Central London Lawyer Feb 2024

LondonLawyer

CENTRAL

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THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE WESTMINSTER & HOLBORN LAW SOCIETY

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WINTER 2024

Navigating a successful legal career.

Events The snakes + ladders of career moves my career in law CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 1

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PUBLISHER Ian Fletcher Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com ACCOUNTS DIRECTOR Joanne Casey

Contents 05

SALES MANAGER Catherine McCarthy STUDIO MANAGER John Barry

of career moves

MEDIA No. 2051 PUBLISHED Winter 2024 © Benham Publishing Ltd. LEGAL NOTICE © Benham Publishing.

None of the editorial or photographs may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publishers. Benham Publishing would like to point out that all editorial comment and articles are the responsibility of the originators and may or may not reflect the opinions of Benham Media. No responsibility can be accepted for any inaccuracies that may occur, correct at time of going to press. Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.

DISCLAIMER All views expressed in this publication are the views of the individual writers and not the society unless specifically stated to be otherwise. All statements as to the law are for discussion between members and should not be relied upon as an accurate statement of the law, are of a general nature and do not constitute advice in any particular case or circumstance.

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For the Spring 2024 edition

After Law

Constable Beth Stewart

17 WHLS international Sub Committee

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18 WHLS Visit to Cluj Napoca, Romania

19 International 21 Career management

COVER INFORMATION Photo by Julia Taubitz on Unsplash

19th April 2024

12 My career in law 13 Finding a Career 14 Q&A with Police

Members of the public should not seek to rely on anything published in this magazine in court but seek qualified Legal Advice.

Copy Deadline

05 President’s Foreword 06 Sub-Committees 09 Events 10 The snakes + ladders

as a Bar Student

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26 The Solicitors' Charity 28 Obituary 28 Book Review

Advertising Anyone wishing to advertise in Central London Lawyer please contact Catherine McCarthy before the copy deadline. 0151 236 4141 catherine@benhampublishing.com Editorial Members wishing to submit editorial please send to: Editor in Chief: Kene Onyeka Allison.

Editorial Board: Lotus Kimona, Anamitra Mukhopadhyay, Anita Winsome, Sarah Bradd and Emma Webb

Follow us on social media CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 3

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INTRODUCTION

The President’s Foreword FEBRUARY 2024 Phil Henson

T

he storms battering the UK will soon pass, and before we know it the snow drops will jolt out of the grown.

New life will abound.

need assistance overseas, then please reach out and we will be happy to explore how we can help, such as making introductions.

Exciting events are on the horizon for CHWLS 2024. At our recent officer meeting we started planning for the year ahead.

This will include our summer garden party, a joint event with the Bureau of Investigative Journalists, a tour of a historical museum, and our autumn dinner which will take place in a prestigious venue in Westminster. Details to be confirmed in our next edition, and on our social media channels.

I would also like to pay tribute to the sterling work of Stephen Denyer, who was director of strategic relationships at the Law Society of England and Wales, and a member of the management board of the International Bar Association (IBA).

Stephen was a kind and generous person, who was committed to building relationships for the good of the legal profession, and to defending the rule of law. His passing is a great loss to the legal profession. Our thoughts are with Stephen’s family and his colleagues at the Law Society of England and Wales.

We want to make sure that we arrange events which engage and resonate with our members. Providing mentoring opportunities for our junior members is something that we are keen to develop. We are exploring the possibility of hosting our very first speed mentoring event for our junior members. It is hoped that this will give junior members the opportunity to seek advice and feedback in a safe and confidential environment. If any member firms would like to help, including a venue space, then please let us know.

I had the pleasure of representing CHWLS at the opening of the legal year in Paris, along with Professor Sara Chandler KC (Hon), which was a great opportunity for us to represent CHWLS on the international stage and to build our existing relationships and to develop new ones for the benefit of our members. I will also be attending the opening of the legal year in Milan shortly. If any of our member firms, or individual members, are keen to expand internationally, or if you have clients who

I

am delighted to be the guest-editor of the winter edition of The Central London Lawyer.

Career management is an increasingly hot topic, and as the legal landscape undergoes shifts, navigating a successful career path now requires not only legal acumen but also a strategic and proactive approach to professional growth and direction.

We always encourage feedback from our members for events and activities, so feel free to reach out if you have any ideas for events; or if you would like to host, or sponsor, an event. Thank you.

I look forward to seeing you at our events. Thank you for your continuing support of CHWLS. Very best wishes.

Phil Henson

President Westminster & Holborn Law Society

Emma Webb Guest Editor LLB Graduate

In these pages, we bring you stories of resilience, innovation, and success. Showcasing a range of individuals, we hear from those who have practiced law, have converted to the Police force, are about to qualify, and have left law altogether. I hope you enjoy reading this edition!

CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 5

WHLS OFFICERS

WHLS OFFICERS Philip Henson President

Philip Henson is a Partner and the Head of Employment at international law firm EBL Miller Rosenfalck, based in Farringdon. He also heads the North America desk and the China desk of the firm. He is the Chair of the WHLS Law Reform Committee. Phil and the committee research and reply to consultations on changes to legislation.

Phil is looking forward to being more involved in the Society as the Deputy Vice President. Phil is involved in various charities and he is the Editor of City Solicitor magazine (the magazine of the City of London Law Society).

Outside of a busy work and family life, Phil also produces and occasionally writes short films. He has recently finished a script for a dark comedy called Last Wish which he plans to develop.

Nicola Wainwright Vice President

Nicola Wainwright is a specialist clinical negligence solicitor with more than 20 years’ experience. She is a Partner and Head of Clinical Negligence-London at JMW Solicitors LLP. Nicola specialises exclusively in clinical negligence claims for patients arising from medical treatment that has gone wrong, or from a failure to provide medical treatment. She has expertise in a wide range of claims, but particularly those that are complex or that result in severe, life changing injuries.

Nicola has been ranked in Chambers & Partners legal directory for 14 years and has been described as a ‘highly experienced lawyer who achieves great results’ for clients. Clients describe her as ‘incredibly empathetic and understanding’ and as ‘having great communication skills’. Nicola qualified as a solicitor in 1997 after training with Pictons. She specialised in personal injury and clinical negligence at Davies & Partners, Birmingham before joining Leigh Day in 2000, since when she has specialised exclusively in clinical negligence. She was at Leigh Day for 20 years before joining JMW. Nicola is a member of the Law Society Clinical Negligence Accreditation Panel and an Association of Personal Injury (APIL) Senior Litigator. Nicola sits on the Westminster & Holborn Law Society CSR and Pro-Bono Committee. She is also a member of FOCIS (Forum of Complex Injury Solicitors), and the Association of Women Solicitors, London (AWSL).

Suzanna Eames Deputy Vice President

Suzanne is an Associate at Farrer & Co specialising in a broad range of private family law matters, including divorce, complex financial remedy cases, children matters, financial claims to support a child, jurisdictional disputes and pre-nuptial agreements. Suzanna was previously DVP of WHLS in 2020/2021 and is looking forward to getting stuck back into the Society again. In 2021 – 2022, Suzanna was the Chair of the Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society.

Kene Onyeka Allison Editor in Chief

Kene is an in-house solicitor at Mizuho International plc, a Japanese investment bank. She is dual-qualified in England & Wales and Nigeria. Her areas of specialisation are Debt Capital Markets and Derivatives.

She volunteers in different capacities with different organisations with the aim of improving ethnic and minority diversity.

Nicola Rubbert Immediate Past President

Nicola qualified as a solicitor in 2013 with a boutique firm in the City that specialised in advising Japanese corporate clients. She has experience in-house and in private practice, focussing on employment, data protection and commercial law. Nicola is a Council Member of The Law Society of England & Wales, representing the constituency of City of Westminster and a member (and former Chair) of Westminster & Holborn Law Society’s Education & Training Committee. She is also a former Chair of London Young Lawyers Group, a Liveryman of The City of London Solicitors’ Company and a Freeman of the City of London.

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WHLS EDITORIAL TEAM

WHLS EDITORIAL TEAM Kene Onyeka Allison

Kene is an in-house solicitor at Mizuho International plc, a Japanese investment bank. She is dual-qualified in England & Wales and Nigeria. Her areas of specialisation are Debt Capital Markets and Derivatives. She volunteers in different capacities with different organisations with the aim of improving ethnic and minority diversity.

Sarah Bradd

Sarah is a current trainee at Charles Russell Speechlys and has been a member of CWHLS since 2019.

She enjoys contributing to the Central London Lawyer magazine and assisting the editorial team.

In her free time, Sarah enjoys going on holiday to explore new places, eating at restaurants and watching films at the cinema.

Lotus Kimona

Lotus works as a Paralegal in the matrimonial department at a law firm in Liverpool. She has various experience across different areas of commercial law but decided that Family Law is her preferred specialism.

She has recently relocated but continues to support the editorial team remotely.

Anamitra Mukhopadhyay

Anamitra is a solicitor within JMW Solicitors LLP’s Commercial Litigation and IP departments. Anamitra advises clients across various sectors on a variety of matters including IP infringement issues, contractual breaches and civil fraud. Prior to entering the world of law, Anamitra completed a History degree and has a passion for the subject. Aside from History, Anamitra’s other love in life is music. She is a keen singer and enjoys performing.

Anita Winsome

Anita is an LLM student specialising in Comparative & International Dispute Resolution at Queen Mary University of London. Her interests include domestic & international arbitration, competition law and intellectual property rights. She is a qualified lawyer in India and is a licensed member of the Bar Council. Her favourite pastime activity includes exploring the beautiful cafes, museums or the parks at South Kensington.

Emma Webb

Emma Webb is a recent first class LLB Graduate and Editorial Assistant.

Emma is embarking on a career in the legal and media industry. Currently, she serves as a Communications Executive for Small Business Britain and an Editorial Assistant at Legal Women Magazine where she combines her passion for law and her talent for communication.

CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 7

SUB-COMMITTEES

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED T

he Law Reform Committee is seeking volunteers to join its Committee, to assist in the following:

1. Research and review existing laws and regulations in Holborn, focusing on areas that require reform or improvement. Identify key issues that need attention and prioritise them based on their impact on the community.

In particular we will want to focus on the recent Post Office miscarriages of justice and see the impact this has on the community and wider. What steps can we take to assist the exoneration of the innocent victims are dealt with post haste.

2. We will reach out to various stakeholders including legal professionals, community organisations, government officials, and members of the public.

Conduct consultations, roundtable discussions, and public hearings to gather input, insights, and suggestions on potential law reforms. We will review the Trust and Wills legislation.

