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<strong>November</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
October 09<br />
1<br />
North West Law<br />
The Manchester Legal Walk<br />
On 28th September, over<br />
350 solicitors, barristers,<br />
trainees, paralegals, academics<br />
and legal staff<br />
joined the Manchester<br />
Legal Walk in aid of the<br />
North West Legal Support<br />
Trust (NWLST).<br />
The 10k walk was led by Jon<br />
Hainey, the President of<br />
Manchester Law Society, Mr<br />
Kui Man Gerry Yeung OBE<br />
DL -The High Sheriff of<br />
Greater Manchester, Martha<br />
Spurrier - Director of Liberty<br />
His Honour Judge Graham<br />
Platts and Sally Penni - Barrister<br />
at Law and Founder of<br />
Women in the Law UK.<br />
Teams came from numerous<br />
firms and law organisations<br />
across the city,<br />
including Addleshaw Goddard,<br />
Angela Seager, BPP<br />
University, Browne Jacobson<br />
LLP, Burton Copeland,<br />
Central Chambers,<br />
Cheetham Hill Advice Centre,<br />
DAC Beachcroft LLP,<br />
Deans Court Chambers ,<br />
Douglas Scott, DWF, Eversheds<br />
Sutherland, Express<br />
Solicitors, EY, Fletchers,<br />
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer<br />
LLP, Garden Court<br />
North Chambers, Greater<br />
Manchester CILEx Branch,<br />
Hill Dickinson LLP, Horwich<br />
Farrelly, Irwin Mitchell, Kenworthy's<br />
Chambers, Mills<br />
and Reeve, Neat Legal Services,<br />
Oldham Law Association,<br />
Olliers, Pabla and<br />
Pabla, Pluck Andrew, Squire<br />
Patton Boggs LLP, Tuckers,<br />
University of Manchester<br />
Wilmslow Solicitor takes Freedom<br />
of the City of London<br />
A Wilmslow-solicitor has made such an impression<br />
on London’s legal scene, she has been<br />
awarded the Freedom of the City.<br />
Law School, University of<br />
Law, WTB Solicitors and of<br />
course a few dogs!<br />
A raffle was held on the day<br />
with the prize of a Manchester<br />
City shirt signed by Kyle<br />
Walker was won by the<br />
team from Tuckers. At the<br />
time of printing over<br />
£12,000 has been raised<br />
and there is still time to<br />
make a donation.<br />
The aim of the NWLST is to<br />
improve access to justice for<br />
the most vulnerable in society<br />
and do this by raising<br />
funds and distributing them<br />
to organisations that support<br />
those who need legal<br />
help but cannot afford it.<br />
Receiving legal help makes<br />
an enormous difference to<br />
Hilary Meredith said:“It is a huge honour to receive<br />
the Freedom of the City of London - the Sheep<br />
drive is a lot harder than it looks!”<br />
people’s lives, helping to reduce<br />
debt, poverty and suffering.<br />
If you want to get involved<br />
in raising more funds for<br />
NWLST then you can take<br />
part in the Great Legal Quiz<br />
on 8th <strong>November</strong>, a nationwide<br />
quiz which is part of<br />
National Pro Bono Week.<br />
The NWLST provide the<br />
questions (not law specific)<br />
and you organise the quiz in<br />
your local pub, office or just<br />
at home!<br />
For further information on<br />
the Great Legal Quiz and<br />
NWLST visit<br />
www.nwlst.org.uk<br />
Mr Gerry Yueng OBE, High Sheriff<br />
of Greater Manchester starting the<br />
Manchester Legal Walk<br />
After becoming a Freeman of the City of London<br />
earlier this year, Hilary Meredith, Chair of Hilary<br />
Meredith Solicitors Ltd, yesterday took part in the<br />
great annual Sheep drive over London Bridge.<br />
The event, which raised thousands for the Lord<br />
Mayor’s Appeal, was launched by television chef<br />
Mary Berry.<br />
The Freedom of the City of London began in 1237<br />
and is one of the oldest surviving traditional ceremonies<br />
still in existence today. Winston Churchill,<br />
Princess Diana, and Nelson Mandela are among<br />
the recipients of the Freedom of the City of London.<br />
Hilary acts primarily for armed forces service personnel,<br />
veterans and their families. She has successfully<br />
acted in a number of ground-breaking<br />
cases and has developed a reputation in public affairs<br />
and lobbying for the rights of the armed services<br />
personnel. She is currently campaigning<br />
against Government proposals to widen the<br />
scope of combat immunity to stop claims of negligence<br />
coming to court.<br />
Hilary Meredith Solicitors opened in Wilmslow in<br />
2003. The firm opened its London office ten years<br />
later and last year relocated its City base to 1 Mitre<br />
Court, Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of Court<br />
in London.<br />
The Monthly Publication of the Manchester Law Society<br />
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Contents 3<br />
North West Law <strong>November</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
Manchester Law Society<br />
64 Bridge Street<br />
Manchester M3 3BN<br />
Tel: 0161 831 7337<br />
Fax: 0161 839 2631<br />
www.manchesterlawsociety.org.uk<br />
Editor: Fran Eccles-Bech<br />
News from the President<br />
page 5<br />
In this edition...<br />
NEWS<br />
Farleys fuel growth with new appointments<br />
& increased trainee intake<br />
Colin Hoffman retires after 50 years’ service<br />
to Kuits<br />
Hill Dickinson strengthens Commercial and<br />
Intellectual Property offering with senior<br />
telecoms hire<br />
6<br />
8<br />
9<br />
Editorial Committee<br />
David Anderson, St Johns Buildings<br />
Julia Baskerville, Baskerville Publications Ltd<br />
Fran Eccles-Bech, Manchester Law Society<br />
Adam Entwistle, JMW Solicitors LLP<br />
Sarah Evans, Kuits<br />
Mark Fitzgibbon, Hill Dickinson<br />
Jemma Goldstone, JMW Solicitors LLP<br />
Michael Hardacre, Slater & Gordon<br />
Helen Kanczes, Clyde & Co<br />
Steve Kuncewicz, Bermans LLP<br />
Adrian Kwintner, Clyde & Co<br />
Jeff Lewis, Brabners LLP<br />
Louise Straw, Burton Copeland<br />
Matthew Taylor, Eversheds LLP<br />
Published by<br />
Colin Hoffman<br />
page 8<br />
MLA 2018<br />
Now open for entries!<br />
FEATURES<br />
15<br />
Baskerville Publications Ltd<br />
Apartment 327 Holden Mill<br />
Blackburn Road<br />
Bolton BL1 7PN<br />
Christina Blacklaws<br />
page 11<br />
Jane Forbes<br />
page 12<br />
Meet the Christina Blacklaws, Vice President<br />
of the Law Society<br />
City Profile: Jane Forbes, Chair of<br />
pro manchester<br />
REGULARS<br />
News from the President<br />
Regulation Matters<br />
Monthly Competetion<br />
Win a spa day for two at Nu Spa<br />
Management Matters<br />
11<br />
12<br />
5<br />
7<br />
16<br />
18<br />
Advertising enquiries<br />
Julia Baskerville<br />
01204 303323<br />
j.baskerville@jbaskerville.co.uk<br />
www.locallawsocietypublications.co.uk<br />
All rights reserved, reproduction in whole or part<br />
without written permission from the Publisher and<br />
Manchester Law Society is not permitted.<br />
Photographic material and manuscripts are supplied at<br />
owners risk, neither the company not its agents accept<br />
any liability for loss or damage.<br />
The Society welcomes articles and letters from members<br />
on any topic and items should be sent to the above<br />
address<br />
The views and opinions expressed in the Manchester<br />
<strong>Messenger</strong> are those of the individual contributors and<br />
not of the Manchester Law Society<br />
Printed by<br />
Buxton Press
4 Manchester Law Society News<br />
News from Bridge Street<br />
Forthcoming Events<br />
Family Law Debate <strong>2017</strong><br />
In the words of Donald Trump: “Lock Her Up!” The ultimate remedy for a parent refusing<br />
contact?<br />
'<br />
Bridging the gap between education<br />
and employers<br />
''<br />
In association with<br />
Invite you to an exclusive evening<br />
We would like to invite you to relaxed and informal evening at<br />
Manchester Art Gallery where you will be served drinks and delicious<br />
canapes in the sumptuous setting of the Victorian Galleries.<br />
Date: Thursday 30th <strong>November</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
Venue:<br />
Times:<br />
The Victorian Galleries at Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley<br />
Street, Manchester M2 3JL<br />
6-8pm<br />
The galleries are home to the world-famous Pre-Raphaelite paintings,<br />
and the collection also includes British and European art from the 17th<br />
century right up to the present day.<br />
At this exclusive Manchester Law Society event the canapés will be<br />
created by Mary-Ellen McTague, recently appointed as the galleries<br />
executive chef.<br />
Mary-Ellen is best known for her restaurant, Aumbry, as well as<br />
working in Michelin-starred kitchens.<br />
From 30th September the Gallery will be opening their exciting new<br />
South Asia exhibition #NewNorthSouth. You will have the opportunity<br />
on the evening to see some of the extraordinary art and immersive<br />
films created by artists and performers from South Asia and Britain.<br />
For further information and bookings contact<br />
HollieHirst@manchesterlawsociety.org.uk<br />
The Careers and Enterprise Company<br />
(CEC), Greater Manchester Combined<br />
Authority (GMCA) and Local<br />
Enterprise Partnership (LEP) are<br />
growing the Greater Manchester Enterprise<br />
Adviser Network and we<br />
need you!<br />
The purpose of the Enterprise Adviser<br />
Network is to create meaningful and<br />
long-lasting connections between education and business. The Enterprise Adviser Network<br />
offers a number of exciting opportunities for schools and businesses to work collaboratively,<br />
to improve the quality of careers guidance in schools, ensuring young people are inspired<br />
and informed $ about $ their future $ study / career options $<br />
and equipped with the skills needed<br />
to be successful in the workplace.<br />
$ $ $ $ $<br />
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This is achieved through the recruitment of passionate Enterprise Advisers (EA); senior business<br />
volunteers drawn from the world of business, who will work strategically with the<br />
$<br />
$ $ $ $ $ $<br />
schools leadership team to develop a sustainable plan for careers guidance and employer<br />
engagement, $<br />
helping to address the key barriers young people face when transitioning<br />
from education to the world of work.<br />
$ $ $ $ $ $<br />
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Essentially, we are looking for Enterprise Advisers who have experience of strategic planning<br />
and are confident enough to support and challenge a schools senior management to<br />
drive careers education<br />
$ $<br />
forward.<br />
$<br />
The<br />
$<br />
overarching $<br />
characteristic needs to be someone who<br />
has a real interest in supporting schools and who wants to positively impact young people.<br />
To find out more about this exciting opportunity and the benefits to you and your<br />
business please contact:<br />
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $<br />
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0#/)#$?"/$"&($&$'#&$<br />
$$<br />
Lynne-Marie Betteridge<br />
Careers and Enterprise Coordinator $<br />
Lynne-Marie.Betteridge@Greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk<br />
$ 07771563266<br />
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Manchester Law Society invites you to explore both sides of the argument at our Annual<br />
Family Law Debate, kindly hosted by Deans Court Chambers and chaired by His<br />
Honour Judge Allweiss.<br />
Mike Devlin of Stephensons Solicitors and Katie McCann of Kuits Solicitors represent<br />
the case for the father. James Brown of Hall Brown Family Law and Karen Brody of<br />
Deans Court Chambers represent the mother’s case.<br />
There will be an opportunity for networking with drinks and nibbles before and after<br />
the debate.<br />
An interesting evening not to be missed!<br />
Date: 2 <strong>November</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
Venue: Deans Court Chambers, 24 St John Street, Manchester M3 4DF<br />
Cost: Members of MLS £15.00 + VAT (£18.00)<br />
Non Members £20.00 + VAT (£24.00)<br />
Registration, welcome drinks, nibbles & networking: 17:30 – 18:30<br />
Debate: 18:30 – 19:30 Networking: 19:30 – 20:00<br />
Local Authority Conference <strong>2017</strong><br />
We are delighted to announce this joint event with 11KBW Chambers.<br />
Barristers from award-winning 11KBW will tackle the big questions in local authority<br />
law and what they mean for local authorities, their in-house legal teams and advisers.<br />
They will look at recent developments in legislation and case law across a number of<br />
key areas.<br />
Date: 16 <strong>November</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
Venue: Hilton Hotel, Deansgate, Manchester M3 4LQ<br />
Cost: MLS Members £75.00 + VAT (£90.00)<br />
Non-members £90.00 + VAT (£108.00)<br />
Registration: 09:00 Conference: 09:30 – 16:10<br />
Newly Qualified Solicitors Conference <strong>2017</strong><br />
Join us at the Newly Qualified Solicitors Conference to make sure you are prepared to<br />
start your new role with a bang.<br />
Hear what is expected of you and how to start with good habits to set you up for a successful<br />
career. Speakers will offer advice on how to tackle the jump in responsibility<br />
and the how to balance seeing guidance with using your initiative.<br />
Date: 24 <strong>November</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
Venue: BPP Law School, St James’s Building, 79 Oxford Street,<br />
Manchester M1 6FQ<br />
Cost: Members of MLS or MTSG/MYSG £50.00 + VAT (£60.00)<br />
Non-members £75.00 + VAT (£90.00)<br />
Registration: 09:00 Conference: 09:30 – 13:00<br />
Advanced Excel Training Course<br />
Do you want to build on your existing knowledge of Excel? Following our very successful<br />
and popular intermediate Excel training courses we are now delighted to offer an<br />
advanced course.<br />
At this advanced Excel one day training course our expert trainer from the RV Group<br />
will show you how to use H and V Lookups in the creation of catalogues and how to<br />
create, rearrange and format pivot tables and much more! Numbers on this course are<br />
strictly limited to ensure you receive bespoke and personal tuition from our trainer.<br />
Date: 28 <strong>November</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
Venue: Manchester Law Society, 64 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BN<br />
Cost: MLS Members £125.00 + VAT (£150.00)<br />
Non-members £175.00 + VAT (£210.00)<br />
Registration: 09:30 Training: 10:00 – 16:30<br />
Keep up to date with the latest event information at<br />
www.manchesterlawsociety.org.uk or follow us on Twitter<br />
@ManLawSoc<br />
To book a place on any of the above events, please email<br />
CarlaJones@manchesterlawsociety.org.uk<br />
$ $ $ $ $ $<br />
$ $
5<br />
President’s Column<br />
5<br />
It has been another busy<br />
month at MLS.<br />
At the end of September I<br />
had the pleasure of being<br />
one of the lead walkers at<br />
the Manchester Legal Walk<br />
which is organised by the<br />
Northwest Legal Support<br />
Trust. The Trust's aim is to<br />
improve access to justice<br />
for the most vulnerable in<br />
society. They do this by raising<br />
funds at events such as<br />
the Walk and distributing<br />
the funds to organisations<br />
that provide pro bono support<br />
for those who need<br />
legal help but cannot afford<br />
it. The Walk was open<br />
to anyone and I am delighted<br />
to say that it was<br />
very well attended. I have<br />
not seen the official numbers<br />
but it looked to me<br />
that there must have been<br />
nearly 300 people at the<br />
event.<br />
From the President<br />
I was fortunate to walk<br />
most of the 10K route<br />
around the city with<br />
Martha Spurrier, who is the<br />
current director of Liberty –<br />
the human rights organisation.<br />
Martha was incredibly<br />
good company and, as you<br />
can imagine, has a very interesting<br />
story to tell.<br />
Martha practised as a<br />
human rights barrister before<br />
taking her current role<br />
at Liberty. I have invited<br />
Martha to come to talk to<br />
our members next year and<br />
I am very pleased to say<br />
that she agreed to do so.<br />
As for the Walk, I can confirm<br />
that Martha and I<br />
walked at least 10K – and<br />
perhaps a little further as I<br />
may have taken a wrong<br />
turn at one stage! I have to<br />
say that this contrasted<br />
with the vast majority of<br />
walkers who were all congregated<br />
at the bar at Manchester<br />
Hall when we<br />
finished the walk. This surprised<br />
us as we led the Walk<br />
from the start and very few<br />
people passed us on our<br />
way! Dare I say not everyone<br />
walked a full 10k?!<br />
Martha rounded off the<br />
evening with an extempore<br />
speech which left no one in<br />
the room with any doubts<br />
as to the value of pro bono<br />
work and supporting access<br />
to justice. One particular<br />
line which struck me<br />
was Martha's comment<br />
that (and I paraphrase) - the<br />
denial of access to justice is<br />
the arsenic in the water of<br />
our democracy. An inspiring<br />
speech and I am looking<br />
forward to hearing<br />
more from Martha when<br />
she visits us next year.<br />
Another event I attended<br />
on behalf of MLS was the<br />
opening of the legal year at<br />
Westminster Abbey which<br />
was also attended by heads<br />
of law societies and bar<br />
counsels from throughout<br />
the world – Canada, Singapore,<br />
and Turkey – and<br />
what appeared to be every<br />
senior judge in the country<br />
and a fair proportion of the<br />
bar. It was a wonderful<br />
event to be involved in - a<br />
part of living history drawing<br />
on hundreds of years of<br />
tradition. The main reason I<br />
mention the event is that<br />
amongst the great and the<br />
good, there were only<br />
seven regional law societies<br />
represented at the<br />
event from England and<br />
Wales: the Joint V (Manchester,<br />
Liverpool, Leeds,<br />
Birmingham and Bristol),<br />
Cardiff and London. This<br />
again underlines the importance<br />
of MLS in the eyes<br />
of the National Law Society<br />
(which helped to organise<br />
the event) and once again<br />
gave us direct access to the<br />
President and Chief Executive<br />
of the Law Society.<br />
Turning to more mundane<br />
(but probably more important)<br />
matters, many of you<br />
will have spotted that the<br />
MOJ has decided to postpone<br />
the pilot trial for extending<br />
Court opening<br />
hours which would have<br />
seen additional pressures<br />
on many practitioners.<br />
The pilot was proposed in<br />
Manchester, but thanks to<br />
Jeff Lewis and other members<br />
of the Civil Justice<br />
Committee, who worked<br />
hard to provide evidence as<br />
to the problems which the<br />
proposed system would<br />
pose, the Government has<br />
now said that it will postpone<br />
the pilot until a "robust,<br />
efficient evaluation<br />
system" is in place.<br />
We are told that this is<br />
likely to be in February. It<br />
will be interesting to see<br />
what system they come up<br />
with.<br />
From January 2018, the<br />
<strong>Messenger</strong> will no longer<br />
be printed and delivered in<br />
hard copy. It will be circulated<br />
in electronic format<br />
only, apart from a special<br />
edition which will follow<br />
the Manchester Legal<br />
Awards in March, as we appreciate<br />
that the winners of<br />
awards like to have a hard<br />
copy memento of the<br />
night.<br />
The move to electronic format<br />
is for a variety of reasons,<br />
including: readers'<br />
