Hilton Hotel, Deansgate, Manchester M3 4LQ
Cost:
MLS Members £90.00 + VAT (£108.00) Non-members
£ 120.00 + VAT (£144.00)
Timings: 09:00 for a 09:30 start and 15:20 finish
CPD:
4 hours
Our popular Family Law Conference is returning for its second year and
is kindly sponsored by Randox Testing Services.
Providing an essential update for all Family Law Practitioners the conference
will feature a mix of plenary and workshop sessions.
Hear from District Judge Louise Relph on McKenzie Friends – help or
hindrance as well as Her Honour Judge Paula Tyler’s Views from the
bench.
Word Training Course – Intermediate
Date: Thursday, 23rd June 2016
Venue: Manchester Law Society, 64 Bridge Street, Manchester,
M3 3BN
Cost:
MLS Members £125.00 + VAT (£150.00) Non-members
£175.00 + VAT (£210.00)
Timings: 09:30 for a 10:00 start and 16:30 finish
Want to work wonders in Word? Create an impact with impressive reports?
Join us for a practical Word training course with RV Group.
In this one day course an expert trainer will get you up to speed on how
to style your documents professionally, with advice on working with
text boxes, Quick Part building blocks and using tables.
Numbers on this course are strictly limited to ensure you receive bespoke
and personal tuition from our trainer.
Save the date:
• 27th September: Management Conference
• 11th October: Employment Law Conference
Keep up to date with the latest event information at
www.manchesterlawsociety.org.uk or follow us on Twitter
@ManLawSoc
To book a place on any of the above events, please email
CarlaJones@manchesterlawsociety.org.uk

President’s Column
5
5
From the President
At last (or at least at the
time of writing) some
good weather has arrived.
It feels like it has been a
long, drawn out winter
this year and April was, by
any measure, cold and
miserable. It will probably
be raining again by the
time you read this article.
A good old-fashioned
heat wave would not go
amiss; I think we are due
one.
I was lucky enough to pick a
sunny morning to go out
with Forever Manchester,
the Community Foundation
for Greater Manchester, and
see some of the work they
do out in local communities.
Forever Manchester is my
chosen charity for my presidential
year and I came to
them through being introduced
to Nick Massey, their
inspiring Chief Executive. It
fitted perfectly with me
wanting to focus on a Manchester-based
charity and
one that works with disadvantaged
children and people
with additional needs.
Their focus is on ABCD –
Asset Based Community
Development, which in
essence means giving motivated
people the opportunity
to make things happen
for themselves and reducing
the dependency culture.
I use the words “dependency
culture” advisedly, as
I appreciate that this is a
controversial topic. It links
to the debate about how
welfare should be provided
and who is most “deserving”
of help. Forever Manchester
are there meeting people
who just want to get on
with their lives, make a bit of
difference at the grass roots
and build communities and
are making incremental but
real differences to the quality
of people’s lives. Forever
Manchester’s role is more
often than not to provide
the seed money for local
community projects, but
also to train people to become
community builders
in their own right and then
let them get on with it
rather than making them do
things their way.
At the Legal Awards in
March we raised over
£5,000 for them at the charity
raffle and I am grateful to
you all who contributed; I
am competing in the Salford
Triathlon at the end of
July to raise some more
funds for them. The link to
my Just Giving page is
https://www.justgiving.com
/ f u n d r a i s i n g / M i c h a e l -
Hardacre and I would really
appreciate any contributions
you can give for this
very worthy cause.
So, back to my other project
for the year, my reach out
mission to all of parts of the
profession. I canvassed
opinion from members of
our Family Law Committee,
including the Chair, Kim Aucott,
from Slater Heelis. The
Family Law Committee is
one of our more recent developments.
They were set
up from scratch 18 months
ago but still managed to
put on a very successful
conference last year. Their
next conference is coming
up on 21 June and I urge
local practitioners to attend.
There will be views from the
local judiciary including a
keynote speech from HHJ
Tyler and a fantastic all
round programme, including
updates on pensions
and children law and a
panel discussion on experts
which promises to be very
lively.
Later in the year, the Annual
Debate will be in the calendar
around October time
and the proposed topic this
year will be “Is family justice
biased against men?”
One of the real issues, unsurprisingly,
and one that
affects many area of practice
is court closures in outlying
areas. Morale in the
courts that are slated for
closure, but which are still
open, is by all accounts very
low.
One very clear pressure is
on costs, with hourly rates
under pressure and clients
not being able to fund litigation
privately or easily
and wanting to do things
on a shoestring. Client costs
is a very sensitive issue and
with so much information
easily available on the internet,
it is becoming increasingly
common for clients to
limit their instructions to
Family lawyers to the finer
points of litigation. In fact
the traditional solicitor
client relationship is changing
fundamentally. This is a
worrying trend since without
the full picture at an initial
stage, Family solicitors
can easily be heading down
the route of a potential negligence
claim.
On a practical level, dealing
with litigants in person is
fraught with difficulties.
Michael Hardacre
There is pressure on the Judiciary
due to a lack of resources
so a practitioner up
against a litigant in person,
will often find their case
stood down with a direction
to attempt to sort things
out with the litigant in person.
Continued on page 6

6 Movers & Shakers
Chafes Solicitors appoints Jo-anne
Green as Marketing & PR Manager
Cheshire-based law firm
Chafes Solicitors has appointed
Jo-anne Green as
Marketing and PR Manager.
Before joining Chafes, Joanne
worked in the funeral
planning and legal services
divisions at The Co-operative.
Jo-anne will be fully responsible
for marketing at the
firm including digital, print
and events. She will be primarily
based in the New
Mills office of Chafes but will
also cover Wilmslow and
Alderley Edge.
Jo-anne Green said:“I’m
thrilled to be joining Chafes
and I’m looking forward to
applying my experience
Law firm Slater Heelis LLP
is targeting a £10m fee income
after completing its
round of strategic acquisitions
in the Manchester
legal market.
The firm, which has four offices
and employs more
than 130 staff says it’s now
on target for a £10m
turnover before the end of
2018.
Since 2013, the full practice
firm has acquired four Manchester-based
firms (Tarran
& Co, Nichols Locke, Cottrills
and Mohindra Maini) resulting
in a £7.5m fee income
practice by the end of this financial
year.
Slater Heelis has increased
turnover by 26 per cent in
the last year, increased its
profit per equity partner
and boosted headcount
from 68 to 137 people.
Slater Heelis was established
1773 and is one of
Manchester’s longest standing
law firms.
Chris Bishop, managing
partner of Slater Heelis, said:
“Organic growth whilst
maintaining the firm’s culture
is our focus for the next
three years. It’s been a dynamic
couple of years for
the firm and we feel we’re
now in the place we set out
to be in 2013 when we
began talking to other complementary
law firms.
“The fact we acquired four
firms in such a short space
and continuing to evolve
the Chafes brand.”
Caroline Calverley, practice
manager at Chafes Solicitors
added:
of time meant we had to really
focus on our culture and
make sure we communicated
this effectively internally
and externally. It’s
tough, exciting and challenging
all at the same time.
“We’ve boosted our corporate
team with the arrival of
experienced corporate
lawyers including Katharine
Mellor, Simon Wallwork and
Sunil Mohindra and we continue
to attract high calibre
individuals both in our business
and personal services
teams.
“Growth by financial numbers
alone is not essential.
We’re not just growing for
the sake of it and I still want
to maintain the ability to
know everyone in the firm
personally as we expand.
Recruitment at Slater Heelis
is based on quality and
compatibility.
“I’m determined to make
sure we retain our character,
personality and reputation
for a good work/life balance
rather than becoming a
faceless law firm.
“Financially, we’re in good
shape with low debt and
we’ve made sure that the
team is well balanced so
that we’re not overly reliant
on one field of the law. We
have a full spread of legal
services for businesses and
individuals and believe this
is the key to sustainable
growth.
“As well as people, we’re
Jo-anne Green
“We’re delighted to be welcoming
Jo to the team at
such an exciting time for the
firm. Jo-anne’s marketing
knowledge will be invaluable
as we move forward
and continue engaging our
clients and the marketplace.”
Slater Heelis LLP targets £10m
Chris Bishop
also investing in a new IT infrastructure
and marketing
activity to ensure that we’re
connecting with our clients
in a way that’s fit for 2016.
Social responsibility is important
to us and I encourage
all our staff to support
efforts to improve local
communities.”
The firm is proud of its support
for HUGS (Helping
Uganda Schools) which
builds schools, nurseries
and education establishments
in Uganda and
Rwanda, Friends of Rosie
(the children’s cancer research
fund), Henshaws (society
for blind people) and
St Ann’s Hospice.
“We’re pleased with our
95% staff retention level
and I want to maintain our
nurturing and entrepreneurial
environment as we
continue to grow,” adds Mr
Bishop.
Send your “Movers & Shakers” to
j.baskerville@jbaskerville.co.uk
New appointment signals growth
for HRC Law
Commercial law firm, HRC
Law, has continued expanding
the team with its
latest appointment of
Kulzinder Garcha.
Kulzinder joins the commercial
property team as an assistant
solicitor, working
alongside partner, Helen
Marsh. She joins from Edward
Hands and Lewis Solicitors
where she acted as a
commercial property solicitor.
For almost ten years, Kulzinder
has worked within the
property sector, starting as
a paralegal, before taking a
focus on commercial property.
Her experience within
the sector spans commercial
transactions including
sales and purchases and
grant of easements.
Commenting on her new
role, Kulzinder said: “I was
looking for a role in which I
felt I could be as much a
part of building a business
as providing legal advice for
my clients and as soon as I
met the team at HRC, I knew
it was the firm for me. HRC
has a standout ethos and is
making waves in the region,
and I felt Helen would be
the ideal mentor to further
my development as a solicitor.
I’m keen to hit the
ground running and help
build on the success of the
team to date.”
Partner at HRC Law, Helen
Marsh, commented on the
latest addition to her team:
“HRC only launched as a
firm three years ago and the
commercial property team
is only a year old. We’ve
Kulzinder Garcha
President’s Column continued...
On the Public Law side
there is a record number of
issued care proceedings
cases because Social Services
cannot intervene early
enough to prevent cases escalating
towards a stage
where Local Authorities
have to issue care proceedings.
The days when local
councils used to have the
resources to support families
to avoid this situation
arising have gone. As a result
there is pressure also on
Children Services and CAF-
CASS.
Increasing numbers of Family
Lawyers are recognising
the need to embrace ADR
with more lawyers training
as mediators. Training is
costly and anecdotally,
there has not been the takeup
that had been anticipated
but the traditional
model of contested private
been very active and grown
quickly in response to our
ambitious client base.
Kulzinder showed the enthusiasm
and commercial
acumen that we live and
breathe at HRC. As well as a
much-welcomed extra pair
of hands in the team, I can
tell she will bring added
value to our clients in
spades as we help them
build their businesses.”
With clients across retail,
leisure, day nurseries, automotive
and property investment,
HRC Law’s property
team works with fast-growing
organisations across the
region and beyond. The firm
was also recognised as the
‘Law Firm of the Year (Small)’
at the Manchester Legal
Awards earlier this year.
law proceedings is changing
and Family Lawyers cannot
stand still.
And, on that note (and yes
you can start a sentence
with a conjunction), I’m off
outside while the sun’s still
shining.
Michael Hardacre
President
Why join Manchester Law Society?
Here are some of the benefits of membership
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For past copies of The Messenger visit
www.manchesterlawsociety.org.uk/the-messenger-north-west-law

