Goodbye Brussels - Leeds Law Societyleedslawsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/LYL...the...

The Offi cial Journal of Leeds Law Society

LeedsLaw Society

FocusJonathan Watmough takes a look at the duty solicitors have to qualify their advice

NewsShoosmiths says that it is to move into Leeds and Mills & Reeve announces a record turnover

SocietyTributes pour in for Jane Hope, the Society’s former marketing events and administrator

EventsBarker Brooks Communications reveals the shortlist for this year’s Yorkshire Legal Awards

CommentPatrick Walker mulls over the implications of Brexit and shares his hopes for the future

July/August 2016 | Issue 141

Goodbye Brussels What will Brexit mean for the legal community?

The Offi cial Journal of Leeds Law Society

Leeds Law Society62 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 2EEDX 12079 LeedsTel: 0113 245 4997

EDITORIALEditor: Marek Handzel01423 851 [email protected]

Founding Editor: Ian McCombie

PRODUCTIONHead of design:Compton Sheldon

ADVERTISINGProject manager:Matt Gotting 01423 851 [email protected]

Published by: Barker Brooks Communications LtdG1-G6 East Wing, The Croft, Boroughbridge Road, Kirk Deighton, Wetherby, LS22 5HGTel: 01423 851 150Fax: 01423 740 [email protected]

PRINT:Buxton Press

© 2016 Leeds Law Society & Barker Brooks Communications Ltd. All rights in and

relating to this publication are expressly reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publishers. The views expressed in Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer are not necessarily those of the Leeds Law Society or the publisher. While the publishers have taken every care in compiling this publication to ensure accuracy at the time of going to press, they do not accept liability or responsibility for errors or omissions therein however caused.

SUBSCRIPTIONS:Subscriptions are available to Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer at £70 for one calendar year (10 issues). Unless requested otherwise, your subscription will start with the issue following receipt of your payment. To subscribe contact Sue Craven at publishers Barker Brooks Communications on 01423 851 150, or email [email protected].

LeedsLaw Society

July/August 2016 | Issue 141

Views President’s column 05Sue Harris shares her thoughts on Brexit and an uncertain future

Society 06 Tributes pour in for Jane Hope, Leeds Law Society’s marketing and events administrator, who sadly passed away on 21 July

NewsLead 08Shoosmiths to move into Leeds and Irwin Mitchell gets appointed by the UK’s largest food redistributor

Business development 09–14Rollits celebrates 175 years in business; Cartwright King launches a new individual legal franchise; and Legatus Law founder hopes her debut book will make a splash

Legal & community 15–19hlw Keeble Hawson marks 400 hours of pro bono; Mills & Reeve charity challenge raises £17k; Proddow Mackay solicitors prepare their punch lines for She� eld audience; and Simpson Millar immigration lawyer stages theatre performance for Refugee Week

Appointments 18Jones Myers, Clarion, Whitaker Firth, Myton Law, Ramsdens, Ison Harrison, Ridley & Hall and Wilkinson Woodward all welcome new sta�

Events 20The shortlist for the Yorkshire Legal Awards, the region’s most prestigious legal event, has been announced

Focus onGoodbye Brussels 22Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer talks to some of the region’s lawyers to get their view on what Brexit will mean for the UK and the legal community

Health warnings required 26Jonathan Watmough on the duty solicitors have to qualify their advice

Decoding lawyers’ perceptions 28The LexisNexis annual Bellwether Report 2016 has found some seemingly contradictory sentiments among lawyers when it comes to future business performance

CommentStand up, stand up! 30Patrick Walker mulls over Brexit

Pro� leMoving on 32Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer’s regular columnist has moved on from Squire Patton Boggs to mediate full time

Last wordTrust, humility, drive 34Zoe Robinson is the managing partner at Raworths

Contents

Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer | Issue 141 3

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The University of Law, Leeds

To misquote REM, is it the end of the world as we know it?

It is inconceivable that you could have missed the Electoral Commission’s chief counting o� cer o� cially announce that the result of the EU referendum was “leave”, by a very narrow majority (51.9%) on 24 June.

It was a shock result for many (even, it seems, for some of those who voted leave) but one thing is certain; the UK is now facing a period of political and economical uncertainty. In the hiatus between the referendum and the triggering of Article 50 (at the time of writing), the legal profession can only hold its collective breath in anticipation of the e� ects of Brexit.

Back in 2015, The Law Society commissioned a report from Oxford Economics about the potential e� ects of a UK withdrawal from the EU upon the legal sector, relative to the wider UK economy.

The conclusions included that: (1) the legal sector would continue to grow, but the rate of growth would be (adversely) a� ected; (2) the negative e� ects on growth in the legal services sector were due to reliance on other sectors which were likely to be adversely a� ected by a UK withdrawal from the EU, such as � nancial services; and (3) the scale of the negative e� ects would depend on withdrawal negotiations and subsequent UK government policy actions.

Although The Law Society was o� cially neutral, the message given was that even though some law � rms would do well in the short term, immediately post-Brexit, in the medium to long-term it was better for the profession to vote remain.

So now we know that the decision is leave, we will have to wait and see what happens.

It really is too early to tell what Brexit might mean for the legal profession as a whole. Many � rms have issued guidance for clients and I am sure the profession will

take advantage of opportunities that arise for them.

Some are saying that government lawyers will be so busy dealing with the aftermath of Brexit that they might not have time to deal with some of the planned changes that concern the legal sector and need legislation.

A decision could be made to keep the best of EU laws (e.g. many of the employment protection laws) and to get rid of others that have been unpopular. Every cloud...

One tweet on 24 June summed things up for me: “If you are ever having a bad day at work, remember you are not David Cameron and you didn’t unintentionally lead the UK out of the EU”.

Let us hope we are able to pull together as a profession and the future turns out to be brighter than it looks today for us all.

To put all of this into perspective, I am very sad to have to tell you of the sudden death on 21 July of our wonderful o� ce administrator Jane Hope. I am sure many of you will have spoken to Jane in relation to our events, or if you visited the Leeds Law Society o� ces. We will miss her friendly face, her energy, wit and enthusiasm.

We are devastated to have lost her and send our best wishes to her family.


President’s column

Brexit and an uncertain future

LeedsLaw Society

Sue Harris is a director at Walker Morris and the President of Leeds Law Society

Although The Law Society was officially

neutral, the message given was that even though some law firms would do well in the short term, immediately post-Brexit, in the medium to long-term it was better for the profession to vote remain

6 Issue 141 | Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer

NewsSociety

“We will miss her friendly face, her energy, wit and enthusiasm. We are devastated to have lost her and send best wishes to her family and friends.”Sue Harris (President)

“I have only known Jane Hope for a year or so but from the start found myself looking forward to seeing her again. Positive, smiley, and with a can do-will do, no fuss approach that I just love. Jane, I will miss you.” Bill Barton (Deputy President)

“Jane will leave a huge gap in our team. She was an inspiration, a wonderfully caring and compassionate person who rose to every challenge with good humour and endless positivity. I will miss her terribly.” Jane MacGregor (LLS Senior Manager)

“Jane was always there for the directors of Leeds Law Society. Nothing was too much trouble for her. It is hard to believe that it is less than six weeks since we did the 10k Leeds Legal Walk with Jane. We will miss her greatly.” David Barraclough (LLS Director)

“I have had the pleasure of knowing Jane since she started working at LLS and having dealt with her on a day to day basis during my time as Treasurer I always looked forward to my trips to the o� ce to see her. She was always full of energy with a great sense of humour. She was extremely diligent and professional in her work and played a pivotal role in the day to day running of the Society since joining us in November 2013. She will be truly missed on both a personal and professional level.” David Cowgill (LLS Treasurer)

“Jane has been a force driving the Leeds Law Society. Her loss leaves a hole in the Society that can never be � lled. I feel a huge sense of gratitude for everything she has done and for the privilege of knowing her.”Catie Woodward (LLS Company Secretary)

“I had only known Jane for a short period of time but in that time she made a lasting impression on me. She was kind and thoughtful and always put others before herself. Jane was the heart of Leeds Law Society and held all the working cogs together and kept everything running smoothly. She will be greatly missed by all and never forgotten.”Louisa Gardner (LLS Data Administrator)

“A wonderful colleague and friend with a quick and intelligent mind, endless cheer and wicked sense of humour. She will be greatly missed in so many ways.” Joanna Dixon (LLS Business Development Manager)

“We are all devastated to hear the sad new that Jane has passed away. Jane was always a pleasure to talk to and always had a smile to great us. Our thoughts and prays go out to all her family and friends.”From all at Safemove

“Jane was a lovely, caring person who went out of her way to be helpful to me and such a delight to interact with. She will be so missed, both for the members and the team.” Ann Page

“Jane was welcoming from the very start of my involvement with Leeds Law Society, she was a friendly face who was supportive of the work I do with the JLD and assisted with my emails/queries without delay but with humour. I will miss having the opportunity to work with her closely in my new role.” Leanne Coyle (LLS Director)

“I am very sad to be emailing you about Jane’s death. It doesn’t seem like 5 minutes ago since we appointed her! She was part of taking LLS from strength to strength. A lovely woman and I am sure she will be missed.”Heidi Sandy (Former LLS President)

“This is a real shock. I have only known Jane for less than 12 months having worked on a number of events with both herself and LLS. I can honestly say that she struck me as a person who was always happy in her work, got things done and had a great sense of humour along the way. Our condolences to both her family and friends. RIP Jane.” Andrew Williams (Acasta Europe)

“I was so sorry to learn of the sudden passing of your colleague. Our thoughts are with her family and all of you at Leeds Law Society. Our condolences.” From the directors and sta� at Liverpool Law Society

“Jane’s diligent approach to her work and never ending support for her colleagues made her a most valued and much loved member of the Leeds Law Society team. She is going to be greatly missed and our thoughts are with her family and friends.” Emma Pearmaine (LLS Director)

Tributes paid to Jane

We are deeply saddened to report that on the evening of 21 July, Jane Hope died at St James’ University Hospital in Leeds following a short and sudden illness.

She leaves behind a mother, brother and her beloved dog. Since 2013 Jane has been a highly valued and much loved member of the team at Leeds Law Society and she will be greatly missed by all the sta� and directors.

Our deepest condolences go to all her family and friends.We have received many wonderful tributes to Jane. If you would like to

send one, then please email us at [email protected].

Jane Hope 1963 – 2016

NewsSociety


Events

President’s charity for 2016 – 2017 Sue Harris, President of Leeds Law Society, has chosen The Personal Support Unit (PSU) as her charity for 2016-2017. The PSU helps litigants-in-person, their friends and families, witnesses, victims and inexperienced court users.It provides trained volunteers who give free, independent assistance to people facing proceedings without legal representation in civil and family courts and tribunals. Its service is o�ered equally to everyone who asks and it is con�dential, impartial and open to all.

It has over 500 fully trained and experienced volunteers, who together helped people gain access to justice more than 44,480 times in the last twelve months.

It is determined to do more to help the growing number of litigants in person in the most cost-e�cient way: it costs under £25 every time PSU helps a client.To contact your local PSU and �nd out more, please visit www.thepsu.org/our_network/leeds

Title Insurance for Property Transactions 23 August, 11am – 1pm, Leeds Law SocietyJointly presented by TitleSolv and SafeMove, the programme includes an introduction to legal indemnity terminology and types, how they _t into transactions, and solicitor/client obligations. It also covers a wide range of topics covered in the Drainage and Water search CON29DW.Cost: Free (lunch included)To book email us at [email protected]

Networking Lunch 6 SeptemberIn September we will be re-visiting Bills to try their new menu. Join us for the next in our popular series of networking lunches – the perfect opportunity to increase your contacts within the legal profession and the business community that supports it.

To book email us at [email protected].

New membership bene�t for our members Clio is the most comprehensive practice management system for the legal industry.

Cloud-based, mobile-friendly, and built speci�cally for the legal profession, Clio delivers all the tools modern law �rms need to run a successful practice. Through the power of cloud computing, Clio eases the process of time tracking, billing, administration, and collaboration for law �rms of all sizes. Clio integrates seamlessly with popular applications such as Outlook, Google Apps, Xero, Quickbooks, Bundledocs, Dropbox and many more. Working with the Leeds Law Society, Clio is delighted to extend a 15% lifetime discount to all members.

Fixed costs: threat or opportunity?The Leeds Law Society, in association with Clarion Solicitors and Kings Chambers, held a seminar at Clarion’s o�ces in Leeds on 8 June.

The seminar focused on the recommendations made by Lord Justice Jackson in relation to the extension of �xed costs, and included a question and answer session with a panel of experts.