3. Collaborate with legal experts, scholars, and practitioners to analyse the identified issues and develop innovative solutions. Establish working groups or committees to focus on specific areas of law reform on generative AI in dispute resolution, such as criminal justice, family law, or environmental regulations.

4. We will try to raise public awareness by launching a comprehensive public awareness campaign to inform the community about the ongoing law reform initiatives in relation to AI. Utilise various mediums such as social media, public forums, and educational workshops to engage and educate the public about the importance and impact of law reform.

5. Review draft legislation or amendments based on the recommendations and findings from the research and stakeholder engagement on AI. Conduct further consultations with relevant parties, including legal experts, government officials, and affected communities, to refine and improve the proposed reforms.

Please contact cwhlawsoc@gmail.com for more information.

MEMBERSHIP TIME TO RENEW! I

t was wonderful to see so many of you at our Annual Black Tie Dinner at the House of Lords.

This was just one of the fantastic WHLS events held during the past year.

Membership is the cornerstone of our organisation and we rely on your subscriptions to be able to offer our events and magazine. The Society membership year runs from October to October and 2023-24 annual subscriptions are now due. If your details have not changed, kindly pay the invoice sent by email. If you have changed employers or if your status has changed, please fill out a membership form so that we can update your details. If you are not yet a member you can easily join by completing the online form at www.cwhls.org. uk on the Join Us page and following the payment instructions.

For enquiries regarding Corporate Membership, please email cwhlawsoc@gmail.com. If you are an individual member, please consider approaching your firm about Corporate Membership.

There are many benefits to joining our vibrant and welcoming group of legal professionals. What sets us apart from other societies is our links to regional and international legal organisations. We are a part of the Fédération des Barreaux d’Europe and are twinned with the Paris, Berlin, Milan and Barcelona bar associations, to name a few.

Other benefits include numerous professional development and networking events, many of which are free for members; a free subscription to the Society's quarterly magazine, Central London Lawyer, and the opportunity to contribute articles; the opportunity to share your ideas and develop leadership skills through involvement in our committees; a voice on the national Law Society's Council through the election of local Council members; and invitations to events with other law societies and legal organisations across London, Europe and internationally.

We greatly appreciate your past support and look forward to your continued participation in our Society.

All members have a vital role to play in our continued success. We welcome new members so please spread the word about our Society to friends and colleagues.

And we hope to see you at our next event!

Photo by Markus Spiske on pexels.com 8 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER

EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE

General Congress - Malaga, 6-8 June 2024 - FBE

T

he next Congress for the Federation of European Bar Associations will be held in Malaga and the theme is ‘The Lawyer of the Future’. Please keep an eye on the FBE website for further information.

This visit is open to all members of the WHLS. If you are interested, please email Isabela Maculan isabela.maculan@ dawsoncornwell.com and Coral Hill coralhill@btinternet.com to be included in future emails for attendees. We want to ensure that the visit matches requests from those attending, so we welcome ideas of any legal work which members would want discussed or lawyers you would favour meeting. There will also be a full schedule of activities including courts and local sights of interest.

Members can arrive from Thursday 16th / Friday 17th and the trip will end on Sunday 19th May 2023. We will endeavour to provide a list of accommodation to suit all budgets, but members are free to select any hotel they prefer. As always, each member will be responsible for their own travel arrangements and accommodation. If you want to submit a business case for the trip, in order to claim some expenses from your firm, please let us know if there is a particular suggestion which would assist with that.

CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 9

ARTICLE

Rachel Brushfield

The snakes + ladders of career moves Introduction In an uncertain world and with talk of recession, it has never been more important to have a career strategy and plan. Do you?

This ensures that you are on ‘the front foot’ not ‘the back foot’ and positively and proactively managing your career in 2024. Have you thought about the possible scenarios that may impact your career this year?

Whatever career move you aspire to, this article shares tips and insights to get you started.

Market context The legal profession now has many more career options to choose from than in the past. There are also more alternative careers outside the law which can appeal.

Too many career choices can cause a problem - it is common for lawyers to get stuck in a ‘vicious circle’ analysing the risks, procrastinate and feel overwhelmed.

Key aspects of positive career management are: 1) self-awareness (internal), 2) market, trend and risk analysis (external), 3) a future-proof career strategy and plan and 4) a career option screening + decision making strategy.

Types of career move What possible career move are you considering this year?

• Promotion • Lateral hire • From private practice to in-house • Platform law firm • Alternative Business Structure ‘ABS’ • Setting up your own firm

• Portfolio career • Non-Exec Director • Career sabbatical • Career secondment • Freelance lawyer • Different practice area • Leaving the law • Something else?

16 reasons why lawyers find making a career move hard There are 16 reasons why lawyers find making a career move hard and put it off. In uncertain times, inertia and complacency are dangerous.

1. Conformist by nature; 2. Trained to follow precedent, not go the opposite way; 3. Risk averse in character; 4. Parental pride in offspring being a lawyer; 5. Fear of people thinking you’ve failed; 6. Avoidance of showing weakness e.g. asking for help; 7. Difficulty of letting go of perceived status ”Oh, you are a lawyer!”; 8. Linear thinking does not help to identify new career options/jobs; 9. Legal training includes seeing risks, so seeing the negatives in career options can be magnified out of proportion; 10. Leaving behind career milestones of the legal profession can feel like stepping off into a void; 11. Anxiety – worry that you will make the wrong decision; 12. Deep specialism of law makes it feel like you have more to lose if you leave the profession; 13. High cost of training to be a lawyer feels like £ ‘down the drain’; 14. Catastrophising– ‘I will never get another job again’; 15. Dislike of marketing yourself/negative associations with selfpromotion; and 16. Feel inauthentic and exposed, lacking experience in a new area.

Which reasons do you relate to most?

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ARTICLE

12 reasons why lawyers are well equipped to create a successful career move The good news is that lawyers are well equipped to create a successful career move because: 1. Research skill useful to explore new career options; 2. Intelligence to make a good decision; 3. Persistence to make it work, having spent many years training; 4. Society’s perception of lawyers as professionals helps you be considered as a candidate; 5. Rigorous approach analysing and synthesising information; 6. Robust risk assessment increases the likelihood of making a good decision; 7. Keeping up to date with the law – new careers appearing all the time; 8. Commitment to study and learning useful to get up to speed fast; 9. Adaptability – experience of working in different practice areas; 10. Tolerance and resilience acquired when junior working in a law firm; 11. Breadth and mix of lawyering skills i.e. critical thinking, client relationship management, negotiation, advising, analysis and synthesis gives a transferable and useful skillset; 12. CPD requirement makes you open to skills refreshment.

• What is my future-proof niche?

• What are my personal development priorities?

• What are my career capital K.P.I.s?

• What is my attitude to career risk?

• What is my purpose?

• What 3 words sum up my personal brand?

• How do I sabotage my career progress?

• What is the question I most need to ask myself?

Conclusions The V.U.C.A. (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world in which we live is here to stay. For lawyers especially who dislike ambiguity, this is challenging.

Doing nothing is the worst thing to do.

Make positively managing your career as important in your week as your most important client. What’s your first step to create a successful career move?

Which of these factors do you most relate to?

Rachel Brushfield

So how can you ensure that you positively and proactively manage your career in 2024?

The Talent Liberator EnergiseLegal www.energiselegal.com

5 Career adaptability competencies Developing these 5 career adaptability competencies will increase your chances of success. Include these in your 2024 CPD plan.

• Control - being proactive, decisive & taking responsibility for your career; • Curiosity - broadening your horizons by seeking options, possibilities and knowledge; • Commitment - passionately pursuing & taking action to move to the career horizon of your choosing; • Confidence - belief in yourself & that you can achieve your goal; • Concern - having a positive & philosophical attitude to mistakes or rejection.

7 career change skills These 7 skills are important to successfully manage and develop your career. How do you rate yourself against each of these out of 100%?

1. Know yourself; 2. Stretch yourself; 3. Adapt to change; 4. Spot the opportunities; 5. Build your network; 6. Build your brand; 7. Reflect and plan.

For a free career change skills evaluation questionnaire, e mail Rachel Brushfield: rachel@energiselegal.com Self-reflective questions Block out time in your diary and find a quiet place to ask yourself these questions.

• When is the best time for me to regularly ring-fence time to focus on my career?

• What support will best help me to make a successful career move e.g. mentor, career coach, personal board, accountability buddy, my local Law Society etc?

• What does career success mean to me?

• How can I increase my career fulfilment in 2024?

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CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 11

ARTICLE

My Career in Law recovery but I started to realise this diagnosis did not define me and ultimately it opened my eyes to the fact that if I wanted this career then I would do everything I could to make sure I got it.

Cody Brookes

C

areer management is a concept I always believed I had a solid understanding of from a young age, and yet almost 10 years later is still something I am actively familiarizing myself with.

I chose a career as a lawyer, and I think anyone reading this who works within the legal profession can agree that it is not the easiest industry to enter. There are a lot of twists and turns, various hurdles and a mounting degree of “What If?”. This truly is a profession where positive career management is a key skill to develop.

Hence, my reason for writing this article is to go into my journey to becoming a solicitor and my tips on developing your career management skills.

Becoming a Lawyer Ambition is the key to achieving any goal. With ambition comes charisma, work ethic, confidence, and resilience. It is this overarching sense of “I can do this”.

During my final year of University, on a whim I applied for, and was elected as the President of my Student Law Society. I must make clear that I was not a confident public speaker, yet I knew I needed to try something new. I mustered up the courage to present in front of a lecture theatre filled with my peers and explained mine and the Society’s goals for the year. I had never done anything like this, it was a real leap out of my comfort zone, and yet that year was one of the most successful years the Society had ever seen.

I suddenly started presenting to larger groups regularly, and I felt more confident speaking with others in general. I had found my confidence again.

Starting on the ladder I come from a working-class family and throughout the years I witnessed my parents’ exemplary work ethic which has stuck with me to this day. The way they worked to ensure they could provide me and my siblings with a comfortable upbringing very much underpins the reasons for and the ways in which I pursue my career goals.

In 2020 I secured a First-Class Law degree, followed by a Distinction on the LPC, and that same year I secured a Training Contract with Irwin Mitchell, my dream firm. I knew I had put the hard work in, but after numerous knockbacks I still secretly never expected the call. I took the time between being offered the role and starting to go travelling around Europe, Asia and America and I am so glad I took that time to see more of the world and meet so many amazing people.