Regulatory Affairs Committee Update
At the start of this month’s
update, you may be interested
to know that we
have two new readers –
my mum and sister - who
were shown last month’s
edition by an avid reader
of the column (you know
who you are)! They had no
idea what I was going on
about but in true supportive
family style, they said
they thought it was interesting.
I can’t guarantee
“interesting” but at least I
hope that it makes a bit
more sense to you!
So, what has been going on
in the past month?
The Regulators
The Legal Services Board
(LSB) has issued its overview
report on regulatory standards
and performance reviews
of the eight legal
regulators and has strongly
criticised the Solicitors Regulation
Authority (SRA) over
failures in its enforcement
work. Being a Libran and
therefore well balanced (my
mum and sister and others
who know me may beg to
differ!), I will add that the
LSB also welcomed the
“substantial progress” they
had made since the first set
of reports in 2012.
In relation to enforcement
work, the LSB commented
that it “generated a significant
amount of public interest
and media attention”
and referred to the public
criticism the SRA has received
recently from the
SDT in relation to its case
preparation, the drafting of
its allegations and the quality
of the evidence presented
(if you want to see
one of the latest where the
SDT said it was “appalled
and dismayed” at the approach
adopted by the SRA,
have a look at the case of
McDonald). My Compli
team are regularly coming
across cases of poor case
preparation, drafting and illthought
out allegations
when we act for firms/individuals
being disciplined
and it is hoped that now
that the LSB has raised this,
it will be looked at internally
by the SRA and improvements
made. Again, doing
my Libran balancing act,
when I mentioned the SDT
criticism of the SRA to Paul
Philip at a recent MLS Council
meeting, he was not so
complimentary of the SDT
either!
You might also be interested
to hear that the LSB in
its report has also called for
the civil standard of proof to
be used in the SDT. That to
me would be dangerous
and I hope the SDT continues
to fight hard against
this.
The LSB has also warned
about the risk that the overhaul
of the Handbook “may
be too much” for firms and
the regulator to cope with.
As I have mentioned in previous
updates, the SRA will
be issuing a consultation
later this year on reducing
the size of the Handbook
significantly. I know that
many of you feel that there
was a certain comfort with
the prescriptive rule book
but those days have of
course now gone. However,
as my colleague Martina
said to me recently “Whilst
over the years I have heard
many solicitors complain
about the regulator I have
not heard them actually say
that the Code of Conduct
took up too much space on
the bookshelf. The assumption
lawyers want less rules
is a little perverse. They are
lawyers after all!” My fear is
that the focus on Principles
with little else will mean
that what firms/individuals
can/cannot do will be even
more vague and create
more uncertainty. The consultation
will soon be upon
us so you need to start
thinking about this now and
how it might impact on you.
Your views are really important
so do please email me
or Fran with any views.
For those who are thinking
they’ve had enough, “regulator
shopping” might have
just been made that bit easier
with the Council for Licensed
Conveyancers
announcing its plans to
move its PII requirements
entirely to the open market
(In case you’re interested
the CLC received a “satisfactory”
grade in all areas from
the LSB and was praised for
its “good corporate governance
processes”). It is proposed
that run-off cover
would be included in the
minimum terms and conditions
with insurers being
obliged to provide six years
of run-off cover for a firm
which closes at no additional
cost at the time of closure.
Coupled with an
announcement by the SRA
that it is consulting on a
change to its rules which
would remove the run-off
requirement where a firm
switches to another approved
regulator, this could
make moving much easier
for certain firms.
Recent caselaw for conveyancers/AML
warning
Anyone involved in conveyancing
or responsible for
managing Anti-Money
Laundering risks should
take heed of the recent findings
of the High Court in the
case of Purrunsing v A'Court
& Co (a firm) & Anor [2016]
EWHC 789 (Ch) (14 April
2016) which held the conveyancers
on both sides of a
fraudulent property transaction
liable for loss suffered
by the buyer.
The court found that the
seller’s solicitor had failed to
The deadline for the July
edition of the Messenger
is 9th June 2016
perform its anti-money
laundering obligations in
accordance with reasonable
practice in the circumstances
and that failure had
increased the loss by fraud.
There are a number of lessons
for all conveyancers to
learn from this so if you are
unsure whether your client
take-on procedures are robust
and effective enough
or your teams need proper
training to recognise red
flags, my Compli team can
carry out a review for you or
help with training so do get
in touch.
And whilst on fraud, a recent
Law Society report reveals
that more than one in
five law firms have been targeted
by scammers in past
year with money being successfully
stolen from client
account in 8% of such cases.
Again, make sure your staff
receive training on this to
avoid being the victim of
such scams.
Summer Parties
What’s this got to do with
regulation I hear you ask?
Well, lets go back to the regulator
disciplinary theme
(the Bar this time), where its
Tribunal fined a barrister
£1800 recently for pestering
3 women at a chambers
summer party finding that
he failed to act with integrity
and behaved in a
way likely to diminish the
trust and confidence the
public places in a barrister
or in the profession. So I will
end on this note of caution -
As summer party season approaches,
be careful that
that magic drink doesn’t get
you a regulatory sanction!
Michelle Garlick
Chair
Manchester Law Society
Regulatory Affairs
Committee
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Forthcoming Events
8 Movers & Shakers
Hill Dickinson advises on sale of
Cleanex Contract Services
The Manchester office of
law firm, Hill Dickinson
has advised on the sale of
Cleanex Contract Services
Limited to AM Services
Group Limited, a provider
of facilities management
services to a number of
blue chip clients situated
in the North West, North
East and Midlands via AM
Support Services and Pristine
Washrooms.
Hill Dickinson acted on behalf
of majority shareholders,
David and Rebekah
Gardner with a team led by
David Mkhitarian and assisted
by Sean Lightfoot
(Corporate), Tom Slinger
(Employment) and Rebecca
Layton (Banking). Andy
Feeke of CLB Coopers’ Manchester
office provided corporate
finance advice.
The Stoke-on-Trent- based,
industrial cleaning company,
was established in
1992 and specialises in large
scale commercial and industrial
cleaning servicing
many blue-chip clients nationally.
David Mkhitarian, from Hill
Dickinson said: “We are delighted
to have worked with
The Gardner family to advise
on the sale of Cleanex
Contract Service Limited.
The family has firmly established
the brand and has
developed an unrivalled operation
over the past 20
years which is recognised
on a national level.”
Andy Feeke of CLB Coopers
also commented: “Cleanex
is exactly the type of corporate
finance client we work
with at CLB Coopers; a business
that has been built by
an ambitious and hugely
David Mkhitarian
dedicated owner-manager
and one who is now looking
to exit the business and
pass it to new owners with
growth plans for the future.
It has been an absolute
pleasure to work with the
outgoing owners of Cleanex
and to build such a great
working relationship with
them."
Blackstone Solicitors set for further expansion
Blackstone Solicitors in
Hale have again announced
further expansion
to the range of
services that they offer as
two more lawyers’ join
this award-winning firm.
The firm is adding a specialist
department in both Wills
and Probate and also Corporate
Services. Judith
Chesters is an experienced
Private Client Lawyer specialising
in dealing with estate
planning and
administration, the preparation
of Wills and Powers of
Attorney and Court of Protection
matters. Robin
Fozard is an experienced
Corporate Solicitor and provides
corporate and commercial
advice to SMEs,
Limited Liability Partnerships
and Partnerships.
The range of services now
available at Blackstone includes
Commercial and
Property Litigation, Residential
Property, Commercial
Property, Family Law,
Wills and Probate and Corporate
services.
The firm is led by Emma
Nawaz who set up the firm
in 2010. The company are
expected to turn over £1.2
million pounds in the next
financial year.
Commenting on the continued
expansion of this dynamic
firm, Emma Nawaz
adds, “We are delighted to
welcome both Judith and
Robin to the team, undoubtedly
their specialist
areas will prove invaluable
to the Blackstone offering.
Blackstone prides themselves
on providing expert
service and are dedicated to
winning cases. Judith has
Robin Fozard
vast experience in dealing
with disputed estates and
claims and also handles residential
conveyancing. Corporate
services are often
perceived as a highly complex
area of law; Robin has
the knowledge and experience
to provide invaluable
guidance to our clients and
to ensure that transactions
run smoothly.”
DLA Piper Real Estate North - going
for growth
DLA Piper's North West
Real Estate team has
worked on an impressive
number of high profile
transactions in recent
months.
The practice is growing significantly
and has promoted
both Tom Kelsall and
Richard Thompson to partner
as of 1 May. There were
also four promotions to
legal director and six promotions
to senior associate.
This is in addition to the recent
recruitment of legal director
Paul Burney from
Addleshaw Goddard and
senior associate Hannah
Cheminais from Pinsent Masons.
The team, led by Mark
Beardwood, has advised on
a wide array of transactions
covering a number of sectors
and locations across the
region. Regular clients include
Universities Superannuation
Scheme, CBRE
Global Investors, Telereal
Trillium, Greater Manchester
Pension Fund and Downing
Developments.
In the growing field of build
to rent and PRS development
in Manchester, the
team is advising Capital &
Centric plc and Balfour
Beatty Investments on their
Northern Barristers’
Chambers, St John’s Buildings,
has today been instructed
on its one
millionth case. The Chambers,
which has grown to
be one of the largest in
the country, is thought to
be the first to reach this
landmark.
The case management system
used by St John’s Buildings
logged case number
1,000,000 when Paige Coppack
logged a new instruction
on for personal injury
and employment law specialist
Jamie Jenkins.
Sally Harrison QC, Head of
Chambers at St John’s Buildings
said “This monumental
achievement is a testament
recently announced developments
at Crusader Works
and New Cross respectively.
Within the real estate finance
sector, the team have
recently completed the provision
of new debt facilities
to an international investor
in connection with a portfolio
of West End trophy assets
worth over £800 million,
one of a number of real estate
finance deals completed
in the past 12
months with a combined
value in excess of £1.5 billion.
The North West team is also
retained to advise a variety
of occupiers in relation to
their real estate needs.
These include a global mandate
for Aecom which recently
involved the
completion of their new
100,000 square foot London
HQ at Aldgate Tower, and
acting for regional heavyweights
The Co-operative
Bank PLC on its own London
office move together with
advising online retailer
AO.com on the 386,000
square foot expansion of its
distribution platform at
Crewe.
As well as acting for institutions,
funders, private developers
and investors, the
team also continues to ad-
to the enormous skill,
knowledge and dedication
of the clerks and support
staff in Chambers. Their expertise
and specialist
knowledge is widely acclaimed
by our clients. The
members of Chambers provide
the highest levels of
professional service and are
recognised across the country
as leading practitioners
in their specialist areas of
practice.”
Chris Ronan, Chief Executive
of St John’s Buildings commented,
“It is a fantastic
achievement for St John’s
Buildings to receive our one
millionth instruction. We are
a chambers that has grown
on the basis of providing exceptional
advocates and
vise on significant infrastructure
and redevelopment
investment. These
include the major redevelopment
of Anfield for Liverpool
FC and, within the
public sector, the £200 million
Trafford Park Metrolink
Extension on behalf of TfGM
and the £270 million Northgate
Redevelopment in
Chester, all of which are ongoing
long term projects.
Mark Beardwood, Head of
DLA Piper's North West Real
Estate team commented:
"We are very pleased with
the high level of transactions
we've advised on recently.
The promotions we
have made recently are a
well-deserved reward for
the hard work put in over
the past couple of years by
the team, as well as a reflection
of our confidence in the
market and our increased
share of it going forward.
With a number of substantial
transactions being handled
and yet to complete,
the pipeline for the remainder
of 2016 is very strong
and sees the team continuing
to work on a unified
basis across the North West
whilst expanding our client
base across the sectors."
Milestone one millionth case reached
skilled support staff and we
value the quality of the service
we provide.
This achievement demonstrates
that our clients also
value those qualities and we
work hard every day to improve
what we do.”
The case records span 30
years and include cases received
by St John’s Buildings
in Manchester,
Sheffield, Liverpool and
Chester. In that time the
Chambers has been instructed
in some of the
country’s most high profile
cases in areas of law that
span the full range of legal
services.
Why join Manchester Law Society?
The Professionals’ Dinner Club
• Taking place at different restaurants in and around Manchester
the Professionals’ Dinner Club meets once every two months and
offers a three course meal with drinks at a great price
Left to right:Alison Barnett, Daniel Thomas, Emma Nawaz, Nick Jackson and Judith
Chesters
• An extremely popular series of events offers guests an
opportunity to informally network on a social platform with a
variety of professions

