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Iam delighted to be writing this foreword, the first for me having been installed as President of Westminster & Holborn Law Society at our recent AGM. It is an honour to takeover this role from our previous President, Phil Henson, and my thanks go to him for his considerable contribution to the society over the last year, culminating with a spectacular annual dinner at the House of Lords. We all had a wonderful evening as described by Nedra Daniel on page 12 of this edition of our Central London Lawyer magazine and I want to thank our sponsor, Handelsbanken, for their generosity and support which was very much appreciated.
I am looking forward to building on the work Phil and all the many Presidents before him did for the society and you, our members. We exist for our members and all of us on the main committee and sub-committees work hard to try to ensure we are offering the support, educational and developmental opportunities and networking events you want from us. However, if there is something you think we should be doing for you and we are not then please do get in touch with me to let me know. Do also contact us if you would like to join the society and especially if you would like to help on one of our subcommittees - both our Junior Lawyer’s and Pro Bono and CSR sub-committees are seeking willing and enthusiastic volunteers – see pages 15 and 25 for more detailss.
We are planning a series of brilliant events over the next 12 months, starting with our Junior Lawyers Division’s Speed Mentoring Event on 20 November, which is already fully sold out and promises to be an excellent chance for members early on in their careers to benefit from the experience of more senior legal professionals. I have no doubt that it will be a fun and informative night for everyone involved.
Nicola Wainwright
Next year, we look forward to celebrating International Women’s Day in March and we will soon be starting to organise our annual summer party. Already underway are our international sub-committee’s plans for an event with our twinned bar associations in June 2025, which promises to be a wonderful networking opportunity with our international friends.
In this edition of our magazine we celebrate pro bono work, and the benefits it brings not only to those in need of help and advice who cannot access legal services otherwise but also to all of those who volunteer with one of the many pro bono organisations. David Abbott provides us with some first-hand examples of the work of volunteers at the Free Representation Unit (FRU), which offers representation to employment, social security and the criminal injuries compensation tribunals (read David’s article on pages 16 and 17), whilst (on page 20) Katarzyna Jurkun highlights her work at the Polish Social and Cultural Association. If their articles inspire you to get involved then Toby Brown, the Chair of UK Pro Bono Organising Committee, provides details of the charities and organisations you can support. Please do get involved if you can as we all know such services are needed now more than ever.
I hope you enjoy this Autumn 2024 edition of the magazine, brought to you by our amazing WHLS Editorial Team. My grateful thanks go to them for their hard work in putting together what I hope you will agree is another interesting and inspiring read.
All the best.
Nicola Wainwright 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).
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.
Amanda is an Associate at TWM Solicitors specialising in commercial and company law matters. In 2012, she decided to study law (Graduate Diploma of Law and the LPC) part-time to fit in around her two young children and qualified as a solicitor in 2018. On qualification, Amanda joined a firm in Lincoln’s Inn and became a member of WHLS. She immediately joined the JLD committee and was co-Chair of the JLD from 2022 to 2024. In her spare time, Amanda is a keen musician, is currently learning the bass guitar and performing with a band.
As the newly-appointed co-Deputy Vice President of the Westminster & Holborn Law Society (co-DVP), I am honoured to bring my experience and passion to this exciting role, working alongside Amanda Lathia, also coDVP. With so much important work ahead, I am eager to contribute to the Society’s mission of supporting the legal profession and fostering innovation and inclusivity.
In my practice as a digital dispute resolution specialist, I assist in resolving disputes both in England and Wales and internationally, specialising in contested wills, probate, property, faith and estate planning. My passion for mediation and conflict resolution underpins my work, and I am dedicated to helping parties find constructive solutions to complex challenges. I also focus on advancing critical areas such as AI regulation and women’s rights in the judiciary, advocating for ethical practices and greater equity in the legal system.
I am excited to channel this expertise into my work with the WHLS, supporting its members and the wider legal community as we navigate an evolving landscape. My guiding principle, “engage, innovate, and empower,” aligns closely with the Society’s values, and I look forward to collaborating with colleagues to drive meaningful progress over the next year.
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.
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.
Philip Henson is a Council Member of the Law Society of England and Wales.Outside of a busy work and active family life, Phil also produces award winning short films. He has recently finished a script for a dark comedy called Viking Funeral which is in pre-production. He is also a jury member of the British Short Film awards, and is also developing several children’s story books which are at various stages of development.
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 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.
Anamitra is a solicitor who deals with commercial litigation and IP matters. 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 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 is a recent first class LLB graduate. Emma is embarking on a career in the legal and media industry. Currently, she serves as the Senior Manager of Press and Programmes at Small Business Britain and an Editorial Assistant for Legal Women magazine where she combines her passion for law and her talent for communication.
It was wonderful to see so many of you at our annual black tie dinner held at the House of Lords. This was just one of the fantastic WHLS events that took place 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 2024-25 annual subscriptions are now due. If your details have not changed, kindly pay the invoice sent to you 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
Our Society is an ideal forum for local and international networking with a variety of professional development, networking and social events. Our annual black tie dinner is one of the highlights. Members pay reduced rates on our events. Our Society’s magazine, Central London Lawyer, keeps members up-to-date with the latest legal developments, and we welcome contributions from our membership.
There are many benefits to joining our vibrant and welcoming group of legal professionals. What sets us apart from other societies is our strong links to regional and influential international legal organisations. We are a part of the Fédération des Barreaux d’Europe (FBE) and are twinned with the Paris, Berlin, Milan, Barcelona, Palermo, Krakow and Cluj-Napoca bar associations, among others. We also have informal associations with other respected legal organisations internationally.
Other benefits include a free subscription to the Society's quarterly magazine; the opportunity to 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 prestigious 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!
Last June, I returned to Málaga, the city where I grew up, to attend the General Congress of the Fédération des Barreaux d'Europe (FBE) on "The Lawyer of the Future," hosted by the Málaga Bar Association from 6-8 June 2024. And it was a great honour to do so representing the Westminster and Holborn Law Society in London, the city where I have honed my skills as an international lawyer over the past several years. This experience was both professionally fulfilling and personally meaningful.
The congress offered a rare and enriching opportunity to engage with fellow legal professionals from all across Europe, reaffirming a belief I hold dear: law mirrors the human experience and is often more similar than we might think, as, at the end of the day, we all share the same human challenges and, consequently, similar solutions. The FBE General Congress served as a vital forum for exploring these commonalities and the many ways in which law shapes our identities as practitioners and, indeed, as societies.
This gathering also reminded me of the importance of cultivating international legal discourse. A lawyer should not be constrained by a narrow understanding of their home jurisdiction but rather distinguished by their ability to communicate and apply that knowledge within a global framework. In today’s interconnected world, it is only logical that the law must transcend national borders. Events such as the FBE General Congress are essential in facilitating this exchange of ideas and expertise.
Returning to Málaga after so many years, now as an international lawyer, highlighted the strides we’ve made towards a more global outlook within the legal profession and underscored the necessity of continuing this work. Engaging with peers from different jurisdictions, recognising our shared humanity, and understanding that the law can serve as a bridge rather than a barrier are all vital to our progress.
Thanks for the opportunity to Coral Hill and Sara Chandler, whom I had the pleasure of attending the congress with. I regard both of them as exemplary figures in the legal profession. Their dedication and insight have been invaluable to me, and it was a privilege to share this occasion with them.
Looking ahead, it is evident that the future of law is intrinsically international. There is no turning back, and the relationships we forge at these congresses will only enhance our ability to serve justice in a globalised world. I am eager to continue this journey and to the many discussions and collaborations that lie ahead. And finally, I would also like to encourage all members of our WHLS, whether on the International Committee or not, to get involved in such events, as they offer invaluable opportunities to engage with the broader legal community! ■
Spanish Abogada (Madrid Bar Association) & Registered Foreign Lawyer (SRA, UK)
We were delighted to be joined by some guests from our twinned Bar Associations at the WHLS annual dinner. The following day they met with members of the International Committee to discuss general matters and to develop ideas for our major event in June 2025 (discussed below).
