Solo Spring 2024

TO INSPIRE TO PROMOTE TO LEADSUPPORTING SOLICITORS IN SOLE PRACTICE

IN THIS ISSUE:

Check out the Conference Itinerary  Find out who our Guest Speakers are See what’s on offer in Istanbul - things to do guide

From the Chairwoman

The Essential Conference with the main event is from 28th - 30th June but there are networking events on the other days too, so members can stay longer and explore all Istanbul has to offer.

The conference is a tax-deductible business expense, (speak to your accountant) and counts towards your continuing competence which we all have to confirm to the SRA annually.

Easing the Burden” is the theme for this year’s conference, and we have a fabulous line up of speakers from within the industry, bringing you up to date information and the opportunity for you to interact with them.

Our Keynote speaker is Stefan Thomas, who is an Inspirational speaker and Author well known for his Amazon Bestsellers books Business networking for Dummies, Instant Networking and Win the Room, and I am really looking forward to his keynote speech.

Our other speakers include Tahir Khan the Tech Barrister and Gisele Bourliot well known for her Health and Wellbeing talks. Our Honorary Treasurer, Penny Raby will be giving members tips in running a practice and speaking at the Family breakout session while the Chair of our Conduct Committee Sarah Austin will be speaking at the conveyancing breakout session.

We are pleased to welcome from the SRA, their Executive Director for External Corporate Affairs, Liz Rosser, and her team. Liz Rosser will be providing an SRA update, addressing both initiatives and concerns members will also be able to engage with Liz Rosser and her team during the conference.

SPG 27th Annual Conference

Both I and the Executive Committee are looking forward to meeting up with members, sponsors, speakers and others at the Solicitors Sole Practitioners Group 27th Annual Conference, which is being held between 26th June 2024 to 2nd July 2024 at the Luxurious 5* Hilton Bomonti Istanbul Hotel and Conference Centre, right in the heart of Turkey’s beautiful city Istanbul.

Indemnity Insurance is a key issue for all our members and Danny Seaman, Vice -President of Lockton’s, our Platinum sponsors will be providing us all with a PII update. Both he and his team will also be meeting with members during the conference.

The event is subsidised for our members by the SPG, with the support of our Platinum sponsors, Lockton’s and others to help members use this opportunity to have a short break relax, learn, socialise, and network, whilst gathering the skills and knowledge to help you move forward in this ever-changing profession.

It is also a family friendly event, so why not make it a fabulous, family break. During the day Istanbul offers plenty to keep your partners and children occupied, before meeting up with you in the evening to share in the fun and festivities with everyone. But you will also have plenty of free time during the networking days to spend some lovely quality time with your loved ones. You can even add extra days if you wish to stay longer.

Engagement with Regulators and the Profession

We continue to engage with our Regulators on issues concerning our members, to this end, we meet and engage with the SRA, in particular, on a regular basis, the last meeting being in Birmingham on 18 April 2024.

We continue to address the issue of how best to deal with the unregulated sector and how best to increase consumer protections in this regard. Discussions also took place on the SRA’s current Consumer Protection Review and the Anti-money laundering thematic review.

Legal Services Board

We warmly welcome the new, Chief Executive of the Legal Services Board, Alan Kershaw. I am sure that we all wish him well with his new role and a meeting is currently being arranged with us.

Engagement with Members

Rahil Chaudhari is not only our Vice-Chair, but he is also the Regional Groups & Associations Officer.

Rahil is implementing changes to enhance member engagement and participation, over the next couple of months and he will be visiting the regions to work closely with the regional contacts in supporting our members. The SPG Executive Committee have started holding their Executive meetings in the different regions and will invite members to attend the dinner afterwards.

We want to ensure that our members' voices are heard, and their needs are addressed effectively.

We continue to maintain contact with our members via Mailchimp notifying you of seminars, consultations and other items that may be of interest you.

The SPG website’s members private interactive forum is live and can be accessed here https://spg.uk.com/forum

As it is a private member only forum, you will need to first register to access it. Members can engage with each other and access useful information in their areas of practice as well as other areas.

Joanna Connolly SPG Chair

From the Conference Organiser

This annual conference has been selected by the SPG Events and Conference team to be held in the beautiful city of Istanbul, Turkey, which has a rich history, and is known for its fine arts, culture, architecture, museums, and coffee houses.

In the world of law, there are continuous changes which become paramount in our career and as Sole Practitioners we should stay on top of this. Being a sole practitioner can sometimes feel like the burden is too much.