Jon Hainey<br />
preferences, the environment,<br />
advertisers' views<br />
and costs. I have seen examples<br />
of the electronic<br />
version and it looks great<br />
and is very user friendly, so<br />
hopefully you will all soon<br />
get used to receiving the<br />
publication in this format.<br />
Finally, a quick update on<br />
Ladybridge. Despite my<br />
continued on page 7<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Comp<br />
osing<br />
budgets<br />
( in-hous<br />
e for<br />
l arger<br />
budgets )<br />
Budget<br />
negotiations<br />
OPEN MIC<br />
at The Spoon Inn, Chorlton<br />
An Evening of Poetry & Music<br />
9th <strong>November</strong><br />
Attend<br />
CMC<br />
in County<br />
or<br />
High<br />
Court<br />
Remote<br />
monitoring<br />
of b<br />
udget<br />
H<br />
Budget<br />
reviee wand/<br />
or a<br />
dvice<br />
<br />
Be entertained and have fun with local poets & musicians.<br />
<br />
GREAT RAFFLE PRIZES<br />
VENUE:<br />
<br />
<br />
Pay on the door:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
0161 769 2244development@gmlaw.org.uk<br />
www.gmlaw.org.uk<br />
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6 Movers & Shakers<br />
Browne Jacobson named top<br />
graduate employer<br />
National law firm Browne<br />
Jacobson has been rated<br />
as one of the best graduate<br />
employers in the country<br />
after being ranked in<br />
this year’s Guardian UK<br />
300, the independent<br />
guide to the best graduate<br />
employers, for the<br />
fourth year running.<br />
The latest ranking, which<br />
has seen the firm jump 62<br />
places from its 2016/17<br />
entry, follows on from this<br />
year’s successful recruitment<br />
of 19 trainee lawyers<br />
to their popular trainee programme.<br />
The Guardian UK300 is the<br />
largest and most representative<br />
survey of employers<br />
and what students want<br />
from their graduate careers<br />
in the UK. Each year over<br />
17,000 students take part<br />
via the UK's university careers<br />
services.<br />
Browne Jacobson now offers<br />
training contracts at all<br />
five office locations, giving<br />
new recruits the opportunity<br />
to gain exposure of various<br />
key sectors for the firm,<br />
including private, public, retail,<br />
financial services,<br />
health, technology, insurance<br />
and education.<br />
This year, the quality in applicants<br />
was so high that<br />
the firm chose to extend the<br />
number of places offered.<br />
Four of the new trainees<br />
came through the firm’s<br />
successful two week summer<br />
vacation scheme which<br />
is going from strength to<br />
strength since its launch in<br />
2015. The scheme is directed<br />
at second year law<br />
and third year non-law undergraduates,<br />
looking to<br />
gain valuable legal experience<br />
and is potentially an<br />
opportunity to get a training<br />
contract.<br />
Helen Dunham, Head of<br />
Human Resources at<br />
Browne Jacobson, said:<br />
“It is fantastic that we have<br />
been recognised in this<br />
year’s Guardian UK 300<br />
again.<br />
“Over the last few years, we<br />
have worked hard to develop<br />
and improve the way<br />
we recruit high calibre graduates<br />
in to the business and<br />
to maintain our reputation<br />
as a leading legal employer<br />
of choice in the country.<br />
“Our trainee programme offers<br />
a fulfilling and diverse<br />
career path and our revamped<br />
summer vacation<br />
scheme has been a great<br />
success, with its promise of<br />
giving budding lawyers two<br />
weeks of valuable work experience<br />
within the firm,<br />
where they can get a feel for<br />
the clients and sectors we<br />
work with and the culture<br />
we operate at the firm.”<br />
The number of first and second<br />
year trainees at Browne<br />
Jacobson is now at 28 – a<br />
record number for the firm<br />
and 20 graduate vacancies<br />
will be on offer in 2020.<br />
In 2016, the firm was<br />
praised for its commitment<br />
to learning and people development<br />
after achieving<br />
reaccreditation in both the<br />
Investors in People (IIP)<br />
Standard and the Health<br />
and Wellbeing Best Practice<br />
Award.<br />
Manchester law firm celebrates<br />
ongoing success<br />
A leading Manchester law<br />
firm has gone from<br />
strength to strength following<br />
a series of strategic<br />
acquisitions.<br />
The team at Slater Heelis<br />
LLP has doubled in size<br />
since 2013, with the firm<br />
now employing 137 people<br />
across Manchester City Centre,<br />
Sale and Timperley.<br />
The firm’s distinctive culture<br />
and supportive ethos has<br />
led to 95 percent staff retention<br />
over the past four years,<br />
as well as the arrival of a<br />
number of highly experienced<br />
lawyers. This has<br />
strengthened the offering<br />
to clients, including the creation<br />
of a new dedicatedconstruction<br />
and property<br />
litigation team.<br />
Managing Partner, Chris<br />
Bishop, said: “The firm expanded<br />
significantly in 2013<br />
and 2014. Since then our<br />
focus has been on ensuring<br />
that our culture and reputation<br />
for excellent service<br />
and a great work/ life balance,<br />
remain central to<br />
everything we do.<br />
“We have a diverse mix of<br />
dedicated and experienced<br />
people and we are committed<br />
to fostering young talent.<br />
This ensures we can<br />
provide a full range of legal<br />
services to businesses and<br />
individuals and we remain<br />
ready to react to opportunities<br />
and challenges which<br />
our clients recognise and<br />
value.<br />
“Of our 137 staff, three quarters<br />
are women and nearly<br />
half work part time or have<br />
a flexible working arrangement,<br />
something we’re very<br />
proud of. We want Slater<br />
Heelis to be an amazing<br />
place to work and through<br />
this, deliver great results for<br />
clients.<br />
“Social responsibility has always<br />
been important to us<br />
and as we’ve grown we<br />
have worked hard to retain<br />
strong links with local organisations<br />
in Sale, as well<br />
as forging new relationships<br />
with organisations across<br />
the city centre and South<br />
Manchester.”<br />
Slater Heelis supports organisations<br />
including Sun-<br />
Sport Velo women’s cycling<br />
team in Altrincham, Lymm<br />
Oughtrington Park Cricket<br />
Club, Timperley FC, Quarantine<br />
Arts Company based in<br />
the Northern Quarter along<br />
with charities such as Helping<br />
Uganda Schools and<br />
Friends of Rosie Children’s<br />
Cancer Research Fund, both<br />
charities of which partners<br />
are trustees.<br />
Chris Bishop<br />
Anne Irwin, Managing Partner<br />
of the Manchester office,<br />
added: “In 2013, Slater<br />
Heelis re-established a presence<br />
in Manchester City<br />
Centre, and the office has<br />
gone from strength to<br />
strength in the last four<br />
years.<br />
“The team has grown organically,<br />
with high calibre<br />
individuals joining in both<br />
our business and personal<br />
services teams. Over the<br />
next few years, we’re confident<br />
our reputation for<br />
high-quality advice from an<br />
experienced and friendly<br />
team will only continue to<br />
grow.”<br />
Slater Heelis acts for clients<br />
across the UK and internationally.<br />
www.slaterheelis.co.uk<br />
Corporate team gears up for expansion after<br />
advising on transactions worth almost £300m in<br />
the first half of <strong>2017</strong><br />
Pannone Corporate is<br />
looking to expand its corporate<br />
team after advising<br />
on deals worth almost<br />
£300m in the first half of<br />
this year.<br />
The team has completed<br />
around 30 deals in <strong>2017</strong> for<br />
new and existing clients<br />
across the UK with many<br />
transactions based in the<br />
North West.<br />
Deals include advising<br />
boohoo.com on its $20m<br />
acquisition of Nasty Gal and<br />
acting for the shareholders<br />
of PrettyLittleThing when<br />
the online retailer purchased<br />
a majority stake in<br />
the business for £3.3m.<br />
Elsewhere, the team advised<br />
historic Manchester<br />
biscuit maker Hill Biscuits<br />
North West law firm Farleys<br />
Solicitors has appointed<br />
two newly<br />
qualified solicitors to its<br />
Blackburn offices and also<br />
taken on four new<br />
trainees for <strong>2017</strong>/18, as a<br />
response to increasing demand<br />
for the firm’s legal<br />
services.<br />
on a management buyout<br />
backed by private equity investor<br />
LDC, and Maven Capital<br />
on its maiden<br />
investment from the Northern<br />
Powerhouse Investment<br />
Fund into Aberla Services.<br />
The 10-strong corporate<br />
team has expanded since<br />
Pannone Corporate was<br />
launched in 2014 and it is<br />
now looking to grow again<br />
to meet demand.<br />
Corporate partner Mark<br />
Winthorpe said “The corporate<br />
team has had a record<br />
year for transactions, completing<br />
many deals across<br />
the UK. However, it is particularly<br />
pleasing to have<br />
acted for so many North<br />
West based companies<br />
across a wide range of sectors.<br />
Our team’s success reflects<br />
a wider North West<br />
Taking up their newly qualified<br />
posts are Jenny Goodwin,<br />
who joins the firm’s<br />
corporate team and Rebecca<br />
Woolham who will be<br />
working in Farleys’ personal<br />
injury department. Both<br />
have been retained by the<br />
firm following the completion<br />
of their training contracts<br />
with the firm<br />
Looking to build on the success<br />
of Farleys trainee<br />
scheme are Adil Anwar,<br />
Ariella Jones, Monika<br />
Marcinkeviciute and Stevi<br />
Hoyle, who have commenced<br />
placements across<br />
both private and commercial<br />
areas of practice.<br />
Partner and head of trainee<br />
solicitor recruitment Nick<br />
Molyneux said: “I am delighted<br />
that we are continuing<br />
to maintain our strong<br />
level of investment in the<br />
next generation of lawyers<br />
Mark Winthorpe<br />
business success story.<br />
“We have a very strong<br />
pipeline of deals taking us<br />
well into the autumn and<br />
we are looking to add to the<br />
team to help us service demand.”<br />
Farleys fuel growth with new appointments<br />
& increased trainee intake<br />
here at Farleys.<br />
“These appointments come<br />
at a time when the firm is<br />
growing at pace, therefore it<br />
is essential that we ensure<br />
our trainee programme<br />
continues to provide us<br />
with talented and ambitious<br />
layers as we continue to<br />
offer a full range of legal<br />
services for individuals and<br />
businesses.<br />
“On behalf of the firm we<br />
wish them all the best in<br />
their future success here at<br />
Farleys Solicitors.”<br />
Trainee Solicitors Monika Marcinkeviciute, Adil Anwar, Stevi Hoyle & Ariella Jones<br />
The deadline for the December edition<br />
of the <strong>Messenger</strong> is 9th <strong>November</strong>
Regulation 7<br />
Regulatory Affairs Committee Update<br />
The theme for this month<br />
is consultations. We have<br />
known that it was coming<br />
and we now have 2 major<br />
consultations released<br />
which make essential<br />
reading. These are not<br />
just for compliance<br />
“boffins” like me! They<br />
will impact on every single<br />
one of us so please<br />
take the time to review<br />
them. If you are hooked,<br />
and want to know more,<br />
then read on! Even if you<br />
don’t have time to read it<br />
all, MLS is committed to<br />
submitting a response<br />
and will be holding a<br />
meeting on 21st <strong>November</strong><br />
at Weightmans’ office<br />
at 3 Piccadilly Place to discuss<br />
so please feel free to<br />
come<br />
along.<br />
The Policy Team from the<br />
Law Society will be attending<br />
this meeting too<br />
to find out what the views<br />
of Manchester practitioners<br />
are.<br />
As you will be aware from<br />
previous columns, the SRA<br />
is committed to simplifying<br />
and shortening its handbook<br />
which sets out the<br />
standards it expects solicitors<br />
and firms to meet and<br />
the rules they should follow<br />
as part of its wider Looking<br />
to the Future programme.<br />
The first phase of consultation<br />
to create a simpler<br />
code of conduct and accounts<br />
rules has been finalised<br />
and they are now<br />
consulting on the second<br />
phase.<br />
The proposed changes include:<br />
• Removal of early character<br />
and suitability checks on<br />
students and trainees;<br />
• Simplifying the rules for<br />
“freelance solicitors”, allowing<br />
a solicitor to provide reserved<br />
legal services, in<br />
certain circumstances, on a<br />
freelance basis to the public<br />
to simplify the current situation<br />
where there is a complex<br />
series of exemptions<br />
for solicitors wanting to<br />
work in areas such as certain<br />
insurance services, law<br />
centres and pro bono work.<br />
• Transitional arrangements<br />
for the introduction of the<br />
Solicitors Qualifying Examination<br />
(SQE);<br />
• A revision to the SRA’s enforcement<br />
policy to provide<br />
more clarity on considerations<br />
of the SRA before enforcement<br />
and taking into<br />
account intent, harm<br />
caused, patterns of behaviour,<br />
vulnerability of the<br />
client, seniority of the solicitor,<br />
and any remedial action<br />
taken.<br />
The focus of the consultation<br />
is to ensure the Handbook<br />
is more concentrated<br />
on maintaining the high<br />
standards of the profession<br />
whilst removing those rules<br />
which are too restrictive<br />
and add unnecessary costs.<br />
Paul Philip, SRA Chief Executive<br />
said: "This is a simpler<br />
Handbook with a sharp<br />
focus on what matters – high<br />
professional standards and<br />
appropriate public protections.<br />
"Pages of complex bureaucracy<br />
do not benefit anybody.<br />
Our approach rightly<br />
puts the onus on professional<br />
judgement and ethics. Most<br />
solicitors do a good job and<br />
earn the trust people place in<br />
them. But a small minority<br />
do not. Our enforcement policy<br />
makes clear when and<br />
how we will act if things go<br />
wrong. It is essential that<br />
both the public and the profession<br />
can have confidence<br />
that we hold solicitors to account<br />
and act in a fair way."<br />
Looking to the Future:<br />
better information, more<br />
choice<br />
This consultation proposes<br />
changes requiring the legal<br />
profession to provide better<br />
information on price and<br />
quality of service with the<br />
aim of encouraging the<br />
public to compare legal<br />
services across the marketplace<br />
and to facilitate a<br />
good choice of appropriate<br />
legal services.<br />
The SRA proposals include:<br />
• the requirement for firms<br />
to publish their price for<br />
services and a description<br />
of the services they offer.<br />
This requirement will be<br />
limited initially to a select<br />
number of legal services<br />
such as conveyancing, wills<br />
and probate, family, employment<br />
tribunal and personal<br />
injury and will require<br />
firms to publish the required<br />
information on their<br />
website.<br />
• the requirement for firms<br />
to publish data on the firsttier<br />
complaints they receive<br />
and their areas of practice.<br />
This information will also<br />
be made available to republishers,<br />
such as online<br />
comparison sites.<br />
• firms to make information<br />
on SRA regulatory protections<br />
available - including<br />
introducing a mandatory<br />
digital badge that verifies<br />
that a firm is regulated by<br />
the SRA.<br />
In addition, the SRA is proposing<br />
to build a digital<br />
register to hold key regulatory<br />
data about SRA regulated<br />
solicitors and firms<br />
and make it available to the<br />
public. This can also be<br />
used for solicitors to bench<br />
mark their services against<br />
other legal service<br />
providers.<br />
Will this improve access to<br />
justice and the unmet legal<br />
need for lay clients and<br />
SMEs that the SRA and<br />
Competition and Markets<br />
Authority are so keen to<br />
promote or might it potentially<br />
increase the risk of<br />
confusion/hidden costs?<br />
Both consultations run<br />
until 20 December <strong>2017</strong> so<br />
please come along to the<br />
meetings and//or provide<br />
us with your feedback so<br />
that as full a response can<br />
be given to the SRA. Further<br />
information can be<br />
found<br />
at<br />
www.sra.org.uk/consultations.<br />
Crack Down on Tax Evasion<br />
The Criminal Finances Act<br />
came into effect on 30 September.<br />
Firms can now be<br />
liable for the acts of their<br />
employees or agents<br />
should they facilitate tax<br />
evasion. It is now possible<br />
to be liable for failing to<br />
prevent acts of employees<br />
even if senior management<br />
do not know about them.<br />
It is therefore essential to<br />
have procedures in place to<br />
avoid assisting tax evasion<br />
as well as ongoing monitoring<br />
of such procedures.<br />
Organisations prosecuted<br />
under the Act are faced<br />
with unlimited fines and<br />
potential associated reputational<br />
damage and enquiry<br />
by the SRA.<br />
The Criminal Finances Act<br />
coincides with a SRA warning<br />
notice issued at the end<br />
of September in light of<br />
their concerns about firms<br />
facilitating aggressive tax<br />
avoidance schemes.<br />
A copy of the SRA warning<br />
notice can be found on<br />
their website and the Compli<br />
team at Weightmans has<br />
produced a draft policy and<br />
risk assessment for sale at<br />
discounted rates. To apply<br />
for it, please go to<br />
https://compli.weightmans.com/criminalfinancesact/<br />
AML Draft Guidance Note<br />
produced by Law Society<br />
A draft guidance note covering<br />
the new Anti-Money<br />
Laundering Regulations<br />
which came into force at<br />
the end of June has been released<br />
by the law society.<br />
Whilst it still awaits approval<br />
from the Treasury, firms<br />
need to be working<br />
through the detail now if<br />
not done already and ensure<br />
that they have the necessary<br />
risk assessments and<br />
training in place. The Compli<br />
team is already helping<br />
firms with revising their<br />
policies and procedures so<br />
contact us should you need<br />
any further help with this.<br />
The link to the Law society<br />
note is here<br />
http://www.lawsociety.org.<br />
uk/policy-campaigns/articles/draft-anti-money-laundering-guidance/<br />
Leigh Day Findings released<br />
The SDT’s findings in the<br />
high profile defeat of the<br />
SRA by Leigh Day have<br />
been released and makes<br />
very interesting reading.<br />
The time for lodging an appeal<br />
runs for 21 days from<br />
full Findings so it will be interesting<br />
to see whether the<br />
SRA decides to appeal or<br />
not.<br />
That’s all there is time for<br />
this month, folks. I hope to<br />
see as many of you as possible<br />
at the consultation<br />
meetings shortly.<br />
Michelle Garlick<br />
Chair<br />
Regulatory Affairs<br />
Committee<br />
Weightmans LLP<br />
President’s Column continued...<br />
best efforts at coaching the<br />
lads to defend corners, we<br />
were battered 6 – 1 at the<br />
end of September in a<br />
game where I think all but<br />
one of the goals were<br />
scored from headers!<br />
To be fair to my team, the<br />
lad who scored most of the<br />
goals had just been released<br />
by Manchester<br />
