Modern Law Magazine Issue 67

Issue 67
ISSN 2976-9396
THE BUSINESS OF LAW
MAKE IT
PART OF
YOUR
DNA
P06 Gihan P10 Caroline P32
Hayes
A Unique Approach To ESG
May
The Importance of
Educated Involvement
LEAP Modern Law
Conveyancing
Awards

Make It Part Of Your DNA
“The first step towards reducing our impact on the planet is to become aware of it.”
David Attenborough
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As extreme weather events are becoming
more and more prevalent and the issue of
climate change is at the forefront of our
minds, everyone must ask themselves, what
can I do to help? We all have a part to play in
making a positive change in how we operate
in our professional and personal lives when
it comes to the environment. With the rise
of Eco-Anxiety, especially within younger
generations, it often feels like a lost cause
and as though time is running out. Modern
Law is here to say there is still hope, and
there are steps we can take to fight climate
change and protect the environment for
future generations.
All people and businesses can take action,
and law firms are no different. In this issue
of Modern Law Magazine, you will find
advice, tips, and examples of what you
and your business can do to help. From
integrating ESG to community outreach
initiatives that all contribute towards a
better tomorrow for the legal profession
and the world beyond.
This issue opens with two interviews, our
first from Gihan Hayes, CEO and Founder
of CommUnique, and our second from
Co-Chair of the LSA, Caroline May. Gihan
discuss the importance and benefits of
making ESG a part of your firms DNA.
Caroline tells us the story of how she came
to be Co-Chair of the LSA and reveals the
initiatives undertaken by the LSA.
to take into account when digitising
our work. Our second Insight is from
Natalie King-Barnard of Green Machine
Computers, in which we learn all about
E-Waste and the impact our old and
abandoned tech has on our planet.
We have a feature from Nigel Dews,
Managing Director at Restore Records
Management, who discusses why a paper
lite approach is the smoothest way to get
to your environmental goals.
Following on, we have an introduction
to our Editorial Board. Here you will
find out who our Editorial Board are,
what they do, and what their company
does. Beyond this page you will find our
usual Editorial Board thought leadership
articles discussing what steps they are
taking to protect the environment in their
day-to-day operations.
After the Editorial Board, you will find
all the details and photos from the LEAP
Modern Law Conveyancing Awards
2023. Congratulations to all our amazing
winners, your dedication and hard work
makes you all such deserving recipients.
Thank you to our incredible judges for
all the hard work and time you put in.
We appreciate you all so much. Finally,
a massive thank you to all our sponsors,
without you none of this would be
possible.
Catch our section about our attendance
at the Frenkel Topping Ball and see all
the details of the Hollywood Glamour
event raising money for the Frenkel
Topping Charitable Foundation.
We then have a wills and probate discussion
with Ochresoft, and our Conveyancing
Roundtable discussing the environmental
aspects of the sector and what the
industries is doing to fight climate change.
Last, but not least, we have our 10
Minutes with Heather Gaffney. See who
she would invite round for dinner, and
what her most memorable achievement
has been in her career.
Modern Law are taking steps to be more
environmentally conscious, and we have
taken the plunge to go fully digital. It feels
quite fitting that we do this with our issue
all about environmental action. Whilst
we loved having our physical copies, we
feel that this is a positive step, and we are
proud to do so.
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We have two Insights in this issue from
Alexis Normand of Greenly, who tells us
about the little-known impact of Digital
Carbon Footprints, and what we need
Bradley Collins is back with his
LegalTechTalk series discussing the impact
of legal tech on the environment, and the
tech solutions out there.
Emily Wade is Editor
at Modern Law Magazine
01765 600909 | emily@charltongrant.co.uk
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Kathliya Harwood, Speech Processing Solutions
Dave Seager, Matrix Capital
Bronwyn Townsend, InfoTrack
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ISSUE 67
ISSN 2976-9396
Editor
Emily Wade
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3

CONTENTS
CONTENTS
INTERVIEW
INSIGHT
EDITORIAL
BOARD
06 A Unique Approach To ESG
Gihan Hayes discuss the importance and benefits of make ESG a part of your
firms DNA.
10 Caroline May: The Importance of Educated Involvement
Caroline tells us the story of how she came to be Co-Chair of the LSA and
reveals the initiatives undertaken by the LSA.
14 Navigating Your Digital Carbon Footprint
Alexis Normand of Greenly, who tells us about the little-known impact of
Digital Carbon Footprints, and what we need to take into account when
digitising our work.
15 The Green Machine
Natalie King-Barnard of Green Machine Computers, in which we learn all about
E-Waste and the impact our old and abandoned tech has on our planet.
17 Navigating the digital journey: why a paperlite approach is the
smoothest way to get there
Nigel Dews, Managing Director at Restore Records Management, discusses why
a paper lite approach is the smoothest way to get to your environmental goals.
19 Meet the Editorial Board
Meet our Editorial Board members and find out who they are and what they do.
23 Taylor Rose
Pioneering Environmental Concerns As A Top 60 Law Firm
Adrian Jaggard, CEO, Taylor Rose MW
23 Smartsearch
Innovate Or Stagnate To Lead In Legal Ethics
Martin Cheek, Managing Director, SmartSearch
25 Dutton Gregory
Leading By Example
Paul Sams, Partner, Dutton Gregory
25 Cashroom
Contributing To The Development of Innovative Legal Solutions
Alex Holt, Director of Business Development, Cashroom
27 Frenkel Topping
Socially Conscious Advice That Delivers Results
Mark Holt, COO, Frenkel Topping
27 Law Mergers & Acquisitions
The Potential Implications Of Greenwashing
Neville Dinshaw, Managing Director, Law Mergers & Acquisitions
29 Speech.com
Leveraging Technology To Minimise Your Digital Carbon Footprint?
Kathliya Harwood, Marketing Manager, Speech Processing Solutions
29 Matrix Capital
Is Your Supply Chain Ethically Compatible?
Dave Seager, Consulting Adviser, Matrix Capital
EDITORIAL
BOARD
AWARDS
LEGAL TECH
FEATURE
ROUNDTABLE
FORUM
10 MINS WITH
31 InfoTrack
Digital Onboarding: Better For Productivity, Accessibility, And The
Environment
Bronwyn Townsend, Senior Marketing Manager, InfoTrack
31 Estate Research
The Law Commission’s Law of Wills Reform
Dominic Hendry, Head of Private Client, Estate Research
32 A Night At The Circus
Details and photos from the LEAP Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2023.
Emily Wade, Modern Law
45 LegalTechTalk
Bradley Collins is back with his LegalTechTalk series discussing the impact of
legal tech on the environment, and the tech solutions out there.
48 Frenkel Topping Ball
Catch our section about our attendance at the Frenkel Topping Ball and see
all the details of the Hollywood Glamour event raising money for the Frenkel
Topping Charitable Foundation.
50 Wills and Probate Discussion
A discussion with Ochresoft about the environmental aspects of the
sector and what the industry is doing to fight climate change. Emily Wade,
Modern Law.
53 Conveyancing Forum
A forum discussion about the conveyancing sectors environmental impact,
and what everyone conveyancer can do to take positive steps to becoming
environmentally friendly. Emily Wade, Modern Law
62 10 Mins With... Heather Gaffney
See who Heather would invite round for dinner, and what her most
memorable achievement has been in her career.
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EDITORIAL BOARD CONTRIBUTORS
SpeechLive
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4
5

INTERVIEWS
INTERVIEWS
A Unique Approach to ESG
A Life of Fighting Climate Change
Modern Law Sat Down the Gihan Hayes, CEO and Founder of
CommUnique, to talk about her work helping businesses achieve
their ESG goals, and the importance of making it part of your DNA.
Can you tell us about your journey
and what inspired you to start
CommUnique?
I founded CommUnique for two reasons.
The first reason is that I noticed a gap
in the market, and I needed to fill it
as soon as possible, before someone
else figured out there was a gap in the
market. Secondly, I wanted to create
a company that brought my personal
purpose to life. My personal purpose is
to help the invisible become visible, and
CommUnique does that. We do this by
hiring freelancers from underdeveloped
countries and under-represented
communities. We mentor, and coach
them, and then they deliver the work
with me. If our clients like the work
we have done, they then can go on
and hire our freelancers. Every year
we get 15 sustainability enthusiast or
communication specialists onboard and
work together with clients, and although
this business model can be difficult,
it is definitely working for us. We are
an ESG communications advisory firm,
and we do this through three different
services. The first one is to integrate
ESG into a businesses business model
by creating a strategy and helping the
client understand what initiatives they
need to take or what companies they
need to partner with so the strategy
can be brought to life. If a company
decides to become carbon neutral, we
will advise them on what that means
for the company’s growth, but also who
they should partner with to help them
achieve their goal. The second service is
ESG communications where we help the
company to humanise the sustainability
initiatives in a clear, transparent, and
storytelling way. The third service is
training. This is where we train leadership
teams and employees to understand the
role they play in the sustainability journey,
and more importantly, why they should
care about it. We are a B-Corp certified
organisation which means meeting the
high standards of environmental and
social performance, I am an advisor to
the B-Corp in the U.K. I also sit on the
board of the Money 2020, the largest
FinTech networking platform, and I am
the only person from an ethnic minority
background who is a sustainability mentor
for Accenture’s FinTech innovation lab.
What is the mission and vision of
CommUnique, and how do you
work towards achieving it?
My vision is to grow and to also help
companies to understand the importance
of sustainability but also the importance of
a diverse talent pool. Our mission and goals
are still evolving, but my ultimate goal is
for CommUnique to be the largest ESG
communications and advisory firm in the
world where by the majority of employees
are from underdeveloped countries and
underrepresented communities.
How does CommUnique
incorporate ESG principles
into its own business strategy
and operations?
For us the E has come naturally as I am
the only one from CommUnique in the
U.k. and all my freelancers are from
around the world. This means that we
do everything online and everything
is digitised. However, our mindsets are
not stagnant on this issue and we are
always looking for ways we can become
more environmentally friendly, and
how we can quantify our progress. As
for the S, as I have previously stated,
CommUnique is made up of people from
underrepresented backgrounds and
underdeveloped countries. We pay all our
freelancers a fair wage, and give them
training to future their careers and help
them progress. For our G we have a board
that hold me accountable, we aim to
work with companies who have previously
struggled with ESG and are wanting to
make positive changes.
It is very important to me that
CommUnique is a company that
practices what we preach, and that
we show we are constantly striving
to improve ourselves and up hold our
core values.
Can you share some specific
examples of environmental
sustainability initiatives that
CommUnique has implemented?
The initiative I am extremely proud of
is one we did with a large organisation
in the Stock Exchange. They wanted to
humanise their strategy and wanted to
bring their employees with them on their
journey. So, we created an application
that employees would voluntarily be
able to download that would collect data
from where the employee had commute
from. It would then translate this data
into easily consumable information on the
employee’s carbon footprint. For example,
it would say that if you were to drive into
work everyday you would produce five
swimming pools worth of carbon, but if
you were to walk for 5 minutes and take
public transport you could reduce that by
half a swimming pool.
“I would be a very proud women
when I see that there is an ecosystem
of sustainability that is as diverse,
inclusive, and as equal as possible.”
6
7

INTERVIEWS
INTERVIEWS
We linked this to their HR profile, and
if they showed that they had reduced
their carbon footprint, because we
had educated them, they would get a
congratulatory message from HR on
their achievement. It would also go
towards their appraisal as the employee
would have helped the company achieve
their mission of reducing their carbon
footprint, and they would also receive a
voucher as a thank you.
What social impact programs
or initiatives has CommUnique
undertaken to benefit its
employees, communities, or
society at large?
There are two social programmes we are
now leading on. The first one is working
towards getting more ethnic minority
business founders to be more sustainable.
This is done through our “Sustainovate”
roundtable discussions alongside
other organisations, such as B-Corp.
Sustainovate events are run where we
link Ethnic minority business owners
with investors who will invest in their
companies once they become sustainable,
and sustainability experts who can talk
them through starting their journey
to becoming sustainable. The second
initiative is part of Accenture’s Innovation
Lab ‘s Accelerations programme. I am
promoting ethnic minority business
founders to join this leading acceleration
programme this programme.
What is your approach to creating
ESG strategies for companies?
What does this process look like?
We begin a discovery session where we
deep dive into the companies ESG metrics.
We look at what is concerning their
stakeholders and what is the best practice
in the industry. After, we assess what is the
gap and what seems to be missing, and
how do we fill in the gap. Engaging the
stakeholders in the process is vital. We ask
them why they think we should care about
sustainability as we need to understand
the concerns they have. From here we can
formulate a strategy, which will be based
on the values and mission of the company.
Then we role it out! However, the most
important part for me is the constant
monitoring of the strategy to make sure it
“My vision is to
grow and to also
help companies
to understand
the importance of
sustainability but also
the importance of
a diverse talent pool.”
is achieving all the milestones we have set
in place, and that it is the correct strategy
for the company.
How can law firms ensure
transparency and accountability
in their practices, especially
regarding ESG issues?
The beauty of law firms is that they will
already be documenting things. The advice
I would give to law firms, which I would
give to any company, would be to seek
out third party auditing. You cannot audit
yourself. Just as you have legal bodies
that will audit firms, such as the SRA, a
third party will assess your ESG claims, and
assess the validity of said claims. A third
party, such as myself, will come in and will
audit your communications, and I will pick
the holes in your communications. This
would be party of our Discovery sessions.
After this, every firm would need to put
in place a clear communications strategy
and plan. My final piece of advice would
be to commit to feedback and testing. This
is the only way to get results from ESG
implementation.
Have you encountered any
challenges or obstacles while
integrating ESG principles into
a business, and how have you
addressed them?
I’ve encountered a lot of challenges.
The first challenge would be leadership
advocacy. I’ve found that not all company
leaders believe in the importance of
ESG. We are often brought in to help
communications teams showcase the
importance of sustainability.
The second challenges are companies not
knowing where to start or what steps they
need to take. That is why our process is so
important to follow.
“Commit to feedback and testing. This is the only way to get
results from ESG implementation.”
The third challenge, which is the most frequent, is knowing
how companies can bring their employees with them on the
journey. For example, companies what to know how they can
communicate, across all offices, that it is important for employees
to recycle. So, for this challenge education is key.
Can you discuss the long-term benefits that
businesses can experience as a result of
focussing on ESG?
There are so many benefits, and the data is telling us that.
Reputational management is one thing that can benefit from
implementing ESG. With a strong ESG a company can boost their
brand, and you can attract clients who prioritise sustainable and
ethical operations. Another aspect of data is that you can see
what and where the risks are, but you can also see where the
opportunities are. When you know what the risks are, you know
how to mitigate them, and that is a huge advantage to have.
Implementing ESG can also help with attracting the right talent to
a company. Millennials said they would only work for a company
that has a clear People and Planet Strategy, and that the
company’s values align with their own. The next generation are
steadfast in their convictions and it is important that companies
take not. Last, but not least, is the investment appeal. ESG
investment is currently worth 53 trillion dollars. Companies will
not have a piece of this market if they are not sustainable.
How do you see the role of ESG evolving in the
business world, and what trends do you anticipate in
this area?
I believe that the regulations that will be put in place will force
companies to start reporting on their ESG. Countries are really
coming up against the clock to reach the Paris Agreement
commitments. In Europe there is a new law called CSRD
(Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) which will make
people panic. It will force everyone in Europe or dealing with
companies in Europe to repost on their ESG. The changes in
regulation are going to be one of the biggest changes as they
become more serious and demanding.
Another trend I predict is the holistic approach towards ESG
and how to run a company. Business will start seeing ESG from
centred holistic from what it has been up to now, which is from a
separate initiative point of view.
“I want to normalise the saving of
people and the planet.”
Gihan Hayes,
CEO and Founder, CommUnique
What advice do you have for companies looking to
embrace ESG practices and make a positive impact on
the environment, society, and governance?
Number one; integrate, don’t isolate. Meaning that companies
should make it part of their DNA. It needs to be normalised in
communications. Make ESG part of the employee journey from
asking questions about sustainability at interview stages, to having
objective appraisals for employees to meet. Finally, education
is key. ESG is an ever-evolving topic and constant education is
needed for all leaders and employees. Setting clear benchmarks is
vital as then you are able to see from data what aspects need more
attention and people need more education on the matter.
Finally, as the CEO of CommUnique, what legacy do
you hope to leave in the industry and for your team?
This reminded me to write my will!
I would be a very proud woman when I see that there is an ecosystem
of sustainability that is as diverse, inclusive, and as equal
as possible. So far, the numbers are shocking when it comes to
the number of diverse thought leaders. So, I would like my legacy
to be known for normalising ESG initiatives and reporting, and
making it part of the DNA of companies. I want to normalise the
saving of people and the planet.
8 9