When deciding the theme for this year's conference, the SPG has given careful

consideration to this, and how we could best support and assist you in navigating your way on your journey ahead. The purpose of this conference is to introduce you to different ways of looking at things, ideas about changes that could be made to make your life easier. It will give you the opportunity to take away tools to help you sustain your practice through these turbulent times and increase profits and in addition, free up time to spend with your family or, just being good to yourself.

This conference will enlighten and aid you to engage with your fellow sole practitioners as well as voice your opinions and ask questions during the panel discussions. We believe these panel sessions are an important part of the conference, as they allow you to be able to interact with the heads of the legal regulatory bodies, that influence the day to day working of our practices. It is imperative, to allow yourself to engage fully in the conference and to take every opportunity to absorb the invaluable

From the Editorial Team

What a busy time we are having here at the SPG, it’s all hands-on deck in preparation for the SPG 27th Annual Conference. Usually, my favourite day of any event is the day after it is all done because I never work that day, I spend it recovering!

I have to say that I don’t think that is going to be the case this year, I’m interested in listening to the fabulous line up of speakers that we have got, and I can’t wait to hear Alfred Efe sing, I’m absolutely thrilled that he is the guest singer for the conference, and I am looking forward to his Saturday night performance.

Although you don’t need to spend any money

information and golden nuggets you will be exposed to.

While the importance of change and opportunity are important, so is being good to yourself and your family. Beyond the realms of the conference room, Istanbul is a powerhouse of arts, beauty and fun, so take the time to enjoy what's on offer.

We would like to show our full appreciation to our sponsors, without their support none of this would be possible:

• Our platinum sponsors Lockton Insurancemain group and conference sponsors

• LEAP Legal Software - conference sponsors

• SRA - conference sponsor

We hope you enjoy the conference and enjoy your time in Istanbul.

Sukhjit Ahluwalia Conference Organiser & Marketing Executive Officer

while you are at the conference, can I just remind you that we do hold a raffle in aid of charity and I will be running round selling raffle tickets at various times during the weekend, you don’t have to worry about having cash, because I will have a card machine to hand.

It never ceases to amaze me the lengths the Executive Committee go to, to ensure you have a fantastic weekend, that benefits you both professionally and personally and I hope to see you there!

Sheila Mann Editorial Team

Sole Practitioners Group Executive Committee 2024

JOANNA CONNOLLY

Chair

Joanna is well known as an expert in the complex field of consumer credit law. She is a Solicitor Advocate and qualified to represent clients in the Higher Courts. Joanna’s experience and passion for helping people is reflected in her exceptionally high success rate. Joanna and her team run a thriving practice dealing with clients from all over the country. Hers is the ‘go-to’ consumer credit defence firm in the UK.

Tel: 0330 053 9340

Email: joanna@spg.uk.com

Joanna Connolly Solicitors

33 Cheadle Avenue • Liverpool • L13 3AE

RAHIL CHAUDHARI

Vice-Chair, Regional Groups & Associations Officer & Communications & Media Officer

Rahil Chaudhari is a Senior Solicitor at Arlingsworth Solicitors. Rahil secured an LLM at University College London and trained and worked at some of the most prestigious law firms in the City before joining Arlingsworth in 2005. Rahil is a highly experienced and versatile solicitor and specialises predominantly in immigration, human rights and company law. Rahil has become a leading authority in these areas, his client base spans a wide range of sectors from multinational companies to private individuals.

Tel: 01273 696 962

Email: rahil@spg.uk.com

Arlingsworth Solicitors Ltd

145 Islingword Road • Brighton East Sussex • BN2 9SH

TAHIRA SHAFFI

Honorary Secretary

Tahira has been qualified for 20 years and started as a sole practitioner in 2010 after being made redundant. Working on your own can be a lonely experience but she has found the SPG to be wonderful source of support and friendship. It is important for her that there is an independent body outside of the Law Society working hard to look after its members interests. Tahira is based in Bury, Greater Manchester where she lives with her family. She has many interests outside of the law. Tahira was previously an LEA school governor and has stood as a candidate in the local elections. She is passionate about civic duty and putting something back into the community.

