DDLS Awards 2023

The Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Our Family Wizard was won by Andrew Alexander formerly of Alexander & Co. Andrew has enjoyed a legal career spanning over 47 years and has dedicated generous time and energy to various charities and continues to do so after his retirement in 2020. He is well respected by the community in Derby and by those that have been supported by this candidate over years.

The Junior lawyer of the Year sponsored by No 36 was won by Jessica Silvers from Family law Group. Jessica is an outstanding advocate in complex matters, whilst also being committed to pro-bono and charitable work. A real inspiration to others.

The Solicitor of the Year sponsored by Alexander & Co was awarded to Melanie Bridgen from Nelsons. Melanie is an exceptional leading individual, influencing law and policy going beyond her role as a lawyer. She is highly regarded by clients and peers alike.

The Presidential award – special recognition was awarded to Alex Needham from Geldards. Alex has contributed significantly to the relaunch of the Derby & District Junior Lawyers, with his steer, DJL are thriving in supporting their peers and shaping future generations.

Well done to all the winners of awards and all those nominated and short listed. We are lucky to have such talent in our local area. A huge thank you to our award sponsors for their support.

Report Of The Honorary Secretary

The AGM

Recent years have been an incredibly challenging time for the profession, both nationally and locally. Notwithstanding, I am proud of the support offered by our Society to the local profession and particularly the hard work put in by our President, Manesha Ruparel and our Administrator, Julia Saunders.

Covid gave us the opportunity to reflect on what our Society can do to support the local profession and to review openly and honestly the challenges which we face and how these can be overcome. Lots of innovative ideas have been shared as to how we share effectively the advantages of joining a local Law Society with our professional colleagues and how to increase membership.

Derby and District Law Society is strengthened by a diverse and dedicated Committee and a an experienced, dedicated and focussed Administrator. Meetings are well attended and the Society has excellent links with the University of Derby. Our Derby Young Lawyer’s Group has been launched into a new lease of life and are generating much support. We have a committed and enthusiastic Council representative in Shama Gupta and the Society’s Bulletin is informative, full and well produced by our Administrator.

As Honorary Secretary, I look forward to organising (well, I say organising, but Julia does most of the work; I just choose the puddings!) the biennial Former President’s

Dinner this October and I very much enjoyed the Annual Dinner last month which was well attended.

I have nothing of substance to report qua Secretary other than to mention with sadness the passing within the last year of Martin Astle, Jeremy Copestake and Ian Robertson, all of whom we remember sadly and who will be missed.

In closing, I should like to thank our highly capable and committed Administrator, Julia Saunders, for all her hard work over the past year.

Fiona M K Apthorpe Honorary Secretary Derby and District Law Society 25.04.2023

Treasurers Report for AGM

Last year I raised my concerns that since 2017 our Society cash reserves had been falling consistently year on year. In 2017, we had reserves totalling in excess of £37,000 whereas now we are at £25,939 (as at 31.12.2022).

Whilst our accounts for the year ending 31.12.2022 show a loss made at the Annual Dinner (this is not wholly unusual) that does not relate to this year’s Annual Dinner which I am pleased to say made a small profit. As is always the case, the Annual Dinner and our accounting period are ‘out of sync’ and whilst consideration has been given to moving our accounting period to reflect the ‘presidential period’, it was agreed by the Committee that such a move would make it more difficult to have the accounts approved in time for the AGM.

A specific area of concern is our falling membership, which in part can be seen from the fall in sales from £11,473 in 2021 to £9,109 in 2022. Whilst this is a concerning fall, we now have the most active Derby Junior Lawyers society than I can remember, and so I hope that their efforts will help us to increase our membership as those DJL members become more active in our Society also.

As a Society, we must find alternative ways to increase our revenue streams and it is pleasing that those plans are now being brought to the fore in a new proposed way in which member firms join and pay for membership of our society. The aim behind this change is to increase the number of members without significantly increasing the cost that firms have to pay on behalf of those wishing to join. Increased membership will not only increase membership income, it will also enable us to increase revenue from sponsorship and advertising.

I often feel like the bearer of bad news when reporting back to the committee and our members on the state of our finances, and whilst falling revenues and membership is concerning, there can be no doubt that there are plans being made to address the financial issues facing our Society whilst also improving our Society as a whole. Those plans, along our thriving Derby Junior Lawyers Society, gives us a much more positive outlook.

Ben Lawson Treasurer

EM SPG Report for D&DLS AGM

– 10 May 2023

After a successful members event in November 2022, there were only a couple of SP’s that showed an interest in meeting up in February. Admittedly, the weather was cold and wet and no doubt this had an impact, many of the core SP’s that attend regularly live outside of Derby, but given the numbers I took the decision to cancel it.

The next event is proposed for the end of May and I’m hopeful there will be more interest for an event then.

The SPG annual conference is to be held in Vienna this year, unfortunately it is whilst I’m on holiday in Portugal, so I won’t be able to attend. However, here is a link to the details and agenda and if there are any SP’s within the D&DLS membership (or you know of any SP’s) that are not currently part of the SPG EM group, please pass on the details or ask them to get in touch and I will be happy to supply further information.

Tina Attenborough Sole Practitioners Group