Double celebration for Nigel Shepherd after
appointed as head of family law at Mills & Reeve
and chair of Resolution
Nigel Shepherd has been
appointed as head of family
at national law firm
Mills & Reeve.
Nigel, who is a partner in
the north west family law
team, has also taken over as
chair of national family law
organisation, Resolution. It
is a move that has seen him
become the only lawyer to
be national chair twice - last
time being in 1995 to 1997.
As head of family law at
Mills & Reeve, Nigel has succeeded
the previous joint
heads, Roger Bamber and
David Salter both of whom
are renowned nationally as
experts in family law.
Nigel, who is ranked in the
top tier of legal guides
where he is hailed for “getting
the results clients are
looking for” is a specialist
family lawyer, collaborative
lawyer and family arbitrator
with more than 35 years’ experience
dealing mainly
with the more complex financial
issues on divorce.
Nigel said: "It's a real honour
to be taking on the role of
Head of Family at Mills &
Reeve, particularly as I am
succeeding Roger Bamber
and David Salter who are
both giants of family law.
“My priority is to maintain
and build on Mills & Reeve's
reputation as the leading
national firm for family law
work, delivering outstanding
client service with a settlement
focus in complex
cases, locally, nationally and
internationally.”
Movers & Shakers 9
Nigel Shepherd
Commenting on his role as
chair of Resolution, Nigel
added: “I am delighted to
have been appointed again
as chair of Resolution. I have
worked with the organisation
for more than a quarter
of a century and I am looking
forward to leading Resolution
through what will
be ongoing and significant
changes in the family law
arena."
Roberts Jackson Employee Ownership
Scheme launched
RJ launched a new innovative
share scheme in December
2015 and the first
tranche of shares have
been signed off this
month.
24 employees across the
firm have been selected to
participate in the scheme
and were handed shares
this month in recognition of
their contribution to the
firm’s success to date.
The scheme is unique for a
law firm in the fact that the
shares have been awarded
to the employees without
them having to pay for the
shares to reward them for
their hard work and dedication
over the years.
As the business value
grows, those shares will also
grow in value and will release
a future cash benefit
for those employees who
have helped drive the value
of the business upwards.
A further review will take
place in 6 months to consider
other employees who
demonstrate that they can
add value, drive performance
and provide the best
client care for our client’s as
well as be a well-rounded
ambassador for Roberts
Jackson Solicitors.
The RJ employee ownership
scheme was launched in
December. The scheme initially
applies to employees
who have been selected
and will be reviewed every 6
months to either top up
share of those selected and
or adding to that list other
RJ employees who fit the eligibility
criteria.
It is a scheme whereby
shares are handed out via
the use of a mechanism to
selected RJ employees,
shares which they do not
need to pay for. As the business
value grows those
shares will grow in value. At
the time of the next “happening
“ or “ exit” those
shares WILL be sold to realise
their value releasing a
cash benefit for those people
who have helped drive
the value of the business
upwards and consequently
improved profitability.
This is an amazing opportunity
and unique within this
sector. If you aren’t eligible
at this time then there will
be a further review in 6
months and thereafter
every 6 months to consider
others who may show they
can add value and drive
turnover as well as maintain
and improve quality of legal
services, focus on a great
client service, maintain reputation
and act as an ambassador
of Roberts
Jackson.
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10 News
Mills & Reeve helps British sprinter who
was unwittingly drugged by her coach
Sports lawyers at the
Manchester office of law
firm Mills & Reeve have
helped a young British
sprinter who failed a
drugs test return to the
sport after she was unwittingly
given the banned
substance by her coach.
Lawyer Walter Nicholls represented
Bernice Wilson
who was facing a four-year
ban after testing positive for
clomiphene.
Ms Wilson had been previously
banned for four years
in 2011 after she tested positive
for testosterone and
clenbuterol. Before her return
to the sport, Wilson
was required to take another
drugs test in February
15 which she failed and was
facing another four-year
ban.
Ms Wilson said she had
been unknowingly given
the drug by her coach
George Skafidas. It was also
Bury-based solicitor
Emma Cordock, has been
appointed to the Law Society’s
Children Panel as a
specialist in dealing with
the areas of law relating to
children.
Emma has been selected to
join the prestigious panel
following a rigorous screening
process, taking AFG
LAW’s total number of accredited
Children Panel solicitors
to five – who
between them have 47
years on the panel. They are
AFG LAW directors Teresa
Vickers and Catherine Woolley
and solicitors Anthony
Theakston and Daniela
Maggioni.
In order to secure the accreditation,
Emma had to
undergo a lengthy and rigorous
application process.
The accreditation means
that Emma is now a certified
claimed that the young athlete
had suffered years of
physical and mental abuse
at the hands of the coach.
On the advice of Mills &
Reeve, Ms Wilson agreed to
testify against Skafidas who
has subsequently been
handed a lifetime ban from
the sport by Britain’s Anti-
Doping Agency (UKAD) for
doping offences relating to
Ms Wilson.
The UKAD said that Skafidas
had concealed a Notice of
Charge sent to Wilson by
UKAD and ‘knowingly provided
a false account to
UKAD’ during his interview
in Greece in June 2015.
Ms Wilson’s four-year ban
was reduced to 10 months
as a result of “the substantial
assistance’ she gave UKAD.
The Mills & Reeve team also
successfully argued that her
10-month ban should have
started from the date of the
failed drugs test in February
2015 and not from July
2015 – the date she was due
to return to the sport after
the original four-year ban –
meaning she could start
competing immediately
and not wait until May this
year.
In a landmark decision,
UKAD agreed that the ban
should start from February
2015 and Ms Wilson can
now make a successful return
to the sport.
Walter said: “This is a fantastic
outcome for Bernice who
had suffered years of abuse
at the hands of her oppressive
coach. She still has no
idea why he gave her the
drug on the eve of her return
to the sport. It was a
brave decision to testify
against Skafidas and that
bravery has been rewarded.”
Emma becomes fifth AFG LAW solicitor to be
appointed to Law Society Children Panel
Children’s Representative
and can act for children
through court appointed
guardians in all care proceedings
and complex family
law cases.
Emma said: “Family law has
always been my passion
and I have built up my experience
in many varied cases
since qualifying as a solicitor
in 2011. Being accepted
onto the Children Panel
now means that I can work
with guardians to represent
children and ensure they
achieve the best possible
outcome.”
Teresa Vickers, head of family
law at AFG LAW, said: “We
are extremely proud of
Emma and all of her
achievements. She is a very
talented lawyer who always
goes the extra mile for her
clients. As a firm, we are delighted
that we now have
five solicitors with this prestigious
accreditation,
demonstrating the
strength, experience and
expertise that our team possess."
Emma qualified as a solicitor
in April 2011 and was a finalist
for the legal aid
lawyer of the year awards in
2015. She is co-chair of the
Resolution Legal Aid Committee
whose members are
committed to the resolution
of family disputes, promoting
a non-confrontational
approach to family problems
and encouraging solutions
that consider the
needs of the family as a
whole and in particular, the
best interests of children.
Emma has been an accredited
specialist to represent
adults for some time before
her certificate was converted
to include children
too.
Slater Heelis appoints Nicky Collins as partner
Manchester and Cheshirebased
law firm Slater
Heelis LLP has appointed
Nicky Collins as corporate
and commercial partner.
Before joining Slater Heelis
LLP Nicky spent nearly ten
years with George Davies
Solicitors LLP and was at
Browne Jacobson LLP for
three years.
Nicky has extensive experience
in advising on mergers,
acquisitions, disposals
and commercial arrangements
particularly in the education
and healthcare
sectors. She joins Katharine
Mellor, Simon Wallwork and
Sunil Mohindra as a senior
player in the Slater Heelis
corporate team.
Chris Bishop, managing
partner at Slater Heelis LLP
said:“I’m thrilled to welcome
Nicky to the team. With
more than twenty years’ experience
and an impressive
number of referrals and recommendations,
I know
Nicky will be a valuable
member of the corporate
team.”
JMW Solicitors LLP has released
its 2015/2016 financial
results which
again reveal exceptional
growth in revenue and
profit.
Income at the firm is up by
16% from £19.4 million to
£22.5 million and provisional
profit up 13.3% from
£3.8 million to £4.3 million,
with PEP standing at
£430,000.
This is against a background
of an overall increase in revenue
of 118% in the last 5
years from 2011 to 2016,
revenue having risen from
£10.3 million to £22.5 million.
During the last year many of
the departments have
achieved very impressive
growth. The Commercial Litigation
team led the way
with an increase of 55%,
closely followed by the Private
Client team with a 47%
increase. Fees also substantially
grew in Business Crime
& Regulation (43%), Commercial
Property (42%),
Clinical Negligence (23%)
and Family (13%).
JMW has again seen many
more instructions via its
website, with website revenue
up by 17% to £1.5 million.
Fees from the solicitor’s
referral network Lawshare
also increased by a remarkable
50% to £1 million and
the network now comprises
of 270 firms, an increase of
70 in the past year.
Nicky Collins
Nicky Collins added:“I’m delighted to be joining Slater Heelis
at such an exciting time for the corporate and commercial
team.”
Another outstanding year for JMW
New commercial clients are
joining JMW at an ever increasing
rate and 70% of
the work taken on in the
past year came from new
clients including Natwest,
Compass Minerals, Parking
Eye, TJ Morris, GreenThumb
Ltd, Lowry Capital, LWC
Drinks Ltd and the British
Parking Association.
Notable cases in JMW’s
highly rated Clinical Negligence
included the multimillion
pound settlement
for Bradley Albans who sustained
a brain injury 2 days
after birth and a £3.9 million
settlement for Amos
Mason who was born with
serious thyroid condition
which went undiagnosed
meaning he suffered devastating
brain damage
Staff numbers at the firm
have also grown from 280
to 320 in the past year including
8 new Partners.
New arrivals included Mike
Blood (Corporate), Michael
Kennedy (Commercial Litigation),
Mike Rainford and
Derek Millard-Smith (Business
Crime & Regulation),
Liz Cotton (Employment),
Tom Cressey and Majid
Mahmood (Commercial
Property) and Chris Love
(Corporate Recovery & Insolvency).
There are also
several further new hires
planned in the coming
months including 3 new
Family Partners in the summer.
Commenting on another
successful year for JMW
Senior Partner Joy Kingsley
said:
“We have continued to work
with many longstanding
clients and we also enjoy
the loyalty of a loyal and extensive
individual client
base. Each year many new
clients join JMW and 70% of
our instructions last year
came from new clients. We
are committed to becoming
a law firm of choice in Manchester
for both clients and
lawyers across all disciplines.
The recruitment of
lawyers and those with
business development skills
and good client relationships,
has been instrumental
in the profitable growth
of JMW.”
Paul Walker, Managing Partner
at JMW commented:
“We are delighted that is
has been another year of
great success at JMW with
further substantial increases
in both revenue and profit.
Our performance reflects a
continual upward trend,
with more 13% being
added to Revenue in each
of the last 5 years and profit
rising substantially too. We
are delighted that is has
been another year of great
success at JMW with further
substantial increases in
both revenue and profit.
The effort of everyone at
JMW in achieving these results
is greatly appreciated

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12 Local News
China trip to help forge new trade links
A delegation from law firm Ward Hadaway headed to
China last month to take part in a major international
business conference.
Ward Hadaway Head of Commercial Colin Hewitt and
Commercial Litigation Partner Elaine Chan recently visited
the city of Xi'an in Western China for the China-
Shaanxi SME Cross-Border Investment and Trade
Cooperation Conference.
The event, which took place from May 12 to 14, saw delegates
from around the world meet up with representatives
of more than 600 companies across China to help forge new
trade links.
In China, the Ward Hadaway delegation held face to face
meetings with delegates with a number of Chinese businesses.
The firm was invited to the event by Bank of China and were
among more than 50 delegates from the UK attending the
conference.
Elaine Chan said: "This was a great opportunity for us as a
firm to form new relationships and create links with a wide
range of different companies in China who are looking to do
business in the UK and Europe.
"We went to see if we can help facilitate trade, co-operation,
investment or joint ventures between these companies and
the UK so it promises to be an interesting and exciting trip.
"Xi'an where the conference is took place is the capital city
of Shaanxi Province and is known as the starting point of the
ancient Silk Road – the famous trade route between China
and the west – so it was quite an appropriate venue.
"It is also the home town of the current Chinese President Xi
Jinping and is recognised as an important location for overseas
companies and investors."
Elaine has a range of experience working with businesses in
China and those trading with China, including recently
working on cases representing a UK household name retailer
involving a product liability recovery from a Chinese
supplier, and a major UK plumbing supplies company on a
dispute with a Chinese manufacturer, both of which were
successfully resolved.
During their time out in China, the Ward Hadaway delegation
discussed potential opportunities with Chinese companies
in a range of sectors including pharmaceuticals,
engineering, agriculture, food production and textiles.
Colin Hewitt said: "Whilst these discussions are the very start
of potential commercial developments, it is clear that there
is a real appetite amongst companies in China to do more
business with the UK and through the UK, Europe.
"We had a significant number of face to face meetings with
companies operating in a wide range of different sectors.
"It was a fascinating and productive visit and we are looking
forward to spreading the word about our capabilities as a
law firm to further international trade and commerce.
"We have a strong track record of supporting inward investment
projects in the UK and we hope that this latest initiative
proves to be equally successful."
Heading east – Elaine Chan of Ward Hadaway who
was part of the law firm's delegation to a major trade
conference in China in May
"These days Xi'an is the permanent site for the Euro-Asia
Economic Forum and an economic powerhouse in Western
China with industries including engineering, aerospace,
agriculture and in particular a thriving hi-tech sector.

