state of the art - leeds law society...the official journal of leeds law society leeds law society...

The Official Journal of Leeds Law Society

LeedsLaw Society

FocusThe annual winter event was once again the highlight of the region’s Resolution gatherings

NewsLeeds Law Society president David Cowgill has been promoted to partner

SocietyAll of the upcoming events at the society, plus updates from LGBT+ and more

ProfileBart Topps is an associate in the intellectual property commercial team at Mills & Reeve

CommentPatrick Walker views the future with optimism and provides a glimpse of his teenage boy-racer years

February 2019Issue 156

State of the artThe legal sector is an ardent supporter of art and culture

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The Official Journal of Leeds Law Society

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

EDITORIALEditor: Mark Dugdale01423 851 [email protected]

Founding Editor: Ian McCombie PRODUCTIONHead of design:Compton Sheldon

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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.

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LeedsLaw Society

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February 2019 | Issue 156

Views President’s Column 05David Cowgill on an event-packed 2019 and the importance of collaboration to the city of Leeds

Society 06 The Leeds Conference is scheduled for 5 June at Leeds Civic Hall, plus more events, a LGBT+ update and the latest Pride Profile

NewsLead 10Leeds Law Society president David Cowgill has been promoted to partner at Schofield Sweeney, and Michael Peeters has been re-elected as head of the DAC Beachcroft Leeds office

Business Development 11North Yorkshire Law has begun 2019 with heightened optimism following a year in which the firm made significant appointments and opened an office in York; plus more from law firms across Leeds and Yorkshire

Legal & Community 18Mental health first aid in the workplace has been debated in Parliament and a motion backed by a cross-party group of MPs, following a Yorkshire lawyer’s high-profile campaign; plus more from law firms across Leeds and Yorkshire

Social & Charity 20A total of £11,400 has been donated to the Marie Curie Hospice Bradford following a cycling fundraising event with 250 riders from Yorkshire businesses; plus more from law firms across Leeds and Yorkshire

Appointments 24Haddleton Legal, AWB Charlesworth, Clarion, Gordons, LCF Law, Squire Patton Boggs, DLA Piper, PM Legal Services and Simpson Millar all feature in the latest round-up of hires and promotions

Focus onArts and Culture 25A thriving arts and culture scene is crucial to the prosperity of a city or region—with help from the legal sector

Resolution Update 28The annual winter event was once again the highlight of the region’s Resolution events calendar

McKenzie Friends 30Litigation is a traumatic event and it is always preferable to be represented by a qualified and objective solicitor

A Groovy Feeling 31Patrick Walker views the future with optimism and allows us a glimpse of his teenage boy-racer years

Last wordVariety Rules 34Bart Topps is an associate in the intellectual property commercial team at Mills & Reeve

Contents

Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer | Issue 156 3

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Are you prepared for these changes or wondering where and how to start preparing? Is your risk management regime robust enough? Are your audit/file review processes sufficient to help recognise red-line risks? Does your training programme fulfil all regulatory and legislative requirements? How will you embed ethics into your training? If the SRA, under its enforcement strategy, continues its present policy of disciplinary investigations and sanctions against firms and responsible individuals, will you be able to deal with that, both in terms of management time and stress?

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A busy start to 2019It has been a busy start to 2019 for Leeds Law Society (LLS). We have kicked off the year with a number of events, including our regular networking lunch at Bills Restaurant, which was very well attended. We also hosted members of the Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol law societies for the quarterly ‘Joint V’ meeting, where we discussed a number of key issues affecting the profession, and heard from the national Law Society with regards to its plans for a regionally focused training and education programme, which should be launching later this year. It is fantastic that we are involved in the early stages of such discussions and that we are able to provide input from our members’ perspectives as to what training may be useful for them. We also worked alongside the Law Society in organising a roundtable lunch with small- and medium-sized law firms in Leeds, chaired by Paul Tenant (CEO of the Law Society), discussing various issues that are currently affecting those businesses.

Promoting the cityIn addition to the events mentioned above, a major coup for us so early in the year was hosting a roundtable event with the Law Society Gazette in Leeds in January to talk about the ever-growing legal services sector in our city. We were able to gather some fantastic support for this roundtable event with representatives from firms across Yorkshire in attendance.

A range of topics were discussed, from Channel 4 (and others) choosing Leeds for its new headquarters, to the way in which Leeds-based firms generate output exceeding £300 million annually. What was particularly pleasing to see was the way in which the firms represented around the table came together to deliver the message that Leeds is a great place to live and work.

Leeds Conference 2019The date for our third annual Leeds Conference has now been set. Once again, we will be working alongside Leeds City Council to deliver a half-day conference promoting Leeds as a centre of legal excellence. It will be held on 5 June at Leeds Civil Hall and although it will be slightly different this year, in that we will be

condensing our itinerary from a full day into a morning session (8.30am to 12.30pm), we will be welcoming some excellent speakers who will discuss what is happening in Leeds.

As part of our wider discussions with the council and other stakeholders in Leeds, it is clear that there is a desire (and a need) for more businesses within the legal services sector in Leeds to come together and work collaboratively for the benefit of the city. It was great to see those firms attend the roundtable event with the Law Society Gazette and there will certainly be more opportunities for other firms to get involved in other similar events in the future. LLS is committed to promoting the region and this is best achieved through working together. We will shortly be inviting member firms to come and meet with Tom Riordan, CEO of Leeds City Council, to discuss what more we can do in the sector to help the council continue to sell the region at a national and international level. It would be great to see as many member firms represented as possible.

Leeds UnlockedFollowing the results of a survey that was carried out in early 2018 seeking views on what benefits our membership wants to see offered by LLS, I am pleased to announce that we have now launched Leeds Unlocked, our new membership benefit card. This card is a result of a collaboration with the Leeds Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) and provides exclusive benefits and discounts for our members, supporting local businesses wherever possible.

The launch of the Leeds Unlocked card continues the ongoing relationship that LLS has formed with the Leeds JLD and both organisations continue to work closely to benefit both memberships. There will be a joint launch event in the coming months, at which we will provide more details around the fantastic benefits. In the meantime, please visit the LLS website for more details.

Leeds Legal Annual Dinner 2019Finally, I am pleased to report that the Leeds Legal Annual Dinner 2019 has sold out. We have had a fantastic response this year and we will have more than 370 attendees at the dinner in March, celebrating the success of the legal sector in Leeds. To join the waiting list, please contact the LLS office.


President’s Column

Collaboration is key

LeedsLaw Society

David Cowgill is a partner in the commercial property team at Schofield Sweeney and president of Leeds Law Society

Returning on 10 June, the full day of golfing over two rounds culminates in a three-course evening dinner and awards ceremony.

Ganton is ranked in the top 30 of Europe’s Championship golf courses and has hosted many national and international tournaments. Nestling in the Vale of Pickering, East of York and a few miles from Scarborough, our members can testify that a day at Ganton is a day to remember. The programme for the day will run as follows:8.00am: Bacon butties with tea/coffee on arrival8.00am to 8.45am: Teeing off in pairs for the Booth Cup12.30pm: Ganton Sandwich Lunch with Ganton Cake and Stilton1.30pm to 2.00pm: Teeing off in fours for the Middlebrook Cups7.00pm to 9.00pm: Three-course dinner with tea/coffee and trophy presentationsPrices include green fees, breakfast, lunch and dinner. The cost for members is £145 + VAT, guests of members is £145 + VAT and non-members is £160 + VAT.

To make a booking, please contact Leeds Law Society on 0113 2454997 or via [email protected]

Ganton Golf Tournament set for 10 June

To continue celebrating Leeds as a centre of legal excellence, Leeds Law Society is once again partnering with Leeds City Council to bring together the city’s leaders at the annual Leeds Conference.

High-profile speakers will explore how the city’s local, national and international firms can leverage opportunities in Leeds to meet their business strategies and growth targets, and work together to promote the city and the legal sector.

The Leeds Conference will be held at the Civic Hall in Leeds on 5 June. Save this date in your diaries and Leeds Law Society will provide further information shortly.

Leeds Conference 2019: Celebrating Leeds

Naila Hussain from Atomic Mind is delivering her second wellbeing and resilience session to members of Leeds Law Society on 26 February, this time in the evening.

In this session, Naila will share insights and tools to improve your own wellbeing and resilience, as well as those of your organisations and businesses.

There will also be refreshments and informal networking during a break in the session.

Naila, who is an executive coach at Atomic Mind, said: “To ensure your clients get the best possible experience, it is essential that your staff are motivated and are able to be and do their best. Looking after their wellbeing and increasing their resilience, reduces sickness absence, absenteeism, and other issues in the workplace. It helps build capacity, increases

engagement and productivity, and improves performance. This enhances the quality of services your clients receive and ultimately enhances your brand reputation.”

Atomic Mind works and collaborates with individuals, organisations and schools to enable the effective achievement of their goals. Having worked as a coach and trainer for more than 15 years, Naila loves nothing more than identifying the potential from within and helping those she works with to create the success they desire.

The session will be held on 26 February at the Leeds Law Society office on Wellington Street between 6pm and 8pm. Tickets for the event are priced at £10.00 for members and £15.00 for non-members. To book, visit leedslawsociety.org.uk

Wellbeing and resilience taster session

Society Latest

6 Issue 156 | Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer

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LGBT+ Update

It is with great pleasure that I am writing this article for Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer as Leeds Law Society’s (LLS) first director focusing on our LGBT+ initiative.

As many readers may already be aware, 2018 was a landmark year for LLS and its approach to LGBT+ issues and awareness. In July, we hosted our first ever LGBT+ networking event at Weightmans, where members were invited to participate in an open floor discussion about the issues affecting LGBT+ individuals within the legal sector and what LLS could do for the benefit of its LGBT+ members. Following that, LLS took part in the Leeds Pride Parade in August. Again, this was another first for the society! There was still more to come with the launch of the new Pride Profile (overleaf ), a quarterly article published in the Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer featuring LGBT+ lawyers and allies. If that wasn’t enough, LLS was the proud sponsors of a Pride Plaque honouring the great Nicola Adams, located at the entrance to Leeds Arena.

But why am I taking this opportunity to re-visit everything LLS has achieved during the course of the past year? Well, it is because February marks LGBT History Month in the UK. Now, a quick search online will tell you that this is a “month long annual observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history as well as the history of the gay rights movement”, with “the overall aim of promoting equality and diversity for the benefit of the public”. With this in mind, it seemed the perfect opportunity to look back at what LLS has already achieved in this area and give you a sneak peak of what we have planned for the year ahead.

While it is of course important to identify what we, as a society, have achieved, it is also vitally important to recognise how far gay rights and related civil rights movements have

come overall, at the same time as bearing in mind that while great strides have been made within the legal sector, there is arguably still a long way to go to make the profession as diverse and inclusive as it should be.