United. If that is the quality<br />
of the players they are releasing,<br />
I look forward to<br />
seeing the first team once<br />
the current crop of academy<br />
players come through!<br />
In any event, Ladybridge is<br />
now back on track and we<br />
have since won 12 – 0 and<br />
6 – 0. I will not comment<br />
on the quality of the opposition<br />
– a win is a win! Not<br />
long until May!<br />
Jon Hainey<br />
President
Forthcoming Events<br />
8 Movers & Shakers<br />
AST Hampsons joins forces with<br />
Hudson & Taylor<br />
Two of Rochdale’s most<br />
long established firms,<br />
AST Hampsons LLP and<br />
Hudson & Taylor are joining<br />
forces to bring together<br />
over 250 years of<br />
history and shared values,<br />
serving the local community.<br />
AST Hampsons LLP will continue,<br />
but will incorporate<br />
Peter Miller from Hudson &<br />
Taylor with his staff practising<br />
from AST Hampson’s existing<br />
buildings at 128<br />
Yorkshire Street and 7 South<br />
Parade, Rochdale. Hudson &<br />
Taylor’s Shaw based office,<br />
known as Colin Ashworth &<br />
Co will be serviced via the<br />
Rochdale offices and where<br />
appropriate, home visits.<br />
Peter L Taylor, Managing<br />
Partner comments: “I am delighted<br />
to welcome Peter<br />
Miller and his staff into AST<br />
Hampsons LLP. My old Firm,<br />
Standring Taylor & Co is one<br />
of the 9 firms that eventually<br />
became AST Hampsons<br />
LLP and there are many<br />
who still remember it and<br />
its history. I am sure the<br />
same will apply to Hudson &<br />
Taylor which has been established<br />
in Rochdale since<br />
1910 and is greatly respected<br />
by many<br />
Rochdalians and others as a<br />
supplier of good quality<br />
legal services.<br />
I feel privileged to welcome<br />
Peter and believe that his<br />
experience and expertise<br />
will be a great asset to AST<br />
Hampsons LLP going forward.<br />
It is important that we<br />
work together to continue<br />
to provide the best legal<br />
services for our clients both<br />
locally and further afield<br />
and are attractive to future<br />
clients because we can provide<br />
a local service which is<br />
second to none”.<br />
Peter Miller comments:<br />
“I am very much looking forward<br />
to becoming part of a<br />
well respected, proactive<br />
and progressive firm and<br />
working alongside Peter<br />
Taylor and his partners. Our<br />
respective firms have enjoyed<br />
an excellent relationship<br />
over decades and I see<br />
this development as truly<br />
beneficial to clients old and<br />
new”<br />
This adds to the planned<br />
and successful period of<br />
growth for AST Hampsons<br />
LLP who have expanded<br />
their Bury office and developed<br />
and strengthened the<br />
probate, commercial, family,<br />
personal injury and conveyancing<br />
departments.<br />
Louise Salisbury (formerly of<br />
Molesworths) and Jillian<br />
Josephson (from QualitySolicitors,<br />
DWF and Cobbetts)<br />
joined as partners in 2014<br />
and 2016 respectively and<br />
Anna Murzell and Helen<br />
O’Sullivan’s successful property<br />
team joined us in 2015<br />
from a local conveyancing<br />
firm. New heads of department<br />
have been appointed<br />
to both the Family Team-<br />
Jennifer Worcester, and PI &<br />
Medical Negligence –<br />
Samantha Labor, teams<br />
which continue to<br />
strengthen and develop the<br />
firm and support local communities<br />
together with the<br />
addition of Anna Murzell as<br />
partner in January 2018.<br />
AST are continuing to grow<br />
and develop all areas of the<br />
firm and look forward to<br />
providing the wide range of<br />
services to both existing<br />
and new clients in the future.<br />
Details of services can<br />
be found at www.asthampsons.co.uk.<br />
Follow Manchester Law<br />
Society on Instagram<br />
@manchesterlawsociety<br />
Colin Hoffman retires after 50 years’<br />
service to Kuits<br />
Respected intellectual<br />
property lawyer Colin<br />
Hoffman has retired following<br />
half a century with<br />
Kuits.<br />
Colin started at Kuits in<br />
1967 as what was then an<br />
articled clerk, now a trainee<br />
solicitor. His principal was<br />
Vivian Steinart, one of the<br />
most accomplished lawyers<br />
of his generation in Manchester.<br />
Colin was a quick<br />
learner, qualifying in 1970<br />
before becoming a partner<br />
of the firm in 1971.<br />
Born in Rhodesia, Colin’s<br />
formative years saw him<br />
graduate from the University<br />
of Cape Town after<br />
which he was called to the<br />
Bar in South Africa and<br />
Rhodesia, where the system<br />
was Roman Dutch law.<br />
In 1965 he came over to the<br />
UK as a Rhodes Scholar to<br />
study English law at University<br />
College Oxford. Notable<br />
Rhodes Scholars from<br />
the past include Prime Ministers<br />
of Canada and Australia,<br />
and famously Bill<br />
Clinton, the 42nd President<br />
of the United States.<br />
Further growth for Bromleys’<br />
Property Team<br />
Law firm Bromleys has recruited<br />
property solicitor<br />
Martin Blaylock to help<br />
meet increasing demand<br />
from clients.<br />
He has joined the Tameside<br />
practice from Bell Park Kerridge<br />
Solicitors, which has<br />
offices in Carlisle and Cockermouth<br />
in Cumbria.<br />
Martin joins Bromleys’ corporate<br />
and commercial<br />
services team. He specialises<br />
in advising clients<br />
on commercial property,<br />
conveyancing and landlord<br />
and tenant matters.<br />
He is the latest addition to<br />
the growing team, following<br />
the arrival in the spring<br />
of solicitor Rubina Begum.<br />
Martin studied law at the<br />
University of Central Lancashire<br />
and completed the<br />
Once at Kuits, Colin specialised<br />
in commercial work,<br />
in particular the acquisition<br />
of medical product licences<br />
for the sale of over-thecounter<br />
(OTC) products. He<br />
acted on numerous cases<br />
for some of the firm’s<br />
biggest clients and connections,<br />
working on brand acquisitions,<br />
share<br />
acquisitions, flotations on<br />
the stock market, complex<br />
IP structures and patent licensing.<br />
His outstanding<br />
reputation and desire to develop<br />
the firm’s practice saw<br />
him travel extensively in his<br />
career, including visits to<br />
the USA, Russia, China and<br />
Malaysia.<br />
Colin has taken great pleasure<br />
in watching Kuits develop<br />
and grow over his<br />
50-year tenure. He was particularly<br />
proud of the firm’s<br />
merger with Hammelburger<br />
Marks in 1997 and has been<br />
delighted to witness the<br />
businesses’ growth in reputation<br />
over the years.<br />
Beyond Kuits, Colin is a former<br />
council member of the<br />
UK Licensing Executive Society<br />
and helped to form<br />
the North-West committee,<br />
of which he became Chairman.<br />
He was also a keen<br />
supporter of the Manchester<br />
Law Society and sat on a<br />
number of its committees<br />
Outside of his professional<br />
career, Colin met his wife,<br />
Ros, when studying at Oxford.<br />
They moved to Manchester<br />
together after graduating<br />
and they were married in<br />
August 1967 just before he<br />
began working at Kuits.<br />
They have two sons, David,<br />
who practises as a barrister<br />
in Manchester and Michael,<br />
an IT consultant in Edinburgh.<br />
For a number of years Colin<br />
served with the Manchester<br />
Artillery in the Territorial<br />
Army, ending his service<br />
with the rank of Captain. He<br />
is a keen philatelist and has<br />
been a member of the<br />
legal practice course at<br />
Northumbria University before<br />
qualifying as a solicitor<br />
in 2013.<br />
Paul Westwell, the Bromleys’<br />
partner who heads the corporate<br />
and commercial<br />
team, said: “We have seen a<br />
significant increase in new<br />
instructions and further recruitment<br />
has been necessary<br />
to service the needs of<br />
our clients.<br />
“Martin has relocated from<br />
Carlisle to join us and will be<br />
a valued addition to the<br />
team. He has a varied background<br />
and will fit in well<br />
with our client-focused culture.”<br />
Martin said: “Bromleys has<br />
an excellent reputation with<br />
clients and the local business<br />
community, and I’m<br />
Colin Hoffman<br />
Council of the Royal Philatelic<br />
Society London since<br />
2010. He has signed the<br />
Roll of Distinguished Philatelists<br />
in South Africa. Colin<br />
plans to spend his retirement<br />
writing a book on the<br />
stamps and postal history of<br />
Rhodesia and enjoying his<br />
garden.<br />
Robert Levy, executive partner<br />
for Kuits, said: “We have<br />
a people-focused culture<br />
and therefore are committed<br />
to helping our talent<br />
reach their full potential<br />
throughout the lifetime of<br />
their career. As such, we<br />
have a number of exceptional<br />
lawyers that stay with<br />
us from trainee all the way<br />
up to partner level – although<br />
Colin sets a very<br />
high record to beat!<br />
“It has been a true delight to<br />
work with someone as exceptional<br />
and admired –<br />
both on a personal and professional<br />
level – as Colin,<br />
and we wish him all the best<br />
in his retirement after five<br />
decades of developing and<br />
practising law in Manchester.”<br />
Martin Blaylock<br />
delighted to have been<br />
given the opportunity to<br />
join the firm.”<br />
In addition to the property<br />
department, Bromleys has<br />
in recent months bolstered<br />
its private client, care proceedings<br />
and Court of Protection<br />
teams.
Movers & Shakers 9<br />
Hill Dickinson strengthens Commercial and Intellectual<br />
Property offering with senior telecoms hire<br />
Leading international law<br />
firm Hill Dickinson has further<br />
strengthened its<br />
Commercial and Intellectual<br />
Property (IP) Team in<br />
Manchester with a senior<br />
appointment of Tracey<br />
Sheehan. Tracey, who was<br />
previously at the firm in<br />
1998, re-joins as a Partner<br />
and Head of Telecoms<br />
from Dentons. Her appointment<br />
was effective<br />
from Monday 25 September<br />
<strong>2017</strong>.<br />
Tracey is a leading lawyer<br />
within the telecommunications<br />
sector, with over 20<br />
years’ experience advising<br />
both national and international<br />
clients on communication<br />
regulation and<br />
infrastructure. She has particular<br />
expertise in infrastructure<br />
sharing with other<br />
regulated industries (utilities,<br />
rail, ports and airports)<br />
and the roll outs of fixed line<br />
mobile and satellite networks.<br />
Tracey is at the forefront of<br />
developments in the sector<br />
and takes a keen interest in<br />
how telecommunications<br />
infrastructure underpins the<br />
success of the delivery of<br />
the modern economy, including<br />
the global ambition<br />
of Smart Cities and Smart<br />
Grids. She will use her<br />
knowledge of the sector to<br />
support the wider client<br />
base at Hill Dickinson, grow<br />
new clients and increase<br />
cross jurisdiction projects.<br />
Tracey Sheehan comments:<br />
“I am excited to be returning<br />
to Hill Dickinson after 19<br />
years. The firm has built a<br />
brilliant reputation for delivering<br />
straight talking and<br />
commercially savvy advice<br />
on an international platform<br />
– which makes it a great fit<br />
for me. I look forward to<br />
spearheading the Commercial<br />
and IP Team’s growth<br />
into the national and international<br />
telecommunications<br />
sector as part of my<br />
remit at the firm.<br />
In addition, the Commercial<br />
and IP Team has been further<br />
bolstered by the appointments<br />
of Graeme<br />
Alder, as a Legal Director<br />
within the Liverpool office,<br />
and Benjamin Taylor who<br />
joins the Manchester office<br />
as an Associate. Graeme<br />
joins the firm from Yodel<br />
Delivery Network and Benjamin<br />
from Addleshaw Goddard.<br />
Graeme has a wealth<br />
of experience in advising<br />
upon a broad range of commercial<br />
matters including<br />
negotiating a wide variety<br />
of commercial contracts<br />
across a breadth of sectors.<br />
Benjamin qualified in February<br />
and will be involved in<br />
all aspects of commercial<br />
law advisory work, including<br />
dealing with contractual<br />
issues across a broad range<br />
of sectors for the Team’s<br />
clients.<br />
Hill Dickinson’s Commercial<br />
and IP Team is renowned for<br />
advising a large number of<br />
listed and private companies,<br />
start-ups, financial institutions<br />
and public sector<br />
bodies across a broad range<br />
of sectors, including financial<br />
services, media and logistics.<br />
The national team is<br />
experiencing growth in all<br />
of these areas across its offices<br />
in Manchester, Liverpool<br />
and London. Tracey<br />
Sheehan’s practice brings a<br />
new and significant<br />
telecommunications capability<br />
within the firm’s current<br />
Commercial and IP<br />
offering.<br />
Mark Fitzgibbon, Partner<br />
and Head of the Commercial<br />
and Intellectual Property<br />
Team at Hill Dickinson<br />
commented: “Tracey,<br />
Graeme and Benjamin are<br />
extremely valued additions<br />
to the team in the North<br />
West and nationally. Tracey<br />
is a highly experienced<br />
lawyer and her specialist expertise<br />
in the telecommunications<br />
sector will meet the<br />
growing client demand we<br />
are experiencing in this area<br />
at a time of unprecedented<br />
investment and innovation.”<br />
Leading Fraud Expert Strengthens Slater and<br />
Gordon’s Criminal Team<br />
A leading fraud expert has<br />
been appointed as law<br />
firm Slater and Gordon<br />
continues its expansion in<br />
the north west.<br />
Rachel Adamson, a former<br />
partner at Stephensons Solicitors,<br />
acts for individuals<br />
accused of fraud and regulatory<br />
offences including<br />
breaches of environmental,<br />
health and safety laws and<br />
enforcement actions<br />
brought by Ofsted and the<br />
Care Quality Commission.<br />
In a career spanning almost<br />
20 years, she has experienced<br />
almost every aspect<br />
of criminal law, but says she<br />
settled on her specialism<br />
after an eye-opening stint in<br />
the Crown Prosecution Service’s<br />
fraud investigation<br />
team which deals with<br />
some of the most serious<br />
and complex cases investigated<br />
by police forces<br />
across the UK.<br />
Leading North West law<br />
firm the Jackson Lees<br />
Group unveiled their new<br />
identity at a launch<br />
evening at the Everyman<br />
Theatre on 21st September.<br />
The Group were<br />
joined by over 100 guests<br />
from businesses and charities<br />
across the region and<br />
guest speaker, Pete<br />
Weatherby QC.<br />
She said: “When I worked at<br />
the CPS I helped to prepare<br />
a fraud case valued at £1.7<br />
billion in which, on paper,<br />
the defendants appeared to<br />
be overwhelmingly guilty.<br />
The defence chose to test<br />
the evidence in the magistrates’<br />
court as you could in<br />
those days.<br />
“When the series of ‘respectable’<br />
witnesses gave<br />
evidence it became very<br />
clear that they were in fact<br />
corrupt and dishonest. This<br />
taught me a valuable lesson<br />
that even the most believable<br />
witnesses could and<br />
should be tested.”<br />
Rachel previously worked at<br />
Lancashire-based Farleys<br />
Solicitors as associate partner<br />
and was also a partner<br />
at Stephensons, heading up<br />
the firm’s fraud and regulatory<br />
division.<br />
Her reputation and experience<br />
have led to her being<br />
called on regularly by the<br />
media for expert commentary<br />
as well as appearances<br />
on ITV’s popular reality television<br />
series, Judge Rinder’s<br />
Crime Stories.<br />
Rachel, who lives in Cottam,<br />
Preston, with daughter,<br />
Maggie, 12, will divide her<br />
time between Slater and<br />
Gordon’s offices in Preston<br />
and Manchester.<br />
She said: “I was impressed<br />
both by their strong brand<br />
Rachel Adamson<br />
and the clients who seek<br />
their representation and I<br />
am delighted and excited to<br />
join the team.”<br />
Siri Siriwardene, head of<br />
general law at Slater and<br />
Gordon, added: “We pride<br />
ourselves on listening to our<br />
clients so we can tailor the<br />
service we offer to suit them<br />
best.<br />
“Over the past 12 months<br />
we have seen a rise in the<br />
number of enquiries in this<br />
specialist area and are confident<br />
that Rachel’s knowledge<br />
and expertise will help<br />
us to meet that need and<br />
continue to provide a first<br />
class service.”<br />
Jackson Lees Group Launch Night at the<br />
Everyman Theatre<br />
Tracey Sheehan and Mark Fitzgibbon<br />
31st October Investec - How To Get More Out Of Your Money<br />
Free event to members and optional £10 to non members<br />
Women in the Law and Business UK<br />
Held at Investec offices in Spinningfield. Fizz and nibbles.<br />
4th <strong>November</strong> Events - Bar with Conference inspirational and Young Bar Conference, speakers London<br />
9th <strong>November</strong> - Jobs for the Girls. Careers on the Bench and beyond.<br />
30th <strong>November</strong> - - Clarity <br />
13th December - Christmas Drinks and music by Manchester inspirational voices<br />
Gospel choir with Nigel Poole QC and Special guest ITVs Judge Rinder<br />
Membership is open to lawyers and those in business<br />
Individual membership costs £25<br />
Cooperate membership £100 (for 5 names people)<br />
Events are £25 unless otherwise stated<br />
The Jackson Lees Group was<br />
formed in May 2016 after<br />
Jackson Canter acquired<br />
Wirral-based law firm, Lees<br />
Solicitors. Lees joined Jackson<br />
Canter and Broudie<br />
Jackson Canter, with the<br />
three forming the Jackson<br />
Lees Group. All have a long<br />
and well-respected history,<br />
with Lees Solicitors being<br />
founded in 1889, and<br />
Broudie Jackson Canter representing<br />
20 families at the<br />
historic Hillsborough inquest.<br />
Pete Weatherby QC, who<br />
helped lead the team representing<br />
22 of the bereaved<br />
Hillsborough families at the<br />
inquest, said: “I was pleased<br />
to say a few words highlighting<br />
the fantastic work<br />
the firm has done in supporting<br />
the families, and in<br />
particular, the efforts of<br />
members of the firm in pro<br />
bono work concerning Hillsborough.<br />
In speaking about<br />
Hillsborough Law I do hope<br />
that those who attended<br />
the event will visit the website<br />
www.thehillsboroughlaw.com<br />
and add their<br />
names and organisations to<br />
the list of supporters”.<br />
“The Hillsborough Law” or<br />
“Public Authorities Accountability<br />
Bill” is a piece of legislation<br />
drafted by lawyers<br />
who represented the Hillsborough<br />
families in the recent<br />
inquests. The Bill aims<br />
to make it a legal duty for<br />
public authorities and public<br />
servants to tell the truth.<br />
Brian Cullen, Chief Executive<br />
Officer at the Jackson Lees<br />
Group, added:“Thank you to<br />
everyone who joined us on<br />
Thursday night for our<br />
brand launch event at the<br />
Everyman. We were delighted<br />
to see so many<br />
friends of the Jackson Lees<br />
Group enjoy a special<br />
evening as we embark upon<br />
an exciting future for our<br />
firm.”<br />
The Jackson Lees Group is a<br />
proud sponsor and supporter<br />
of the Everyman &<br />
Playhouse Theatres.