Save the date:
Thursday 5 June 2025 - Saturday 7 June 2025.
The International Committee is planning an event for our twinned bar associations on the theme Legal London: Law & Networking.
The International Committee continues to work on building relationships with bar associations around the world. Our international visits are an exciting opportunity to broaden your understanding of the different law systems and immerse yourself in a different legal culture and all members of WHLS are welcome to participate.
In 2025, we will hold an event in London to attract the bar associations twinned with WHLS and those interested in developing a closer relationship. All WHLS members have the opportunity to network with other legal professionals, join legal discussions and visit some beautiful legal places in London.
There will be a full schedule of activities including a Legal London walk, visits to the Royal Courts of Justice and the Supreme Court, and meetings at law firms where seminars on international and cross-border issues will be held. If you or your firm would like to get involved please contact cwhlawsoc@gmail.com
Bern, 29-31 May 2025
Each year the President of the FBE hosts a Congress in their jurisdiction. For 2025 this will be in Switzerland where the current President, Marc LABBE, is a member of the Fédération Suisse des Avocats.
To check on any information relating to the FBE please go to www.FBE.org
The international committee is intending to visit Gdansk during 2025 and will update members as soon as confirmed.
Please keep an eye on our magazine and social media for further information.
The Forum of International Lawyers in London (FILL) is for any lawyers working in London and qualified in another jurisdiction and for London lawyers interested in international work. We will be hold an event in January to discuss dual qualification.
The historic hallways and magnificent views of the House of Lords played host to one of the most anticipated events in Westminster and Holborn Law Society’s calendar of events in October, as they held their annual black-tie dinner. The evening served as a fitting farewell to the outgoing president Philip Henson, marking the culmination of a year of remarkable service to the society.
Guests from across the legal spectrum gathered in the ornate setting, with 107 attendees representing chambers, firms, and judicial offices throughout London and honoured guests from their twinned bars and law societies from across Europe. The evening was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Handelsbanken, whose support was instrumental in setting the scene for a spectacular evening starting with welcoming drinks in Cholmondeley room and the spectacular views of the terrace.
The highlight of the evening was an extraordinarily moving address by Lord Alfred Dubs, whose personal narrative captivated the assembled guests. In his speech he seamlessly tied together the past and present. Lord Dubs shared his profound and inspiring journey of survival from Nazi persecution as one of the children rescued and brought to the United Kingdom through operation Kindertransport, to his current position in Britain's highest legislative chamber. His testament to the power of justice and the rule of law resonated deeply with the audience, serving as a poignant reminder of the legal profession's vital role in protecting human rights and dignity.
The evening also provided an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of outgoing president Philip Henson. Under his leadership, the Westminster and Holborn Law Society has sought to strengthen its allyship with its twinned European counterparts such as Cluj Napoco of Romania and the Milan Bar Association amongst others. In his farewell address, Philip Henson reflected on the year's achievements while emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration within the legal community.
The organising committee deserves particular recognition for orchestrating an evening that balanced ceremonial gravitas with warm collegiality. From the carefully curated menu to the thoughtful seating arrangements, created an atmosphere that encouraged both meaningful dialogue and enjoyable social interaction.
As the evening drew to a close, there was a palpable sense that this year's dinner had surpassed expectations, setting a high bar for future gatherings. The combination of Lord Dubs' deeply personal keynote address, the celebrations of Philip Henson's achievements, and the overall excellence of the event's execution made for a memorable occasion.
The Westminster and Holborn Law Society's annual dinner continues to be not just a social highlight but a vital gathering that strengthens the bonds within London's legal community, celebrating its achievements while looking forward to creating further collaborations and friendships. ■
Nedra Daniel
Co-Chair, Westminster & Holborn Law Society, JLD
Daniel
n today's rapidly evolving professional landscape, many individuals find themselves seeking a career shift that aligns more closely with their passions and aspirations. For those drawn to a career in law, the transition can be both exciting and daunting. Recognising this need, the Career Changers Legal Network (CCLN) was established to provide a supportive community for professionals from all industries who are considering or undergoing a transition to a law career.
The recently established CCLN aims to be a valuable resource for individuals at every stage of their legal career journey. Whether you're just starting to explore the possibility of law school or have already taken the leap, CCLN offers a welcoming
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and inclusive environment where you can connect with likeminded individuals, share experiences, and gain valuable insights.
One of the core objectives of CCLN is to provide practical guidance and support throughout the transition process. Members can access a wealth of information on topics such as law school admissions and career paths within the legal profession. Additionally, the network fosters a sense of community and camaraderie, allowing members to learn from each other's experiences and challenges.
As CCLN continues to grow, we aspire to expand our offerings to include educational programs, mentorship opportunities, and social and networking event bringing together the diverse community. These initiatives will provide members with even more resources and opportunities to develop their skills, network with legal professionals, and gain a deeper understanding of the legal field.
We are excited to announce that CCLN is set to formally launch early in the new year. As we embark on this journey, we are actively seeking dedicated individuals to join our team and help us build a thriving community for career changers. If you share our passion for supporting career changers and have a strong interest in the legal profession, we encourage you to get involved.
To stay updated on CCLN's latest news, events, and resources, we invite you to connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram. Join our growing community of career changers and discover the support and inspiration you need to achieve your legal career goals. ■
Nedra Daniel Founder Career Changers Legal Network
The future of the legal profession rests in the hands of our now junior lawyers and it is imperative now more than ever to ensure we establish a secure foundation as we move swiftly into the future of the profession. Our JLD stands ready, to make significant strides in the coming year and beyond. With a fresh committee at the helm, the JLD’s aim is to embark on an ambitious journey to support, educate, and empower the next generation of legal professionals.
A year of opportunity and growth
The newly elected JLD committee, led by co-chairs Nedra Daniel and Stephanie Keen has outlined a comprehensive strategy for the year ahead. The primary focus is to address the evolving needs of junior lawyers in an increasingly dynamic legal environment. Our plans include several key areas:
1. Professional Development: The JLD will expand its range of workshops and seminars, covering topics from legal tech innovations to soft skills essential for career advancement. These sessions aim to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical skills required in modern legal practice.
2. Mental Health and Wellbeing: Recognizing the highstress nature of the legal profession, the JLD plans to feature important initiatives towards better mental health in the legal profession.
3. Diversity and Inclusion: Building on previous efforts, the JLD will intensify its focus on promoting diversity within the legal profession. Plans include mentorship programs for aspiring lawyers and collaborative events which is diversityfocused.
4. Networking and Community Building: Understanding the importance of professional connections, the JLD will host in-person networking events, to promote a strong community among junior lawyers across different practice areas.
The JLD recognizes that its success depends on strong partnerships. Sarah Bradd, Charity and Sponsorship representative will be working closely with law firms, chambers, and educational institutions to ensure our initiatives align with the broader needs of the legal community.
The JLD extends an open invitation to all eligible junior lawyers to become part of this exciting journey. Membership in the JLD is open to law students, trainee solicitors, and qualified solicitors with up to five years of post-qualification experience. To become a member, interested individuals can visit the Westminster & Holborn Law Society's website, fill out an online application form at https://www.cwhls.org.uk/join.html, and submit to cwhlawsoc@gmail.com.
As the legal world faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities, the JLD is here to support, guide, and empower the junior lawyers who will be the leader of the future. With a clear vision, a dedicated committee, and the collective strength of its members, the coming year will be one of growth and achievement for the Junior Lawyers Division.
Nedra Daniel
Co-chair
Westminster & Holborn Law Society
Junior Lawyers Division
Stephanie
Keen Co-chair
Westminster & Holborn Law Society
Junior Lawyers Division
David Abbott is CEO at the FRU, a small charity offering representation in employment, social security and criminal injuries compensation tribunals. FRU volunteers range from law students to experienced solicitors and barristers.
Ilast wrote for the Central London Lawyer in 2022. I’m really pleased to have the chance to talk about the value of pro bono work again. The great thing about legal pro bono work is that it brings benefits for the client and the lawyer. The following two case studies illustrate this really well.