Serious injury solicitors continue
expansion with new arrivals
Serious injury solicitors,
CFG Law, is continuing to
invest in new talent with
the addition of 5 new
members of staff in the
last month.
CFG Law, part of the client
first group, is a specialist serious
injury firm who has
developed a unique approach
to early assessment
and tailored rehabilitation
for their clients. Based in
South Manchester, but
helping people all across
England and Wales, CFG
Law has built its reputation
based on putting their
clients’ needs and wellbeing
at the heart of everything
they do.
The firm strongly believes in
the importance of recruiting
specialist staff to join their
outstanding team of legal
experts who share the same
ethos to help and provide
ongoing support to clients
and their families.
CFG Law is therefore excited
Getting your content seen and heard
It's no wonder content marketing
is such a widely
adopted strategy. Creating
assets that earn traffic and
backlinks, as well as promoting
your thought leadership;
it ticks a lot of boxes.
However, there's more to
content marketing than just
producing a great article,
whitepaper, infographic or
video. To really succeed, you
have to amplify it, and give
it a helping hand to ensure
it is seen by the right people.
And luckily, getting the
basics right doesn't require
a lot of time or money.
Baby steps
It seems absurd that a business
wouldn't use their social
media to share their
content – as well as existing
followers, there's huge potential
to expand your reach
through the social ripple effect.
It happens all too often –
usually a symptom of a
siloed approach, where the
individuals producing the
content (whether in-house
or agency) are seen as separate
from the individuals
to report on the arrival of
Associate Solicitor Caroline
Fox, Solicitor Rifat Wazir, two
Client Support Managers
Marloes Molinger and
Rachel Relf and an additional
legal secretary to support
the team, Lynne Smith.
Associate Solicitor Caroline
Fox joins the firm from
Slater and Gordon and contributes
13 years’ legal experience
to the team. She has
worked on a large number
of catastrophic injury cases,
with a track record of helping
clients claim sums in excess
of £3 million.
Solicitor Rifat Wazir joins
CFG Law with 5 years legal
experience, including handling
more complex and
high value claims. She is
particularly keen on treating
clients as individuals,
looking at their injuries and
personal situation on a
case-by-case basis to ensure
they receive bespoke assistance
with their claims.
running the social account.
A centralised content strategy
and constant communication
are essential.
Another frequently missed
opportunity is email – your
monthly newsletter is a perfect
opportunity to shout
about a great piece of content
on your site. You never
know who on your mailing
list might be influenced by
it, or might forward it.
Digging deeper
While topical pieces can of
course do well, evergreen
content is something we always
recommend as its
lifespan for amplification is
so much longer – permitting
multiple shares of the
same story, even months
down the line. If anybody
has contributed to or been
mentioned in your content,
let them know about it –
while your colleagues could
be persuaded to give it a
boost via their profiles too.
Then there's paid amplification
to consider. As well as
standard ads, you can pay
to promote your great content
(a whitepaper or guide
Local News 13
The firm is also pleased to
welcome two Client Support
Managers to the team.
Marloes Molinger and
Rachel Relf are experienced
Occupational Therapists
and will be providing expert
advice and support to seriously
injured clients from
the outset of their claim, in
order that a tailored programme
of rehabilitation
can be put in place so that
clients can achieve a quicker
and more improved recovery.
CFG Law’s Managing Director,
Alastair Fernie commented,
“The strength of
the firm lies in our talented
team of professional and
their expertise in helping injured
people to recover
from devastating injuries. I
am delighted to welcome
our new members of staff to
help us continue to offer
high level of support to our
clients and their families.”
for example) to targeted individuals
based on demographics,
interests or even
job title, so it appears in
their feed. If you understand
your audience, this is really
powerful - and don't forget
to combine it with remarketing,
so readers are reminded
to come back.
Right content, right time
Ultimately, no amount of
amplification will make
someone read content that
is shoddy, boring or irrelevant.
Similarly, promoting
content in places or at times
when your customers won't
see it is just a waste. Once
again, it comes down to the
absolute importance of understanding
the audience.
JMW advise family after fatal
cattle attack
Gordon Cartwright, Partner
at JMW Solicitors LLP,
has been instructed to act
for the family from Manchester
after being victims
of an attack by a herd
of cattle whilst holidaying
in Northumberland, resulting
in the death of a
member of the family.
Marian Clode, 61, died after
being attacked by the herd
while out for a family walk
on April 3 in Belford,
Northumberland.
She was visiting the area
with her husband, Christopher,
63, their daughter,
Lucy Rowe, her husband,
Kevin Rowe, and their two
children (Marian’s Grandchildren),
Oliver and Charlotte,
staying at Swinhoe
Farm Cottages.
Mrs Clode and her family
had been walking along a
public bridle path which
runs through the farm from
the well-known national
trust site St Cuthbert’s Cave
when they were approached
at speed by a
herd of cattle. One of the
herd became aggressive,
approaching Mrs Clode and
repeatedly head-butted her.
Mr Rowe shepherded the
rest of the party to safety in
an adjoining field before returning
to his mother-in-law
who, by that time, was lying
unconscious and face down
in a field off the bridle path.
The farmer, Alistair Nixon,
arrived on the scene several
minutes after the attack, on
a quadbike.
An ambulance was called
and both the Rowes and
paramedics attempted resuscitation
before Mrs
Clode, from Ashton-under-
Lyne, was airlifted to the
Royal Victoria Infirmary in
Newcastle upon Tyne. She
sadly passed away on April
5.
The family, who live in Hyde,
has engaged Gordon
Cartwright of JMW Solicitors
to help guide them
through the legal process to
come, which will involve an
inquest - a hearing likely to
involve both Northumbria
Police and the HSE - and
want to ensure that they are
adequately represented.
Gordon said: “The family’s
Effective and practical
partnership and LLP advice
Our experienced team can assist you
in all aspects relating to partnerships
and LLPs from acquisitions and
conversions to LLPs to disputes and
expulsion of members.
“Experienced enc
ed and thorough” ough”
“Tenacious in
seeking the correct outcome”
ome”
“Gets the right results for the client”
Chambers Directory
Gordon Cartwright
main reason for sharing
their story at this terribly
distressing time is that they
want to prevent other families
going through such a
traumatic experience.
“The family are also aware
that there is likely to be an
inquest in the coming
months and have asked that
we help guide them though
that process. The strength
and dignity they have
shown in the face of this
tragedy is admirable and I
am proud to support them
at this difficult time."
Please ring 0161 393 3 9041 for a discussion sion in confidence
a
www.pannonecorporate.com
We are nationally recognised by Chambers as being specialists in this area

14 Feature
Solicitor Laboratory honoured by Queen for world’s
fastest DNA tests
Paternity disputes can be extremely distressing and
cause difficulties when it comes to making agreements
concerning custody, child maintenance payments and
contact arrangements.
DNA tests are an effective way of ending doubts so all parties
have the evidence they need to move forward. When
choosing a DNA test provider, it is important to select a
company which offers accuracy, speed and discretion at a
competitive price.
AlphaBiolabs offers DNA test results the next working day
as standard, making them the fastest in the world. Their efficient
approach to DNA testing has now seen the UK-based
laboratory honoured by the Queen with an award which
was announced on her 90th birthday.
AlphaBiolabs has won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation
for developing a fast DNA testing method. The
Queen’s Awards scheme is regarded as the UK’s most prestigious
business awards and each year the winners are announced
on the Queen’s birthday.
Have you got money asleep in
your Client Account?
Most law firms will have
those sleepy ledgers
which have funds snoozing
away in them. These
dormant accounts can
occur for a variety reasons,
for example;
amount is too small say
under £1.00, the client
doesn’t cash a refund
cheque, client moves and
you can no longer contact
them, a file is inherited
from a former fee earner,
or it could be funds from
an acquired firm.
The temptation is to let
sleeping dogs lie but that’s a
recipe for disaster if you
don’t want to your accountants
to report you to the
SRA for a breach of accounts
rules. Why not clear those
sleepy ledgers? It is quite
easy to do. If you follow this
checklist.
1 Is the amount above or
below £500?
2 If the amount is above
you will need to follow Accounts
Rule 20.1(k)
and obtain written authorisation
from the SRA to
deal with any distribution.
3 If the amount if below
then you will need to follow
Accounts Rule 20.1(j)
Amounts over £500 will
need a senior member of
staff for example the COFA
to be involved in any distribution
efforts.
For amounts below £500
this can be delegated to a
cashier or non-fee earning
member of staff to process.
They will need to make reasonable
efforts to identify
the client and who should
be receiving the funds.
This is particularly important
when you are releasing
funds held as a retention or
from an estate.
Then you need to make adequate
attempts to contact
them this could be as simple
as writing to the last
known address, through to
using the Bulk Letter Forwarding
Service of the DWP.
Now comes the good part.
Select a charity that you
wish to donate the funds to.
Ensure that they acknowledge
receipt of any funds
that you send to them. For
amounts over £500 you
may need an indemnity
against any legitimate claim
subsequently made for the
sum received. In the Manchester
area The Christie is
Christine Calverley
Based in Cheshire, with nationwide Walk-in Centres, AlphaBiolabs
works with family law firms all over the UK, carrying
out DNA tests for clients who need to establish the
paternity of a child. The firm is accredited by the Ministry of
Justice to carry out parentage tests as directed by the Civil
Courts in England and Wales under Section 20 of the Family
Law Reform Act (1969) which means the samples follow
a strict chain of custody so the results are suitable to be used
as evidence during court proceedings if necessary.
Company offers speed and reliability
Commercial director Rachel Davenport said: “We are delighted
to have won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise and so
pleased that our efforts to offer fast, accurate DNA testing
have been recognised. Waiting for DNA test results can be
frustrating at times as the result can often change the direction
of a case so we have worked hard to make the process
as efficient as possible.”
one of a number of charities
that can comply with this
requirement. At Chafes Solicitors
we have donated
nearly £20,000 to the
Christie, some following authorisation
from the SRA
and some through our selfauthorisation.
The SRA Ethics Guidance on
Withdrawal of residual
client balances is clear and
helpful, so why not look at
those sleepy ledgers and
give a boost to some charities?
Caroline Calverley
Practice Manager & COFA
Chafes Solicitors LLP
“At AlphaBiolabs, we understand the pressure of meeting
tight deadlines and preparing evidence in time for important
court dates. We offer results the next working day as
standard, which is the fastest in the world and we also offer
a same day service for legal DNA tests if required.”
The company handles all of its testing in-house, and maintains
a strict chain of custody for all legal DNA, Drug and Alcohol
tests to protect the integrity of each and every
sample. It was also the first UK based laboratory to use 24
markers for paternity testing, again ensuring accurate results.
AlphaBiolabs began offering next day results as standard as
a result of its work with the Jeremy Kyle Show and local authorities.
They are the only company trusted to carry out
DNA tests for the ITV show and the team developed a
streamlined analysis method so it could provide the programme
with results in just five hours after receiving the
samples.
The Competition and
Markets Authority
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has recently worked with the Federation
of Small Businesses to help smaller businesses understand more about anti-competitive
activity so that they can identify when:
• Suppliers may be colluding to charge higher prices
• Competitors may be acting unfairly and illegally
• Colleagues and staff in their business may be breaking the law
The material also explains how businesses can report anti-competitive activity to the CMA
by contacting our Cartels Hotline (0203 738 6888), calling 0203 738 6000 or applying for Leniency.
The ‘Competing-fairly-in-business’ materials are made up of:
• eight short films
• two at a glance guides – a simple explanation of anti-competitive behaviours and a checklist,
and
• a ‘test yourself’ quiz
We recently wrote to law firms headquartered in the Midlands to let them know about this
resource. Similarly, we hope that you find our ‘Competing-fairly-in-business’ material helpful
and we’d value your support in promoting the importance of competition, and the law
that protects it, to your clients. Our research shows that businesses’ understanding of competition
law in the North West is also low:
• Less than half of businesses in the North West (48%) knew that price fixing could lead to
imprisonment
• Less than half (49%) knew that bid-rigging is illegal
• Less than a third (29%) knew that setting the price at which others can resell your product
is illegal
• Only 15% of businesses knew that admitting to participating in a cartel could lead to immunity
from a penalty
• Only 4% have run training on competition law
However, we also commissioned further research which revealed that most small businesses
have a shared ethical sense that certain anti-competitive practices, such as price fixing,
are unfair or wrong and, importantly, that they want to do the right thing.
Competition in general, and amongst small businesses in particular, drives productivity and
growth for the economy, it benefits businesses and consumers through better choice, lower
prices and more innovation . The CMA is responsible for promoting competition, and helping
businesses understand how competition law protects them is an important part of our
work.
We’re also engaging with small business representatives in the North West through local
Chambers of Commerce to promote our ‘Competing-fairly-in business’ materials.
Competition and Markets Authority
Victoria House Southampton Row London WC1B 4AD
020 3738 6000 www.gov.uk/cma