Andrew McAulay from Clarion Solicitors provided the audience with the background to �xed costs and an overview of the current position. The seminar then moved on to a question and answer session with Andrew McAulay, Nigel Poole QC (Kings Chambers), Ian McCombie (Gordons LLP) and Richard Coulthard (Michael Lewin).

There has been no announcement yet about a date for the promised consultation, but we are going to set up a sub-committee of members to consider and respond to the consultation, which is likely to include formulating a survey for members.If you are interested in getting involved please contact Sue Harris via [email protected].

SRA Handbook consultation meeting– join the debateYou are invited to attend a meeting at the Queens Hotel in Leeds on 25 August at 3pm, where Catherine Dixon, Chief Executive of the Law Society, will discuss changes that are being made to the SRA’s Handbook.

The SRA is planning to radically simplify the Handbook, starting with revising the Principles and the Code of Conduct.

Leeds Law Society is concerned that the SRA’s proposals could result in two tiers of solicitors: those working in a regulated entity; and those who are not.

In light of the consultations, the Law Society has decided to convene a series of events across England and in Wales, under the Chatham House Rule, to consider the SRA’s proposals.

This is a great opportunity to discuss these issues and we are really pleased to be able to welcome Catherine to Leeds for this event. Please do attend if you can.

FOR MORE INFO AND TO BOOK VISIT www.leedslawsociety.org.uk/events-training OR EMAIL [email protected]

NewsLead


Shoosmiths has unveiled plans to set up an o�ce in Leeds this year.

The new Yorkshire base for the �rm will open in late 2016 and two new partners will join the �rm to help it boost its presence in Yorkshire. Employment partners Simon Robinson and Phil Crowe will move from Gordons to spearhead the opening of the o�ce, which will be Shoosmiths’ eleventh in the UK.

Shoosmiths has opened new o�ces in Manchester and Edinburgh in recent years. Its Manchester o�ce was opened in 2008 with the recruitment of a team of six and now has over 150 people. Its Edinburgh o�ce was established as a result of a merger with Archibald Campbell & Harley in 2012.

Commenting on the expansion, Shoosmiths chief executive Claire Rowe said: “This exciting move into Leeds will enable us to access one of the largest legal markets in the UK outside of London, bringing both new people and clients to the �rm.”

“Although we already advise clients based in Yorkshire, this new o�ce will enable us to develop more work from some of the largest national and international corporates in that region.”

Rowe said that the �rm had an ambitious growth plan which included taking a larger share of the domestic market.

“We have chosen to build our practice organically through carefully planned expansion of our teams and services across locations, in response to client demand,” she said.

“We are focusing on the client experience and listening very carefully to what our clients are asking for. This

strategy has enabled us to grow a larger share of our clients’ legal spend because they like what we deliver.”

She added that Shoosmiths was planning to create a Northern hub of legal expertise for its clients with its Leeds and Manchester o�ces working closely together.

As a result, the �rm anticipates that it will be recruiting specialists in key �elds including corporate, real estate and commercial disciplines.

Irwin Mitchell has won a contract to advise Company Shop, the UK’s largest redistributor of surplus food.

Founded by John Marren over 40 years ago, Company Shop is based in Barnsley and is responsible for stopping more than 30,000 tonnes of good food going to waste every year. It redistributes surplus food through a national network of sta� shops, standalone stores and click-and-collect services to members that work in the food manufacturing industry and emergency services.

In December 2013, Company Shop launched the UK’s �rst social supermarket, Community Shop, with the aim of ensuring even more people in disadvantaged communities bene�t from the model. Community Shop is a social enterprise which aims to not only redistribute surplus food, but also gives members access to professional, personal development programmes aimed at providing a positive change to their lives.

Irwin Mitchell will provide Company

Shop and Community Shop with full legal support from across its business services team including corporate, commercial, employment and litigation.

James Berry, senior associate at Irwin Mitchell’s She�eld o�ce, said: “Company Shop is ahead of the political agenda and leading the way in terms of tackling food waste and improving the way in which the food industry operates. To be appointed lead legal adviser by such a forward-thinking company is fantastic

news and testament to the depth of our expertise in the food and manufacturing sector as well as our own approach to client care and social responsibility.”

Jane Marren, the managing director of Company Shop added: “We were impressed by the Irwin Mitchell team and how much work they had done to really understand our business. We look forward to working together over the coming years as Company Shop continues on its journey of growth.”

UK’s largest food redistributor appoints Irwin Mitchell as legal adviser

Shoosmiths to move into Leeds

NewsBusiness development

Rollits is celebrating its 175th anniversary.

The � rm was formed in 1841 by John Rollit and William Dryden, when it was called Dryden Sons & Rollit and based in Hull.

In due course, Rollit set up his own practice – Rollit & Sons – and soon after welcomed his two sons Albert and Arthur to the partnership.

Thomas Farrell joined in 1879 and Dick Bladon became a partner in 1934. Both became named partners of the � rm, which remained as Rollit Farrell and Bladon until it was shortened to Rollits in 2001.

The � rm has practised from various o� ces in Hull, London, Beverley, Hornsea, Helmsley and, from 1990, in York.

Ralph Gilbert, managing partner said: “On 9 June 1841, John Rollit was admitted as an attorney of the Court of Queen’s Bench and also a solicitor of the High Court of Chancery. His portrait is displayed in our reception at Citadel House today.

“The � rm has developed and changed in untold ways over the last 175 years. There have been in the region of 80 partners and hundreds of sta� who have made the � rm it is today.

“Today’s society, the legal profession and the � rm itself would

be most alien to John Rollit as he embarked on his legal career, but we are rightly proud that we are the same � rm that started life 175 years ago and we will be both commemorating and celebrating this signi� cant birthday over the next 12 months,” he added.

Rollits celebrates 175 years in business

When you hear the words ‘mining in the UK’ your mind may be drawn to Poldark and the extensive tin and copper mining industry that criss-crossed West Devon and Cornwall.

What you may not know is that the UK is peppered with local and regional scale mineral extraction that has shaped the country we live in today.

There have been over 35 minerals extracted from beneath our nation’s surface, with underground mining in the UK dating as far back as Neolithic times, some 5,000 years ago, when localised � int extraction occurred across the chalk plateau of Norfolk.

Mining and mineral extraction touches every corner of every county, with mine shafts, shallow underground workings and surface quarries littering our landscape, often lost and forgotten beneath agricultural land.

However, residential and commercial property has slowly leaked out from the city centres, with little attention paid to the problems that may exist beneath the ground. There are a growing number of shaft and mine working collapses each year and in areas of the country that were never associated, at least to the unaware, with mining. There have been over 37 mining-related sinkholes in the UK in the last 12 months. Only three of those have been in Cornwall and only six have been related to coal mining.

Yorkshire is endowed with one of the UK’s most diverse mining histories.

The rapid industrial growth of the region during the 19th century was only possible due to the county’s rich mineral resources. Dolomite, � agstone, ironstone, ganister, gypsum, jet, alum and lead (to name but a few) were extensively mined throughout the region.

As the lender and insurance powerhouses begin to understand and act on the risks presented by non-coal mining, it is more important than ever to ensure all parties involved within the property/land purchase and development process are informed of all mineral extraction hazards, everywhere. A service exclusively provided by Terra� rma.

Little evidence remains of our country’s once rich mining heritage, hidden beneath our growing residential and commercial developments, waiting patiently and silently. This a lost but very real threat and one that � nally deserves recognition in the conveyancing process.

Tom Backhouse is managing director and geologist at Terra� rma Mine Searches Ltd

The hidden legacy of UK mineral extraction

Leading conveyancing search provider PSG asks Terrafi rma to explain the legacy of mineral extraction in conveyancing

Promotional feature

For more information on howTerrafi rma is revolutionising miningrisk assessment, please contact PSG on 01226 246644 or email [email protected]

When you hear the words ‘mining in the UK’ your mind may be drawn to Poldarkand the extensive tin and copper mining industry that criss-crossed West Devon and Cornwall.

What you may not know is that the UK is peppered with local and regional scale mineral extraction that has shaped the country we live in today.

There have been over 35 minerals extracted from beneath our nation’s surface, with underground mining in the

Mining and mineral extraction touches every corner of every county, with mine shafts, shallow underground workings and surface quarries littering our landscape, often lost and forgotten beneath agricultural land.

However, residential and commercial property has slowly leaked out from the city centres, with little attention paid to the problems that may exist beneath the ground. There are a growing number of shaft and mine working collapses each year and in areas of the country that were never associated, at least to the unaware, with mining. There have been over 37 mining-related sinkholes in the UK in the last 12 months. Only three of those have been in Cornwall and only six have been related to coal mining.

Yorkshire is endowed with one of the UK’s most diverse mining histories.

The rapid industrial growth of the region during the 19th century was only possible due to the county’s rich mineral

As the lender and insurance powerhouses begin to understand and act on the risks presented by non-coal mining, it is more important than ever to ensure all parties involved within the property/land purchase and development process are informed of all mineral extraction hazards, everywhere. A service exclusively provided by Terra� rma.

Little evidence remains of our country’s once rich mining heritage, hidden beneath our growing residential and commercial developments, waiting patiently and silently. This a lost but very real threat and one that � nally deserves recognition in the conveyancing process.

Tom Backhouse is managing director and geologist at Terra� rma Mine Searches Ltd

The hidden legacy of UK mineral extraction

Leading conveyancing search provider PSG asks Terrafi rma to explain the legacy of mineral extraction in conveyancing

Promotional feature

For more information on howTerrafi rma is revolutionising mining


News Business development


Cartwright King has launched a legal services franchise for individuals looking to set up practices on their own.

The new franchise will operate under the � rm’s main brand and franchisees will be buying a slice of Cartwright King, which will o� er the support of an established law � rm.

It will provide solicitors with the ability to work from home, set their own hours and concentrate on client service and fee earning.

The � rm, which has o� ces in Leeds and She� eld, as well as other areas in the UK, says that franchisees will only have to pay a low percentage of fees and that the standard fees for the franchise will be a negotiable, low, � xed rate monthly or annual payment.

Levels of support will be tailored to individual needs, but every franchise will be provided with essential back o� ce functions such as IT infrastructure, case management system, PII insurance, accounts, marketing and branding training.

Individuals will also be able to set their own pricing structure, o� ering the ability to be more competitive and to pass on savings to their clients.

The � rm has said that it is looking for individuals across the country, from any area of private practice.

CEO Rupert Hawke (pictured) said: “We understand that an increasing amount of individuals want to work for themselves, achieving a better work life balance as well as receiving the other bene� ts that come from being your own boss, including the opportunity for increased income. Our franchise scheme enables all this, without the � nancial and regulatory barriers that come with setting up your own practice.

“We see this as the future of the profession and believe now is the right time to launch. We are determined to help the legal industry move into the 21stcentury.”

Applicants will undergo an initial assessment, which will review their

level of experience, ethics, ethos and record with the SRA. Franchisees will be

able to work from home via a

cloud system, take a seat in one of the � rm’s 19 o� ces or

set up a new location.

New individual legal franchise launched by Cartwright King

Gordons has completed two commercial property investment transactions within a week in Harrogate, with a combined value of £2.4m.

Along with property consultancy Eddisons, the � rm has helped sell the buildings to real estate investor and developer Marrtree, and Andrew Hillas Properties.

Marrtree has bought the building that is home to a Harrogate culinary institution, Graveley’s � sh and chip shop and seafood restaurant, for £970,000.

The � rst and second � oors of the property contain � ve apartments and the building produces an annual rental income of £73,400.

Andrew Hillas Properties has purchased Harrogate Business Centre, a serviced o� ce hub, for £1.45m.

Established over 30 years ago, the 11,500 sq ft space includes 46 o� ces and two workshops and has a 95 per cent occupancy rate.

Simon Mydlowski, a partner at Gordons who acted on behalf of both purchasers, said: “We are very happy to have been able to advise Marrtree and Andrew Hillas Properties on these successful acquisitions. Both businesses have a strong reputation as leading property developers and it was a pleasure to work with them to secure these deals.”

Eddisons acted on behalf of the vendors on the sale of both properties. Steven Jones, associate agency director, said: “The property market in Harrogate is buoyant and the town’s desirability as both a place to live and to work gives it an edge over other nearby locations.

“The Harrogate leisure scene is particularly vigorous at present, with a number of national operators moving in.”

Gordons helps complete Harrogate property deals worth £2.4m

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Pictured, (L-r) Steven Jones, Eddisons; Simon Mydlowski , Gordons

own pricing structure, o� ering the ability to be more competitive and to pass on

The � rm has said that it is looking for individuals across the country, from any

) said: “We understand that an increasing amount of individuals want to work for themselves, achieving a better work life balance as well as receiving the other bene� ts that

record with the SRA. Franchisees will be able to work from

home via a cloud system, take a seat in one of the � rm’s 19 o� ces or

set up a new location.