Case study one – Charlie’s experience
Charlie Ryan is a General Counsel and Strategy Consultant at a boutique aviation and defence consultancy company. He previously worked inhouse and at three different City law firms. He is +15 years PQE.
This is Charlie’s experience: “For three months I had the privilege to volunteer at the Free Representation Unit (FRU) where I represented a claimant in relation to their unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal claim against a major UK employer. This was the first time I practised in and advised on employment law.
There were various reasons as to why I chose to apply to be a FRU volunteer. Firstly, I had always wanted to apply my legal skills in a pro-bono context where I could be strongly committed and invested in a particular cause / case / person. During my training-contract I volunteered at walk-in pro-bono clinics, and whilst I really enjoyed those experiences, for me the fact that volunteer solicitors rarely assisted a client beyond one or two interactions meant that I felt that I did not have the opportunity to truly commit to or invest in a client and their particular issue – in contrast to volunteering at the FRU. Secondly, I wanted to learn a new area of law and an area of law which is more relevant to people (vs. corporates / corporate law – being my ‘normal’ area of practice). There comes a point in many legal careers where the learning curve can (and often does) plateau, where one knows instinctively the broad answer to most legal issues which land on your desk / in your in-box. Whilst this ability, derived as a consequence of years of experience, makes one a valuable lawyer, it means that one’s exposure to learning new skills and new areas of law is diminished. Thirdly, linked to the previous point, I thought that this would be an extremely valuable legal training experience.
I was assigned my first FRU employment case, the client had a claim of unfair dismissal against a major UK employer. I was under no illusion that I was about to experience a near-vertical learning curve within a compressed timeline: the hearing at the Employment Tribunal was listed as two months away – there was no time to lose!
There were some quite exciting points during the case, at one point we amended the client’s claim to add a new claim: a wrongful dismissal claim (which was applied for quite late in the overall process). At another juncture we considered adding a discrimination claim. All of this was within a compressed timeline. A further aspect to the process which I found very interesting was the requirement to consider ‘litigation tactics’ in the context us representing a claimant who was an individual against a respondent who was a huge corporate. Eventually, with only a week to spare before the scheduled hearing date, we assisted our client to reach a settlement with the respondent. The settlement amount which our client received was significantly higher than what had been offered prior to FRU being instructed by the client, and of course this was very pleasing to the client and to all of us at the FRU.
From a legal skills development basis, the experience exceeded my expectations in terms of the number, range and depths of skills which I applied and as a consequence improved upon. Fortunately, throughout this process I had brilliant support from FRU’s legal officers who of course have a wealth of experience and were super fun to work with.
I learnt two completely new areas of employment law (from a starting point of zero previous experience): unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal. I achieved this by reading statute, case law and Halsbury’s Laws. This granular focus on black letter law is something which, as a solicitor with +15 years PQE, I had not done for many years.
As I expected, this experience also developed my client engagement abilities. This was the first time I’d had a client who was an individual (vs. a corporate client). Of course from
the client’s perspective there was a very strong emotional dimension to the legal case, and this meant that I had to learn how to communicate to the (individual) client in a way which was materially different to communicating to a corporate client.
I also learnt how to navigate and communicate with the Employment Tribunal i.e. a court. This was also a totally new area to me as I had not previously practised in litigation. This required me to learn how to present written legal arguments in a ‘barrister style’ of language vs. corporate lawyer language –these language styles are quite different. Again, this experience has added to my overall skills as a lawyer.
So in conclusion, my first experience with FRU meant that I re-trained certain core legal skills, I learnt totally new areas of law, I improved my client engagement skills and I expanded my communication abilities. I emerged as a more able lawyer. Apart from anything else, this experience has been the best legal training I’ve had since law school, by some distance.
Finally, on a more personal level, a nice outcome to this all was that the client made a donation to the FRU fund-raising page and mentioned her gratitude to the FRU and to me personally. This was more satisfying to me than almost any other praise I’ve received during my legal career.
I really recommend volunteering at the FRU, and I am already looking forward to my next case and working with FRU colleagues again!”.
Case study two – Tess’s experience
Tess Turner was a trainee solicitor who qualified just as she was undertaking this pro bono case. She now works in construction law for a full service law firm.
Mr J was dismissed for redundancy, and he sought help from FRU in pursuing his unfair dismissal claim against his employer. Tess took on Mr J’s case, providing full case preparation and advocacy at the hearing.
Here is Tess’s account of the way the case went: “Through the evidence gathering process, I noticed that Mr J had a potential further claim of age discrimination. As this was already alluded to in Mr J’s claim form, the client did not need to formally amend his claim. I successfully clarified Mr J’s claim to include age discrimination at the final hearing.
Throughout the progression of the case, I contacted the respondent to provide case updates and try to achieve a settlement outside of the tribunal. The respondent made no contact throughout the entire process and did not show up at the final hearing. The Employment Tribunal had also been largely unresponsive and cancelled the preliminary hearing on the day it was scheduled to take place, stating that it had been scheduled in error.
Despite these difficulties, I continued to pursue the client’s best interests and prepare all statements of case and supporting documents by the deadlines stipulated by the tribunal. At the final hearing, and due to the preparation and advocacy provided by FRU, Mr J successfully proved that he had been unfairly dismissed by reason of redundancy and had been discriminated against because of his age. He secured almost £27,000 in compensation.
Mr J pursued the judgment sum from the respondent, but they continued to not engage. I therefore advised Mr J how to enforce the sum through the High Court enforcement process. He later received the sum in full from the respondent.
I found this experience incredibly helpful during my training contract. FRU gives volunteers the unique opportunity to run a case from start to finish and manage the process throughout, under the supervision of a legal advisor. I found that this experience hugely increased my confidence with case preparation and advocacy and reaffirmed my passion to become a lawyer”.
As the CEO of the Free Representation Unit I must admit to being biased. There are many forms of legal pro bono, but I think that working with FRU is amongst the most rewarding. Our clients can’t afford a lawyer, and the prospect of representing themselves against their former boss is pretty terrifying. The stories above illustrate just what a difference pro bono work can make to a litigant in person, and crucially just what lawyers gain from the experience.
To volunteer with the FRU please see more information at https:// www.thefru.org.uk/volunteers and email admin@thefru.org.uk.
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Why is legal practice management important, what impact does it have on risk and compliance, and how can your law firm drive efficiency and maximise revenue?
WHAT IS PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE?
Practice management for law firms is essentially the art of keeping all the moving parts of a legal practice working seamlessly.
It’s the combination of strategic, administrative, and operational processes that optimise the day-to-day operations of a legal practice.
We’re talking about:
• Client, case, and document management
• Automatic time capture
• Know your client (KYC) checks
• Ensuring compliance and addressing risk management
• Managing legal accounts
• Customisable reporting suite
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
It’s not an overstatement to say that practice management software is essential for law firms striving to succeed in today’s competitive legal market.
A well-managed law firm delivers exceptional client service, consistently meets deadlines and maintains clear communication. These advantages lead to higher client satisfaction and retention.
THE BENEFITS OF PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FOR LAW FIRMS
There’s a whole host of benefits to implementing a solid practice management system.
Increased productivity: Simplifying tasks like document management, client communication, and scheduling gives you more time to focus on core legal work.
Enhanced client satisfaction: This, in turn, leads to better client service with quick response times, accurate billing and transparent communication boosting client loyalty.
Complete practice oversight: Track performance at practice, department and individual level to monitor billable work and revenue.
Secure management of client money: Easily facilitate monetary transfers, post bills, pay disbursements and other ledger transactions. Improved efficiency: Streamline administrative tasks, automate processes, centralise information and ensure nothing is overlooked, saving time and costs.
Know your legal clients: Conduct and record due diligence checks to verify identities before engagement.
Secure client information: Store all client, contact and case information securely, making it easily accessible.
Reduced risk: Robust compliance features help your firm meet regulations and ethical standards, reducing the risk of malpractice and legal disputes.