INTERVIEWS
INTERVIEWS
Caroline May:
The Importance of
Educated Involvement
Modern Law sat down with Caroline May of the LSA, Law Society,
and Norton Rose Fullbright to discuss her journey to becoming
Co-Chair of the LSA, what the LSA and Law Society have been up to,
and her predictions for the future of environmental commitments.
Can you tell us about your journey to becoming Co-
Chair of the Legal Sustainability Alliance and Partner
at Norton Rose Fulbright?What inspired you to
pursue a career in law and sustainability?
I’ve been doing Environmental Law long before it was called
sustainability. I have been in this area of work for around 35 years,
well before it was fashionable, and my route into it was Toxic
Tort Litigation. When I was a young lawyer at Clifford Chance, I
handled two very big cases of tort litigation, one involving dioxin
contamination and the other involving an explosive landfill site.
Both cases were very high profile and involved organisations such
as Greenpeace. These cases took between five to eight years
each, and by the time they were high court multi-party pieces of
litigation, I was the pollution and contamination expert in-house.
Shortly after came the Environmental Protection Act (1990)
meaning that what had been water and land contamination
became environmental contamination when the law was codified.
Thereafter, I became a fully-fledged environmental lawyer.
As for my journey to becoming Co-Chair of the LSA, I first
became a member when it was first formed and eventually, I was
approached when the previous leader was standing down to take
the position alongside Matt Sparks, who is the Sustainability
Manager at Linklaters.
I came to be Chair of the Law Society’s Climate Change Working
Group again by being approached by the then president. At
the time, the Law Society was facing a challenge from its own
members asking what the Law Society was doing about climate
change, and why there was no specific committee to respond
to issues and government consultation. We spoke with the Law
Society’s council about a committee, and the Climate Change
Working Group was born. This led to the Law Society Resolution
on Climate Emergency in October 2021, just before COP in
Glasgow. After that, we were mandated to produce the first Law
Society guidance for the profession on climate change, the first
of its kind in any profession. It has now been picked up by many
Bar and Law councils and societies around the world.
What are some of the key initiatives or projects that
the LSA has been involved in to promote/integrate
sustainability and responsible business practices
among law firms?
The Legal Sustainability Alliance (LSA) has been actively involved
in promoting sustainability and responsible business practices
among law firms through various initiatives. Carbon Footprint
Reporting: Encouraging law firms to measure and report
their environmental impact. Sustainable Practices Guidance:
Providing guidance on energy efficiency, waste reduction,
and eco-friendly procurement. Legal Sector Alliance Carbon
Commitment: Collaborating with law firms committed to reducing
carbon emissions. Knowledge Sharing and Events: Organising
events for firms to share experiences, best practices, and discuss
sustainability. Collaboration with Stakeholders: Working with
legal professionals, clients, and environmental organisations to
promote sustainability. Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions:
Encouraging firms to consider biodiversity and nature-based
solutions. Advocacy for Policy Change: Engaging in advocacy
efforts for policies supporting sustainability in the legal sector.
Employee Engagement Programmes: Encouraging firms to
implement programmes that raise awareness and involve
employees in sustainability initiatives.
How can law firms effectively integrate sustainability
practices into their operations and services, and what
benefits can they derive from doing so?
They can follow the guidance firstly. Sustainability has challenges
and opportunities. The challenges are the supply chain, gathering
ESG data from them, setting and verifying net zero targets, and
other things like reducing emissions from work travel. Sustainability
management needs to be integrated into a firm with a committee
that every department is represented on. Enshrining environmental
management principles through every area of the business is
vital. The benefits from integrating sustainable practices are farreaching.
Clients are expecting firms to be setting goals and striving
to reach them. Sticking to environmental goals can help with client
retention, and is a business-critical issue. There are also lots of new
areas of law that have opened up in the profession and has allowed
new and different talent to join.
“Sustainability has challenges
and opportunities.”
“We work with some of the
biggest clients in the world
and that allows us to promote
the agenda. Our responsible
business and sustainability
initiatives are something to
be proud of.”
Norton Rose Fulbright has been recognized
for its commitment to sustainability, including
its ranking in the FTSE4Good Index. Could you
share some specific examples of sustainability
initiatives or achievements that you’re
particularly proud of within the firm?
We won the first Infrastructure Journal ESG Award, and that
recognized some of the work around the world, such as
renewable energy projects. That kind of pioneering work is
something I am very proud we were involved in. Other things I am
proud of is our work within carbon capture, and working on new
technology and initiatives, and energy transitions.
We work with some of the biggest clients in the world and that
allows us to promote the agenda. Our responsible business and
sustainability initiatives are something to be proud of. How we
produce and deliver our work in this area, such as our work with
Save the Children, is something else I’m pleased to be a part of.
NRF also does a lot of small community projects we don’t shout
about, but are of equal importance to us, and our staff give
up their time to volunteer in the community. I am proud of us
professionally for what we do, and it is gratifying to find that it is
recognized by our clients, peers, and industry leaders.
10 11

INTERVIEWS
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sustainability goals and values?
Transparent communication is
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into business initiatives. Regular
sustainability reporting demonstrates
commitment to improvement. Supporting
employee volunteering and incentivizing
sustainable practices fosters a positive
environment and strengthens connections
with stakeholders. Through these
initiatives, law firms can actively engage
stakeholders, creating a collaborative
approach to sustainability that aligns
with the values and goals of clients,
employees, and the wider community.
Collaboration is often key
to advancing sustainability
goals. Can you discuss any
partnerships or collaborations
that the LSA has entered into
with other organisations or law
firms to drive sustainability
initiatives forward?
The LSA itself is a mixture of 120 law
firms and is built on collaboration. LSA
also collaborates with the Chancery
Lane Project, and the Law Society to
roll out the Guidance on Sustainability
in the new year. We liaise with the Net
Zero Lawyers Alliance and many other
initiatives, and where it is possible to do
so, we collaborate. Collaborations across
our industry sector are key, and the
educational element of that is important,
but collaboration for legal professionals
is a multi-disciplinary area.
What long-term goals and
strategies does The Law Society
have in place to further its
commitment to combating
climate change through the
legal profession?
The Law Society is going to build on the
guidance that is already out there, and
also produce sector-specific guidance,
in which the work is already underway.
We are also speaking with the SRA on
whether regulations are necessary in
the area, as our guidance is voluntary.
The regulators are watching the space
as to whether anything mandatory is
required. So, watch this space. There is
a role to play there in developing those
regulations. Once again education is key
and The Law Society’s aim is to make sure
lawyers are informed and up-to-date with
the latest information and guidance.
“Collaborations
across our industry
sector are key.”
Do you think that any of the
guidance will become mandatory,
and do you think it should?
I think it’s a possibility that there will be
mandatory guidance, particularly around
solicitors’ duty of care and responsibility.
These are the areas that I think will
become mandatory first. It’s already here
to some extent. Do I think there should
be some guidance made mandatory?
Yes. I think there should be, depending
on what it is. I think that unless you have
a framework against which to judge, it is
very difficult to drive standards of what
is required and what is a benchmark.
As with everything in society, I think
you need the law and the framework to
govern the area so people know what is
expected of them.
Finally, what advice would you
like to give to every lawyer on the
topic of sustainability?
Educate yourself about how it affects
your practice, and get involved. Educated
involvement is key.
Caroline May,
Co-Chair, LSA
Get in touch to find out how we can support your business.
03300 366 700 | enquiries@ochresoft.com | ochresoft.com
13

INSIGHT
INSIGHT
Navigating Your Digital Carbon Footprint
When it comes to being kind to the planet, the role of the legal industry isn’t just to safeguard
and advise clients on the legal implications of their actions, but also to do its own part to
operate in a climate-efficient way. Here, we’ll look specifically at digital carbon footprints in law
firms and what those in the industry need to be mindful of in order to reduce carbon emissions
stemming from digital activities.
Digital carbon footprint
A common assumption is that the
growth of hybrid working must have
been good for the planet, with fewer
people commuting back and forth to
work every day in polluting vehicles
and less energy consumption needed
to power office buildings. But the
fact that remote and hybrid working
has increased the amount of digital
communication taking place doesn’t
come without its own environmental
impact. In fact, The Shift Project
(source*) estimates that the carbon
footprint linked to digital activities
accounts for around 4% of the world’s
total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions -
with the IT sector’s emissions projected
to continue rising exponentially.
The main contributors to the digital
carbon footprint of a business are
typically on-site and remote use of
computers, servers and other digital
devices (such as mobile phones,
tablets, projectors etc.) and the use of
remote internet services like the cloud.
With the emissions from both of these
activities typically coming from both
the manufacturing and use of said
equipment and services.
How law firms can be more
conscious of their digital
carbon footprint
When deciding what equipment is
needed in an office and for employees
to use remotely, law firms should take
into consideration how equipment
is manufactured, what materials are
used, and also the options for disposal.
Ultimate buying decisions should be
made based on this information.
In addition to this, and equally
important, is knowing what servers and
data centres that cloud services use.
Whilst it’s very easy to fall into an ‘out
of sight, out of mind’ mentality when
it comes to cloud services, increasing
regulation will soon make it essential
for all businesses to know - and be able
to report on - the carbon emissions of
all of their suppliers. And that includes
cloud suppliers.
Other, specific steps that law firms can
take to reduce their corporate digital
carbon footprint include:
• Extend the life of IT equipment
Firms should only replace equipment
that has stopped working and is
beyond repair. When replacing
equipment, don’t always buy new
- instead, consider second-hand
or refurbished equipment. There
are also now labels to certify that a
product meets certain sustainability
requirements, so be sure to seek
these out too.
• Identify suppliers with good
carbon intensity
Simply selecting the right partners
can help a business align with the
Paris agreement trajectory to net
zero. Commit to undertaking a
supplier audit to understand the
environmental performance of
existing suppliers and set parameters
that future suppliers must meet.
• Review your cloud supplier
Most cloud providers are huge
contributors to emissions because
of the exponential growth of their
operations. Cloud computing uses
up electricity, and the source of
electricity is not always green. Think
about choosing cloud instances
located in countries with low carbon
energy mixes (such as the Nordics,
Switzerland, France) as opposed to
countries like Ireland.
“It’s more important
than ever for
individuals and firms
of all sizes to get
their house in order.”
How to reduce your own digital
carbon footprint as an employee
The use of computer and electronic
equipment generates a third of an
employee’s total GHG emissions at work.
Therefore, thinking about how you use
this equipment and what you use it for can
help you to reduce your own emissions:
• Turn off your camera
Amazingly, simply having your
camera turned off during a one hour
Zoom call can reduce the carbon
emissions of that call by 96%*.
• Avoid unnecessary email
attachments
Sending an email with a photo
attachment emits over ten times as
many CO2 equivalent emissions as
sending a regular email*. Therefore,
instead opt for links to shared
drives to share files.
• Opt for WiFi over 4G or 5G
Wherever possible, login to local
WiFi networks when needing the
internet. As - for example - watching
a video using WiFi, rather than 4G,
consumes 23 times less energy.
Green credentials, commitments and
policies are becoming a key factor in all
manner of commercial transactions. And
increasing regulation related to carbon
emissions means it’s more important
than ever for individuals and firms of all
sizes to get their house in order to help
future proof their business.
Alexis Normand, co-founder and CEO
at carbon accounting platform, Greenly
The Green Machine
In our tech-centric world, electronic devices have become our faithful companions. From
the moment we wake to our smartphone alarms, to the late-night Netflix binge on our
smart TVs, technology is ever-present. But there’s a dark side to this relentless innovation:
a colossal pile of electronic waste (e-waste), which takes up valuable space and poses a
significant environmental threat.
Our electronic devices have a significant
impact on our environment. The process
of manufacturing a single desktop
computer requires around 539 pounds
of fossil fuels, 48 pounds of chemicals,
and at least 1.5 tons of water. That’s
a staggering number of resources for
just one piece of technology. But it
doesn’t stop there. The production
process generates roughly 150 kgs
of greenhouse gases. Inside your
electronics are rare Earth materials such
as gold, silver, copper, and cobalt. These
resources have limited supplies and are
often hazardous to extract.
So, what’s the answer to this growing
problem? Recycling and Reuse. When
we recycle our electrical equipment,
we reduce its negative effect on the
environment significantly. Creating a more
eco-conscious and circular life cycle for
technology is vital for protecting the planet
from the harmful materials in our devices.
The number of electrical items that get
thrown away is constantly growing, and
currently, only 17.5% of this waste is
recycled appropriately. When we recycle
our old devices, the precious materials
can be extracted and reused, meaning
that we don’t need to mine for more. It
also stops more greenhouse gases from
entering the atmosphere.
Meet Natalie King-Barnard, Head of
Sales and Marketing at Green Machine
Computers. For 12 years, they’ve been
on a mission to protect the environment
and tackle digital poverty by helping
businesses dispose of obsolete IT
equipment securely. The Wiltshire-based
recycling facility is committed to proper
e-waste recycling and disposal. Their
accreditations are proof that they handle
both data and waste materials in a safe
and environmentally friendly way. They
repair and reuse absolutely everything
possible (down to screws and office
furniture), and partner with a number
of charities to rehome useful hardware.
Working with a refinery, they break down
irreparable IT equipment to their core
materials, so that these can be melted
down and reused.
This process liberates office space and
maintains GDPR compliance while
lowering carbon emissions and ensuring
these devices benefit less fortunate
individuals. Green Machine Computers,
with its customers’ help, has cut CO2
emissions by 13,500 metric tonnes in
the last five years. That’s equivalent
to powering 1,701 homes for a year.
This isn’t just about numbers; it’s a
commitment to sustainability. The
dedicated team tests, repairs and reuses
every useable component from the
devices collected, ensuring that nothing
goes to waste. Moreover, Green Machine
Computers offers customers a clear
breakdown of their CO2 savings.
But what about your data? Many
businesses worry about recycling their
devices because of the data they
contain. However, recycling companies
like Green Machine take data security
extremely seriously. They wipe all the
data from every device they recycle as
standard and can provide certificates to
prove this along with a full audit trail of
what has been collected.
Instead of trashing perfectly functional
devices, Green Machine Computers
specialises in refurbishing and
extending the lifespan of electronic
equipment. While collecting and
diverting this equipment, they’ve
been able to refurbish thousands of
devices which have then been donated
to schools, charities and non-profit
organisations across the UK. Green
Machine Computers recognise the
social inequalities perpetuated by the
‘digital divide’. Through partnerships
with schools, charities, and non-profit
organisations, they donate refurbished
devices to disadvantaged communities.
By securely wiping and restoring
unwanted technology, the team can
rehome devices with people in need
who can utilise them for educational,
employment, and social opportunities.
“As our world
continues to
go digital, our
responsibilities
grow.”
So far, their donations have supported
a wide variety of people, from refugees
to local youth groups, from women’s
shelters to children’s hospices. Their
work has ensured that all of that ‘waste’,
has not been wasted.
As our world continues to go digital,
our responsibilities grow. Green
Machine Computers proves that
tackling e-waste is a collective
responsibility to build a sustainable
future for the technology industry.
Natalie King-Barnard, Head of
Sales and Marketing, Green Machine
Computers.
14 15