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Times change – and we’re driving those changes, for you.

John Krajewski, one of the most familiar faces from the legal and � nancial sector in She� eld, has retired from Wake Smith.

Known as John K locally, he had just two jobs in his career, spending a total of 48 years working with stockbrokers and solicitors in She� eld.

She� eld-born John decided not to follow his Polish father’s or uncle’s careers in the army or priesthood, and opted for leaving school early to join city stockbrokers Christopher Barber and Sons, which later became Barber and Wolstenholme; J W Nicholson, then Nicholson Barbers and BWD Rensberg.

He spent 32 years there in the support services as a clerk until he was made redundant in 1999. Hr joined Wake Smith Solicitors in 2000 after a tip o� from former legal executive

Neil Mo� att, and was appointed as an administration clerk.Krajewski was regularly seen making trips to various

o� ces and the courts with bundles of documents and is well known for his eccentricity, sense of humour, and immense generosity.

“Everyone was very kind to me at Wake Smith but I thought I’d done my share and it was time for a younger person to use the opportunity. I’m looking forward to spending time in my garden now I’ve � nished work,” he said.

John Liversidge, o� ce manager at Wake Smith Solicitors, said: “In those sixteen years with us John has grown his reputation for being a jolly fellow, who has always been willing to help, and go about his duties with a smile on his face.

“He had names for various teams a� ectionately referring to some of his colleagues in the � rm’s growing residential conveyancing team as ‘them girls’ and was known by his numerous catchphrases delivered daily. They included every Friday – ‘having fresh � sh from the freezer’ and ‘man doesn’t live by bread alone’.

“He was also a very generous person. He would help anyone and at Christmas would even buy all the sta� a Christmas present – a true Father Christmas.

“John was a keen user of Post It notes having never got to grips with emails. He was also a big follower of football catching up with the weekend’s results on Monday mornings with colleagues and then singing some old football songs. I am going to miss our Monday morning chats while opening the post.”

John Krajewski retires from Wake Smith

John Krajewski (left) with David Brown, Kevin Bostock and Steve Ford at Wake Smith tires from Wake Smith


New start-up fi rm, Virtus Law Ltd, is implementing the Law Society Endorsed Proclaim Practice Management solution from Eclipse Legal Systems.

The new Manchester-based fi rm has been founded by director Rossanna Schurink and will be primarily focusing on Personal Injury.

Having worked in a number of large national fi rms, Rossanna decided to set up Virtus Law to provide clients with expert advice and guidance through a process which can often be traumatic. This ambitious new start-up plans to expand, continuing to off er a personal touch that can often be lost in larger practices.

Virtus Law will be implementing a ready-to-go Proclaim Personal Injury solution enabling a secure and instantaneous approach to matter management. Proclaim’s integrated practice accounting and fi nancial management toolset will provide a seamless approach to billing and overall practice management, supplying a detailed analysis of operations.

Additionally, the practice will take advantage of Proclaim’s integration with the MoJ’s RTA and EL/PL Claims portal via a seamless Application-to-Application method, enabling comprehensive management of claims.

Furthermore, as a solution to the ‘know your customer’ problem, Virtus Law will benefi t from the integration between Eclipse and CRIF, the ID/AML checking service.

Ideal for a busy new start-up practice, the ID checking service will allow Virtus Law to request ‘one-click’ ID and AML checks directly from the Proclaim desktop, with search results returned directly to the relevant client fi les.

Rossanna Schurink, Director and Founder of Virtus Law , comments:

“Proclaim stood out due to its unrivalled reputation and experience within the market, providing me with the confi dence to know the software is entirely futureproof.”

Eclipse supports new start-up Virtus Law

Around 120 law fi rms headquartered in Yorkshire and the Humber have been asked to share the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) competition law information with their small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) clients.

The information is intended to help SMEs recognise anti-competitive practices, comply with competition law and report any suspicion that businesses have of illegal anti-competitive activity.

The approach is part of the CMA’s ongoing drive to boost awareness of competition law.

Yorkshire and the Humber is the fi fth region of the country to be chosen as the target of an awareness-raising drive.

Research conducted by the CMA has shown that businesses’ understanding of competition law in the area is low.

According to the body, only 58% of businesses in the region knew that price-fi xing can lead to imprisonment

and only 53% of businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber knew that bid-rigging is illegal.

In addition, only 41% knew that dominant fi rms are under a special responsibility not to allow their conduct to impair competition.

Ann Pope, CMA senior director of antitrust enforcement, said that the victims of anti-competitive activity could often be other businesses.

“So knowing what illegal behaviour looks like – and how to report it – can help small and medium-sized businesses protect themselves,” she said.

“The potential consequences of breaking the law are very serious. That is why it is important that all businesses know what to look out for and report suspected breaches to the CMA.

“Legal advisers to SMEs are ideally placed to help raise awareness of competition law among their clients.”

Rashmi Dubé, the founding director of Legatus Law in Leeds, has launched a guide to networking which she hopes will help readers to build relationships before focusing on selling products or services.

Her debut book, called Making a Splash (a Personal Guide to Networking), encourages people to consider what message they are trying to convey to those that they meet both in business and their personal lives. Using simple techniques, the book focuses on fi rst impressions, how to start a conversation in a room full of people you don’t know, and how to then follow-up to create lasting relationships.

“For me, networking is more than formal get-togethers,” said Dubé, who spent more than three years planning and writing the book.

“We all network all of the time but often do this without realising. The best analogy for me is that it’s like when we go swimming. The water is always cold at fi rst, but once we acclimatise it feels much better. Before you know it we are diving in!

“One of the most important places for informal networking is in the offi ce. What is really interesting is that regardless of your sector, the same

principles apply. It is very important to build good relationships with those around you; after all they could become your biggest ambassadors, next client or employer.”

Making a Splash (a Personal Guide to Networking) is available from Amazon for £9.99 and Waterstones in Leeds.

Yorkshire and Humber-based lawyers asked to promote awareness of new competition law rules

Legatus Law founder hopes debut book will make a splash


For more information contact [email protected] or call 01274 704 100.


News Business development

Scho� eld Sweeney has con� rmed that it will relocate the former Armitage Sykes Hudders� eld o� ce to new premises in the centre of Hudders� eld.

The � rm, which merged with Hudders� eld-based Armitage Sykes earlier this year, now employs over 150 sta� across three sites.

Armitage Sykes, which was established 150 years ago and is � rmly rooted in Hudders� eld, was o� cially integrated into Scho� eld Sweeney on 1 July. Prior to the merger, Rob Kelly, a partner at Armitage Sykes, said: “As the � rm takes on the Scho� eld Sweeney brand we will preserve our strong Hudders� eld heritage while expanding the commercial law services available to the Hudders� eld market.”

Chris Scho� eld, the chairman of Scho� eld Sweeney, said that the � rm was fast growing and had a strong reputation in West Yorkshire.

“The move will enable us to expand our o� ering as well as be in a prime location with modern working and meeting facilities,” he said.

Two girls who kidnapped a toddler from a Primark store have been detained for three years and three months in a case prosecuted by Sarah Barlow from Exchange Chambers in Leeds.

The case, which achieved national recognition, involved two Tyneside teenagers aged 13 and 14 who had shoplifted dummies, baby milk and a bottle before kidnapping the toddler.

Sentencing the pair at Newcastle Crown Court, Mr Justice Globe referred to internet searches on a tablet belonging to the younger girl. These related to topics including children having sex, rape and slavery.

The judge said that although the child had come to “no actual harm”, there had been intent, planning and enticement. He said the guidelines recommended a � ve-year sentence, but he deducted a third o� it, because the girls had pleaded guilty.

Armitage Sykes takes on Scho� eld Sweeney name and relocates to new o� ces

Leeds barrister prosecutes Primark kidnap case


Incorporations switched back on in the legal sector?

Armstrong Watson Accountants and Financial Advisers is a trading style. Armstrong Watson is a partnership under English law. A list of partners is available at the principal place of business, 15 Victoria Place, Carlisle, CA1 1EW. Armstrong Watson is regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of investment business activities.

We have had a raft of recent enquiries from law firms looking for us to help them to incorporate following the recent tax changes once again making it more attractive to dispose of goodwill.

Our experience helps us to ensure that the regulatory, valuation, commercial and flexibility aspects are properly addressed.

Don’t get left behind - contact us to find out more or visit www.armstrongwatson.co.uk/legalsector

Mark Baines, Legal Sector Manager Andy Poole, Legal Sector Partner [email protected] [email protected] 221 1300 07828 857830

The Law Society has exclusively endorsed Armstrong Watson for the provision of accountancy services to law firms throughout the North of England.

detained for three years and three months in a case prosecuted by Sarah Barlow from Exchange Chambers in Leeds.

The case, which achieved national recognition, involved two Tyneside teenagers aged 13 and 14 who had shoplifted dummies, baby milk and a bottle before

Newcastle Crown Court, Mr

internet searches on a tablet belonging to the younger girl. These related to topics including children having sex, rape and slavery.

The judge said that although the child had come to “no actual harm”, there had been intent, planning and enticement. He said the guidelines recommended a � ve-year sentence, but he



Bevan Brittan has announced an 8% increase on revenue on the previous year in its latest financial results, partly thanks to the opening of its new Leeds office.

Income at the firm grew from £34.9m to £37.7m, while net profits grew by 9%. Profit per equity partner (PEP) rose from £284,000 to £305,000.

The firm, which also has offices in Birmingham, Bristol and London said that its Yorkshire office had performed

better than had been anticipated. Bevan Brittan opened its Leeds office at Toronto Square in September of last year. The office now holds seven partners.

Bevan Brittan’s managing partner Duncan Weir said: “These are excellent results. I am delighted that these results have been achieved in the same year as we took the investment costs and time to successfully open our new Leeds office and at a time of investing

in new technology to better deliver to our clients.

“One of the reasons for our success is the contribution made by our new office in Leeds. From a standing start, all parts of our new office have performed above expectations and we have a great platform for further growth in the region.

Bevan Brittan has a strong public sector footprint, working with all Local Authorities in England, a third of all NHS bodies and 40 housing associations.

Wake Smith has helped rookie bar owner Ted Finley to pursue his love of pork scratchings and beer and open the first micro-pub in Sheffield’s Broomhill.

Finley, a former joiner from Kent, was given permission by Sheffield City Council to turn the former Knowle’s Emporium gift shop on Glossop Road into a small pub offering craft ales, bar snacks and pub games.

Having sought legal advice from Wake Smith on leasing the building, the micro-pub, called The Itchy Pig Alehouse after Finley’s passion for pork scratchings, opened at midday on 30 July.

“There has been a big refurbishment project to complete. It’s been a substantial investment and a huge challenge. I love good beer, pub games and good bar snacks

and now it’s ready and I can’t wait to open. I’m looking forward to serving some of Sheffield’s and Kent’s best ales.

“I found the property and needed help on the legal side. I’ve worked in pubs and by trade I’m a joiner, but I had no idea about the legal issues of

taking on a building.Finley added that Tom Weightman,

a commercial property solicitor at Wake Smith who helped him through the process was very approachable and professional.

“He took all the stress away from the process,” said Finley.

New Leeds office helps drive strong year of growth at Bevan Brittan

Micro-pub owner raises a glass to Wake Smith

Mills & Reeve has announced a record £87.2 million turnover in its 2015/16 results, an increase of more than £5.5 million from last year.

The firm, which employs more than 900 staff across six UK offices, enjoyed a 6.8% increase in turnover, comfortably outperforming the 5.4% average growth of the UK’s top 100 firms.

As a result of the strong financial performance the firm also announced the largest ever all staff bonus pool of £1.28 million, equivalent to 5.2% of the firm’s salary bill.

Claire Clarke, Mills & Reeve managing partner, commented: “We are delighted by this strong financial performance which was achieved through growing demand for our services over the last 12 months. It’s also a great tick in the

box in terms of our 2020 firm strategy with one of our key objectives to grow faster than the top 100 average.

“We are confident despite the uncertainty created by Brexit we can build on this growth in the current financial year. We are already having some positive meetings with clients and working with our relationship firms across the world to discuss the implications for their clients in relation to their UK based businesses, or overseas investors seeing the weakness of sterling as an investment opportunity.”

The Leeds office has grown significantly over the last 12 months with a number of high profile appointments including corporate partner Paul Johnson from Irwin

Mitchell. The corporate team has also been boosted by the arrival of Shubhu Patil as principal associate and Anna Gausden as an associate.

The Leeds private wealth team also welcomed partner Andrew Playle from Bond Dickinson. He was joined by senior associate Ellie Milner and associate Rachel MacIntosh.