My career started in 2014 as a retail sales assistant. This was quite away from my goal of becoming a lawyer (which is very much thanks to watching Judge Judy with my Grandad when I was younger), but I felt it was a good first step and went a long way in providing some independence.

I started my Training Contract in the Summer of 2023 and I have been loving my job ever since. It has been everything I hoped it would be. There are days when the role is difficult and challenges me, yet the journey I took to get here really makes me grateful for what I have achieved.

I took a very traditional route into law. I studied my GCSES, followed by A-Levels and then continued to University. My choices throughout high school, college and university were all very much aligned to this dream that one day I would become a lawyer.

My latest goal is to ensure I secure a newly qualified role in the Summer of 2025. I have been getting involved in several business development and charitable endeavours, expanding my professional network and engaging in new learning opportunities.

I used my previous experiences to become a committee member for the Manchester Trainee Solicitor’s Group and I am using this platform to inspire and support others who are going through a similar journey to me.

Although I had my eyes firmly set on becoming a lawyer, much of my work experience had nothing to do with law. I had worked in retail, as a bartender, a karate instructor, a lifeguard, a camp counsellor, a manager and most recently a maths teacher at my old high school. I am thankful for these opportunities as each one helped me to develop new skills, boosted my confidence, they gave me some great stories and it ensured law was the right career path for me.

Overcoming hurdles I had heard from colleagues at work and peers at college how difficult it could be to secure a role as a lawyer, and I must admit the hurdles did sound daunting at first. However, this didn’t deter me, I knew that if I wanted to make my dream a reality, I needed to at least attempt to overcome them.

Throughout University I started to realise the competition was increasing by the year, as more and more peers started applying for the illustrious Training Contract and challenging each other for the highest grades. I understood that I needed to start pushing myself a little bit harder and that included paying extra attention in classes and pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

Unfortunately, my biggest hurdle came in the form of my complex PTSD diagnosis at the age of 19. This was a very turbulent time and for the first time ever made me question what I wanted to do with my life. Uncertainty and fear certainly did not make for good bed fellows. However, it may have been a gruelling 5 years of 12 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER

I think it’s important to mention however that positive career management isn’t just about chasing that next big goal. As I have quickly come to understand in this role, striving for a positive work life balance is equally important. When I first started, I was so eager to impress I lost sight of my life outside of work. My latest journey is to make sure I switch off once I have logged off, get back into my extracurricular hobbies and interests, and enjoy spending more time with my family and friends.

If there is anything I hope readers take away from this piece is do not limit yourself. If you have a dream then follow it, no matter what anyone says, you are good enough. Through believing in yourself you will be surprised what you can achieve, and I would say lean into that sense of the unknown with everything you have, every adventure makes you unique and may just be the ticket to securing that job, promotion, raise or work life balance you have been chasing for so long.

Cody Brookes Trainee Solicitor Irwin Mitchell LLP

ARTICLE

Finding a Career After Law Kimberley Johnston

I

remember sitting at my desk, at 9pm one night reviewing a security agreement in a stack of Project Finance documents, struggling to keep my eyes open and wondering where the excitement I had felt a decade ago had gone. For me, it was a sign that something needed to change - and thus began my search for my missing spark.

As I started thinking about doing something different, I quickly realised that being a lawyer is more than just a job - It is an identity. We spend years of our lives (and tons of money especially in the U.S.) learning and honing our skills, working until all hours of the night, and choosing work over many other things. It is not just what we do, it is often who we are, and giving all that up is not easy. If you are debating whether this is true for you – think of how you introduce yourself to others if you start with “I’m a lawyer who…” that is a big clue into how you identify.

The important thing here is to recognise that there is a level of credibility, intellectual status and even social status that comes with telling people you are a lawyer so, ask yourself if you are okay showing up at a function and saying: “I am a _______”.

Personally, I did not want to let go of that pedigree, so I now introduce myself as a “reformed lawyer” who transitioned into executive coaching after almost 20 years working for the U.S. Government, in private practice and in-house at a financial institution.

Once you recognise that you need more or want to do something new, the hard work begins to work out what that is.

Interestingly, it is not always a move out of law – it might just be a move to a new area of law or a more strategic role. I was coaching a lawyer once who wanted to transition into something new and said she felt like she had an “ocean of possibility in front of her”. I took her metaphor and asked: “Is brain surgery something you are contemplating or a move to IT?” she laughed and said “no” and through a series of additional narrowing questions the ocean was soon at bay comprising options of being a lawyer in her current location and likely in the same institution but doing something new.

If you don’t have a coach and are struggling to work out what is next why don’t you try this exercise I do with a lot of my clients: write down everything you want to do and allow your mind to be fully expansive with no editing or judgment. If being a DJ is a secret passion of yours or if you always wanted to be a jazz flutist or a cartoonist – write it ALL down – let your brain take you where it wants to go. I also ask my clients to leave a blank space to acknowledge that we are not in complete control and something else might pop up or happen in our lives that will shift our direction of travel no matter what we decide we want to do.

Once you have exhausted your expansive thinking you can start to narrow things down e.g.: Being a travel photographer right now really won’t work for me because I have a young family who I want to spend time with (but leave it on the list as something to explore when the kids are gone). Maybe your financial needs, caring responsibilities, or a need to be in a certain geographic location will preclude certain roles, but if what is stopping you from pursing a dream is money, I would challenge you to dig into

your expenses and see where you can make some potentially difficult changes to pursue that dream. If it really is not possibleown that and try to find joy outside your day job.

One of the other benefits of this exercise is that it can highlight what brings you joy so you can do more of that. After doing this exercise myself, I wrote down as a reminder “you can sing and not be a singer, you can cook and not be a chef, you can take photos and not be a photographer, you can write and not be an author, you can act and not be a professional actress.” It is a little reminder to myself that I can still do the things I love even if I am not making money doing them.

Remember that you only have one life to live, and it is never too late to make a change.

Top tips for thinking about your next role: • Take the time to work out what you enjoy doing.

• Speak to people who are doing jobs that you think sounds interesting and use AI tools like Bard or Chat GPT to get ideas for role titles you might not have thought about. Chat to a mentor/trusted advisor/colleague/friend about jobs they think you might enjoy/be good at.

• Once you have worked out what you want to do (or think you might enjoy) - do a Skill Gap analysis. What skills do you need to sharpen and hone and what skills do you need to develop or be aware that you lack?

• Look internally and externally for options to develop these skills and to find ways to do what you enjoy. Think wider than jobs - can you get fulfilment through volunteering, running a project or joining a network? If you are part of a religious, social or other organisation can you find ways to expand these skills in those fora?

• Once you have a clear understanding of the types of roles you are looking for, get on LinkedIn and search for those roles - once you click on a few options, the cookies will do a lot of work for you and will keep sending you relevant options.

Think about connecting with head-hunters and just keep the conversations going. The more you speak to people about what you want to do, the more they will think of connections or options that might be good for you.

N.B. - all of this advice comes with an obvious health warning: tread lightly if you are in an organisation that is notorious for dismissing people if they get a whiff of you looking elsewhere but if you work at such a place and are ready to leave - shout it from the rooftops!

Kimberley Johnston

Executive, Team & Systemic Coach Kimberley is an executive, team & systemic coach and hosts a podcast called “The Undiscovered You”for people who feel like they have more to offer but are somehow stuck where they are. She runs a coaching retreat twice a year in May and October for people looking to reset, rejuvenate and reconnect with their purpose. If you are looking for a coach or want to hear more about the retreat you can get more info here: https://kljconsulting.co.uk/reset-coaching-retreat

CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 13

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Q&A with

Police Constable Beth Stewart I

n this feature, we delve into the experiences of a police officer who embarked on the path of obtaining a law degree before donning the uniform. From the lecture halls where legal theories are dissected to the streets where those theories transform into tangible justice, Beth Stewart shares insights into the intricacies of blending the worlds of law and law enforcement.

Q.1 Beth, what inspired you to pursue a law degree before joining the police force?

I’ve been interested in pursuing a career in law since I was around twelve years old, when I first watched Legally Blonde (really not the best reason to go to university I know). Since watching it, I decided I wanted to be a barrister for the Crown Prosecution Service.

Criminal law has always been the area I wanted to go into most, and it has been the one thing which has always interested me and it was always nice to know that in some way, you’ve made a difference to someone’s life who was affected by a crime, no matter how small it may seem.

When I went to college, I chose three A-Levels to study: law, psychology and English literature and language. Whilst I tried my hardest in all of the lessons, law was really the only subject I was interested in right from the start, and would happily do as much work as I needed to with it, both inside and outside of college. I have always been extremely interested in learning about all different areas of law, but criminal law was the one thing that always fascinated me (and at times because of the seriousness of some crimes, horrified me). This was the same at university, except we went into lockdown during the second year and so did not get any practice in terms of going into courtrooms to conduct moot’s or other mock competitions, and I realised I did not have the confidence to say I wanted to go into a courtroom each day as a career, because I did not believe this is something I would be good at.

From speaking to one of my lecturers in my final year, I realised that barristers often have no contact with victims, right up until the day of the case. I work well under pressure, and I did not think for a minute I would struggle to be able to put things together when having to go into a courtroom, but I did not like the fact that the role entailed something which is not very personal and is not based on building relationships of trust with clients. I decided when a position became available in the control room within the police that I would do this as a part time job whilst finishing my degree.

The more I worked in the control room, the more I began to realise I loved the nature of the job, and I loved the fact it was extremely victim focused. I began to realise more and more that I wanted to do the job I had been doing in the control room as a career, but out on response, where I can help support individuals from the start of the investigation, right to the end. I think I was about two months into my time in the control room by the time I realised 14 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER

I could see myself being happy within the force. I finally bit the bullet in October 2022 and applied to be a Constable, which I then started in August 2023.

Q2. What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

I am looking forward to a wide array of different challenges and jobs each day. Before I joined the police as a Constable, I worked in the Control Room as a communications operator - this entailed responding to enquiries the public had, answering 999 calls and 101 calls, as well as deploying officers to jobs and running checks to ensure both officer and public safety.

From working in the control room, I already knew that no two days are the same in policing, and this is the most exciting and rewarding part. You know that when you come into work, as I have said previously, that you are going to help people when they need it the most, as well as gathering enough evidence to take dangerous people off the streets and reduce criminality.

I am looking forward to being able to manage and make my own workload. It is not simply a case of responding to incidents which are called in, but also helping to build public trust and good relationships with people in the area you cover. You can speak to members of the public for a variety of different things - to help with further enquiries, to help establish facts of a case, to speak with victims and to gather and develop intelligence.