The next stage of our initiative is to build on what we have achieved by continuing with the Pride Profile as well as looking to build our website and host more LGBT+ events and seminars. We also want to develop our relationships with existing LGBT+ networks and organisations within this city and nationally, and we have made significant headway in this regard. We currently have events in May and July lined up, as well our participation in Leeds Pride 2019 to look forward to, so please keep a lookout in your inbox and on the LLS website for further information as and when it is released.

Closer on the horizon, however, is our February panel event to mark LGBT History Month. This event, which will be held on 7 February, will feature a distinguished panel of guests who will answer questions put forward by the delegates on the topic of the achievements made for the LGBT+ community within the legal sector and Leeds, and well as the issues still to be tackled in 2019 and beyond. If you haven’t already signed up and would like to do so, please send an email to [email protected], or visit the Leeds Law Society website for further details.

None of this could have been possible, of course, without the continued support of our members and for that, we thank you. Last year may have been a big year for LLS and its LGBT+ project, but 2019 is set to be even bigger and with the continued support of the board and members, we aim to become the most inclusive and LGBT+ friendly society we can be.

The year ahead for LGBT+ at Leeds

Law SocietyWith February being LGBT History Month, Leeds Law Society director Matthew Jones recaps what the society achieved in 2018 and looks forward to 2019


Pride Profile

As part of the Leeds Law Society’s ongoing LGBT+ project, the society is inviting LGBT+ solicitors to feature in a Pride Profile segment. In this issue, Scott Halliday, family law solicitor at Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth, discusses his career and his achievements

How did you get into the profession? I did not have a usual route into the profession, per se. I graduated from the University of York with a first-class honours degree in law. I was fortunate during that period to be a Seoul National University scholar and study politics and philosophy in South Korea.

When I returned to York, I was a Bridge fund scholar and completed a master’s degree in human rights law. At that stage, I was a guest lecturer and did some pro bono work on LGBT asylum law in Leeds and London. I had initially intended to be an academic, but the more I learnt and considered the legal profession, the more I wanted to be directly involved as a solicitor. I applied and was offered a training contact at Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth shortly thereafter. I have been at the firm since 2015.

What are the biggest challenges facing the legal profession? There is a crisis in access to justice across many areas of practice. We increasingly have a two-tier system divided by those who can afford to take expert specialised advice and those who cannot.

For those in the profession, I do think millennial lawyers are, in some cases, talking about different issues and have a different approach to legal practice. At Irwin Mitchell, I see some of our junior lawyers pioneering and pushing not only on LGBT+ issues, but also BAME and gender matters. It is all very exciting and encouraging, but law firms will need to remain aware of this and respond to ensure the profession retains its top talent.

What do you think the profession could do to improve on equality and diversity? Actions speak louder than words. There needs to be a meritocratic culture and visible role models at the front and centre of law firms to show that anyone who is bright, driven and committed can achieve. This is not only an LGBT+ diversity issue; it applies across the entire range of diversities. Of course, there also needs to be earlier and wider outreach to young people to ensure our profession engages and inspires a broad spectrum of talent.

What advice would you give to other LGBT+ legal professionals?I appreciate it will not be for everyone, but there is huge value in getting involved in these issues through internal networks and reaching out to other initiatives across Yorkshire.

If you could turn back the clock to the start of your legal career, what words of advice would you give to yourself? I would say it is imperative to take the time as a junior lawyer to find your authentic self and cherish it. An authentically driven approach will ensure you remain rooted and make the right choices as you progress in a highly competitive and demanding profession.

What is the Leeds LGBT Diversity Group and what motivated you to set it up?The Leeds LGBT Diversity Group was founded in June 2018. Leeds is thriving as a city, particularly with its strong public sector presence and booming financial services market. But there was not a consistent professional networking group in Leeds for professionals. I wanted to create a group that ensured LGBT+ professionals and allies could meet and discuss important business ideas, legal issues and wider diversity matters. It seemed necessary and I wanted to plug the gap. We now meet quarterly at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office and the group is thriving. We usually have 35 to 50 attendees at each event. Our new event is in late February and will look at key milestones for LGBT+ people through the law.

Authenticity imperativeScott Halliday of Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth features in the latest Pride Profile

NewsLead


Leeds Law Society president David Cowgill has been promoted to partner at Schofield Sweeney.

Angela Cashin and Karen Crutchley have also been promoted to partner at the Yorkshire firm, taking Schofield Sweeney’s number to 35 across its three offices in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield.

Cowgill is a partner in the commercial property team. He has experience in a range of commercial property matters and regularly works with investors, commercial landlords and tenants and property developers, with a particular focus on those clients operating within the leisure and hospitality industry.

He became president of Leeds Law Society last year.Crutchley is a commercial partner Schofield Sweeney in

Leeds. Her expertise includes negotiating and advising on commercial trading arrangements, including IT contracts for both providers of technology, and businesses purchasing IT systems and software.

Cashin, a corporate partner based in Huddersfield, advises on company matters and transactions.

Schofield Sweeney has also promoted Annie Gray (employment), Annie Hui-Gillen (litigation), Lucy Holroyd (corporate), Nigel Brook (litigation) and Pardeep Khela (commercial property) to associate.

Gemma Sherbourne (employment), Rebecca Beaumont (litigation) and Zoe Oates (insolvency and restructuring) have been promoted to legal director.

Martin Sweeney, managing partner at Schofield Sweeney, said of the firm’s promotions: “2018 was another successful year for us, there has been a solid increase in both volume of instructions and turnover. Corporate deal completion valuation alone saw a 85% increase on the 2017 figures for the same period. These promotions were well deserved and all part of the culture of recognition we have within the firm, we continue to attract and retain leading lawyers.”

David Cowgill among promotions at Schofield Sweeney

Karen Crutchley, Angela Cashin and David Cowgill

Michael Peeters has been re-elected as head of the DAC Beachcroft Leeds office.

Peeters has led the office at St Paul’s House, Park Square, since 2015. It’s the firm’s third largest office location, after London and Bristol, and has more than 300 members of staff.

His time at the helm so far has seen a significant development of the firm’s full service commercial law offering to businesses and large organisations in the local Yorkshire and wider Northern market.

According to DAC Beachcroft, growth has been particularly good in the firm’s focus sectors, including financial services and health, where its technology expertise has helped to create strong fintech and healthtech practices in Leeds.

Commenting on his re-appointment, Peeters said: “This is an exciting time for our office here in Leeds. My continued focus will be on driving growth across the North of England, working closely with colleagues in our Manchester and Newcastle offices.”

Peeters continued: “Leeds is a thriving city which offers us fertile ground for growth, and we look forward to building on our strong presence here.”

“The firm is healthy, competitive and ambitious—as evidenced by our recent financial performance and our impending move to a new flagship headquarters building in the City of London—and we in Leeds will be instrumental to the firm’s continued success.”

“I look forward to supporting and expanding our hard-working team in Leeds so that they can thrive in, and enjoy, their working lives. We are well-placed to meet the challenges of the future: we have a great combination of legal talent, a wide ranging portfolio of services and a modern, agile office.”

DAC Beachcroft senior partner Virginia Clegg commented: “Michael has been a fantastic location head, and I am delighted that he is able to build on the foundation he has created in Leeds.”

DAC Beachcroft re-elects Michael Peeters as head of Leeds

Solicitor Harriet Reid has been promoted to partner at specialist family law firm Silk Family Law.

Formerly an associate at the boutique firm, Reid (pictured) has 25 years of experience as a family law solicitor.

She is a collaboratively trained lawyer and member of Resolution, the national organisation of family law professionals that promotes a conciliatory and constructive approach to divorce and separation. Reid is also a trustee of charity Two Ridings Community Foundation.

Margaret Simpson, who founded Silk Family Law in 2010 with barrister Ian Kennerley and solicitor Kim Fellowes, said: “Harriet’s appointment reflects her contribution to both the firm’s growing client base and our enviable reputation. Harriet has particular expertise in complex farming divorces and children matters, often with an international dimension.”

Simpson continued: “Internal promotions such as Harriet’s are key to us developing and nurturing top legal talent as Silk Family Law looks forward to celebrating its first 10 years.”

Silk Family Law, which currently has 24 members of staff, has offices in Newcastle and North Yorkshire (near

Scotch Corner) as well as consulting rooms in York, Leeds and London.

Amy Wright, Samantha Wragg, Louise Handley, Jonathan Priestley and Tim Stone

Leeds law firm 3volution has promoted Samantha Wragg and Amy Wright to partner.

Wragg, who works in the commercial litigation team, joined 3volution in 2012. She focuses on specialist contentious areas, including financial services disputes, reputation management and defamation and pension litigation.

Samantha has represented clients in a variety of contractual and tortious disputes across a range of different sectors such as IT, manufacturing, food and leisure, logistics and financial services. She regularly advises individuals, employers, trustees and representative beneficiaries in pension disputes, and has a particular expertise in contentious probate and trust disputes.

Amy Wright works in 3volution’s corporate team. She joined the firm in 2013 and advises clients ranging from small- and medium-sized entities to full and AIM-listed

companies. While she has experience in all areas of corporate work, her particular focus is on debt and equity funding, corporate reorganisations, reconstructions, and mergers and acquisitions.

She has also assisted a number of start-up and early stage companies with their investment funding.

Commenting on the promotions, 3volution founding partner Tim Stone said: “We are particularly proud of Samantha and Amy’s achievements, they are both extremely hardworking, loyal colleagues and it is great to see them progressing so well with their careers.”

“It’s really good to be able to promote people from within the business. When we founded 3volution we set out to grow the business gradually, solidly building our reputation with bright, talented people. Sam and Amy reflect that ethos perfectly.”

Two partner promotions for 3volution

Silk Family Law appoints Harriet Reid to partnership

NewsBusiness Development


News Business Development


Addleshaw Goddard has bolstered its tax practice with the appointment of a new partner in Leeds and two new associates, bringing the number of lawyers in this specialist area to 14 nationwide.

Martin Griffiths has joined the firm in Leeds as a partner from Charles Russell Speechlys.

He provides expertise in tax advice, private equity sell-side/management team advisory, general mergers and acquisitions, property/funds structuring, and domestic and international tax advice.

Griffiths has also advised high net worth individuals and family offices investing in the UK and has experience in employee share schemes and remuneration planning.

He is joined at Addleshaw Goddard by associates Erik Chamonte from New Zealand firm Buddle Findlay and Jade Chan from Hill Dickinson. They will operate across the firm’s regional and UK office network.

The 14-strong commercial tax team at Addleshaw Goddard will operate under the tax and structuring banner going forwards. The rename has been introduced to better reflect the scope of the practice, which advises on transactional and regulatory matters for corporate and real estate clients, structuring their deals, portfolios, assets and day-to-day operations in the most tax efficient way.