Philip Way, head of the Leeds office said: “It has been a tremendous year of growth with new senior appointments and client wins. We have significantly expanded our offering in the corporate market as well as in private client, employment and commercial litigation. We have growth ambitious plans for the coming year and are looking forward to making further announcements in the near future.”

Record turnover for Mills & Reeve


News Social & charity

Williamsons Solicitors has celebrated its 125th anniversary by raising nearly £28,000 for good causes.

The � rm teamed up with charity fundraising facilitator Hull and East Yorkshire Smile Foundation and invited sta� to nominate charities they would like to support through Smile.

Williamsons started its celebration year last summer raising nearly £5,000 at a Devil’s Kitchen event at the Holiday Inn in Hull. The funds were matched by Santander.

Since then, there have been numerous charity events, donations and commitments by sta� , including paying £3 a month, for nine months, for the chance to win an additional

day o� from work. This raised £2,800 for Smile by the Sea, a charity providing free breaks for families in need.

Williamsons director Bill Waddington and his fellow director, Sarah Clubbed, also spent an afternoon at Hull Prison in a Boss Behind Bars charity stunt after being found guilty at the old Hull Magistrates Court. The two directors raised £8,498 in “bail” money.

Waddington said that any loss of dignity, such as being a prisoner in the Boss Behind Bars stunt, had been worth it during the fundraising year.

“Our team at Williamsons certainly deserves the plaudits,” he said.

“Whether they’ve been running marathons, parachuting out of planes or cooking up a storm, they have gone beyond the call of duty.

“As well as raising cash now we hope we can have a long-term impact on the charities we help and leave a positive legacy from what is a truly special 12 months for the � rm.”

Tessa Wray, business development manager for Smile, said that working with Williamsons had been an absolute pleasure.

“The company really got into the spirit of raising funds for some fantastic local causes,” she said.

“Employees from across the business were engaged in the celebrations in some way throughout the year. It was a real team e� ort.”

Williamsons celebrates 125th anniversary year by raising £28,000 for good causes

Make BPP University Law School your first choice for legal education.Call 0330 060 3100 or visit us at bppuniversity.ac.uk/law

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NewsSocial & charity


Lawyers from the Leeds office of Mills & Reeve have helped raise over £17,000 for YoungMinds by trekking across the Yorkshire Dales.

The staff from Leeds joined around 90 of their colleagues, family and friends from across the UK to walk 12km over Ingleborough, the second highest peak in the Yorkshire Dales. Most of the participants then braved the 2.5km traverse through the various passages, chambers and obstacles in the Long Churn Cave. The more avid hikers completed the traditional Yorkshire Three Peaks.

Claire Clarke, Mills & Reeve’s managing partner, who took on the challenge herself, said that the trek was a great example of Mills & Reeve’s culture “at its best”.

“It was a great opportunity to meet people from other parts of the firm and fantastic to see how everyone pulled together to help each other up hills or overcome underground obstacles, including squeezing through the Cheese Press in the Long Churn Cave,” she said.

“We’re delighted to have raised so much for such a worthy cause and the bar is certainly high for next year’s challenge.”

YoungMinds is committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people who suffer from mental health problems.

Mills & Reeve raises £17k for YoungMinds

hlw Keeble Hawson’s private client team has clocked up 400 hours of pro bono support to boost a wealth of worthy charities across South Yorkshire.

The 400 hours, which amounts to 50 working days, spans a period from March 2015 to June 2016.

Michele Todd, partner and charity law specialist at hlw Keeble Hawson, said: “The 400 hours milestone reflects our deep-rooted commitment to our corporate social responsibility.

“We are delighted to draw on the firm’s expertise to add value to these charities who work relentlessly to make a

difference to the lives of the local people they support.”

The firm, which has offices in Sheffield, Leeds and Doncaster, takes part in wide-ranging fundraising events for organisations including Cathedral Archer Project, Lost Chord and Safe at Last.

A recent example saw clinical negligence specialist Natalie Cosgrove – the new president of the Sheffield & District Law Society – and three colleagues embarking on a five-hour spinathon to boost funds for Sheffield Mencap and Gateway and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice by £750.

hlw Keeble Hawson marks 400 hour pro bono milestone

Two lawyers from Sheffield firm Proddow Mackay will swap the office for the stage this October when they perform a stand-up comedy routine in front of a live audience.

Harvey Harding and Nigel Taylor are taking part in Weston Park Hospital’s Funny Business event at Sheffield City Hall to raise funds for the specialist cancer hospital.

This will be the fifth year that the hospital charity has invited successful Sheffield business people to tackle the challenge. The contestants will have coaching from professional comedian, Alfie Moore.

Harding and Taylor have admitted that they are dreading the prospect of dying on stage in front of an expected audience of 450.

“I’ve done many things in public before, such as dancing and music,” said Harding.

“And I’ve acted in comedies in my youth and fronted a band or two, but never this. It will be a real challenge.”

Money raised from the event will go towards funding a wide variety of projects for Weston Park Hospital, including the expansion of research studies, improving the way cancer treatments are delivered, and supporting the ongoing care provisions of patients and their families affected by cancer.

Last year’s event raised over £15,000, the target this year is £20,000.

“Weston Park has been of great assistance and support to one of my colleagues in recent times,” said Harding.

“In fact, it’s only a month or two ago that she received the all clear so to give back and say thank you is really important. Sheffield is really blessed with the services it has at its disposal and that should be publicised.”

Tickets for Funny Business are £15 each and can be purchased online at www.funnybusinesssheffield.org.uk or by calling the charity office on 0114 226 5370.

Proddow Mackay solicitors prepare their punch lines for Sheffield audience


News Social & charity

Emma Brooksbank, Simpson Millar’s head of Immigration, has helped secure a stage for a one-o� theatre performance about statelessness and nationality in support of Refugee Week.

Free to Stay, a production by Displace Yourself Theatre, was performed on 30 June in Leeds, by Jennifer Nevin and Mike Auger who sought inspiration from the experiences of displaced communities, and from their own work with the British Red Cross.

Brooksbank was inspired after watching a performance by the duo about the plight of asylum seekers. She set out to �nd a stage for the group and secured a deal for a one-o� performance at a newly established venue: the Interplay Theatre on Armley Ridge Road.

“Many of us take our nationality for granted, but once in a while we should stop and consider just how lucky we are to have somewhere we belong,” said Brooksbank.

“In the wake of a heated EU debate, we really need to talk about immigration

in a new and more positive way.“Refugee Week is a hugely important

event; it gives us the chance to celebrate Britain’s cultural diversity. This is an opportunity to switch the narrative from the plight and di�culty of refugees and asylum seekers, to the positive in�uence these people have had, and continue to have, on our communities,” she added.

Immigration lawyer helps stage theatre performance in support of Refugee Week

Leslie Emilie Tuck, a solicitor at Skipton’s QualitySolicitors Mewies, has donated nine inches of her hair to the Little

Princess Trust charity.American born Tuck has now donated

her hair six times, between the US charity Locks of Love and the Little Princess Trust. Both charities use the hair to provide real hair wigs for children who su�er medically related baldness.

She estimates that she has now donated over six feet of hair in total.

Tuck’s seven year old daughter Adélie has followed in her mother’s footsteps and donated ten inches of her hair for the �rst time a few months ago.

“It’s a way of giving something back to help children,” said Tuck. “My hair seems to grow very quickly, so I thought, why not put it to good use?”

Solicitor clips hair for Little Princess Trust charity

I am looking to introduce a bonus scheme for my fee earners – how should I do that?

Based on the number of recent enquiries we have been receiving for support, reviewing both fee earner and partner reward seems to be a hot topic amongst law �rms right now. Many �rms are looking to alter the way in which they reward their people as part of a package to change behaviours to boost pro�ts and cash collection, thereby moving along the lines of performance related pay.

Historically, many �rms have had simple fee targets for their lawyers and have paid bonuses based upon

the fees raised. Whilst simple and easy to calculate, such incentives do not create well balanced behaviour and have the ability to create divisions within the team.

An incentive system needs to be based on a variety of desired achievements and needs to incentivise working alongside colleagues. At the same time it needs to be objective rather than subjective; within the control of the fee earners; and fee earners need be provided with the information with which to self manage. Targets should not be the same for all. They should be focussed on what the �rm is looking for those individuals to achieve.

The bonus schemes that we implement for law �rms are always speci�c and for the reasons set out above, require a great deal of analysis of the �rm’s objectives and the individual’s performances before a balanced outcome can be achieved.

Get it wrong and bonus schemes can cause more problems than they are seeking to resolve.

Firm adviceAndy Poole, the Legal Sector Partner at Armstrong Watson, answers your strategic and financial questions every edition.

Andy acts exclusively for law firms across the UK, particularly focusing on advising lawyers in response to the current changes in the legal marketplace.

- To ask Andy a question that may be featured in this column, email [email protected].

- To contact Andy directly, call 0113 221 1300 or email [email protected]

Armstrong Watson has been exclusively endorsed by the Law Society for the provision of accountancy services to law firms throughout the North of England.

In association with


Whitaker Firth

Whitaker Firth’s Guiseley o�ce has welcomed Antonia Bruce to its property

department. As a chartered legal executive with ten years’ experience she will handle all aspects of residential property work at the Guiseley o�ce.

Alexandra Wright has also quali�ed as a solicitor with the �rm. After nearly six years of training Wright will be joining partner Susan Wright and associate solicitor Catherine Armitage as part of the Private Client team. Wright will bene�t from the knowledge of her new colleagues who have over 35 years of experience.

Clarion

Stephanie Parish has been promoted to senior associate in Clarion’s growing private client team.

Parish joined Clarion in 2008 and completed

her training with the �rm. She has spent the last six years working as an associate in the private client practice advising clients on a diverse range of legal issues from wills and incapacity to inheritance tax planning and wealth management.

In 2014 she she completed the STEP (Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners) diploma in Trusts and Estates.

Jones Myers

Jones Myers has further strengthened its growing children department with the appointment of solicitor Jane Bolton.

Accredited by the Law Society to act for children, Bolton brings eight years of experience to Jones Myers after moving from Leeds law �rm Henry Hyams.

Jones Myers partner and head of the children department, Kate Banerjee, said: “Our fast-growing client base reinforces the breadth and depth of our expertise and attracting top talent is vital as we continue to expand into areas including adoption and surrogacy.”

Ramsdens

Ramsdens has announced the promotion of three new partners.

Vikki Horspool and Laura Beevers are both partners in its care team

and Lindsey Frith is a new partner in its conveyancing department.

Paul Joyce, managing partner added: “The appointment of these partners re�ects their excellence in client service along with their commitment to the �rm. This brings the female lawyers in the partnership to 53 per cent. Gender is de�nitely not a barrier to progression at Ramsdens.”

Ison Harrison

Ison Harrison has announced a number of new appointments to strengthen its existing personal injury and clinical negligence

teams at its central Leeds branch.James Thompson has taken up

the role of interim head of clinical negligence, covering Rebecca Woods’ maternity leave. Steven Addy has joined as a legal executive, moving on from the Barnsley-based law �rm Raleys. Also joining the personal injury team are Melita Roberts, a paralegal, and James Thompson.

Another new addition is Barnaby Rosenthall, a solicitor with expertise in all aspects of clinical negligence.

Ridley & Hall

Laura Milburn has joined the child care and adoption team at Ridley & Hall solicitors.

Milburn was called to the Bar in 2010 and

cross-quali�ed to become a solicitor in 2012. Her work involves care proceedings as well as representing parents and family members where social services are involved.

James Cook, director, said: “We are delighted that Laura has joined Ridley & Hall. She is very determined and �ghts strongly on her clients’ behalf. I have every con�dence that Laura will provide a high quality service to her clients.”

Wilkinson Woodward

Wilkinson Woodward has announced that former trainee Shelley McLachlan has been admitted to the roll.

While studying law at the University of Hudders�eld, McLachlan

spent �ve summers gaining work experience at Wilkinson Woodward’s Brighouse o�ce. After securing a �rst in her law degree and going on to achieve a Masters in law & practice, she began working as a paralegal in 2014.

She secured a training contract with Wilkinson Woodward in early 2015 and has spent the past 18 months gaining experience in all departments.

Myton Law

Chris Thornes, former head of commercial law at DB Cargo UK, has joined Myton Law.

Thornes’ arrival will increase the volume of the �rm’s work

in the rail sector substantially. He will also bring new expertise in commercial property and add strength to Myton’s company and commercial capabilities.

Thornes will continue to provide support to the DB Cargo UK legal team in Doncaster and to its sister company Schenker Limited on both property and commercial legal work.

