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Course Programme: To Follow
Christian Gape specialises, and has extensive knowledge and experience, in family finance cases. He advises and acts in all types of financial remedy claims, including disputes over jurisdiction and cases involving farms, inherited assets, pensions and third-party claims. He is recognised for his formidable skill as an advocate and his ability to assist his clients to resolve difficult and emotionally charged cases by agreement. Christian is experienced in all areas of financial remedy applications, from pre-proceedings negotiations, onwards through to final hearings. He has also worked on pre-nuptial agreements as well as on drafting and advisory work. Christian has an eye for detail with a pragmatic approach in advising clients. With a strong grasp of both the technical and emotional complexities of family financial disputes, Christian provides clear, tactical guidance designed to secure robust, fair, and pragmatic resolutions for his clients.
Stephen Barratt began his career in local government where he worked across a number of service areas including waste and resources management, social care and housing. Stephen joined KBG Chambers as a tenant in 2024. He has a broad practice across Chambers’ core arears including property; contract & commercial; bankruptcy & insolvency; trusts, probate & estates; personal injury; credit hire; and general common law matters. Stephen regularly appears in the County Court and he has also appeared in the High Court, specialist tribunals and inquest proceedings. Alongside his court work Stephen has a busy and expanding paperwork-based practice. Stephen completed his Bar Professional Training Course at BPP Holborn where he was awarded ‘Outstanding’ and a Distinction following completion of the LLM component. Outside of his practice, Stephen enjoys running and hiking on Dartmoor, where he lives with his family.
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4 days ago | blogging
DASLS were delighted to join Michael Cosgrave, colleague's from Wollens Solicitors and his friends and family at the Hotel Indigo in Torquay on Tuesday 15th September.We came together to celebrate both Michael and his dedication to his career. Chris Hart gave a lovely summary of Michaels long and successful career of over 50 years here in the South West followed by a few words from the man himself. Michael has been involved with DASLS for more years than we probably care to remember! Michael has been a long standing member, firstly of DELS (Devon & Exeter) and later DASLS following our merge with Somerset. Michael has remained and active member of the Board of Directors following his Presidency in 1992.Michael was one of the founding members of the DASLS International Committee and has spent many years travelling Europe with his international friends and colleagues. ...
7 days ago | blogging
🏃🏃WELL DONE BEN 🏃🏃 DASLS President Ben Darby took part in Young Devon’s annual fundraiser Run Devon on the 13th September 2026 to raise awareness and funds for his chosen Presidential Charity. Ben completed the 15km course in good time, what a great achievement.Young Devon is such an important cause dedicated to changing the opportunities presented to young people in our community. 🏫 bringing opportunities to our share of the 1 million young people not in education, employment or training that live in our community🏠 reducing homelessness amongst young people through direct provision of accommodation🧑⚕️ mental health and mentoring services for young peoplePlease donate what 💰 you can - Ben has set a fundraising target of £100 per km so £1,500. DONATE HERE ...
02nd January 2017 | Management Training
SRA Account Rules - Your Essentials Date: 24 September 2026 Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm Venue: Exeter Racecourse, Exeter Speaker: Janet Taylor Course Outline: Why you and your staff should attend these sessions? We’ve had lots of recent consultations on/discussions around these Rules, some changes are coming, some are still being considered. It is vital that firms are fully up to date, including on current principles and best practice. The protection of client money remains is the joint and several responsibility of all principals in a law firm. This responsibility extends not only to their own compliance but that of all employees. Effective compliance depends upon everyone in the firm understanding their role and responsibilities, the firm’s own procedures and communicating information effectively. These two sessions are designed for everyone in a law firm to keep up to date, with a good understanding of the key rules and common pitfalls. The sessions will be practical and participative and will use case study exercises and examples. Morning session - Your essentials Aimed primarily at staff with little or no knowledge of the Accounts Rules and those who are returning to this area and need to get back ‘up to speed’ and will cover: The SRA Standards and Regulations Where are we now? Where the SRA Accounts Rules fit in Areas of the Codes of Conduct which impact on the SRA Accounts Rules? Who is covered by the Rules The Accounts Rules Fundamental principles All the key definitions Client versus non-client money. Disbursements Holding and dealing with client money Bank accounts Receipts and payments Transferring money for costs Dealing with balances Accounting records requirements Client account reconciliations an overview Fees: DASLS Members/Affiliates: Half Day: £145 plus VAT Full Day: £225 plus VAT (discounted rate applied if you also book the afternoon session) Non Members: Half Day: £165 plus VAT Full Day: £250 plus VAT (discounted rate applied if you also book the afternoon session) Janet Taylor FCA, Partner Taylor Mowbray LLP and Consultant, PKF Francis Clark Janet has been joint owner of Taylor Mowbray LLP for over 15 years. Prior to that she spent over 10 years with a top 20 accounting firm heading up their specialist solicitors’ group. She currently acts as a consultant to a PKF Francis Clark as part of their specialist solicitors group. A highly experienced presenter of over 20 years’ experience, she has also become known as a specialist on the SRA Accounts Rules. She presents to a wide range of law firms through in-house and public seminars. Clients have included several major international and national law firms as well as accountants. Janet is the current Subject Matter Expert for the ICAEW’s Solicitors Community Advisory Group and co-author with Andrew Allen of the current version of the Law Society Solicitors and the Accounts Rules manual. ...