RESTORE
There isn’t a
single reason
why our records
management is
better than the rest *
Relentlessly
Resourceful
Finding new ways to
make things better
Really
Reliable
A rock-solid service our
customers can depend on
*there are six
Recognisably
Responsible
Saving the planet and being the
supplier our customers need
Redefining
Reduction
Saving our customers time,
money and space
Restore.co.uk/relentlesslyresourceful
Reassuringly
Reassuring
Giving customers confidence
that their data is safe
Ridiculously
Regulatory
Going further than anyone else
to comply with regulations
Yes, there are more Reasons than you can shake a stick at. But we
haven’t become the biggest UK-owned records management
company by providing a level of service you can get elsewhere.
From clever ‘phygital’ solutions made for you, to same- or
next-day delivery wherever you are, discover more about
Relentlessly Resourceful records management at
Navigating the digital
journey: why a paperlite
approach is the smoothest
way to get there
The call to go digital and ditch the paper trail is
echoing louder than ever, and it’s easy to see why.
The promise of heightened efficiency,
bulletproof compliance, and long-term
cost savings is tempting to say the least.
But let’s be honest – it’s not always as
easy as it sounds.
For many law firms, diving headfirst into
a full-scale digital transformation can feel
like swimming against the tide. Especially
when dealing with vast archives of paper
records spanning decades.
This is where a hybrid paperlite approach
comes in, bridging the gap between the
physical and digital realms.
Despite the success stories, digital
transformation projects don’t always
unfold as smoothly as one might hope.
In reality, the statistics present a starkly
different narrative. According to a
report by Deloitte, a staggering 70% of
digital transformation initiatives within
organisations end in failure.
Why? Many of these failures come down
to financial constraints. Often businesses
find that scanning every single document
simply isn’t financially viable.
Plus, you’ve got hurdles such as a lack of
digital skills, technical issues, management
meltdowns, and employees giving the
side-eye to culture change.
Legal requirements for
physical documents
Legal requirements are another obstacle
on the path to full digitalisation. As you
will know within your own sector, laws
mandate businesses to generate and
maintain physical documents.
This means that while businesses can save
on physical storage costs by going digital,
they may still have to keep the original
paper documents for a specified period.
For this reason, the coexistence of physical
and digital records has become a practical
solution for many.
Counting the costs
Scanning every single record your business
holds is expensive and often unnecessary
– and it may take a long time to see a
return on your investment.
On top of this, if you want to keep paper
backups, this adds another layer of
complexity and expense.
The solution: paperlite
The good news is that physical records
storage has evolved. Technology now
allows for on-demand scanning, secure
destruction scheduling, and comprehensive
document management online.
17
This enables the delivery of a ‘paperlite’
policy rather than rushing straight to
‘paperless’ - and that’s ideal for businesses
who are daunted by the journey.
These days physical records are easier than
ever to access with every single record
tagged - and it’s even possible to manage
them through an online portal.
Reducing your inventory and only storing
records which need to be kept is a big part
of a paperlite future, too. It can save money
and make it easier to go fully digital in future
because you have fewer records to digitise.
Prioritising high-demand records
Not all records are equally important
or accessed with the same frequency.
Identifying high-demand documents
allows you to prioritise their digitisation,
making them readily available online.
This efficient approach saves both time
and resources. By evaluating the contents
of your archive, you can determine which
records should be digitally converted,
securely destroyed, or remain in their
current physical form.
For frequently accessed records, scanning
is the ideal solution. Digital copies can be
retrieved instantly, eliminating the need
for physical retrieval.
Unlocking space and efficiency
Embracing a hybrid, paperlite, approach
facilitates the effortless transition of even the
most recently created records, ensuring their
accessibility from various storage locations.
As the retention date for specific records
approaches, it becomes imperative to
ensure their secure disposal, accompanied
by the acquisition of a destruction
certificate as a testament to compliance.
These measures free up valuable space
that can be repurposed to serve other
pressing business requirements.
In essence, comprehensive knowledge
of your records is the key to making
well-informed choices regarding what
warrants digitisation.
Embracing a hybrid approach isn’t just
a compromise; it’s a strategic advantage
that blends tradition and innovation.
Offering enhanced efficiency, unwavering
compliance, and substantial savings - all
the benefits of going digital, with much
less of the faff!
To find out how we can help you adopt
the paperlite approach, please visit:
www.restore.co.uk/Legal
Nigel Dews
Managing Director,
Restore Records Management

EDITORIAL
BOARD
It all starts
with eCOS
Effective client onboarding is critical
to starting strong relationships and
ensuring that you meet your KYC
and AML requirements.
Source
of Funds
One-click
AML
Info
Gathering
eCOS
Digital ID
Checks
eCOS is one simple platform that includes matter-specific client
questionnaires, digital ID and AML checks, and Source of Funds and
Wealth information gathering. It does all the hard work for you and gives
your clients one seamless experience.
Meet The
Editorial Board
In the following pages you will meet
our incredible Editorial Board members
who contribute to every issue to
Modern Law Magazine. They offer
their thought leadership, and industry
expertise in all their articles that help
modernise the legal industry. Their
vital knowledge of the legal landscape
and the issues every person in this
industry faces makes them invaluable
contributors to the conversations
taking place in the industry.
The Editorial Board members’ aim, as well
as Modern Law’s, is that every reader takes
something away from each issue that will
help them in their careers and enable them
to have a deeper understanding of industry
topics, and what actions they can take to be
at the forefront of the legal sector.
Every issue you read their thoughts and
ideas, and now it is time to meet them
properly. On the following pages you will
find out more about our Editorial Board
members, who they are, and what they do.
Modern Law would like to say a special
thank you to our Editorial Board members
whose continuous support and contributions
are greatly appreciated.
More convenient onboarding, better information, improved compliance…
It all starts with eCOS.
Find out more:
sales@infotrack.co.uk
0207 186 8090
www.infotrack.co.uk

EDITORIAL
BOARD
EDITORIAL
BOARD
Paul Sams
Paul Sams has over 20 years’ experience in
residential, commercial, and development
property law, developed niche specialisms
in leasehold enfranchisement matters and
equity release. Paul also leads a team of 50
people at Dutton Gregory Solicitors, where
he is Head of Property. Paul has written
six industry books to date, including ‘New
Build Conveyancing: The Essential Guide’,
and become an award-winning, nationally
recognised expert in the field of residential
property. As well as being asked to deliver
lectures and seminars to members of the
legal profession, Housing Associations
and for RICS, Paul is regularly asked to
contribute his advice, opinion and insight
to subjects relating to the residential
property sector and conveyancing in the
industry media.
Adrian Jaggard
Co-founder and CEO of two innovative
and fast-growing companies: AIIC Group
and Taylor Rose MW. AIIC Group provides
investment, strategic collaborations, and
a platform for growth to our enterprises,
while Taylor Rose MW is a top 60 smart,
modern law firm with offices across the
UK and Australia.
My educational background includes
completing a GDL, LPC, and a master’s in
law and business. My core competencies
include strategy development and
execution, risk management. I started
my career as a trainee costs draftsman,
co-founding Jaggards Legal Costs
Consultants with my brother, before
transitioning to Taylor Rose.
Dave Seager
With over 35 years in financial services,
Dave has spent the last 15 focused on and
specialising in the overlap between legal
services and financial planning.
Until 2021 he was the MD of SIFA
Professional, assisting quality financial
advisory firms forge mutually beneficial
and compliant partnerships with solicitors.
Dave still advises his former company but
proudly acts as a consultant for carefully
selected well qualified and respected
financial planning businesses, seeking
to develop client beneficial relationships
with law firms.
He was delighted to ask to work with
Robin Melley, one of the UK’s most
experienced and respected financial
planners and his award-winning Shropshire
based advisory firm, Matrix Capital.
Bronwyn Townsend
Bronwyn Townsend, Senior Marketing
Manager, InfoTrack
Bronwyn joined InfoTrack in 2016, shortly
after the business launched in the UK. She
has contributed to delivering key industry
projects including the Digital Conveyancing
Summit, Digital Conveyancing Maturity
Index, and a series of topical ebooks and
articles on the latest insights and trends in
digital conveyancing.
InfoTrack are pioneers in digitising legal
processes. They provide a powerful suite
of solutions across client onboarding,
identity verification, e-signature, and
conveyancing services. InfoTrack’s services
help to assure compliance, enhance
the client experience, and improve
productivity within law firms.
Neville Dinshaw
Neville Dinshaw is the managing director
of Law Mergers & Acquisitions. Having
joined the firm in 1995, Neville was made
partner in 1997 and managing director
in 2019. Under Neville’s leadership, the
business has grown and is now widely
recognised in England and Wales as the
‘go-to’ brokerage for law practice sales,
mergers, acquisitions and valuations.
Neville is passionate about helping law
firms in difficulty or just looking for a
different horizon. Neville feels proud
of the support he has provided to many
young professionals looking to start their
working journey in the legal industry.
Notably, Neville’s company has achieved
multiple awards for work in its sector and
is a respected player on the global stage.
Outside of work, Neville enjoys spending
time with his family, travelling when
work allows and learning about different
cultures. Neville is committed to charities
he supports and with the sponsorship of
education for children in need.
Alex Holt
Alex qualified as a Solicitor in 1993 and
became a partner at two top 100 law
firms before moving on to set up his own
Executive Search business specialising
in strategic resourcing and M&A for law
firms. Alex then went on to join a global IT
outsourcer called Steria where he created
and delivered their strategy for developing
a legal sector offering. In 2014 Alex joined
Cashroom to head up Business Development
and open Cashroom in England and Wales,
and then the USA in 2022, leading new
market and product exploration.
Martin Cheek
Martin Cheek is managing director of
SmartSearch, the UK’s leading provider
of digital compliance and anti-money
laundering (AML) software and solutions.
As well as one of the company’s cofounders,
Martin himself is a qualified
lawyer, holding a law degree and an MBA
in business from the Open University.
With his extensive regulatory knowledge
across the legal, financial services,
accountancy, and property sectors, as well as
other regulated industries, Martin has been
instrumental. His profound understanding
and strategic guidance have been essential
in helping law firms fortify their defences
against criminal networks seeking to exploit
firms for illicit financial activities.
From start-up to scale-up, SmartSearch
has grown from strength to strength, with
its digital compliance platform now trusted
by more than 6,500 clients and 60,000
users – including one-in-three of the UK’s
top 200 law firms.
As managing director, Martin works
closely with the board of directors and
SmartSearch’s team of almost 200 staff
to support the continued fight against
financial crime and growth of the business
across all regulated markets.
Kathliya Harwood
Kathliya Harwood is the Marketing
Manager for Philips Dictation UK; she
has 15+ years’ experience in marketing
and over 10 years’ experience working in
the software sector. Kathliya manages
and executes all marketing activities such
as digital and print advertising, content
creation, events management and PR for
Philips Dictation UK, Ireland, and South
Africa; she has worked for Philips Dictation
for nearly 2 years. Philips Dictation is
an international technology company
headquartered in Vienna, Austria and is a
global leader in dictation solutions. Their
solutions include web-based and desktop
workflow software as well as dictation
devices; to help automate document
creation for efficient working.
Dominic Hendry
Dominic Hendry, Head of Private Client at
Estate Research
Dominic heads up Estate Research’s
large Private Client team, all of whom
are focused on delivering top-class
genealogy services to solicitors. He has
worked within the probate research and
genealogy industry for the more than 15
years and has specialised in private client
genealogy for most of the last decade.
Since 2015, Dominic has travelled across
the UK & internationally speaking at legal
conferences and meeting with private
client practitioners to educate them on
avoiding risk in estate administration. He
is a qualified paralegal and a member of
the Professional Paralegal Register.
Mark Holt
With a solid background in mathematics
and accounting, Mark’s career in financial
services began in 1996, leading to his
role at Barclays Financial Management
in 1998 and the setting up of his own IFA
firm before joining Frenkel Topping in
2010. Mark’s mathematical acumen has
contributed to his rapid career progression
and his success as the Chief Operating
Officer of Frenkel Topping Group and
Frenkel Topping Ltd, heading up the
Litigation Support Team and as the
leading expert in periodical payments and
structured settlements within the industry.
Mark is a distinguished influencer and
educator in the Personal Injury arena,
known for his expertise in financial matters
related to large-claim cases. His work is
pivotal in cases where the personal injury
discount rate is instrumental in determining
settlement sizes. His collaboration with
premier chambers and stables across
England and Scotland is a testament to the
trust placed in his industry knowledge.
Mark’s understanding of the discount
rate’s impact, both from an industry-wide
and macro-economic angle, is augmented
by his role at Frenkel Topping, where
he witnesses firsthand the effects of
settlements on claimants with life-altering
injuries. Frenkel Topping’s reputation as
the authority on discount rate matters in
personal injury claims reflects the firm’s
unmatched depth of knowledge, bolstered
by Mark’s guidance.
20
21

EDITORIAL
BOARD
Enjoy a career without
limits, earning up to
75% of your billing.
Taylor Rose MW is a top 60 law firm with
over 30 offices nationwide and we are
seeking legal professionals that are keen to
work on a consultancy, fee sharing basis.
We are seeking likeminded individuals and
groups of Solicitors, FCILEx or Licensed
Conveyancers with 4 years PQE+ to join
our consultant programme.
We provide lawyers with a unique opportunity
to thrive as part of our consultant arrangement,
taking back control of their life and earnings in a
smart, modern and supportive environment.
You can choose to work from home, one of our
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“The consultancy
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head. This model of
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Mark Quinn,
Consultant Solicitor
Why choose us?
· Earn up to 75% of what you bill;
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To find out more, read our brochure or
arrange a confidential call, please email
consultantrecruitment@taylor-rose.co.uk
or visit our website
www.consultant-solicitor.co.uk
Pioneering Environmental
Concerns As A Top 60 Law Firm
In today’s rapidly evolving world,
evolutionary demands are placed on
our systems at an ever-increasing
rate. As we prioritise valuable
resources, we must give due
consideration to environmental and
ethical impact alongside conventional
benchmarks like risk and efficiency.
Firms are under increasing client pressure
to operate sustainably and ethically while
ensuring their continuity. The legal industry
can play a pivotal role in driving innovative
solutions that strike a balance between
critical aspects.
Basic aspirations such as a paperless
operation and reducing travel burden have
not been overlooked. Technology has
allowed us to streamline our operations
and enhance efficiency, not just for our
personnel but also for our clients by
developing portals that they are able to
access 24 hours, 365 days a year.
Steve Jobs once said, “Innovation
distinguishes between a leader and a
follower”. A quote that is especially
resonant when considering the
heightened focus on Environmental,
Social, and Governance (ESG) policy
that has made it so important for the
legal industry to innovate.
This is not just a trend – it is a fundamental
shift in how the legal industry operates and
is evaluated by clients and stakeholders.
In my role as the managing director of an
award-winning digital compliance platform,
I have seen firsthand how innovation
can drive ethical solutions. Automation,
for instance, can integrate with existing
processes to streamline customer
onboarding, improving client experience
while trimming operational costs. Such
platforms offer the capability to conduct
real-time checks against global sanctions
and watchlists, adding an extra layer of
due diligence.
Another way is by using AI to implement
automated and secure identity verification
to streamline our “Know Your Customer”
Fraud Detection, and User Onboarding
for home buyers online. The partnership
that we have created with Onfido has
had immediate results allowing clients to
onboard to the point of an open live file
in as little as 20 minutes, instead of having
to arrange an appointment for the clients
to come in for an ID check – therefore,
helping our carbon footprint by making
the process digital and easy access.
But it’s not just about efficiency - it’s about
responsibility. Anti-money laundering
(AML) and compliance solutions can be part
of a broader strategy that not only tackles
compliance but also drives innovation.
Digital compliance can help legal firms
conduct due diligence while onboarding
clients with the peace of mind that they
are not “sleep walking” in to supporting
damaging activities or unethical practices.
The role of innovation extends to the
development of new legal processes and
formalised agreements that take ESG factors
in to account. For example, smart contracts
can be programmed to execute only when
certain ethical and environmental criteria are
met, automating compliance and reducing
the risk of a breach.
Data analytics capabilities can provide
valuable insights into client behaviour
and market trends. These insights can
inform the development of new services
At Taylor Rose MW, we actively monitor
and publicly report on our carbon footprint
through our statutory accounts. By doing
this, we force ourselves to address the
challenge head on. As a result, we are
getting better and have executed many
environmental changes within the firm
to help reduce our carbon footprint. This
includes initiatives such as a firm-wide
paper light project, introduced followme
printing and recycling our old IT
equipment. This has resulted in reporting
reducing carbon footprint relative to our
turnover.
We hope that leading by example
reinforces credibility and authenticity when
advising clients on matters.
“Firms are under
increasing client pressure
to operate sustainably
and ethically while
ensuring their continuity.”
Adrian Jaggard,
CEO, Taylor Rose MW
Innovate Or Stagnate
To Lead In Legal Ethics
and solutions that not only meet the strict
requirements of the regulator, but also
address the broader ethical concerns.
Circling back to Steve Jobs’ insight,
innovation is indeed what distinguishes
leaders from followers. By integrating
advanced compliance solutions that meet
regulatory demands, legal firms can drive
innovation and support the development
of solutions that support a more
sustainable, and ethical, legal industry.
For more information please visit:
www.smartsearch.com
“This is not just a trend –
it is a fundamental shift
in how the legal industry
operates.”
Martin Cheek,
managing director, SmartSearch
23