We’ve won a Queen’s Award
Quote QUEENALPHA for a 10% discount
AlphaBiolabs
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.uk

16 Charity & CSR
Making a Difference
This month, Rebecca Stevens of Express Solicitors explains why she
abseiled down the side of Lancashire Cricket Ground...
On the 18th March 2016 I joined Maxine Holgate and
Muneeb Karolia in abseiling 120ft from the top of Lancashire
Cricket Ground. “Why”? I was asked as I asked for
sponsorship. “You’re too old for those kinds of capers!”
my son said.
So here is the reason why; Four years ago I left a very controlling
relationship with little to no confidence. I decided to
change this and made myself a list of things I wanted to
achieve before I was 50.
Three years ago I did my first 10k run as part of a relay team
in the Manchester Marathon, last year I joined a team from
Express in the Survival of the Fittest 10k Assault course, over
the last 3 years I have assisted in the restoration of an original
Mini Mayfair where I learnt to bang rivets, lay carpet, replace
windscreen and battery and manage my own football
team.
I have always wanted to abseil and was fortunate to be a
part of the Express team last month. As the day approached
the nerves kicked in, I don’t think I slept a minute the night
before. As I got in the car with Maxine, Muneeb and Andy
who kindly drove us my stomach was somersaulting.
Maxine and I were up first and as we stood at the top of the
building we watched a 6ft 7 gent prepare for descent. This
gentleman had previously been telling us about all his previous
challenge achievements. We expected this would be
no issue for him, how wrong could we be?! After a lot of
tears, sweating, squealing and many expletives he finally
made his decent. Maxine & I just looked at each other and
thought we have to do better than that! In typical girl power
style we chatted our way through the whole process, smiling
and laughing all the way. Muneeb’s decent was also
completely impressive & fuss free especially as he had to go
it alone.
I was so proud of our team and myself, I am now ready for
the next challenge but what will it be? Rally driving, Bake off,
Manchester to Blackpool cycle……
Who knows but one thing I do know is that you never know
what life will throw at you but you are stronger than you
think you are and can achieve anything you set your mind
to with enough determination. “I can’t” no longer factors in
my thinking now it’s “when can I”?!
Thank you Express for this amazing opportunity.
Rebecca Stevens

Barristers get in a spin for Charity
Barristers and staff cycled
over 1,000 miles – on
stationary bikes
Raised over £4,500 for
Headway, the charity that
aims to improve life after
brain injury
12-hour event took
place at ProSpin in Ashley
on 27 April.
A team of barristers from St
John’s Buildings rode
through Europe – on stationary
“spin” bikes. Their
aim was to cycle as far as
possible in 12 hours, with
only comfort breaks allowed.
They set off at 6am
and by 6pm their combined
distance was 1036 miles. If
they had been out on the
road, they’d have passed
Zurich and Milan and be
heading towards Rome!
Charity & CSR 17
Trafford Law Society Ball raises thousands
for childhood cancer research
At last month’s Society
Ball, members of the Trafford
Law Society raised an
impressive £2,000 for children’s
cancer research.
Just over 100 guests attended
the recent event,
with a proportion of the
ticket price and a fundraising
raffle helping to raise
money for local children’s
cancer research charity,
Friends of Rosie.
Anne Irwin, Friends of Rosie
Trustee, says: “We’re delighted
with the donation
from the Trafford Law Society
and thank all those who
attended the Ball for digging
deep on the night for
local children’s cancer research.
We are just about to
open the application
process for this year’s research
funding programme
and so this donation will
help to fund vital research
over the coming two years.”
Sarah Amatiello, President
of the Trafford Law Society,
added: “This year’s Trafford
Law Society Ball was a great
success and even better
that we could use the occasion
to raise money for such
a worthy cause. Our thanks
go to our members who attended
and contributed on
the night.”
The team included Head of
Chambers and Manchester’s
Barrister of the Year
2016 Sally Harrison QC,
along with barristers Elisabeth
Cooper, Philippa Waddell,
Guy Mathieson,
Nicholas Price, Ben Kelly,
Gareth Thompson, as well
as CEO Chris Ronan and
Senior Civil Clerk Chris
Shaw.
The mammoth challenge was part of St John’s Buildings’
year of fundraising for Headway, the charity that aims to improve
life after brain injury. St John’s Buildings are Charity
Baton Holders for Headway throughout 2016.
You can support their challenge by visiting
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/SJBforHeadway
Burton Copeland CEO Sleepout
On Monday 16th May 2016, Louise Straw, Daniel Weed, Kim Holden, Jonathan Wall
and Yvonne Garside gave up their bed for one night to help those who don't have one.
They braved the cold and slept outdoors side-by-side with their peers to raise awareness
and funds for homeless people in Manchester.
The CEO Sleepout will support the priceless work of Manchester charities and other local
charitable projects linked with homelessness. The ultimate goal is to help make Manchester
a fairer and even better place in which to live, work and do business.
For more information visit
http://www.ceosleepoutuk.com/manchester.html
Louise Straw, Yvonne
Garside, Daniel Weed,
Kim Holden and
Jonathan Wall before the
Sleepout
L ro R: Richard Bradbury, Adam Wightman, Camilla Burton-Baddeley of Trafford Law
Society presenting cheque to Anne Irwin of Friends of Rosie
Chafes Solicitors sponsors ladies lunch
in aid of Marie Curie
A charity lunch held in aid
of Marie Curie Care and
Support through Terminal
Illness, raised over £2000.
Cheshire based law firm
Chafes Solicitors sponsored
the Marie Curie Ladies Daffodil
Lunch at Deanwater
Hotel in Woodford.
This is the 9th year Chafes
have sponsored this event
and the money raised from
the lunch will help support
local Marie Curie nurses,
who provide nursing care to
terminally ill patients in
their own homes 24 hours a
day.
Chafes Solicitors also sponsored
the Marie Curie Volunteer
of the Year Award 2016.
It was presented to Linda
Nelson for the way she always
goes above and beyond
in her work for Marie
Curie and her fundraising
efforts over the past twelve
months.
Caroline Calverley, practice manager at Chafes Solicitors
said:“The lunch was a huge success in raising money and
awareness for the important work Marie Curie supports.
Chafes is proud to sponsor an event which helps such an essential
cause. It was also brilliant to present Volunteer of the
Year to Linda, who was more than deserving of the award.”
Send your Charity and CSR events to
j.baskerville@jbaskerville.co.uk

18 Management Issues
Management Matters
This column is now into its eighth year and feedback is still good. We would still like to receive observations and ideas for
future issues. Please mail Bill Kirby at billkirby@professionalchoiceconsultancy.com or the publisher Julia Baskerville at
j.baskerville@jbaskerville.co.uk
As we do our Strategy…………….
The benefits of partnership realism
Partners in law firms and indeed other professional services
businesses are owner managers and are key to the
success of the business.
If we take as read a strong capability in the chosen legal
work-type, any business these days requires a business
strategy, a business plan, business development strategy
and plan and the same applies to financial modelling
(profitability and working capital) and of course IT strategy.
We then need to add to that staff management,
training and development plus performance management.
Actions continuously need to be measured against milestones
and decisions made on viability, recovery or further
exploitation.
To do all of this we need the best and most willing partners
as Heads of Department and handling business development
- operating with the blessing and
co-operation of all others. Too often this doesn’t happen.
Over the last few years I have seen some positive examples
but unfortunately not wide enough. Admittedly,
only a small case but is very relevant - I have seen two
partners step away from management and business development
roles to effectively do what hey are best at -
fee earning and legal advice – non owners assuming
their management roles. As a result the four owners
quadrupled their profit per equity partner in a few years.
The legal market has never been more dynamic and future
success requires long term planning. Strategic Planning
has to have specific business objectives. If the firm
wants high quality clients, high quality work and high
quality employees, it has to work at it.
Before the business sits down to define business strategy,
we need to conduct not only a stocktake of where
we are as a business. Headcount, locations, fee income
by work-type, gross profit, overheads, net profit, IT, business
development, growth ambitions and overall business
objectives – but also an honest personal
assessment by every partner in the firm, including departure,
work:life balance or retirement plans. Succession
is critical particularly in the commercial world –
phased introductions to new contacts are critical
Partners must work constantly to keep the organisation
dynamic and avoid complacency. The decision making
process must stimulate innovation and change in order
to refresh the firm on a systematic and regular basis. This
requires attention to innovation in service delivery and
the development of new business markets. What is
needed is a fundamental appraisal of how the firm does
business and what can be done to meet the recognised
challenges of the future.
Partners should constantly review management information
and KPIs so as to ensure that theses are linked to
short, medium and long term aims and objectives.
All of the above require management and accountability.
HODs are key to drive through the business. All staff
need delegated accountabilities relating to the business
objectives.
To facilitate this all partners must have an open discussion
about personal drive and ambitions and must be
honest with each other. If someone is not prepared to
put in the time and commitment to for example business
development or management that is required then
a firm needs to look at whether some roles can be given
to other partners or aspiring lawyers.
There is no shame in being honest about liking management
or business development. The key is to get the
right combinations for the overall success of the business
and enhanced rewards.
In the last few years many firms have made some very
big management and business development changes -
much of this is on top of personal workload. In the modern
world it is inevitable and it wouldn’t matter which
law firm it is.
Some partners may like or completely dislike business
development, some are natural, some are eager to learn
and with others it may be a lost cause. Management is
exactly the same. Job descriptions and accountabilities
are very real – some may love it, some may hate it but the
business and staff deserve a real focus.
Personal lifestyle and balance are also important to
many and some of the mature by age may be considering
retirement but if a partner is off to a desert island in
3 years the firm needs to know so that succession plans
a well considered.
All equity partners have a vested interest in the success
of the business and the right people in the right roles will
help secure futures. There is absolutely nothing wrong
with being a major fee earner with very happy clients
and young lawyers in the firm being developed at a rate
of knots through development.
Some managing partners are now, ahead of strategy
meetings asking partners and some key staff for declarations
of motivation (achievement, winning, challenges,
security, job well done pride, money) and things that are
important to them (work:life balance, work environment,
organisation and profitability, security, risk aversion,
quality of work time, constant challenges, capital release
for a holiday home, solid future personal development)
It is unusual for all Partners to be shut out from the strategy
but operationally a different matter and it needs to
be recognised that there are a number of role varieties.
As a result of this kind of exercise a firm is more likely to
be able to deliver
• Pride in doing a good job for clients, looking
after clients and their interests.
• Achievement of sufficient financial rewards to
make the pressure worthwhile.
• Security for family and staff
• A happy and caring working environment for
Partners and staff
• Personal development/ challenge, generating
the best lawyers/ managers
• Suitable candidates for succession to
partnership who can take over and build on
current work and help them to develop as
future leaders
• Avoid partners being spread too thinly - fewer
jobs well both in terms of client work and
management
• Less risk to health through stress of the job
• Work life balance
• Individual positive contribution to the firm
• Business and business strategies to enable the
business to grow
• Financial rewards
• For the departing a scaling down of
commitment rather than an abrupt end to
Partnership/ involvement in the firm
Diary Date
MLS Management
Conference
27th September 2016
Bill Kirby is a director of Professional Choice Consultancy
offering advice to firms on business issues
from strategy, planning, business development, the
effective use of IT applications and IT hosting for
compliance, business continuity and DR. He can be
contacted at billkirby@professionalchoiceconsultancy.com