The team has recently worked on several major

deals, including advising GVC on its £4 billion takeover of Ladbrokes Coral, CC Land’s £292 million indirect acquisition of One Kingdom Street in London, and Virgin Money’s sale of a stake in Aberdeen Standard Investments and the establishment of their joint venture.

Justine Delroy, partner at Addleshaw Goddard, said: “The world of tax has never been so complex, with thorny technical problems which need to be solved to meet clients’ commercial objectives, but in an ever-more delicate reputational landscape.”

“As the firm expands its corporate, finance and real estate capability, so too we will be growing the tax and structuring team in order to continue providing relevant support to those specialist teams as well as offering high quality standalone tax and structuring advice. We are delighted to welcome Martin, Erik and Jade who are great additions to our team.”

She added: “HMRC has stated that it wishes to bring 100 prosecutions per year to wealthy individuals and corporations by 2020. In the last 12 months it has moved to bring in a range of tougher penalties including a strict liability offence for managers who fail to prevent their staff from facilitating tax evasion. Those caught doing so will be ‘named and shamed’ and face financial penalties, so there is a reputational and balance sheet impact and we are helping many businesses to get their house in order before it is too late.”

Addleshaw Goddard adds tax partner in Leeds and renames practice

Wilkin Chapman is one of five legal firms to be appointed as a ‘preferred supplier’ for debt recovery work to all universities and higher education colleges across the UK.

The firm has secured a place on the recently announced debt recovery framework panel of the London University Purchasing Consortia and will remain on the framework for five years, with an estimated annual contract value of £2 million.

In winning a place on the panel, the Wilkin Chapman team has been recognised for the quality of service and of its ‘one-stop-shop’ method of delivery, according to the firm. The department will provide both collections and legal work in relation to unpaid tuition and accommodation fees.

Mark Taylor, partner at Wilkin Chapman, commented on the appointment: “What was extremely pleasing was, that in areas of quality and service delivery, we came out with the highest scores across the appointed firms. This is the first time we have been appointed and so naturally we are delighted to have been chosen as an approved supplier. We already act for a number of universities and therefore this is a significant appointment for the whole team.”

Taylor (pictured), with more than 25 years of experience in both consumer and commercial debt recovery, works closely with partner and department head Chris Grocock, who leads the 130-strong team based across Lincolnshire and East and South Yorkshire.

Wilkin Chapman secures place on major university framework panel

North Yorkshire Law has begun 2019 with heightened optimism following a year in which the firm made significant appointments and opened an office in York.

Founded in 2000, North Yorkshire Law provides legal advice and assistance for the people of the towns and countryside of Yorkshire, advising on probate, conveyancing and civil litigation matters.

With offices in Scarborough and Whitby, the firm has seen an increase in staff numbers, promotions and a new office opening in York following the increased workload that it experienced in 2017 and 2018.

New appointments in the firm’s Whitby office included Jaime Dodd as solicitor, Elaine Greener in the reception team and Nicola Hill beginning her training in the conveyancing team. This January also saw the appointment of Carrie Grant to the Scarborough office where she will be assisting the conveyancing team.

Training contracts have also been awarded to Emma Silkstone and Hannah Dowling, as North Yorkshire Law continues to support and develop talented individuals within the firm.

Richard Boyd (pictured), managing director of North Yorkshire Law, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome so many brilliant new faces to the team in the last year. It is also brilliant to see training contracts and promotions for our hard-working staff.”

Boyd added: “We’re incredibly pleased to see so many progress in-house.”

Towards the end of 2018, North Yorkshire Law also expanded by opening a new office in York. The office, led by head of commercial Natalie Foster, came as the firm saw more business coming from the York area.

Boyd said: “Having lived in York and carried out my training here, I’m happy to expand my firm back to the city.”

“There are many opportunities for us to provide our brand of service to both new and existing clients.”



Yorkshire law firm rradar has become the newest legal technology partner of Barclays Eagle Labs.

The new Eagle Labs incubator, located in London and launched in partnership with the Law Society this year, aims to become a “thriving centre of excellence” for legal tech businesses.

It offers co-working, incubation, mentoring, introductions to major companies and other crucial services.

As a partner in the initiative alongside other law firms and academic partners University College London and the University of Liverpool, rradar will provide support, advice, feedback and guidance to help entrepreneurs develop, test and refine their products.

Gary Gallen, CEO of rradar, commented: “I am very excited to partner with Barclays Eagle Labs. This partnership further cements rradar’s mission, combining education, innovation and technology as key parts of our business and we welcome the opportunity to support this fantastic initiative and provide advice and feedback, as well as network with like-minded companies on their initiatives.”

“The combination of our unique take

on delivering smarter legal services and integrating technology into our solutions for our clients, with Barclays’ extensive experience is a winning formula for businesses, start-ups and the tech market.”

Jon Hope, director of Barclays Eagle Labs, said: “By connecting start-ups, law firms,

and other organisations in this space we can encourage the free-flow of ideas, ultimately leading to better products and services. That’s why we’re excited to welcome rradar as a new partner and member of our community, building the strength of the Eagle Lab network.”

Yorkshire law firm becomes Barclays Eagle Lab partner

Year of growth for North Yorkshire Law

Pictured: Gary Gallen and rradar chief legal officer Andrew Cameron


News Business Development

Lupton Fawcett has expanded into the second floor of its office on Bank Street in Sheffield.

The move comes after another record year for the Lupton Fawcett office, with turnover rising to £2.8 million this year and an additional nine people joining the 40-strong team.

Success was enjoyed across both the commercial and private client departments. The corporate team completed a record 26 deals with a total value of £136 million in the last financial year.

The new floor has been designed and equipped to provide space for client presentations, seminars, training and an employee engagement area.

Michele Phillips, head of the Sheffield office at Lupton Fawcett, said: “We have had an exceptional year resulting in our rapidly expanding team outgrowing our offices. As we did not want to move from our central location, we were fortunate that the second floor became available to us so that we could increase our space with minimum disruption.”

“The new fit out is impressive and provides our team and clients with first class meeting facilities and presentation rooms.”

Commenting on the expansion, Jonathan Oxley, managing partner of Lupton Fawcett, said: “The office expansion coincides with our planned £1 million investment in a new IT system which will provide

seamless communication with our three offices in Sheffield, York and Leeds.”

“We have an impressive team of solicitors working within the firm and the latest technology will enable even greater collaboration and experience-sharing across the offices to provide our clients with the very best advice across all aspects of the law.”

New business is fuelling recruitment at Sheffield law firm Taylor&Emmet, with rising staff numbers accounting for 60% of all appointments in 2018.

Of the 38 employees who joined the firm in 2018, 23 have filled new positions created to meet increasing demand for its personal and business legal services.

Taylor&Emmet is planning further growth this month with the launch of an office in Rotherham.

Perhaps the firm’s single biggest investment in recruitment last year was among the childcare department, which the firm set out to more than double in size in the summer.

So far, three additional solicitors and a legal assistant have joined the existing team, to deliver highly specialist advice to local families and social services involved in conflicts surrounding children.

Commenting on the firm’s recruitment drive, Sharna Poxon, head of human resources at Taylor&Emmet, commented: “We have committed to increasing employee numbers at all levels throughout the last 12 months, to ensure we retain the high standards of client satisfaction for which we are renowned.”

“Our business team, for example, has welcomed eight new recruits who bring expertise across a range of disciplines. We have identified further opportunities for growth next year and I am looking forward to continuing our exciting recruitment drive.”

Lupton Fawcett doubles its office size in Sheffield to accommodate growth

Taylor&Emmet recruitment reaches record high

Yorkshire law firm Gordons has advised shareholders of 247 Time, a cloud-based supplier of contingent healthcare workforce software, on its sale to Allocate Software.

247 Time provides vendor management, payroll and direct engagement technology to healthcare and enterprise sectors.

A team led by James Fawcett, corporate partner at Gordons, provided legal advice to the shareholders of 247 Time, while Will Arnold and Dave Irwin of Sentio Partners provided corporate finance advice.

Allocate’s current strategy is to develop an interoperable eco-system of solutions and partners to further increase the impact of its core Optima platform, currently used by more than a million health and social care workers globally, including its HealthRoster and HealthMedics solutions.

The acquisition of 247 Time will allow Allocate to offer a choice of solutions that either operate independently or as an end-to-end solution for the management of clinical staff sourced via agencies

or employed directly. It will also enable end-to-end links between agency systems, bank and e-Rostering software so healthcare organisations can source staff quickly, safely and cost-efficiently.

Allocate CEO Nick Wilson said: “This is an important addition to Allocate and a key element in ensuring that our solutions meet the diverse and demanding workforce needs of the healthcare sector. This is a very natural extension for Allocate, bringing functionality that our customers have asked us to add. The 247 Time solutions together with our partnership approach will allow us to empower our customers with choice, ensuring they have an option that is right for them.”

Dave Brooks, managing director of 247 Time, said: “I am thrilled the 247 Time team is joining Allocate, as many of our customers already use Allocate’s leading e-Rostering solutions. Our combined offering will be a significant benefit to customers and others by providing more joined up solutions and improved agency control.”

Gordons advises 247 Time on software provider sale

Schofield Sweeney has advised Halifax-based Your Event Solutions (YES) on its sale to US travel retail company and service provider Travel Leaders Group.

YES is a meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions business. Its acquisition complements Travel Leaders Group’s growing presence in the meetings and incentive marketplace and will provide both firms with additional geographic reach and meetings expertise.

Steven Millward (pictured), who led a team of lawyers at Schofield Sweeney, including Jessica Fielden (corporate) and John Feaster (tax), commented: “Having advised [YES founders] Sue and Mark Gill as a firm for a number of years, it was a pleasure working with them to deliver this transaction. We wish YES continued success and look forward to seeing the business develop and grow as part of the Travel Leaders Group”.

YES provides a range of corporate event solutions, from individually-tailored venue sourcing, meetings and training events, to executive conferences, large-scale exhibitions, product launch events and incentive travel programmes in all locations globally.

The company will retain its brand and no major operating changes are anticipated.

After having founded and led the company for the past 18 years, Sue Gill said: “From humble beginnings, we are now part of one of America’s largest travel companies. I’m excited for our future together.”

Mark Gill added: “Becoming part of Travel Leaders Group gives us a broader platform of service offerings to provide to our existing and new clients including technology solutions, as well as corporate, entertainment and leisure travel offerings and expertise.”

“Our team is excited about the opportunity to share expertise and to expand on the YES brand’s reputation in North America and beyond.”

Specialist lawyers from across Walker Morris have advised long-standing client Servelec Group on its acquisition of C:Vision, a provider of case management and information solutions to children and young people’s services.