Financial control: Ensure accurate financial records with general and trust accounting, and straightforward billing to help you stay in control of your firm’s finances.
Reporting and analytics: Gain valuable insights through reporting tools that enable you to make data-driven decisions for growth.
Dye & Durham delivers a flexible, friendly and scalable solution – taking the stress out of running your law firm while remaining fully compliant. Cloud-based and robust, and delivered by a Law Society Strategic Partner, Unity® Practice Management offers a comprehensive dashboard overview of your practice so that you can focus on what matters most –building a more efficient, profitable, competitive and successful law firm.
Our software is trusted by over 750 small to medium-sized law firms in the UK and meets all rigorous regulatory requirements to ensure that you’re managing cases and monies correctly.
And now, Unity® Practice Management includes new features to make your practice even more efficient, including:
• DeeDee, your legal information AI assistant, that can help research, draft, and answer legal questions and streamlines tedious tasks so that you can compete better and maximise fee-earning time.
• Easy-to-order residential conveyancing searches that meet independent compliance standards, follow a standardised format that makes it easy to quickly share key insights with your clients, and simplify accounting and cost management with national pricing.
• Instant AML checks including PEP, Sanction, Adverse Media, Law Enforcement, and Disqualified Director checks for improved risk management
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT TOP FOUR TIPS
If you remember anything from this article. Let it be these key points:
Tip 1: Actively encourage everyone in your firm to use the practice management system as their primary tool.
Tip 2: Use the data insights from your practice management system to make informed decisions, monitor performance and identify areas for improvement.
Tip 3: Allow the practice management software to handle tedious admin tasks, freeing your team to focus on practising law and impressing clients.
Tip 4: Ensure client information is securely stored. Protecting your firm’s data not only meets ethical and legal standards but also reaps benefits for your firm with clients by building client trust and enhancing your reputation as a trustworthy and reliable practice.
The Complete Legal Practice Management Playbook: Your Roadmap to Law Firm Success is available in full as our latest eBook, covering everything from the evolution of cloud-based practice management systems to potential pitfalls of software selection, to glossary of practice management terms, and more. Download our eBook at dyedurham.co.uk
■
Every year, many solicitors, barristers, legal executives and students generously volunteer their time to provide free legal help to people in need or to charities. This year’s Pro Bono Week, from Monday 4th to Friday 8th November, offered a chance to recognise and support that commitment to pro bono – whether thanking volunteers, showcasing organisations’ pro bono projects or holding substantive discussions about pro bono. This year, the theme chosen by the UK organising committee for the Week was “the power of pro bono”.
Thousands of people attended events, with 60 online and in-person events across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Week was kicked off by the official launch event on the Monday in London, Edinburgh and online, with inspiring stories from a panel of volunteers about the power of pro bono, and keynote speeches from the Solicitor General of England & Wales, Sarah Sackman KC MP and the Advocate General for Scotland, Catherine Smith KC.
Amongst the many events included a number of announcements and launches:
• The first Greater Manchester Pro Bono Awards to celebrate pro bono in the region.
• The publication of UK Collaborative Plan statistics showing that during 2023, 78 member law firms provided over 609,000 hours of pro bono, an increase of over 33,000 from the previous year.
• The launch at Parliament of updated signposting guides for MPs about pro bono and other free advice in England, Wales and Scotland, together with a new guide about constituency casework.
• The announcement of the shortlist for 2024 LawWorks Pro Bono Awards.
• A launch of the new Pro Bono Costs Order branch of the Pro Bono Expert Support Scheme, the UK’s first litigation support service.
• The publication of a new website for the Attorney General’s Pro Bono Committee and regional pro bono committees.
Although the official Week has now passed, there are still some events taking place later in November and early December. You can browse the full events calendar at probonoweek.org.uk/events
Apart from events, many organisations and lawyers posted on LinkedIn, X and websites to highlight their commitment to pro bono, whilst the legal press published articles discussing the role of free legal advice by volunteers lawyers. Amongst which was an article by the Solicitor General who explained how at the start of her career she volunteered at Toynbee Hall’s free legal advice centre in London’s East End. She rightly stated that “The power of pro bono lies in its people. That starts with the clients.”, adding that “Whilst pro bono can never be a substitute for a properly resourced legal aid system, it will always have a role to play. Though, regrettably one that is needed more than ever.”
Toby Brown
All lawyers can get involved in pro bono – and as already been stated, help is needed now more than ever.
Many law firms run their own dedicated pro bono initiatives, many firms having a dedicated pro bono professional lawyer managing the pro bono practice. Those working at law firms can therefore contact the firm’s pro bono coordinator or partner for more details.
There are also a variety of charities that lawyers can do pro bono with or that provide information about volunteering opportunities, including A4ID, Advocate, the Free Representation Unit, International Lawyers Project, LawWorks, National Pro Bono Centre, Pro Bono Connect and TrustLaw. In addition, lawyers can volunteer with advice sector charities, in particular AdviceUK members, Citizens Advice and Law Centres.
Solicitors can also find various pro bono opportunities and training via LawWorks, the solicitor’s pro bono charity, including not-forprofits programme, secondary specialisation project, honorary counsel programme, and the Free Legal Answers website. Firms and in-house teams can apply to provide pro bono legal assistance through TrustLaw, the Thomson Reuters Foundation global pro bono network. International pro bono is also facilitated by Advocates for International Development, which matches international legal expertise with local need in 100 jurisdictions to further the Sustainable Development Goals.
Links to all of these schemes can be found at www. probonocommittee.uk/lawyers together with guidance on how individual lawyers can undertake pro bono, and how organisations can structure their pro bono programme.
Finally, on behalf of the sector, thank you to the many lawyers who generously give their time to provide free legal help to those in need.
Toby Brown
Barrister and chair of the UK Pro Bono Week organising committee
“The power of pro bono lies in its people. That starts with the clients.”
From May 2024 Westminster and Holborn Law Society member, Katarzyna Jurkun has been taking part in volunteering and coordinating pro bono advice clinic with the Polish Social and Cultural Association POSK called POSK Rodziny ( POSK Families). Katarzyna is an Associate Solicitor specialising in immigration and public law.
POSK itself offers number of exhibitions and entertainments with some free of charge. POSK has a Polish library and restaurants where you can enjoy amazing Polish food. Founded in 1967, POSK has been a cornerstone for Polish community in the UK, providing vibrant space to celebrate Polish culture, history and art.
POSK Rodziny project was established in November 2022 by Dr Marek Laskiewicz, Chairman, and, Sylwia Kosiec, Director. The aim of the project is to assist senior members of the Polish community with welfare and social issues.
The project has expanded to providing help to Polish families facing child proceedings in Family Court providing step by step guidance with meaningful engagement parents and their children. The project also encourages Polish families to became foster carers for Polish children taken into care. Many families have come forward and helped. Affected families benefits from speaking to family law solicitor at no costs to them.
The project has noticed that there is a high demand for the support provided. Many people approach the project with issues outside family law and care matters. With time, more and more people interests have increased for the project. The project has volunteers actively contributing to the services it provides to our community. Katarzyna offers through the project, free legal advice on all immigration related matters. There are many Polish professionals offering their expertise, help, and support to the most vulnerable in the Polish community.
At present, POSK Rodziny offers a wide range of assistance, such as
- Advise and professional help in all aspects of becoming a foster carer for Polish children in UK
- Help and assistance with regards to all aspect of social and welfare issues
- Advise on debts in Poland
- Professional psychological assistance for adults and children
- Accounting advice
- Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous
- Support groups for families whose members are struggling with alcohol
- Consultation and advise from sexologist
- Financial advice
- Group for cats and dogs’ lovers
- Professional development advice and consultation and help with writing CVs
- Poetry and education for children
- Immigration free legal advice
The list above is not exhaustive of the support the project provides. The project welcomes all member of the polish community in the UK. Please come by and talk to our volunteers regarding any issues of concern to you or seeking guidance or information in Poland or in the UK. The project also helps with understanding official correspondence you may have received from the court or the authorities as well as help in drafting replies or response . You are also welcome if you feel lonely and would just like to speak to someone. Apart from the advice clinic, the volunteers host a Play Group for children age 0 – 3.