10 Charity & CSR<br />
Mills & Reeve private client team tops<br />
Manchester rankings<br />
The private client team at<br />
the Manchester office of<br />
Mills & Reeve has topped<br />
the rankings in a prestigious<br />
legal guide of<br />
lawyers advising high net<br />
worth clients in the private<br />
wealth market.<br />
In the inaugural Chambers<br />
High Net Worth Guide, the<br />
private client team was<br />
ranked in Band 1 in the<br />
Manchester area where it<br />
was praised for its ‘depth<br />
and breadth of knowledge’.<br />
Partner Tony Hall, is the only<br />
lawyer in Manchester to be<br />
ranked in Band 1 where he<br />
is described by one source<br />
as ‘the best trust lawyer I<br />
have ever met in my career’<br />
and ‘an excellent communicator<br />
with precise attention<br />
to detail’.<br />
Meanwhile, fellow partner<br />
and team head Deborah<br />
Clark and partner Zahra Siddiqui<br />
were ranked in Band 2<br />
where Deborah was described<br />
as ‘very client focused’<br />
with ‘good technical<br />
skills’ while Zahra was hailed<br />
as ‘excellent’ and an ‘absolute<br />
star’.<br />
Tony said: “We are naturally<br />
delighted to achieve these<br />
Deborah Clark<br />
rankings. They highlight the<br />
team’s expertise and experience<br />
in advising high net<br />
worth individuals, business<br />
people and landowners<br />
who are looking to protect<br />
their wealth in an increasingly<br />
complex legal and tax<br />
system.”<br />
WTB continue to develop their Immigration team by<br />
retaining their first NQ<br />
Rachel Evans and the<br />
growing Immigration<br />
team at WTB Solicitors are<br />
celebrating the completion<br />
of her training contract.<br />
Rachel was the firm’s<br />
first trainee and has been<br />
retained by the firm as her<br />
career progresses.<br />
After gaining a wealth of experienced<br />
as a Senior Immigration<br />
Caseworker with<br />
WTB, Rachel is now a qualified<br />
Solicitor and specialises<br />
in immigration, asylum, nationality<br />
and EEA free movement<br />
law.<br />
Upon qualifying, Rachel was<br />
asked the following:<br />
Q: Why did you choose Immigration<br />
Law?<br />
A: “I came to immigration<br />
law almost by accident. I<br />
didn’t study the area before<br />
but after my law degree and<br />
LPC I was looking for what<br />
to do next and I thought<br />
asylum and refugee law<br />
seemed interesting. It was<br />
not obvious how to get into<br />
it though as there were specific<br />
qualifications required<br />
to practice. I got in contact<br />
with a national legal charity<br />
called the Immigration Advisory<br />
Service to ask them<br />
about how to get into the<br />
area and then one day a<br />
while later they contacted<br />
me to ask if I wanted to<br />
apply for a job with them.<br />
They trained me up and put<br />
me through the relevant<br />
exams and I’ve been working<br />
in this area ever since<br />
(11 ½ years now).”<br />
Q: As a NQ, what are your<br />
favourite parts of being a<br />
solicitor? And, what do<br />
you find most difficult?<br />
A: “My favourite part of my<br />
job is being able to make a<br />
positive difference to someone’s<br />
life. It is very rewarding<br />
to know you’ve helped<br />
someone reunite with a<br />
family member or prevent<br />
their removal and being<br />
separated from family or returning<br />
to a country where<br />
their life is in danger. However<br />
this can also be the difficult<br />
part when an<br />
application is refused and<br />
you have to tell a person<br />
this.”<br />
Q: As the first WTB trainee<br />
to qualify, how did you<br />
find the training and support<br />
at WTB Solicitors?<br />
A: “I was given the flexibility<br />
to be able to fit in all of my<br />
PSC training courses and<br />
was helped to reduce my<br />
caseload so that I could devote<br />
time to other areas of<br />
law within the office.”<br />
Q: What do you think it<br />
takes to be a successful<br />
Immigration Solicitor?<br />
A: “I think you need to keep<br />
reminding yourself that it is<br />
worthwhile even though it<br />
can often feel otherwise.<br />
With the constant changes<br />
and restrictions in this area<br />
of law over the years, with<br />
making the rules more difficult<br />
to meet, increasing the<br />
application fees, restricting<br />
appeals rights and the general<br />
attitude towards immigration<br />
and asylum seekers<br />
it is an area of law which can<br />
be incredibly disheartening<br />
at times to persist with. It’s<br />
important to concentrate<br />
on the positives when they<br />
come.”<br />
M&A expert boosts Shoosmiths<br />
corporate team<br />
National law firm Shoosmiths<br />
has boosted its corporate<br />
team in<br />
Manchester with the appointment<br />
of Andrew Millar<br />
as a partner.<br />
Andrew joins the fastgrowing<br />
firm from regional<br />
law firm Brabners,<br />
where he has spent four<br />
years building its corporate<br />
practice as a partner.<br />
Prior to Brabners, he spent<br />
eight years with Squire<br />
Sanders (now Squire Patton<br />
Boggs) in its Manchester office,<br />
having trained in London<br />
with Hogan Lovells,<br />
where he also spent eight<br />
years after joining as a<br />
trainee.<br />
Andrew specialises in advising<br />
private and public companies<br />
on fundraisings,<br />
mergers and acquisitions,<br />
company law advice and<br />
group reorganisations.<br />
His recruitment underlines<br />
Shoosmiths’ commitment<br />
to attracting talent and establishing<br />
a major presence<br />
in the regional deal-making<br />
marketplace.<br />
Earlier this summer the firm<br />
appointed former listed<br />
company CEO Tim Jackson-<br />
Smith as a partner in Manchester,<br />
while in Leeds, it<br />
appointed corporate partners<br />
Philip Goldsborough<br />
and James Foster from Irwin<br />
Mitchell.<br />
Vaqas Farooq head of Shoosmiths<br />
Manchester said:<br />
“Andrew is an excellent<br />
lawyer with a great reputation<br />
in the market. Across<br />
the North we are very proud<br />
that we have assembled a<br />
formidable corporate team<br />
led by five partners with<br />
deep knowledge and genuine<br />
business insight .”<br />
Karen Procter, corporate<br />
partner at Shoosmiths in<br />
Manchester, added: “Andrew’s<br />
appointment is really<br />
timely given that our team<br />
is incredibly busy delivering<br />
a number of exciting and<br />
high profile deals.<br />
“Attracting high quality<br />
lawyers like Andrew is a real<br />
statement of intent and I am<br />
sure he’ll be a great addition<br />
to our team.”<br />
Andrew Millar added: “Joining<br />
Shoosmiths is an exciting<br />
opportunity. The firm<br />
has made great strides in<br />
the North West and has a<br />
reputation for innovation<br />
and its client service.<br />
“Joining Shoosmiths was an<br />
easy decision and I am looking<br />
forward to working with<br />
the talented team here in<br />
Manchester and across the<br />
wider north.”<br />
Shoosmiths' corporate team<br />
has advised public and private<br />
companies, management<br />
teams, investors and<br />
debt providers through the<br />
business life cycle. Shoosmiths<br />
work with businesses<br />
from start-up and<br />
first round finance through<br />
to mergers and acquisitions,<br />
MBO and MBI transactions,<br />
development funding and<br />
on exits, by way of sale, listing<br />
or private equity investment.<br />
Nationally, the corporate<br />
team is ranked in first place<br />
by deal volume in Experian's<br />
2016 MarketIQ UK & Ireland<br />
M&A league tables. The<br />
team was recognised for its<br />
mergers and acquisitions<br />
expertise at the 2015 M&A<br />
Awards, winning the Law<br />
Firm of the Year category<br />
New Books added to the<br />
Manchester Law Library Society<br />
Taking a Case to The European Court of Human Rights 4th ed OUP <strong>2017</strong><br />
IDS Employment Law Handbook Discrimination at Work <strong>2017</strong><br />
Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases 14th ed <strong>2017</strong><br />
Building Contract Claims 5th ed.<br />
Waste Regulation Law 2nd ed.<br />
Banking Litigation 4th ed Sweet & Maxwell <strong>2017</strong><br />
Stamp Duty Land Tax 2nd ed.<br />
Listed Buildings & other Heritage Assets 5 th ed.<br />
Accidents Abroad International Personal Injury Claims 2nd ed.<br />
Lightman & Moss on the Law of Administrators & Receives of Companies 6th ed.<br />
Ross on Inheritance Act Claims 4th ed.<br />
Whistleblowing Law and Practice 3rd ed <strong>2017</strong><br />
Harry Pratt, Rachel Evans, Salim Kuraishe, Asli Akoya<br />
Onward Buildings, 207 Deansgate,<br />
Manchester, M3 3NW<br />
Tel: 0161 236 6312<br />
Email: issuedesk@manchesterlawlibrary.co.uk
Movers & Shakers 11<br />
Meet the Vice President of the Law Society<br />
Christina Blacklaws talks to Julia Baskerville about her<br />
career in the law, the current challenges facing the legal<br />
profession and her themes for 2018...<br />
Christina Blacklaws studied Jurisprudence at Oxford before<br />
joining JB Wheatley, a community law firm in London<br />
where she qualified as a solicitor in 1991. Christina<br />
specialised in family and childcare work and in 2006 set<br />
up the family law practice Blacklaws Davis LLP.<br />
Blacklaws Davis LLP was a hybrid law firm with nine high<br />
street offices, but also had 50 self employed or freelance<br />
lawyers and became one of the largest specialist family law<br />
firms in the country. The firm merged with London-firm TV<br />
Edwards LLP in 2011 and Christina was a senior member<br />
partner and responsible for the firm’s business development<br />
before joining the Co-operative Legal Services (CLS).<br />
Christina was engaged by CLS to launch their family law division.<br />
Christina, with her colleagues, set up a nationwide<br />
law department, which included a full range of fixed costs<br />
and a consistent quality service. They also developed a number<br />
of self-help tools for clients including web chats,<br />
YouTube presentations and Twitter feeds. Once the family<br />
law division was established and operating successfully,<br />
Christina was appointed Director of Policy for CLS and was<br />
responsible for business development and strategy.<br />
Christina moved to top 100 firm, Cripps LLP as chief operating<br />
officer and is now their Director of Innovation.<br />
Christina has many years experience in family law and she<br />
was chair of the Law Society’s Family Law Committee and<br />
is a current member of the Family Justice Council. She says<br />
that family law has undergone enormous changes since she<br />
qualified and the biggest impact has been the reduction of<br />
legal aid which has impacted family law firms and departments<br />
and, of course, their clients. In addition society has<br />
changed, the way people live has changed. Christina adds,<br />
“The law needs to reflect the world in which we live and the<br />
structure of families has moved on significantly. One thing<br />
that hasn’t changed is the law relating to co-habiting couples<br />
and the Government really needs to introduce legislation.<br />
There are over 5 million people in the UK in long-term<br />
co-habiting relationships, who have few legal rights and<br />
there have been great miscarriages of justice. The Law Society<br />
have been battling for many years on this issue, but<br />
there is a lack of will by the Government to introduce legislation<br />
to protect these individuals.”<br />
Christina joined the Council of the Law Society in 2002 and<br />
is the representative for the Women Lawyer’s Division. She<br />
has been a member of the Regulatory Affairs Board and<br />
chaired the Legal Affairs and Policy Board. She became Vice<br />
President of the Law Society in July.<br />
Christina says that there are numerous challenges for both<br />
the Law Society and the profession. One of the most significant<br />
of these is the SRA Handbook. Christina says, “Yet again<br />
we have serious concerns about the SRAs proposals. Firstly<br />
the SRA propose that a newly qualified solicitor will be able<br />
to set up their own firm as soon as they qualify. Currently the<br />
rule is three years after qualification and after management<br />
training. When solicitors qualify, they have the support and<br />
guidance of experienced practitioners. If this proposal were<br />
to be implemented there could be very junior and inexperienced<br />
solicitors giving unsupervised legal advice. The proposals<br />
to allow solicitors to work as solicitors in completely<br />
unregulated businesses is not good for the solicitors’ brand<br />
and will essentially create a 2-tier profession. The Law Society<br />
prides itself on the excellence of the profession and<br />
when I have spoken to solicitors up and down the country<br />
they are aghast at this suggestion.” A range of further proposals<br />
can only, the Law Society asserts, put consumers at<br />
risk and undermine trust in legal services. A proposed new<br />
tier of solicitors would, under SRA proposals, work in unregulated<br />
entities and the Society believes these practitioners<br />
wouldn't have to have the same professional indemnity insurance<br />
as other solicitors, wouldn't pay into the solicitors<br />
compensation fund and wouldn't inevitably afford their<br />
clients legal professional privilege (LPP). A further new class<br />
of solicitor would freelance, with neither a firm over their<br />
head nor the badge of sole practitioner. These changes risk<br />
serious damage to the solicitor brand, the Law Society asserts.<br />
Access to Justice is a constant challenge for the Law Society,<br />
the profession and society. Christina says “We have had repeated<br />
cuts to the legal aid budget, and the introduction of<br />
LASPO in 2012 hit many practitioners and more importantly<br />
vulnerable clients. Those areas particularly affected are<br />
housing, family law and social welfare issues.” Earlier this<br />
year the Law Society published a report “LASPO - four years<br />
on” which highlights the very real damage that the legislation<br />
has created in terms of Access to Justice. Christina adds<br />
“There is very little legal aid available for civil cases and for<br />
those who are eligible for funding, they are finding it increasingly<br />
difficult to get the assistance they need in their<br />
locality. This has had a huge impact on society. We know<br />
that early intervention in these cases by an expert solicitor<br />
is crucial to prevent problems escalating.”<br />
And of course, there is Brexit. Christina says that the decision<br />
to leave the European Union has and will continue to create<br />
huge challenges for our society. She says that in the run up<br />
to the Referendum in June 2016, and as the Brexit negotiations<br />
continue, the Law Society has been fully engaged with<br />
the Government and has lobbied on behalf of the profession.<br />
Christina says that civil justice co-operation throughout<br />
the European Union is absolutely crucial for citizens of<br />
the UK and to remove this would be catastrophic. She adds,<br />
“The Government has listened to the Society and agree that<br />
if the system of civil justice co-operation is working then it<br />
should be retained, or at the very minimum replaced with<br />
something very similar.” Likewise, the Law Society want to<br />
see the UK Government work with the EU in the areas of<br />
criminal justice and security, in particular the “European Arrest<br />
Warrant” scheme. Christina adds, “This is paramount for<br />
the security and protection of our citizens.”<br />
Currently many UK law firms have offices throughout the EU<br />
and solicitors are able to work in European law firms without<br />
restriction. Christina wants to ensure that firms and individuals<br />
are still able to do this without barriers or<br />
restrictions, but adds that she is quietly confident that this<br />
will be retained.<br />
Still on the theme of Brexit, the Law Society has just<br />
launched a new campaign “The Global Legal Centre”. The<br />
video campaign, featuring voxpops from senior legal figures,<br />
aims to promote England and Wales as a world centre<br />
for legal excellence. Christina says, “We have a wealth of<br />
legal experts which we want to shout about and tell the rest<br />
of the world that we are certainly open for business.”<br />
Christina will take over as President of the Law Society in<br />
July 2018, and has already given careful consideration to her<br />
themes and ambitions for her year in office. Firstly Christina<br />
wants to highlight and celebrate the pro bono work done<br />
by solicitors and emphasise the huge contribution the profession<br />
makes to society despite the cuts to legal aid. She<br />
adds “Over the past 3 years the profession has undertaken<br />
over 2.5 million hours of pro bono work, equating to approximately<br />
£600M work. The incredible response from the<br />
profession to the recent attacks in Manchester and London,<br />
and the Grenfell Tower fire illustrate this, and we need to celebrate<br />
this.”<br />
The diversity of the profession will also feature in Christina’s<br />
plans, “In terms of diversity there is no room for complacency.<br />
The legal profession needs to reflect the society it<br />
serves. The profession is almost 50% female and 15% are<br />
from BAME backgrounds, but at a senior level these figures<br />
are much lower and the Law Society is trying to assist firms<br />
to address this.” “Women in leadership” will also be part of<br />
this diversity issue as well as looking at Artificial Intelligence<br />
and using technology. Christina hopes that the Law Society<br />
can help firms make informed decisions about technology.<br />
Clearly the Law Society and the profession are facing numerous<br />
challenges to the practice of the law, none more<br />
challenging than the new world outside of the European<br />
Union. However Christina concludes, “We need to look at<br />
the opportunities that present themselves and seek augmentation<br />
rather than replacement.”