Sheffield-headquartered technology group Servelec provides software to the healthcare, social care and education markets.

Servelec’s acquisition of C:Vision significantly strengthens its local government offering, giving customers the tools and support to provide coherent, joined up digital care to service users together through a range of interoperable solutions.

Once integrated, social workers, youth support teams, finance teams and support staff across Servelec’s children’s and youth services customer base will have integrated access to the right information at the right time.

The Walker Morris team that worked on the acquisition included Richard Naish, Edward Ainscoe and Verity Mulkeen from the corporate group, with support from Lee Crook, Aaron Dixon and Juliet Gough in the commercial group.

Alan Stubbs, chief executive officer at Servelec, said: “At Servelec, everything we do is focused on providing people with better outcomes.”

Stubbs continued: “The acquisition of C:Vision by Servelec ensures that, for children’s and youth services teams at local authorities, every service user will be supported and every support worker will have access to the right information at the right time, enabling even the most complex of cases to be managed safely.

“We look forward to welcoming the C:Vision team to Servelec and working closely together to integrate our solutions and enable the sharing of information across all care settings.”

Naish commented: “Walker Morris is delighted to have supported Servelec on its latest acquisition. Servelec is a long-standing client of the firm and we are pleased to have been able to advise them throughout a number of major milestones in the company’s history.”

“We have supported Servelec from the company’s IPO in 2013, to the subsequent acquisitions of Target eSolutions, Synergy, Corelogic and Aura Healthcare; through to its recommended cash offer and subsequent take private during 2017 and 2018. As such, we are delighted to be able to support Servelec on its latest acquisition which will enable the company to grow one of its core market groups.”

Walker Morris advises Servelec on latest acquisition

Schofield Sweeney corporate team advises on US acquisition




NewsBusiness development

Leeds law firm Clarion has worked with secured lending business Fresh Thinking Capital to help it achieve its first-year target of providing more than £10 million of loans to small- and medium-sized entities (SMEs) in need of capital.

Since its launch by Yorkshire corporate financiers Melanie Hird and Andrew Walls, Fresh Thinking Capital has provided secured short-to-medium term lending for businesses across the UK, ranging from nursing homes, food firms and online retailers to manufacturers, house builders and property developers.

Typically, a borrower of Fresh Thinking Capital is an entrepreneur with various SME investments who requires cash of between £250,000 and £2 million for working capital funding, acquisition finance, top-up funding or growth capital. Terms range from three months to two years, secured by assets in the business or personal assets held outside the business.

“The key to our success has been the speed at which we are able to lend–it usually takes just five to 10 days from the initial meeting for us to deliver the deal and this fast turnaround is often vital if a company is to take advantage of an opportunity,” explained Hird of Fresh Thinking Capital. “We launched the business with funds of £30 million on deposit for immediate lending to SMEs and there has proved to be huge demand for our services.”

“Having such a close relationship with Clarion, developed over 15 years of working with the firm, is instrumental in enabling us to operate to such tight timescales. It’s great to have a legal partner on board who we can trust to deliver as we work towards achieving our target loan book in excess of £100 million.”

Philip Dine, legal director in Clarion’s banking team, said: “With their substantial experience of investing in SMEs over the last ten years, Melanie and Andrew have the expertise

needed to fill the gap in the market for swift short to medium term lending. We look forward to continuing to support them as the business grows.”

Fresh Thinking Capital co-founder Andrew Walls added: “We’ve had a tremendously successful first nine months and are now looking forward to growing the current team of eight in response to client demand. We are also planning to expand from our bases in Leeds and London and establish a national network of offices, giving us easy access to SMEs throughout the UK. There will be further updates on our next office launch shortly.”

Clarion helps Fresh Thinking Capital achieve £10m+ for SME loans

Weightmans received almost triple the number of enquiries from couples looking to separate in the days following Christmas and New Year compared to the same period the month before.

In the working days that followed the festive period, enquiries to the family law team at Weightmans increased by 172%. A new instruction was also received on Christmas morning—a first for the firm.

The first working Monday of a new year has become known as ‘Divorce Day’, as one of the most popular days of the year for seeking legal advice, as couples who were unable to resolve their issues over the festive period reach out to specialist lawyers. In 2019, Divorce Day fell on 7 January.

Louise Walker, family law specialist at Weightmans in Leeds, believes that not only is this a proven trend, but one that is likely to increase in the future.

Walker said: “The festive period is a key time where we are given time to reflect, and assess how happy we are. Christmas, together with other significant dates such as New Year, birthdays, anniversaries or Valentine’s Day, can trigger a time of conflict, stress and disappointment,

which, for some, ultimately ends in separation or divorce.”“For the most part, couples that make the difficult

decision to separate or progress with a divorce in the New Year do not take the decision lightly.”

“However, the introduction of online divorce applications in 2018 has already delivered interesting figures. Currently only available to parties who are representing themselves, rather than using lawyers, hundreds of people applied online for a divorce over the festive period.”

“We urge caution to those thinking of issuing proceedings without taking at least some prior legal advice. The law and financial issues are more sensitive and complex than the internet leads people to believe, and operating in the absence of practical and sensible legal advice can often cause more problems than it solves. Some proceedings speedily issued may become cases of ‘divorce in haste, repent at leisure’.”

“It will be interesting to see how these numbers change in the following years, but with a potential divorce at their fingertips, the digital future means that we will probably see this figure increase.”

Weightmans sees surge in divorce enquiries in the lead up to Divorce Day

Co-founders of Fresh Thinking Capital, Melanie Hird and

Andrew Walls

A solicitor from the district of Bradford was honoured by Her Majesty The Queen in the New Year’s Honours List.

Ruby Bhatti (pictured) received an OBE for services to housing and young people. She is a successful solicitor with more than 27 years of experience in law. Currently, Bhatti

works as a consultant solicitor for Taylor Price Solicitors, which as offices in Leeds and Manchester.

Bhatti has served as a non-executive director or board

member for a number of social housing organisations over the past two decades, including BME Housing Association, Carlisle Business Centre, Yorkshire Arise, Incommunities Group, Manningham Housing Association, and Firebird Homes.

Her work in education includes serving as a local and national leader of governance for education for Yorkshire and the Humber, as well as a non-executive director for the Dixon Academies Trust, Rainbow Academy and BDAT Diocesan Academies Trust. She is also a panel member for the Bradford local authority education appeals admission panel.

Ruby Bhatti receives OBE for services to housing and young people

News Legal & Community


Leeds law firm Blacks Solicitors has overseen and helped coordinate the new lease of Toast Love Coffee, a community café in Harehills.

The café, which is run by 40 volunteers, started in 2014 as a pop-up based at the CATCH Leeds Youth Centre in Harehills. After four years of continued success and growing popularity, the café has relocated to a three-story permanent location on Harehills Road.

Part of The Real Junk Food Project, the community café creates its menu using food that would have been destined for landfill. Customers are asked to ‘pay as you feel’, which removes any financial barriers.

Anna Dyson, managing director at Toast Love Coffee, said: “I’m so excited to open the doors of the café at our brand new venue, which is much bigger than the pop-up. Since its conception Toast Love Coffee has built up a loyal and dedicated customer and volunteer-base, who really believe in what we do. The move is very much a result of this growing support network and it’s down to them that we’ve been able to consider it.”

“This new space gives us the opportunity to broaden our offering to the local community in ways that will benefit them. This now includes some fantastic event spaces which people can use how they please including English language classes, yoga sessions, NCT groups, and craft sessions.”

The commercial property team at Blacks worked closely with Dyson to facilitate the lease on the property, which was a former Leeds Building Society branch, and gathered and coordinated a network of experts from its client base to collaboratively oversee the transition.

These experts included Broadley Construction, which supplied the flooring; the Strategic Team Group, building materials; Brownridge Transport, office furniture; and Crowther Turnball Booth Surveyors and Dresler Smith, which advised on the location and supported the negotiation.

Claudia Willard, a commercial property solicitor at Blacks, commented: “It was a pleasure to play our part in the continued growth of this project and in turn enable communities to continue to come together by using this new permanent space.”

“This deal was particularly challenging with tight timescales to work towards in order to meet the December opening date. We wish Anna the best of luck with the project and look forward to popping in for a cuppa and some toast!”

Dyson continued: “The move has been a huge project and I’m so thankful for the support I’ve had to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible. As well as the commercial property team at Blacks who facilitated the lease, I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone involved as this really was a collaborative team effort.”

Blacks Solicitors supports pop-up community café with relocation to new premises

Jason Green, Paul Crabtree, Claudia Willard, Anna Dyson, Glen Turnbull,

Arthur Brownridge and Chris Hiles



The UK’s most senior judge gave the Alice Bacon Lecture honouring the achievements of a pioneering Yorkshire MP in Leeds last month.

Baroness Brenda Hale, the UK’s first woman law lord and the first female president of the Supreme Court, spoke at the University of Leeds on A Century of Women’s Rights.

This year marks the centenary of women being able to join the legal profession and hold public office. The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 paved the way for women to become lawyers for the first time.

Last January, the inaugural Alice Bacon Lecture—held to honour Yorkshire’s first woman MP—was given by senior MP Harriet Harman in a packed Great Hall at the university.

Leeds-born Lady Hale, who grew up in Richmond, North Yorkshire—her full title is Baroness Hale of Richmond—was the first from her school to go to Cambridge University and the first to read law. She was also the first woman member of the Law Commission, as well as the first woman law lord (predecessors of the justices of the Supreme Court).

Lady Hale said: “Women in my generation could often be first—it’s much harder now for women to be the first at anything because we’ve nabbed all of those spots.”

“I feel a responsibility to be as good as I possibly can be in the job, partly not to let down women in the future—because there’s a risk if the first woman doesn’t do too well

people will say ‘that’s because she’s a woman’.”“I also feel that, if my having this role encourages young

women starting out in a legal career to think ‘well, if she can do it, I can do it’, that’s wonderful.”

Alice Bacon was elected to represent Leeds North East in 1945 and served her city constituents continuously until her retirement a quarter of a century later (she transferred to Leeds South East when constituency boundaries were revised in 1955). Awarded a CBE in the 1953 Coronation Honours, she took up a seat in the House of Lords as a baroness on her retirement as an MP in 1970.

Leeds did not return another woman to the House of Commons until the election in 2010 of Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves, who is also Baroness Bacon’s biographer.

Reeves teamed up with the School of Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds to establish the lectures in the name of her trailblazing forebear, with the aim of commemorating the achievements of West Yorkshire women.

Reeves added: “Following a fantastic year of celebrating 100 years since some women first won the right to vote, 2019 marks the centenary of women being able to join the legal profession and hold public office.”

“The Alice Bacon lecture provides us with the opportunity to commemorate the contribution women have made to politics and public life.”