Thornes quali�ed as a lawyer in 2001.

NewsAppointments

Taylor&Emmet

Taylor&Emmet has appointed two new legal specialists, Stacie Hurt and Kelly Gibson to its contentious

probate and employment law teams. Contentious probate solicitor Hurt

joins from HLW Keeble Hawson in She�eld and will be handling a variety of disputes, including Inheritance Act claims, issues surrounding the executors of wills and the maladministration of trusts.

Gibson, a chartered legal executive will handle enquiries from businesses and individuals on all employment issues and workplace disputes. Most recently, she was based at Elliott Mather in Chester�eld.

AWB Charlesworth Solicitors and NatWest have teamed up with Keelham Farm for the latest Women@Work networking event.

The evening event was held the farm’s shop and attended by around sixty professional women from the local area.

Women@Work was launched four years ago by AWB Charlesworth Solicitors and NatWest to create a forum for women in the Aire Valley to meet together, share ideas and network.

Attendees heard from guest speaker and owner of Keelham Farm, Victoria Robertshaw, about her own journey in business and the inspirational story of how Keelham Farm has grown and developed over the years.

The guests enjoyed informal networking and Keelham juices on arrival, a risotto prepared by Keelham chef Matt and a quartet of home-made desserts.

Robertshaw said: “It was fantastic to meet so many female entrepreneurs working in and around Skipton, and to have a forum where we can share our experiences and support one another.

“This event was a great opportunity to tell Keelham’s story and by hosting it here in Skipton, guests could see for themselves the fruits of our labours. I’d like to thank everyone who came along as we had some really lovely feedback on both the event and the shop.”

Felicity Green, practice manager at AWB Charlesworth said: “Our vision for Women@Work is to provide a forum for local professional women to meet up, build relationships,

refer business to one another and provide inspiration for our own working lives. Our thanks go to Victoria Robertshaw, Kate Dobson and the whole team at Keelham for their part in making the event such a success.”

AWB Charlesworth helps Aire Valley business women talk shop at Keelham Farm

Most small law �rms operate completely di�erently to how they operated just ten years ago.

The application of technology in small law �rms has been driven by competition and by market pressure on price. But there is the opportunity to be pro-active rather than just re-active. You have to think innovatively.

So as a small law �rm owner, what technological innovations do you need to be aware of?One of the nice things about innovative technology is that you do not need to be particularly entrepreneurial to get the bene�ts – all you need to do is be willing to invest and implement the right technology.

Investment in the right cloud based case management system for your �rm is key to remaining competitive. Suppliers continue to innovate and this drive to stay ahead of the curve ensures software companies continue to provide the most advanced technology available.

What are the legal innovators doing?The introduction of cloud based case management software is creating a host of new ways to structure a �rm.The fact that you no longer need to manage IT server infrastructure makes life a lot easier.

What’s more, instead of wasting time spent commuting, sta� can work remotely. As well as the obvious bene�t to both sta� and practice of allowing more time to be spent working on matters, �rms no longer have to provide the o�ce space and all the attendant infrastructure to enable them to work.

MobilityJust a few years ago mobility for a lawyer meant carrying paper �les of con�dential client information around. Today you can sit in court and access the electronic �le for a case on your smartphone, tablet or laptop. You can send emails, check �nancial balances and send messages about the case from the palm of your hand.

Although you require an internet connection for full functionality, the right cloud case management system can allow you to work o�ine as well. LEAP, for example, automatically synchronises when an internet connection is re-established, making your work instantly available to your colleagues.

Cloud based case management technology is also allowing innovative �rms to retain the very best talent.

It gives �rms the freedom to recruit sta� and have them work remotely and more importantly, o�er �exibility to highly valued, existing sta� members who are in need of a better work life balance.

Peter Baverstock is chief executive officer of LEAP in the UK and has been involved in developing software for small law firms for more than 20 years. He can reached at [email protected]. Visit www.leap.co.uk/conveyancing/ for more information.

Technological, innovation and the small law �rmPromotional feature

PICTURED: Left to right: Mel Crewe (AWB Charlesworth Solicitors), Victoria Robertshaw (Keelham Farm), Liz Smith (NatWest), Felicity Green (AWB Charlesworth Solicitors) and Kate Dobson (Keelham Farm).

News Legal & community



EventsYorkshire Legal Awards

Some of the most talented individuals and successful law � rms from across Yorkshire have been shortlisted for this year’s Yorkshire Legal Awards, which aim to reward excellence across the

profession, from niche � rms to major international players.This year’s judging panel, chaired by Marilyn Stowe, the

founder and senior partner of Stowe Family Law, studied an extremely high level of entries across all categories.

“This is my second year in which I am privileged to chair the judges and I noted a record number of superb entries,” said Stowe.

“All the judges had to spend a great deal of time reading and marking, the judges’ meeting, was lively and diverse, highlighting the overall quality of all the entries and the di� culty we had in making our overall selection. I thank all the Judges for their hard work.

“It was clear to me above all that the quality of law � rms in Yorkshire is absolutely fantastic. The consumer doesn’t need to travel anywhere else for top class lawyers”

Stowe was joined by an eminent panel of judges including Andrew Axon – Parklane Plowden; Natalie Cosgrove – President of the She� eld Law Society; Tom Macdonald – The University of Law; Karen James – Ramsdens Solicitors; Sue Harris – President of the Leeds Law Society; and Leanne Coyle– Chair of the Leeds Junior Lawyer Division.

The awards will be staged at New Dock Hall, Leeds on 13 October 2016.

The winners of 21 di� erent categories will be revealed at a prestigious ceremony and dinner, where 500 legal professionals from across the region will come together to celebrate, network and socialise.

Barker Brooks Communications unveils who will be in the running for the 2016 Yorkshire Legal Awards, following a judges’ meeting in July

Shortlist announced for the 2016 Yorkshire Legal Awards

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1107

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Because litigation is rarely black and white

Call 0844 854 6838 to set up an introduction to a broking partner

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Law Firm (1-10 Partners) • A&N Care Solicitors• AWB Charlesworth• Barnes Family Law• Michael Lewin Solicitors• MKB Solicitors• Needle Partners

Law Firm (11-30 Partners) • Blacks Solicitors• Chadwick Lawrence• Nabarro• Switalskis Solicitors

Law Firm (31+ Partners) • Bond Dickinson• Eversheds• Squire Patton Boggs• Ward Hadaway

Residential Property • Taylor & Emmet• Banner Jones Solicitors• Gordons

Commercial Property • Blacks Solicitors• DAC Beachcroft• Shulmans• Squire Patton Boggs

Dispute Resolution • Chadwick Lawrence• Switalskis Solicitors• Mills & Reeve• Squire Patton Boggs• Thornton Jones Family Law

Rising Star • Andrew McAulay, Clarion

Solicitors• Caroline Murgatroyd, Hudgell

Solicitors• Frances Mitchell, Gordons• Helen Forster, Heptonstalls

Solicitors• Kate Booth, Eaton Smith

Private Client • Chadwick Lawrence• Duncan Milwain, Lupton

Fawcett Denison Till• Heptonstalls Solicitors• Ward Hadaway

Niche Law • A&N Care• Barton Legal Limited• DigitalLawUK• Lester Morrill

Corporate and Commercial • Clarion• DLA Piper• Squire Patton Boggs• Ward Hadaway

Enterprise • Best Solicitors• James Love Legal

Employment Law • Hethertons Solicitors• DAC Beachcroft• Ward Hadaway

In-House Lawyer • Alison Charnock, Wm Morrison

Supermarkets• John Crosse, Wakefield Council• Jonathan Westwood, Primetals

Technologies• Plusnet Legal & Compliance

Team

Family Law • A&N Care Solicitors• Simpson Millar• Wakefield MDC• Makin Dixon• Ridley & Hall Solicitors

Chambers of the Year • Parklane Plowden Chambers• Kings Chambers• St John’s Buildings• Zenith Chambers

Trainee Solicitor • James Farad, Blacks Solicitors• Lucy Potts, DLA Piper UK• Peter Worsencroft, Squire

Patton Boggs• Ryan Adams, Shulmans

Pro Bono • BPP Pro Bono Team• DLA Piper UK• Simpson Millar• Uganda Twinning Group,

Huddersfield Law Society

Partner of the Year• Alison Page, DLA Piper UK• Joanne Fearnley, Gordons• Nigel Priestley, Ridgley & Hall

Solicitors• Rachelle Mahapatra, Irwin

Mitchell

Managing Partner of the Year• Aziz Rahman, Rahman Ravelli• Donna Tilbrook, Best Solicitors• Neil Wilson, Chadwick

Lawrence• Roger Hutton & Ryan Milmore,

Clarion

Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year• Announced at the awards

ceremony

President’s Lifetime Achievement award • Announced at the awards

ceremony

The shortlist

Meet the judges



YLL

HP

0002

1107

2013

Because litigation is rarely black and white

Call 0844 854 6838 to set up an introduction to a broking partner

www.amtrustinternational.com

AmTrust LawAn AmTrust International Division

Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer |

whiteIf you’re a solicitor looking for a legal expenses insurance partner, there are several options on the market - few with the levels of free-thinking flexibility offered by AmTrust Law.

Our underwriters specialise in tailor-made commercial legal expenses policies that give your clients the cover they need.

With an ‘A’ (Excellent) credit rating from A.M.Best, worldwide cover capability and a strong balance sheet, we also have the financial clout needed to underwrite higher indemnity values for large commercial clients.

AmTrust Law is a trading style of AmTrust Europe Limited which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. AmTrust Europe Limited has been rated ‘A’ (Excellent) by A.M.Best.



Marilyn Stowe, chair

Marilyn Stowe is the founder and senior partner of Stowe Family Law, the UK’s largest specialist family law �rm, with seven o�ces across Central London, Yorkshire, Cheshire, and the Home Counties. Her �rm represents clients nationally and internationally.

Stowe appears regularly in major print and broadcast media including BBC, ITV and Sky News.

She is the author of three books, including the bestselling Divorce & Splitting Up.

Sue Harris

Sue Harris is a director at Walker Morris and President of the Leeds Law Society.

She specialises in commercial litigation and has more than 20

years experience of dealing with disputes in areas such as construction, engineering, professional negligence, contractual and shareholder disputes, fraud and contentious probate.

Harris has been responsible for Civil Litigation and liaison with the Court Service and the Judiciary on behalf of Leeds Law Society.

Judge Geoffrey Kamil

His Honour Judge Geo�rey H Kamil retired as a Circuit Judge in 2010. He was appointed Circuit Judge for the North Eastern Circuit of England in 1993 and has served on the Equal Treatment Advisory Committee of the Judicial Studies Board, and the Family Committee of the Judicial Studies board for England and Wales.

He currently sits on the Parole Board for England and Wales.

Karen James

Karen James is a partner and head of residential conveyancing at Ramsdens Solicitors. She was named as the Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year for 2015.

She sits on the executive committee of the Conveyancing Association, an organisation dedicated to playing a key role in shaping changes for the future of the industry.

Having held her position for over 20 years, she has a wealth of experience and an in-depth knowledge of the residential property industry.

Andrew Axon

Andrew Axon is head of Parklane Plowden Chambers and specialises in the �eld of personal injury and clinical negligence.”

Axon was elected Head of Chambers in 2012 and led the set through an ambitious re-structure in 2015. He has been an integral part of the Yorkshire legal community since joining chambers in 1992. He is past President of the West Yorkshire

Medico-legal Society

Natalie Cosgrove

The current Vice President of She�eld and District Law Society, Natalie Cosgrove is a solicitor in the medical negligence department at hlw Keeble Hawson.

She is a South Yorkshire Medico Legal Society committee member and has Higher Rights of Audience (Civil and Criminal).

Cosgrove regularly gives lectures and training sessions to dentists, orthodontists, doctors and medical students on topics including consent and managing patient expectations and complaints.

Leanne Coyle

Leanne Coyle is the Leeds Junior Lawyers Division Chair for 2015-2016. Prior to being elected Chair, Leanne ful�lled the role of Charity and Education O�cer in 2014-2015.

She has been a quali�ed solicitor for two years and specialises in probate and estate administration,

dealing with mostly high net worth estates and those with assets abroad.

Coyle studied for her degree at the University of Leeds and continued her legal education at BPP Law School in the city before training at a high street �rm in East Leeds known for their Legal Aid Family work.

Tom MacDonald

Tom MacDonald is the director of the University of Law’s Leeds centre.

He began his career as a criminal barrister in London, before becoming national programme director of the BVC at BPP University Law School.

MacDonald has over a ten years’ experience in legal education both within the UK, and in Ireland, where he was Dean of the Hon. Society of King’s Inns School of Law. Upon his return to the UK he was deputy chief examiner for Professional Conduct and Ethics on the Bar Standards Board Central Examinations Board and responsible for Education and Training Quality management at the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority.