POSK Rodziny meets at Seledynowa Room in POSK building in Hammersmith.
The meetings are once a month on every third Sunday of the month between the times of 1pm to 3.30pm. For people who are not able to attend those sessions, you can get in touch via email or phone, those are available on posters.
The Play Groups are on Mondays and Wednesday from 10 am until 12 noon. There are books and toys which are donated and available your little ones. Whilst the children are playing, parents can enjoy coffee and nice conversation.
POSK Rodziny has a strong group of volunteers. Every month there are more people joining and getting involved. It is wonderful to see that so many people, including working professionals offer their services for free. It is amazing to see the Polish community coming together to support each other. It is also fulfilling to see that as a community we collectively help to improve and make a difference to lives. ■
Katarzyna Jurkun Senior Associate solicitor and supervisor at Freemans Law LLP
Law firms increasingly rely on technology to streamline their operations in the modern digital age. Legal software solutions have become indispensable, from case management to billing and time tracking. However, a fundamental question often needs to be addressed: who owns the data entered into these systems, and how easily can it be moved elsewhere?
Data ownership refers to legal rights and control over digital datasets. For law firms, this includes client information, case notes, billing records, and confidential strategies. Clear data ownership is essential due to ethical obligations. However, third-party legal software can complicate this, risking data loss, breaches, or legal disputes. Transparent contracts defining data ownership are crucial to protect the firm's interests and client confidentiality.
Significance of Data Portability
Data portability—seamlessly transferring data from one system to another—intersects with data ownership. For law firms, data portability holds immense value due to various reasons:
• Flexibility: As law firms evolve or their needs change, switching to a more suitable software solution should be effortless, and data portability ensures just that.
• Security and Backups: Exporting data empowers firms to create independent backups, enhancing data security and protecting against potential loss or breaches.
• Regulatory Compliance: In certain jurisdictions, individuals can access or transfer personal data between service providers. Law firms must ensure their software providers facilitate compliance with such regulations.
Bigger Picture: Asking the Right Questions
When engaging software providers in discussions about data management, law firms must scrutinise responses diligently. Law firms can effectively safeguard their interests and client confidentiality by understanding the subtleties within the provider's answers. Here are the key queries to pose regarding data ownership and portability:
• Ownership of Data: Providers must acknowledge that the law firm retains ownership of all data entered.
• Data Retrieval Upon Termination: Ensure contracts guarantee a simple and complete data retrieval process post-termination. Data Export Options: Seek responses offering standard, open-format data export options for system compatibility.
• Export Costs: Watch for high fees or complex pricing hindering data portability rights.
• Data Transfer Security: Providers should show data protection measures, encryption, and secure transfer protocols.
Take control of your law firm's data with Clio, the #1 choice for honest, transparent legal tech. Book a personalised product walkthrough with our Clio experts and see how Clio can improve your data management. Visit Clio.com/uk to learn more. ■
Acting as a trusted partner to review and advise on your company’s insurance risks and insurance requirements. Working with you to offer your clients a dynamic professional service.
Email: chris.cotterill@konsileo.com
Insurance Experience & Service Offer
I have 18 years industry experience with extensive knowledge of several insurance products listed below to name but a few, this list is not extensive.
• Professional Indemnity
• Cyber Liability
• Executor & Inheritance Insurance
• Office Insurance
• Management Liability
• Restrictive Covenants
• Group Healthcare
• Group Travel Insurance
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.
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.
• Risk Management Services with The Strategic Partnership.
• Promote Executor & Inheritance insurance to reduce Probate claims on the Professional Indemnity insurance.
• Proud to sponsor local law societies.
• Working with law firms during mergers and acquisitions.
• Provide pro active claims services for all the policies we provide. 1 claim may trigger more than 1 policy.
www.konsileo.com
2024 is coming to a close and most firms have seen some form of reduction on their Professional Indemnity Insurance costs, which is great news for the industry.
Chris Cotterill from Konsileo is spending the next 3 months preparing for the April season, meeting with clients in London. He is available to meet with new prospects to see how they can help on all insurance matters, such as Cyber Risks, Executor & Inheritance Insurance, Office Insurance etc as well as how to get the best out of the Professional Indemnity market.
Over the last 12 months Chris has been able to see firsthand where law firms have tripped over on their renewal process.
• Let your broker send the proposal form to every insurer every year. Insurers that see your proposal form every year will not take serious consideration in quoting for your business.
• Ignore your claims experience. If there is a trend of claims in probate or large claims noted then discuss with your broker how these are being resolved and what lessons have been learnt.
• Leave it to the last minute hoping you will obtain a claims experience a week before renewal.
Do
• Work with a broker that can provide a constructive process on who to approach for renewal terms and why those insurers are chosen.
• Work on risk mitigation solutions using new technology and 3rd party consultants.
Some of the more common claims for solicitors is ID fraud, to the point the fraudster will meet you face to face with a fake passport. Some firms are also getting caught out in similar situations on the Dreamvar case in 2018. Even though you have known your clients for a number of years, solicitors further down the chain may not have the same strict ID checks that you have.
Some of the leading insurers have also noticed an increase in claims relating to Probate matters which may soon be overtaking conveyancing claims as one of the main risk to law firms. As well as training there are alternative insurance products for this type of work.
We are here to provide best advice on your firm’s insurance requirements. We work in partnership with compliance advisors and offer cyber risk tools to mitigate risks and raise awareness with your team.
• We will help with the completion of the proposal form to ensure that work splits are accurate and let you know what insurers are looking for on certain sections.
• Our close relationships with insurers let us know what firms they are looking for and where best to place your business.
• We can provide Cyber external scans to test your IT systems.
• Executor & Inheritance insurance to minimise Probate claims. ■
If you would like to arrange an appointment for Chris to visit your office or chat over Teams then please email; Chris.Cotterill@konsileo.com
Submissions to Court of Cassation Made after Court of Appeal Fails to Implement Cassation’s Order to Open Uyghur Case for Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide
On6 November 2024, the Uyghur universal jurisdiction case in Buenos Aires, Argentina was listed for submissions against the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision not to implement the order of the higher Federal Court of Criminal Cassation (Cámara Nacional de Casación Penal) to open the case.
Uyghur leaders Dolkun Isa, former President of the World Uyghur Congress and a plaintiff in the criminal case and Omer Kanat, Executive Director of Washington based Uyghur Human Rights Project, travelled to Argentina with international lawyer Michael Polak to take the case forward.
The criminal complaint, in relation to the clear evidence of crimes against humanity and genocide against the Uyghur people by the Chinese regime, was filed on 16 August 2022 at the Federal Criminal Court in Buenos Aires, under the universal jurisdiction provisions set out in Article 118 of Argentinian Constitution, which allow for complaints concerning international crimes to be tried by any court in Argentina, no matter where these offences occur around the world. There are a number of cases currently open in Argentina in relation to grave human rights breaches around the world.
On 11 July 2024, the Argentinian Federal Court of Criminal Cassation handed down their decision in relation to a criminal complaint holding that the Court of Appeal of Buenos Aires had been wrong to agree with the Prosecutor’s decision to archive the complaint and ordered the Prosecutor to open an investigation.
Following this groundbreaking decision for the Uyghurs, the case was remitted to the Federal Court of Appeal for them to put into effect the Court of Cassation’s decision. The Court of Appeal refused to open a case and therefore the Court of Cassation, who previously ruled in the plaintiff’s favour has now been asked to rule again. The Court of Cassation, as well as having the power to given direction to the Court’s below it, also has the power to open the investigation themselves.
International lawyer and chair of the group Lawyers for Uyghur Rights, Michael Polak stated the following:
‘After the legally sound decision of the Court of Cassation in July 2024, where they considered the evidence and ordered the Federal Court of Appeal to open the case, we were very surprised when that Court decided not to do so.