02nd January 2017 | Management Training
SRA Account Rules - Key Risks & Common Problem Areas Date: 24th September 2026 Time: 1:30am - 4:30pm Venue: Exeter Racecourse, Exeter Speaker: Janet Taylor Course Outline: Why you and your staff should attend these sessions? We’ve had lots of recent consultations on/discussions around these Rules, some changes are coming, some are still being considered. It is vital that firms are fully up to date, including on current principles and best practice. The protection of client money remains is the joint and several responsibility of all principals in a law firm. This responsibility extends not only to their own compliance but that of all employees. Effective compliance depends upon everyone in the firm understanding their role and responsibilities, the firm’s own procedures and communicating information effectively. These two sessions are designed for everyone in a law firm to keep up to date, with a good understanding of the key rules and common pitfalls. The sessions will be practical and participative and will use case study exercises and examples. Afternoon session – Key Risks & Common Problem Areas While the SRA Accounts Rules allow some ’flexibility’ this can bring its own challenges. This session will look at some of the high risk areas and common problems. Aimed at those with or needing a wider knowledge of and responsibility for compliance, particularly partners and COFAs, and will cover: Latest Guidance from the SRA Responsibility for compliance and the role of the COFA (and those who support them) Higher risk areas and the latest SRA guidance on these issues, including: The prohibition on providing banking facilities through the client account Dealing with residual balances; Reviewing reconciliations; Money held in the Client’s own bank account ‘Suitable’ systems and procedures and written policies Changes we have seen so far Fees: DASLS Members/Affiliates: Half Day: £145 plus VAT Full Day: £225 plus VAT (discounted rate applied if you also book the morning session) Non Members: Half Day: £165 plus VAT Full Day: £250 plus VAT (discounted rate applied if you also book the morning session) Janet Taylor FCA, Partner Taylor Mowbray LLP and Consultant, PKF Francis Clark Janet has been joint owner of Taylor Mowbray LLP for over 15 years. Prior to that she spent over 10 years with a top 20 accounting firm heading up their specialist solicitors’ group. She currently acts as a consultant to a PKF Francis Clark as part of their specialist solicitors group. A highly experienced presenter of over 20 years’ experience, she has also become known as a specialist on the SRA Accounts Rules. She presents to a wide range of law firms through in-house and public seminars. Clients have included several major international and national law firms as well as accountants. Janet is the current Subject Matter Expert for the ICAEW’s Solicitors Community Advisory Group and co-author with Andrew Allen of the current version of the Law Society Solicitors and the Accounts Rules manual. ...
02nd January 2017 | Management Training
Time recording and Pricing Masterclass Date: Tuesday 29th September 2026 Time: 9:45am - 1:00pm Venue: Exeter Racecourse, Exeter Speaker: Robert Mowbray Course Outline: Attending this seminar will provide you with simple and practical advice on how you can charge for more of your time and at higher rates. Time recording The many benefits of recording all of your time Grey area questions to illustrate best practice Writing narratives that show “the value delivered to the client” Using billing notes to deal with a range of things including out of scope work Pricing strategies How will AI impact on pricing?” Understanding pricing windows and recognising that you can charge more and have happier clients Understanding the full range of pricing mechanisms and when they should be used Learning from other industries with fierce price competition Identifying ways of quoting that are better for the firm and the client Learning how to negotiate fees with greater confidence Managing discounts and asking for something in return Trading instead of discounting Using conditional offers Setting a walkaway point Action planning Fees DASLS Members/Affiliates: £130 before 31/08/26 then £145 plus VAT Non Members: £165.00 plus VAT 3 for 2 offer! Book 3 places on this seminar and get the cheapest FREE! Robert Mowbray BSc FCA Robert is an accountant who has worked in and with professional service firms for 30 years and who is an expert on law firm profitability and management. He has provided training and consultancy services to over 1,000 firms across 40 countries. His clients have included everything from the largest City and Global firms, through large regional firms and down to the most entrepreneurial smaller firms. He is regularly asked to help with a wide range of issues including time recording, pricing and fee negotiation, project management, accelerating cash flow, strategy, profit sharing arrangements and improving the quality of management information. He also helps lawyers to understand the financial statements of their clients. Robert is the author of “Maximising the profitability of law firms” and was the author of the Law Society’s annual financial benchmarking survey from 2006-2009. He is also the author of the annual NatWest financial benchmarking survey which is done for both solicitors and accountants. He has been voted “Trainer of the year” by the Legal Education & Training Group and is an Industrial Fellow of the Business School at Kingston University. Robert trained in the early 1980s with PWC and spent 20 years as a partner at Macintyre Hudson LLP before setting up Taylor Mowbray LLP with Janet Taylor in 2009 to be a niche and independent advisor to professional service firms. ...