There are so many different routes you can choose to take in your career within the police, and you will be supported to move and train in new roles when you wish to do so. I love the fact that there are so many different paths my career can go down, and I’m probably not even aware of what half of those options are yet.

Q3. In what ways did your legal training prepare you (or not) for the challenges of police work?

I do not think anything will really prepare you for the challenges of police work.

I have been very lucky in the fact that I had some knowledge of what the police deal with due to my time in the control room, and it has helped with my knowledge surrounding intelligence, how to deal with certain jobs, the right questions to ask to establish facts of an alleged offence, and also how to empathise with people who need our help the most.

I do think my law degree has helped me in terms of studying certain modules, such as criminal law, public law, and the law of evidence. These modules helped me to realise the role of the police within society, different offences which can be committed against the person and against property and also what evidence is required to enable a criminal prosecution to be supported successfully, to ensure justice. They have helped me in terms of the academic side of policing throughout my training, and to know I have some level of a good understanding of them operationally too. However, you must remember that in some

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instances, the academic side will not always go hand in hand with the operational side, and this is something which I am trying to remember each day.

I have recently finished my classroom training for the police and have started my response training by being in company with a tutor for the next twelve weeks. I have come to understand that at no point so far, have I felt that I know all there is to know about a certain area, and from speaking to people, I think you learn new things each day. Classroom training sets you up to have an understanding of the points you must be able to evidentially prove to gather evidence for an investigation; how to conduct interviews; how to deal with building cases and how to communicate with the public; along with a lot of other skills and qualities you develop along the way to help you when you go out on response such as personal safety training.

Nobody can prepare you fully for when you go out on your tutor phase - it is an entirely different ball game, but in an exciting way. You soon realise that even though you are dealing with very similar jobs, each case is completely individual to itself. There are so many ways to reach a positive outcome in each incident you respond to, and you must be aware that some people may have different vulnerabilities which also determine a different outcome from one case to the next. You speak to people from a vast array of backgrounds, and you get to constantly learn new things from them.

Q4. How do you apply your legal knowledge in your day-today work as a police officer?

I think the legal knowledge I have developed since starting my degree in 2019, to finishing my classroom training at the end of 2023, has continually developed and grown, but I think it is fascinating when you realise you will always get to learn there are so many different things to know and understand about every offence and way of dealing with things, that you will always have more information to learn which helps develop an even better understanding of what you already know.

To some extent, in terms of applying the legal knowledge I already have, you soon realise that some things do become like second nature to you in terms of knowing how to identify a certain offence and knowing what powers and policies the police have in terms of certain areas such as powers to arrest, powers to enter and surrounding stop and search. These were covered during my time in university too, so it is something I was already aware of before my training, but with things like this, you do have to be certain that you are confident with what each part of legislation covers so that you are always acting in a lawful, necessary, and proportionate manner.

Q5. Have you sought mentorship within the police force or legal community, and how has it influenced your career decisions?

I know a few people who work, or have worked, within the police force and I spoke to them regarding their background in the force and what advice they would give. The people I have spoken with have not just been a police officer, but have also been in the control room, or been PCSO’s or special constables.

I did not seek this for influencing my career decisions as such, but more to speak with them about their careers and what they would advise me in terms of the application process and to explain what their experiences were when they first joined. The only bit of advice I have sought from someone in terms of my actual career, is speaking with a serving firearms Sergeant, as this is the route I decided I wanted to go down before I applied. He was able to tell me about his experience in his role, about what the application entails, the pros, and cons of the job, and as a Sergeant, what he looks out for in someone who has applied for the role.

It has been invaluable gaining insight from serving officers, both in Cheshire and other forces, because they have been able to tell me what they have experienced, and what their force priorities are, as each force has different things they wish to really focus on. I have spoken to many people, and there is nobody who has told me the same thing. Everyone has different lengths in service, has had different experiences and specialities, but they have always had the same overall passion and love for their job. They have loved every minute of it, and I think it is an extremely special and privileged position to be in, to go into work each day and love what you do.

Q6. Have your career aspirations evolved over time, and if so, how has your legal background played a role in shaping them?

Now, I am trying not to aim to go into a particular role as I think it is always a really good idea to stay on response for a few years. This is because whilst you are out on response, you are able to home in on your intelligence gathering skills, speaking with victims, dealing with incidents as soon as they are reported into us, and also gives you chance to deal with what are known as volume crime, before you consider moving to different departments. It also allows a basic level of interviewing skills and dealing with case file building before you look at going to train in a more specialist department. This is not the same for everybody however, and there are always options you can take, such as taking your national detective’s exam, when you have finished your training, and you will receive equally as much insight from doing this. This is just my opinion on what I want to do, as I feel this is the best way for me to learn.

When I first joined as a Constable, I was particularly keen to eventually join firearms or the Roads and Crimes Unit. I am trying not to solely focus on this though, as I would like to do at least a few years on response first. I genuinely think I am yet to learn about so many other units the police have, and I do not want to close the door to any options before I have even had the chance to get to know about them. So, for now, I am keeping an open mind and will speak to different departments about their roles and what they do, so that I can continue to learn. I think I will leave it a few years before I start to think about what I want to move onto next. Most importantly, my career in response is only just beginning, and I think I am more focused on wanting to learn more and become comfortable in the role - it is still very fresh and exciting to me, and I want to enjoy this feeling as I know there is so much more to come!

Q7. Are there specific areas of law that you find particularly relevant or useful in your current role?

I think the obvious thing which is the most relevant and useful to my current role is the criminal law module we studied during my second year of university. In this module, we covered so many offences surrounding offences against the person and the property, that it really helped me to build a solid foundation of an understanding of what each offence entails. Criminal law has always been something which has interested me, and it is the one module which I can hand on heart say I put 110% into every week. I always really enjoyed learning about the case law and different areas which the courts have differentiated between. I think in terms of the case law preparation reading we had to do each week, it also helped me to understand each case is going to be completely different when it comes to what is, and what is not, an offence in each case and the reasons as to why.

Q8. How do you stay updated on legal developments while working in law enforcement?

I am quite lucky that as a force, we have internal updates which are sent to us each week for everyone in the force, no matter what rank or role you are in. This includes developments internally, including different procedural changes to some of our policies or the way we respond to certain incidents, but also includes external legal developments which include the UK as a whole; including CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 15

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changes to the way the CPS may operate with certain offences that go to court, or changes to legislation which the Government has passed. It also covers any national force priorities that are looked at and any additional policies put into place in the force too.

I do have an interest still in developments within legal practice, and admittedly this is something I have not really followed as much as I would like to, but I have promised myself I am going to make a conscious effort to look at this now, but this is more out of the fact I am interested in it than anything. Overall, the updates we have weekly within the force are extremely helpful in keeping me up to date with new changes.

Q9. For individuals considering a similar path, what advice would you give to someone with a law degree interested in joining the police force?

My main advice would be don’t feel as though you have to pursue a career in legal practice if you are not 100% sure it is something you wish to do as a long-term career. During my second year of university, I became really uncertain about whether I really wanted to go on and train to be a barrister. It was a lot of money and commitment to go on and study the BTC if it was not something I was sure I wanted to do, and I was already considering the idea of applying for the police at this point. Obviously, there is a lot which comes alongside choosing to join the BTC as a post-graduate course, and there is a five-year trigger window afterwards to find a chambers. To me, it was a lot of pressure and money for something I was not sure I wanted to do, and so I wanted to explore other options I had been interested in, mainly the police.

I created a LinkedIn profile during my second year of university and began networking with officers that I had added, and asking them questions about their career, how they got into the job and any advice they had for people considering joining.

I was very lucky that Cheshire Police held a careers event via our university careers hub for the control room, and they explained the process of the application, what the job entailed and what qualities and characteristics they look for in people who apply for the role. When I applied and was successful, I then began to look at internal bulletin boards, and was lucky that in the control room, there are plenty of Sergeants and Inspectors who you can speak to, and they are always more than happy to answer questions you have.

My advice to anybody who wants to join the Police - gain as much insight into the role and network with as many people as you can.

I have never spoken with an officer who is not willing to speak about what they do, and they all speak about their job with such enthusiasm and passion. Cheshire offer Q&A insights into the job when they re-open their applications, so people can discuss things that they are unsure about. I am unsure whether all forces offer this, but I cannot imagine why they wouldn’t. There are also several advice groups on social media such as Facebook, which consists of members who are applicants and serving officers, who are happy to answer queries.

You can also volunteer as a special constable, which gives you an insight into what the role of a police officer entails. You go through some basic training before going out with a tutor - the only difference is because you volunteer, you can choose the hours you wish to go in which work for you. This will give you first-hand information about what the job has to offer and what you would be doing if you were a police constable.

I have never once regretted my decision to join the police, both in the control room and as a constable, and I am extremely proud and lucky to say this is my career. I have loved every minute of it so far and even though I am still extremely new in service, I truly believe this is now going to be my career, and I made the right decision in going down the legal enforcement route as opposed to legal practice.

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Q10. How can people find out more about opportunities available?

Follow social media pages for forces, look at their chosen force’s career pages to learn more about the vacancies they have, network with people you know and speak with your chosen forces HR department. There are so many ways of gaining an insight into things you may be unsure about - and I can hand on heart say that whoever you speak with will give you the best help and advice they can give you.

Q11. What does the application process consist of and initial training?

The application process can seem quite lengthy and intimidating - you have to fill in an expression of interest, before then filling out an application form with questions surrounding why you want to do the job and to see whether you possess certain qualities and skills that they are looking for. After this, you will then have some form of written exercise, where they are looking to see whether you can answer questions provided to you - this, in my opinion, does not require you to have an in-depth knowledge of the law or the police itself. It is simply to see whether you can make the best decision to reach a positive outcome, and whether you know what can be suggested to help reach a decision at an incident.

There is then a final interview, where you are asked questions to see what kind of person you are - my best advice is simply to be yourself and do not try and make yourself be someone you are not. You would be surprised at the number of examples you have from your day-to-day life, without any previous experience in a policing background, that you can use to answer these questions.

Finally, there is a fitness test which is the bleep test and a medical assessment, and vetting.

My advice for any preparation for the application process is to have a look at force and national priorities in prevention and tackling crime, have a look at what the force you are applying for has recently published in terms of things they are doing to help with this, and to then familiarise yourself with the Code of Ethics, as this is always at the heart of everything we do within policing.