This case it a litmus test in relation to the objectivity of the Argentinian legal system and its impartiality in the application of the Argentinian Constitution.
We are hopeful that the Courts will live up to their duty to deliver a just decision and that this case will show that even large and powerful states cannot secure impunity through coercion. Argentina’s legal system leads in this area and this case will place the country on the right side of history in relation to the crimes against humanity and genocide taking place against the Uyghur people.
This case is not about a theoretical question. Right now, there are millions of Uyghurs in concentration camps facing torture, thousands of children ripped away from their parents because of their ethnicity, and women subject to forced abortions and sterilisation in an attempt to prevent the continuation of an ancient culture. The Court’s decision will mark the conscience of the Argentinian people and will be a clear message that this behaviour by any state is unacceptable.
Mr Dolkun Isa, immediate past president of the World Uyghur Congress and a plaintiff in the case stated:
‘This is an important moment in history for Uyghurs, as we seek accountability for the crimes committed by the Chinese government. As a plaintiff, I have put my trust in the Argentinian legal system and hope to see a positive result.’
Mr Omer Kanat, Executive Director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project states:
‘We are one step closer to accountability. It is very important for a court of law to hear the evidence directly from victims who have been suffering from this genocide.’
The organisations bringing this case are fundraising for the legal proceedings and donations can be made here: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/uyghur-case-argentina/ For comments on this case by the lawyers or the victim organisations please email contact@justiceabroad.co.uk ■
• In a similar case brought by Rohingya victims of the Burmese regime, the Prosecutor has requested arrest warrants from the Court for the arrest of high ranking military commanders. Currently, Argentina also has universal jurisdiction cases open in relation to crimes committed in Colombia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia.
• The lawyers acting for the WUC and UHRP are international law barrister Michael Polak, who is chair of Lawyer for Uyghur Rights, Director of Justice Abroad, and a barrister at Church Court Chambers in London and esteemed Argentinian lawyers Gabriel Cavallo and Juan Nieto who have experience providing justice for the victims of international crimes before the Courts of Argentina.
• The presiding judge of the Court of Cassation in this case is Judge Mahiques. He was the leading judge in relation to decision that Hezbollah and Iran were behind the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish centre in Buenos Aires. In this terrorist attack a bombladen van was driven into the AMIA building and subsequently detonated, killing 85 people and injuring over 300.
• In the 11 July 2024 decision ordering the Federal Court of Appeals to open the case Judge Mahiques stated the following:
1. “The challenged decision [the decision of the Federal Court of Appeals] is legally arbitrary given the absence of sufficient foundation and a base of precise and reliable judicial information that justifies the archiving of the proceedings and the refusal to exercise universal jurisdiction. The issue involved in the complaint made by and on behalf of victims of crimes against humanity and genocide, and their willingness to resort to this jurisdiction to obtain justice, demand the maximum effort in obtaining the greatest, best and quickest combination of evidence. that define the destination of the claim".
2. “The [appealed] ruling does not give reasons for the legal and political reasons why the priority guarantee of effective judicial protection of the victims would be restricted”.
3. "The Argentine judicial system has the adequate, necessary and effective resources for the victims of these crimes to access jurisdiction not only to report their commission but also to achieve reparation for the damage suffered. And an appropriate way to guarantee their fundamental right to effective judicial protection is by allowing them the full exercise of the right to complain recognized in our domestic legislation”.
The Uyghurs
The Uyghurs are an ethnic Turkic group lived in the Uyghur Autonomous Region who speak their own language, which is similar to Turkish, are mostly Muslim, and who see themselves as culturally and ethnically close to Central Asian nations and cultures.
There is overwhelming evidence from a number of sources that the Chinese authorities are committing crimes against humanity and genocide against the Uyghur population and other mostly Muslim Turkic ethnic groups, such as Uzbeks and Kazakhs in the north-western region. Human rights groups believe China has detained more than one million Uyghurs against their will over the past few years in a large network of what the state calls "re-education camps", and has sentenced hundreds of thousands to arbitrary prison terms despite there being no evidence that they have committed any crimes. There is also evidence that Uyghurs are being used as forced labour and of Uyghur women are being forcibly sterilised or subject to forced abortions. Former camp detainees have also provided evidence that they were tortured and sexually abused and there is evidence that Uyghur children and being forcibly removed from their parents and given to Han Chinese people in a move to destroy their religious and cultural heritage.
In January 2021, the United States Department of State declared China's actions as genocide. Legislatures in several countries have passed have passed motions doing the same, including the House of Commons of Canada, the Dutch parliament, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, the Seimas of Lithuania, and the French National Assembly. Other parliaments, such as those in New Zealand, Belgium, and the Czech Republic condemned the Chinese government's treatment of Uyghurs as "severe human rights abuses" or crimes against humanity. The Argentine Parliament is yet to consider the situation.
The World Uyghur Congress
The World Uyghur Congress The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) is an international democratic organisation that represents the collective interest of the Uyghur people both in East Turkistan and abroad. The main objective of the WUC is to promote democracy, human rights and freedom for the Uyghur people and use peaceful, nonviolent, and democratic means to determine their political future.
The Uyghur Human Rights Project
The Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) promotes the rights of the Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim peoples in East Turkistan, through research-based advocacy. UHRP was founded in 2004 as a project of the Uyghur American Association and became an independent nonprofit organization in 2016. Omer Kanat is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project
Michael Polak
Michael Polak is an international barrister based in London. He practises in international, criminal, and human rights law from Church Court Chambers. Michael is also a Director of Justice Abroad which helps people who need assistance dealing with legal proceedings overseas as well as working on human rights advocacy for groups and individuals. He is chair of the group Lawyers for Uyghur Rights and was awarded the International Bar Association’s Outstanding Young Lawyer Award for 2021.
“We are hopeful that the Courts will live up to their duty to deliver a just decision and that this case will show that even large and powerful states cannot secure impunity through coercion.”
If you are a member of Westminster and Holborn Law Society (or are thinking of becoming one) and have been inspired by the articles on pro bono work in this edition of our magazine why not join our Pro Bono & CSR sub-committee?
We are seeking willing and enthusiastic volunteers to sit on our sub-committee and help WHLS highlight the amazing work probono lawyers do and the benefits pro bono and corporate social responsibility (CSR) work brings. The position of Chair or Co-Chairs are currently vacant for those who are particularly interested in driving this aspect of WHLS’ work forward.
The aims of the sub-committee are to:
• provide a forum for committee members to share pro bono and CSR best practice.
• invite guest speakers to share their pro bono experiences and opportunities with WHLS members so as to promote pro bono work and CSR.
• proactively help to build links between local third sector advice agencies and local legal practitioners for the purposes of delivering pro bono advice.
• proactively help to build links between charities and local legal practitioners for the purposes of delivering CSR opportunities.
• host; co-host; and/or support external facing events relating to pro bono work and CSR.
Our sub-committee members are expected to attend 3 – 4 committee meetings a year and assist in meeting the above aims, arranging events and, in particular, in organising and supporting an annual event during the annual Pro Bono Week to promote pro bono opportunities to WHLS members.
If you are interested in helping with the work of this important committee or want to learn more please contact Nicola Wainwright or our administrator on cwhlawsoc@gmail.com by Friday 6 December 2024. ■
n recent years, the legal profession in the United Kingdom has made strides towards greater diversity and inclusion. However, ethnic minorities lawyers often continue to face significant challenges in the workplace. These include experiences of bias, microaggressions, and discrimination, which can hinder their career progression and overall job satisfaction.
As of 2021, approximately 17% of practising solicitors in the UK identified as BAME, according to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).1 While this figure reflects a diverse profession, it does not tell the full story of the day-to-day experiences of ethnic minorities lawyers. Despite their presence, many still encounter environments that are not fully inclusive or supportive.