12 Interview<br />
City Profile: Jane Forbes, Chair of pro manchester<br />
Jane Forbes of PwC LLP, is<br />
the Lead Partner of the<br />
NW Government & Public<br />
Services Team. Jane recently<br />
took over as Chair<br />
of pro-manchester from<br />
Manchester solicitor, Alison<br />
Loveday.<br />
After completing a Masters<br />
degree in European Politics<br />
at the University of Leeds,<br />
Jane joined PwC’s Leeds office<br />
in 2001 and qualified as<br />
a Chartered Accountant in<br />
2004. She moved to the<br />
Manchester office in 2009 to<br />
set up a Risk Assurance<br />
business in the Government<br />
and Public Services market.<br />
Jane was made Partner in<br />
2013 and has since then led<br />
PwC’s Government and<br />
Public Services practice<br />
across the North West.<br />
Jane’s clients have included<br />
both national and regional<br />
Government agencies and<br />
public bodies, including<br />
three Regulators, ten Registered<br />
Social Landlords and<br />
five of the North West’s<br />
Higher Education Institutions.<br />
Jane has a keen interest<br />
in the Social Housing<br />
sector and spent two years<br />
on secondment to the<br />
Housing Regulator where<br />
she headed up the Internal<br />
Audit and Risk Team. Jane is<br />
PwC’s National Lead Partner<br />
for Social Housing, a role<br />
she took on in June <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
Jane became directly involved<br />
with pro-manchester<br />
in 2010 when she joined<br />
the Skills Committee. Jane<br />
says “As a newcomer to the<br />
city, I became involved with<br />
pro-manchester as a way of<br />
establishing new contacts<br />
and building relationships<br />
within the business community.<br />
Pro Manchester is<br />
fantastic for providing you<br />
with a ready-made network,<br />
it certainly worked for me.”<br />
Jane describes pro-manchester<br />
as the leading B2B<br />
organisation in the North<br />
West, the natural gateway<br />
to business in our region,<br />
which excels at bringing<br />
businesses together, providing<br />
a forum for collaboration<br />
and innovation.<br />
One of its key successes has<br />
been the strength and<br />
depth of its sector group<br />
programme which provides<br />
business development opportunities<br />
and knowledge<br />
sharing between organisations<br />
and professionals. The<br />
sector groups are:<br />
Green Economy<br />
Sports Industry<br />
Creative and Digital<br />
Science and Technology<br />
Healthcare<br />
Hotels and Leisure<br />
Retail and E-Commerce<br />
Transport and Infrastructure<br />
Food and Drink<br />
Regeneration and Property<br />
Advanced Manufacturing<br />
Pro-manchester has over<br />
330 members, including the<br />
biggest names within the Financial<br />
and Professional<br />
Service sector and a select<br />
number of corporate members<br />
from across the region.<br />
Within these companies sit<br />
over 5,000 individual members.<br />
At the start of Jane’s tenure<br />
as Chair she outlined her<br />
goals for the coming year.<br />
Her first priority is to promote<br />
and champion the<br />
work and expertise of the Financial<br />
and Professional<br />
Services Sector, which she<br />
sees as being the “enabler”<br />
for the city region’s growth.<br />
Secondly, Jane believes that<br />
pro-manchester’s breadth<br />
of knowledge and collaborative<br />
approach means it is<br />
perfectly positioned to be<br />
the ‘voice for business’ in<br />
Greater Manchester; and<br />
her third priority is to extend<br />
the reach of the promanchester<br />
sector groups<br />
to strengthen linkages<br />
across industries for its<br />
members.<br />
Jane believes there are<br />
clearly challenging and uncertain<br />
times ahead for<br />
Manchester businesses in<br />
the post-Brexit era, but is<br />
confident that the region<br />
will ‘weather the storm’ as<br />
this uncertainty also creates<br />
opportunity, and strengthens<br />
the case for redoubling<br />
the focus on collaboration<br />
and innovation within the<br />
business sector.<br />
The Financial and Professional<br />
Services sector has an<br />
important role to play in this<br />
as not only does it successfully<br />
deliver its own growth<br />
engine but it support the<br />
four key growth sectors in<br />
the Greater Manchester<br />
Strategy: Advanced Manufacturing;<br />
Creative, Digital &<br />
Technology; Energy and Environment;<br />
and Life Science<br />
& Healthcare. Jane says that<br />
one of the key objectives of<br />
the pro-manchester Skills<br />
Committee is to ensure that<br />
there is the skills pool to enable<br />
these industries to<br />
grow. The Skills Committee<br />
works alongside member<br />
firms to determine their<br />
skills needs whilst also developing<br />
relationships with<br />
the region’s universities,<br />
professional bodies and<br />
skills providers in order to<br />
support and develop appropriate<br />
solutions.<br />
Pro-manchester also runs a<br />
series of 60 Hot Topic seminars<br />
each year featuring<br />
talks from expert speakers<br />
on a range of issues such as<br />
corporate finance, marketing,<br />
risk management, so-<br />
Jane Forbes, Chair of pro Manchester<br />
cial media and insolvency.<br />
Pro-manchester continues<br />
to focus on the importance<br />
of the local economy and<br />
last month hosted a major<br />
economics conference focused<br />
on the Economics of<br />
Greater Manchester and inclusive<br />
growth. This follows<br />
the success of last year’s<br />
conference which focused<br />
on China and the opportunities<br />
for the region’s economy.<br />
Jane lives in Manchester<br />
with her husband Martin<br />
and 5 year old daughter<br />
Evie who has just started<br />
school. Jane is a life-time<br />
supporter of Manchester<br />
United and a self-confessed<br />
shopaholic. She also plays<br />
the piano and has recently<br />
started to take golf lessons<br />
with Evie, who according to<br />
Jane, is already a much better<br />
player!<br />
For further information visit:<br />
www.pro-manchester.co.uk<br />
Julia Baskerville<br />
Browne Jacobson signs ‘best friends’ agreement with leading Chinese law firm<br />
Law firm Browne Jacobson,<br />
which has an office in<br />
Manchester, has strengthened<br />
its international offering<br />
by entering into a<br />
formal ‘best friends’<br />
agreement with one of the<br />
leading law firms in China.<br />
The firm has signed a Memorandum<br />
of Understanding<br />
(MoU) with Guanghe Law<br />
Firm, the largest law firm in<br />
South China.<br />
The MoU will allow both<br />
firms the opportunity to<br />
provide a more integrated<br />
service offering and will include<br />
sharing information<br />
and knowledge on topical<br />
issues in areas such as intellectual<br />
property and<br />
brands, immigration, corporate<br />
and property, environmental,<br />
corporate finance<br />
and technology.<br />
Guanghe Law Firm is the<br />
largest law firm in South<br />
China with over 600 lawyers<br />
across 13 locations. The firm<br />
has its headquarters in<br />
Shenzhen - a city which<br />
links mainland China with<br />
Hong Kong and is widely<br />
known as the tech design<br />
and manufacturing capital<br />
of the world. Its other office<br />
locations are in Beijing,<br />
Chengdu, Wuhan,<br />
Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Dong-<br />
Guan, Qianhai, Longgang,<br />
Taipei, New York City,<br />
Toronto and Montevideo.<br />
The firm specialises in securities,<br />
corporate and finance,<br />
litigation/arbitration, commercial<br />
transactions, construction<br />
and real estate,<br />
intellectual property, entertainment,<br />
labor and employment,<br />
taxation and<br />
international transactions.<br />
The arrangement will complement<br />
Browne Jacobson’s<br />
existing membership of<br />
Pangea Net- an international<br />
network of independent<br />
law firms, which it<br />
co-founded in 2009.<br />
Dominic Offord, head of<br />
Browne Jacobson’s Commercial<br />
Disputes Resolution<br />
team, along with intellectual<br />
property partner Selina<br />
Hinchcliffe, met with representatives<br />
of Guanghe Law<br />
Firm.<br />
Dominic Offord said:“Although<br />
this is not an exclusive<br />
relationship, we have<br />
already worked collaboratively<br />
on some client matters<br />
and this agreement<br />
builds on the well-established<br />
ties we have established<br />
with colleagues at<br />
Guanghe Law Firm over a<br />
number of years.<br />
“Many of our clients have<br />
global ambitions and so<br />
having a close relationship<br />
with Guanghe Law Firm,<br />
one of the most highly respected<br />
and leading law<br />
firms in China, will prove to<br />
be a significant advantage.<br />
“Our clients will be able to<br />
mutually benefit from our<br />
combined sector and local<br />
market expertise in two of<br />
the world’s leading<br />
economies. We are also<br />
planning to explore opportunities<br />
where we can pitch<br />
jointly for projects and work<br />
where there is a strong synergy<br />
between our sector<br />
specialisms.”
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14<br />
5 reasons to outsource your payroll<br />
By Julian Bryan, Managing Director, Quill<br />
The clock is ticking for UK employers who haven’t yet gone<br />
live with auto enrolment workplace pensions. The Pensions<br />
Regulator is now routinely publishing details of employers<br />
who've been ordered to pay fines for ignoring new pension<br />
rules.<br />
If you're not compliant already, now's the time to act. However,<br />
if you’re battling to get to grips with auto enrolment, there’s<br />
never been a better time to outsource the increasingly burdensome<br />
payroll function. Here are five reasons why:-<br />
1. Auto enrolment applies to everyone<br />
Even if you employ just one person, you’re still obliged to provide<br />
a workplace pension. It’s the law. Whether you’re a small,<br />
medium or large-sized business, you have a legal requirement<br />
to comply by your allocated staging date. Go to www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/employers/staging-date.aspx<br />
to find out<br />
your date.<br />
2. Punishments are enforced<br />
Just as with any breaches of the law, there are punishments for<br />
non-compliance. The Pensions Regulator issues financial penalties<br />
ranging from £400 fixed penalty notices right up to £50,000<br />
civil penalties for companies failing to engage with auto enrolment<br />
or pay contributions due.<br />
And it’s not just the financial cost, although this is obviously deterrent<br />
enough. The negative publicity surrounding your unlawful<br />
activity may cause irreparable damage to your professional<br />
reputation. As a legal service provider, this is extremely embarrassing.<br />
Even worse, you may lose clients as their trust in you becomes<br />
questionable and, as a result, they begin to conduct their<br />
legal affairs elsewhere with one of your competitors.<br />
3. Managing work-based pensions is demanding and complicated<br />
Even before your staging date arrives, there’s a lot to do. This includes<br />
assessing your workforce to see who’s eligible, choosing<br />
a pension scheme and communicating with your staff regarding<br />
their options.<br />
One of your earliest decisions relates to the individual pay components<br />
which determine your employees’ qualifying earnings,<br />
for example overtime, commission and bonuses. It’s up to you<br />
to make a reasonable judgement as to whether each element<br />
fits within the definition of qualifying earnings.<br />
Even when you’ve reached your staging date, your responsibilities<br />
don’t end there. Employees must be re-assessed, contributions<br />
re-calculated, opt-ins added, opt-outs removed with<br />
refunds given each payroll cycle. Not forgetting general record<br />
keeping and reporting which is part-and-parcel of maintaining<br />
a clear audit trail of transactions. It’s a mammoth task and one<br />
which needs tackled every few weeks ad infinitum.<br />
4. Selecting a pension provider is a difficult decision<br />
Pension providers are all different. With no restrictions on<br />
charges, some providers apply additional administration costs.<br />
Providers’ benefits, such as range of investment options and<br />
web-based software support, vary drastically too.<br />
Your choice of pension provider will influence the costs to your<br />
business of auto enrolment as well as determine the administrative<br />
processes involved. So, the small print matters and needs<br />
to be carefully checked, compared and questioned before you<br />
sign on the dotted line.<br />
5. There are other payroll duties to manage<br />
Your payroll clerk has all his/her existing responsibilities to take<br />
care of too, ie. your employees’ salaries. After all, at the end of<br />
each month, your employees have to get paid.<br />
On a standalone basis, payroll management can be a full time<br />
job, covering salary processing, SMP, SPP and PAYE payments,<br />
payslip production, in-year and year-end reporting, as stipulated<br />
by ever-changing HMRC legislation. A heavier workload<br />
PAYROLL HEADACHES?<br />
resulting from the introduction of auto enrolment pensions<br />
and, suddenly, the role assumes unmanageable proportions.<br />
As a Bacs-authorised bureau, we’re permitted to perform your<br />
payroll function on your behalf, including transferring money<br />
from your business bank account directly into your employees’<br />
bank accounts to pay their monthly salaries, thus significantly<br />
lightening the load on you.<br />
Hopefully by now you’ve gained a better understanding of<br />
what’s demanded by auto enrolment. You may also have come<br />
to the conclusion that you simply don’t have the capacity to<br />
cope in house with your already-stretched human resources. In<br />
which case, our Quill Payroll outsourcing service is an increasingly<br />
appealing option.<br />
www.quillpayroll.co.uk<br />
info@quillpayroll.co.uk<br />
0845 226 2587<br />
Julian Bryan joined<br />
Quill as Managing Director<br />
in 2012 and is<br />
also the Chair of the<br />
Legal Software Suppliers<br />
Association. Quill is<br />
the UK’s largest outsourced<br />
legal cashiering<br />
provider with 40 years’<br />
experience supplying<br />
outsourced services and<br />
software to the legal<br />
profession.<br />
O FE<br />
Ever-changing Legislation...Late Pay Runs...Missed Deadlines<br />
Hard to Manage...Complicated Processes...Insecure Data<br />
Feel-good RTI & auto enrolment compliance<br />
Pain-free secure electronic payslip delivery<br />
Instant pension management cure option<br />
Healthy 'silent partner' bureau service<br />
Vigorous personal, flexible service<br />
Painless payroll management<br />
Call or click for a fast-acting remedy<br />
0845 226 2587<br />
info@quillpayroll.co.uk<br />
www.quillpayroll.co.uk/headaches
PEN<br />
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NTRIES<br />
For more information:<br />
Event host Media partner Marketing partner<br />
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@MLAwards
16 News<br />
Law firm celebrates dual award win<br />
at LFS Conveyancing Awards<br />
An employee of Frodsham<br />
law firm, Rowlinsons Solicitors,<br />
achieved a double<br />
award win at this year’s<br />
LFS National Conveyancing<br />
Awards.<br />
Victoria Stone, who works in<br />
the firm’s Residential Property<br />
Department won the<br />
Young Conveyancer of the<br />
Year Award for the North<br />
and subsequently the overall<br />
Young Conveyancer<br />
Award for the country.<br />
The awards, which were<br />
held on September 20th at<br />
the VOX Conference Centre<br />
at the NEC in Birmingham,<br />
reward Conveyancing firms<br />
across the country that offer<br />
exceptional levels of client<br />
service. In order to win an<br />
award, firms or individuals<br />
undergo a multiple stage<br />
judging process including<br />
mystery shopping exercises<br />
and interviews.<br />
Victoria joined Rowlinsons<br />
2010 as a Receptionist and<br />
was quickly promoted to<br />
Office Junior, Assistant then<br />
Conveyancing Fee Earner.<br />
With the support of Rowlinsons,<br />
Victoria has studied<br />
part-time at The Law Academy<br />
in Liverpool in order to<br />
obtain her Level 6 Diploma<br />
in Law and Practice and will<br />
shortly qualify as a Legal Executive.<br />
“I was delighted to be nominated<br />
but to win both<br />
awards was a fantastic surprise<br />
and the LFS awards<br />
ceremony itself was a great<br />
event” commented Victoria.<br />
Tom Parkinson, Director and<br />
Head of the Conveyancing<br />
department, said: “I am delighted<br />
and extremely<br />
proud that Victoria has won<br />
these awards. She has set a<br />
great example to the firm<br />
and to the industry, working<br />
hard to develop her career<br />
and studying at the same<br />
time.<br />
“We are always keen to promote<br />
from within wherever<br />
possible and invest in people<br />
who demonstrate the<br />
skills and enthusiasm to further<br />
themselves. The Prop-<br />
Victoria Stone<br />
erty Department and the<br />
firm as a whole continues to<br />
grow year on year, and a lot<br />
of the credit for this must go<br />
to our staff who continue to<br />
deliver exceptional levels of<br />
customer service to clients<br />
both locally and nationally.”<br />
Monthly Competition<br />
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Influencer marketing –<br />
not just for makeup<br />
By now we’re all familiar<br />
with the concept of influencer<br />
marketing.<br />
A relationship is developed<br />
with an authoritative or influential<br />
person, and they<br />
are persuaded to talk about<br />
a product or brand online,<br />
sometimes in the form of a<br />
review or by posting Instagram<br />
photos of the product.<br />
But while the practice is<br />
well-established in industries<br />
such as beauty and fitness,<br />
it’s a potentially<br />
untapped area for B2B or<br />
professional services marketers<br />
to explore.<br />
Why work with<br />
influencers?<br />
The biggest benefit of this<br />
approach is that influencers<br />
lend you credibility and<br />
trust. A relatively public figure,<br />
particularly in the business<br />
or legal world, will be<br />
risking their reputation on<br />
whom they endorse – and<br />
potential clients will be well<br />
aware of this.<br />
ing followers or subscribers,<br />
influencers can expose you<br />
to new audiences; for example,<br />
their own followers and<br />
subscribers. Your first task<br />
will therefore be to identify<br />
someone who has that<br />
clout with your audience,<br />
and whose own audience is<br />
relevant to you.<br />
How can you leverage influencers?<br />
• Sharing – in its most traditional<br />
form, influencer marketing<br />
could involve them<br />
promoting you via word of<br />
mouth to their clients who<br />
may need you. This can be<br />
taken online via social interactions<br />
or links on their site.<br />
A good relationship could<br />
also inspire an influencer to<br />
share your content with<br />
their followers; if, of course,<br />
it is high quality enough<br />
and is relevant to their audience.<br />
• Guest content – invite an<br />
influencer to create content<br />
to be published on your site<br />
and social channels, which<br />
will help your audience - or<br />
As well as impressing existyou<br />
could ask them to provide<br />
expert comment in a<br />
whitepaper or video you’re<br />
producing. Similarly, they<br />
could reciprocate, featuring<br />
your legal insight in their<br />
next campaign.<br />
•Events – their presence as a<br />
guest speaker at your event<br />
could drive attendance, and<br />
also give clients valuable insight;<br />
and will demonstrate<br />
your expertise to new audiences<br />
if you’re invited to<br />
speak at their events.<br />
Of course, influencers may<br />
want something in return –<br />
the best relationships are<br />
reciprocal, so you need to<br />
understand what you can<br />
offer them that adds real<br />
value. But more importantly,<br />
your audiences need<br />
to be aligned, so that everything<br />
you do for each other<br />
is relevant.<br />
#<br />
To win a Spa Day for two answer the following question:<br />
In which hotel is Nu Spa located?<br />
and send to<br />
FranEccles-Bech@manchesterlawsociety.org.uk<br />
no later than 9th <strong>November</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
The winner of the Don Giovanni competition was<br />
Jo McLeod, Head of Relationship Management – North<br />
The Law Society<br />
#
Legal Costs Update 17<br />
Legal Costs Update<br />
Here, in Kain Knight Costs Lawyers regular, monthly legal costs update, we focus on those<br />
cases which we believe are likely to have a practical relevance for its members. We welcome<br />
feedback and if there is an area, topic or case you would like us to address, please let us know.<br />
Long Vacation over. New term. New Lord Chief Justice. New President<br />
of the Supreme Court and now that all the swearing-in and<br />
opening of the New Legal Year has been accomplished, that<br />
means new costs cases!<br />
The “hot’ news is that the Court of Appeal has now heard the appeal<br />
in BNM v MGM, which is the leap-frogged decision from the Senior<br />
Costs judge about how the ‘new” proportionality rule in CPR 44.3(5)<br />
should be applied in proceedings for detailed assessment. A strong<br />
constitution : the Master of the Roll , sitting with LJs Longmore and<br />
Irwin, with judgment, as expected, having been reserved. A key issue<br />
for decision is whether additional liabilities (After-the- Event insurance<br />
premiums and success fees) are to be taken into account when applying<br />
the rule. Below, two costs judges have said “yes” and three have<br />
said “no”, so it will be very interesting to see how the Court squares the<br />
circle.<br />
Indemnity basis costs (1) -lucky defendant<br />
The value of an award of indemnity basis costs has grown enormously<br />
since the “new” proportionality test was implemented because CPR<br />
44.3(5) only applies to standard basis costs. Perhaps that has been the<br />
reason for the increase in applications by successful parties for the<br />
costs on the indemnity basis. Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd v<br />
Merit Merrell Technology Ltd [<strong>2017</strong>] 5 Costs LO 631 is a good example.<br />
Having set out the authorities concisely (judgment para [8] to<br />
[14]), Fraser J concluded that ICI should pay indemnity basis costs on<br />
account of a wholesale disregard for their contractual obligations and<br />
other conduct which had demonstrated “turpitude on the part of<br />
those involved”!<br />
Indemnity basis costs (2) - not so lucky defendant !<br />
Claimant sues you : you make three offers, all of which are turned<br />
down, the claimant’s expert is discredited, the defence stands up, the<br />
claim fails, and you ask for your costs on the indemnity basis – should<br />
be a formality, since if the boot had been on the other foot and you<br />
had failed to beat the claimant’s offer, you would be paying indemnity<br />
basis costs under CPR 36.17(4)(b) !<br />
Far from it! As the Governors and Company of the Bank of Ireland v<br />
Watts Group Plc [<strong>2017</strong>] EWHC 2472 (Ch), illustrates, the rule does not<br />
confer any automatic entitlement on a defendant who makes an effective<br />
Part 36 offer to indemnity basis costs. “I know this misalignment<br />
is considered by some to be unjustified, but it remains the law”,<br />
said Coulson J, so Watts Group had to be content with standard basis<br />
costs, save for expert witness work which was allowed on the indemnity<br />
basis.<br />
Payment on account in a costs budgeted case<br />
What about some money on account of the costs paid out? Same case<br />
(Watts Group). No indemnity basis costs, but can we, as the successful<br />
defendant, at least have a payment for the amount of the last approved<br />
budget namely £384,424, albeit that our actual costs are now<br />
£616,000?<br />
Answer ; the £384,424 is the starting point which the court has already<br />
assessed as a proportionate and reasonable figure, but you can<br />
only have 85% of that sum in order to give proper effect to rule 3.18.<br />
And, by the way, it is now too late to apply to increase the budget to<br />
take account of the £616,000 you have now spent because the interim<br />
payment can never be higher than the last approved budgeted figure<br />
-see paragraphs [13] – [18] of Coulson J’s judgment.<br />
Tough stuff, but how does that square with Thomas Pink Ltd v Victoria’s<br />
Secret [2015] 3 Costs LR 463 Birss J and Barkhuyson v Hamilton<br />
[2016] 6 Costs LR 1217 Warby J where increases to budgets were allowed<br />
after the trial ? It illustrates yet more inconsistency at High<br />