For the final interview, they will explain exactly what they advise you to do for preparing for the interview, but I would say, write a list of examples you have dealt with in your life - from personal, career and other areas - and then look at what skills and qualities they have enabled you to develop.

Each force’s initial training will be different, my training was an eighteen-week course. This consisted of learning and gaining an understanding of what policing really is and its foundations; crimes; crime prevention; case file building; conducting interviews; building good relationships with the public and had personal safety training - this is just a very brief insight into what is covered.

The staff who teach you are all serving officers and Sergeants, and I could not have been luckier with the tutors I had. Each one had their own specialities, and all brought something different to the table in terms of what they could teach you and share with you about their own experiences. They all loved teaching, and they helped shape us into having the confidence to believe in our own abilities and believe we really did have the makings of an officer.

I believe having the staff we did really helped me to prepare in the best way possible to become ready to go out onto response - they all helped you to believe in yourself, and never let you lose confidence in what we were capable of. The enthusiasm they all brought to training each day is something that I am lucky enough to say I was able to experience, and was passed onto me, to get out there and make a difference and begin with the makings of an exceptional career. ■

Beth Stewart Police Constable

INTERNATIONAL

WHLS International Sub Committee

T

he International Committee of the WHLS continues to work on building new relationships with bar associations around the world. Professional international relationships are something that the WHLS offers by receiving visitors from foreign Bar Associations which is frequently consolidated with the signing of a twinning agreement.

The numerous twinning agreements in place with foreign bar association has made our society one of the most active for international practitioners.

In October 2023, our former President Carolina Marin Pedreño, as co-Chair of the International Committee, organised and hosted the legal visit by the Malaga Bar Association. A group of 35 lawyers from Malaga travelled to the capital for this legal exchange from 5th to 7th October 2023. The Malaga Bar Association consists of over 5000 registered lawyers and has a lot of interest in international law due to the continuous increase of international communities and businesses in the region. The Malaga Bar host a particularly popular law Congress in Spain in the Autumn of each year. Their International Committee was very interested in visiting WHLS because of our international links and the international firms that are members of our society. The Chair of the Malaga International Committee, Adolfo Martos Gross, together with their officer, Jose Maria del Rio Villo and the rest of the group were welcomed at The Law Society by the former President Nicola Ruppert of the WHLS and had the opportunity to meet members of the WHLS during a cocktail reception.

The following day the group attended seminars on Family Law and Probate at Dawson Cornwell Solicitors and after lunch they enjoyed a tour of the Royal Courts of Justice and Temple. In the afternoon, their educational programme continued with a presentation on Immigration Law at Laura Devine LLP where they also enjoyed afternoon tea. Their second day concluded with their attendance at the President’s dinner at The House of Lords where the group met the former President of The Law Society, Lubna Shuja and most of the officers and members of the Society. The last day of their legal visit concluded with a morning walk along the Thames and a stop at Borough market.

In November 2022, when Carolina was in Malaga to present on a conference on Child Abduction, she was received by Aurora Ortega of the Bar of Malaga who thanked the WHLS for hosting their members and made a formal invitation to attend their annual Congress in Autumn 2024 when the relationship between the two bars will no doubt continue to strengthen.

We will keep you informed of any events that will be organised with our new friends in Malaga.

Carolina Marín Pedreño Partner | Dawson Cornwell LLP

CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 17

INTERNATIONAL

WHLS Visit

to Cluj Napoca, Romania 16 - 18 May 2024

A

ll WHLS members are invited to participate in this trip to Romania to Visit the Bar Association of Cluj Napoca. (You do not need to be a member of the International Committee).

Cluj Napoca is Romania's second-largest city which the Lonely Planet Guide describes as having ‘Bohemian cafes, music festivals and vigorous night life’. The theme of the visit is Taste of law. The concept is to combine legal and cultural interests.

Our hosts are still working on the details so there may be changes to the planned programme.

Thursday 16 May 2024 Arrive for 20.00 - welcome cocktail (venue TBC) Friday 17 May 2024 09.00 - 13.00 - interactive discussions with speakers who will be lawyers and artists on a common theme between art and the legal profession 13.00 - 14.00 - lunch 14.30 - 16.30 - round tables between participants, each table having a specific area of law chosen at registration by participants 19.00 - surprise theatre performance 20.00 - cocktail 21.30 - Gala Dinner (venue not yet decided)

Moldova

Budapest

Hungary

Cluj-Napoca

Romania

Bucharest

Serbia

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Saturday 18 May 2024 10.00 - 12.00 visit to painting exhibition 14.00 - lunch in the town of Turda (30 km from Cluj-Napoca) and visit of the Turda Salt Mine 19.00 - traditional Romanian evening (Biodiversity Centre of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV) Cluj-Napoca End of Programme If you would like to join the group, please contact Coral Hill or Isabela Maculan through cwhlawsoc@gmail.com. Please note all members are responsible for their own expenses in attending, however, we are very grateful that our colleagues in Romania will not be charging a conference fee.

INTERNATIONAL

December International Committee Meeting

The Paris Rentrée T

he opening of the legal year or return to the courts by the Paris Bar and judiciary is a huge affair. WHLS President Phil Henson and Vice Chair International Committee, Sara Chandler, attended for the splendid 2023 ceremonies at the end of November. The Paris Bar organised a law fair with a large number of international firms, some very well known in the City of London, with UK solicitors employed in them. It was held in the Bourse, the French stock exchange, with a series of seminars continuing all day in break out rooms. Unlimited refreshments of excellent cuisine was available all day.

The rentrée ceremony consisted of presenting many honours, and hearing oratory from the best of the young lawyers of Paris.

WHLS is twinned with the Paris Bar and so Phil Henson was made very welcome. We connected with many members of the international legal community, including members of some of the Bars with which WHLS is twinned, such as the Barcelona Bar. We also enjoyed a splendid gala dinner where we had time to network and in particular met up with the Dean of the Malaga Bar, who invited WHLS members to Malaga in June for the FBE Congress. We also met the President of the Independent Afghan Bar, who is exiled in Paris, and who will be visiting London in the Spring. The International Committee hope to organise a meeting for WHLS members with the Independent Afghan Bar President when he visits London.

If you are interested in the international work of WHLS, please contact the Secretary: Arisa.Terada@farrer.co.uk.

Andrew Acquier FRICS FNAVA CHARTERED ARTS SURVEYOR

L to R - Julia Splavska, David Greene, Coral Hill, Jeffrey Forrest, Alex Kowalska,Marta Sanchez Merino, Iman Kouchouk, Jessica Bennett at the December 2023 meeting.

A

t the December 2023 meeting the International Committee thanked Carolina Marin Pedreno for all her dedication and hard work as co-chair and welcomed Coral Hill as her replacement.

We are delighted that Carolina will continue to be active in the Society and assist us with her wealth of international contacts.

Coral Hill was previously President of WHLS (2017/18) and then Chair of the Society’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

The International Committee co – chairs Coral Hill and Jeffrey Forrest held a hybrid meeting and were delighted to talk to those committee members able to attend in person. In particular, our new members, Julia Splavska and Jessica Bennett. Julia presented to the committee about her experience of coming to the UK as a Ukrainian lawyer and we will report on this further in the next magazine.

Andrew Acquier FRICS FNAVA has been working as an independent valuer since 1982, specialising in fine art and antiques. Instructions for probate, divorce settlement, tax/asset and insurance valuations as well as expert witness work are regularly received from solicitors and other professionals.

Andrew has many years experience of compiling reports for litigious cases, several of which have necessitated a subsequent court appearance as an expert witness to argue quantum. Divorce valuations are a speciality, usually as Single Joint Expert. Work is carried out throughout the UK and abroad.

23 York Street Broadstairs Kent CT10 1PB Tel: 0207 353 6440 Mobile: 07787 518 861 Email: andrew@andrewacquier.co.uk Website: www.andrewacquier.co.uk

CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 19

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Seb Shakh, founder and CEO of WillSuite and Craig Matthews, CEO of LEAP Estates

LEAP and WillSuite launch new end-to-end digital solution for estate planning and management

LEAP, the global provider of legal practice management software, and WillSuite, the estate planning innovator, have joined forces to launch LEAP Estates, an end-to-end digital solution for estate management, probate and lifetime planning professionals.

LEAP Estates is a specialist practice productivity solution that equips Private Client practitioners with the tools they need to manage matters on a single platform. Previously, many departments had to use multiple applications for practice management, wills, LPA applications, trusts and probate applications. However, the new solution from LEAP and WillSuite provides a single location for all these functions, improving and simplifying both the practitioner and client experience.

The mission of LEAP Estates is to continually elevate the provision of private client service through innovative technology. Both based in Nottingham and benefiting from the city’s booming technology scene, the two pioneers of legal cloud technology have developed LEAP Estates to support practitioners navigate the changing legal technology landscape. The solution benefits from the shared knowledge, development capabilities and operational resources from both businesses, which is essential in delivering highly effective software with estate management, probate and lifetime planning professionals in mind.

As a specialised division, LEAP Estates offers intuitive information and processes that can be shared with clients, facilitating dynamic and proactive estate planning. LEAP Estates users will also have access to the software provider’s extensive content library, including new recent additions for Private Client practitioners.

One recent addition to the content library is a document that provides hyperlinks to all the legacy settings on social media. This document is designed to be shared to clients. It offers advice on how to enable legacy settings on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for individuals considering their legacy and making a will.

“Estate planning and Private Client practice probably evolve more rapidly than any other area of law, because it responds to how we live our lives today,” says Craig Matthews, CEO of LEAP Estates.

“As a society our attitudes to estate planning are changing, with healthier and younger people considering lifetime planning.

Each new generation brings a different asset portfolio, and family structures now vary, impacting wills and probate services. Assets have also evolved, with elements like cryptocurrency, NFTs and digital banking now playing a role. We’ve developed LEAP Estates to support Private Client practitioners in meeting the evolving needs of individuals in their lifetime planning.”

20 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER

LEAP Estates also includes key functionality for will writing, available through WillSuite. This includes mirroring across wills and LPAs, as well as LPA copying. The will writing software provider works in partnership with the Institute of Professional Will Writers and The Society of Will Writers, with over 3,500 wills and 2,500 LPAs drafted on the WillSuite platform each week.

Seb Shakh, founder and CEO of WillSuite comments, “Since inception in 2015, WillSuite has grown from strength to strength. Our software is now firmly a market-leader, and simplifying the delivery of Private Client work for thousands across the profession is what we do best. This collaboration with LEAP is the next logical step in our journey and pairing our expertise with the world’s largest legal tech platform ensures we can deliver even greater advancements and efficiencies within the sector together through a single integrated solution.”