He was head of the school of law at Leeds Metropolitan (now Leeds Beckett) University before then joining the University of Law.

The political landscape was shaken to its very core on 24 June, when we woke up to discover that the UK had voted to leave the European Union. Given the crucial role that the legal community

will play in shaping the country post-Brexit, Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer asked some of Yorkshire’s lawyers for their views on what lies ahead for the region and the country.

Mini Setty, partner in employment law at Langleys Solicitors in York“Employers face a period of uncertainty now that the UK has decided to leave the EU. In the immediate aftermath, businesses are likely to be cautious about expansion and some may consider redundancies. “In the longer term, it is likely the government will make some deregulatory changes. However,

in most areas, signifi cant changes are unlikely, as many rights derived from Europe are fully embedded in the UK’s workplaces.“Action from employers is unlikely to be required until we are clearer about the relationship that the UK intends to have with the EU; the price of a free trade agreement

with the EU may be the acceptance of EU employment law. For now, any changes are likely to be transitional and determined in the months, and even years, following Brexit.”

Paul Scholey, senior partner, Morrish Solicitors“As a trade union lawyer, my fi rst thoughts are about employment law reform. There is unlikely to be wholesale change overnight, but the stance of the pro-Leave campaigners plainly pointed to an attack on workers’ rights at some time in the future. “The EU has generally been an eff ective brake on the employer-friendly approach of the UK government – and has encouraged the development of rights in relation to equal pay, discrimination and holiday pay, to mention just a few. “Once we are Out, I suspect there will be a drift to the right, politically, and a corresponding attempt to deregulate employment rights – which is to say, to dilute them, for the benefi t of business and to the detriment of working people. The same will hold true about all other rights at work including I dare say a signifi cant and detrimental dilution of the workers’ real-life ability to bring actions for personal injuries such that the less scrupulous employers will begin a race to the bottom on price without any proper regard for workers safety.”

Goodbye Brussels As the shock of the UK voting to leave the European Union dies down, Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer asked some lawyers in the region for their take on what Brexit will mean for the country


Cover storyBrexit


Cover storyBrexit

Sarah Cookson, director and head of the conveyancing department at Switalskis Solicitors “My immediate concern is the impact that the volatile �nancial situation will have on the housing market. In recent years, Yorkshire has enjoyed a buoyant housing market, but the leave vote makes the future uncertain. Already we have received instructions to put some matters on hold whilst the clients consider their options, and we’ve seen one client withdraw from a purchase because they do not have British Citizenship.”

Richard Wisnia, head of new build conveyancing department, Switalskis Solicitors“The platforms of fear from which both sides of the referendum campaign approached the public and attacked each another, left a bad taste in the mouth. I expect will have signi�cant social and political consequences in the near future; the virtual collapse of the Labour Party within days of the referendum are for me a sample of what is to come.

“The economy will take a dent, no doubt, but it seems that it is strong enough to withstand the initial e�ect without too much pain to businesses or individuals, though we may see some tax rises as a result.

“The UK remains a vital trade partner for many of the remaining EU countries so I am certain that those relations will continue (though on what terms remains to be seen). However, the socially inward view which seems to have informed the decision to exit is a concern and together with the likelihood of the main political parties tearing themselves apart from the inside, ine�ective leadership and widening social divisions leave us potentially in turmoil.”

Shaukat Ali, director in the competition team at Walker Morris “The true impact of Brexit for competition law will depend on the terms of the exit negotiated by the UK with the EU.

“At one end of the spectrum, the UK could join the European Economic Area and retain access to the single market. This avenue is likely to generate the fewest changes.

“At the other end of the spectrum, total exit would result in the UK relying on the rules of the World Trade Organisation. The potential impact here would be more wide-ranging. The main areas of concern for UK businesses are the potential di�culties of dealing with parallel investigations between the UK and EU competition authorities on some mergers and competition law investigations and the risk of increased administrative and transactional costs.

Philip Edmondson, senior associate, McCormicks Solicitors (wants to see quotes) “I am aware from speaking to clients within the EU and further a�eld that in the main they view this development very negatively. They worry about the ability to freely do business with their UK counterparts and the UK clients share similar concerns about what

trading abroad will look like post-Brexit. “Some say they will be pleased to be free from certain

EU led bureaucracy but they do not think that bene�t will make up for the years of uncertainty ahead. There are of course, certain businesses in certain sectors who believe that this will improve the situation. So it is not a black and white story.

“I believe that there is still some uncertainty as to when and how a UK government will begin the legal process of detachment from the EU. I am not 100% convinced that the current government (or a new one if a snap election is called later this year) will de�nitely respect fully the result of the referendum. UK politicians will be under huge public pressure due to the pro remain elements of the media, Scotland’s attempts to depart from the UK and, potentially, the threat of instability in Northern Ireland.

“I doubt very much that our politicians had a plan in place to deal with all of the unintended consequences of Brexit, which now look set to unfold. Like everyone else, I shall just have to wait and see what our leaders do and crack on with enhancing our own business in a di�cult climate.”

Anthony Long, chief executive of She�eld’s Taylor&Emmet “The e�ects of the Brexit decision on global currency, the investment markets and consequently, consumer con�dence is the perfect illustration that the world is a much smaller place than it was perceived historically.

“No one likes uncertainty and none more so than our domestic �nancial institutions, investors, entrepreneurs, business proprietors, house builders, landlords and home owners.

“It would be safe to assume UK markets and investor con�dence will remain volatile for some time as the full implications of the vote become clear.

“In the interim, it is incumbent on all of us who are engaged in business not to focus solely on the negatives and to bear in mind that, fundamentally, the UK economy remains in better �nancial shape than most of our EU competitors, which was not the case in 1992, or more recently at the start of 2008.”

Mike Willis, managing director of F Mike Willis“The political, economic and legal geography has changed, and like all others, legal services businesses have to manage the new risks for themselves and their clients accordingly.

“For �rms, there will be new client demand for adjustments of rights and trading relationships to suit the new supremacy of national laws over those created under EU systems. Those who don’t respond will lose market share.

State aid is the one area that could change significantly because the

EU State aid rules would cease to apply in the UK


Cover story Brexit

If your � rm still renews its professional indemnity insurance (PII) in October, there is a good chance that you will be o� ered the opportunity to renew your PII policy early with your current insurers.

Being in a position to renew in June or July is seen by many � rms as a real bene� t, particularly given the di� culties some � rms had in securing cover only three or four years ago, but weighing up the pros and cons of any o� er is important.

Typically, insurers only tend to o� er early renewal in softening market conditions. The PII premium income generated by the legal profession reduced by approximately 5% in 2015 and most observers expect premiums to again be competitive and to reduce for some � rms. By renewing early, you may be losing out on the opportunity to reduce your premium

by entering the market to seek competition for your � rm.

That being said, if you can answer ‘yes’ to the following questions, then

early renewal may well be for you:• Are you happy with the quality

of your insurer and with their reputation in the PII market?

• Are you con� dent that the early renewal premium remains relatively competitive (ask your broker for some balanced advice)?

• Do you have a long-standing relationship with your broker and insurer that you wish to maintain?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question, but as always, make sure you seek the opinion of a professional indemnity specialist broker.

For more information contact Jake Fox on 01943 876631 or email [email protected]

Professional indemnity insurance – should you accept an early renewal?

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“The current trend towards less prescriptive and more outcomes-driven policing and enforcement of regulations and service standards is likely to continue. It’s an uncomfortable � t with the traditional common law approach that everything is allowed unless forbidden, but an inevitable requirement of the Global Village.

“Hindsight judgements for good or bad behaviours, rather than anticipatory prescriptive codes, are prospectively cheaper and more adaptable.

“For their clients, transactional lawyers need to pay closer heed, and qualify their advice, to the new range and volatility of commercial as well as legal uncertainties a� ecting the values of the assets they are tasked to protect, acquire or dispose.

“Disputes lawyers should restrain clients’ illusions that the trend towards ADR and non-court resolutions will decline, but there may be at least some climatic change towards a restored respect, and public funding, for judicial services under the Crown.”

Peter Jones, founder of Jones Myers “In a more humble analogy it reminds me of setting up this practice. There was no love lost between myself and former partners. We avoided winging and whining; just got stuck in. The intention was to create the best and show the others how to succeed. So here we go again.

“Galvanising the talents and enthusiasm of industry and commerce is what is required, not the harbingers of doom. It is of no longer any importance whether the thought is the decision was right or wrong. It is what it is, so let’s get on

with it. Onward and upwards as they say. “Without being speci� c there will be a requirement to

look at our legislation but this is not something that is required overnight. It will be within a reasonable timetable.

“The markets and pound will settle down just as soon as the � nance institutions stop sulking that the wide scale betting before the referendum went awry.”

Guy Lougher, head of EU & competition, Pinsent Masons “What businesses should be doing now that Brexit has actually happened is to work through a checklist to see what Brexit means for them and then try and decide how they should respond to that. Some of the businesses may � nd that Brexit creates commercial opportunities that otherwise didn’t exist, but it’s going to be a very case-by-case analysis that’s required.

“There will be changes in the free movement of workers from EU countries into the UK. What that means is going to vary, so in the construction sector, which relies on a lot of EU skilled labour, that could have quite a signi� cant impact. It will be the same for high tech sectors such as research which rely on a lot of very skilled EU labour.

“Other areas it might have a particular impact are those which rely on a regulatory passport which is obtained in the UK to operate in other EU states, for example � nancial services and airlines.

“Also a� ected will be those companies that have a lot of IP rights, they may need to think di� erently in the future about how they try to protect their IP rights.”


FocusThe duty to qualify advice

In today’s safety conscious society, health warnings seem to appear almost everywhere. On the food we eat, the drinks we consume and the products we use.

Such warnings are often helpful, no doubt well intended and now, in many cases, mandatory. To the extent that they help to reduce the risk of harm for the unwary, inexperienced and vulnerable, they are welcome.

In a legal context, health warnings serve a similar purpose. However, in circumstances where risks abound, mandatory requirements are minimal and robust advice is often championed by the client, it can be di� cult to determine when to issue a warning notice and when not to.

In the very recent case of Iain Barker v Baxendale Walker Solicitors, the court considered the circumstances in which a solicitor should qualify advice and the nature of the warnings that should be issued. Although this was in the context of interpreting a statutory provision, the judgment has broader application.

BackgroundThe claimant was a successful businessman and majority shareholder in a management consultancy group, valued at between £30m and £40m. The defendant was a � rm of solicitors specialising in tax planning and avoidance schemes.

In 1998 and with a view to both selling his shareholding

and minimising his resultant tax liability, the claimant sought advice from the defendant. In response, the defendant recommended the creation of an employee bene� t trust (EBT) in accordance with section 28 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984, which it said would avoid not only capital gains tax, but inheritance tax too.

The defendant advised that once the claimant had gifted his shares to the EBT, the claimant could receive cash loans from the EBT but otherwise could not receive outright distributions of income or capital.

However, and critically for the claimant, the defendant also advised that after his death, his family would be entitled to receive bene� ts from the EBT, free of tax. On this basis, the defendant created an EBT, into which the claimant transferred his shares.

Almost 12 years later and following an investigation into the claimant’s tax a� airs, HMRC advised that it intended to re-assess the claimant’s liability for tax, having regard to the gains arising via the EBT. This, it said, was because the EBT breached section 28(4) of the 1984 Act insofar as it permitted, at the time it was created, family members to bene� t from the EBT, albeit only after the claimant’s death.

In response the claimant took advice from both specialist senior and junior counsel. Each considered HMRC’s position to be a strong one. On this advice and faced with a potential tax liability of up to £25m, the claimant accepted HMRC’s o� er to pay approximately £11m in full and � nal settlement of his liabilities.

Health warnings required

Jonathan Watmough on the duty on solicitors to qualify their advice

Cover story The duty to qualify advice


The negligence claimThe claimant subsequently claimed damages from the defendant alleging that:1. The defendant had been wrong to advise that an EBT

could bene� t his family after his death, when to comply with section 28(4) of the 1984 Act they had to be excluded completel

2. Alternatively, the defendant should have warned, but failed to, that the EBT would only work if his family were completely excluded.

In either event and correctly advised, the claimant alleged he would not have proceeded with the EBT and instead, would have entered into an alternative scheme, which would have successfully avoided any tax liability.

Incorrect adviceIn considering the claimant’s � rst allegation, the judge was quick to recognise that for the purposes of determining whether or not the defendant had breached its duty of care, the question was not simply whether the defendant’s advice had been wrong. Rather, it was whether a reasonably competent specialist tax lawyer at the time, applying proper skill and care, could have advised as the defendant had done.