Tel: 0161 222 6092

Email: tahira@spg.uk.com

Mikhael Law

197 Rochdale Road • Bury • Lancs • Bl9 7BB

PENNY RABY

Honorary Treasurer

Penny has been a SP specialising in family law for 20 years, working with her husband Mike a Forensic Accountant on divorce cases involving business and complex asset and income tracing and Inheritance Act disputes. She won Worcestershire Family Lawyer of the Year award in 2014 and was nominated for the National Family Law Magazine Family Law Firm of the Year for 2015. She has appeared on radio and television and has presented her networking pantomime ‘Snow White and the Seven Small Business People‘ here and abroad.

Tel: 01386 555 114

Email: penny@spg.uk.com

Penny Raby & Co

Harmony House • 7-9 Church Street

Pershore • Worcestershire • WR10 1DT

SUKHJIT AHLUWALIA

Marketing Officer & Conference Organiser

Having worked in some of the most prestigious banking and consultancy organisations, Sukhjit opted to provide a more personal, one to one service through his own practice. He has been based in Goodmayes in Ilford since 2003. Sukhjit likes to get involved in charitable activities, working with organisation to assist people from all backgrounds and ages in reaching moral excellence either in their private or professional lives. His children are still young and take up a great deal of his time but when he does have time for himself, Sukhjit likes to sit, read a good book and watch the world go by.

Tel: 020 8215 0884

Email: sukhjit@spg.uk.com

Avery Emerson Gloucester House • 335 Green Lane Ilford • Essex • IG3 9TH

SARAH AUSTIN

Chair of the Conduct Committee

Sarah Austin is a Sole Principal of her own Lexcel accredited firm, a serial volunteer, and a contributor. Currently, she is a member of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Group, considering selection exercises for fairness and accessibility. She has authored articles, contributed to consultations, committees, boards and working parties, addressing inclusion, social mobility and governance. In addition, she holds statutory appointments for a number of Councils, as their Independent Person, dealing with complaints brought against parish, town and county councillors.

Tel: 0800 377 7716

Email: sarah@spg.uk.com

Austin Solicitors

Building 3, Chiswick Park • 566 Chiswick High Road • Chiswick • London • W4 5YA

CHAMAN BALU

Executive Committee Member

Having qualified as a solicitor in India in 1983, after settling in England and running a grocery shop, I found myself wanting to go back to what I had studied so hard for at Punjab University Chandigarh. In 1993, I joined Staffordshire University Law School. In 1996 I completed my CPE, it took a further few years before I found a firm that would give me the opportunity to complete my articles and I qualified as a solicitor in 2004. I finally became self-employed in 2005, and since then, I have gone on to expand the firm, this has also enabled me to allow other solicitors to train with CLB Lawyers. Our main areas of work are Residential Conveyancing, Wills, Probate, Commercial Property leases, buying and selling Business, our work is all private client based.

Tel: 01384 451731

Email: chaman@spg.uk.com

CLB Lawyers 208 Wolverhampton Street • Dudley • DY1 1ED

Free raffle!

Every Early Bird ticket purchased will go into a “free” raffle – which will be drawn at the Gala dinner, and the prizes are:

1ST PRIZE The cost of you and your partners conference ticket, hotel accommodation and flights paid for by the SPG.

2ND PRIZE The cost of you and your partners conference ticket and hotel accommodation paid for by the SPG.

3RD PRIZE The cost of you and your partners hotel accommodation paid for by the SPG.

Early Bird tickets!

The Early Bird ticket price will have a £100 discounted off the cost of the full price ticket.

Regular attendees

discount!

As a special thank you to the members of the SPG family who regularly attend the SPG events we have introduced an additional discount, as follows:

SILVER - 10% discount for members who have attended an event in the last year.

GOLD - 15% discount for members who have attended the last three consecutive events.

PLATINUM - 20% discount for members who have attended the last five consecutive events.

For members who qualify for the above discounts, you will have received a personal email with your special discount code, within the next 24 hours.

This discount is for member delegates only and can be applied to both the Early bird ticket and the full price ticket, it cannot be applied to guest tickets. Don’t forget to use it!

For more information and book tickets, head over to our website www.spg.uk.com

EARLY BIRD TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!

Istanbul Conference 2024

SPG 27th Annual Conference 2024 – What’s it all about?

The SPG Executive Committee are delighted to announce the dates and location of the SPG 27th Annual Conference 2024, the venue is the 5* luxury Hilton Bomonti Istanbul Hotel & Conference Centre, Istanbul, which has spa facilities and an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.

The SPG have negotiated a special discounted room rate of 212 Euros per night, including breakfast for a double room with single occupancy, and 229 Euros per night, including breakfast, for a double room with double occupancy, for all attendees, the link to book your hotel accommodation is:

SPG 27 Annual Conference Turkey (hilton.com)

The theme for this year’s conference is “Easing the Burden”, and we have included the itinerary in this edition of Solo, so you can find out what we have got in store for you.