LEAP Estates can sit within a specialist private firm or a department of a firm. It is also available to accountants offering lifetime planning and probate services, will writers, estate planners and IFAs. For more information, please visit www.leapestates.co.uk.

About LEAP Estates LEAP Estates occupies a unique position in the legal software market, providing specialist software for probate solicitors and estate planners.

With powerful features and functionality, the innovative solution provides everything you need to manage your client’s wills, LPAs and estates efficiently, including case management, accounting, document assembly and management, will building and legal publishing assets in one integrated cloud solution.

For more information, please visit www.leap.co.uk.

About WillSuite WillSuite offers cloud-based software that simplifies the process of drafting Wills, LPAs, and other documents for Will drafters, Financial advisers, Solicitors, and Estate planners. With innovation at its core, WillSuite aids efficiency, minimising errors, and improving client service and has allowed practitioners to generate over 600,000 Wills and 1 million documents since inception in 2015. Partnered with The Society of Will Writers and the Institute of Professional Willwriters, WillSuite includes document automation tools delivering up to date content and clauses written in plain English, seamless integrations, and improved client communication via custom workflows and automated branded channels. Learn more at https://willsuite.co.uk/contact.

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Career management as a Bar Student Jeysu Akoya

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s someone who has been a student for the vast majority of their life, I have constantly had to shift and adapt myself to both the changes in my surroundings, and in my own personal abilities as I grow. Keeping up with the changing tides around you is one thing, but learning to adapt, hone, and apply new skills as you pass through the different stages of your career is the unsung hero of progress.

From my own experience talking to fellow students and people in full-time employment alike, one of the biggest things that gets overlooked is the fact that you are like a sponge, always absorbing new information and different skills, abilities, and traits as you weave through the rungs of whichever career ladder you decide to climb. Ironically, I have found experience to be overlooked more the higher you climb; having experience is an essential part of any professional’s toolbelt, legal or otherwise that being said, one thing I must always remind myself of is that experience can also act as a ball and chain if you allow it, tying you down to old ways which have been ingrained in your practices for months, years, maybe even decades for some people. It is extremely easy to become reluctant to change; why would you? This formula of yours has worked for such a long time, what’s to stop it from working now? Why should you fix what doesn’t seem to be broken?

I personally have fallen into many plateaus on my journey to becoming a barrister, whether that is capped to a set grade, an inability to obtain a mini-pupillage no matter how hard I try, always choking at an interview stage, the list goes on. Each time, I’d look at my formula in bewilderment. “I don’t get it, this used to work. What changed?” And each time, the answer was always the same. “Nothing changed, that’s the problem.” It was fine for me to be reaching for new heights with a new bag of knowledge and qualifications, but I realised I was never going to reach them if I didn’t let myself grow. It’s good to have a formula, but it’s even better to have a flexible formula. One that allows you to shape it as you need and bend it to your will. A formula not just for aiming for rarer heights, but for growing enough to actually reach them too.

My method for progress is therefore broken down into several parts: 1. Step Back – Although it may seem counterintuitive, my first step for overcoming a setback, or before I delve into any new realms of my career, is to get as far away from my desk as possible for a little while. Whether it is spending time with friends, family, or my girlfriend, having someone in your life to anchor you to the real world can be vital. Particularly in a legal profession, it can be easy to be sucked out of reality without even realizing it. Acknowledging this, and allowing myself to be pulled back out of my own head, is the best way to move forward. A deep breath in the quietude and company of a familiar face can make all the difference to how you approach a big climb. Plus, it’s always nice to have a second opinion from a fresh perspective on whatever you are about to embark on.

2. Taking Stock – What am I actually currently doing? Where am I applying to? What for? What are my main methods for moving on up? What image am I trying to portray to potential assessors/employers? What do I have at my disposal? These are questions I like to ask myself if I find myself in a career ditch and I can’t find a way out. There are plenty of times where it can feel like you’re spiraling, like you’re frantically paddling in a life raft in the middle of the ocean yet going nowhere. Putting the oars down and taking a look at what you actually have with you in that life raft can oftentimes make all the difference.

3. The Good, The Bad, and The Unnecessary – Continuing with the life raft analogy, which of these tools have been useful so far, and are essential? Which ones are weighing you down, and making the life raft heavier? Which ones simply don’t belong in a life raft? In other words, what about you can you really capitalise on. Which skills and traits will be in your favour every time? the real heavy-hitters. What skill is seemingly never used?

Maybe it’s a particular skill you picked up in a workshop two years ago that you rarely think about, or some technique that was taught to you but never seemed to be relevant, or was simply just not as easy as your own technique. A qualification for something that never came to fruition maybe, simply sitting on your CV collecting dust. Looking at these lesser-used tools will help you to realise one of two things: either they are dead weight, which will allow you to declutter, OR, they are hidden gems, which you can utilise in a new or updated way to help you achieve your goals.

4. First Steps – Now that you have your shiny new updated toolkit, you will be ready to assess properly how to move forward. Personally, I like to look at what in particular I am aiming to achieve in a few different ways: what is my endgame goal? What is the very first step of that goal? How far will that first step take me? Envisioning the finish line alongside the starting line can often put things into perspective for me.

Performing the next step with that end goal in mind can help you tailor the outcome you aspire to achieve in that next step.

5. Fire Away – Once all plans have been made and everything has been mapped out in front of me, I like to dive head first into whatever task lies ahead, throwing everything I have in my tailormade toolkit at it. Any new skills I’ve acquired, mixed with old lessons I was taught long ago, all held together by consistent attempts to get to where I want to be.

Reforming yourself to adapt to the changing weathers of your career is essential, but it’s equally as important to remain resilient. I have found that, as long as you do your part to grow, progress will follow. Maybe not immediately, but it will with time.

■

Jeysu Akoya Bar Student

CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 21

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Four ways to help your team embrace new technology ‘Better the devil you know’ is a phrase that many people subscribe to. It’s also one that stifles innovation and experimentation.

The Change Perception Index by psychologist Jim Bright found that: • 34% of people would avoid change if they could • 32.2% of people are inclined to give up on something if they don’t see immediate results • 21% report that they fear failure when they try something new

3. Train your team thoroughly with the new software A one-off training session is almost certainly not enough to familiarise your team with a piece of technology, however intuitive it is. People will be used to working a certain way, and lasting change takes more than a simple tour of a system.

Bearing in mind those statistics represent a more general population sample and factoring in the legal profession is renowned for being particularly conservative, changing anything in your law firm is likely to be met with resistance.

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That’s not ideal when you want to introduce technology as figures show that a third or more of your team are going to resist, protest or refuse new software.

To help a 1. Choose technology that solves your team’s problems 2. Involve your team in the choice of new technology 3. Train your team thoroughly with the new software 4. Phase in the new system 1. Choose technology that solves your team’s problems Resistance to new systems often takes the form of ‘What’s in it for me?’ (WIIFM). From your team’s point of view, the system they already use might be perceived as just fine — ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. They may see a new system as a solution to a problem that doesn’t actually exist. Change for the sake of change is not welcome when people are comfortable with the status quo.

So, rather than choosing technology and telling your team that it’s needed, start with your team’s challenges and look at solutions that address them (the WIIFM). You probably have at least one partner who’s an excellent salesperson — speak to your team, discover their pain points and help them discover an appetite for change by switching to technology that’ll streamline and simplify their daily work.

2. Involve your team in the choice of new technology Once your team are on board with the idea of change, you can consider specific legal software that offers the necessary change.

Rather than making the choice and then announcing the new system to the firm, it’s more productive to seek people’s opinions during the project. Your team will buy in if they have a say in the tools they’ll use.

Otherwise, there’s a risk they don’t see the chosen solution as the best one and feel ignored or overlooked.

For the sake of efficiency, it would be a good idea to present a (quite short) shortlist of two or three pieces of software rather than consulting the team on the whole process. Then, you can invite whoever wishes to look at the website of the potential software, take a demo, and give their thoughts as to the strengths and weaknesses of each. Not everyone will get the choice they want, but a transparent and even democratic process will mean a lot more goodwill, and whatever choice you make the team will appreciate having been genuinely consulted.

22 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER

You could also consider ‘sandboxing’ the programs you use. It’s especially useful for people who like to learn by doing, but anyone can benefit from an opportunity to use a dummy version of the program to get comfortable with it. They’ll be free from the fear of messing up the firm’s system or data by doing something wrong, and be more willing to discover and experiment, thus aiding the learning process.

4. Phase in the new system Finally, if you can introduce your new system gradually, it can help any hesitant users adopt the technology more smoothly and willingly.

If you give a timeline of when things will change, and how they’ll be different, your team can ready themselves, ask and learn what they need to know, and acquaint themselves steadily as the different phases of change take place.

It won’t always be possible to phase in your software, but you can still give your team a good period of notice so there’s no panic and no surprises. Spend that the notice period time in open dialogue, inviting questions, comments, doubts and concerns, and addressing them collaboratively and sympathetically.

How to set your tech up for success Legal tech fails when some see it as a solution, but others see it as a problem.

To find legal software that everyone is supportive of, you need to choose programs that answer your colleagues’ frustrations and show (rather than tell) how it’ll make their working lives easier. ■ Learn more about Quill Discover proud affiliate partner of the Law Society Quill’s software at www.quill.co.uk/legal-software and download ‘The Complete Practice Management Playbook’ at www.quill.co.uk/resources/thecomplete-legal-practice-management-playbook. Quill is part of Dye and Durham, one of the world’s largest providers of cloud-based legal practice management software designed to make managing a law firm, organising cases and collaborating with clients easy.

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lio the leading global provider of cloud-based legal technology, revealed the key trends shaping the future for lawyers in the Legal Trends Report.

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or collected. Cloud-based legal practice management software like Clio can automate administrative tasks and reduce lockup times.

KEY TRENDS FOR 2024 FROM THE LEGAL TRENDS REPORT:

However, clients tell a different story; 15% say they never received a bill, and 28% say they waited a noticeably long time to receive their bill. Strategies such as encouraging electronic payments and investing in AI-enabled payment systems can reduce friction and expedite payments.

Steady Growth and Collections Law firms are experiencing steady growth, with increased utilisation, realisation and collection rates. On average, solicitors are working over 40% more cases and billing 70% more compared to 2016. However, collections have room for improvement; quick payment collection is crucial for success.

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Client Payment Delays Both solicitors and clients share responsibility for payment delays. 41% of solicitors say clients don’t pay on time, and 24% said too many don’t pay at all.