Baroness Brenda Hale gives Alice Bacon Lecture in Leeds

The number of fraud cases reaching courts in Yorkshire and the Northeast doubled last year, according to KPMG.

The firm’s Fraud Barometer, which records cases of alleged fraud with a value of more than £100,000, found that the number of cases reaching courts in Yorkshire and the Northeast in 2018 rose to 54 from 21 in 2017.

Similarly, over the same period, the value of fraud cases rose from £32.7 million to £62.8 million.

Nationwide, the number of fraud cases reaching UK courts rose by 78% last year. KPMG found that 453 cases with a total value of £1.2 billion came to court across the UK last year.

During 2018, evasion of duties and account takeover or payment transfer fraud were the most common offences. Meanwhile, investment fraud took the largest share of the total value of fraud, accounting for £26.3 million, according to KPMG.

Sara Smith, forensic director at KPMG, said: “There has been an incredibly diverse range of fraud activity hitting local courts over the past year, covering nearly 20 different types of offence—from cigarette smuggling to investment scams. The common thread between them is that fraud can have a significant impact on people’s lives, take much needed funds from tax revenues and put an enormous strain on businesses.”

“As cases get more complex and daring, but also become more frequent, private and public sector organisations and individuals in the region need to take proactive steps to protect themselves.”

Notable cases in the Northeast and Yorkshire include:

• Sheffield Crown Court has demanded that two fraudsters from Halifax repay approximately £750,000 to victims of a sophisticated fraud that involved selling stolen goods online

• A property developer in Bradford will have to pay more than half a million pounds back to victims or face prison after being found guilty of using funds from investors to pay for his own luxury lifestyle

• A man in Hull was jailed for five years for his part in a major cigarette smuggling operation, which defrauded UK taxpayers of more than £670,000

• A businessman from Leeds was jailed for nine years after being caught in a sophisticated £10 million VAT fraud case that fuelled a glamorous lifestyle in Marbella

• A gang of tobacco smugglers from the Northeast was jailed after an HM Revenue & Customs investigation into duty evasion on 12 million cigarettes, worth £3.6 million in unpaid duty and VAT

• A charity boss was jailed by Newcastle Crown Court after diverting more than £700,000 of the charity’s cash to his own bank account

• Fraudsters were jailed in Newcastle after scamming a college and training charity out of hundreds of thousands of pounds by creating fictitious clients and then charging the college fees for providing them with training

Yorkshire and Northeast fraud cases double, finds KPMG

Anthony Baker of Plexus Law has been confirmed as vice president of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) for 2019.

Baker, who is a partner and head of casualty at Plexus Law in Leeds, was confirmed at the association’s recent AGM.

He qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and has more than 20 years of experience in the defendant insurance legal market.

Baker heads up major insurer client relations for Plexus and specialises in advising insurers and corporate clients on all types of major loss casualty and regulatory cases.

On his appointment, Baker said: “It is a great honour to be appointed the vice president of FOIL and I am really looking forward to my new role. I firmly believe that FOIL has a vital place for insurance lawyers to lobby and provide direction and guidance to the government/MOJ given the myriad of regulatory and legislative changes and issues facing the

defendant insurance industry.”“I relish the challenge of being able to play my part

collaboratively alongside the rest of the FOIL national executive in helping to shape the future landscape for all who work in the industry.”

Keoghs partner James Heath was elected as the new president of FOIL.

He succeeded Stephen Hines of Citygate Chambers, whose stewardship has seen FOIL navigate the initial stages of the Civil Liability Bill, and inch closer to Brexit. Heath is director of counter fraud strategy at Keoghs, having been instrumental in the development and growth of the firm’s fraud practice over the past 20 years.

In the next 12 months, FOIL will turn its attention to a number of crucial regulatory changes that will shake up the way insurance law is practised.

Anthony Baker confirmed as vice president of FOIL



Mental health first aid in the workplace has been debated in Parliament and a motion backed by a cross-party group of MPs, following a Yorkshire lawyer’s high-profile campaign.

Jodie Hill of Thrive Law launched a petition calling for mandatory mental health first aiders in the workplace last year. It attracted almost 3,000 signatures and significant media coverage from Sky News and various local outlets in Yorkshire.

In a debate on 17 January, MPs from across the five main political parties spoke in support of the issue as part of a backbench business committee debate, with all recognising the importance of addressing the need for improved first aid support in the workplace.

They followed this up with a motion calling for legislation to put mental and physical first aid on an equal footing through first aid regulations, although the government did not speak in support of the motion, meaning there is still work to do before any legislative changes are made.

Hill said following the debate and motion: “I am genuinely delighted at the positive engagement and understanding shown by MPs leading up to and during the recent debate in the House of Commons on the subject of mental health in the workplace.”

“”The indication is that Parliament has acknowledged the need for this vital issue to be examined and discussed in further detail over the coming months. This is a strong vindication of the campaign I have been heading up for the last two years to train and provide compulsory mental health first aiders in the workplace.”

She added: “While there is still much work to do, I am heartened at the solid progress that has already been made. This forms a firm foundation for us to move our campaign forward to a positive conclusion.”

Simon Blake, chief executive of Mental Health First Aid England, commented: “We need the law to change to put mental and physical first aid on an equal footing in the workplace. This proposed change is backed by some of the UK’s biggest businesses, the general public and MPs from

across the political spectrum. [On 17 January] there was a further demonstration of support for this legislative change when MPs debated the issue in parliament.

“Although the motion was opposed by Jackie Doyle-Price, the minister for mental health, inequalities and suicide prevention, the speaker concluded that the ayes had it. There was also a commitment by the minister to continue the debate on the issue of mental health in the workplace.”

Parliamentary support for mental health first aiders increases following Jodie Hill’s campaign

News Social & Charity


Specialist real estate lawyers at Walker Morris have provided Sunshine & Smiles with free legal advice as part of the firm’s ongoing pro bono programme.

The real estate team advised Sunshine & Smiles on a lease for its new café development, Café 21.

Café 21 is a new project for Sunshine & Smiles based in Headingley Central on Otley Road.

The cafe will provide young adults with Down syndrome with valuable work experience and training, as well as offering a visible example to the local community of what Sunshine & Smiles is all about.

Sunshine & Smiles was recently voted as the law firm’s 2018/19 charity of the year. The firm will be organising and taking part in various events and activities to raise as many funds as possible for the charity.

Ailith Harley-Roberts of Sunshine & Smiles said: “Sunshine & Smiles is so grateful for the support that has been afforded via the Walker Morris real estate legal team. They have enabled us to take the next step on our journey, supporting people with Down syndrome to gain invaluable work experience & training opportunities. We are delighted to be working closely with Walker Morris colleagues over the next year as their charity of the year!”

Helen Moxley of Walker Morris added: “We are delighted to have the opportunity of working closely with Sunshine & Smiles and supporting a charity that is already close to our hearts as our current charity of the year’. We were able to offer free real estate legal advice to Sunshine & Smiles in support of the new and exciting Café 21 development project.”

“Café 21 will not only provide vital work experience and training opportunities for young adults with Down syndrome, it will also make such a difference to the community and raise awareness of the work that Sunshine & Smiles do. The advice was given as part of Walker Morris’ ongoing pro bono programme which enables us to offer free legal advice where it is needed the most.”

Meanwhile, Walker Morris employees spread some festive cheer in December by donating sacks full of presents to national children’s charity KidsOut to be distributed to underprivileged children and young people in the region.

In its 15th year, support for the annual Walker Morris Christmas gift appeal was stronger than ever, with more than 150 toys and gifts donated, equalling the law firm’s record year in 2013.

Each year, Walker Morris employees are asked if they would like to donate a toy or gift to a nominated charity. The programme has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2013.

Last year, Walker Morris worked with KidsOut, a national charity that provides fun and positive experiences to thousands of children and young people living in difficult and challenging circumstances. KidsOut works throughout the UK to bring happiness and excitement into children’s lives as well as hope for a better future.

Gavin Bedford at KidsOut commented: “KidsOut has been blown away by the generosity expressed towards our Giving Tree 2018 campaign. The response has been overwhelming, with over 750 companies, organisations, schools, and groups taking part in the UK. Without the support of organisations like Walker Morris, KidsOut would not be able to provide every child in a Women’s Aid Refuge with the opportunity to receive a brand new Christmas gift. Thank you from everyone at KidsOut for helping to make disadvantaged children happy this Christmas.”

Louise Power, partner at Walker Morris and head of corporate social responsibility, said: “It is lovely to be able to support such a worthy cause as KidsOut at Christmas. This time of year can be particularly difficult for many families, children and young people and the response from employees has been absolutely overwhelming. We hope that these presents provide a bit of festive cheer for everyone on Christmas Day.”

Walker Morris supports its charity of the year with pro bono advice

A total of £11,400 has been donated to the Marie Curie Hospice Bradford following a cycling fundraising event with 250 riders from Yorkshire businesses.

Law firm Gordons, which runs the annual 100-mile challenge from Ilkley to York and back, presented the donation to Marie Curie at its Bradford hospice.

The Wharfedale Ton has nearly doubled in size since its launch two years ago by Gordons, Lloyds Bank and audit, tax and consulting firm RSM. In 2016, around 120 people took part and raised £7,000 for long-standing charity partner Marie Curie. The following year 200 riders participated and generated £12,600 in donations.

The Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford provides specialist care and support for people living with a terminal illness. The hospice offers several different services, including a 16-bed in-patient unit and out-patient day services incorporating a variety of different activities such as complementary therapies, individual appointments or group sessions around a particular illness, art and music therapy, gentle exercise groups and a chance to meet others in a similar situation socially. Support for families and carers is available, and the hospice also provides spiritual support.

Liz Howlett, fundraising manager at Marie Curie Hospice Bradford, said: “We’re extremely thankful for the hard work that everyone has put in to raise the money and the generosity of those who kindly agreed to sponsor them. The money Gordons raised across these three years has

generated valuable funds in support of our services.”“This donation will allow us to continue our work in

providing vital care and support, completely free of charge, to those living with a terminal illness, and their families, in and around the Bradford area.”

Additional support and sponsorship for the event was provided by Reed Boardall Group, Calder Conferences, Thorpe Mill, imediate, Arena Group, Advanced Supply Chain, Roberts Mart Group, Naylor Wintersgill, Melrose Textiles, Craven Jewellers, Ling Bob, BDB and PIB insurance brokers.

Gordons partner and head of employment, Philip Paget, said: “This has been another excellent year for the Wharfedale Ton. I’m hugely grateful to the people who made generous donations to this great cause, the riders who took part, our corporate sponsors and local businesses who helped organise the event.”

“The Marie Curie Hospice provides vital services for those living with a terminal illness, and their families, in Bradford so we’re very happy to have raised over £31,000 in support of its important work since the event’s launch.”