EDITORIAL
BOARD
Paul Sams,
Partner, Dutton Gregory
Alex Holt
Director of Business
Development,
The Cashroom
HELLO
LIVERPOOL!
Having celebrated our Diamond Anniversary last year,
we are proud to be one of the fastest-growing law firms
in the South, and breaking new ground in the North.
Dutton Gregory Solicitors has
been providing award-winning
client services and career
opportunities in the legal
profession for over 75 years.
To find out more, visit
www.duttongregory.co.uk
WINCHESTER
CHANDLER’S FORD
BOURNEMOUTH
NEW
POOLE
LONDON
LIVERPOOL
Leading
By Example
“In recent months, I have started to wonder if the
main objection to environmentally friendly practices
isn’t, in fact, the solution - price. We all know that
clients want a five-star hotel service, but are only
prepared to pay the price of cardboard box under
a railway arch, but could this be used to help the
promotion and adoption of the green agenda? Can
we incentivise clients to adopt environmentally
friendly ways of working? Why not offer reduced fees
or discounts to clients who accept correspondence
electronically, (reducing paper) are happy to have
video meetings (reducing use of vehicles) or need
legal support on issues of employment, manufacturing
and transport that support a greener future?
Perhaps more importantly, law firms should lead by example
and start implementing sustainable practices within their own
operations. This can include reducing paper usage, implementing
recycling programs, and adopting energy-efficient technologies.
Only companies that can demonstrate their own commitment
to sustainability are in a position to encourage others. We could
include sustainability clauses in client contracts and agreements,
making it a requirement for those we represent to adhere to
certain environmental standards.
Once that is achieved, the next key element is education. Law
firms can organise workshops, webinars, or record videos to
showcase the benefits of adopting environmentally friendly
practices. They can also provide resources such as guides,
checklists, and case studies to help clients understand the
steps that can be taken to become more sustainable. We can
partner with environmental organizations to provide clients with
access to expertise and resources, helping clients understand
the environmental impact of their practices and identify
opportunities for improvement. I know I certainly benefited
from hearing the range of speakers at the Momentum and 360
Hub Liverpool Sustainability Conference I attend recently in
Liverpool City Centre.
By adopting these strategies, law firms can effectively
encourage their clients to adopt more environmentally friendly
practices. Through incentives, education and collaboration, law
firms can play a vital role in promoting sustainability and driving
positive change in the legal industry. I think it is increasingly
something that clients are paying attention to, so should be
seen as an investment in the future or else be left behind.”
How can the legal industry
contribute to the development
of innovative legal solutions
that address environmental and
ethical concerns while ensuring
business continuity?
There’s a constant balancing act for law firms as they
seek to address environmental and ethical concerns.
There is the challenge of providing the best possible service to
their clients. Clients’ demands have never been more exacting,
with speed of communication and cost efficiency paramount.
They must operate within strict regulatory guidelines and
regimes, both sector specific and wider regulations such as
GDPR and AML, which are part of an ever changing geopolitical
landscape - constantly tightening and evolving.
They are overwhelmed by technological advances- new practice
management systems, data storage, paperless functionality and
the ever increasing threats from cyber criminals. And don’t even
get me started on the lawyers’ concerns about the likely impact
of Artificial Intelligence!
They face huge challenges around staffing and recruitment,
exacerbated by the requirement for hybrid working from
particular generations, with the inherent challenges of creating
and maintaining a firm’s culture in those circumstances.
Taking all these elements into account, and more, how on earth
are they to address environmental and ethical concerns as well?
Well…as with many things they need to begin by considering
the steps they will have already, almost unknowingly, made.
Using any practice management system will have brought about
communication improvement and better processes generally
from which their staff and their clients will have benefitted. The
same tech enabled processes will almost certainly have enabled
digital document storage and archiving, and paperless (or paper
light) process adoption. Aside from being a cost saving move,
the environmental benefits across the legal sector are huge.
Many firms have now, as standard, inhouse CSR teams,
focusing on societal improvements they can be part of. When
recruiting Gen Y and Gen Z, a firm’s CSR approach will be a huge
attraction- there is a desire among those generations to get
involved with environmental and ethical issues, and some will be
actively attracted to the firms that have the best opportunities for
charity and environmental initiatives. These staff will in fact help
drive the forward thinking that might otherwise be challenging.
Law firms are not alone in facing these challenges, but from the
work I’ve done judging many awards over recent years, I can say
with certainty that these issues are deemed incredibly important
by a growing number of firms. Their willingness to embrace
this is in fact reaping benefits as they attract and retain better
staff and as a result look to the future with a renewed and more
steady confidence.
25

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EDITORIAL
BOARD
Socially Conscious Advice
That Delivers Results
The knowledge Hub – from Frenkel Topping Training academy
delivers FREE virtual and face-to-face training to our professional
clients - helping you stay up to speed and informed.
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Environmental, Social, and Governance
(ESG) or sustainability or ethical
investing – myriad terms for being a
socially conscious and ethical firm –
has been core to Frenkel Topping for
decades. Working in the personal
injury space, all of our clients are
‘vulnerable’ individuals, therefore our
ethics and values are paramount in our
work managing the financial futures
for people after life-changing events.
This commitment is deeply ingrained in
our investment philosophy, managed
by our Discretionary Fund Manager,
Ascencia, which employs both positive
and negative screening to identify
those companies that excel in ESG
practices, and those that fall short.
Adhering to these core principles offers
tangible benefits to clients, especially
those who are environmentally and
socially conscious.
It’s fair to say we have been at the forefront
of ethical investment – we pioneered one
of the UK’s only true Shariah-compliant
portfolios – and we have proven that safety
and performance can go together – a
sentiment encapsulated in the VT Freedom
Defensive Fund which recently ranked #1
out of 64 in the IA 0-35% shares category,
a testament to the team’s unwavering
commitment to safeguarding the interests
of vulnerable clients, particularly in
turbulent market scenarios.
But our commitment to ESG extends
beyond our investment portfolios. It is in
the fabric of our business, in the services
and products we create, in our behaviours
and practices, our training and talent
development plans and in our charitable
work. In 2015 we created the Frenkel
Topping Charitable Foundation to meet our
duty not only to clients who have a claim
but also to those who don’t.
We are not merely creating robust financial
futures; we are also building a legacy
of trust, excellence, and unwavering
commitment to clients’ financial wellbeing.
We’re proof that financial acumen and
ethical considerations can not only coexist
but can deliver strong returns and have a
positive impact on society.
“Our commitment to
ESG extends beyond our
investment portfolios.”
Mark Holt,
COO, Frenkel Topping
What Are The Potential Implications
Of Greenwashing And How Can The
Legal Industry Combat This Practice
In today’s era of heightened
environmental awareness,
organisations are under increased
scrutiny for their environmental
claims. While many genuinely strive
to reduce their environmental
footprint, a concerning practice
known as greenwashing has emerged.
Greenwashing involves the deceptive
exaggeration or falsification of a
company’s environmental efforts to
make it appear more environmentally
conscious than it truly is. This unethical
practice not only misleads consumers
and investors but also undermines
legitimate sustainability initiatives.
Greenwashing takes various forms, including
vague or unsubstantiated claims of being
“green” or “eco-friendly,” the use of
misleading labels and logos, and selective
reporting of sustainability achievements. It
erodes trust in corporate responsibility and
can lead to financial and reputational harm
for businesses and investors alike. However,
the legal industry can play a pivotal role
in ensuring that companies uphold their
environmental responsibilities.
Lawyers can encourage companies to adopt
transparent reporting practices, including
third-party verification of environmental
claims. Ensuring that sustainability reports
adhere to recognised standards, such as
the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) or the
Task Force on Climate-related Financial
Disclosures (TCFD). The legal sector
can also play a pivotal role in consumer
education. By collaborating with consumer
advocacy groups, they can educate the
public about common greenwashing
tactics and empower individuals to make
informed choices that act as a deterrent to
greenwashing.
Corporate responsibility audits are another
valuable approach. Lawyers can collaborate
with companies to conduct comprehensive
audits of their sustainability practices,
ensuring alignment with their public claims.
This process can help identify and rectify
any discrepancies between a company’s
actions and its environmental messaging.
Closer to home, lawyers can champion
sustainable practices within their own
firms and among their corporate clients.
Encouraging ethical behaviour and
responsible environmental stewardship can
help prevent greenwashing from within
and promote genuine sustainability.
Through collective effort and a
commitment to genuine sustainability, we
can all contribute to a more transparent
and accountable business environment
that benefits both the planet and its
inhabitants.
Neville Dinshaw,
Managing Director, Law Mergers
& Acquisitions
27

EDITORIAL
BOARD
Kathliya Harwood,
Marketing Manager, Speech
Processing Solutions
Leveraging
Technology To
Minimise Your Digital
Carbon Footprint?
Many traditional firms can be resistant to change,
especially when it comes to the adoption of new
technology and digital transformation, however these
businesses now compete on a battlefield shaped by
time efficiency and a growing requirement to minimise
carbon footprint.
To ensure long-term survival and growth a firm must embrace
transformation through technology; this enables them to spend
less time on admin and more time serving and developing clients.
One cost effective way to reduce administrative tasks and reduce
a firm’s carbon footprint is to digitalise document creation.
Digitisation has done wonders to help professionals do more
with less. Advanced speech-to-text technology is one of
the best examples of how innovation can meet the specific
and unique needs of attorneys, as well as being good for
the planet. In an industry that is by nature complex and
detail-oriented, and that’s marked by intensive collaboration
and documentation, it’s not hard to see how speech-to-text
solutions can have significant positive impacts.
For attorneys, voice technology enables collaboration with team
members, efficient and uninterrupted workstreams, and easy
reviews and approvals from leadership, etc. The next generation
of legal leaders, who are digital natives, take advantage of
working from their smartphones, using speech-to-text to send
quick notes, or using voice applications as a backup to get work
done outside the normal scope of support staff responsibilities
or working hours (such as completing billing, communicating
with clients, or recording reminders).
For transcriptionists, legal assistants, documentation specialists,
and other support staff, voice tech can accelerate timeconsuming
tasks as well. For example, audio files routed
through speech-to-text applications can generate draft
documents, which can then be shared, reviewed, and edited
as needed. Legal assistants can then cross-check and refine
documentation, preparing it for sharing with clients.
Additionally, with the advances in voice technology, professional
speech recognition software is highly accurate, with up to 99%
recognition rate, so there is hardly any need for document
correction. While technology can’t add hours to the day, the
right solution can help maximise those hours and reduce a
firm’s carbon footprint in the process.
Dave Seager,
Consulting Adviser,
Matrix Capital
Is Your Supply Chain
Ethically Compatible?
‘A supply chain is a network of companies and people
that are involved in the production and delivery of a
product or service.’
If you accept that the legal services and advice you offer a
client, is frequently part of a wider sphere of professional
advice required, then choosing who you work with is hugely
significant. If you need to refer your client to a fellow
professional for complementary needs, then that separate firm
should be compatible with your own ethics and standards.
When seeking to always ‘act in the client’s best interests,’ how
can it be otherwise?
The financial planning partners you select become part of your
supply chain, and the advice they give your referred clients reflects
on you. This is undoubtedly why solicitors have been cautious
about making positive referrals, for fear of negative feedback, but
choosing the right partner, having done rigorous due diligence will
assuredly have the entirely opposite positive impact.
One of the factors that put lawyers off making referrals for
complementary financial advice in the past was of course,
remuneration by commission. Whilst commission for retail
investments was banned a decade ago, there may be a
suspicion that an advice charge, whilst openly declared to a
client but taken from the initial investment, is just commission
in disguise.
Certainly, there are still financial advisory firms who will set their
advice charge as a percentage of the investment, which can
lead to a far higher charge for larger amounts, when the time
spent, and advice given is the same whether the investment
is £100,000 or £1 million. Percentage or ad valorem fees also
introduce unnecessary cross-subsidy and conflict of interest.
However, there are a growing number of professional financial
planning firms, Matrix Capital included, that only charge fixed
or hourly rate fees for regulated advice that recognise the
fiduciary relationship with their client.
In the 2023 Legal Services Consumer Panel tracker survey,
55% of the legal services customers surveyed had their final
legal bill calculated on a fixed fee basis. With this, alongside
the traditional hourly rate, becoming the norm, it would make
perfect sense to seek financial planning partners who charge
on a similar basis. The charge to your referred client should
represent fair value for the experience, expertise, time, and
complexity involved in the advice, and NOT by the amount of
money to be invested.
Therefore, when conducting due diligence on financial planning
third parties, ensure that understanding their fee structure is a
key criterion.
29