AI and the Future of Law AI-powered tools are already impacting law firms, making operations more efficient and competitive. Despite some hesitancy, lawyers are increasingly interested in adopting AI technology to enhance the quality of legal services and improve decision-making—71% of legal professionals who want to use AI plan to do so within the next year.

Want to learn more? Read the full Legal Trends Report now and embrace the future of law. Visit clio.com/uk/LTR. ■

CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 23

ARTICLE

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Working with you to offer your clients a dynamic professional service.

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Having experienced working for global companies and independent brokers. I bring the experience of working on complicated projects and offer that personal service as a specialist in this industry.

Solicitors Industry Experience I have partnered with law firms as new startups and firms with over 100 years of experience. As well as the important Profesional Indemnity renewal. I willl work with the firms’ departments to promote risk management solutions such as; • • • • • • •

Cyber risk training and awareness.

Provide insurance solutions for your commercial clients.

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Promote Executor & Inheritance insurance to reduce Probate claims on the Professional Indemnity insurance.

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Provide pro active claims services for all the policies we provide. 1 claim may trigger more than 1 policy.

www.konsileo.com All insurance and risk advice is undertaken by Konsileo (Trading) Limited (10100499), an independent insurance broker authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA register number is 748287.

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24 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Business Interruption Insurance in Today's Modern World Office Insurance still bears most of the pressure for Business Interruption (BI) insurance, but should we now reconsider the importance of Business Interruption within an Office Policy?

Firstly, you need to understand that there are two types of BI insurance on an office policy.

1. Cover for loss of Income/Profit as a result of material damage or 2. Increased Cost of Working to cover the cost of alternative offices.

For most firms, the cover has been the former as the loss of the office location would impact the income of the business.

However, in the last 2 years we have seen that businesses can be resilient in a crisis and most firms have the infrastructure to work remotely.

City firms also pay higher premiums to incorporate Terrorism cover within these costs and so a significant proportion of the premium could relate to BI cover. If businesses look to change this to Increased Cost of Working to pay for a serviced office in the event of a fire, then the annual premiums would be substantially reduced.

With work now predominately undertaken on the cloud and networks of the firm’s servers, the BI risk now sits more so on the cyber world and the risks there from. Therefore, the BI risk should sit on a Cyber Insurance policy. We can survive without the office location, but can firms survive without access to their servers, database and emails after a virus or hacker attack?

Some firms are still at risk from the loss of income as they are dependent on high street locations and therefore need full BI on the Office Insurance, but they are also at risk of being dependent on remote working at the same time. Each business should talk to their insurance brokers to ensure that changes to the working culture and everyday risks are covered.

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Chris Cotterill

Client Director 07788601 5007 Chris.Cotterill@konsileo.com

CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 25

ARTICLE

The Solicitors’ Charity partners with Pennysmart, the Money Advice Specialists, for Solicitors in Need

The Solicitors’ Charity CEO, Nick Gallagher.

• The Solicitors’ Charity is now able to offer more support to solicitors struggling with low income, financial hardship or problem debt.

• Clients can get access to free budgeting, benefits and regulated debt advice.

• On-going support with achieving financial goals now offered through dedicated caseworkers.

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he Solicitors’ Charity is pleased to announce a significant expansion in its support initiatives for solicitors with the introduction of an impactful partnership with Pennysmart.

26 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER

This collaboration extends the charity’s current offering, giving solicitors the unique advantage of ongoing expert caseworker support from Pennysmart. This represents a substantial enhancement in the charity's ability to provide tailored and continuous assistance, ensuring solicitors have a dedicated resource to effectively manage their finances over the long term.

Pennysmart provides free-to-client, impartial, confidential money, and debt advice either by telephone and/or digitally, dependent on the client’s needs.

ARTICLE

In addition to its new financial support partnership, The Solicitors’ Charity continues to provide a multifaceted range of support, addressing various aspects of solicitors' well-being, professional development, and personal challenges.

The Solicitors’ Charity’s CEO, Nick Gallagher said: “I’m pleased to be able to provide solicitors with an additional level of support through Pennysmart. This collaboration will serve as a lifeline for numerous solicitors seeking financial guidance, offering them the tools to regain control of their finances.

Pennysmart is not only offering expertise on a range of financial topics, it is also providing one to one support to assist clients in achieving their money management goals. Implementing a plan can be easier when that support is in place and someone is in your corner."

This strategic partnership is great news for the legal profession, offering solicitors throughout England and Wales access to a comprehensive range of financial support and expert debt advice.

Learn more about The Solicitors' Charity CEO, Nick Gallagher is available for an interview on request.

The Solicitors’ Charity has been supporting solicitors in times of need or crisis since 1858.

When times are hard, we provide practical, emotional and financial support to help people get back on track. We aim to make a permanent and positive impact on the lives of the people that we help.

We may have been known by a few different names in our history (The Solicitors’ Benevolent Association and SBA being the most recent) but our purpose has never changed.

Find out more about The Solicitors’ Charity by visiting https://thesolicitorscharity.org/.

Jayne Bellis, CEO of Pennysmart, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with The Solicitors’ Charity, stating: "We are delighted to partner with The Solicitors’ Charity to extend our services to solicitors in need. Our advisory services aim to empower clients in achieving financial resilience by optimising income, minimising expenses, and navigating debt-related challenges through access to effective debt solutions."

If you, or a solicitor you know, needs support, get in touch with The Solicitors’ Charity today. Find out more about the charity by visiting www.thesolicitorscharity.org. ■

Want to feature in Central London Lawyer?

To advertise in Central London Lawyer, please call Catherine McCarthy our Business Features Editor on 0151 236 4141 or email catherine@benhampublishing.com.

CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 27

OBITUARY/ BOOK REVIEW

Remembering Lost Friends The Editor Kene Onyeka Allison London Lawyer Westminster & Holborn Law Society Dear Kene, I am writing this as a former President of Holborn Law Society before it merged with the City of Westminster, as I wanted to tell the story of one of our stalwart committee members. I was prompted to do so by reviews of the film about Sir Nicholas Winton called “One Life” being released in January.

The member in question was Willy Bankes, who was also editor of our newsletter. Willy was a very traditional character, sporting a range of tweed jackets and explaining – or exclaiming – many old-fashioned remarks somewhat jingoistic in terms. When I was President of Holborn, he published on the front page of our newsletter a photograph of me presenting a medal to a young solicitor for pro bono work. Underneath the photograph he had written “with an air of superiority”. I am afraid I took him to task with this statement, saying that one could not say “this sort of thing these days”, to which he riposted “Yes, but I can and I will tell you why if you come and have lunch with me in my club”.

Needless to say, I accepted his invitation.

At that lunch, Willy did indeed explain why, because “I wasn’t born an Englishman.” And he told me his story: he had been born to a Jewish couple living in Vienna in the 1930s. One day, an English schoolteacher friend of his parents arrived at the door of their flat, saying you must get young Willy out of the country immediately. The last kinder transport train leaves Vienna this afternoon. I have a ticket for him.” So his parents put him on the train never to see him again. They were not allowed to make an emotional farewell or cry (they were murdered at Auschwitz).

Willy arrived at Liverpool Street Station in London two days later, where he was allocated to a Methodist minister and his wife, who brought him up as their own child. I interrupted here to say that now I knew he was lying. He looked startled at this challenge and asked why. I replied that Methodists were teetotal, but he drank like a fish. He laughed and added that that was part of the reason why he was now a member of the Church of England and furthermore a church warden. He was also practising as a solicitor and a full member of the Law Society of England & Wales. He wore tweed jackets and was a member of a West End “Gentlemen’s Club”. As he said: “You now understand why I felt able to say what I wrote; I owe this country everything”. I felt quite ashamed of my challenge.

Willy was a really lovely man and a staunch friend. We never spoke again of his Jewish origins, not because he was ashamed of them but because the memory of his parents was too painful. I was proud of the fact that I knew him and that he had told me of his origins and rescue. ■ My best wishes

David Morgan MBE TD

Past President, Holborn Law Society

28 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER

European Takeovers: The Art Of Acquisition 3rd Edition Consulting Editor: Alejandro Fernandez de Araoz A SECOND CHANCE FOR ENTREPRENEURS FACING INSOLVENCY? CHECK OUT THIS IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF ‘TURNAROUND MANAGEMENT’ FROM GLOBE An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator

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orporate lawyers, particularly those involved in matters relating to Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), as well as corporate governance issues in general, will welcome the new third edition of this well established and authoritative work of reference from legal publishers Globe Law and Business.

The intrinsic value of the book lies in its list of learned contributors, including lawyers from top firms, and academics from prestigious institutions who, individually and collectively, provide a truly impressive portfolio of advice and consultancy in a number of often complicated areas pertaining to European takeovers. And all this is contained in one highly readable and accessible volume.

Following the turmoil of Covid-19, the recent publication of this book, as the publishers have succinctly put it, provides “an exhaustive reference source for anyone preparing, participating in and responding to takeover activity in the EU.” Within its seventeen chapters, the book’s twenty-seven contributors cover a wide range of relevant issues commencing with, for example, the introductory article by consulting editor Alejandro Fernandez de Araoz on ‘the impact of ESG (environment and social governance) on takeovers.’

As the editors remind us, the direct relevance to the UK on such issues is that ‘Europe is made up of some of the world’s most attractive companies for cross-border activity’ mentioning as an example, that the UK and Germany are included among the top five nations most frequently targeted for investment. European takeovers, therefore, have an important and obvious relevance within the UK’s economy, which means inevitably, that legal services will be directly involved.

Practitioners in this area will be especially interested in the accumulated expertise of a number of lawyers and a variety of learned contributors from the major EU and common law jurisdictions. Note for example the article on ‘Creeping Acquisitions in Europe’ by Luca Enriques from Oxford University and Matteo Gatti, from Rutgers Law School (USA).

Then there’s Matthew Hamilton-Foyn from Allen & Overy who analyses the key changes that have taken place concerning the evolution and present status of the “Takeover Panel and Takeover Code”, which, since 1968, has undergone considerable change following relatively recent legislation which has enabled it, says the author, ‘to respond rapidly and flexibly to meet the needs of a dynamic market.’ The article ends with a cautionary eleven-point list of the key do’s and don’ts which need to be considered in the planning and execution of takeovers.