“When I decided three years ago to organise a charitable networking bike ride, I didn’t foresee it becoming the resounding success that it has. But after seeing the huge benefits to the charity from our growing community, more and more people want to get involved. At Gordons, we pride ourselves on being more than simply expert lawyers, we like to make a difference too.”

Gordons event cycling raises £11,400 for charity


News Social & Charity


NewsSocial & Charity

The Doncaster office of Keebles has bolstered support for local charities by almost £3,000.

More than a third of the £3,000 in funds and contributions made across 2016 to 2018 has enabled the national charity DEBRA to support more people suffering from the potentially fatal skin condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB).

The condition is sometimes known as a butterfly skin because it makes the skin as fragile as a butterfly’s wing, causes constant pain due to unstoppable internal and external blistering.

Last year’s events for DEBRA included a monthly Dress Down Friday, a sponsored slim-athon, and saw trainee solicitor Kate Large take on the Hull Inflatable 5k Obstacle Run at Beverley Racecourse.

Jenny Jackson, DEBRA business development manager,

said: “An enormous ‘thank you’ to Keebles. Their team’s tenacious drive will help to fund research into symptom alleviation and effective treatments and provide care and support which will help to make a real difference to EB sufferers and their families.”

Keebles has also boosted the goals of MS Society, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Comic Relief and Changing Lives, which provides specialist support for 6,000 socially excluded and vulnerable people every month. Its services for women and their families include recovery centres, temporary and long-term accommodation, employment and volunteering opportunities.

Sarah Burton, partner at Keebles, said: “Putting something back is aligned with our firm’s values and ethos and it’s tremendous that our support is helping to make a difference for these inspirational organisations.”

Keebles supports charities to the tune of £3k

Legal mental health charity LawCare received its highest ever number of helpline calls from lawyers in 2018, with calls about bullying and harassment nearly doubling.

The charity, which runs a helpline for the legal profession offering emotional support, dealt with 932 calls in 2018 from 624 callers, a 5% increase on the number of calls in 2017.

The most common reason for calling was stress (26%), followed by depression (19%) and anxiety (11%). Calls about bullying and harassment have risen from 38 calls in 2017 to 68 last year.

The majority of callers to the helpline were women (64%) and 48% were trainees/pupils or had been qualified five years or fewer.

Other issues included concerns about disciplinary

proceedings (8%), career development (9%), chronic illness, alcohol and drugs, and relationship issues.

Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of LawCare, said: “2018 was our busiest year to date on the helpline since we started over twenty years ago. Whilst we are pleased more lawyers are reaching out to us for support, we remain increasingly concerned about the long hours and heavy workload culture in the law which significantly affects wellbeing. We are particularly concerned about the number of callers citing bullying and harassment in the workplace, it is absolutely essential that legal practice organisations take steps to stamp this out and take the wellbeing and treatment of staff seriously.”

For support, call the helpline on 0800 279 6888 in the UK, or for more information, visit www.lawcare.org.uk.

Simon Davis is a commercial, litigation partner at Clifford Chance, a global corporate law firm across five continents. Its UK offices are in London and Newcastle. Davis has more than 30 years of experience in representing financial clients in major commercial and regulatory disputes, often with an international element.

As incoming president in July this year, we asked him how he saw the Law Society in five years’ time. He sees the society as thriving over the next few years as a voice for the profession, in the public interest. He also sees it as acting as a clearing house to the profession for ideas, expertise and experience.

A further role is as a thought leader and career partner for all areas of the profession in England and Wales,

whether in private practice, in-house, local or global. One of his key presidential themes is working

collaboratively with local law societies.We asked him what three things he felt he

could do as president to support local law societies. He said that he wants to: ensure that they are part of one unified network,

adding value to members in coordination with the national Law Society; exchange ideas and

opportunities; and promote their existence and value.

Finally, on a lighter note, we asked Davis what character from history he would be and why? He said Charles Darwin, the English naturalist, geologist and biologist, because he led the most extraordinary and influential life.

Calls to LawCare helpline increased in 2018

Spotlight: Simon Davis, the Law SocietyFor this month’s profile, the relationship management team in the north caught up with Simon Davis, vice president of the Law Society. His presidency begins in July

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NewsAppointments

Clarion

Clarion has added Humera Rashid as a new associate in its construction team. Rashid brings a wealth of knowledge to Clarion, after working in construction litigation within private practice for the past seven years. She completed her LLB at the University of Bradford, was admitted as a fellow of CILEX in June 2018, and has undertaken a legal practice course and a professional skills course.

AWB Charlesworth

AWB Charlesworth Solicitors has appointed Anna Robinson as a new trainee solicitor. Robinson, a first-class law degree graduate, joined the firm in May 2017 as

a secretary in the residential property department. She completed her legal practice course at Leeds Beckett University last year and is beginning her training contract in the Skipton office of AWB Charlesworth.

Haddleton Legal

Haddleton Legal has appointed senior pharmaceutical lawyer Liam McIlveen to its expanding life sciences

division. McIlveen joined the firm from AstraZeneca, where he was an in-house lawyer for more than 25 years, specialising in life sciences transactions, intellectual property licences, collaborations, product disposals and acquisitions, mergers and acquisitions projects, and other commercial and research and development deals.

DLA Piper

DLA Piper has recruited three newly qualified associates in Sheffield and brought in six new trainee solicitors. Tom Manley, Joe Masson and Melissa Wilkinson have successfully completed their training contracts with the firm. It has also taken on Davin Basi, Jodie Cunnington, Chloe Dunn, Laura Higson, Daniel Lavender and Sofia Wyzykiewicz as trainee solicitors in Sheffield.

PM Legal Services PM Legal Services has has taken on Chloe Quinn, a student from Doncaster charity

YMCA Training. The firm has also promoted Kirsten Etheridge, another YMCA training student who has clinched the charity’s Learning Awards for two consecutive years. Quinn has been appointed as an administration assistant and Etheridge has been promoted from office administrator to junior personal assistant to Cassandra Zanelli, a residential leasehold expert who leads the team.

Gordons

Gordons has boosted its commercial property team with five new hires. The law firm has appointed three solicitors and two chartered legal executives, taking the commercial property team’s headcount to 30. Katherine Anderson, Sophie McFeely, Clare Freear, Tanzeela Hussain and Mathew Abiagom have joined the department, led by partner Paul Young.

LCF Law

The commercial and intellectual property department of LCF Law has expanded its team with the appointment of new solicitor Abid Perwaze in Leeds. Perwaze has joined LCF Law from Jacksons Commercial & Private Law, where he spent two years completing his training contract. He also previously worked as a paralegal at Gordons in Bradford.

Squire Patton Boggs

Nick Bell has left Royal Bank of Scotland to join Squire Patton Boggs as a financial services partner. Bell served as a director and head of the transaction management team, specialising in real estate and housing finance, at Royal Bank of Scotland. He has 18 years of experience advising on acquisition finance and cross-border corporate transactions, refinancing and restructurings.

Simpson MillarSimpson Millar has established a public law team in Leeds. Patricia Cannon has joined the firm as a partner from Henry Hyams Solicitors to lead the new team.

Lidia Foster, who has joined the firm as assistant solicitor, has arrived from Ison Harrison. Cannon brings more than 15 years of experience to the firm. Foster works predominantly on public law children cases.

Innovation, creativity, tourism, identity, health and wellbeing are just some of the reasons why a thriving arts and culture scene is crucial to the prosperity of a city or region. And the legal sector within Leeds and

wider Yorkshire is a prominent supporter of its own, whether it’s through financial means, or providing a space in which to exhibit or perform.

Leeds-based Walker Morris is one such firm. “Support for the arts has played an important role in Walker Morris’ long-term corporate responsibility strategy for many years,” says David Smedley, chairman of the partners. “Our sponsorship of art and art projects spans over two decades and we have invested over £1.45 million in the arts.”

These arts projects range from grass-roots investment in the locality, with its annual Children’s Charity Calendar Competition, right through to sponsorship of national art exhibitions.

Walker Morris brought the prestigious Royal Academy Schools Show out of London for the first time in its history in 2003, and partnered with Saatchi, both in London and Leeds, to bring a Saatchi exhibition out of London to Leeds. The firm has also sponsored the inaugural exhibition at the Saatchi

Gallery, London, and sponsored Damien Hirst’s exhibition, Artist Rooms, at Leeds Art Gallery, and Ashley Jackson’s the Power and the Passion exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London. More locally, the firm has sponsored the Framing the Landscape project in conjunction with the National Trust (a pioneering arts installation to help create a permanent outside art exhibition and a lasting legacy for the Yorkshire countryside).

Most recently, Walker Morris “proudly” sponsored the Anonymous heART Project with Heart Research UK, which saw some of the biggest names across entertainment, politics and the arts, such as Nicola Sturgeon, Nick Cave, Jo Brand and Ralph Steadman, create unique, original pieces of artwork to be auctioned on eBay for the benefit of Heart Research in November last year.

Walker Morris’ long support of the arts in Leeds “has become embedded into the firm’s culture”, says Smedley. He explains: “‘Creativity in art and business’ is supported by our employees at every level, encouraging staff to think innovatively and creatively. We also recognise the importance of creating a positive social impact by supporting the community and the people where we work and live.”


Cover StoryArts and Culture

A thriving arts and culture scene is crucial to the prosperity of a city or region—and the legal sector is an ardent supporter

State of the art



Community is an artOn the community support aspect, Smedley highlights Walker Morris’ more than 25 years of support for art and creativity in local primary schools, “at a time when as little as 4% of the timetable is given to teaching art”.

He says: “When we launched our Children’s Charity Calendar Competition in 1994, our objective was to encourage enthusiasm and interest in art amongst school children and support creativity in schools whilst raising money for Martin House Hospice. We achieved this by partnering with one of Yorkshire’s most respected artists, Ashley Jackson, who has consistently helped us to achieve the success that our Calendar Competition has seen to date. The Calendar Competition has also picked up a number of awards along the way which is pleasing but is not what we run it for.”

Walker Morris appreciates the boon that a local thriving arts scene can be for Leeds. Smedley says: “Art is an integral part of Leeds’ identity with great galleries such as Leeds Art Gallery and the Henry Moore Institute, which was described by the Times as being ‘probably the best collection of 20th century British art outside London’. These galleries all showcase work from around the world as well as numerous independent galleries and Leeds Arts University.”

“Leeds has also long been considered a notable centre for theatre, opera and dance with the city being home to Opera North, The Northern Ballet, Leeds Grand Theatre and Leeds Playhouse, which is currently undergoing a £14 million redevelopment.”

“Leeds attracts more and more visitors both regionally and nationally every year,” Smedley enthuses. “The city has a lot to offer and there is plenty to attract visitors wanting to experience the arts and culture scene in Leeds. It is clear that Leeds embraces the ‘art for all approach’ and appears to constantly looking for more innovative ways to engage with all ages and generations of both the local community and tourists from further afield.”