20
In today’s online, competitive world, it can be easy to
overlook some of the tried and tested (often free) marketing
activities that law firms can benefit from. We all
want to make it as easy as possible for customers to
engage with us, so here are a few tips that may help
your firm.
1 PR and editorial
• Great for building credibility.
• Promotes a positive reputation of the firm and how others
perceive you.
• Demonstrates why you are the "go to" firm of choice.
• Educates the sectors in which you work on key issues affecting
them.
• Remember anyone can advertise – not everyone gets
published!
Consider :
• Writing an article for inclusion in leading publications
read by your clients.
• Select significant, topical, relevant issues that affect
them.
• Comment on the effects of a change in legislation/case
outcome which may have significant implications for the
industry.
• Have you won a pitch which can be publicised?
• Build relationships with the media – you want them to
come to you as the experts on future pieces they’ll be
writing.
2 Legal and Trade Directories
• Rankings against your competitors in independent
directories are still important to many firms.
• They cement your place in the market and also to inhouse
counsel.
• The process is straightforward and involves researching
key cases, writing up entries and interviews with directory
journalists.
3 Apply Online for Business Awards
Most industry sectors have business awards you can win
Marketing CILEX
Big ideas, small budget ?
Marketing needn’t be expensive…
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$ !
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7 Keep in touch - make that call
• Great result on a case? Client care letter all done, and file
wound up?
• Now is the time to ask for a testimonial.
• Use it on your website and in pitch documents.
8 Online/digital/Web
• Publish and recycle great content. If you can create it
yourself, all the better. ! Even if writing isn’t your strong
point, you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting volunteers
to write articles.
•Create business accounts and participate in the big social
media sites – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and
Pinterest.
• LinkedIn is a major social media site for law firms, and is
often under-utilised. It can be a great place to promote
your content, share ideas, and build your network. Don’t
just add network connections and sign out – join groups,
enter into dialogue with connections, and share your
posts.
• Keep the Website relevant and up to date so visitors have
a reason to come back.
These are just a few of very many free and small budget
marketing tactics that your firm can utilise.
As someone once said to me “Good marketing makes the
company look smart. Great marketing makes the customer
feel smart.”
Linda Coppell
www.lcimarketing.co.uk
5
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Local News 21
Wilmslow lawyer's lifelong campaign succeeds
Hilary Meredith, founder and CEO at Hilary Meredith Solicitors
in Wilmslow, has achieved a lifelong ambition
after a Parliamentary Inquiry agreed that the Ministry
of Defence must be held more accountable when soldiers
die in training exercises.
The Defence Committee has decided said that the Ministry
of Defence should be subject to corporate manslaughter
charges and lose its crown immunity when there is a blatant
disregard for life – according to a groundbreaking report,
Beyond Endurance? Military exercise and the duty of care.
Hilary Meredith, CEO at Hilary Meredith Solicitors Ltd, gave
evidence at the Parliamentary Inquiry. She said:
“For all the families who I have represented over the years
and have lost loved ones in training accidents this is an acknowledgment
of their losses and at last a recommendation
for corporate responsibility to apply to the MoD.
"I think many members of the armed forces accept that if
they are in wartime situation and they are either injured or
killed then that's part and parcel of their employment. But
if there are on manoeuvres or training they don’t expect to
be injured or killed.”
The 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act, which is meant to
cover all employees, also applies to the armed forces.
However, the MoD has been exempt from criminal prosecution
for serious breaches of the rules through a privilege
called Crown immunity.
Hilary has long campaigned for this to end.
She continued:“As a lawyer, having given evidence at the Inquiry
and been involved in investigating accidents and
deaths while practising for War, for over 27 years, I applaud
the Select Defence Committee on understanding the seriousness
of these issues.
“Making its recommendation that the MoD should be subject
to corporate prosecution when there is a reckless disregard
for life is a major leap forward in recognising that, like
everyone else in modern society, when mistakes happen
the buck should stop at the top.”
Added Hilary:“For too long, the MoD as a corporation has
hidden behind crown immunity.
“It is a fact that more men and women die whilst training for
war than in war - and this cannot be acceptable on any front.
We acknowledge that training has to be realistic but not to
the point of death. There is, and always has been a lack of
understanding in the military from the top, that systems
have to be in place to reduce death and injury whilst training.“
“We are not talking about unfortunate accidents here - we
are talking about a blatant disregard for life. Only this week
we heard of another fatality on a firing range due to the lack
of safety officers on the ground.
“In the Brecon Beacons, three men lost their lives in one incident.
That is atrocious. The MoD should hold its head in shame
and accept responsibility. It is far too easy to blame the individual
on the ground. The MoD can no longer hide behind
Crown immunity, painful lessons will be learnt. 27 years on
and at last there will be change.”
Hilary Meredith
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22 News
CILEX
MTSG News
The Summer Ball
By now, I expect you will all have seen the invitations to the final formal
event of the year, our garden party themed Summer Ball. Incredibly,
the early bird tickets sold out over a month before the
event and there are precious few remaining regular tickets.
The event is taking place on a Friday which will give everyone a
chance to properly let their hair down… not that it usually being on a Thursday
seems to have been a problem previously. The event is taking place at The Point at
the Old Trafford Cricket Ground on 17 June and will no doubt be an absolute corker.
Quiz Nights
We held a joint MCASS/MTSG quiz night on 11 June where a select number of MTSG
members got to battle it out with our accountant rivals. We are holding another quiz
night on 26 May in aid of one of our charities this year, Forever Manchester and this
time, we’ll be taking on MYSG at Living Room. There will also be a wonderful prizes
for the quiz winners and a charity raffle taking place on the night. Prizes include tickets
to Busted (if that’s your kind of thing) meal vouchers for Cote Brasserie and James
Martin Manchester, and a Si Scott poster, amongst many more.
FELT
Yet another fantastic FELT event took place on 5 May when MTSGers headed to the
alliteratively named Luck Lust Liquor and Burn for MTSG’s Rum Trail. The next milestone
along Adam’s quest to run an event for every alcoholic spirit known to man
will be our Gin Tasting event. This will be taking place in June so please keep an eye
out. Last year this was probably the highlight of the FELT year.
Charity
Our charity fashion and beauty event at Kiehl's on 4 May was a huge success. Cesca
and the rest of the committee are also working hard to line up a host of wonderful
prizes for the always-popular charity raffle at the summer ball.
Commercial Advocacy Training
We’ve planned an event for later in the year with 23 Essex Street Chambers in Manchester
to be held at BPP law school for MTSG members, BPTC and LPC students. This
will be a commercial advocacy presentation, hosted by Arnold Ayoo who will be presenting
on the pitfalls of drafting as a solicitor. This will be relevant to all practice
areas and will explain principles such as “without prejudice”, followed by a networking
session, aimed at increasing links at a junior level between the 2 professions.
Martin Bloor
MTSG Chairman
Martin.Bloor@Brabners.com
CILEX News
The Greater Manchester CILEx branch would like to
thank Mike Ode of Potential Unearthed providing
April’s training. Mike provided training on ‘Story
telling’ and how to bring stories alive. The Training
was very interesting and everyone who attended discovered
very interesting fact about other attendees.
Rachel Stevens, Chair of the Greater Manchester CILEx
took part in the Preston Legal Walk in aid of the NWLS
(http://www.nwlst.org.uk/preston-legal-walk.html)
on 29 April 2016. The Preston Legal Walk is a 10km
sponsored walk around Preston to raise money for
local advice services. This was the first legal walk to
take place in Preston. The walk was well attended and
luckily it did not rain.
The walk started at the Preston Combined
Court, followed the river Ribble
and ended at UCLAN.
The Greater Manchester CILEx
Branch will be taking part in the
Manchester Legal Walk on 29 September
2016, please email us at manchestercilex@outlook.com
if you
would like to walk with the branch.
If you are interested in joining the
Manchester branch, please email
manchestercilex@outlook.com. The
branch regularly holds both CPD
events and Social events.
We are always looking for new ideas
and events, if you would like to get
involved with the committee, please
get in touch.
The next CPD events will take place
on 23 June 2016. Please contact the
branch for further information.
Rachel Stevens
Chair

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Search efficiency Aggregator and value, and most importantly, reduced etsos.co.uk cost packages and implementing networks for multi-location firms
Telecomms including telephone systems, low-cost landline calls, mobile
helping
an outsourced
your practice
typing
to
and
develop
transcription
and succeed.
service to your fee earners we it can deliver to the client experience, business processes and operational
help improve the turnaround of your documents enabling you to react
improve their customer delivery, save time and money and ultimately On-line AML Training search portal and aggregator helping for mlsolutions4u.co.uk
conveyancing departments
more effectively to your clients. We are 100% UK based and offer a
Key services that our preferred partners expertise lies in are:
solutions for legal environments where presentation, collaboration,
training,
ML Solutions
learning
provides
and communication
cost effective
take
anti-money
place. From
laundering
sophisticated
training
ETSOS provides a free-to-use online portal, incorporating our
supported by ISO27001 the Information Security Management system. meeting room and presentation technology to video-conferencing and
Regulatory ‘search supermarket’ and compliance ordering advice platform, and assistance delivers the to widest law firms possible and Technology solutions for law firms where presentation. Collaboration,
You will be impressed by how we can help you, so please call us for your digital signage systems, our specialist knowledge allows us to integrate
others selection in the of legal searches sector, and whatever reports your to review, structure. compare A flexibly, and select tailor training, organise learning and manage and communication their compulsory take AML place training obligations. All
free trial.
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made – all service the brands designed and to multiple support product you in lines meeting together the evolving one place, regulatory,
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Contact
legal working environments with ease. It’s because we understand the
Martyn Best: 0151 227 9150 or martyn.best@documentdirect.co.uk
relationship between people, space and technology that we can deliver
ing your business and using their experience, expertise and market
Contact
specialist Contact design, installation and management services.
Outsourced
David Opie:
typing
01524
and
220001
transcription,
or davidopie@etsos.co.uk
flexible, 24 hour, 365 day service
so as much or as little of your typing and document production Contact
knowledge
Bill Jones or
can
Sarah
bring
Scott:
you
0161
the
828
right
1937
solutions
or info@mlsolutions.co.uk
for these issues.
can be catered for
We Quentin know that Birchall: our 0844 members 811 7660 recognise or quentin.birchall@viewpoint-av.com
the value that technology, outsourcing
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operating Society costs. members. Our portfolio
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our
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selection of searches
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– all the brands
and multiple product
lines
together
in one
place,
backed up by
value pricing,
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Contact
Contact
David Opie: 01524 220001
or davidopie@etsos.co.uk
Bill Jones or Sarah Scott: 0161 828 1937 or info@mlsolutions.co.uk
Telecoms : Connectivity : Mobiles
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ADVANTAGE