The book’s subtitle, ‘the art of acquisition’ centres fundamentally on informed and competent governance, with frequent reference to ESG which ‘must become an integral part of the takeover process.’ There is little doubt that the new third edition of this fully updated text will prove indispensable for any lawyer, researcher or academic involved in this complicated area of law. ■

BOOK REVIEW

Housing Law Handbook 5th Edition

Turnaround Management 2nd Edition

LEGAL ACTION GROUP The Access to Justice Charity

Unlocking and Preserving Value in Distressed Businesses

By By Diane Astin

By Alan Tilley

AS THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS LOOMS LARGER – THE NEW ‘HOUSING LAW HANDBOOK’ BECOMES AN IMPERATIVE FOR HOUSING LAWYERS

A SECOND CHANCE FOR ENTREPRENEURS FACING INSOLVENCY? CHECK OUT THIS IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF ‘TURNAROUND MANAGEMENT’ FROM GLOBE

An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator

An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator

here can scarcely be a housing lawyer in England who does not have a copy of ‘Housing Law Handbook’. First published in 2008, this now well-known and highly regarded work of reference by dedicated author Diane Astin, has rapidly acquired a reputation for its authority, reliability, and practicality. Certainly, it has become a necessity for those grappling with the complexities of this often bewildering and essentially sensitive area of law.

f you are a lawyer with a corporate client -- or clients -- facing financial distress and ultimately insolvency, you need this book, published recently by Globe Law and Business.

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And now -- the Handbook has emerged in a new and updated fifth edition which references the almost seismic events that have impacted on housing issues, within which, as the author reminds us, recent events have wrought certain profound changes: first Brexit and the impact of global warming, then the COVID-19 pandemic and most recently, the tragedies and economic uncertainties caused by the war in Europe.

Such has been the impact of these events that fundamentally, incomes have fallen, while prices and the costs of housing have relentlessly increased. The author points out that ‘although the levels of poverty in the UK have worsened in recent years, the main provisions of housing law have not changed significantly in thirty years.’ For lawyers and advisers then, this Handbook provides a reassuring source of information and authority within an undeniably complicated legal landscape.

The Handbook’s twenty-one information-rich chapters include such areas as occupiers’ rights: basic principles... unlawful eviction and harassment by landlords... disrepair and housing conditions -- action by occupiers and local authorities... and much more, including at least seven chapters which cover homelessness, social housing, and community care. The final chapter on civil proceedings -- which includes two appendices -deals with such areas as the Civil Procedure Rules and costs, as well as ‘the usual steps in a civil claim’.

Case law abounds, with all cases boxed and highlighted to aid accessibility. And in this updated edition, recent judgments and key legislation are discussed, including the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, Tenant Fees Act 2019 and Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.

As a formidable reference resource, the Handbook is reassuringly written in a user-friendly way in keeping with the publishing traditions of the LAG. Very easy to navigate it is too, with a detailed table of contents, extensive footnoting, numbered paragraphs throughout and a twenty-five-page index. Also note the forty-eight pages of tables: of cases, statutes, and statutory instruments, plus an alphabetical -- and very handy -- list of abbreviations.

For all busy lawyers or advisers dealing with the often-daunting complexities of housing law, this book is an essential purchase. Note also, that it is applicable to English law only. ■

I

Note the usefully descriptive subtitle: ‘Unlocking and Preserving Value in Distressed Businesses’. This says it all, you may say, but as its processes are linked to a complex area of law, there is a lot more to be said, especially when multi-jurisdictional complications emerge.

With lengthy and detailed experience in this specialised area of consultancy, author Alan Tilley provides a broad range of authoritative advice, aimed specifically at those who are confronted with the undeniably challenging task of advising and managing companies teetering on the sharp edge of insolvency, with its intimidating spectrum of possible consequences.

The book and the wealth of advice therein is aimed primarily at those who find themselves in the role of turnaround manager. Such a role, as the author explains ‘usually involves operating in an executive rather than a consultative role’ and as such, ‘exposes the professional to the risks of personal liability.’ You have been warned.

However, no need to despair -- as Tilley adds that operating through a limited liability entity, with a properly constructed engagement contract reduces the risks. Proper professional performance is the ultimate guarantee of risk avoidance.

Anyone in the legal profession or accountancy and/or financial services, might well wonder how this increasingly obvious need for ‘turnaround management’ got started and whether or not it is proving itself effective.

The author’s positive answer is that turnaround management is becoming ‘increasingly recognized as an important part of business’ and that the understanding of its obvious benefits is growing. Tilley is confident that the concept has more than likely evolved as a result of the influence of Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1970, which is based on the concept of ‘giving entrepreneurs a second chance’ primarily by creating the concept, so called, of ‘debtor-in-possession’ (DIP) -- usually by means of a restructuring plan while the company is protected from creditors. Better results for shareholders certainly loom large here as a distinct possibility.

Although a complex subject, ‘turnaround management’ is explained in this book with admirable clarity, covering as it does, the risks involved, as well as the potential rewards. Based in the author’s 40-plus years of experience in this field, the consultancy, advice, and guidance contained in this compact volume is high-value indeed. Note too, the handy appendix which contains over 20 pages of useful guidelines and policy recommendations.

With its international orientation, as well as its straightforward advice, this book should be considered as an essential purchase for business and law professionals worldwide. ■

CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER | 29

BOOK REVIEW

Migrant Support Handbook LEGAL ACTION GROUP The access to justice charity

By Shu Shin Luh and Connor Johnston AN INDISPENSABLE HANDBOOK FOR SPECIALISTS IN IMMIGRATION LAW, YET ACCESSIBLE TO ALL INTERESTED READERS An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator

I

s there a new law text out there that is more topical than this? Not to mention more vital than this? Probably not -- although many may well argue the point. It is indisputable, however, that mass migration, whether legal or illegal, has become an international problem, particularly for the UK -- and in the view of many -- it is a problem that is well-nigh insoluble.

It is fair to say, however, that immigration lawyers in particular -- as well as anyone involved in, or committed to, achieving viable solutions to the problems inherent in migrant support -- will welcome the publication of this book by the Legal Action Group.

Authors Shu Shin Luh and Connor Johnston have noted that the book (conceived some six years ago) was painstakingly researched and written to ‘replace the irreplaceable’ “Support For AsylumSeekers” by Sue Willman and Steve Knaffer QC, published by LAG in 2009. It is sobering to recall how much and how quickly and relentlessly the world has changed since then -- making the problem of asylum seekers ever more acute.

The publication of this book is therefore all the timelier. And certainly, the almost insoluble complexity of its subject matter is reflected in its more than 1,2000 pages of scholarly and thorough research presented (in the tradition of the LAG) in a clear, accessible style; accessible, that is, not only to lawyers, but to anyone interested in, or involved with, this detailed and certainly controversial and difficult subject, which has occasioned so much debate.

With its focus on the welfare and legal rights of migrants, the book provides in-depth coverage of, for example, housing and welfare, benefits, NHS access and provision and social services, as well as support for failed asylum seekers with reference to special cases; notably unaccompanied children and -- most heart-rending of all -the victims of human trafficking.

This is a handbook you could almost call encyclopaedic. Certainly, it offers specialists in this wide-ranging and many-faceted and complex area of law, a gateway to further research. Note that the first 150 or so pages contain tables of cases... statutes... statutory instruments... immigration rules... and a table of European and international legislation. Also, for a volume its size, it is remarkably easy to navigate, containing as it does, copious footnotes, a detailed table of contents and an even more minutely detailed index of at least 115 pages. A handy handbook? Absolutely.

As immigration -- both legal and illegal -- will undoubtedly emerge as a prime issue during elections and beyond, this scholarly yet eminently readable volume will prove indispensable, not only to practitioners, but to anyone interested in the wide-ranging issues inherent in this undeniably difficult area of law. ■ 30 | CENTRAL LONDON LAWYER

CHARGING ORDERS ON LAND Practice and Precedents 2nd Edition

By Cecily Crampin and Michael Ransom and members of Falcon Chambers CHARGING ORDERS ON A DEBTOR’S PROPERTY: CLEAR, AUTHORITATIVE AND PRACTICAL ADVICE FROM FALCON CHAMBERS An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, ‘The Barrister’ and Mediator

“

Charging Orders on Land” has now arrived as a second edition from Falcon Chambers for 2024 -- an event which will certainly be welcomed by counsel embroiled in the specifics of charging orders, which, more often than not, present special problems.

What we have here is a highly specialised and quite narrow area of law in which attention to minute detail is all too often imperative. The precedents at the back of the book are of great assistance to those involved in drafting orders.

Fortunately for practitioners and judges dealing with the challenge of changing orders, this distinguished text published by Wildy, Simmonds & Hill, presents up to date and authoritative help in what is now regarded as the definitive work on the subject.

Editors Cecily Crampin and Michael Ransom are assisted by nine contributors from Falcon Chambers, known as the set which specialises in land law and landlord and tenant work. Practitioners seeking guidance from this new and updated edition can be confident that they are in good hands. For example, there’s a new chapter on insolvency regimes, plus the inclusion of new CPR procedures and precedents.

This then, is an ample and detailed compendium of practical advice and guidance on ‘the enforcement of money judgements by means of obtaining a charging order.’ Initially, this may sound straightforward, except that all too often it isn’t, as any number of complications can occur within the various stages of enforcement on which there is a special chapter. Also read the chapter on priorities and problems and note the specialist advice on sanctions, tenanted property, overseas entities and much more, including the new chapter on corporate and personal insolvency.

Certainly the book can be depended upon to explain or clarify the various -- and seemingly endless -- snags and contingencies that frequently occur within this particular category of law, including (probably the most frequent of all) the cases which come under the heading of ‘Personal Circumstances: the family home’ which typically is balanced against the claims of the judgment debtor’s spouse... or possibly former, or divorcing spouse... or ‘any children who live in the property to be shared.’

It is also carefully pointed out that sometimes in such cases, the charging order can be withheld, or the interest of one party, for example, can be transferred to the other. Small wonder then that, in the opinion of quite a few practitioners, the concept of the charging order all too often presents a serious impediment to selling a house and clogging up the already stretched housing market.

Considering the often complicated and sometimes controversial area of law, it is reassuring for the busy practitioners that this comprehensive and carefully researched legal text is easy to navigate. The table of contents is almost minutely detailed, and the extensive appendices offer more than 100 pages of statutory material and precedents -- an invaluable resource which will be of special interest to counsel charged with drafting orders. Also note the tables of cases, statutes, and statutory instruments, plus tables of European conventions and other material.

Any practitioner involved in this highly specialised area will find this comprehensive and carefully researched legal text well-nigh indispensable. ■

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