“With the numerous family art workshops and events taking place at Leeds Art Gallery and The Tetley Leeds Young Film Festival and Family Arts Festival, as well as Leeds Music Festival and Fanny Waterman’s world famous Leeds International Piano Competition to name but a few!”

“The arts scene itself is an integral part of the city’s proud heritage,” Smedley continues. Indeed, it has produced a number of renowned artists, including Damien Hirst, Henry Moore and John Atkinson Grimshaw.

“But Leeds isn’t standing still, the city is constantly evolving and reinventing its arts offering with a thriving scene that has seen a rise in the number of independent art organisations and centres like East Street Arts, The Tetley, MEXICO, Basement Arts Projects and Assembly House, combined with the art offering by the city’s universities, attracting new and emerging young artists.”

“The vibrant and exciting art offering by the city’s universities continues to attract highly talented students each year, with many coming to Leeds to study at either Leeds University, Leeds Beckett University or Leeds Arts University, the only specialist arts university in the North of England. We in Leeds are blessed with a very healthy arts scene!”

Smedley says that everyone needs to remain committed to the arts in Leeds. “The arts scene is fundamental to the city and the more support it receives the more it is able to help local communities and young people in Leeds to find their voice.”

“The arts need continued investment and support from local business and organisations such as the Leeds Art Fund, which has helped and aided the city to acquire more than 430 works for Leeds art galleries and has continues to play a vital role in the purchase of contemporary and historic art. There also needs to be continued involvement from the wider Leeds community.”

“Walker Morris remains committed to its support of the arts and this year will see the very special 25th Calendar Competition take place in our new office on Wellington Street, we have some very exciting events already planned although nothing has been officially announced yet. We are also working closely with Leeds Arts University and have recently launched an innovative partnership to commission 11 pieces of artwork for our new offices through a competition for the students of Leeds Arts University. So watch this space!”

Health and wellbeing benefitsOne firm focused on the health and wellbeing benefits of arts and culture is Keebles, whose support of Cast, a charity recognised as the home of world-class theatre in Doncaster, helps to run a series of age- and dementia-friendly events.

Sarah Burton, partner at Keebles, explains: “We were really impressed by the work undertaken by Cast to create an all-inclusive environment for people to enjoy arts and theatre locally and were delighted to become the charity’s official ‘Age Friendly Partner’.”

“We admire Cast as an early adopter of the Age-Friendly Standards, which aim to provide a welcoming and positive experience for everyone, regardless of their age.”

“The charity’s commitment to working with some of Doncaster’s most vulnerable groups and those facing dementia struck a chord with our private client department

Sarah Burton from Keebles (right) with Sian Dudley from Cast

Jo Miller, chief executive of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council (centre) with Keebles employees, including Sarah Burton (2nd right) and Sian Dudley from Cast (3rd right)

in particular, who regularly support clients and their families coping with these types of conditions.”

Burton continues: “As it is widely acknowledged that creative and cultural participation are the most prominent

indicator to wellbeing in later life, we are excited to be part of a move to further expand arts and culture to all. Cast runs a programme of dementia-friendly events, which encourage dancing and singing, as well as carefully chosen cinema screenings to help dementia sufferers engage, participate and feel enriched and included.”

“Some older members of the community also face dementia and we hope that more people will begin to understand these conditions and their challenges through raising awareness in the arts sector.”

The charity also helps young people, says Burton. “Cast runs a whole host of workshops and productions aimed at children, which again are vital to the community to encourage and develop skills and the imagination of the younger generation—something that we as an employer are really excited to see happening locally.”

“Working with over 5,000 young people from schools across the borough in 2018, Cast has created opportunities to introduce children and young people to the arts.”

“Keebles is proud to sponsor and support Cast’s inspiring work and we hope that this is just the beginning of a long relationship to help improve the community in which we all live and work.”

As a town, Doncaster has developed its own emerging arts scene, boasting a variety of venues for entertainment, ranging from small local theatres to the Keepmoat Stadium, which attracts iconic globally renowned bands.

The Doncaster Dome hosts larger shows and events, while the town hosts an annual ‘culture crawl’, guiding participants to venues to enjoy art, literature and music. Burton comments: “The event showcases the talent of Doncaster people across a variety of cultures that are represented within the community. This includes DARTS (Doncaster Community Arts) free art gallery hosting world class exhibitions throughout the year alongside creative workshops and projects.”

“Cast, which opened in 2013 and had 80,000 visitors last year, offers a packed programme hosting everything from local performances to international ballet companies and high quality touring plays.”

“The charity encourages the talent and performers of the future with dance and acting workshops and an Associate Artist programme for developing local talent.”

She adds: “The arts scene includes Doncaster Little Theatre—a community theatre offering opportunities for people of all ages to develop many theatrical skills—and Right Up Our Street. The latter focuses on local people choosing, making, seeing and sharing brilliant cultural ideas—from poetry to performance, film to radio, sculpture to design, technology to physical activity.”

Of course, organisations such as Cast rely on fundraising to support their work. Those funds yield the Cast Communities programme, which ensures that local groups who face financial disadvantage are offered workshops, discounts and activities to help them access the theatre.

“Monies raised also support youth theatre bursaries for children from low income backgrounds,” says Burton. “Cast’s participation team are working in some of Doncaster’s most disadvantaged communities to give young people access to arts activities, irrespective of their background. Through working with vulnerable groups, Cast is learning about the complex hurdles that impact an individual’s ability to access the theatre.”

“Some groups require help with transport, which is often a barrier for access. Others need support from friends, leaders, mentors, professionals; a helping hand to walk into a theatre setting, as well as subsidised or free tickets to access a show. Cast offers free carer tickets to all performances, and is equipped with a Changing Places toilet and up to 12 wheelchair spaces with access via a lift to all floors.”

“Support needs vary, but being able to offer a safe, welcoming, supportive, friendly and accessible venue is paramount.”

On Keebles’ own support of Cast, Burton concludes: “Keebles is looking forward to further developing the partnership to support Cast’s vital youth and community work alongside the charity’s dementia friendly events and activities.”

“We’ve received great feedback from the partnership. Praising Doncaster as a dementia-friendly town, at the launch Jo Miller, chief executive of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, said she was delighted with this initiative which brings the private, public and charity sectors working together to improve the quality of life for local older people.”

“A long-standing supporter of ‘giving back’, our firm is also continuing its vibrant community relations programme with local charities. They include DEBRA, which supports people suffering from the potentially fatal skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa, St Luke’s Hospice, Cavendish Cancer Care, MS Society, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Changing Lives—which provides specialist support for 6,000 socially excluded and vulnerable people every month.”



Louise Rudkin from Keebles private client team works closely with Cast

Ashley Jackson’s Framing the Landscape

Walker Morris Calendar Competition winners

What is Resolution?Resolution is an association of family law professionals who work with families and individuals to resolve issues in a constructive way. There is a national committee that runs national events and there are various regional committees located around the country that run events in their respective regions. In our region, there is a Resolution committee and a Young Resolution committee known as YRes.

The committees in our region organise a calendar of social and academic events for each year. Last year, events included: wine and cheese tasting, a case law update from barrister Nick Power of Broadway House Chambers, a case law update from Duncan Maxwell-Stewart followed by a BBQ, and a presentation from Sara Smith and some of her colleagues at KPMG.

Annual winter event 2018West and North Yorkshire Resolution’s annual winter event was held on 16 November 2018 at the Marriott Hotel in Leeds. Like the 2017 event, guests included around 160 family law practitioners and their contacts, plus other professionals from the region and beyond.

They enjoyed a three-course meal followed by live music from the band, Evoke, and speeches from the national chair of Resolution, Margaret Heathcote, and the national chair of YRes, David Lister.

The event was once again the highlight of our region’s Resolution events calendar. Cheryl Grace, chair of YRes 2018 in the region, said: “It is wonderful to see guests

enjoying themselves during the evening, and to be able to raise money for Candlelighters which is such a worthy charity. Amy Harrison from Candlelighters attended the event and spoke about the amazing work the charity carries out in our region. This undoubtedly encouraged guests to donate generously to help us raise £1,141.05 through a raffle.”

“I must say thank you to the Marriott, Novitas, Parklane Plowden, CFL North and Brewtown Tours for kindly donating raffle prizes, and to the Marriott for once again doing a wonderful job of hosting the event.”

The committees also wish to extend their thanks to Investec Wealth & Investment, which sponsored the event.

Rowena Houston said: “I met a lot of people on the night and the evening was very enjoyable. The atmosphere was vibrant and the connection with a local charity ensured that we all came away from the night with more understanding

The annual winter event was once again the highlight of the region’s Resolution events calendar

Resolution annual winter event 2018: Another wonderful evening


Resolution Update

Cheryl Grace (Stowe Family Law), Amy Harrison (Candlelighters), Rowena Houston (Investec Wealth & Investment) and Edward Heaton (Stewarts)

The regional Resolution and YRes committees 2018

of the excellent work that happens right on our doorstep each and every day.”

Chair of the main regional committee, Laura Clapton, added: “I wish to congratulate our regional YRes committee with special thanks to their chair, Cheryl Grace, for yet again organising such a momentous event for our regional members. Not only does the winter ball enable family law practitioners from around the region to get together and enjoy themselves but it is also a perfect opportunity to thank our Resolution members for the fantastic work that they do in family law within our region each year.”

Regional officers retiringEdward Heaton (Stewarts), Matthew Miles (Stowe Family Law) and Ellie Foster (Mills & Reeve) retired from their roles as chair, treasurer and secretary of the regional Resolution committee, respectively, after three years of service.

The committees would like to say a special thank you to each of you for your hard work and commitment over the last three years. Looking ahead The committees will finalise the events calendar for this year shortly and no doubt preparations for the annual winter event in 2019 will soon be underway. If you are interested in learning more about Resolution or our events, please contact

either the chair of the main regional committee, Laura Clapton ([email protected]), or the chair of the YRes committee, Rosanna Hyett ([email protected]), for further details.


Resolution Update

Attendees raised £1,141.05 through a raffle for Candlelighters

Ellie Foster (Mills & Reeve), Edward Heaton (Stewarts) and Matthew Miles (Stowe Family Law)

Amy Harrison (Candlelighters), Patrick Doig (Investec Wealth & Investment) and Cheryl Grace (Stowe Family Law)

The regional Resolution and YRes committees 2018, plus Amy Harrison (Candlelighters) and Rowena Houston (Investec Wealth & Investment)

Rosanna Hyett (Jones Myers), Edward Heaton (Stewarts), Laura Clapton (Consilia Legal) and Cheryl Grace (Stowe Family Law)


News of the expansion of a commercial enterprise in which former police officers charge to advise litigants in person has sparked a surge of incredulity and concern in

legal circles.The debate centres on the plans of retired policeman,

Philip Kedge, to increase his ‘McKenzie friends’ venture to around 100 ex-police officers based across the country.