One of the most significant areas where ethnic minorities lawyers report experiencing bias is during recruitment and promotion processes. Research by the SRA highlights that ethnic minorities solicitors are less likely to be promoted to partner roles compared to their white counterparts. For instance, only 8% of partners at the top 100 UK law firms are from ethnic minorities backgrounds, a stark contrast to their overall representation in the legal workforce.2
Consider the case of Funke Abimbola, a prominent British-Nigerian lawyer. Despite her qualifications and achievements, she has spoken publicly about the barriers she faced in her career. Abimbola reported experiencing microaggressions and biases, such as colleagues making assumptions about her abilities based on her ethnicity and gender. She has highlighted the need for more substantial support and mentorship for ethnic minorities professionals to overcome these barriers.3
Microaggressions - subtle, often unintentional, discriminatory comments or behaviours - are another common issue reported by ethnic minorities lawyers. These can range from colleagues making assumptions about a lawyer’s background or capabilities to comments that are dismissive or stereotypical. For example, former solicitor and now diversity consultant Joanna Abeyie has described how she faced assumptions about her competency and had to prove her worth continually. Abeyie recalls instances where she was mistaken for administrative staff despite her qualifications and professional attire, illustrating the everyday challenges ethnic minorities professionals face in the legal field.4
of workplace discrimination compared to their white counterparts. For example, the BSB’s 2020 Diversity at the Bar report indicated that 35% of ethnic minorities barristers felt they had been treated unfairly in the workplace, compared to 23% of white barristers.7
To tackle these issues, various organisations within the legal profession have launched initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion. The Law Society’s Diversity and inclusion framework, for instance, encourages law firms to implement best practices for fostering an inclusive environment.
Mentorship programmes specifically designed for ethnic minorities lawyers can play a crucial role in career development. These programmes provide guidance, support, and networking opportunities that are essential for overcoming the barriers posed by bias and discrimination. The Black Solicitors Network, Society of Asian Lawyers, Society of British Bangladeshi Solicitors are such organisations that offers mentorship and support to ethnic minorities legal professionals.
Law firms are also increasingly recognising the importance of training and awareness programmes to combat unconscious bias and promote cultural competence. These programmes aim to educate all employees about the impact of microaggressions and the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
“Discrimination in the legal profession can take various forms, from overt acts to more subtle, systemic issues.”
Leadership within law firms must take an active role in championing diversity and inclusion. This involves not only setting policies but also demonstrating a commitment to these values through their actions and decisions. Diverse leadership can help to set the tone for the entire organisation, making inclusivity a core aspect of the firm’s culture.
While progress has been made towards diversity and inclusion in the UK legal profession, significant challenges remain for ethnic minorities lawyers. Bias, microaggressions, and discrimination continue to impede their career advancement and job satisfaction. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach, including robust mentorship programmes, training, and a strong commitment from leadership. By encouraging a more inclusive environment, the legal profession can ensure that all its members have the opportunity to thrive. ■
A survey by the Law Society in 2020 found that over 60% of ethnic minorities lawyers had experienced microaggressions at work, with many feeling that their contributions were often overlooked or undervalued compared to their white colleagues.5
Discrimination in the legal profession can take various forms, from overt acts to more subtle, systemic issues. A 2019 report by the SRA revealed that ethnic minorities solicitors were more likely to face disciplinary action than their white peers, suggesting potential biases in regulatory practices.6
According to the Bar Standards Board (BSB), only 14% of barristers are from ethnic minorities backgrounds, and they are disproportionately represented in the lower-paying areas of legal practice. Furthermore, ethnic minorities barristers report higher levels
Shaheen Mamun, Director, Black Antelope Law
1Solicitors Regulation Authority. (2021). Annual Statistics Report. SRA
2Solicitors Regulation Authority. (2019). Diversity in the Legal Profession: A Workforce Survey. SRA
3BBC News. (2017). Funke Abimbola: 'Being the Only Black Face in the Room'
4The Guardian. (2020). How It Feels to be a BAME Lawyer
5Law Society of England and Wales. (2020). Race for Inclusion: The Experiences of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Solicitors
6Solicitors Regulation Authority. (2019). Disciplinary Processes and Outcomes: A Review.
7Bar Standards Board. (2020). Diversity at the Bar. BSB
second Edition
GLOBE LAW AND BUSINESS LTD
Consulting Editor Tom Alabaster
EXPLAINING THE POPULARITY OF GLOBAL INVESTMENT FUNDS IN 2020s TO THE PROFESSIONALS
An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator
Globe Law and Business always excel when offering advice to lawyers in business. And never more so than with private investment funds when Tom Alabaster, the consulting editor, has some involvement! What the publishers offer us here is a practical guide to the structuring, raising and managing of funds which will be of interest and help to a wide readership.
Such funds are investing more capital than ever before, and the funds themselves are becoming larger than ever. And, of course, the industry’s success comes against a backdrop of evolving market trends, increasing regulatory and tax compliance and the rise of ESG, mixed at a time with a new, incoming Labour government which has a (possibly) rather different approach to fiscal matters generally (at least as far as some practitioners are concerned) for the rest of this decade.
In relation to structuring, fund-raising, making deals, managing exits, maintaining investor relations and dealing with the press, investors and their advisers are faced with unprecedented challenges and opportunities so this new edition for 2024 comes in very handy.
Globe Law gives us, as practitioners and counsel, an excellent and practical new second edition of “Global Investment Funds”, edited by Tom Alabaster at Ropes & Gray. This hardback book is a mini classic which offers us contributions from leading industry specialists covering a wide range of issues arising at all the stages of a private investment fund‘s life cycle.
The new edition also offers the following topics which include formation and structuring, regulatory matters, deal-level considerations, environmental concerns, as well as covering jurisdictional/offshore matters, their jurisdictional differences and choice drivers (such as Ireland and Luxembourg). We found it to be a most successful and pragmatic guide which clearly paves the way for fuller explorations of the particular issues presented with regard to listed funds, energy funds, secondary transactions and GP-led recapitalisations.
Globe Law and Business have always provided lawyers in business with titles covering a wide range of specialisms to fit their needs and requirements. Here we have a practical guide to the legal, regulatory, tax and commercial elements of establishing and operating private investment funds.
And it remains our view that we consider that practitioners, advisers and other industry participants will almost certainly gain a significant benefit from applying its contents within their own businesses. Your business cannot really afford not to have a copy in the office library… and yes, we still do have legal and business libraries even in the digital 21st century! ■
Fifth Edition
GLOBE LAW AND BUSINESS LTD
Consulting Editor Chris Hale
CENTRAL TO THE WORLD OF CORPORATE FINANCE AND M&A... THE NEW ‘PRIVATE EQUITY’ IS OUT NOW -- IN A NEW FIFTH EDITION
An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator
As is typically the case with each of the distinguished publications from Globe Law and Business, this wide ranging, erudite and detailed discussion of private equity has now been published in a new fifth edition, having become the definitive work in this area of finance, commonly referred to as ‘venture capital.’
Practising lawyers in this area -- as well as those reading law, not to mention private, or corporate investors -- will find this new, up to date edition for 2024, an essential purchase and a fascinating read as well.
For those not entirely familiar with this continually expanding area of investment, the introduction alone is a revelation. And anyone involved either directly or indirectly with private equity will find the scope and quality of the research and consultancy contained in this book most impressive and very likely indispensable.
For convenience and clarity, the book’s consulting editor, Chris Hall points out that ’private equity’ is synonymous with ‘buy outs’ -- and lists its four basic elements:
* investments in unquoted companies
* equity capital by nature
* medium to long term; and
* targeted at companies with growth potential
These, it is stressed, are merely the key elements, as the topics discussed are various and wide ranging -- from fund structures and debt finance to issues relating to due diligence, governance and much more.
The convergence of this often complicated subject is revealed within the book’s 576 pages and very impressive it is, as is the book’s international perspective. Very useful that -- as it covers, for example, the Benelux countries, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, preceded by the chapter on “Private equity deals in the United States -- separated from the United Kingdom by a common language.”
“Separated?” Well -- not exactly. But one could argue either way. What is not arguable is that at the moment, it is the US and UK which dominate internationally in the private equity sphere.