Conveyancing - Know Your Client
Procedures
Would your procedures pick up on a document
created purely for the purpose of conveyancing fraud,
Here, we’d point you to an article written by former
Daily Telegraph editor, Max Hastings (plus other
commentaries in the public domain by way of a quick
internet search), detailing the experience faced by him
and his wife over the attempted fraudulent sale of her
Fulham property where, shortly before Christmas, a
fake vendor sought to sell the property to an unwitting
buyer, pocketing £1.35m in the process.
Further details of this case have now been released
was part of a fraud ring, renting the house under a
false ID before putting the house on the market with
an accomplice. The accomplice had changed her
own name by deed poll to Penelope Hastings, i.e. the
same name as Max Hastings’ wife, before securing a
passport in that name.
For whatever reason, the Land Registry’s suspicions
were such that they did not register the sale, leaving
the real Mrs Hastings still the legal owner. However,
the unwitting buyer had paid £1.35m, transferred into
subsequently understood to have been transferred
to the Middle East, leaving the unwitting purchaser
£1.35m out of pocket.
the unwitting purchaser who transferred the money to
to the purchaser they were acting for the owner and
We understand this was not an isolated case. Does
this case have an impact on your Conveyancing
provided with a genuine passport as evidence of ID,
For our part, as specialist Professional Indemnity
Insurance (PII) Brokers and advisers to the legal
profession, including Manchester Law Society, we
provide risk management advice to our clients,
helping them to address such problems and avoid the
PII.
As far as the above situation is concerned, we suggest
that those conveyancing clients most at risk are, inter
alia:
•
• Buy to let landlords
• People in long term care
If you are given instructions to act in the sale of high
value property with no mortgage, you might wish to
consider the following actions be adopted within your
procedures:
The Property
• Check the address of the registered owner on
• Check details on websites such as Zoopla,
Rightmove and similar within your area to
ascertain whether it may recently have been
advertised for letting.
The Client
•
for additional forms of photo ID and, importantly,
older, even expired, documents, e.g. passports,
driving licence to complement the new ID
provided.
•
to ensure they did see the original document,
details can usually be checked via their own
professional body.
•
practising UK solicitor or registered lawyer.
•
This might have prevented the Hastings example
had it also been requested.
• Social media checks on your client might be
useful. Whilst accepting of course that some
determined fraudsters are quite likely to set up
fake accounts here too to augment their scam, in
this case a simple internet search of a fairly high
the fraud save for the unlikely scenario where the
fake Mrs Hastings also happened to look like the
The measures suggested above are intended to
to make sure you do not become embroiled in such a
scenario. Clearly there may well be additional safety
checks, which you are already undertaking .
MFL Professional aims to provide salient and useful
topical bulletins for the professions. If you do wish to
discuss the above topic further or indeed any aspect
of your PI, Cyber, Management Liability or Crime
Insurance requirements, please do not hesitate to
contact us further as below.
Risk Update
Welcome to the
June edition
of Risk Update.
This article does not present a complete or
comprehensive statement of the law, nor does it
constitute legal advice. It is intended only to highlight
issues that may be of interest to MLS members and
solicitors. Specialist advice should always be sought in
any particular case.
© MFL Professional 2016
MFL Professional is a division of McParland Finn Ltd. McParland Finn Ltd is
authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Richard Gledhill,
Director
E: richardg@m-f-l.co.uk
T: 0161 237 7725
M: 07984 879124
John Jones,
Development Executive
E: johnj@m-f-l.co.uk
T: 0161 237 7739
M: 07872 501955
Contact the MFL Professional team to
discuss your PI arrangements:
T: 0161 236 2532
W: www.m-f-l.co.uk
Risk Update
Risk Update
Risk Update
Risk Update
Conveyancing - Know Your Client
Procedures
In this article, we consider another
Conveyancing - Know Your Client
In this article, we consider another
provided with a genuine passport as evidence of ID,
For our part, as specialist Professional Indemnity
provided with a genuine passport as evidence of ID,
For our part, as specialist Professional Indemnity
provided with a genuine passport as evidence of ID,
For our part, as specialist Professional Indemnity
•
practising UK solicitor or registered lawyer.
•
This might have prevented the Hastings example
practising UK solicitor or registered lawyer.
This might have prevented the Hastings example
practising UK solicitor or registered lawyer.
This might have prevented the Hastings example
In this article, we consider another
disturbing case in the world of conveyancing
fraud, which some feel may become more
common, that of the use of an ‘original’
passport enabling the fraudster to get away
Would your procedures pick up on a document
created purely for the purpose of conveyancing fraud,
Here, we’d point you to an article written by former
Daily Telegraph editor, Max Hastings (plus other
In this article, we consider another
disturbing case in the world of conveyancing
fraud, which some feel may become more
common, that of the use of an ‘original’
passport enabling the fraudster to get away
Would your procedures pick up on a document
created purely for the purpose of conveyancing fraud,
Here, we’d point you to an article written by former
Daily Telegraph editor, Max Hastings (plus other
For our part, as specialist Professional Indemnity
Insurance (PII) Brokers and advisers to the legal
profession, including Manchester Law Society, we
provide risk management advice to our clients,
helping them to address such problems and avoid the
PII.
As far as the above situation is concerned, we suggest
that those conveyancing clients most at risk are, inter
alia:
•
For our part, as specialist Professional Indemnity
Insurance (PII) Brokers and advisers to the legal
profession, including Manchester Law Society, we
provide risk management advice to our clients,
helping them to address such problems and avoid the
PII.
As far as the above situation is concerned, we suggest
that those conveyancing clients most at risk are, inter
alia:
For our part, as specialist Professional Indemnity
Insurance (PII) Brokers and advisers to the legal
profession, including Manchester Law Society, we
provide risk management advice to our clients,
helping them to address such problems and avoid the
As far as the above situation is concerned, we suggest
that those conveyancing clients most at risk are, inter
This might have prevented the Hastings example
had it also been requested.
• Social media checks on your client might be
useful. Whilst accepting of course that some
determined fraudsters are quite likely to set up
fake accounts here too to augment their scam, in
this case a simple internet search of a fairly high
the fraud save for the unlikely scenario where the
fake Mrs Hastings also happened to look like the
This might have prevented the Hastings example
had it also been requested.
Social media checks on your client might be
useful. Whilst accepting of course that some
determined fraudsters are quite likely to set up
fake accounts here too to augment their scam, in
this case a simple internet search of a fairly high
the fraud save for the unlikely scenario where the
fake Mrs Hastings also happened to look like the
This might have prevented the Hastings example
Social media checks on your client might be
useful. Whilst accepting of course that some
determined fraudsters are quite likely to set up
fake accounts here too to augment their scam, in
this case a simple internet search of a fairly high
the fraud save for the unlikely scenario where the
fake Mrs Hastings also happened to look like the
Daily Telegraph editor, Max Hastings (plus other
commentaries in the public domain by way of a quick
internet search), detailing the experience faced by him
and his wife over the attempted fraudulent sale of her
Fulham property where, shortly before Christmas, a
fake vendor sought to sell the property to an unwitting
buyer, pocketing £1.35m in the process.
Further details of this case have now been released
was part of a fraud ring, renting the house under a
false ID before putting the house on the market with
an accomplice. The accomplice had changed her
Daily Telegraph editor, Max Hastings (plus other
commentaries in the public domain by way of a quick
internet search), detailing the experience faced by him
and his wife over the attempted fraudulent sale of her
Fulham property where, shortly before Christmas, a
fake vendor sought to sell the property to an unwitting
buyer, pocketing £1.35m in the process.
Further details of this case have now been released
was part of a fraud ring, renting the house under a
false ID before putting the house on the market with
an accomplice. The accomplice had changed her
•
•
If you are given instructions to act in the sale of high
value property with no mortgage, you might wish to
consider the following actions be adopted within your
procedures:
The Property
•
Buy to let landlords
People in long term care
If you are given instructions to act in the sale of high
value property with no mortgage, you might wish to
consider the following actions be adopted within your
procedures:
The Property
Check the address of the registered owner on
If you are given instructions to act in the sale of high
value property with no mortgage, you might wish to
consider the following actions be adopted within your
Check the address of the registered owner on
The measures suggested above are intended to
to make sure you do not become embroiled in such a
scenario. Clearly there may well be additional safety
checks, which you are already undertaking .
MFL Professional aims to provide salient and useful
topical bulletins for the professions. If you do wish to
discuss the above topic further or indeed any aspect
of your PI, Cyber, Management Liability or Crime
Insurance requirements, please do not hesitate to
contact us further as below.
The measures suggested above are intended to
to make sure you do not become embroiled in such a
scenario. Clearly there may well be additional safety
checks, which you are already undertaking .
MFL Professional aims to provide salient and useful
topical bulletins for the professions. If you do wish to
discuss the above topic further or indeed any aspect
of your PI, Cyber, Management Liability or Crime
Insurance requirements, please do not hesitate to
contact us further as below.
The measures suggested above are intended to
to make sure you do not become embroiled in such a
scenario. Clearly there may well be additional safety
checks, which you are already undertaking .
MFL Professional aims to provide salient and useful
topical bulletins for the professions. If you do wish to
discuss the above topic further or indeed any aspect
of your PI, Cyber, Management Liability or Crime
Insurance requirements, please do not hesitate to
an accomplice. The accomplice had changed her
own name by deed poll to Penelope Hastings, i.e. the
same name as Max Hastings’ wife, before securing a
passport in that name.
For whatever reason, the Land Registry’s suspicions
were such that they did not register the sale, leaving
the real Mrs Hastings still the legal owner. However,
the unwitting buyer had paid £1.35m, transferred into
subsequently understood to have been transferred
to the Middle East, leaving the unwitting purchaser
£1.35m out of pocket.
an accomplice. The accomplice had changed her
own name by deed poll to Penelope Hastings, i.e. the
same name as Max Hastings’ wife, before securing a
For whatever reason, the Land Registry’s suspicions
were such that they did not register the sale, leaving
the real Mrs Hastings still the legal owner. However,
the unwitting buyer had paid £1.35m, transferred into
subsequently understood to have been transferred
to the Middle East, leaving the unwitting purchaser
•
The Client
•
Check the address of the registered owner on
Check details on websites such as Zoopla,
Rightmove and similar within your area to
ascertain whether it may recently have been
advertised for letting.
The Client
for additional forms of photo ID and, importantly,
Check the address of the registered owner on
Check details on websites such as Zoopla,
Rightmove and similar within your area to
ascertain whether it may recently have been
for additional forms of photo ID and, importantly,
This article does not present a complete or
comprehensive statement of the law, nor does it
Contact the
discuss
T: 016
W: www
This article does not present a complete or
comprehensive statement of the law, nor does it
ontact the MFL Professional team to
discuss your PI arrangements:
: 0161 236 2532
W: www.m-f-l.co.uk
This article does not present a complete or
comprehensive statement of the law, nor does it
ofessional team to
our PI arrangements:
£1.35m out of pocket.
the unwitting purchaser who transferred the money to
to the purchaser they were acting for the owner and
We understand this was not an isolated case. Does
this case have an impact on your Conveyancing
Richard Gledhill
the unwitting purchaser who transferred the money to
to the purchaser they were acting for the owner and
We understand this was not an isolated case. Does
this case have an impact on your Conveyancing
•
Richard Gledhill,
older, even expired, documents, e.g. passports,
driving licence to complement the new ID
provided.
to ensure they did see the original document,
details can usually be checked via their own
professional body.
, even expired, documents, e.g. passports,
driving licence to complement the new ID
to ensure they did see the original document,
details can usually be checked via their own
comprehensive statement of the law, nor does it
constitute legal advice. It is intended only to highlight
issues that may be of interest to MLS members and
solicitors. Specialist advice should always be sought in
any particular case.
© MFL Professional 2016
MFL Professional is a
authorised and r
John Jones
comprehensive statement of the law, nor does it
constitute legal advice. It is intended only to highlight
issues that may be of interest to MLS members and
solicitors. Specialist advice should always be sought in
any particular case.
© MFL Professional 2016
ofessional is a division of McParland Finn Ltd. McP
authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
John Jones,
comprehensive statement of the law, nor does it
constitute legal advice. It is intended only to highlight
issues that may be of interest to MLS members and
solicitors. Specialist advice should always be sought in
arland Finn Ltd. McParland Finn Ltd is
Authority.
M: 07984 879124
T:
E: richardg@m-f-l.co
Direc
M: 07984 879124
0161 237 7725
T:
E: richardg@m-f-l.co.uk
Director
.uk
M: 07872 501955
0161 237 7739
T:
E: johnj@m-f-l.co
Development Ex
M: 07872 501955
0161 237 7739
E: johnj@m-f-l.co.uk
elopment Executive

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The Secrets of Fat Loss Success
It’s June and you might well be wishing you’d started shedding some pounds a couple
of months ago – as the Chinese proverb goes “The best time to plant a tree was
20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
If now’s the time for you, I thought I’d share the secrets of our most successful clients, and
5 practical fat loss tips:
- our most successful clients learn to love the journey, not endure it in order to reach their
end goal. This ensures great short term results based on long term lifestyle habits that you
keep up because you want to, rather than engaging in an endless cycle of pain and sacrifice
because you have to
- as a result, these clients create a lifestyle that perpetuates their results without effort
(treats become part of life, rather than ‘bad’), movement and real food become positive
choices that are mentally and emotionally connected with looking, feeling and performing
amazingly
- successful clients strongly recognise that you get out what you put in and take personal
responsibility
- successful clients make strong decisions and take immediate action based on those decisions
- successful clients take care to create a mindful, positive lifestyle environment that supports
their goals; think about your external environment and whether it truly supports how
you want to look, feel and perform – what does your food environment look like? Your
stress environment? Your relationship environment (who’s de-railing you)? Sleep? Movement?
Remember these environments are created through mindfully creating lifestyle
habits, and how you look, feel and perform both short and long term are a result of them!
- successful clients become aware of their behaviours; take a pen and paper now and create
a STOP DOING list, and a START DOING list, then take action do those things.
5 practical tips for success:
1. Eat: fill in a food diary or use an app like MyFitnessPal, which will help you to become
aware of what you’re eating – don’t become too obsessed though
2. Move: 3-4 times per week with intensity
3. Sleep: is often the hidden success factor, get 8+ hours
4. Stress: is the hidden enemy, stress hormones can block your fat loss progress, so be mindful
and take active steps to de-stress
5. Supplements: can help to change your internal environment – fish oil, a good multi-vitamin,
magnesium, and a daily probiotic will all help
To your new lean and healthy body,
Matt
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October 09
The W
rld
according to Fran
Well after last month’s ‘World According to Fran’ Jack
said it was about time I included my passport photo
(the one where I look like I am from Prisoner Cell
Block H in the 80’s) and told everybody a story about
myself. He suggested that I share the one after I had
just learned to drive and was parking my car, for the
very first time, at a parking meter, on my way to a
Manchester Law Society seminar.
It was a highly embarrassing moment for me and I was
seriously considering doing just as Jack had asked but,
yet again, he has surpassed himself and given me
enough ammunition with his latest tale of woe to fill this
piece.
As you know Jack was going to Benidorm on holiday.
We had the trials and tribulations of losing his passport
and having to buy a new one for £80.
We had the trials and tribulations of him buying some
new clothes for said holiday – he spent £200 in a designer
shop where he bought four items and then £75 in
Primark where he bought about seventeen items!
He was packing his suitcase (well rolling everything up
into a ball and squashing it in) and took out his new
clothes to show me. His £80 Gant shirt had a big burn
mark at the bottom of it, all the way through each side
of the shirt. “Somebody” had obviously dropped the end
of a cigarette into the bag and burnt the shirt.
I wonder who that could be?! So we are another £80
down.
We finally get everything packed and he goes off to his
dad’s with strict instructions about phoning Vodafone to
get international traveller put onto his phone and to find
out about turning off data roaming as well as a lecture
on the dangers of too much alcohol, sun, drugs, bugs
and entreaties to send me a text to let me know he had
got there safely. I wasn’t asking for a daily phone call or
nightly face time. I was only asking for one small text to
let me know that he had arrived safely. Not too much to
ask I thought.
Jack was away for a week.
He posted a photo on Facebook, early in the morning of
the day he went from Manchester Airport, of a bottle of
Sol saying the holiday starts here. I commented “have a
great time”, which he liked. “Well that’s a good start” I
thought. “He’s liked it.
There is a first time for everything!” I sent a couple of
texts to him during the week and did a couple of face
book posts.
I had no communication from him all week until the Saturday
afterwards when he phoned me and grunted
“hello”.
“Oh hello” I managed sarcastically “are you back then?”
“Yea” he muttered. “I’m back and we have a problem”!
I admit I panicked slightly, wondering what on earth had
happened and what the problem was that “WE” had!
I managed to decipher from the deep guttural sounds
that he HAD NOT phoned Vodafone, he HAD NOT had international
traveller put on his phone for his week in
Benidorm AND he HAD NOT turned data roaming off.
Instead of costing him £21.00 for being abroad for a
week he was being charged £250.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I ended up buying him a weekly traveller for the train for
the last two weeks in May so at least he could get to
work.
He will then be paid and add this amount to the debt the
size of a small country that he already owes me and is
paying back at a small, insignificant amount each month
(unless his phone bill is massive or he has been on holiday).
At this rate he’ll pay me back in about 2089!
I have told him that the Bank of Mum is now closed and
probably in liquidation!
If by any chance nothing happens in the World of Jack,
next month I will tell you all about the parking meter debacle!
Fran Eccles-Bech
Chief Executive
Monthly Competition
Scene Indian Street Kitchen
Scene Indian Street Kitchen opened to rapturous reviews in April 2015. Set in Manchester’s premier food and
drink district, Spinningfields this new and exciting venue is inspired by the energy and vitality of the Indian
sub-continent.
At Scene we want to create something special, build memories, loyalty and engage with people on a social
and gastronomical level; giving them the full Scene Experience.
We offer our diners fun, quirky and authentic street food, taking customers on a journey through India, Pakistan
and South Asia. A visit to Scene is a truly engaging experience that uses all the five senses. Customers
will be able to see the freshness and vibrant colours of the ingredients, smell the spices used and hear the food
being prepared through the theatrical open plan kitchen which is the focal point of this exciting restaurant.
As well as the grandeur of the 150 cover restaurant interiors, sourced directly from India, customers are welcomed
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riverside terrace overlooking the River Irwell is due to be opening in time for the Spring to offer visitors a
perfect option for enjoying the authentic food as it was designed to be eaten, Al Fresco!
To win a Meal for two with a complimentary bottle of house
wine answer the following question:
Which river does our tranquil riverside terrace overlook?
and send to FranEccles-Bech@manchesterlawsociety.org.uk
no later than 9th June 2016
The winner of the Sakana competition was Russell Davidson
Partner, Shoosmiths LLP