The court also had regard to the judgment in Ali v Sidney Mitchell & Co, where Lord Diplock observed that, “the common law does not impose on those who practise it any liability for damage resulting from what turns out to have been errors of judgment, unless the error was such as no reasonably well informed and competent member of that profession could have made.”

In the event however, and while expressing a reluctance to reach a concluded view, the court found that the defendant’s interpretation of section 28 was very likely to have been correct. It followed therefore, that there had been no breach of duty in this regard.

Failure to warnIn considering the claimant’s alternative allegation, the court had regard to the judgments in Queen Elizabeth’s Grammer School Blackburn Ltd v Banks Wilson and Dixey & Sons v Parsons.

In Queen Elizabeth’s, concerning advice given by a solicitor on a covenant prohibiting the construction of a building on property “greater in height” than existing buildings, Arden LJ had stated, “[the solicitor] knew that a dispute was potentially to emerge with a neighbour over the e� ects of the clause, and in those circumstances it seems to me that it behoved him to point out that there was a risk about the construction of the clause.”

In Dixey & Sons, concerning the grant of a sub-tenancy, Salmon LJ had stated, “the solicitor was presented with an obvious danger. It would not do for him to say that in his view it was all right…the ordinary careful solicitor…would have gone to see his client.”

The court also observed that while the need to pro� er a warning would

always depend on the circumstances of the case, generally speaking, there was a greater need to warn before a client embarked on a course of action than afterwards.

In the present case, the court concluded that the defendant was not under a duty to issue what it described as a “high level warning” as to the correctness of its interpretation of section 28. In doing so, the court expressed di� culty in � nding a solicitor whose interpretation is very likely to be correct in breach of duty in failing to warn the client they might be wrong.

Nevertheless, the court did consider that the defendant had failed to issue a “general health warning” about HMRC’s attitude to tax avoidance schemes and the potential for challenge.

However, it additionally concluded that even if the defendant had done so, the claimant would still have entered into the EBT scheme. Therefore, this element of the claim failed too on causation grounds.

Good newsThis decision is good news. While it does not create any new law, it does re-a� rm that the standard of care to be applied in negligence claims against solicitors is not absolute.

It also underscores the importance of establishing causation in professional negligence claims, which is a requirement occasionally overlooked by claimants distracted by the level of damages potentially recoverable.

So far as determining when to issue a health warning is concerned, this decision may incline practitioners to:

Consider the consequences of any advice – is litigation or signi� cant expense in prospect?

Sleep on signi� cant advice – risks can become more acute when viewed with fresh eyes.

Be open-minded – fairly evaluate the merits of a contrary interpretation or opinion.

Raise and address a material risk – don’t be tempted to discount it in haste.

Consider the scope of any intended warning – does it actually go far enough?

Record all warnings in writing - a � le note is helpful, but a follow-up letter/email is better.

Clearly, it will not be practicable for solicitors to warn their clients of every conceivable risk, but an

awareness of the duty to provide health warnings, coupled with a considered approach to doing so,

should reduce the risk of a professional negligence claim in the future.


Grammer School Blackburn Ltd v Banks Wilson and Dixey &

, concerning advice given by a solicitor on a covenant prohibiting the construction of a building on property “greater in height” than existing buildings, Arden LJ had stated, “[the solicitor] knew that a dispute was potentially to emerge with a neighbour over the e� ects of the clause, and in those circumstances it seems to me that it behoved him to point out that there was a risk about the construction of the clause.”

, concerning the grant of a sub-tenancy, Salmon LJ had stated, “the solicitor was presented with an obvious danger. It would not do for him to say that in his view it was all right…the ordinary careful solicitor…would have

Raise and address a material risk –discount it in haste.

Consider the scope of any intended warning –does it actually go far enough?

Record all warnings in writing -helpful, but a follow-up letter/email is better.

Clearly, it will not be practicable for solicitors to warn their clients of every conceivable risk, but an

awareness of the duty to provide health warnings, coupled with a considered approach to doing so,

should reduce the risk of a professional negligence claim in the future.

Jonathan Watmough specialises in defending professional negligence claims against solicitors and heads Bond Dickinson’s Professional Risks team in Leeds


FocusBellwether Report 2016

How do independent lawyers, midsize law � rms and sole practitioners see the future? That’s the question that The Bellwether Report 2016: The Riddle of Perception, tries to get to the bottom of.

Despite carrying out structured interviews with 122 independent lawyers and 108 clients, it’s not always clear exactly what legal professionals believe will happen to their practices, or what the thinking behind their answers are.

For example, even though 95% of independent lawyers and midsize law � rms are predicting “rough times” ahead, well over half are expecting their practice to grow and a further 20% think that their � rm will remain unchanged.

The present moodThe report shows that 81% of lawyers are positive about the future with the majority of the research sample saying that their � rms are on a strong platform, compared to the performance of � rms three to four years ago. And 48% of � rms say their practice has grown in the last four years, with 36% con� rming it is stable.

So it is di� cult to ascertain whether the foreboding that lawyers feel is real or due to the uncertainty in the global and European economic landscape.

Recognising challenges Despite an underlying feeling of concern and vulnerability, there is awareness among law � rms of the challenges they

face and what action they should be taking to overcome them.

There is widespread recognition that traditional survival tactics used by law � rms in the past will not be enough to weather the perceived storms ahead. Increasingly, law � rms appreciate that continual evolution is the new reality and that this will not be possible without embracing new technology.

A staggering 92% of the lawyers we interviewed believe that continued investment in technology is no longer optional – but rather a “must”; and that there is no one-o� solution that will help them keep pace with the market. Towards this goal, 70% of law � rms have implemented or planned increased investment in processes/technology; 78% in website development and 50% in using technology for customer relationship management (CRM).

The disconnect between thought and deedAt the same time, there is a huge gulf between what � rms say they are going to do and what they actually do. There are signi� cant anomalies in the order that lawyers place the challenges their business faces and the changes that they are planning, or have implemented.

To illustrate, deploying CRM technology is the sixth top priority for law � rms, but only half have done, or are planning to do, something about it. Three technology-based initiatives feature in the top six priorities of law � rms, while “convincing established lawyers of the need to

Decoding the Riddleof Perception

The LexisNexis annual Bellwether Report 2016 has found some seemingly contradictory sentiments among lawyers when it comes to future business performance. Jon Whittle tries to make sense of it all

FocusBellwether report 2016


modernise practices” ranks tenth in the changes planned for the coming year.

Fundamentally, lawyers’ attitude to modernisation is one of the major barriers to successful technology implementation. This suggests that lawyers aren’t tackling the problem at its roots.

Equally lawyers’ overall attitude towards embracing technology can be perplexing.

Even though there is broad acceptance that the use of technology is the way forward, there is a reticence to adopt it. 46% of law �rms don’t use practice management systems, 42% case management systems, 50% have no online risk and compliance resource and 87% have no proof-reading software. In a process driven business, these technologies are core to business e�ciency and crucial in bridging the gap between the service levels that clients expect and the actual level of service that �rms can tangibly deliver.

The report reveals that 85% of lawyers agree that client demands are having as big an impact on working practices as regulation, yet only 40% of �rms have taken on more sta� to meet those demands. Taking on non-fee earners to help “develop business/increase e�ciency” is also quite low down the list, even though a number of the key challenges faced by lawyers lie outside their comfort zone and skillset.

Business acumen versus lawyer logic Lawyers can often seem to be making decisions about their business based on lawyer logic rather than with their business hats on to tackle the fundamental challenges they face. Only one in three say that increased specialisation is a priority, despite the fact that almost unanimously, lawyers agree that generalist �rms are more vulnerable than specialist ones. This feeling is especially marked in �rms that are working in complex and niche areas of the law.

Similarly, lawyers don’t appear to grasp the opportunities that the larger market landscape o�ers to them. Overall, only about one in �ve lawyers spoken to felt trends such as mediation (21%), globalisation (17%) and commoditisation (20%) were potential opportunities for them.

Only 13% of lawyers see the recent ABS legislation as a�ording any opportunities to them.

On the other hand, 43% of lawyers see �xed fees as a potential opportunity, but introducing �xed fees ranks a low twelfth in the changes implemented or planned for the coming year. One could argue that lawyers haven’t fully understood the potential impact of this trend and many are likely o�ering it only reluctantly.

A contributing factor might be that there is a lack of consensus on what �xed fees actually mean. Quite a few �rms claim to be o�ering them on the more open-ended areas of the law. The reality is that a more strategic approach to adoption of �xed fees underpinned by processes that deliver business e�ciency will go a long way in strengthening client relationships. The �ndings show that clients who were serviced on a �xed fee basis were more likely to recommend the �rm to others too.

Mind the price – value perception gapLawyers must recognise that they are operating in a service industry.

Clients want value for money – a good service at a fair price – not a cut-rate service at a cut-rate price. Lawyers have yet to fully absorb this distinction between price and value. The research shows that three quarters of lawyers are likely to rate the value they o�er as “excellent” or “very good”.

Conversely, clients are seven to eight times more likely to rate the service they get from their legal providers as “average” or “poor”. This di�erence stems from the fact that the two parties are using very di�erent benchmarks to judge value.

Perhaps the increased cost-consciousness among clients is clouding the underlying issue of value among lawyers. Lawyers seem to assume that their clients should be more satis�ed these days, as they are charging less.

In reality, clients feel that legal fees were overpriced to begin with – and that today’s lower costs should not necessarily come with any trade-o�s.

Client retention rates are often viewed as a measure of client satisfaction by law �rms. The research points out that higher client retention rates at law �rms does not necessarily mean loyalty.

It could well be inertia on the part of clients because most law �rms are alike and deliver services in the same way. 77% of �rms think they have above average or well above average client retention rates, but the fact that 59% of clients always use the same �rm or same range of �rms, backs up this view of client inertia.

Rather than viewing client retention rates as representing good service or loyalty, �rms will do better analysing their conversion track record and addressing any recurring issues to truly win clients’ steadfastness.

Embrace new ways of working to deliver value to clients 73% of lawyers are honest in their acceptance that they don’t adapt well to change.

This admission is indeed the positive �rst step. It is encouraging that the legal profession recognises the challenges it faces and appreciates the need to constantly change and evolve. Perhaps a boldness is now required on the part of the legal profession to step out of its security blanket and embrace business practices, technology and new ways of working to overcome the issues with which it is confronted.

The mood may be markedly less bullish than the previous year, but the outlook is far from bleak.

To read the full report, download your free copy of The Bellwether Report 2016: The Riddle of Perception at www.lexisnexis.co.uk/bellwether-report.

Jon Whittle is market development director at LexisNexis UK


Comment Patrick Walker

Stand up, stand up!

D emocracy is a wonderful thing and in politics as in mediation, everyone is entitled to their opinion. There is usually room for

more than one reasonable view and di�erent perspectives are an inevitable and creative part of life.

While my own view is that the Brexit vote was tipped by dishonest opportunist and misguiding politicians, I must acknowledge that some agonized over which way to vote and having chosen to exit are morti�ed to �nd they are vili�ed by the Remainers.

As the lead singer of The Stranglers put it at a recent concert (yes, I am that old), “we’ve been taken out of Europe twice this week – once by Iceland and once by those that shop

at Iceland.”Those of us who lost the vote must be

more tolerant than that, but like all freedoms there are limits. The vote is no mandate for racism and while personal freedom is important, it is not absolute and racism is no more acceptable than paedophilia.

I fear for our future. Economically we will survive somehow, but culturally the signs are much worse.

Hate crimes up by nearly a half, windows of Polish residents smashed in north Leeds and a new found con�dence in those uttering verbal abuse in the street.

A friend and prominent QC was taking a taxi ride when apparently oblivious to her Indian race, the driver invited her to share his delight that we can “now send foreigners back where they belong.”

When she quietly asked him whether he had noticed that her own skin was “somewhat brown”, he just replied “oh that’s alright love, I’m Greek actually.” She told me the story with her usual charm and even temperament, but I think I detected a note of sadness.

I am not just sad, I am angry. I am angry that a vote on European

economic arrangements is in danger of putting our society back decades. A further referendum may be unrealistic, and arguably undemocratic, but it is not too late to stand up for a multicultural Britain of which we can be proud.

Tackle the (very small minority) of work shirkers by all means, and draw a distinction between refugees of con�ict and economic migrants perhaps, but if Britain is destined to go it alone, please let us be an example to the rest of Europe and the world in tolerance and diversity.

If you have read this far, you may be wondering where my sense of humour has gone. Don’t worry, there are many aspects of life that continue to excite and amuse me and normal service will be resumed in the next edition.

