The lasting appeal of Powers of Attorney – safeguarding the vulnerable by Sponsor Brewin Dolphin

For some the summer months can be a relatively quiet time often interspersed with well-needed holidays whether in sunshine or the rain. By contrast it isn’t traditionally the season for contentious legal pronouncements, which made the surge in commentary (see The Law Society’s Gazette and elsewhere) concerning powers of attorney all the more unexpected, but interesting. Certainly the commentary is worthy of reflection by anyone - solicitors, related professional bodies, or members of the general public interested in the circumstances where individuals can be granted the authority to manage the affairs of others.   The spark to the Summer’s interest were...

Annual Risk Management Review by Sponsor Aon

      Any business planning for the future needs clear objectives and an understanding of the obstacles that may prevent those objectives being achieved.  Rarely do those threats, or risks, stand still.  Even though they may have been identified when the objectives were agreed, and even entered in a risk register, it is important to keep risks under review.   An annual risk management review is an essential part of any risk management strategy but it is often overlooked or is paid only lip service.  Done well, it enables you to assess your firm’s risk profile and to benchmark whether your performance is improving or deteriorating.  Identifying whe...

President's Letter - Sue Aggett

  Welcome to 2018. I hope that you all had an enjoyable festive break and I wish you all a happy new Year. I hope that you all managed to spend some valuable time away from the office and resting from the constant flow of emails and various other reminders that our break is perhaps just a little too short!   Sue Aggett with Stephen Mahoney at theSomerset Dinner I certainly welcomed the break as November was a particularly busy month. On 3rd November I attended our Society’s dinner at the Somerset County Cricket ground. This was attended by over 100 of our members. We also welcomed guests from the judiciary and our all-important sponsors. We were join...

Legal Awards Winners and Highly Commended 2018 Gallery

Congratulations to our 2018 Legal Awards Winners and Runners up! All photos credited to Pyramid Torbay Photography     TEAM AWARDS    CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Scott Richard Solicitors Sponsored by  CLIENT EXPERIENCE  Rosie Bracher Solicitors LLP   Sponsored by  EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR Slee Blackwell Blackwell Solicitors LLP Sponsored by  TEAM OF THE YEAR  Rosie Bracher Solicitors LLP   Sponsored by LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (1-10 Partners)  Boyce Hatton LLP    Sponsored by  LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (11+...

Keeping on the straight and narrow by Sponsor Aon

They may not be universally welcomed by fee earners, but the COLP in a well-managed practice knows that effective matter acceptance procedures are essential. They ensure that clients are properly vetted and that only work within the firm’s expertise is taken on. A sound approach protects the firm from the hassle faced by firms whose procedures are less rigorous and goes a long way towards preventing the claims that can arise from sloppy procedures. Even the best take-on procedures, however, won’t always keep you on the straight and narrow. This is due to the risks that arise during the retainer.   The risks are many and varied although some, such as missi...

Getting out of trouble: the art of managing a successful turnaround by Sponsor Barclays

Restructuring a struggling law firm can be a huge undertaking. Yet, if other avenues have been exhausted, going into administration may well protect clients and staff and ensure there is some return for creditors. Clearly, the best advice is to avoid an insolvent situation and effect a turnaround – reacting early to issues as they arise.   “Turning around a troubled law firm can be complex” says Paul Jarrett, Barclays Relationship Director.  “Increasing financial distress, mounting operational challenges or inconsistent cash flows tend to hasten a firm’s decline. Issues should be addressed early. If it is left too late, and you run out of cash, you...