Power of Together Survey
New survey seeks to assess post COVID cultural and employee
communication challenges in UK legal firms
A new survey is launched this week by digital
consultants Pancentric Digital and HUB, their
leading intranet solution. It seeks to understand the
cultural and employee communication challenges
faced by UK Law Firms post COVID. The survey is
supported by Modern Law Magazine.
As the dust settles on hybrid working policies, global
evidence is emerging of cultural and job motivation
challenges across all types of businesses.
According to research firm Qualtrics, job motivation
jumped 10% during COVID but has since fallen to
below pre-COVID levels.
This new survey - called the Power of Together survey
- seeks to understand the state of play in the UK legal
sector specifically. It asks UK Legal Firms about their
current policies on work from home, what impact post-
COVID working policies are having on culture, team
connection and individuals; and what impact is being
felt on productivity and operations. Are their concerns?
Are firms adopting new approaches to their internal
comms? What are the priorities going forward?
Modern Law Magazine encourages leaders and
managers across the legal sector to participate in the
survey. The widest possible set of views is welcomed.
The survey can be completed online by following this link:
www.pancentric.com/the-power-of-together-survey
and only takes a few minutes. Modern Law Magazine
will publish the results later this year. A free copy
of the full findings is available to all those that
participate
Pancentric Digital is committed to climate action and
sustainable workplaces, so has partnered with the
reforestation charity One Tree Planted to plant a tree
for every survey response received.
Plus, one lucky recipient will receive a yearly Flourishy
subscription worth £160, to help transform their
garden into a diverse haven for bees and wildlife.
For more information visit:
The Power of Together Survey | Pancentric Digital
Simon Fenn, Director, Pancentric Digital
Businesses are facing increasing
pressure to minimise their
environmental impact, and the
legal industry is no different.
But navigating a path towards a
reduced carbon footprint shouldn’t
be a challenge.
One part of the solution is going
paperless. A concept that some firms
have enthusiastically embraced, others
have only dipped their toes in. The thing
is, going paperless creates so many more
advantages that go beyond reducing your
carbon footprint. It improves accessibility
and drives productivity for firms – a winner
all round.
Law firms have traditionally used a lot
of paper. Files fill cabinets and in-trays,
documents are posted, and even scanned
copies are stored away. A digitised
conveyancing process is helping firms to
almost, if not completely, remove paper
from the process.
EDITORIAL
BOARD
Digital Onboarding:
Better For Productivity,
Accessibility, And The Environment
Let’s look at the benefits firms can access
by taking their client onboarding process
paperless.
1. A reduced carbon footprint
Client onboarding has been a typically
paper-heavy process, with client care packs
and forms being printed, posted, returned,
and scanned in. It’s time consuming and
uses a lot of resource, from reems of paper
to the emissions created during the postal
process. But firms using digital onboarding
are ditching paper and drawn-out
onboarding timeframes in favour of more
environmentally friendly solutions.
2. Improved accessibility
Digital onboarding means clients can
provide crucial information any time, from
anywhere. Whether it’s in another county
or another country, digital ID checks,
source of funds checks, and electronic
signatures are all more accessible and more
secure online.
3. Increased productivity
Digital onboarding eliminates a lot of
unnecessary admin. Printing, posting,
scanning, and assigning those scanned
files – it’s all time that could be better
spent on more impactful tasks. Digitising
the process lets technology take care of
those bits so you have more time to focus
on the things only experienced teams
can do. Ultimately, you’ll see increased
productivity among your teams by cutting
out paper.
Going paperless is not only going to
improve the green credentials of your firm,
but also have a lasting impact on your
business and client relationships too.
“One part of the solution
is going paperless.”
Bronwyn Townsend,
Senior Marketing Manager, InfoTrack
Debate and discuss the Law
Commission’s law of wills reform
proposals in Manchester this month
Later this month, Estate Research are
delighted to be supporting an event
debating the biggest reform proposals
in the law of wills since 1837!
On the afternoon of 23rd November,
Law Commissioner Professor Nick
Hopkins will be joined by a panel of
Private Client experts, to discuss the Law
Commission’s wills project and its proposed
supplementary consultation paper covering
the topics of predatory marriage and
digital wills.
Will disputes and the increasing
challenges of mental capacity issues are
undoubtedly having a significant impact
on the landscape of wills. This event
will offer delegates the opportunity to
debate whether it is time for the law to
be modernised as the landscape shifts as
well as influence the evolution of Wills &
Probate legislation for future generations.
Taking place in the heart of Manchester
at John Rylands Rooftop terrace in
Manchester Hall, the afternoon will offer
real discussion and debate around these
topics - with panel sessions and the
inclusion of delegate questions throughout.
Estate Research are honoured to be
working alongside the Law Commission,
STEP, Nicholson Jones Sutton Solicitors
and Rothley Law in hosting this event. We
look forward to welcoming 200 delegates
to an event that has the rare yet real
potential to shape fundamental wills
legislation.
Speakers include:
• Professor Nicholas Hopkins, Commissioner
for Property, Family and Trust Law, Law
Commission of England and Wales
• Stephen Lawson TEP, Head Of
Contentious Probate at Nicholson
Jones Sutton
• Professor Robin Jacoby, Emeritus
Professor-Old Age Psychiatry,
University of Oxford
• Helen Forster TEP, Director,
HTF Legal Limited
• Andrew Bishop, Partner, Rothley Law
• Julie Bell, Consultant, Read Roper and
Read Solicitors
• Dominic Hendry, Head of Private Client,
Estate Research
• Elis Gomer, Barrister, 5 Stone Buildings
• Sarah Harrison, Barrister, Parklane
Plowden Chambers
This event is not to be missed and is
completely free to attend! Places are
limited and early registration via the STEP
website is advised to avoid disappointment
at: www.stepevents.org/event/cf388d71-
ded9-4071-9a4a-c95cedb1e0ba/summary
Dominic Hendry,
Head of Private Client, Estate Research
31

AWARDS
AWARDS
A Spectacular Night
At The Circus:
The conveyancing community
came alive under the enchanting
spell of the circus as the LEAP
Modern Law Conveyancing Awards
2023 unfolded with a theme
inspired by the magical worlds of
Cirque Du Soleil and The Greatest
Showman. It was a night of
celebrating the outstanding talent
within the conveyancing sector, the
achievements of individuals, firms,
and businesses, and the progress
made that makes conveyancing an
exciting and successful sector.
Attendees were treated to a night of wonder and
awe at The Rum Warehouse in Liverpool, with an
elephant, a charismatic ringmaster, and a troupe
of circus performers creating an outstanding
atmosphere that matched the outstanding talent
and excellence in the room.
The venue was transformed into a mesmerising circus
extravaganza, complete with umbrellas hung from
the ceiling, and twinkling lights. As guests entered
the venue, they were greeted by the sight of a lifesized
animatronic elephant, a nod to the grandeur
and mystique of the circus.
Our evening began with the champagne reception
sponsored by the brilliant Natalie Moore. A bell
hung from a garden wall that when rung a glass of
champagne would appear through the leaves. A living
statue resided in the centre of the room surprising
passers by with a sudden jolt.
As guests entered The Rum Warehouse, they
were greeted by a charismatic ring master and
his elephant dancing to the anthems from The
Greatest Showman. Upon the tables were top
hats, clown noses, masks, and ring master coats,
and of course our fan favourite recovery kits
sponsored by Search Acumen. Inside there was
everything from a morning coffee to a rubber duck
for your recovery bath.
The heart of the event was the awards ceremony,
where legal professionals from across the
conveyancing industry gathered to celebrate
outstanding achievements and innovation. The night
unfolded with all the drama and flair one would
expect from a circus-themed event. Our host, the
wonderful Jen Brister, guided the audience through
the evening, introducing each award category and
winner. With every winner came a roar of celebration
and excitement.
Throughout the evening, circus performers dazzled
the audience with breathtaking acts. Acrobats soared
through the air, and jugglers skilfully tossed their
props in the air. It was a visual feast that added a layer
of entertainment to the awards ceremony, making it
a night to remember.
One of the highlights of the evening was the
inclusion of tarot and crystal reading, adding an
element of mystique to the festivities. Attendees
had the opportunity to sit down with Modern Law’s
very own psychic, Tracie, offering a unique and
interactive experience that added an extra layer of
intrigue to the event.
As the night unfolded, awards were presented to
exceptional individuals and firms who demonstrated
excellence and innovation in the conveyancing field.
Congratulations are in order for the winners who not
only excelled in their respective categories but also
contributed to raising the standards of the industry.
32
33

AWARDS
AWARDS
LEAP Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2023 LEAP Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2023
The Highly Commended recipients also deserve
recognition for their outstanding achievements and
dedication to pushing the boundaries of what is
possible in conveyancing.
To all the nominees, whether victorious or not,
your presence alone signifies your commitment
to excellence. The competition was undoubtedly
fierce, and the fact that you were nominated speaks
volumes about the quality and impact of your work.
The LEAP Modern Law Conveyancing Awards are a
testament to the collective dedication of the entire
conveyancing community, and each nominee played
a vital role in making the event a true celebration of
industry achievements.
A heartfelt thank you is due to the distinguished panel
of judges who devoted their time and expertise to
carefully evaluate each submission. Their commitment
to maintaining the integrity of the awards and ensuring
that only the most deserving individuals and firms were
recognised is commendable. A Special thanks to our chair
judge, Jeremy Raj, for all his hard work, and his excellent
presenting skills for the Life Time Achievement Award.
The success of the LEAP Modern Law Conveyancing
Awards would not have been possible without
the generous support of the sponsors. These
organisations, driven by a commitment to excellence
and innovation, have played a crucial role in making
the event a resounding success.
Their contributions not only underscore their
dedication to the conveyancing industry but also
highlight the importance of collaboration in driving
positive change. Another special thanks to our
headline sponsors, LEAP. We absolutely love working
with you and the continued support you show us.
As the awards ceremony drew to a close, the
atmosphere shifted from formal recognition to
unbridled celebration at our after party sponsored
by Dye and Durham. The dance floor became the
epicentre of joy and camaraderie. Colleagues,
competitors, and friends joined together, celebrating
not only the night’s winners but also the collective
achievements of the conveyancing community.
The LEAP Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2023
was a spectacular blend of legal outstanding
achievements and circus-inspired entertainment.
Congratulations to the winners, those who received
Highly Commended, and all the nominees who
continue to shape the future of conveyancing. A
sincere thank you to the judges and sponsors for
their invaluable contributions, and here’s to another
year of pushing boundaries and achieving new
heights in the world of conveyancing.
See you all next year!
34
35

AWARDS
AWARDS
LEAP Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2023
LEAP Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2023
36
37

AWARDS
AWARDS
MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR INTERVIEW
Mike Leeman
Managing Director,
Bell Lamb & Joynson
What does this win mean to you and
your firm?
“The accolades are a reflection of the team, and
not me personally. I am really passionate about the
team succeeding both collectively and individually.
Everyone in the team each plays their part in our
success as a firm, and I can’t do what I do without
all the brilliant and talented individuals around me
from the cleaner to the other managing partners.
We are constantly striving to be better and winning
Managing Partner of the Year shows me that
everyone at Bell Lamb & Joynson, from the top down,
are doing something right. This award is for all of us,
it’s not about me.”
What is your ethos as managing partner?
“It’s all about the team. We don’t have a hierarchy
as such, we believe we are all equally important, and
no role is less valued than another. We support each
other at all times. All I do is surround myself with
people who are better than me. We work hard to
create that culture so we can collaborate, have fun,
and thrive. Ultimately, it’s about doing the right thing,
whether that be for colleagues, clients, or suppliers,
always treat people with respect and do what you
can for them. So, that’s my ethos really. I’m a people
person, I love supporting and helping people. At the
very least, lead with empathy.”
What advice would you give to other
managing partners?
“A general piece of advice would be to lead with
compassion. Have a vision and get everyone to
buy into it. Make sure it is crystal clear what your
objectives are, what you are trying to achieve and
how you are trying to achieve it. As a consequence,
if you get everyone onboard with that transparency
people will all pull in the same direction. It’s all about
compassionate leadership and getting people to buy
into what you are doing and why.”
This award was sponsored by the
wonderful Groundsure, what does their
support, and other companies support,
mean to the industry?
“The industry is full of really good people. It is full
of great suppliers, great firms, and great businesses
all driving innovations and finding ways to support
the industry. Groundsure are the epitome of that.
We have a great relationship with Groundsure, they
support us, and nothing is too much trouble for
them. They go out of their way to help, and I feel they
are in line with my ethos with their helping attitude
and can-do attitude. Groundsure collaborate so well
across the industry and are really great at building
relationships in what is a competitive industry.”
What was your favourite moment from
the evening?
“I wish I could remember it! There is not one bit I
could pinpoint as my favourite. The moment you
walk through the doors at the LEAP Modern Law
Conveyancing Awards it is just fun. From the first
second right through to, normally for me, three,
four, five o’clock in the morning. It’s a night full of
fun, good people, good times, and good things. I
would like to remember what it was like to win the
Managing Partner of the Year award because I haven’t
got a clue as I was in shock. It was nice to be told that
there was lots of people in the room who had a nice
reaction to the win. It was brilliant from the get-go.”
“We have been involved with the MLCA
for a number of years as the event is one
of the highlights of the year. The Awards
recognise the hard work and dedication of
Conveyancers across the country. Sponsoring
the outstanding commitment to training
award is particularly important to us as
it means we can support firms that align
with our own company values of creating
innovative training and development
programmes, together with commitment to
support and develop their departments and
individuals within the firms.”
“The awards this year were bigger and better
than ever; specifically, they were very vibrant
and entertaining. It was great to see so many
industry colleagues together in one room and
to have that opportunity to network with
everyone; especially since the atmosphere was
so jovial due to the theme of the evening.”
Kelly McDonnell, National Sales Manager, CLS
“We have worked with Modern Law for many
years and see the MLCA event as one of the
best in the conveyancing calendar, so we were
thrilled to sponsor the Client Care category
at this year's event because we recognise
the pivotal role that exceptional customer
service plays in the conveyancing industry. By
supporting this category, we aim to celebrate
and promote excellence in customer care and
celebrate those who go above and beyond to
ensure a positive and seamless experience for
their clients during what can be a stressful
time for some. Our commitment to this
sponsorship reflects our dedication to fostering
a culture of client-centricity and promoting
best practices within the legal community.”
“The event this year was the most
extravagant we have seen yet. With full size
animals and The Greatest Showman theme,
it really was a spectacle to watch. Great
night had by all!”
Michael Connelly, Commercial Director, Legal Bricks
(An Access Group Company)
“The Modern Law Conveyancing Awards is
a great time for the industry to get together
and celebrate the great achievements of
companies and individuals alike. We at
SearchFlow love being part of this night and
sponsoring Rising Star of the Year, it’s really
important for us to support and empower
those in the conveyancing industry and this
is a great event for us to be a part of.”
“The theme of the evening was amazing, we
were incredibly proud to have won search
provider of the year, testament to the team’s
hard work over the last year and we did love
the live prosecco wall!”
Sammi King, Senior Marketing Executive, Searchflow
38
39

AWARDS
AWARDS
LEAP Modern Law Conveyancing Awards Results
LEAP Modern Law Conveyancing Awards Results
Conveyancing Firm of the Year –
North of England
Sponsored by Perfect Portal
JOINT HIGHLY COMMENDED - Farnworth Rose
Solicitors AND Stephensons Solicitors LLP
WINNER – Birchall Blackburn Law
Conveyancing Firm of the Year –
Midlands
Sponsored by Dev Assist Ltd
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Tinsdills Solicitors
WINNER – Landsmiths Solicitors
Conveyancing Firm of the Year –
South of England
Sponsored by DUAL Corporate Risks Ltd
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Thomas Legal
WINNER – Stephen Rimmer LLP
Conveyancing Firm of the Year – Wales
Sponsored by InfoTrack
HIGHLY COMMENDED - RJM Solicitors
WINNER – Colin Jones Clarke & Hartland Solicitors
National Conveyancing Firm of the Year
Sponsored by Landmark Information Group Ltd
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Movera
WINNER – Stephensons Solicitors LLP
Residential Property Team of the Year
Sponsored by The Cashroom
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors
WINNER – Dutton Gregory Solicitors
Commercial Property Team of the Year
Sponsored by TM Group (UK) Ltd
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Stephensons Solicitors LLP
WINNER – Lightfoots Solicitors
Search Provider of the Year
Sponsored by LMS Ltd
HIGHLY COMMENDED - InfoTrack
WINNER – SearchFlow
Innovation of the Year
Sponsored by Redbrick Solutions
HIGHLY COMMENDED - InfoTrack
WINNER – Groundsure
Rising Star of the Year
Sponsored by SearchFlow
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Laura Holmes -
Grindeys Conveyancing
WINNER – Alicia Hunter - Landsmiths Solicitors
Service Provider of the Year
Sponsored by Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited
HIGHLY COMMENDED - InfoTrack
WINNER – ntitle LTD
Client Care Award
Sponsored by Access Legal Group
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Landsmiths Solicitors
WINNER – GA Solicitors
Best Use of Technology
Sponsored by Armalytix
HIGHLY COMMENDED - MJP Conveyancing
WINNER – The Partnership
Outstanding Commitment to Training
Sponsored by CLS Property Insight Limited
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Movera
WINNER – Aconveyancing
Mental Health & Wellbeing Award
Sponsored by InCase
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Consortium More
than Marketing
WINNER – Aconveyancing
Conveyancer of the Year
Sponsored by PEXA
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Rachael McClean -
Bell Lamb and Joynson Solicitors
WINNER – Rebecca Fletcher - Stephensons Solicitors LLP
Managing Partner of the Year
Sponsored by Groundsure
JOINT HIGHLY COMMENDED - Paul Dunlop - Blanchards
Bailey LLP AND Stuart Forsdike - PCS Legal
WINNER – Mike Leeman - Bell Lamb and Joynson Solicitors
Business Development
Professional of the Year
Sponsored by TwentyCi Limited / TwentyConvey
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Lara Squires -
Consortium More than Marketing
WINNER – Rebecca Kelly - Taylor Rose MW
Giving It Back Award
Sponsored by Quill
HIGHLY COMMENDED - MSB Solicitors
WINNER – Birchall Blackburn Law
Best Workplace Award
Sponsored by Ochresoft Technologies
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Bell Lamb &
Joynson Solicitors
WINNER – GA Solicitors
Outstanding Employee of the Year
Sponsored by Legal Eye Limited
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Rebecca Fletcher -
Stephensons Solicitors LLP
WINNER – Kelly Barraclough - Symes Bains
Broomer Solicitors
Outstanding Achievement of the Year
Sponsored by Dye & Durham
WINNER – Amy Bell, Teal Compliance
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by LEAP
WINNER – Kate Faulkner OBE
Kindly sponsored by
40
41