Court level in costs budgeting, and when and if a budget can be increased<br />
by the trial judge following judgment.<br />
Fixed Costs regimes- limits on Solicitors’ duties to advise<br />
Back in the Court of Appeal where Lord Justice Jackson is beginning<br />
his last full legal term as a Lord Justice before retirement, in<br />
Thomas v Hugh James Ford Simey Solicitors [<strong>2017</strong>] 5 Costs LO 643,<br />
Sir Rupert criticised solicitors who had attempted to reopen a settlement<br />
in the Vibration White Finger litigation on the basis that the original<br />
solicitors had been negligent. The claim had first been brought<br />
under a fixed cost scheme for low value personal injury and had been<br />
settled seven years earlier. The Claimant had then been “recruited” by<br />
a new firm of solicitors which had sought to reopen the settlement on<br />
the basis that his former solicitors had been negligent in having failed<br />
to make any claim in respect of decorating, “DIY” and gardening which<br />
would have increased his damages by £16,650. In dismissing the appeal,<br />
Sir Rupert did not mince his words. Solicitors acting on fixed fees<br />
could not be expected to “turn over every stone” and to pursue avenues<br />
which the client had closed down. As he put it succinctly “the<br />
civil justice system exists to enable injured parties to recover compensation<br />
for genuine wrongs. It does not exist to service artificial claims<br />
stirred up by advertisements.“ A salutary message to ambulance<br />
chasers.<br />
Non-Party Costs orders<br />
Non-party costs orders, or at least applications to make them, are now<br />
fairly common, but a useful case as a point of reference is the decision<br />
of HHJ Saffman in Montpelier Business Reorganisation Ltd v Armitage<br />
Jones LLP [<strong>2017</strong>] 5 Costs LO 659. Here the situation was<br />
slightly unusual; the claim was dismissed, but the claimant had been<br />
unable to discharge the costs orders due to its insolvency. Applications<br />
were then made to join various defendants on the basis that they<br />
had had much to gain from the outcome of the proceedings and had<br />
been the real party to the litigation. The judge accepted that submission<br />
in relation to the 7th Defendant and his judgment contains a<br />
useful resume of all the case law on this point.<br />
Award of costs and statutory demands<br />
Falling out with the client is seldom a good idea and usually ends in<br />
tears. Dunhill v Hughmans (a firm) [<strong>2017</strong>] 5 Costs LO 589 is a good<br />
example. As happens with dispiriting frequency, the dispute began as<br />
a claim for the solicitor’s unpaid fees, which was met with a defence<br />
and counterclaim alleging negligence. Summary judgment was<br />
granted on the claim, but was later set aside and somewhere between<br />
the two, the solicitors served a statutory demand and commenced<br />
bankruptcy proceedings. Issues then arose about who should be paying<br />
who in respect of the application to set the demand aside. The litigation<br />
is ongoing, but for present purposes, note should be taken of<br />
Barling J’s caution in a 72 paragraph judgment: “This sorry saga exemplifies<br />
what happens when litigants set in motion satellite proceedings<br />
prematurely, in the face of circumstances which render almost<br />
inevitable the unnecessary expenditure of the parties’ and the court’s<br />
time and resources. None of this need have happened if the respondent<br />
[solicitor] had waited until the outcome of the oral renewal application<br />
for permission to appeal”.<br />
These are a selection of autumn cases. As always, we do not report all<br />
costs cases, but those published are the ones likely to be of most practical<br />
importance.<br />
Please contact Nick McDonnell:<br />
nick.mcdonnell@kain-knight.co.uk<br />
or Colin Campbell:<br />
colin.campbell@kain-knight.co.uk<br />
if there are any points you wish to discuss.<br />
Nick McDonnell<br />
Colin Campbell
18 Management Matters<br />
Management Matters<br />
This column is now into its eighth year and feedback is still good. We would still like to receive observations and ideas for<br />
future issues. Please mail Bill Kirby at billkirby@professionalchoiceconsultancy.com or the publisher Julia Baskerville at<br />
j.baskerville@jbaskerville.co.uk<br />
This month:<br />
• Significant acquisition confirming the<br />
demands from the fast developing market<br />
place-The trend for integrating with<br />
external expertise escalates<br />
• “Boss” or a “Leader” – here is one topic<br />
where if necessary the nice principles have<br />
to be laid aside<br />
The legal market is obviously listening to the significant<br />
benefits of outsourcing key activities to save costs, enhance<br />
performance, increase revenue and aid security and compliance.<br />
Hosted IT, the personal pa services from Moneypenny –<br />
quality, peaks and troughs, out of hours and the whole thing<br />
– saving costs and enhancing client experience.<br />
Document Direct www.documentdirect.co.uk (MLS Advantage<br />
member) because of its own success and growth has<br />
made the acquisition of Voicepath – a significant competitor.<br />
Services provided are outsourced digital dictation transcription<br />
and document production. The result is:<br />
• A bigger and stronger infrastructure making<br />
more highly qualified transcription resources<br />
available to clients.<br />
• A 24 hour, 7 day a week service, enabling fee<br />
earners to receive their work back much more<br />
quickly, and at times of the day to suit their needs.<br />
• Paying only for work done which cuts law firm<br />
costs and can support any appropriate<br />
increasing, reducing or managing of headcount<br />
to improve or maintain profitability.<br />
• Greater ability to free up office space for fee<br />
earners and other higher value activities.<br />
• Recognition from Law Society of England &<br />
Wales, MLS, Law Net, Law Share<br />
• ISO9001 ( Quality Control), ISO27001 (Information<br />
Security Management) and ISO22301 ( Disaster<br />
Recovery and Business Continuity) compliance<br />
and security accreditations.<br />
“Boss” or a “Leader” – here is one topic where if necessary<br />
the nice principles have to be laid aside.<br />
Social media over the last few months has entertained me<br />
outlining the constituents of both styles but there is evidence<br />
that there are still some key areas within law firm<br />
where the appealing to the better nature of “luddites” has<br />
to stop.<br />
Most firms now have a business strategy, or as a minimum,<br />
that partners (owner/directors) have a declared interest in<br />
what they want going forward.<br />
So let us assume that this is the case – we understand where<br />
the business is now and where we want it to be in three<br />
years, we have a budget for 12 months (maybe even a<br />
rolling forecast), we have delegated accountabilities to department<br />
heads, we have set expectations on our fee earners<br />
in terms of time and billing. We understand the reports<br />
and KPIs we need to make things happen in terms of performance,<br />
recovery and /or exploitation. We know we have<br />
to enhance efficiency and communications at the same<br />
time as being secure, resilient and comply with rules and<br />
regulations.<br />
The world for a law firm has changed since the Legal Services<br />
Bill (2007), Act (2010) and the recession in 2008. A key<br />
element is the use of IT and even now we can witness lack<br />
of use, lack of education, resistance to using existing IT and<br />
obstacles to finding new products and applications that can<br />
enable the firm and its owners to achieve those objectives.<br />
A department head these days is responsible for billing,<br />
gross profit (billing – direct costs), fee earner efficiency and<br />
time recording, his departments working capital, it’s business<br />
development, compliance and of course client satisfaction<br />
and to be realistic this means everyone in the team<br />
using IT efficiently and willingly – but in many cases they are<br />
not.<br />
I have written in previous months about so many department<br />
heads not being aware of their existing IT capability –<br />
they need to change this by ensuring they are fully up to<br />
speed with the latest releases as well as getting feedback<br />
from staff who see some potential ways of improving activities<br />
and of course those that are not bothering to use the<br />
system as specified.<br />
I am still finding firms who despite all the pressures around<br />
performance and working capital who are avoiding making<br />
decisions on upgrading their software<br />
• Cost is no longer a reason not to proceed as with<br />
the right system and financing arrangements a<br />
return on investment is almost immediate – we<br />
have covered that too<br />
• I have to many other things that have to be done<br />
– avoidance of the effort needed and lack of<br />
proper prioritisation and of course delegation<br />
• “The accounts team wouldn’t like to have to<br />
change the way they work” – something else has<br />
to change<br />
• “The secretaries and fee earners don’t use the<br />
current system properly let alone want to make a<br />
change – really<br />
I read an article (social media again) by a long standing and<br />
successful IT consultant Andrew Simmans (Andrew@simmans.com<br />
) and below I have summarised some of the<br />
softer and key points he made.<br />
• Communication and testing of understanding<br />
with all staff needs to be intense and two way to<br />
avoid misunderstandings<br />
• Training sessions, even if well timed are not<br />
enough and most people need support back at<br />
their desks and computers – a few “super users”<br />
will not be wasted<br />
• People need the time and space to understand<br />
• There should be involvement at all levels in work<br />
flow and report development with a large<br />
amount of piloting<br />
• There needs to be follow up by team testing use<br />
and understanding and as a result there should<br />
be some preparedness to change<br />
• There needs to be an effective and reviewable<br />
project plan that allows for controlled slippage<br />
and recovery<br />
• The system should be used for 6 months with a<br />
methodology for capturing ideas from users with<br />
subsequent controlled mini projects<br />
I tend to go a little further here and generally recommend<br />
that if your supplier has a workflow straight out of the box,<br />
which many do now, I usually suggest that the firms goes<br />
live with that solution (it is after all successful elsewhere) unless<br />
there are any glaring issues. During that six months<br />
have a methodology for capturing initiatives and ideas and<br />
then in a controlled way prioritise changes/enhancements<br />
based on a scoring of client demand/compliance needs/enhanced<br />
efficiency/more gross and therefore net profit. This<br />
can then be an on-going methodology (I have a system if<br />
anyone would like to ask for it) of prioritisation, planning<br />
and implementation. Departments and IT then know exactly<br />
where they are.<br />
It also helps to have effective payment terms with the vendor.<br />
They can be surprisingly flexible.<br />
Project Plan * Priorities * Authorisation * Controlled<br />
Methodology<br />
Involvement and Buy In<br />
I suggest this is where the leadership element can really<br />
contribute to involvement, buy in and success.<br />
Once the management team has made a decision that the<br />
firm cannot be getting enough out of its IT to support its<br />
business objectives then people need to know that this is<br />
the view. The initial decision does not have to be that we are<br />
going to go to another supplier but that things have to<br />
change.<br />
Every department head needs to have a conversation about<br />
what changes could be made to his IT application to help<br />
him/her achieve business objectives and if this sort of thing<br />
was available how acceptable would the head and individuals<br />
within the team be to making change.<br />
Once this has been established an early conversation with<br />
the current vendor would not go amiss (assuming this has<br />
not already been adopted) about why these priorities are<br />
not available. These conversations also provide a specification<br />
that could go to other vendors. Due diligence can happen<br />
later but ideally you will get to a point where you could<br />
see three vendors in one day to do a demonstration against<br />
the criteria. Attendees need to be as many department<br />
heads as possible along with some key support staff and effectively<br />
a preferred supplier identified by the end of that<br />
day for subsequent due diligence. That involvement makes<br />
all the difference. There is nothing worse for a department<br />
head than there whole way of working being changed because<br />
of a decision by the Managing Partner, Finance Head<br />
or IT Head without the necessary involvement.<br />
It may be a pain but done well it can be fairly speedy and<br />
not time consuming but above all the results are likely to be<br />
that much more effective.<br />
Bill Kirby is a director of Professional Choice Consultancy<br />
offering advice to firms on business issues from<br />
strategy, planning, business development, the effective<br />
use of IT applications and IT hosting for compliance,<br />
business continuity and DR. He can be contacted at<br />
billkirby@professionalchoiceconsultancy.com
• Proposals would remove the need for a physical ‘wet<br />
signature’<br />
• Solicitors say this could lead to a drastic increase in<br />
cases of financial abuse<br />
Local solicitor Carol McBride from Hugh Jones Solicitors<br />
based in Manchester has joined fellow members of Solicitors<br />
for the Elderly in warning against proposals to turn the<br />
LPA registration process fully digital.<br />
An LPA is a powerful legal document that allows a person to<br />
appoint trusted individuals to make important decisions<br />
about their finances and property on their behalf. Under the<br />
current process, a ‘wet signature’ – the physical signing of<br />
the document – is required by individuals who wish to register<br />
an LPA. But in a paper released on Thursday, the Financial<br />
Conduct Authority (FCA) called for a fully digital system,<br />
whereby documents could be registered completely online.<br />
Carol McBride said: “We are extremely concerned by the<br />
FCA’s push for fully digital powers of attorney. Although we<br />
welcome initiatives that make LPAs more accessible, the security<br />
of older and vulnerable people is paramounat. Under<br />
the current system, the FCA’s vision of a secure, end-to-end<br />
digital LPA registration process is simply not possible.<br />
Local News 19<br />
Local solicitor warns changes to powers of attorney may<br />
leave older and vulnerable at risk<br />
Local solicitor, Carol McBride from Hugh Jones Solicitors issues a<br />
warning following the FCA’s call to turn lasting powers of attorney<br />
(LPAs) fully digital<br />
“Removing the requirement of a wet signature has the potential<br />
to put thousands of people at risk of fraud and financial<br />
abuse. An LPA requires the understanding and consent<br />
of the donor, but without the witnessing of a physical signature,<br />
what is to stop a family member or friend registering<br />
a document on someone else’s behalf, perhaps even<br />
without their knowledge?<br />
“LPAs are extremely powerful and complex documents, and<br />
the prospect of being able to take control of someone else’s<br />
bank account and even their property with the few clicks of<br />
a button is frankly reckless.”<br />
Solicitors for the Elderly is an independent, national organisation<br />
of over 1,500 lawyers, such as solicitors, barristers,<br />
and chartered legal executives, who provide specialist legal<br />
advice for older and vulnerable people and their families.<br />
Last year, the organisation released a report raising concerns<br />
around the current online system for LPAs, which it claims<br />
already leaves older and vulnerable people open to abuse.<br />
LPAs are processed by the Office of the Public Guardian<br />
(OPG), a public body under the Ministry of Justice. The OPG<br />
has previously considered changing the LPA application<br />
process as part of a gradual move to take all its processes<br />
online.<br />
To find out more about SFE, and to speak to a lawyer near<br />
you, go to: http://www.sfe.legal
20 Charity & CSR<br />
News from the President’s Charity:<br />
St Ann’s Hospice<br />
If 2018 is the year you’re hoping to take on a new challenge, get fit, or bond even<br />
more effectively as a team, the President’s Charity of the Year St Ann’s Hospice may<br />
have the solution for you.<br />
The team at the hospice is asking for as many people as possible to take on the St Ann’s<br />
‘Go the Extra Mile’ challenge in January, to help them raise money and awareness – and<br />
interested law firms can sign up now.<br />
Eamonn O’Neal, Chief Executive of the hospice explained: “At St Ann’s we’re proud that<br />
we always go the extra mile to help our patients, whether that’s with the small touches<br />
such as arranging to get them a takeaway for supper, or by trying to grant bigger wishes<br />
such as arranging a wedding for them and their loved one, or surprising them with a visit<br />
from their idol.<br />
“Our supporters are always going the extra mile to help us too, and we simply couldn’t<br />
carry on providing our care without them. We can’t thank everyone who helps us<br />
enough, including all of the kind Manchester Law Society members who have helped us<br />
in a variety of different ways.<br />
“It’s a huge task to raise the funds that are needed to deliver the specialist care our patients<br />
need, which is why we’re asking that this January as many people as possible consider<br />
taking on an active challenge to help raise money for our patients as part of this Go<br />
the Extra Mile appeal.<br />
“Participants can choose their own distance, and can take part either as individuals or as<br />
part of a team. They can set their own timeframe, and decide what type of physical challenge<br />
they’d like to take on. Whether it’s walking, swimming, running or cycling, or something<br />
more unusual like hopping skipping or jumping, we can support you every step –<br />
or leap – of the way.<br />
“Every penny raised will help us to continue to go the extra mile in support of our patients.”<br />
St Ann’s Hospice cares for people from its three hospice sites in Little Hulton, Heald Green<br />
and the Neil Cliffe Centre in Wythenshawe Hospital, as well as in local communities and<br />
the places patients call home.<br />
Eamonn added: “January is always the time of year when people are setting resolutions<br />
to get fitter and healthier. We’re hoping this challenge will help those taking part to kick<br />
start their year in a positive way, whilst benefiting local people too.”<br />
There’s no fee to take part in the Go The Extra Mile challenge, and the hospice is asking<br />
people to simply email events@sah.org.uk or call 0161 498 3631 to register their interest.<br />
They’ll then be sent a pack with information and tips on raising money for the charity,<br />
sponsor forms, and help on setting up an online fundraising page.<br />
For more information visit www.sah.org.uk/extra-mile<br />
Shoosmiths Manchester Raises Nearly £80,000 for<br />
Charity Foundation with Restaurant ‘Takeover’<br />
The Manchester office of<br />
national law firm, Shoosmiths<br />
has raised more<br />
than £77,000 for the Tim<br />
Bacon Foundation, after<br />
taking over one of the<br />
city’s leading restaurants<br />
in a first-of-its-kind charity<br />
event.<br />
Shoosmiths staged the<br />
take-over of Australasia<br />
restaurant on Thursday 21<br />
September as part of<br />
‘Dream The Impossible’, an<br />
unprecedented event organised<br />
by Living Ventures<br />
Group, one of the UK’s leading<br />
restaurant and bar operators.<br />
In Manchester’s first ever<br />
city-wide banquet, eight<br />
Living Ventures venues<br />
staged a simultaneous dining<br />
experience for more<br />
than 1,000 people. The<br />
fund-raising campaign was<br />
set up in memory of awardwinning<br />
leisure entrepreneur,<br />
Tim Bacon, who died<br />
in 2016. Under the Living<br />
Ventures umbrella, Tim created<br />
highly successful<br />
Nine trainee lawyers at<br />
Browne Jacobson have<br />
successfully raised<br />
£10,000 for five charities,<br />
including Bolton Lads &<br />
Girls Club, by scaling the<br />
three highest mountains<br />
in England, Scotland and<br />
Wales.<br />
The challenge saw the<br />
group scale Ben Nevis<br />
(1334m), Scafell Pike (978m)<br />
and Snowdon (1085m), a<br />
total ascent of around<br />
3,400m.<br />
brands including Gusto, The<br />
Oast House, Botanist, Blackhouse<br />
Grills, The Alchemist,<br />
Artisan, Australasia, Manchester<br />
House, Grand Pacific<br />
and the Living Room.<br />
Shoosmiths guests enjoyed<br />
a VIP drinks reception and<br />
three course dinner at Australasia.<br />
They were also invited<br />
to take part in a<br />
charity auction, where<br />
sought after items included<br />
two signed Manchester City<br />
shirts that raised over<br />
£2000.The firm donated all<br />
funds raised by ticket sales<br />
to Dream the Impossible,<br />
helping the charity campaign<br />
to exceed its half a<br />
million pound fund raising<br />
target. Money raised by the<br />
campaign will go towards<br />
the Tim Bacon Foundation’s<br />
inaugural appeal for<br />
Christie's Proton Beam Therapy<br />
project and Maggie’s<br />
Centres, who provide much<br />
needed care for cancer patients<br />
and their loved ones.<br />
Following dinner, Shoosmiths<br />
guests joined diners<br />
from the seven other participating<br />
venues at an after<br />
party held at Manchester’s<br />
Albert Hall, which was headlined<br />
by singing superstar<br />
Beverley Knight MBE.<br />
Commenting on the event,<br />
head of Shoosmiths Manchester,<br />
Vaqas Farooq said:<br />
‘It was fantastic to share this<br />
exciting and unprecedented<br />
event with so many<br />
of our clients and to honour<br />
the memory of Tim Bacon,<br />
who left such a lasting<br />
legacy for our city. We want<br />
to thank everyone who supported<br />
us and helped to<br />
raise such an impressive<br />
amount. We now look forward<br />
to seeing the proceeds<br />
raised on the night being<br />
put to excellent use by the<br />
Tim Bacon Foundation ’<br />
Jeremy Roberts, CEO of Living<br />
Ventures Group added,<br />
‘We are extremely grateful<br />
for the enthusiastic support<br />
Shoosmiths have given to<br />
this ambitious event, on<br />
many levels.”<br />
Browne Jacobson trainees scale Three<br />
Peaks to raise funds for Bolton charity<br />
photo credit: Great Run / Dan Vernon<br />
In preparation for the event<br />
the team took on a brutal<br />
training regime which included<br />
running, rock climbing<br />
and practice hikes in the<br />
Peak District.<br />
The group easily exceeded<br />
their original target of<br />
£3,500 by raising £4,992.<br />
The firm’s partners agreed<br />
to match the sums raised,<br />
resulting in £10,000 which<br />
will be shared between all<br />
five office charities.<br />
Every year, each of Browne<br />
Jacobson’s five offices nominates<br />
a charity to support<br />
in their local area. The firm’s<br />
Manchester office chose to<br />
work with ‘Bolton Lads &<br />
Girls Club’, an organisation<br />
which aims to provide a safe<br />
support network for children<br />
and young people in<br />
the North West region. In<br />
2016 – 17, the firm raised<br />
over £18k for good causes<br />
across its five office network.<br />
Jennifer Jenkins, trainee lawyer at the firm who helped to<br />
organise the event commented:“On behalf of the Browne<br />
Jacobson trainees, I want to offer a huge thank you to everyone<br />
who donated to these wonderful causes and made the<br />
event a real success. The funds will be a great benefit to each<br />
of the charities and knowing that has made the blisters,<br />
muscle cramps and general exhaustion totally worth it.”<br />
Iain Blatherwick, Managing Partner at Browne Jacobson<br />
added:“We are incredibly proud of Jennifer, Kurt, Loren,<br />
Alex, Ben, Joe, Karl, Laura and David on this remarkable<br />
achievement, all in the name of charity.<br />
“Their efforts will be a real support to some of the important<br />
projects that each of our five fantastic office charities are<br />
working on.<br />
“As a firm, we take our corporate social responsibility very<br />
seriously and remain fully committed to supporting and<br />
partnering with worthy local causes.”<br />
You can read the story of the trainee challenge and<br />
make further donations here:<br />
https://localgiving.org/fundraising/traineechallenge<strong>2017</strong>/.
