CEO Report

WINTER 2021

CEO Report

As 2020 draws to a close, it is hard not to reflect on how much has changed since my report this time last year. Who could have imagined that the world would change so dramatically and that so many would have to face such enormous challenges. It has been a difficult year for many of our members but I very much hope that with the rollout of vaccines now imminent, 2021 brings fresh hope for you all.

2020 has also brought its own challenges for the Surrey Law Society, as we have had to adapt our membership offering, following the cancellation of all our in-person events, courses and meetings. We very much hope that during this difficult period, you have found support from our webinars, courses, online forums and website guidance. Whilst not how we had imagined the year to run, we have enjoyed embracing new technologies and expanding our engagement with members in different ways.

Most recently, we have collaborated with Surrey Junior Lawyers Division on a new initiative, ‘Supporting Surrey’, aimed at assisting members of both organisations on issues that affect them. The first programme focussed on careers support and progression and included webinars on a range of topics, as well as individual careers clinics with legal recruiter Chadwick Nott. More information on the programme can be found later in the magazine.

Moving into 2021, we are excited to announce that we will be offering members a hybrid programme of training and events, which merges the new virtual initiatives with a return to our usual in-person courses and social activities, which will reconvene in Spring. We are thrilled that the programme will be the first of its kind for Surrey Law Society and will hopefully offer more variety than ever with the following different options for your training needs:

■ Free 1-hour webinars, including sessions on practice management, people and communication skills, the Civil Liability Act and cyber security.

■ Free Online Forums for private client practitioners and conveyancers, offering members the opportunity to share views and best practice with their peers in a confidential setting.

■ 2-hour online courses covering a range of topics for private client practitioners, conveyancers and family lawyers.

■ 3-hour in-person courses held at the Mandolay Hotel in Guildford and featuring the return of some of our most popular speakers, including Richard Snape, David Keighley, John Bunker, Peter Warner, Richard Land, Professor Lesley King and more.

We will also see the return of our social events programme, which will resume in May, beginning with our Legal Brain of Surrey Quiz. We will also be preparing for the return of our Past President’s Championship Cup at Daytona, Sandown Park, and introducing a new Golf Challenge Cup and President’s Dinner later in the year. We will be ensuring that all our inperson activities adhere entirely to COVID safe procedures and Government guidance and have already been in touch with all of our venues about how things can be run safely. Members can book with complete confidence that should a further wave of the pandemic occur, your booking will be automatically transferred to a new date for any postponements or fully refunded in the event of a total cancellation.

We are delighted to see the return of many of our most popular speakers for next year’s programme but are also thrilled to be introducing some new experts to the schedule, including:

■ Leon Hutchinson, Director of Assurance at PwC UK, who will give members an invaluable insight into the company’s 2020 Annual Law Firms survey ‘Embracing Change to Succeed’.

■ Simon Douglas, Junior Counsel at 5 Stone Buildings, who will examine what tax planning opportunities should be considered before predicted reform to wealth taxation at the next budget.

■ Rachel Baker and Matthew Withers at 1 Crown Office Row, who will consider the significant reforms that will be brought to the personal injury market by the implementation of the Civil Liability Act in April 2021.

■ Rob May, who is the Managing Director and Founder of Godalming-based IT support firm, ramsac, but who also recently rated as one of Onalytica’s Top 10 Cyber Security speakers and is the Institute of Directors Ambassador for Cyber Security.

■ Jayne Constantinis, whose range of experience includes live announcing on BBC Television; business reporting on BBC World; fronting corporate programmes for blue-chip companies and facilitating large, complex live events. Her BBC TV series on Mexico was nominated for a BAFTA.

These are just a few of the new names that have been added to the programme, and we look forward to welcoming them and many more next year.

One final occasion in the 2021 calendar will be the return of our SLS Legal Awards, which will be held on Thursday 16th September at the Mandolay Hotel, Guildford. We had originally rescheduled our 2020 awards to take place on Thursday 4th March, and had hoped that it would be possible to hold these safely at that time. However, after careful consideration, the committee has agreed that this will not be possible and we will therefore focus all our efforts on making the 2021 Awards the highlight of our events calendar in September. There is more information on the categories overleaf, and any member who has already submitted nominations for the 2020 Awards will automatically have these moved to 2021.

As always, I would like to thank our patrons for their continued support of the Society, particularly during these difficult times, they are HFS Milbourne, DPS Software, Finders International and Moneypenny. I am also delighted to welcome new patron LawSure Insurance, who will be partnering with the Society in 2021. LawSure Insurance is a leading independent broker specialising in innovative insurance solutions for solicitors and their clients; please do visit their website at www.lawsureinsurance.co.uk to see how they could assist you.

– PATRONS –

Lastly, I could not conclude this report without commenting on how incredibly sad we all were at Surrey Law Society to learn of the passing of our dear friend, John Perry. John was so supportive of all we do at the Society and incredibly kind to me when I took on the role of CEO. He will be missed by so many of us and our events will not be the same without his presence. The committee is considering the best way to commemorate John, so that he is always remembered by Surrey Law Society members and will have news on this over the coming months. In the meantime, we send our very best wishes to Rosemary and the family, and to all at Palmers Solicitors.

All that remains is for me to wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas and New Year. I do hope that 2021 brings with it fresh hope and optimism for the year ahead and that everyone is able to enjoy some much needed time with family and friends when the restrictions are temporarily relaxed. ■

Very best wishes,

Helen Opie

Chief Executive & Magazine Editor

T. 0333 5773830

E. helen.opie@surreylawsociety.org.uk

@SurreyLawSoc

@surreylawsociety

LinkedIn SLS Group https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8731473