Consulting Editor Hale has indeed pointed out that ‘private equity’ is now a significant part of the corporate landscape in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and much of Western Europe.’ And now, on the cusp of 2025, it can be assessed that the advantages of private equity, including regulatory controls -- will inevitably increase its usage, not only in North America and Western Europe but very possibly in other countries worldwide.
The beauty and the necessity of this book is its extensive and thorough coverage of new material, specifically new developments in what can only be referred to as ‘the world of private equity,’ which can prove useful in the event of -- for example -- unpredictable changes in tax environments and tax rules.
For anyone researching or advising in this particular field, whether lawyers, academics, students, financial advisors and certainly private investors -- this book is something of a treasure trove of valuable consultancy and advice. ■
Two Volumes
SWEET & MAXWELL/THOMSON REUTERS
Editor-in-Chief: Lord Justice Peter Coulson
REMAINING THE MOST DETAILED AND DURABLE OF ALL THE CIVIL PRACTITIONER TITLES IN A CHANGING LEGAL WORLD
An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator “ Civil Procedure 2024”, also known as “The White Book Service 2024”, continues to offer us the most comprehensive service in paper and digital formats in all matters relating to professional practice. It remains the fundamental purchase for all civil practitioners as working patterns continue to change in 2020s. Always read the Preface each year for the changes which have recently taken place.
The White Book is rightly relied upon by more judges and lawyers than any other legal text. It’s trusted for its authority and commentary as the ultimate expression of “all things civil procedure”. For those new to the work, the “White Book” contains the sources of law relating to the practice and procedures of the High Court and the County Court for the handling of civil litigation, subject to the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR). These sources are supplemented by unequalled substantial expert commentary relied upon in court by more judges and lawyers than any other legal text and is trusted for its authority and commentary.
It sets out the latest amendments made to the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) and brings the book up to date with all CPR amendments published in the supplements to the last edition. All relevant commentary has been updated, together with recent and important case law, plus new and updated editions of the various Court Guides. Also available are supplements in print, and an eBook powered by Thomson Reuters ProView and online at Westlaw UK. The aim is to intelligently connect your civil litigation work with the book’s content, expertise, and technologies whilst advances continue to be made in the way we do our professional business today.
“The White Book” itself builds on a long and interesting historic evolution. Its publishing pedigree can be traced back to the 1870s, during which the first edition of ‘Annual Practice’ was published following the restructuring of the English civil courts. It was eventually renamed ‘Supreme Court Practice’, the last edition of which came out in 1998. Finally -- and coinciding with the coming into effect of the Civil Procedure Rules in 1999 -- it underwent a further name change to the now familiar ‘Civil Procedure’.
Ever venerable, yet ever young, and resolutely current with frequent updates, “The White Book” maintains its reputation as the ultimate authority on the civil procedure rules – and predictably will remain indispensable to judges and practitioners alike. So, if you practice in the civil courts, this is a work of reference -- plus resource base -- that should help you maintain the highest standards of advocacy.
Volume 1 holds the core materials needed for practising in the civil courtsCounty Court, High Court, and the Court of Appeal. It is principally devoted to the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), Practice Directions and Pre-Action Protocols, together with substantial and comprehensive expert commentary. Volume 2 offers materials relating to special procedures, Procedural and Court Guides, legislation, and commentary on other, substantive, proceedings like housing, business tenancies, insolvency, and useful commentaries on contempt of court and limitation legislation, plus extended commentaries on the CPR generally, Rights of Audience, ADR and interim remedies, and other general resources, including jurisdictional & procedural legislation.
With the White Book 2024 you receive the latest edition of Costs & Funding. ■
By Stephanie Tozer KC, Cecily Crampin and Tricia Hemans
THE ROLE OF RECEIVERS APPOINTED OUT OF COURT: NOW IN A SECOND EDITION FOR 2024
An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator
The second edition of this authoritative title on mortgage receivership has been written by Stephanie Tozer KC, Cecily Crampin and Tricia Hemans. The writers’ objective it to extend “the cohesive theory of mortgage receivership developed in the first edition through reference to recent cases, whilst maintaining its focus on providing practical guidance to the relevant law and procedure”.
The work is limited to the scope of receivers appointed by mortgagees out of court. “one of the difficulties in giving advice in this area”, they write, “is in trying to work out whether a decision in a particular case as to the powers and duties of a different type of receiver also applies to the specific case of a receiver appointed by a mortgagee out of court”. The point throughout is that these receivers are “deemed to be the agent of the mortgagor”, so there is considerable scope for misunderstanding which is why this work is so helpful.
Legal advisers will find the expertise offered here brilliant for “the powers and duties of a receiver depend critically on what type of receiver one is dealing with.” The book shows that “receivers are certainly not all the same”, so the publishers, Wildy, Simmonds and Hill, have asked the authors to thoroughly update this excellent work for 2024.
It remains a great book for practitioners offering references to over 40 new cases, the book deals with a number of issues which have arisen since 2018, namely considering in detail the difficult issue of the effect of the receivership on the borrower’s powers and the borrower’s ability to exercise those powers, in the context of Ghai v Maymask [2020]. In addition, there is an updated possession chapter by reference to Menon v Pask [2019] and discussion on the extent behind the reasoning in that decision, and how it can be extended.
We also get a new section on statutory bars to receivership including an overview of the effect of sanctions; a revised chapter on regulation by reference to a number of cases decided; and an update to discuss new property statutes and their relevance to receivership in relation to ground rents under residential leases, registration of overseas entities, and the Building Safety Act 2022.
What we found most useful was the practical advice about what receivers should do in particular situations and how litigation involving receivers should be conducted – Wildy have done us proud here. The book is essential reading for lawyers advising receivers, or who are involved in litigation for or against receivers, and for receivers themselves. ■
By P M Callow
AN IMPORTANT UPDATED STATEMENT FOR CRIMINAL PRACTITIONERS IN THIS DEVELOPING AREA OF OFFENDING IN 2024
An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator
The purpose of this book is to bring together the statutory provisions and the case law on the drink- and drug-drive offences. Wildy, Simmonds and Hill offer us advice in an accessible, practical way which author P M Callow describes as “elucidating issues which are often surprisingly difficult”.
The second edition of this handbook was published and updated in 2018 and has been further updated for 2024. The drug-driving offences have come into their own at this time, with the book adopting “a neutral standpoint” between the various interests of the police, prosecution or defence. These offences, originally introduced in 2015, now account for almost as many convictions as excess alcohol offences do. The conviction rate for both groups of offences continues to be extremely high, at approximately 95%.
The new third edition “takes account of some forty judgments of the appellate courts since the publication of the second edition”. As the author says, “the recent challenges to the drink- and drug- driving regimes have taken on a somewhat different character from before”. So, whilst the interpretation of the statutory road traffic provisions continues to be developed in our case law, other issues are coming to the fore with new cases.
Precedent on the circumstances in which judicial review is appropriate has also been drawn together. The line of developing cases often features contested decisions on adjournments which can be crucial for the development of a case. Common issues reviewed are lack of diligence in preparation for trial and/or failure by the court below properly to scrutinise the application for adjournment. In fact, all the usual problems practitioners face are covered here.
“Appeal courts”, says Callow, “have remained constant in insisting on “rigorous scrutiny” of requests for adjournments and have robustly applied the Criminal Procedure Rules (Crim PR) aimed at avoiding delay”. Delay being one of the biggest difficulties the court system currently faces in the middle of 2024.
In addition, judicial review has been increasingly used to challenge decisions of the lower courts; the case law on the circumstances in which this route is appropriate has been drawn together. The third edition offers commentary on the difficult cases of DPP v Carless [2005] and R v Coe [2009]. Both have been reviewed to emphasise that neither case sets a precedent for the admission in evidence of the analysis of blood specimens taken outside the regime of the 1988 Act.
It is right to say that this work remains a practical and accessible book. The author is always glad to hear from readers who have any comments to make or suggestions to offer concerning the content of the book.
As with all Wildy books, this one goes to the heart of our practice is an invaluable addition to your law library. ■
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