The Full Conference will begin with on the 26th of June with a 30-minute Networking session at 17:30 hrs. There will be another 30-minute Networking session on the 27th of June at 11:00 hrs. The Essential Conference will follow these 28th – 30th of June and ending with two

30-minute Networking session at 11:00 hrs on the 1st and 2nd of July. The Essential Conference will begin with welcome drinks and a social evening, starting at 19:00 hrs on Friday 28th June 2024. The conference will commence at 10:00 hrs on Saturday 29th June and will finish at 16:00 hrs on Sunday 30th June 2024.

Saturday evening, we are hosting our infamous Gala Dinner, the theme this year being Eastern Delights, with a 4-course meal, entertainment, raffle, auction, and dancing.

Additional guest tickets, both adults and children, can be purchased which will include pre-dinner drinks, a Friday evening buffet, with free bar and disco, a Saturday Gala dinner, with 3-course meal, free bar, and dancing, and if staying in your room, use of all the hotel facilities.

As this event is a business conference, speak to your accountant about it being tax deductible, we all need to save money where we can! Are you also aware that if your wife or partner are also named as working in your practice, their expenses are tax deductible too?

The conference counts towards demonstrating your on-going professional development to the SRA, which you must do when renewing your licence to practice.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Istanbul Things to do...

East meets West in this bustling city. Explore icons like Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia or see them all on a walking tour. A scenic cruise on the Bosphorus is also a must. Straddling two continents, home to over 14 million people and with a history stretching back millennia, Istanbul is one of the greatest cities on earth. Here you can sample one of the best cuisines in the Med, explore spectacular historic sites, take a ferry from Europe to Asia and shop in Istanbul’s buzzing markets. The fun does not stop there, however, make sure you also experience the contemporary side of the city in its vibrant nightlife, dynamic creative scenes and a great choice of museums and galleries.

Topkapi Palace

35 mins away - Topkapi was the seat of the Ottoman Empire for nearly four centuries and it is the ultimate place to indulge any Middle Eastern royalty fantasies as you wander through opulent courtyards and pavilions. It is set in a peaceful park with views over the Bosphorus and Sea of Marmara. There are several small museums within the palace itself and it is also where you will find the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. Don’t miss the tucked-away harem quarters, where the sultan’s concubines lived (together with the eunuch slaves who served them) in surprisingly sumptuous surroundings.

Vialand

Less than 20 mins away – Vialand is the first shopping, entertainment and living complex in Turkey that combines a Theme Park with a shopping mall, hotel and show centre, is located on an area of 600 thousand square meters in total.

Istanbul Cevahir

10 mins away - This sprawling modern complex is one of Istanbul’s largest and most popular shopping and entertainment hubs, with over 200 shops and restaurants. You will find both international and Turkish brands here across the mall’s six floors. There is also a multi-hall cinema and a wellstocked supermarket, making Istanbul Cevahir Mall a wonderful place to spend the day.

Grand Bazaar

30 mins away - Among the world's oldest and largest covered markets, the Grand Bazaar features thousands of shops spread across dozens of streets. It is a worthy destination even for those not planning to buy anything, as the historic atmosphere of the widespread complex is its true appeal. If you are planning to make purchases, be sure to put your bargaining hat on and show no mercy.

Hagia Sophia Mosque

35 mins away - This architectural marvel displays 30 million gold tiles throughout its interior, it is filled with priceless Christian mosaics, frescos and icons, and a wide, flat dome which was a bold engineering feat at the time it was constructed in the 6th century.

Although the Hagia Sophia is open to all faiths, it is a mosque, so please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Head scarves are necessary when visiting Hagia Sophia as well, and you are not allowed to wear shoes inside Hagia Sophia.

Turkish Baths

For centuries, Istanbul's hammams have been a source of pleasure and relaxation for visitors and locals alike. The famous bathing houses are part of the city's rich cultural and historical fabric, representing a physical manifestation of Ottoman tradition. What makes the experience unique is that hammams are more than just bathhouses – they use a combination of heat, water, and massage to achieve both physical healing and spiritual rehabilitation.

Each hammam has its own individual amenities, as well as spa treatments, providing authentic hospitality that few places in the world can offer. There are numerous hammams in Istanbul for you to choose from, and they are well worth a visit.