In the meantime, you can laugh at the thought of this aged rocker swaying with the crowd watching Paul and Jacquie Abbott (The Beautiful South) in the wonderful setting of Somerset House and singing along to Caravan of Love.

To those of you old enough to remember, now is the time to STAND UP, STAND UP!

Patrick Walker is an independent mediator: www.imediate.co.uk


Leading national set St Philips Chambers and London-based specialist shipping and international commercial set Stone Chambers are delighted to announce that they are merging with eff ect from 1 August 2016


The merged set will be known in London and internationally as St Philips Stone Chambers, but will remain as St Philips

Barristers in Leeds and Birmingham.Head of Chambers at St Philips, Avtar

Khangure QC, said: “The merged set will see our national presence combine with Stone’s reputation in London and overseas. Our existing London operations will come together in the heart of London’s legal market at 4 Field Court, Gray’s Inn, providing a strategic base to better service our ever-expanding work for City clients and further fulfi l our strategy for long-term business growth in commercial work and in St Philips’ other areas of practice.”

Stone Heads of Chambers, Elizabeth Blackburn QC and Vasanti Selvaratnam QC, said in a statement: “We are

delighted to be joining forces with St Philips, which has a well-established and respected commercial group. The merger will put us in the enviable position of being part of one of the largest sets in the country, with all the support and infrastructure that comes with that, while continuing to provide our boutique service in shipping and international commercial disputes.”

Colin Hedley, Leeds Senior Clerk, said: “Along with Leeds based barristers I am extremely pleased with this merger, and echo everything which has already been said. St Philips Leeds has seen substantial growth both in volume and quality of work in a short period of time and this merger provides the perfect mix to continue building and expanding our wide ranging legal services, and to this end

Leeds recruitment is ongoing. Grays Inn premises and facilities will also provide a perfect London base for our Northern, and also our City and international clients”

The merged set will have signifi cant national and international reach with members based in London, Leeds, Birmingham, Singapore, Hong Kong, USA and Brunei.

If you would like any information about the merged set, including information as to how to join our multi-award winning team, please contact Colin Hedley + 44 (0) 113 2446691 or [email protected]

St Philips Chambers to merge with Stone Chambers

Promotional feature


ProfilePatrick Walker

Mediator and Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer regular columnist Patrick Walker has concluded nearly 17 years with Squire Patton Boggs (formerly Hammond Suddards) in order to mediate full time.

As an advocate he has spent nearly half of his career outside of chambers, working for the firm. Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer caught up with him to ask him why he has made the move.

Why did you decide to leave Squire Patton Boggs at this stage in your career?

I have really enjoyed my time at Squires but I love mediation best of all, and with a very busy mediation practice I was in danger of spreading myself too thin. It is important to me that I can give 100% to everything I do.

How hard was it to take the jump and go it alone, so to speak?

It has been really hard to leave a great bunch of people, particularly my colleagues in the Real Estate Litigation Team, but otherwise it feels right: an exciting new step.

What do you hope to achieve with this career move?

I hope to provide an even better and more flexible service to mediation clients, to be recognised nationally as a leader in the profession, and if possible to extend my work to cross-border disputes.

Do you believe that mediation is increasing in popularity? If so, then why?I am in no doubt that not only are there more mediations, but increasingly both clients and their legal team appreciate the value of the process. The court system encourages mediation but I hope it is never compelled: I strongly believe that voluntary participation is a key element in reaching the right settlements.

How has the legal world changed during your time, both from your experience as a barrister and as a part-time as Recorder and Deputy High Court Judge?

Alternative Dispute Resolution is one ray of sunshine in an otherwise rather grey legal landscape. The absence of legal aid first in civil cases and now in many family disputes endangers both the reputation and substance of our legal system. Cuts to court funding have further tarnished which remains an institution envied throughout the world.

I fear that Brexit will bring further cuts and undermine London’s reputation as an international Arbitration and court centre.

At the same time I remain in admiration of many court

staff who achieve much with very little resources and do believe that most of the time our legal system does deliver a fair measure of justice.

You’ve been penning your column for Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer for a while now, how easy/difficult do you find it to work out what to write about?

If I had to make it up it would be difficult, but my stories are true(ish) and generally write themselves if I peer at the keyboard for long enough!

Occasionally the deadline for copy is approaching and I can think of nothing, and then life just happens in front of me. As a couple of readers remarked as I recounted my 89-year-old father’s wedding to a bride 35 years his junior, “you just couldn’t make it up”. I couldn’t and I don’t!

From time-to-time mediations produce amazing true stories which confidentiality prevents me reporting and that can be frustrating, but if I run short of material at least that might justify another holiday!

Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer’s regular columnist has moved on from Squire Patton Boggs to mediate full time. He explains what prompted his decision

Moving on

Occasionally the deadline for copy is approaching and I can think of nothing, and then life just happens in front of me. As a couple of readers remarked as I recounted my 89-year-old father’s wedding to a bride 35 years his junior, “you just couldn’t make it up”. I couldn’t and I don’t!

It’s easy to imagine the e� ect on productivity when fee-earners arrive at their desks to � nd Windows 10 has been rolled out in place of the familiar Windows 7 and they are left to muddle through on their own.

The same is true for the big upgrades or a new versions of Microsoft O� ce, when signi� cant improvements are made to Outlook, Word and Excel that risk being unused without professional training.

Training can include bespoke software unique to law � rms, like case management systems or CRM solutions, with training providers o� ering train the trainer services. One of their trainers will sit in on sessions delivered by the software provider, to understand the integration and to allow them to deliver future training as part of the induction process for new recruits.

Traditional training delivered in the classroom is still useful, but better results are typically achieved with users taught in small classes at their o� ce, with short sessions designed to address their unique needs – the transfer of knowledge is more e� cient and time away from fee-earning activities is reduced.

Law � rms also � nd � oor walking training useful as it allows trainers to help users solve the problems they face in their day-to-day work, using their own data and systems, which is far better than learning with invented scenarios.

Training and practical experience also allows users to achieve quali� cations that can help their career progression. A certi� cate proving an individual has achieved Microsoft O� ce Specialist or Expert status is likely to carry more weight than claims an individual is pro� cient in a variety of disciplines.

Of increasing importance for modern law � rms is training everyone within the business, not just fee-earners how to reduce the risks of cyber-crime. The criminals are well aware that despite good system security, the weakest link in the system is the individuals using it, not the system itself.

The � rst aspect of the training is to make every employee aware of the risks and the methods the cyber-criminals

will use to try and attack their � rm. Highlighting the risks for users requiring remote access, is also important as it can pose a threat to the integrity of the systems – a point not lost on criminals o� ering free WiFi access points in urban environments.

The problem for law � rms of all sizes is that the cyber-criminals change their approach and attack methods on a regular basis, which ensures cyber-security training must be regularly updated and repeated if it is to prevent the loss of money, data and of course, reputation.

It’s not just obvious security like passwords, but awareness of social engineering, where criminals will use carefully selected pieces of information, often gathered over time, to trick employees into thinking they are dealing with someone they know.

The e� ective use of the latest technology, from tablets to telephones can be beyond some users and the more

senior they are within the � rm, the less likely they are to seek help. A few one-on-one sessions

could help these individuals get the best from the � rm’s investment in technology and help improve their productivity.

Some of the most powerful tools, like pivot tables in Excel are ignored by the majority of users, who waste time manually handling data that could be manipulated

quickly, given the right training. Many are intimidated by the tool’s apparent complexity

and prefer to give the work to the Excel guru in the o� ce in the hope they will do it.

In the search for a competitive edge, too many � rms make technology

upgrades and leave the learning to the individual.

To assess, purchase and implement new technology without including on-going training to achieve the promised e� ciency and productivity improvements, is a poor idea.

James Smith is training manager for Quiss

Technology

In the search for greater productivity and e� ciency, law � rms are receptive to new applications. But without the appropriate training for those using technology there is a risk that any potential bene� ts will be lost, warns James Smith

Training everyone to help beat the cyber-criminals

ManagementCyber crime


useful, but better results are typically achieved with users taught in small classes at their o� ce, with short sessions designed to address their unique needs – the transfer of knowledge is more e� cient and time away from fee-earning activities is reduced.

Law � rms also � nd � oor walking training useful as it allows trainers to help users solve the problems they face in their day-to-day work, using their own data and systems, which is far better than learning with invented scenarios.

Training and practical experience also allows users to achieve quali� cations that can help their career progression. A certi� cate proving an individual has achieved Microsoft O� ce Specialist or Expert status is likely to carry more weight than claims an individual is pro� cient in a

Of increasing importance for modern law � rms is training everyone within the business, not just fee-earners how to reduce the risks of cyber-crime. The criminals are well aware that despite good system security, the weakest link in the system is the individuals using it, not the system itself.

The � rst aspect of the training is to make every employee aware of the risks and the methods the cyber-criminals

to telephones can be beyond some users and the more senior they are within the � rm, the less likely they

are to seek help. A few one-on-one sessions could help these individuals get the best from the � rm’s investment in technology and help improve their productivity.

Some of the most powerful tools, like pivot tables in Excel are ignored by the majority of users, who waste time manually handling data that could be manipulated

quickly, given the right training. Many are intimidated by the tool’s apparent complexity

and prefer to give the work to the Excel guru in the o� ce in the hope they will do it.

In the search for a competitive edge, too many � rms make technology

upgrades and leave the learning to the individual.

To assess, purchase and implement new technology without including on-going training to achieve the promised e� ciency and productivity improvements, is a poor idea.

James Smith is training manager for Quiss

Technology



Zoe Robinson is the Managing Partner at Raworths Solicitors in Harrogate. She continues to practice as a family law specialist, accredited collaborative lawyer and family mediator.

She began practicing in Buckinghamshire before joining Raworths in 1989 as an assistant solicitor. In 1991 she was made salaried partner, just as she started her family. After 24 years at the firm, she became managing partner three years ago, following in the footsteps of Christopher Butterworth who recently celebrated 50 years with the firm.

I became a solicitor because...

I enjoyed watching The Paper Chase, an American TV programme about a group of law students as they worked their way through law school. At the time it seemed fascinating. I decided that I wanted a career that involved helping others and that becoming a solicitor would give me the opportunity to help clients and solve their problems. I made the right choice and that is what I still do.

The best part of my job is...

The challenges and variety it offers me. Each day I am faced with a new challenge, whether it is in my role as managing partner, or as a lawyer. I still enjoy the fee earning as every client has a story to tell and despite the common themes, each case that I deal with is unique.

Helping clients overcome the problems they face is still incredibly satisfying and an aspect that I do not want to relinquish in favour of the managing partner role. However, I have enjoyed being involved in the various aspects of the firm’s development; every day is different.

The worst part of my job is...

Keeping all the plates spinning without letting any crash!

Luckily I enjoy the challenge.

One thing that should not be underestimated in the legal industry is...

The importance of building relationships, trust and rapport at all levels. It doesn’t matter who I deal with; whether it is a one off or ongoing; business support or key decision maker; referrer or client – the relationship with that person is key.

The best advice I can give anyone starting a legal career is….Be humble, consistent and passionate.

Never assume you are above any task. No task in business is below any individual. If you wouldn’t do it yourself, why would you ask another?

The highlight of my career is...

The moment when I was asked to take on the role of managing partner. I was delighted to be asked to perform such an important role, particularly after facing certain challenges to get to this position, such as the time when the words “are you really cut out to be a lawyer?” were uttered during my time completing qualifications at the College of Law. A question that could have completely changed the course of my life. They were wrong, thankfully!

Helping Raworths become the firm it looks like today has been very rewarding. Being part of a firm that has remained competitive through uncertain times and during which many of our contemporaries have closed their doors or merged with other firms is incredibly satisfying. The depth of experience we offer across the firms’ practice areas, for both business and individuals, has given us an excellent and enviable reputation.

If I wasn’t a lawyer, then I would be...

A tree surgeon. In another life I would probably be found in among the foliage in an outdoor career. Having an interest in the environment and its conservation means a career amongst the trees, hedges and chainsaws sounds like fun.

The legal profession could be improved by...

Recognition for ability and drive. Formal legal training is not a very good basis for running modern law firms, and if they are to survive and develop in rapidly changing times an increased emphasis on management skills is needed. In my experience all but the largest law firms are best led by lawyers with the necessary ability and drive.

Working in Yorkshire is great because...

We have such a wonderful diverse range to offer. From leisure activities with the Dales and Moors, breweries, gin with locally sourced botanicals, local artists and authors, restaurants and festivals. A better question is, why wouldn’t you?

Zoe Robinson is the Managing Partner at Raworths Solicitors

Trust, humility, driveArmstrongWatson

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Last wordZoe Robinson

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