Seeing things from your perspective.<br />
With our extensive knowledge and expertise in the ATE market,<br />
we can provide innovative and flexible solutions to meet your needs.<br />
Call us on<br />
0117 917 1680<br />
Twitter.com/arag_uk<br />
www.arag.co.uk
22 Local Groups<br />
CILEx Update<br />
CILEx Graduation:<br />
The CILEx Graduation and Admissions ceremony took place at<br />
the Jurys Inn, Milton Keynes on 7 October <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
CILEx Graduation & Admission ceremony offers a wonderful opportunity<br />
to celebrate the hard work and achievement made by<br />
CILEx members and allow members newly qualified members<br />
to celebrate with friends, loved ones, fellow CILEx members,<br />
CILEx Council Members and staff.<br />
The Graduation was an enjoyable celebration for both member<br />
becoming Graduate member of CILEx and also members qualifying<br />
as Fellows. Over 200 members attended the ceremonies<br />
and celebrated with friends and family.<br />
CILEx were pleased to welcome guest Speakers HHJ Jinder<br />
Singh Boora, Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP and Andrea<br />
Coomber, Director of JUSTICE.<br />
The President of CILEx Millicent Grant and the guest speakers<br />
provided empowering and inspiring speeches. The speeches<br />
encouraged the new Graduates to aim high and to consider<br />
seeking judicial appointment in the future.<br />
Rachel Stevens who is a CILEx Council Member and Vice-Chair<br />
of the Greater Manchester CILEx Branch attended the Graduation.<br />
Rachel has advised that ‘the Graduation was a magnificent<br />
day with an emphasis on diversity, being role models and fulfilling<br />
potential.’<br />
Training:<br />
The Greater Manchester CILEx Branch would like to thank Scott<br />
Evans of SSB Compliance for providing our September training<br />
on Data Protection. Scott has worked at some of the leading<br />
Law firms in northern England and his in-depth knowledge of<br />
‘real life’ issues facing law firms today equips him to give sound<br />
advice and offer guidance through today’s regulatory framework.<br />
The branch would also like to thank JMW for hosting the event.<br />
The next training event will take place on Thursday 26 October<br />
<strong>2017</strong>. Caroline Wood from Park Square Chambers will be providing<br />
training on experts and Part 36 Questions.<br />
Social Event/Save the Date:<br />
The Greater Manchester CILEx branch Christmas Party will take<br />
place on 7 December <strong>2017</strong>. Please save the date.<br />
Joining the branch:<br />
If you are interested in joining the Greater Manchester CILEx<br />
Branch or attending one of our events, please email us at<br />
greatermanchester@cilex.org.uk or follow us on Facebook and<br />
Twitter.<br />
Rachel Stevens<br />
MTSG Update<br />
MTSG Launch Night:<br />
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Launch Night event at Tattu on 5th October. The<br />
event, which was kindly sponsored by BCL Legal, was a complete sell-out. Attendees were treated<br />
to delicious treats such as lobster and prawn toast, salt and pepper aubergine fingers and chocolate<br />
spring rolls (a personal favourite of the evening!). Photos of the evening can now be found<br />
on our website and social media outlets, so be sure to have a look. Our next MTSG social is our<br />
‘Bonfire Night’ Themed event on 2nd <strong>November</strong>, which is sponsored by G2 Legal – details of how<br />
to get tickets been circulated amongst our members. If you haven’t got your ticket yet, but would<br />
like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to contact one of this year’s social directors Loretta<br />
(loretta.woollams@jmw.co.uk), Georgina (georgina.anwyl@kpmg.co.uk) or Naana (naana.k@clearlawonline.co.uk)<br />
for more details about the event.<br />
FELT Launch:<br />
BCL Legal joined us for another fun-filled night on 26th October at Manchester’s new venue “Be<br />
Impossible” to celebrate the launch of the new FELT year. Another sell-out event saw attendees<br />
networking with their peers in the ‘Gin Nest’ – a gorgeous space in the mezzanine level of the<br />
venue. Guests were treated to canapes and drinks, and we also held our first fundraising activity<br />
of the year by way of a charity raffle, with all proceeds raised being donated to our Charities of<br />
the Year: Forever Manchester, The Prince’s Trust and JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).<br />
Charity Events:<br />
On 9th <strong>November</strong> we are hosting a Bowling Event with Michael Page Legal at Dog Bowl. Tickets<br />
for the evening cost just £6.00, and as well as a game of bowling, include food and drink – and<br />
of course, it goes without saying, a lot of fun! A charity raffle will also be held on the night with<br />
many fabulous prizes up for grabs. Details of the event will have been circulated to our mem-<br />
bers via email, but if you would like to know more about the event please do not hesitate to contact<br />
one of this year’s charities directors Heena (Heena.Kapadi@slaterheelis.co.uk) or Karlis<br />
(k.rullis@manchester.gov.uk) for more information and details of how to purchase a ticket. All<br />
money raised from the evening will be donated to our charities of the year – it’s set to be a great<br />
evening!<br />
Education:<br />
October was a busy month for the MTSG as we visited law fairs across the city and met with many<br />
students wanting to enter the world of law. MTSG members attended both the BBP Electives Fair<br />
(5th October) and the MMU Careers Presentation (17th October) to provide their experience of<br />
different practice areas and give general hints and tips to students who are looking to secure a<br />
training contract. On 25th October MTSG members also attended an event at the University of<br />
Manchester, talking on a panel about the journey to becoming a lawyer when you haven’t studied<br />
an undergraduate degree in law. As well as talking on the panel, MTSG members spoke with<br />
attendees in smaller groups taking part in a ‘speed roundtable’ answering questions on their careers<br />
so far.<br />
If you’re interested in advocacy, make sure to come along to our event on 9th <strong>November</strong> hosted<br />
by Deans Court Chambers. Registration is at 5:45pm for a 6pm start, and the evening will cover<br />
tips on instructing Counsel, as well as a talk from a senior member of Counsel on court etiquette,<br />
and how to impress in the early years of your career. This is always a very popular sell-out event,<br />
so make sure to sign up early if you are interested as places will be allocated on a first come, first<br />
served basis.<br />
If you are interested in getting involved in any of the up-coming MTSG education<br />
events, please do not hesitate to contact Riz or Laura, the MTSG<br />
education directors (Rizwana.haque@freshfields.com; laura.stonier@blmlaw.com).<br />
Charlotte King<br />
Chair of MTSG<br />
Trainee Solicitor at JMW Solicitors LLP<br />
Women in the Law UK Update<br />
Career Progression<br />
Women in the Law UK Manchester hosted another fantastic<br />
event last month on Career Progression Jobs for the girls.<br />
Open to both men and women, attendance was encouraged<br />
from everyone. a wide ranged attended including Solicitors,<br />
Barristers, Legal Executives, Trainees, Pupils, Paralegals, junior<br />
staff members and students. There was something for everyone<br />
to help them gain ideas to progress their career and share back<br />
in their firms and sets. The event was designed to encourage<br />
and support the next generation of lawyers and allow junior to<br />
senior to learn from one another and encourage retention.<br />
This event had a fantastic range of the judiciary from recently<br />
Appointed judges to new recorders and experienced silk. The<br />
impressive panel of speakers sponsored by Lincoln House<br />
Chambers Manchester and the CBA discussed their journey and<br />
answered questions from a keen audience. The inspiring guest<br />
speakers;<br />
Her Honour Judge Baxter<br />
Her Honour Judge Landale<br />
Miss Lisa Roberts QC and Attorney General of the Northern<br />
Circuit<br />
Miss Recorder Brandon of 9 St John Street Chambers<br />
District Judge Philip Barnes - former solicitor and now at 9<br />
St John Street Chambers<br />
Andrew Gregory, Solicitor at Leonard Curtis<br />
The event also launched the Women in the Law UK mentoring<br />
Programme for mentors.<br />
The one million mentors programme campaigns was also highlighted.<br />
If you would like to attend the next Women in the Law event<br />
please visit<br />
womeninthelawuk.co.uk or email<br />
Lisa at womeninthelawuk@gmail.com<br />
30th <strong>November</strong>, 13th December Xmas drinks,<br />
11 th January, 8 th Feb and 8 th March 2018 Annual Dinner<br />
with Baroness Hale as guest speaker. We welcome our<br />
male colleagues at our events.
Local News 23<br />
MYSG Update<br />
This Autumn marked the start of our MYSG year which<br />
launched with a social event to welcome the newly qualified<br />
solicitors in Manchester. The event was held at Revolution<br />
Parsonage Gardens and over 70 solicitors<br />
attended. One of our partner sponsors, Deans Court<br />
Chambers attended with a number of their junior counsel<br />
enabling some great relationships to be forged between<br />
the junior barristers and solicitors in Manchester.<br />
Thank you also to our co-sponsor Think Legal Recruitment<br />
pictured below with our MYSG Chair Charlotte<br />
Percy.<br />
The NQ event is organised each year by our fantastic treasurer<br />
Jacqui Bourke. Jacqui is embarking on a new role with<br />
Turner Parkinson this month and we wish her every success.<br />
Our next event is shortly upon us, the Manchester Young<br />
Professionals Ball which is to be held on the 26th October.<br />
This event is an excellent opportunity to network with a<br />
number of different professionals across the city.<br />
We have collaborated with the Manchester Young Chartered<br />
Accountants Group, the Royal Institute of Chartered<br />
Surveyors, The Town Planners Association and the Young<br />
Bankers Association. The event is held at the Town Hall and<br />
there is some great entertainment on offer including a live<br />
band, caricaturist, magician and DJ. Photos will follow in<br />
next month’s column.<br />
date 7th December and look out for the invite which will be<br />
circulated this month.<br />
If you are interested or know anyone at your firm who is<br />
looking to develop their network and business development<br />
skills please sign up to our mailing list at<br />
https://www.mysg.co.uk and follow us on LinkedIn and<br />
Facebook. Members are encouraged to check the website<br />
regularly for news and updates as we are receiving an unprecedented<br />
amount of interest in each of our events and<br />
attendance is on a first come first served basis.<br />
Charlotte Percy<br />
Chair of Manchester Young Solicitors Group<br />
Family Law Associate<br />
Charlotte.percy@slatergordon.co.uk<br />
Looking ahead we are organising a Christmas Networking<br />
event together with the Manchester Professional Network.<br />
This will be hosted at Dirty Martini and there will be a free<br />
Christmas present for every attendee! Please pencil in the<br />
MLS Advantage News<br />
Acquisition Delivers 24/7 Digital Transcription Services for the<br />
Legal Services Sector<br />
Leading legal transcription provider and Manchester<br />
Law Society Advantage member, Document Direct<br />
has acquired Voicepath to create the largest specialist<br />
transcription provider to the legal and professional<br />
services sector in the UK<br />
The enhanced range of benefits that the larger group<br />
can offer will include:<br />
• A bigger and stronger infrastructure making<br />
more highly qualified transcription resources available<br />
to clients.<br />
• A 24 hour, 7 day a week service, enabling fee<br />
earners to receive their work back much more quickly,<br />
and at times of the day to suit their needs.<br />
• Paying only for work done which cuts law firm<br />
costs and can support any appropriate increasing, reducing<br />
or managing of headcount to improve or maintain<br />
profitability.<br />
• Greater ability to free up office space for fee<br />
earners and other higher value activities.<br />
Document Direct was established in 2005 and has a<br />
prestigious list of legal clients in the UK and across the<br />
globe. Voicepath has evolved from the original Dictaphone<br />
business and primarily serves clients in the midlands,<br />
south west and south east of England.<br />
Martyn Best, founder of Document Direct and new managing<br />
director of both businesses said that the firms had<br />
come together to deliver an enhanced service to the 250<br />
law firms they currently serve.<br />
Mr Best said: “Both firms have an exceptional heritage in<br />
the world of digital transcription services with a very<br />
clear focus on the legal and related sectors. As a joint entity,<br />
the combination of our infrastructure will enable us to provide<br />
the most responsive service in the UK, provided by the<br />
most highly and experienced qualified typists offering significant<br />
savings to our clients.”<br />
The new business will also boast some significant endorsements<br />
and accreditations.<br />
Document Direct is the only transcription agency in the UK<br />
to be endorsed by the Law Society of England and Wales,<br />
and of course it is also recommended by the Manchester<br />
Law Society, and the Lawshare group. Voicepath has been<br />
the long-standing recommended transcription service for<br />
LawNet.<br />
In a world of increasing concern over data and cyber security,<br />
both businesses are fully UK-based and have invested<br />
heavily in strong systems and procedures and have accreditation<br />
to ISO9001 (Quality control standard), ISO27001 (Information<br />
Security Management) and ISO22301 (Business<br />
Continuity and Disaster Recovery).<br />
Mr Best added: “The calibre of these endorsements and accreditations<br />
reflect the very clear benefits that both businesses<br />
offer law firms in terms of security, data protection,<br />
compliance, cost savings, accuracy and turnaround times<br />
helping our clients to better business performance at the<br />
same time as client satisfaction.”<br />
Mr Best will be working closely with Voicepath's Operations<br />
Manager, Pauline Connolly who has been appointed a director<br />
of Voicepath. Voicepath's directors Kerry Payne and<br />
Robert Harris, who founded the business in 1998, have retired<br />
from the business.<br />
Mrs Connolly said; “Our initial focus will be to continue<br />
doing what we are really good at - delivering fast, secure,<br />
and accurate transcription services to all of our clients. We<br />
have two great companies, with really good people, and I’m<br />
looking forward to integrating our businesses so that we<br />
can provide a further enhanced business model to help<br />
support law firms and new clients in this growing area.”<br />
For further information please contact Martyn Best at<br />
martyn.best@documentdirect.co.uk or on 07798 700500<br />
You can also find out more about Document Direct at<br />
their web site: www.documentdirect.co.uk
Compli by Weightmans<br />
weightmans.com<br />
Document Direct<br />
www.documentdirect.co.uk<br />
Compli provides regulatory and compliance advice and assistance to law firms and others<br />
in the legal sector. Whether you are a partnership, limited company, ABS or sole<br />
practitioner, our flexible, tailor-made service is designed to support you in meeting the<br />
evolving regulatory, compliance and risk challenges you face. This is underpinned by<br />
incisive commercial advice on business management and structure, all delivered by specialist<br />
teams with outstanding experience in their disciplines. Confidentiality, legal professional<br />
privilege and peace of mind is assured.<br />
Contact<br />
Michelle Garlick: 0161 233 7330 or michelle.garlick@weightmans.com<br />
Searchflow<br />
searchflow.co.uk<br />
Searchflow is the market-leading provider of conveyancing search solutions. Our comprehensive<br />
range of searches, surveys, identity checks and conveyancing insurance are<br />
all designed to help you streamline the conveyancing process.We have over 25 years'<br />
experience and run more than 1 million conveyancing searches every year for over 2,500<br />
legal clients in England and Wales.Our user-friendly reports enable you to quickly pinpoint<br />
risks, and our conveyancing insurance products provide a ready-made and costeffective<br />
solution for managing those risks.In short, when you work with SearchFlow you<br />
can expect us to take the stress, hassle and much of the risk out of your conveyancing<br />
projects.<br />
Contact<br />
Kate Townsend 07834 733 227 or kate.townsend@searchflow.co.uk<br />
Telecoms: Mobiles<br />
We like to make your law firm richer in a number of ways. Reduce operating costs,<br />
enhance the communication experience currently in place between the staff/partners<br />
in your firm and your existing clients and prospective customers. Security & Compliance<br />
is always at the top of the agenda, embedded in all recommendations we make to your<br />
law firm. We integrate Case and Practice Management Systems with mobile devices<br />
& telephone system platforms. We help make partners & staff extremely agile through<br />
seamless home-based working solutions. The benefits of your firm and ours partnering<br />
are endless.<br />
To make your law firm richer contact teamlegal@matrix247.com, we would love to hear<br />
from you. Ask about the VIP treatment we deliver to dozens of law firms in the North<br />
West.<br />
Contact<br />
Ste Pritchard: 08000 740 247 or ste@matrix247.com<br />
Docutech Office Solutions<br />
Docutech Office Solutions focus on providing the service and products that you need<br />
at great prices. We specialise in document technology, cost and emissions reduction,<br />
improving your efficiency with a service second to none. At Docutech Office Solutions<br />
we make it our business to know your business before we can offer the right combination<br />
of hardware, software and technical services to suit your company’s specific<br />
needs. We provide full office solutions including printers, consumables and service callouts<br />
- whatever your requirement give us a call.<br />
Contact<br />
Jason Dixon: 0844 8932919 or jasondixon@docutechsolutions.co.uk<br />
Nasstar<br />
matrix247.com/law<br />
docutechsolutions.co.uk<br />
Nasstar is an established and well-regarded IT services provider to the legal sector with<br />
more than a decade's worth of experience supporting legal professionals with their IT<br />
needs. Our team works closely with firms to deliver cloud based IT solutions that are<br />
specifically tailored to the legal sector and adhere to SRA guidelines for managed IT and<br />
data security, ensuring that our clients are always fully compliant.<br />
Our cloud hosted services can be accessed 24/7 on any device, providing an innovative<br />
and nimble IT infrastructure clients can depend on. We have 50+ legal clients and<br />
host more than 80 legal applications.<br />
Contact<br />
Andy Lewis 07814 046 069/0207 148 5000 or andy.lewis@nasstar.com<br />
www.nasstar.com<br />
Our flexible, 24-hour, 365 day service allows you to outsource as much or as little of<br />