Kedge further fuelled the fire when he said it is an “irrefutable truth” that family courts could dispense with family lawyers—a fundamentally flawed opinion that fails to understand not only the complexity of family law but the gravity of what is involved.

The difference between a paid McKenzie friend and a lawyer is qualifications, expertise and experience. Knowledge of children law, divorce and finance, including pensions, insurance, tax implications and state benefits, are just a few of the issues. A parent or divorcee often only has one opportunity to contribute and resolve matters. There is no one solution fits all and every case is individual and unique.

The increase in McKenzie friends stems from the government’s decision to remove almost all family law advice from the Legal Aid scheme. In 2012, I predicted how its withdrawal was a false economy—leaving hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable and least wealthy members of society in a legal wilderness.

As a result, more divorcing couples—or those with difficulties concerning children arrangements with no access to expert family law advice to resolve their cases swiftly and with the least damage to families—are representing themselves in family courts with no idea of the law or procedure involved.

As a former deputy district judge for 15 years, I know that no-one would choose to self-litigate unless forced to by circumstances. Litigation, as my peers are aware, is a traumatic event and it is always preferable to be represented by a qualified and objective solicitor with a breadth and depth of expertise in family law, preferably a Resolution member.

Litigants in person unable to afford the services of experienced family lawyers seek out ‘friends’—non-professional helpers or advisers. Often known and trusted by litigants, these friends support them by preparing cases, taking notes and prompting them where appropriate—especially with questions for cross examination.

But how can a litigant know how good or bad this friend is? There have been occasions when a litigant in person has acted in contempt of the court due to a friend’s incorrect advice. Only last year, a litigant in person removed a child from jurisdiction, claiming it was on a friend’s advice.

A proliferation of unqualified former police officers acting as friends is undoubtedly a recipe for disaster with this apparent profit-making business giving no control or little recourse for litigants if it all goes wrong.

Insurance, if it exists, is not the answer—I think the risk of negligence is very high as I have little doubt that unqualified McKenzie friends will continually seek to extend their involvement, getting further out of their depth. They may also have their own axe to grind if they have personally encountered a poor experience within family law.

The Philip Kedge scenario is akin to someone with scant knowledge about cars who reads a Halfords Manual then sets themselves up as a mechanic, charging neighbours and friends to service their cars before attempting to fix more complex problems with suspension, brakes or steering.

In other words: a proverbial car crash just waiting to happen.

OpinionMcKenzie Friends

Litigation is a traumatic event and it is always preferable to be represented by a qualified and objective solicitor, writes Peter Jones, founder of Jones Myers and a former deputy district judge

Expansion of ex-police as McKenzie friends reinforces wider access flaws


Patrick Walker views the future with optimism and allows us a glimpse of his teenage boy-racer years

A groovy feeling

I f clearing out is a recurring theme it is because 60 years of accumulation in my late parents’ home takes a lot of moving and is often thought

provoking. The diaries of my great grandfather shed some light on the life of a rural clergyman in 19th century Ireland, and even the reference pages are worthy of a second glance. Letts’ advice in 1877 is that:

“An Englishman travelling on the Continent seldom needs a Passport, but it is nevertheless advisable to carry one, as it is at all times proof of identity, and frequently secures admission to museums and similar buildings when otherwise closed.”

Within a few months I wonder whether my passport will secure admission to our nearest neighbour, let alone unlock museum doors! There is so much cause for anxiety that I delighted in being sent a cartoon with this dialogue:

“Why so optimistic about 2019? What do you think it will bring? Everything seems so messed up.”

“I think it will bring flowers.”“Yes? How come?”“Because I am planting flowers.”Of course, flowers are not the answer to

everything but they do seem to help, and whether cut or bursting from the winter soil like the carpets of impatient snowdrops and early daffodils, it is hard not to smile even as Parliament drags the country into an abyss of uncertainty. Increasingly, the views I hear are less passionate about the outcome but ever more desperate for an outcome. Perhaps by the time you read this, the way forward will be clear … but I doubt it.

But despite uncertainty, my optimism extends beyond flowers. We are all learning to adapt to change and hopefully to be tolerant of things and views that we have previously disliked and that we do not understand. My parents could never understand my reluctance to have a haircut, my insistence on flared trousers or my preference for Leonard Cohen over Mozart. Nor were my attempts to renovate my first car* quite what they hoped, but somehow they bit their lips to allow me to enjoy my immense pride in saving an MOT failure that cost £5 to buy and about as much again to repair!

Looking back (and discovering the photographic evidence) I have worked out three things: (i) disagreement is usual; (ii) allowing another’s view to prevail, however apparently absurd, is unlikely to mean the end of the word; and (iii) it’s too late to tell them, but my parents were probably right!*The photo above was taken in 1973. The car is an Austin A30, and yes, I really did cut a hole in the bonnet to accommodate a ‘cool’ exhaust pipe!

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

Comment Patrick Walker


The Yorkshire Legal Awards take place on 10 October. To be held at New Dock Hall in Leeds, the glittering black-tie event will recognise the region’s best and brightest legal talent.

Nominations are open across the award categories, covering everyone from the biggest corporate firms to leading barristers, from senior partners to rising stars. One new award category has been added for this year’s event, in response to the increasing need for small- and medium-sized businesses to protect vital cashflow.

The new Debt Recovery award aims to recognise the work of the region’s leading lawyers and teams in debt recovery, particularly those that have kept customers satisfied while demonstrating significant integrity.

Nominations for the Yorkshire Legal Awards close on 28 June. They can be made via www.yorkshirelegalnews.co.uk/nominate and all lawyers, teams and firms from across the region are encouraged to enter.

Every year, the independent judging panel for the Yorkshire Legal Awards is made up of the very best of the profession. Work is currently underway to assemble the panel, so stay tuned for further announcements.

To find out more and to enter, visit: www.yorkshirelegalnews.co.uk/yorkshire-legal-awards

Organised by Barker Brooks Communications, the

publisher of Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer, the Yorkshire Legal Awards are a key event on the calendar, where the region’s finest lawyers will gather to celebrate the achievements of their colleagues and peers.

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The Yorkshire Legal Awards 2019 is accepting entries from the region’s leading firms, teams and lawyers

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• Commercial Property• Litigation & Dispute Resolution• Rising Star of the Year• Diversity & Inclusion• Private Client• Niche Law Firm of the Year• Corporate & Commercial• Intellectual Property• Criminal Law

• Family Law• Debt Recovery• Chambers of the Year• Trainee Solicitor of the Year• Partner of the Year• Managing Partner of the Year• Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year• Lifetime Achievement

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Why did you become a solicitor?

I enjoy the problem solving aspect. You can boil a lot of the job down to being given a set of circumstances and/or a goal by your client. It’s your job to find a way to achieve their goal most effectively, or do the best for them in the circumstances, in light of the relevant law.

What attracted you to intellectual property?

It sounds strange, but you deal with a lot of ‘black letter’ law. My degree is in law, so I (mostly) enjoy that aspect. Other areas of law I tried during my training contract often involved more procedure or project management. Intellectual property work involves looking back at, and applying, case law and statute more often than other areas I have experience of.

IP and commercial law is also very varied. There are a number of different IP rights, and a number of different rights can subsist in the same product. I deal with contentious matters, ie, litigation, and non-contentious matters, including licensing and the transfer of rights.

More general commercial law is also very varied and you have the chance to assist clients in a huge range of transactions. The variety keeps it interesting.

After the internet, what’s the next major change that IP practitioners will have to grapple with?

One of the interesting changes happening right now relates to artificial intelligence (as it does in many fields).

AI is now capable of producing works and products with very limited initial human input through machine learning (by ‘learning’ how to do things itself after the initial input). If, for example, an AI writes a literary work, does copyright subsist in that work?

The test for subsistence of copyright has been reformulated a number of times, but the test under EU case law refers to work constituting the ‘author’s own intellectual creation’. Some contend that this formulation requires a human author. By extension, they question whether copyright subsists in AI created works.

Identifying the owner of works generated by AI that uses machine learning is another important question that is likely to be litigated over in the future.

Many aspects of IP law have not yet fully caught up with technology and this area is ripe for development.

If you weren’t a solicitor, what would you be doing?

I have always loved history, so I would probably be an historian or an archaeologist. Or something to do with Formula One.

What is the best part about working in Yorkshire?

This won’t come as a surprise to anyone, but it’s having the Yorkshire Dales on our proverbial doorstep.

The scenery is amazing and it’s superb for walking and cycling when you need to unwind.

Leeds is also a fantastic place to live and work and is the fastest growing legal market in the UK. I work with a lot of tech businesses and Leeds and Yorkshire has a tremendous tech start-up scene.

What do you do in your spare time to relax?

I love cycling and hiking. I’ve just signed up to ride the Tour de Yorkshire long route in May so I’m currently planning my training! I am a massive Formula One fan and have always supported McLaren, but I also follow Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes.

I read a lot—mainly history books and, at the moment, I’m on about my fifth read through of Lord of the Rings!

What advice do you have for school leavers considering a career in law?

It’s a very rewarding career where you should have the chance to push yourself intellectually. The downside is that it can be stressful sometimes.

School leavers considering law should try to get as much practical experience as possible.

My A-levels are not strong, but practical experience can help firms to see the whole person rather than just another transcript. Work experience in law firms and barristers’ chambers is good, but so is experience in industry if you can apply what you’ve learned to practising law.

A paralegal role in an area of law you are interested in and at a firm where you will be considered for a training contract is also very valuable. There’s a lot of pressure to get a training contract straight after finishing university/the legal practice course.

Finding a paralegal role allows you to get a feel for the local legal market and what it’s really like working in law. You also hit the ground running when you start your training contract.

Bart Topps is an associate in the intellectual property commercial team at Mills & Reeve

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Report Details

Address:5, Some Street, Some Town, Some County, TEST

Requested by:slim jim (test)

Grid Reference:E: 428818 | N: 423719

Date:05/09/2018

Report Reference:CombinedTest3

Report ID:1000105535

Professional Opinion1.TERRAFIRMA OFFICIAL CON29M FURTHER ACTION

Identi�ed coal mining activity:

1.01 Past underground coal mining1.04 Shafts and adits (mine entries)

2.ENVIRONMENTAL PASS

No further recommendations

3.FLOOD PASS


4.GROUND STABILITY PASS


5.ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE PASS

Consideration(s):

5.20 Power Stations5.23 Solar Farms

Subject Site

Air Quality Index: Some Polluted Areas (See 1.25)

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