AWARDS
AWARDS
HEADLINE SPONSOR INTERVIEW - LEAP
Conveyancing made easy
LEAP’s cloud-based practice management software simplifies the
conveyancing process by providing everything you need to complete a
transaction including:
— Fully integrated searching
— Sophisticated completion statements
— A library of automated property forms
Find out more at leap.co.uk/conveyancing
Nicky Barker
Marketing Manager,
LEAP UK Group
How has LEAP’s innovative approach
to legal technology contributed to the
evolution of conveyancing practices, and
what specific features or solutions do
you believe set LEAP apart in the legal
software market?
Producing highly innovative and powerful cloud
software, LEAP supports conveyancing professionals
by streamlining their day-to-day tasks. LEAP
provides all the features, functionality and
integrations required to complete a conveyancing
transaction digitally and drives efficiency throughout
the conveyancing process. It’s this continual
development of our software over time, that sets
LEAP apart in the legal software market.
As the headline sponsor of the Modern
Law Conveyancing Awards 2023, what
role do you see LEAP playing in shaping
the future of the conveyancing industry,
and how does the company envision
supporting and recognising excellence
within the legal community?
LEAP aims to be at the forefront of technology in
the conveyancing industry through its continual
innovation and ongoing enhancements.
LEAP supports and recognises excellence in
conveyancing through customer feedback,
developing highly innovative solutions and new
enhancements to help conveyancing professionals
remain successful in what is a highly competitive
market. Also, via the LEAP Best Practice Standard
in conveyancing LEAP delivers a recognised
accreditation to our customers promoting the use
of technology to achieve conveyancing excellence.
In an ever-changing legal landscape,
how does LEAP stay ahead of emerging
trends and technological advancements
to ensure its software remains cuttingedge
and continues to meet the evolving
needs of legal professionals in the
conveyancing sector?
LEAP reinvests more than £13million a year in to
research and development of the product to deliver
the latest technology enhancements and provide the
best practice management software in the world.
LEAP is committed to the ongoing development of
the solution so that it not only meets, but exceeds
the ever evolving needs of legal professionals who
work in conveyancing.
The Modern Law Conveyancing Awards
celebrate achievements and innovation
in the field. Can you share some success
stories or notable examples where
LEAP’s technology has made a significant
impact on law firms’ efficiency, client
service, or overall success in the realm of
conveyancing?
LEAP has revolutionised the way that Bell, Lamb
and Joynson Solicitors manage their conveyancing
matters. Since implementing LEAP they have seen a
55% increase in turnover, increased numbers of staff,
reduced postage costs by 53% and stationery by
47%, and an overall reduction in costs on equipment
and maintenance.
LEAP are pleased to announce that we are sponsoring
the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2024!
42
43

LEGAL
TECH TALK
Hi everyone and welcome to Modern Law Magazine’s 2nd
LegalTechTalk section, with a special focus on ESG.
I’d like to kick things off with a short explanation of what LegalTechTalk aims to provide
the legal industry, as you see, the name can be a little deceiving…
LegalTechTalk stands for transformation of the legal profession, and whilst tech will play a
crucial role in transforming the industry, we will be exploring ALL areas of transformation
and tech is just a small part of this. We will be covering all areas of transformation within this
section of the magazine over time - including people, processes, culture, data & analytics,
regulatory compliance, change management, access to justice and much much more…
In this issue, I’m lucky enough to be joined by the leading ESG experts from Europe and
USA. We talk about how the role of GCs have evolved, how they are uniquely positioned to
drive transformation in this area and overcoming the challenges in-house counsel are facing.
Key takeaways for General Counsel leaders:
• In-house lawyers are uniquely positioned to drive ESG initiatives within corporate
organizations due to their strategic role in senior leadership, their ability to bridge silos,
and their capacity to turn intentions into actions.
• To implement ESG changes effectively, lawyers should address
challenges related to time and capabilities. They can allocate time
for ESG, build their ESG expertise, and start with achievable,
specific actions.
• General Counsels play a crucial role in ESG initiatives,
from ensuring compliance with regulations to managing
supply chain contracts and avoiding “greenwashing.”
Please read ahead to receive key insights
from Jane Pittaway and Christine Uri on the
same topic of General Counsel
ESG transformation
Bradley Collins
45

LEGAL
TECH TALK
Interview with Jane Pittaway
Executive Chair - General Counsel Sustainability Leaders
LEGAL
TECH TALK
Interview with Christine Uri
ESG for In-house Counsel
Bradley: Hi Jane, how has the legal
role evolved when it comes to ESG?
Jane Pittaway: C-suites are
increasingly deciding that their
legal departments are either
partially or fully responsible for ESG
(Environmental Social & Governance)
compliance and governance. This
has led to law firms setting up service
lines and groups to support their
clients.
Governments worldwide are also
issuing more and more regulation
in response to increasingly complex
global issues such as the climate and
ecological emergency.
Just as ESG itself has evolved over
the years, so the role of lawyers
has evolved and developed both
generally and specifically in relation
to ESG. It wasn’t so long ago that
lawyers were “just lawyers” but over
time they have evolved into trusted
business advisors and strategic
leaders working within multinational
corporates and law firms in an
increasingly global and complex
landscape.
The Law Society has recognised
this by issuing its excellent climate
guidance for solicitors which has
clearly signposted the direction of
travel for how the role of lawyers
will continue to evolve in this area,
particularly around climate.
“You are all climate lawyers now,
whether you want to be or not” was
the powerful message from John
Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy
for Climate in his speech to the annual
conference of the US equivalent of
the Law Society, the ABA.
Bradley: It’s interesting to see
how lawyers’ roles have evolved
when it comes to ESG. Given this
transformation, can you elaborate
on why in-house lawyers are
particularly crucial in driving
ESG initiatives within corporate
organisations
Jane: GCs and their teams operate
at the intersection of business and
law. General Counsel and Chief Legal
Officers are more than lawyers – they
are key strategic members of the
senior leadership team. They have
a helicopter view of their business.
They are great at working across silos
and horizon scanning. GCs and CLOs
are perfectly placed to take ESG
leadership by using their role and
their obligation to be professionally
curious. To ask the “what if”
questions and go from there.
In short, they are uniquely placed
to ensure that the good intentions
and word of their organisations are
turned into action.
Even when considering risk,
it is not all about zooming in
and implementing detailed risk
management procedures. It is
equally important to zoom out and
look at the overall enterprise risk –
joining the dots and bridging silos.
It is important to remember it is not
all about managing risk – for any
company it Is also a risk to not spot
rising opportunities and getting left
behind. Identifying vulnerabilities
needs a focus on reward as well as
risk. Just think Blockbuster vs Netflix.
Inhouse teams, led by their GCs, are
crucial to the processes of managing
risks, identifying vulnerabilities,
bridging silos and joining dots.
Bradey: Thanks for the eye-opening
insights Jane. Given the unique
position of General Counsel, what
do you see as the most significant
challenge they face when trying to
implement these changes, and do
you have any suggestions on how
they can effectively overcome these
challenges?
Jane: We have seen many lawyers
gain considerable value from leaning
into ESG issues, and they do this by
dealing with the two big challenges:
time and capabilities.
All lawyers feel lack of time is one
of the biggest challenges. There
are various different ways to
address that issue from building
time into your diary weekly to
focus on ESG, to outsourcing
other work to focus on this area, to
putting together a business case
for more ESG-focused resource.
Lawyers also need to build their
capabilities and they need to do
so quickly. Possibly the biggest
challenge is simply taking that
first step.
If any lawyer wanted to start this
week, I’d say don’t do everything at
once – pick say a couple of actions
to start with and focus on them. The
key thing is to choose something
which is additional to what you
already doing and ambitious for you
but not a massive leap (or you might
find it too overwhelming).
It should be specific, and you should
give yourself a deadline for achieving
it. Also ensure you’ve worked the
intermediate steps in furtherance of
your goal to help create and build
momentum.
Many lawyers in private practice and
inhouse are building value via ESG:
you can join them.
Start from where you are today and
build from there.
Bradley: Hi Christine, how has
the legal role evolved with respect
to ESG?
Christine: It is an area that is rapidly
changing. Traditionally, in-house
counsel has not been heavily involved
in the environmental aspects of an
organisation. These matters were
typically handled by sustainability
experts, facilities personnel, or other
individuals within the organisation.
However, there is a growing body
of regulations coming into effect,
such as the Corporate Sustainability
Reporting Directive (CSRD) in
Europe. Additionally, there is an
increase in ESG-related litigation,
particularly greenwashing litigation.
The UK is a hotbed for such litigation,
as evidenced by the recent cases
against Shell Oil. As ESG becomes a
more prominent legal topic, general
counsel are being forced to get
involved, whether they want to or not.
In short, the legal role in ESG has
evolved from a back-office support
function to a front-line advisory
role. General counsels are now
responsible for ensuring that their
organisations are compliant with
ESG regulations and that they
are not exposed to ESG-related
litigation. This requires a deep
understanding of ESG issues, as well
as the ability to advise on how to
mitigate ESG risks.
Bradley: Could you elaborate
on the key role general counsel
play in driving ESG initiatives for
corporates, and what specific
responsibilities they should
undertake in this area.
Christine: Absolutely, the role
of in-house lawyers and general
counsel in ESG initiatives is pretty
significant. It can vary depending on
their leadership style. Some general
counsel, either because they’re really
into ESG or due to their organization’s
structure, take ESG and sustainability
under their wing. Around 15% of
general counsel do this, according
to a study by Corporate Council
and Morrison Forster. For example,
when I was the Chief Legal and
Sustainability Officer, I did both legal
and sustainability work.
In this setup, general counsel
needs to have a strong team of
sustainability experts to make
it work. But the more common
approach is to collaborate with
departments leading sustainability
and ESG efforts, which could be
in finance, strategy, or elsewhere.
Regardless of where it falls, general
counsel makes sure legal aspects
align with ESG goals.
They deal with various legal aspects
of ESG, like keeping an eye on new
regulations and getting the company
ready to comply. Supplier contracts
are a big deal because many
sustainability rules require data from
suppliers. Legal teams need to update
contracts for this and ensure suppliers
follow ethical practices, like labour
and human rights policies. In Europe,
they’re pretty strict about this.
Managing the supply chain is a big
task, especially with lots of contracts
to handle. And there’s also the issue
of “greenwashing” – making sure
a company’s sustainability claims
are legit. I’d suggest reviewing the
company website and press releases
carefully if a General Counsel asked
me about this. Sometimes, statements
get made without full consideration,
which can lead to legal troubles.
Nowadays, activists are keeping
a close eye on companies’
sustainability claims, and it’s
important to review all statements
for accuracy and to avoid legal risks.
Even true bold claims can bring their
own risks, so you’ve got to think
them through.
Bradley: Thanks for shedding a light
on this Christine. Can you delve
deeper into the key challenges
faced by General Counsels when
implementing these changes within
their organisations?
Christine: Sure, Bradley. The
paramount challenge for General
Counsels in this context is the
deeply cross-functional nature
of ESG and sustainability
initiatives. While General Counsels
can lead and offer guidance
on these initiatives, bringing
them to fruition demands
collaboration and commitment
from various departments across
the organisation. This requires
engagement from operations,
finance, marketing, sales, product
development, and, of course, the
sustainability team if one exists. In
essence, it’s a large-scale crossfunctional
project that necessitates
bringing together stakeholders
who may not directly report to the
General Counsel but are integral to
the implementation process.
Another significant hurdle is the
matter of budgeting. Implementing
ESG and sustainability initiatives
typically requires financial resources.
Thus, General Counsels must
navigate the process of presenting
budget proposals to the executive
team and securing the necessary
financial support for these
endeavours. Finding ways to allocate
the appropriate budget becomes an
essential part of the challenge.
So, in summary, the most formidable
obstacles lie in garnering crossfunctional
support and obtaining the
required budgetary approvals.
46 47

FEATURE
FEATURE
A Night of Hollywood Glamour:
The Frenkel Topping Ball for Charity
”On the 5th of October, the Frenkel Topping Charitable Foundation hosted a
spectacular event that will be etched in the memories of all who attended. The
Frenkel Topping Ball, an annual fundraiser, brought together the glitterati of
Manchester and beyond, all donned in their best Hollywood Glamour attire. This
grand evening was filled with entertainment, games, and celebrities dressed as iconic
film characters, creating an enchanting atmosphere that left everyone in awe.”
The theme for the Frenkel
Topping Ball this year was
“Hollywood Glamour,” and
attendees truly embraced the
spirit of classic Tinseltown. As
guests arrived at the Midlands Hotel in
Manchester, they were greeted by a red
carpet, paparazzi, and the unmistakable
allure of Hollywood.
The dress code was black tie and elegant
Hollywood attire, and attendees took this
to heart, adorning themselves in glamorous
gowns, tuxedos, and classic Hollywood
accessories. The Frenkel Topping Ball was
not just an event; it was a journey back in
time to the golden era of cinema.
To keep the evening engaging and
entertaining, the Frenkel Topping Ball
featured a variety of games. One of
the highlights was the popular game of
“Heads and Tails.” This game created a
buzz as guests gathered in anticipation
of winning exciting prizes.
Scratch cards were another thrilling
game offered at the event. Attendees
could purchase these cards and scratch
away to reveal their prizes. These cards
were a delightful way for guests to
contribute to the charitable cause while
also having the opportunity to win
fantastic rewards.
“Beyond the glitz and glamour, the Frenkel Topping
Ball was a celebration of compassion and giving.”
One of the most extraordinary aspects
of the Frenkel Topping Ball was the
presence of iconic film characters
brought to life. Guests were treated to
the sight of Deadpool, Marilyn Monroe,
the Hulk, and Austin Powers among
others, roaming the venue and adding to
the magical atmosphere of the evening.
These character actors went above and
beyond, staying in character throughout
the event and posing for photographs
with star-struck attendees.
While the Frenkel Topping Ball was an
evening filled with glitz and glamour,
it was also an event with a profound
purpose – to raise funds for the Frenkel
Topping Charitable Foundation. The
foundation’s mission is to support those
who have suffered life-changing injuries
and provide them with the necessary
financial support for their future.
The evening’s success was measured not
just by the stunning attire and celebrity
appearances but by the generous
contributions from attendees and the
funds raised for this noble cause. Every
game, raffle ticket, and donation made
a difference in the lives of those who
needed it most.
As the night unfolded, it became
clear that the Frenkel Topping Ball
had achieved its goal. It was a night
filled with entertainment, elegance,
and the magic of Hollywood’s
golden age. Guests revelled in the
enchanting atmosphere and cherished
the opportunity to dress up as their
favourite film characters.
“Congratulation to Frenkel Topping for putting on such a wonderful evening
and raising a staggering £28,000.”
More importantly, the event was a resounding success in terms
of fundraising for the Frenkel Topping Charitable Foundation.
The contributions made that evening would go a long way in
assisting those in need, providing them with financial support,
and ultimately improving their quality of life.
The Frenkel Topping Ball on the 5th of October was a night that
perfectly captured the essence of Hollywood glamour. It was an
evening of elegance, entertainment, and charity, all combined
into one unforgettable event. The iconic film characters
that graced the occasion, the games that added a touch of
excitement, the splendid prizes, the delightful food and drink,
and the lively dance floor all came together to create a night to
remember.
But beyond the glitz and glamour, the Frenkel Topping Ball was
a celebration of compassion and giving. It exemplified the power
of coming together to make a difference in the lives of those who
have faced adversity. In the end, this was the true Hollywood
magic of the night, leaving everyone with a sense of fulfilment
and a reminder that, in the spirit of Hollywood’s best, we can all
be heroes in our own way.
Congratulation to Frenkel Topping for putting on such a
wonderful evening and raising a staggering £28,000 for their
charitable foundation. A standing ovation is deserved!
Emily Wade,
Editor, Modern Law Magazine
48 49