Classified Directory
Locums
Commercial Property Locum
Solicitor available.
Computer literate. Recent experience
includes a year’s Commercial
Property Locum work for a leading
commercial practice. Phone Paul
Bryson at 01457 763340 or e-mail
paul.bryson@virgin.net
Senior residential and
commercial property Solicitor with
over 4 years continuous Locum experience
offers you cost effective
solutions for holiday maternity and
sickness cover .No Agency fees to
pay. Please
contact Martin Libman on 0161
485 1240 or 07939 508543.
18 years as Locum Solicitors in the
North West. Tel John Bradley/Lynda
Greenwood 07790 612906 Available
to deal with Conveyancing
and Family.
Shareholder Disputes
Solicitor with 23 years
experience in such matters
available on an Agency basis
to assist firms who wish to
keep clients in-house.
Please contact by email
harryrosenblum@hotmail.co.uk
or telephone/fax:
0161 445 1850
Locums Expert Witnesses To advertise in the Messenger
pleae call Julia on
Expert Witnesses
01253 829431 or visit
www.locallawsocietypublications.co.uk
WHY PAY AGENCY FEES?
Senior Residential Property
Solicitor with over 30 years
conveyancing experience (29 years
as a sole practitioner) available for
holidays, maternity and
sickness cover. Reasonable rates. If I
can help, please telephone David
on 07896 617287 (or email
davidswann8491@hotmail.co.uk)
further details and availability.
DUAL QUALIFIED, very experienced
criminal specialist advocate with
higher rights. Crime work and
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Please contact Christine on 01772
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Notary Public
John Cusack
worldwide documents
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accessible & efficient service
home & office visits
well-established (since 1984)
& experienced
tel: 0797 332 9791
jocusa@live.co.uk
Situations Wanted
Senior Residential Property
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seeks position
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Over 30 years conveyancing
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Anywhere in the Greater
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Email: davidswann8491@hotmail.co.uk
or telephone David on
07896 617287
Please mention
The Messenger when
responding to advertisements
Lifestyle/Gifts
Mark Mattison, a Mediator
based in South Manchester is
available for commercial
mediations and for training on
all forms of ADR.
07831 302797
mark@markmattison.co.uk
www.markmattison.co.uk
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We provide bespoke baked
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Our specialities include
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Contact us on
carla@woodpeckerbakery.com
or
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quotation
Benefits of membership
Who are we?
Manchester Law Society is a voluntary membership organisation for the local legal community. Instituted in 1838 and Incorporated in 1871 we are one of the oldest local
law societies in the country.
With over 2700 members and associated members we are a strong and vibrant community promoting your profession and giving local lawyers a voice.
Why join?
• The Messenger Magazine & weekly e-newsletter
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Free to members The Messenger is packed with topical articles, details of what is happening with the Society, information on “movers and shakers”, deals, press releases on
charity work that member firms have done plus a lifestyle section at the back
Members can place items in The Messenger free of charge
For past copies of The Messenger visit
www.manchesterlawsociety.org.uk/the-messenger-north-west-law
Members also receive the Manchester Law Society weekly e-newsletter with news, events, competition and deal of the week
• Legal Education Programme
o Members are entitle to a reduced delegate rate
o Full day and half day in depth conferences on various topics including:
• Personal Injury
• Employment Law
• Management
• Regulation
• Commercial
• Family Law
o Evening seminars focusing on business and soft skills areas
o The opportunity to provide speakers for seminars and courses and for chambers and MLS to work together to provide seminars to our members
o For details on the current programme visit
www.manchesterlawsociety.org.uk/events-training

At Clayton Legal your talent matters...
...so we go the extra distance to connect your legal talent to opportunities nationwide
RTA Litigator
Manchester
An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced RTA Litigator to
work within a team of Fee earners and Paralegals. You must have
previous RTA litigation experience and a ideally Credit Hire litigation
knowledge. You will be a confident and outgoing individual with the
Personal Injury Paralegal Manchester
A fantastic law firm is looking for an experienced
Personal injury paralegal to join their MOJ team. You
will be handling a caseload of RTA matters through
stages 1-3 of the MOJ portal.
Contact Naomi Melling nm@clayton-legal.co.uk
ability to work well under pressure.
Contact Simon Scott ss@clayton-legal.co.uk
Immigration Caseworker/Solicitor
Greater Manchester
A well respected law firm based on the outskirts of Manchester are
currently seeking an Immigration Caseworker / Solicitor to handle a
mixture of cases. It is essential you have worked in a similar role and
have a minimum of 3 years experience. Excellent career prospects and
training offered.
Contact Naomi Melling nm@clayton-legal.co.uk
Credit Hire Paralegal Greater Manchester
An expanding law firm is looking for a competent
Paralegal to join their Credit Hire team. You will be
handling a caseload of Credit Hire matters
independently.
Contact Naomi Melling nm@clayton-legal.co.uk
EL/PL Litigator
Manchester
An established law firm based in Manchester is looking for an
experienced Litigator who shares at least 2 years’ experience of handling
Litigated EL/PL matters.
Contact Naomi Melling nm@clayton-legal.co.uk
Private Client Solicitor North Manchester
My client, a well established multidisciplinary law
firm based in North Manchester is looking to
appoint a Private Client Solicitor. The successful
candidate must be a qualified solicitor or
FILEX accredited.
Contact Lauren Connors lc@clayton-legal.co.uk
Property Secretary
Manchester
A leading law firm are seeking to appoint a Legal Secretary to join their
Residential Property department. This is a fantastic opportunity for an
ambitious legal secretary as there are fantastic opportunities for
progression. Providing administration support to the Conveyancing Fee
Earner's and Solicitors. Your duties will include; Audio & Copy Typing,
Filing and dealing with telephone enquiries.
Contact Lauren Connors lc@clayton-legal.co.uk
Residential
RTA Litigator
South Manchester
An experienced Conveyancer RTA Litigator is sought by Greater an expanding Manchester law
firm who My specialise client, in a Personal solidly Injury. established Caseload law will include firm based a mixture inof
litigated Greater cases both Manchester fast and multi is track. looking A minimum to appoint of 2 years a experience skilled
handling your own RTA caseload is required. Excellent career prospects
Residential Conveyancer. The successful candidate
and training offered.
Contact must Simon have Scott a minimum ss@clayton-legal.co.uk of two years experience as a
Fee Earner within Residential Property
Contact Lauren Connors lc@clayton-legal.co.uk
and Equity Transfers.
For more on these and other Contact vacancies Lauren Connors please lc@clayton-legal.co.uk
contact Clayton Legal
independently.
telephone:
Contact Naomi Melling nm@clayton-legal.co.uk
email: enquiries@clayton-legal.co.uk
For more on these and other vacancies visit our website: please www.clayton-legal.co.uk
contact Clayton Legal
telephone: 01772 259121
email: enquiries@clayton-legal.co.uk
visit our website: www.clayton-legal.co.uk
For more on these and other vacancies please contact Clayton Legal
Where talent matters
Where talent matters
Employment Solicitor
Manchester
My client, a reputable Law firm based in South Manchester are looking
for a Employment ...we Solicitor believe to join their team. Aiming The successful High candidate
must be a Qualified Solicitor, experience in mixed employment matters
and TUPE
Residential Conveyancer Cheshire
My client, a reputable Law firm based in Cheshire
is looking for a Conveyancer to join their Residential
Property team. The successful candidate must
have a minimum of two years experience within
Residential Conveyancing.
Contact Lauren Connors lc@clayton-legal.co.uk
Contact Simon Scott ss@clayton-legal.co.uk
Commercial Litigation Solicitor 0-2
Manchester
My client, a Boutique Law firm based in Manchester City Centre are
looking for a Commercial Solicitor to join their team.The successful
candidate will have experienced Mixed commercial caseload and dispute
resolution experience
Contact Simon Scott ss@clayton-legal.co.uk
Residential Conveyancer Manchester
My client, a reputable Law firm based in the heart
of Manchester are looking for a Qualified Solicitor
to join their Residential Conveyancing department.
The successful candidate must be a Qualified
Solicitor, Licenced Conveyancer or FILEX
Contact Lauren Connors lc@clayton-legal.co.uk
Residential Conveyancing Solicitor
Manchester
My client, who are a global law firm have a vacancy in their Manchester
office for a solicitor/lawyer within the construction team.The successful
candidate will focus on high value and complex construction/engineering
disputes
Contact Simon Scott ss@clayton-legal.co.uk
Conveyancing Fee Earner
Manchester
This long established multi service legal firm with offices throughout
Lancashire seek to employ an experienced Residential Conveyancing
Fee Earner to join their West Lancashire office. The role Will involve
handling your own caseload of Residential Conveyancing files from
inception through to completion on various property types such as;
Freehold & Leasehold, New Build, Unregistered Properties.
Contact Lauren Connors lc@clayton-legal.co.uk
Private Client Fee Earner Manchester
My client, a well established law firm based in
Manchester is looking to appoint a Private Client
Solicitor to specialise in Wills & Probate. The
successful candidate must have a minimum of three
years experience within a Private Client department.
Contact Lauren Connors lc@clayton-legal.co.uk
Senior Conveyancing Manager
Manchester
This long established legal firm with offices throughout the North West of
England are seeking to appoint a Senior Residential Conveyancer to
assist in the Management of the Property Department The role will
involve handling your own caseload of Residential Conveyancing
matters covering; Sales & Purchases, Leases, Re-Mortgage, Auctions
PI Litigator
Manchester
An established law firm is looking for an experienced
Litigator to join their RTA team. you will be
handling a caseload of fully litigated RTA matters
telephone: 01772 259121
email: enquiries@clayton-legal.co.uk
visit our website: www.clayton-legal.co.uk

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