your typing and document production as you wish. We are 100% UK based with an<br />
extensive team of experienced legal secretaries. We are ISO27001 accredited and the<br />
exclusive endorsed transcription partner of the Law Society of England and Wales.The<br />
outcome in using us will be an improvement in your turnaround times, consistent document<br />
quality and a significant reduction in your typing overheads. Our aim is to help<br />
you become a more efficient and profitable law firm.<br />
Contact<br />
Elkie Durkan: 0845 3403031 or elkie.durkan@documentdirect.co.uk<br />
Viewpoint<br />
Today’s law firms are embracing technology – recognising the value that it can deliver<br />
to the client experience, business processes and operational efficiency too. At<br />
Viewpoint we provide a wide range of technology solutions for legal environments<br />
where presentation, collaboration, training, learning and communication take place.<br />
From sophisticated meeting room and presentation technology to video-conferencing<br />
and shared media and intelligent data designed digital signage systems, our specialist<br />
knowledge allows us to integrate the very best audio-visual, multi-media and<br />
collaboration solutions into legal working environments with confidence. With<br />
proven sector client experience and successes we understand the relationship between<br />
people, space and technology. This enables us to deliver tailored quality specialist<br />
design, installation and managed services.<br />
Contact<br />
Simon Dawes: 07834671322 Simon.dawes@viewpoint-av.com<br />
Xyone Cyber Security<br />
viewpoint-av.com<br />
xyonecybersecurity.co.uk<br />
Xyone provide top level cyber security consultancy to law firms. Our services are designed<br />
to identify and mitigate risk from both an internal and an external perspective.<br />
Our penetration testing services ensure that your infrastructure is protected from vulnerabilities<br />
that could be exploited during a real hack, and our staff training and policy<br />
enforcement process ensures protection against human risk.We are a certification body<br />
for the Government’s Cyber Essentials scheme and we have highly qualified information<br />
security consultants and Certified Ethical Hackers to deliver information security<br />
compliance required by Lexcel v6 and ISO 27001.<br />
Contact<br />
Charlie Edwards: 0333 323 3981 or charlie.edwards@xyonecybersecurity.co.uk<br />
Asset Finance<br />
Capitas is dedicated to supporting the broad asset and commercial financing requirements<br />
of law firms. Funding for software, hardware, storage, premises refurbishments<br />
and fit outs and general business assets. Convert large capital expenditure into a manageable<br />
periodic monthly/quarterly payment and enjoy the benefits now. Whether you<br />
are a law firm acquiring business critical assets or alternatively an individual enthusiast<br />
investing in a classic or supercar for personal use, Capitas can help.<br />
Contact<br />
Mike Bethwaite: 01372 232 902 or mb@capitasfinance.com<br />
Acasta Europe<br />
www.acastaeurope.co.uk<br />
Acasta Europe are a leading supplier of After the Event legal expenses insurance and<br />
litigation funding products in conjunction with Sparkle Capital. Established for over 10<br />
years and operating throughout the UK we are a local company based in Cheadle.<br />
We have a team of solicitors who not only underwrite our policies but actively work<br />
in partnership with our solicitors to develop solutions to the most complex litigation<br />
of all types through legal expenses insurance and funding if needed. We can offer individually<br />
tailored, staged premiums or delegated authority schemes dependent upon<br />
your firm’s needs, requirements or specialities.<br />
Contact:<br />
Andrew Williams: 0800 668 1350 or Andrew.williams@acastaeurope.co.uk<br />
capitasfinance.com
WHAT IS MLS ADVANTAGE?<br />
A group of carefully selected partners who have had due diligence<br />
undertaken to ensure we are only working with the most<br />
professional, innovative and knowledgeable of companies.<br />
Working with our partners will ensure that our members have improved<br />
efficiency and value, and most importantly, reduced cost<br />
helping your practice to develop and succeed.<br />
Key services that our preferred partners expertise lies in are:<br />
Regulatory and compliance advice and assistance to law firms and<br />
others in the legal sector, whatever your structure. A flexibly, tailor<br />
made service designed to support you in meeting the evolving regulatory,<br />
compliance and risk challenges you face.<br />
Outsourced typing and transcription, flexible, 24 hour, 365 day service<br />
so as much or as little of your typing and document production<br />
can be catered for.<br />
Fully outsourced switchboard facility, support for an in-house team<br />
and business continuity on an ad-hoc basis.<br />
Top level cyber security consultancy for law firms designed to identify<br />
and mitigate risk from an internal and external perspective.<br />
On-line anti money laundering, bribery, data protection and equality<br />
and diversity training.<br />
Dedicated Cloud computing for law firms including hosted desktop, colocation,<br />
hosted applications, managed IT support and disaster recovery/business<br />
continuity from two UK datacentres.<br />
Telecomms including telephone systems, low-cost landline calls, mobile<br />
packages and implementing networks for multi-location firms.<br />
On-line search portal and aggregator helping for conveyancing departments.<br />
Technology solutions for law firms where presentation. Collaboration,<br />
training, learning and communication take place.<br />
MLS Advantage partners are able to identify and advise on core issues facing<br />
your business and using their experience, expertise and market<br />
knowledge can bring you the right solutions for these issues.<br />
We know that our members recognise the value that technology, outsourcing<br />
and business services can deliver to the client experience as well<br />
as business processes and operational efficiency.<br />
Our MLS Advantage partners all offer special packages to Manchester Law<br />
Society members.<br />
Why not contact one of them today?<br />
Cyber Security<br />
ARE YOU GDPR COMPLIANT?<br />
BOOK YOUR RISK ASSESSMENT<br />
CALL: 0333 323 3981<br />
“You should make sure you have the right procedures in place<br />
to detect, report and investigate a personal data breach.”<br />
ICO, March <strong>2017</strong><br />
“We’re all going to have to change how we think about data protection.”<br />
Elizabeth Denham, UK Information Commissioner, January <strong>2017</strong><br />
Your security infrastructure must become compliant. GDPR is<br />
fast-approaching, and if you are not ready by 25th May 2018.<br />
Your firm could be fined up to €20,000,000<br />
or 4% of total worldwide annual turnover.<br />
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Coffee: Healthy or Harmful?<br />
If you’re a busy Manchester legal professional, the<br />
chances are you use coffee, or other caffeine based<br />
drinks, to perform better, increase focus, or simply get<br />
through the day.<br />
Coffee is a controversial subject, and depending on who you<br />
speak to, coffee is either healthy or harmful.<br />
So what’s the truth about coffee?<br />
Well, firstly it depends on who you are and why you drink<br />
coffee. There are ‘responders’ and ‘non-responders’, or to give<br />
an example, if I drink coffee past 3pm I’m in the wide awake<br />
club until the early hours of the morning, while others can<br />
drink coffee late at night and sleep soundly; caffeine affects<br />
different people in different ways!<br />
If you’re a caffeine ‘responder’, you’re using caffeine in large<br />
doses and long term to stay productive (or just keep awake<br />
/ hold on to a busy life by your fingertips!), then the chances<br />
are you’re papering over some pretty deep cracks. These<br />
cracks need to be addressed at a deeper level, for instance<br />
through addressing lifestyle factors, nutrition, and stress<br />
hormones, rather than hammering increasing amounts of<br />
caffeine.<br />
I see people all the time who are using caffeine as a crutch<br />
when actually they need some help re-designing their<br />
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lifestyle habits, moving their body, eating better, sleeping<br />
better, and getting some support to remediate their stress<br />
hormones. Some need deeper help in testing their adrenal<br />
hormones in order to come back from ‘adrenal fatigue’.<br />
In these circumstances I’d say that coffee is a stimulant that<br />
is most likely doing more harm than good. Coffee can also<br />
lead to anxiety and disrupted sleep and it can create a dependency,<br />
with some undesirable withdrawal symptoms.<br />
Coffee can be super healthy too!<br />
The good news for coffee lovers everywhere is that coffee<br />
can be extremely healthy (no, I’m not talking about your<br />
double caramel mocha latte with 3000 calories per drink).<br />
Coffee is very high in healthy antioxidants, and is associated<br />
with both a reduced risk of chronic disease and increased<br />
longevity.<br />
Coffee can also stimulate your brain through its impact on<br />
the neurotransmitter Adenosine, increase metabolism, the<br />
amount of calories you burn, and exercise performance.<br />
Coffee drinkers have a significantly lower risk of developing<br />
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, Type 2 Diabetes, liver disease,<br />
and depression.<br />
Personally, I cycle my coffee use depending on my current<br />
workload, energy levels, and the dose I’m using (when it increases<br />
to two cups a day (I’m a big caffeine responder so<br />
that’s a lot for me), I know it’s time to switch to green tea for<br />
a few weeks (my favourite is organic green tea with Moraccan<br />
mint). I recommend the same approach to my personal<br />
training clients, and to you.<br />
To your lean, healthy, Optimised future,<br />
Matt<br />
Optimised Personal Wellness is based on Bridge St and is a<br />
private health clinic and personal training gym dedicated to<br />
taking care of Manchester’s busy professionals.<br />
For more information visit<br />
www.optimisedpersonalwellness.co.uk<br />
twitter: @mattopwellness<br />
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Lifestyle 29<br />
Mental Wellness<br />
Make Happy Work...<br />
By Mick Timpson, Modern Meditation Teacher<br />
Workplace mindfulness meditation is everywhere these<br />
days. There are programmes for almost everything from<br />
compassion and leadership, to career development and<br />
productivity to cheesemaking. Okay, I made that last one<br />
up!<br />
Many meditation training programmes focus on workplace<br />
stress reduction, and rightly so. According to 2015’s Parliamentary<br />
Report on Mindfulness in the Workplace, the indirect<br />
costs to the UK for mental health in unemployment,<br />
absenteeism and resulting loss of productivity are estimated<br />
at between £70-100 billion, with employers paying £9 billion<br />
of that in sick pay and related costs.<br />
But this is only part of the story. Stress is also the biggest<br />
killer of creativity – a human-made, never-ending energy<br />
source that powers every successful business. We know as<br />
stress reduces, wellbeing increases, which in turn links to improved<br />
creative flow. It's that flow that everyone in business<br />
should be looking to increase. Not only is it key to business<br />
productivity and invention, but also to individual happiness<br />
and joy. It seems that creativity and happiness are connected,<br />
but you have to be present and paying attention.<br />
However, studies have shown that most of us are elsewhere,<br />
working on ‘autopilot’ at least 50 per cent of the time because<br />
the mind likes to wander. Moreover, guess what? Having<br />
the mind directed elsewhere, locked in a spiral of<br />
self-created thoughts doesn’t make us happy. It seems happiness<br />
is found only in the moment.<br />
That is what good meditation training will give you – access<br />
to the present where innate creativity, flow, invention, increased<br />
energy and productivity can be found. And that is<br />
just the start because as those attributes develop, the obstacles<br />
to change that we all have – anxiety, fear, doubt and<br />
stress – begin to fall away. It’s a win for everybody.<br />
Finding happiness<br />
People who have learned to work this way call it ‘being in<br />
the zone’. Scientists call it autotelic experience. Early research<br />
assumed that flow experience only developed<br />
through high-challenge, high-skill situations and included<br />
jobs such as concert pianists, mountaineers and Olympic<br />
athletes, to name a few. Flow, it was thought, results from a<br />
correlation between the degree of challenge and available<br />
skills. This is only partly true. A well-designed, practical meditation<br />
programme like the ones we have developed at beanddo<br />
are geared towards giving people metacognitive<br />
skills to switch on flow, so that all actions can be a happy,<br />
creative, flow-inducing activity.<br />
Getting into the flow<br />
The best place to start from is where you want to go. Assume<br />
everyone in your workplace is a creative wonder, and<br />
then work from there to nurture and expand that condition<br />
for purpose, wellbeing and profit. It’s a matter of shaping<br />
and aligning business goals and working methods with creative,<br />
natural human flow and potential.<br />
The model here is a mindful connection between being and<br />
doing, with an emphasis on not what you do, but how you<br />
do it. The technique is to unify one’s being and doing, so<br />
work is undertaken for its own sake rather than for one’s individual<br />
relation to it. This means simply directing one’s attention<br />
on the doing of it and not on the supposed or<br />
imagined outcome. This is where meditation practice helps<br />
to bring your attention into the present moment, which is<br />
when flow happens.<br />
The top five flow experiences can include:<br />
● Observing how the very action, thought or idea seems to<br />
support the next, creating conscious, continuous feedback<br />
towards a solution.<br />
● A deep, relaxed feeling that blooms within, filling the<br />
whole body. Self-consciousness reduces along with the<br />
need to be in one’s ‘comfort zone’.<br />
● Sharpening of the senses; touch become sensitive and<br />
everything appears in high definition. An intense awareness<br />
grows around the present moment where one’s experience<br />
of self and time is profoundly altered.<br />
● An emerging happiness that seems connected to a momentum,<br />
pushing you along in what you are doing, towards<br />
your goal.<br />
● A doubt-free, joyful certainty emerges in your work. New<br />
things appear. Fear of failure or falling behind vanishes and<br />
then you ask yourself, did I do that?<br />
If you are considering a meditation-focused wellbeing programme<br />
for your workplace, my advice is to think carefully<br />
about what you need and how your organisation would<br />
benefit. Do not assume meditation will solve all of your<br />
problems. It also has to come with the honest objective that<br />
you want your people to thrive. Your organisation needs to<br />
be set-up to achieve that from the start.<br />
Meditation promotes clarity, combined with a smarter grip<br />
of what is going on, so make sure your business is ready to<br />
grasp the opportunity. The practice is more effective if it is<br />
focused on maximising being in a good place, rather than<br />
having to deal with being in a bad place.<br />
So it stands to reason that we should try and figure out ways<br />
of staying present to our happiness. To make that day at<br />
work a good day, every day requires knowing a dimension<br />
of experience that we never knew could exist in the office.<br />
By learning to assume a different perspective, mindset and<br />
relationship to what we do, we can make every activity into<br />
a happy moment, no matter what.<br />
Email: mick@beanddo.co.uk<br />
Call: 07808 501765<br />
www.beanddo.co.uk<br />
Manchester Radical Literature Walking Tour<br />
I joined a group of walkers on one of Manchester Literature<br />
Festival’s walking tours around the city. The<br />
subject for this walk was Manchester Radical Literature.<br />
The walk, led by Sue McCarthy started at Manchester<br />
Cathedral. It was here that Thomas Clarkson (1760 - 1846)<br />
an English abolitionist, and a leading campaigner against<br />
the slave trade gave a speech in 1787 to a huge crowd<br />
calling for the abolition of slavery, and described how<br />
much of the wealth of Manchester, came through the<br />
slave trade. Clarkson spent his entire life campaiging and<br />
collecting evidence, speaking to over 20,000 sailors<br />
around the country.<br />
supported Marx financially to do research and write Das<br />
Kapital and when Marx died, he edited the third and fourth<br />
volumes.<br />
The site of Boots on Cross Street was the former home of the<br />
Manchester Guardian, where C.P Scott was the editor for 57<br />
years from 1872 and was a staunch supporter of womens’<br />
suffrage. CP Scott was also a Liberal MP for Leigh.<br />
Further down Cross Street is the former site of the Cross<br />
Street Unitarian Chapel, where Elizabeth Gaskell’s husband<br />
was the minister. Mrs Gaskell’s time in Manchester impacted<br />
her writings, which often highlighted social and industrial<br />
problems.<br />
much history has been forged on these streets, and the<br />
works of fiction and radical literature that Manchester and<br />
its industiral heritage has inspired.<br />
The walking tours were sponsored by Weightmans.<br />
Richard Corran, Partner and Head of the Weightmans<br />
Manchester offices said: “Weightmans is proud of its long<br />
standing commitment to - and admiration of - Manchester<br />
culture, which is diverse and plentiful.<br />
“Our relationship with the Manchester Literature Festival<br />
allows us to explore this breadth of culture and our Walking<br />
Tours offer guests a chance to learn more about a variety<br />
of genres, from gothic literature to punk poetry,<br />
amongst others. Manchester is truly a place to see and be<br />
seen, and we can think of no better way than on foot, retracing<br />
the steps of the city’s finest authors.”<br />
We then moved around the corner to Chetham’s Library,<br />
where Friederich Engels, who was sent to Manchester by<br />
his parents at the age of 22, spent much of his time reading<br />
and researching. On his way to Manchester he met<br />
Karl Marx, which started a long collaboration between<br />
the two. In 1845, Engles published The Condition of the<br />
Working Class in England, based on his personal observations<br />
and research in Manchester. In 1848, Engels coauthored<br />
The Communist Manifesto with Marx. Engels<br />
86 Cross Street was home to Thomas de Quincy, who wrote<br />
Confessions of an English Opium-Eater in 1821. He worked<br />
as a journalist around the North West, which he used to fund<br />
his writings and opium addiction. He spent a number of<br />
years living with William Wordsworth at Dove Cottage and<br />
died in penniless in1859.<br />
Walking through the streets of Manchester with its high-rise<br />
buildings and modern facades, it is easy to forget that so<br />
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