WILLS
& PROBATE
WILLS
& PROBATE
A Wills & Probate Interview:
Ochresoft and
the Environment
Modern Law sat down with Ochresoft’s Marie Harrison-Stradling for
a chat about how the wills and probate sector tackle climate change
and make positive steps to impove the environment.
How can the wills and probate industry contribute to
environmentally responsible practices and raise awareness
about ethical considerations within estate planning?
With the United Kingdom’s recent introduction of water cremation (known as
Resomation) as a third choice after end of life, joining the more traditional burial
and cremation approaches established by the Cremation Act 1902, the theme of
this month’s roundtable questions is most topical and pertinent.
The resulting media coverage has prompted the public to consider at
greater depth, the quite surprising sustainability and ecological impact of
the traditional methods of dealing with their remains after death. With the
public also now more aware of climate change generally, people are actively
engaging in the environmental and ethical impact of their day-to-day
consumer choices and spending. This gives the wills and probate industry a
real opportunity to mitigate climate change in some small way. By working
together and sharing knowledge and information across the sector, we
can appropriately advise individuals as they explore their plans to
deal with their estate after death.
Whether or not clients choose a more eco-friendly or ethical
method of dealing with their estate posthumously, as wills and
probate professionals, we can raise awareness and make a positive
contribution to their decision making.
“As an industry, we are able to advise and
draw awareness to how climate change and
global warming could affect our clients.”
“Climate change and global
warming will impact thewills
and probate sector as much as it
will across all areas of business
and commerce.”
What potential issues might arise in
the wills and probate sector due to the
impact of global warming.
Climate change and global warming will impact the
wills and probate sector as much as it will across
all areas of business and commerce – and societies
globally. Climate change knowledge and awareness
will need to be a primary consideration for all
parties in estate planning and distribution, from the
general consumer to the legal practitioner to the
personal representative and/or trustees involved in
an estate.
As an industry, we are able to advise and draw
awareness to how climate change and global
warming could affect our clients in their planning.
• Certain client asset types might face increased
risk and be more vulnerable to environmental
change, due to their nature and/or location.
• Other asset types at greater risk of natural
disasters and environmental occurrences may
now need increased protective measures and
suitable insurances
• Climate change events and environmental
opinions can swiftly and significantly affect
the value of assets and investments. Legal
professionals may need to review and refresh
more frequently the planning advice for estates
comprising agricultural and/or commercial assets.
“As wills and probate
professionals, we can raise
awareness and make a
positive contribution.”
How can wills and probate practitioners
promote sustainable practices in the
administration of estates, including
the management of real estate and
investments?
To successfully promote sustainable and
environmentally favourable practices with our
clients and the public more widely, it is in our
industry’s interest to communicate clear and
transparent information between organisations.
Helping clients to equip themselves with and
understand information about their posthumous
estate options and the ethical and environmental
impact of each will enable them to make
informed choices.
During the early stages of estate administration
– as part of the initial client information discovery
– practitioners should take the opportunity to
prompt their new or existing clients and connected
third parties to explore the sustainable and ethical
practices available to them. This gives clients and
connected third parties the opportunity to discuss
their interest and ideas with a knowledgeable
professional. At this point, and using information
sheets and openly available resources,
practitioners can remove myths, clarify confusions
and help their clients make estate choices they are
comfortable with.
Unsurprisingly, immediate and future costs
are usually clients’ and third parties’ primary
consideration when they explore their posthumous
options. That is, however, not necessarily the case;
favouring sustainable practices does not cost
the estate or individual as much as the public
commonly expects.
Whether or not clients and connected third parties
select sustainable or ethical practices during
the administration of an estate, by promoting
the existence and accessibility of alternative
options that are better for society and our planet,
practitioners contribute to a brighter future.
Marie Harrison-Stradling
50 51

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Conveyancing in 2023
Empowering legal
experts to navigate
climate change
challenges.
Landmark Information not only offer
climate change reports but also
sustainability consultancy.
A Forum Discussion
Welcome to Modern Law’s Special Conveyancing Panel!
This section of the magazine is dedicated to delving deep into the conveyancing profession
with the help of industry-leading experts. In this particular edition, we discuss: the
environmental challenges conveyancers face, encouraging clients to think green, accessing
the information needed to create a more sustainable business and much more.
This issue’s opinions are from:
David Kempster
Marketing Director,
Groundsure
Mike Leeman
Managing Partner,
Bell Lamb & Joynson
Chris Loaring
Managing Director,
Landmark Search
Paul Saunders
Director Lender
Services, Smoove
Thomas Maerz
CEO,
TMGroup
Our CPD-accredited sustainability training workshops cover a range of
essential topics, catering to professionals at different stages of their
sustainability journey:
1. Climate Change Courses: These sessions provide a
solid foundation in understanding climate change, its legal
framework, and its implications across industries. By the
end of the course, you’ll be well-prepared to advise your
clients confidently.
2. Net Zero Workshops: Designed for those embarking on
their net-zero journey, these workshops guide you through
the intricacies of recording, compliance, and setting
science-based targets.
3. TCFD Workshops: For firms looking to disclose
climate-related risks and opportunities, our TCFD workshops
offer the knowledge to understand financial exposure and build
resilience for the future.
4. ESG Workshop: If you’re involved in ESG due-diligence for
corporate transactions or advise on mergers and acquisitions,
these workshops are tailored to meet your needs, including
those with private equity and investment clients.
For more information visit
landmark.co.uk/sustainability-training-services
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What challenges do Conveyancers encounter when trying to assess and
convey information about a property’s environmental impact?
Mike: Conveyancers can often struggle to communicate the
environmental factors of a property to Buyers as they are
reliant on limited data regarding energy efficiency, flooding
risks, contamination, and other sustainability metrics. Terms like
“eco-friendly” are subjective, making a property’s true impact
difficult to quantify and Conveyancers must also contend with
frequently changing regulations. Researching and documenting
environmental features requires substantial extra time and effort
compared to a standard transaction. Many Conveyancers are
unwilling or unable to conduct this due diligence as they are not
qualified to do so. While consumer demand is growing for more
transparency around homes sustainability, Conveyancers continue
to face obstacles in providing accurate assessments and clear
reporting on properties’ environmental footprints. Overcoming
these challenges will require better data sources and standardised
methodologies which will assist Conveyancers when reporting
complex environmental information to Buyers.
Thomas: Buyers are often in a hurry to move in, and as a result,
there is a risk they may gloss over the details highlighted in searches
and reports on Title, making themselves vulnerable to risk. While
conveyancers aren’t expected to be specialist environmental
consultants, they should still be aware of their obligations to
facilitate relevant information to the client, explain the due
diligence process, advise and draw their client’s attention to risks, in
a meaningful way, so that the client can make an informed decision
whether or not to proceed with their property purchase.
Until recently, conveyancers’ focus would have been centred
around contaminated land, mining risks and flooding. However,
there are many more environmental factors that clients should
be made aware of, such as all types of ground hazards, local and
national energy and infrastructure projects that could negatively
affect the site, as well as Government-imposed regulations
related to adverse impacts of climate change, which could cause
a transactional risk to clients in the future. Taking into account
the scope of the retainer as well as the latest guidance from the
regulators and PI insurers law firms should be in a position to
strike a good balance between alerting clients to the existence of
an environmental risk and limiting any unintended risk exposure
for the law firm itself.
David: The market for environmental data is very mature, easily
accessible and delivers answers quicker than many other parts of
the property search due diligence process. So, speed and access
via search resellers, for example, isn’t the issue. The key point for
conveyancers is ensuring that reports are fully comprehensive, cover
all of the guidance and practice notes to meet compliance and are
available in single reports so that the process is simple, there is
demonstrable value and all the answers are in one place - whether
contaminated land, flooding, subsidence, forward climate impacts -
both physical and transitional. This protects the client and the firm.
Chris: Traditionally, the industry has built risk management
processes around how the environment – such as a flood zone –
might impact a property. Now, a more holistic view has evolved
where it’s also considered how a property might impact its own
environment. This shift has been driven by both legislation
and emerging guidance from the regulators. A key feature
of this holistic approach is projecting and charting risk in the
future. Until recently, environmental risk management has been
predicated on what is happening today, i.e. on the date of the
transaction completion. Increasingly, we are now aware of how
those risks change into the future (for example, over the term of
a mortgage deal) and these insights are powering consideration
of a new time horizon in conveyancing. The concept of charting
risk into the future is an ever-growing transition and a relatively
new space for conveyancers – which makes it particularly
challenging. Guidance published by the Law Society earlier this
year marked the first-time conveyancers had received any official
steer on this topic. Therefore, the sector now needs to understand
where a conveyancer’s work starts and stops. For example, with
most transactions major lending decisions based on climate
change considerations have been made before the conveyancer
is involved. Part A of The Law Society’s guidance deals with
Net Zero and embedding broader sustainability considerations
within the law firm. Now, the sector is facing an implementation
challenge, and we need to support and help upskill the law firms
on this new area of environmental risk management, so that they
can make best use of the data insights and guidance. The next
wave of environmental guidance from the Law Society could go
one step further and answer the main question on everyone’s
minds: what specific actions will conveyancers need to take and
what new liabilities are emerging?
Paul: One of the biggest challenges in relation to the
environmental impact of information is the level of the client’s
awareness. Each client will have a varying level of awareness and
expectation regarding the impact of the environmental issues
around a property, particularly where there is a complex land use
history. Some properties may have a complex history of land use,
including industrial or agricultural activities that could have left
behind environmental contamination. It can be challenging to
trace and document this history accurately.
This is a particularly fast-moving area of law and the nature of the
law and regulation is relatively early in its development therefore
staying up to date in this area is particularly challenging to ensure
that the client and lender are protected, much of the time it is
knowing where to go to get the advice or information rather than
knowing all of the answers.
What measures can Conveyancers take to raise awareness among
Clients and colleagues about the importance of environmental
sustainability in real estate transactions?
Thomas: Buyers are often more concerned about whether any
environmental issues raised will have an immediate bearing on
the value of their investment in terms of both property insurance
and its resale value or whether it may have an impact on their
enjoyment of the property, for instance in the event of flooding.
However, environmental sustainability is crucial in real estate
transactions for a number of reasons and the benefits should be
openly promoted to clients and internal teams.
A good starting point is the long-term value and increasing
market demand. Sustainable properties are often far more resilient
and can increase in value over time. Eco-conscious buyers and
investors are also increasingly looking for properties that have
lower operating costs due to energy efficiency and a reduced
environmental footprint.
From the law firms’ perspective embracing sustainability practices
also demonstrates a commitment to reducing their own impact
and contributing to a more sustainable future. This could be
positively leveraged as a unique differentiating factor in a
competitive market.
To help raise awareness, law firms could explore facilitating internal
and external workshop sessions as well as provide a library of easily
accessible resources that can be shared with clients and other
external audiences. Thought leadership in this area will not only
help raise awareness of this important subject but can be equally
beneficial to help raise the external profile of the law firm itself.
“To help raise awareness, law firms
could explore facilitating internal and
external workshop sessions as well
as provide a library of easily
accessible resources.”
“There is a clear duty of care for
conveyancers to advise clients on
matters that could affect the transaction
and the impact on the asset, value or
the client’s peace of mind. ”
David: There is a clear duty of care for conveyancers to advise
clients on matters that could affect the transaction and the
impact on the asset, value or the client’s peace of mind.
Increasingly important are environmental and social governance
(ESG) factors that could affect a firm’s operation, which are
getting the attention of the SRA, COLPs and form part of the Law
Society Guidance on Climate Risks.
By ensuring a consistent approach to advising clients on the
climate risks that could impact on the transaction through
commissioning environmental searches that include climate risk
- including physical risks like flooding and transitional risks like
energy ratings, improvement costs and resilience measures - this
can reinforce the firm’s ESG approach and cement really good
client care on making sustainable property decisions.
Paul: Conveyancers can help support clients by raising awareness
of environmental issues in property transactions by the general
promotion of environmental due diligence. This can be supported
by encouraging clients to invest in environmental assessments
and inspections to identify potential issues before making
informed decisions.
One of the ways that this should be done is to incorporate the
processes into standard conveyancing processes. This is an area
that conveyancers cannot be expected to be experts in, but they
need to be aware and knowledgeable enough to point the client
in the right direction to ensure they are possessed with the best
possible position knowledge.
Conveyancers should build relationships with experts, specialists,
and sustainability professionals in the same way as surveyors to
ensure that they can give a comprehensive assessment to clients.
54 55

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How can Conveyancers stay updated on local and national
environmental regulations and compliance requirements that may
affect property transactions?
Mike: Conveyancers can stay updated on local and national
environmental regulations and compliance requirements that may
impact property transactions through various methods. Firstly,
they can maintain close contact with environmental agencies and
regulatory bodies to receive direct updates on any changes in laws
or regulations. Additionally, they should review official government
websites, where these regulations are often published and updated.
Attending industry conferences can be beneficial as environmental
issues are currently a hot topic. Subscribing to relevant newsletters
and online forums can help Conveyancers stay informed about
the latest developments in environmental regulations. Combining
these strategies, Conveyancers can ensure they remain up to date
on the ever-evolving environmental compliance, thereby providing
guidance to clients in property transactions.
Thomas: Conveyancers should always follow the latest directions
from their specific Regulator. It is also recommended that
lawyers become familiar with the guidance and environmental
policy updates published by other professional bodies, such as
the Practice Notes on Contaminated Land, Flood Risk, Climate
Change or Green Leases issued by the Law Society.
Attending professional seminars, workshops, and conferences
related to property law and environmental regulations is also
a great way for practitioners to stay informed about practice
changes and legal updates. Unfortunately, due to the time,
travel and financial commitment often associated with these
events, this avenue may not be open to all individuals.
Therefore, another opportunity worth exploring is reaching out
to your search provider.
Many suppliers supporting the legal profession, such as tmgroup,
frequently offer free opportunities for continuing professional
development through regular bite-size webinars and publications
on pertinent matters and newly emerging risks. These resources
can be easily accessed on demand and are an invaluable tool in
staying up-to-date with the latest industry developments.
“Attending professional seminars, workshops,
and conferences related to property law and
environmental regulations is also a great
way for practitioners to stay informed about
practice changes and legal updates.”
“The drive towards greener thinking is
naturally more focused on those right
at the beginning of the process.”
David: We undertake hundreds of webinars, face to face events
and in-house training for firms across the country every year.
We also work with online training providers, such as the Legal
Eye Academy, to deliver on-line e-certification for conveyancing
teams. This can demonstrate to COLPs and risk managers in the
firm that the team has undergone a consistent, accredited and
independent training with external experts to stay up to speed on
the Guidance, prevailing regulations and best practice.
Chris: The drive towards greener thinking is naturally more
focused on those right at the beginning of the process – such
as developers and architects, or even lenders. Of course,
conveyancers are critical stakeholders, but their focus and
unique value lies in shaping and advising on issues within the
context of the relevant legal or regulatory framework. As the
primary role of a lawyer is to be definitive on risk compliance
and legislative adherence, green issues are challenging as
they tend to be more nebulous or are not yet in a sufficiently
advanced legislative state. Specific to conveyancing for
example, practitioners need to know the exact nature of any
industry documentation produced, for example, whether it’s a
requirement, advisory note or instruction. They would be able
to advise more clearly when the legislative framework is also
clear. Furthermore, we must not forget that the consumer is an
important facilitator of change. Buyers and sellers are calling
for progress around green issues, and in some areas – such
as residential energy performance – the sector is becoming
clearer with its thinking as a result. We shouldn’t forget that
collaboration is underpinned by communication, so we should
focus on ways to bring all of these stakeholders (including
consumers) together in an efficient way to improve the current
conveyancing process, and power collective progress and
iterative improvements.
What are the potential cost
implications of adopting
environmentally conscious
practices in conveyancing, and
how can these be managed?
Mike: Adopting environmentally conscious practices in
conveyancing can carry potential cost implications, but they
can be managed effectively. Initially, the costs associated with
conducting thorough environmental due diligence, such as
environmental searches and surveys, may increase expenses
in the short term. However, these costs are often outweighed
by the long-term benefits, as they can help identify and
mitigate potential environmental risks that may arise in the
future, saving clients from unexpected expenditures. Investing
in energy-efficient or green property improvements can raise
the upfront costs of a transaction but can lead to reduced
operating expenses over time, benefiting both the environment
and the property owner. Conveyancers can help manage these
costs by reporting to clients about the financial advantages of
environmentally sustainable choices, including potential tax
incentives or energy savings that may be revealed in search
results. By raising the long-term economic benefits of ecofriendly
practices and advising of cost-effective approaches,
Conveyancers can make environmentally conscious transactions
more appealing to their clients.
David: Clearly, there are a number of office, administrative and
facilities management strategies that can drive down a firm’s
operational carbon footprint. Many conveyancing practices and
workflow systems are fully cloud based and there has been a dramatic
reduction in physical paper use. Long gone are the days when the
quality of the conveyance was down to the thickness of the file.
IT managers in firms will understand all of this already and there
are well proven efficiencies that have been delivered. However,
being environmentally conscious as a law firm requires a culture
and mindset that starts at the top and works through the
business consistently.
We have recently become a Certified B Corporation - an 18 month
journey but a really valuable process that shone a light on much
of the work that we had been doing already. While it takes time
and effort to seek certification, it validates all that your firm does
with regard to its impact on the environment, the well-being of
your teams and your contribution to society. A number of law
firms, of varying sizes, are part of the B Corp Community and it
provides a really strong differentiation in the market. This would be
especially the case if your firm has a strong environmental practice
or is making ESG commitments. Becoming B Corp means you are
walking the walk and can avoid any accusations of “greenwashing”.
How can conveyancers collaborate
with other stakeholders, such as
real estate agents and developers,
to promote sustainable development
and green building practices?
Mike: Conveyancers can play a role in promoting sustainable
development and green building practices by collaborating
with other stakeholders in the real estate industry, such as real
estate agents and developers. They can start by participating
in meetings and conferences, where they can exchange ideas,
insights, and expertise with these partners. Conveyancers can
also facilitate open lines of communication to share information
about eco-friendly property listings, green certifications, and the
benefits of sustainable building practices. By working together,
conveyancers, real estate agents, and developers can collectively
drive awareness of sustainable development and environmentally
responsible real estate choices, helping to meet the growing
demand for greener, more sustainable properties in the market.
This collaborative approach ultimately benefits the environment,
property owners, and the whole industry.
David: It is highly likely that conveyancers will have little
direct engagement with developers on sustainable building
materials and construction as this would have been determined
under standard building regs and any additional design/
spec requirements committed by the developer as planning
conditions. However, ahead of that commercial real estate lawyers
will want to advise developer clients on the land quality, site
conditions including disposition to flooding from its topography,
groundwater and drainage. In part, this may determine where
they place sustainable drainage versus development plots.
Energy performance is an increasingly key part of property
attraction now and the role of the EPC and related retrofit costs
on existing older property will be a key discussion between client,
estate agent and the conveyancer in the negotiation. This is
one of the reasons why we include not only the EPC and related
estimated energy improvement costs, but also a comparison to
others in the area to see how it meets up to the local competition
and what it would need to be in order to be attractive for re-sale.
“Being environmentally conscious as a
law firm requires a culture and mindset
that starts at the top.”
56 57

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What role can technology, such as blockchain or smart contracts, play
in making conveyancing processes more environmentally friendly, and
what challenges might arise in their implementation?
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Mike: Technology, including blockchain and smart contracts, can
significantly contribute to making conveyancing processes more
environmentally friendly. Blockchain, with its decentralised and
tamper-resistant ledger, can enhance transparency and security in
property transactions, reducing the need for physical paperwork
and minimising the environmental impact of paper production.
Smart contracts, powered by blockchain, can automate
and streamline various stages of the conveyancing process,
eliminating the need for excessive paperwork and reducing the
carbon footprint associated with document transportation and
storage. However, challenges in implementing these technologies
may arise. First, there’s the issue of widespread adoption and
standardisation, as all stakeholders in the real estate industry
need to embrace these technologies for maximum efficiency.
Additionally, ensuring the security and privacy of sensitive
property data within blockchain systems is crucial. There may also
be technical hurdles in transitioning from traditional conveyancing
methods to a more technologically driven approach. Nevertheless,
as these challenges are addressed, the integration of blockchain
and smart contracts into conveyancing can play a substantial role
in achieving a more environmentally friendly and efficient real
estate transaction process.
“Adopting environmentally
conscious practices in
conveyancing can carry potential
cost implications, but they can
be managed effectively.”
David: Clearly the more tech is deployed in the conveyancing
transaction, the less the physical carbon footprint of the
operation. Digital documentation, data transfer, docusign and
electronic communications including status updates are all
supporting the acceleration to paperless process. There is a
natural human resistance to change, and the notepad isn’t leaving
the conveyancer’s desk any time soon, but for a firm that has just
started the tech adoption journey and is staring at a cabinet full
of paper files, reducing the firm’s footprint requires a significant
culture change - and not before time!
Chris: Digitisation is an environmentally friendly initiative
compared to more traditional conveyancing methods. Every
stakeholder will likely agree that the emergence of further
digital services – such as smart contracting or the AI analysis of
leasehold contracts – are also all positive initiatives. However,
we are venturing into a new world. How do we robustly regulate
emerging technology? The sector needs new standards, processes
and governance; and the only way to scale technology quickly is if
the sector delivers the solutions. For example, The Conveyancing
Information Executive, which Landmark helped to establish, has
developed as the standards body that determines the information
that should go into property reports. Our core decision-making
model is changing, and it needs support to fulfil its potential. Put
simply, if we follow the digitisation journey to an end point, then
a transaction will happen off the back of visual representation
of information alone. For example, users will be supplied with a
RAG or smart workflow as a summary statement. However, the
information that underpins this output is hidden or inaccessible
because of the requirement for speed. All this means that the
digitisation process will require evidence and audit as well as a
high degree of trust from the conveyancer where the validation of
the decisions made isn’t always visible yet must still be recorded.
Conveyancers make big decisions based on risk. The challenge
now is ensuring that lawyers (and wider market stakeholders)
understand how technology and data interact and are managed in
order to be clear on risk and the controls in a digital first world.
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What are some ways conveyancers
can encourage clients to opt for
digital documentation and signatures
to minimise printing and mailing?
Mike: Conveyancers can encourage clients to opt for digital
documentation and signatures to minimise printing and mailing in
several ways. Firstly, they can emphasise the convenience and timesaving
benefits of digital transactions, highlighting how it expedites
the process and reduces paperwork. Secondly, they can assure clients
of the security and legality of digital signatures, explaining the robust
encryption and authentication measures in place. Offering step-bystep
guidance on how to electronically sign documents can streamline
the process for clients who may be unfamiliar with it. Furthermore,
Conveyancers can discuss the environmental impact and cost savings
associated with reduced paper usage and postage. By educating
clients about the practical advantages and environmental benefits
of being digital, Conveyancers can encourage Client to adopt these
efficient, eco-friendly practices as a way of life.
David: I mentioned Docusign and similar digital agreement
formats already, but ensuring that all searches, maps and
supporting documentation is collated, inputted and stored and
then subsequently signed by all relevant parties electronically saves
on paper, postage, time - and it enables all stakeholders to receive
the same information and status updates at the same time.
Some clients may be reluctant initially to use these new formats,
but there is a new generation of homebuyers and business owners
who are digital natives and the shift to full digitisation is only a
matter of time. Those firms that adapt now can manage costs, be
more efficient, reducing the time for unnecessary manual tasks
and free up the opportunity to focus on the client.
Paul: Digital signatures and documentation can save a lot of time
and cost as well as protecting both the conveyancer and the clients
which supports the environmental and sustainable policies of the
business. In general, the adoption of such processes is positively
received however wider adoption is needed and requires education
and understanding to be widely adopted. The use of user-friendly
tools will considerably improve the uptake from clients whilst
emphasising the security and protection that the systems afford
to clients. Clients can be concerned as to the legal validity of
electronic signatures so therefore it is helpful to be able to point to
evidence of acceptance by authorities and regulated entities.
One of the most important factors to any client in a transaction
is cost therefore the security and cost savings go hand in hand as
an encouragement to clients to adopt the processes. It may also
be possible to offer incentives to clients who utilise the digital
opportunities that you are able to offer them.
What challenges do conveyancers
face in transitioning to digital
platforms for document
management and communication?
Mike: Conveyancers encounter several challenges in
transitioning to digital platforms for document management
and communication. First and foremost, there is a learning curve
associated with adopting new technologies, which may require
training for both staff and clients. Ensuring that all parties
involved in a transaction are willing and able to adapt to digital
processes can be a challenge. Integrating digital solutions into
existing workflows and systems can also be complex and timeconsuming.
The cost of implementing and maintaining digital
platforms can be a significant hurdle for smaller conveyancing
firms. Technical issues, such as software glitches or network
failures, may disrupt operations and potentially lead to delays in
property transactions. Despite these obstacles, the benefits of
transitioning to digital platforms, including increased efficiency,
reduced environmental impact, and improved client service, make
it a worthwhile venture for Conveyancers.
Thomas: To understand the challenges Conveyancers, face here,
perhaps it’s prudent to first consider the key driver for considering
a transition to digital platforms for document management and
communication.
Digital platforms remove historic accessibility and communication
barriers. Documents can be stored in the cloud, making it possible
to collaborate on them in real time with colleagues, clients and
other third parties, virtually from any place with internet access.
Digital solutions also facilitate ease of sharing and transparent
communication exchange. This promotes effective stakeholder
engagement and significantly reduces transaction times.
However, this ease of access brings in a number of risks associated
with data security. Conveyancers are commonly targeted by cyber
criminals, and it has never been more challenging for law firms
to ensure their systems and cybersecurity measures are robust
enough to sustain a sophisticated attack that may compromise
their clients’ data.
At tmgroup, we strive to make it easier for conveyancers to use
our digital platforms by securely integrating our services with other
existing systems law firms use. Our latest integration with iManage
Work 10, one of the leading secure document management
systems, as well as our ISO27001 accreditation, are a testament
to our unconditional commitment for ensuring security of our
customers’ data.
Requesting feedback can be a useful way of providing reassurance
to clients that not only do the systems work but they are also
popular and effective.
61

10 MINS WITH
Heather
Gaffney
Q
What
Minutes With...
is your most memorable achievement
whilst working in your current role?
My current role, as Head of Private Wealth, has already brought a
few achievements. When the department evolved from Residential
Property to Private Wealth it incorporated Private Client, and I had
to explore an area of law that I wasn’t fully familiar with. This meant
re-training, educating myself and learning. I’m proud that I’ve done
this alongside my day-to-day job and feel that I have improved and
expanded my knowledge and management skill set. The private
client department itself has grown hugely over the past 6 months in
terms of both clients and the type of work we are seeing within the
department, and it’s been really rewarding to see.
QWWhat has been the most valuable piece of
advice you’ve ever been given?
Never stop learning. Nobody knows everything. I think it’s
dangerous when people believe they are an expert in something –
whether you’ve been learning about it for one year or 25 years, things
are always changing and there are always new things to learn and
grasp an understanding of. The reason I chose a career in law is that I
wanted to be constantly learning and to always be pushing myself. I
feel that I do this in both my role as a lawyer and as a director/head
of department.
QWhat has been the key positive or negative
impact of change in your area of the market?
I have found residential property to be a particularly challenging
area of the market to work within since the pandemic. There have
been changes to legislation or new pieces of legislation coming into
force that change things overnight (such as changes to Stamp Duty
rates) or that we aren’t given the support or time to learn about as
quickly as we need to (such as the introduction of the Building Safety
Act 2022). Recent economical changes have put more pressure on
conveyancers to complete matters within timeframes that mean
clients aren’t going to be exposed to higher rates of interest on their
mortgages. On the flip side of this, I do think huge improvements
have been made to technology during the last few years – the Land
Registry have made it simpler to submit an application through
an online application process, client ID can now be uploaded and
verified via an app, and property search results appear to be coming
back more speedily. As a firm, we have made huge improvements
and changes to our case management system. Overall, these
benefits create a more streamlined process.
“Never stop learning.
Nobody knows everything.”
Q
If
you were not in your current position, what
would you like to be doing?
If I wasn’t a lawyer, I think I would have gone into something
completely different and much more creative, such as floristry.
QWhat three items would you put on display in
a museum of your life and why?
Models of the people most important to me – who have supported
me, made me believe I can do anything or for who I constantly strive
to do better for – my son, my husband and my parents.
QWhat three guests would you invite to a
dinner party?
I am extremely proud of being a woman in business, so I think I
would invite strong and influential woman to tell me their stories.
The three guests I would invite to a dinner party would be Emmeline
Pankhurst, Jane Austin and Michelle Obama.
Heather Gaffney,
Head of Private Wealth,
Lewis Denley
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POST COMPLETION
Smart SDLT & AP1 submission forms save you time by
reducing double entry and requisitions.
“How friendly, professional and prompt the staff are -
tmgroup’s customer service is truly amazing! There has
never been an issue which the team have not been able
to resolve for me. Thanks for being so amazing.”
Rhianna Melvin, Freeths LLP
MAPPING SOLUTIONS
Delivering pre transaction due diligence tools to help you
strengthen and support your relationship with clients.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Stay protected with our range of risk management
solutions from AML, KYC, Insurance and Source of Funds.
INTEGRATIONS
A range Integration solutions to allow you to access
conveyancing solutions straight from your case.
MANAGED SERVICES
Team of search professionals work with your business to
simplify and speed up your search ordering process.
PORTFOLIO SERVICE
We can manage your portfolios and give you a real time
view of progress with our portfolio manager dashboard.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: 0800 840 5571 | tmgroup.co.uk

Changing the
way we work.
Is the endless conveyor belt of cases
wearing you down? More work same
salary, sound familiar? We’re offering a great
opportunity to rip up the rule book with
flexible working, unlimited earning potential
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cases you take on. What’s stopping you?
Does ongoing
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Increase your earning
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Choose your own
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much as you want,
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Run your business
in a flexible
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the support of
property experts.
Conveyancers with 5 years PQE
Book in a chat today!
t. 07471 017044
e. angela@amitylaw.co.uk
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Amity Law Limited is regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (No 11110) for the provision of
conveyancing services and is registered in England and Wales under company number 5490029