Istanbul Turkish Culture

Although no longer the capital of Turkey, Istanbul remains the country's cultural and business centre. It is the only city in the world that sits on two continents: Europe and Asia. The city lies on both sides of the Bosporus channel and the Sea of Marmara, which connect the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.

On the European side of the Bosporus, old Istanbul developed on the western side of the narrow Golden Horn, a canal about 4 miles in length that empties into the Bosporus.

Its Old City reflects cultural influences of the many empires that once ruled here. In the Sultanahmet district, the open-air, Roman-era Hippodrome was for centuries the site of chariot races, and Egyptian obelisks also remain. The iconic Byzantine Hagia Sophia features a soaring 6th-century dome and rare Christian mosaics.

As one of the largest cities in the world, Istanbul offers an intense diversity in food, travel, cultural activities, architecture, and many other subjects. Whether living on a budget or a substantial income, fulfilling needs and wants is easy in this city. There is a local shop in every neighbourhood for every need.

Every step you take in this town has a story to tell. In every corner, there is a building or a road piece that is left over from a historical time. In the Beyoğlu district, Galata Tower still stands tall since the year 528. It was built by a Byzantine Emperor to be used as a lighthouse. In 1204, Galata Tower took damage from the Fourth Holy Crusade, and then its bricks were restored during the construction of a protective wall around the city against invaders in 1348.

Turkish culture is very family oriented. There is a strong belief that people should maintain ties with their relatives and care for their parents and elders into their old age. Turks may live in their family home for a long time into adulthood and visit their family on a regular basis.

At night, Istanbul transforms into a different world altogether. People get off from work by evening, and they fill the entertainment districts, or the coastal lines if the weather allows. World’s biggest clubs serve the city’s millions of residents every night. Cultures of every country, and religion walk side by side in Taksim Square. The Grand Bazaar sells authentic remnants of the Turkish culture to thousands every day, from special carpets, coffee, to silk shawls.

Previous Conferences

Over the years, The Solicitors’ Sole Practitioners Group has hosted many memorable, educational, and fun conferences for our members.

Speakers on all subjects have always been interesting, relevant, and knowledgeable and this year it will be no different. The information you gain by attending the workshops and talks, is priceless and you will take away with you the skills, information and tools to implement improvements within your practice.

The social programme is always entertaining and a great opportunity for networking, with the Saturday night themed Gala Balls an outstanding success, every time.

The ladies always make a wonderful effort with the ultra-glamorous evening wear, and I have to say the gentlemen scrub up rather well too!

We have to say a huge thanks to our sponsors particularly Lockton Insurance, our platinum sponsors, whose regular annual support makes this and other services provided for our members possible. And, to Leap Legal Software UK and the SRA who are the other principal sponsors for this event.

To let you know what is in store for you, here are some highlights from previous conferences.

Conference 2024 Question Time Panel

For the first time, this year we are holding the SPG live version of “Question Time”.

The question master:

• SUKHJIT AHLUWALIA

The Solicitors Sole Practitioners Group Conference Organiser & Marketing Manager

On the panel:

• JOANNA CONNOLLY

The Solicitors Sole Practitioners Group Chair

• LIZ ROSSER

SRA Executive Director Operations and Resources

• DANNY SEAMAN

Lockton Vice-President

We would like any conference delegate who has a question they would like to ask of the panel to submit their questions to the SPG administrator by email: sheila@spgevents.co.uk.

The closing date for submitting your questions is 17th June 2024, we are hoping to make this a very interesting and lively afternoon discussion, so please get those questions in!

EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE NOW

For more information and to book your tickets go to www.spg.uk.com

Our 2024 Conference Sponsors

We have to say a huge thank you to our sponsors. We couldn’t hold our annual conferences without their support, sponsorship allows us to heavily subsidise this yearly event which allows SPG to offer our members a weekend to relax, learn, socialise, network, and improve your skills.

Our sponsors for this year’s 27th Annual conference are:

Lockton (Main Group Sponsor)

Lockton is the world’s largest privately owned global insurance broker. From small beginnings in Kansas City in 1966 Lockton has become a leading broker worldwide. Their extraordinary year on year growth is the result of their relentless focus on client service – made much easier by not having to serve the needs of shareholders. From the chairman of Lockton down, almost all of their associates have direct client engagement.

“We are specialists in providing solicitors of England and Wales with Professional Indemnity insurance solutions. As an independent insurance broker, we are not tied to one insurer. We continue to maintain extensive direct access to the leading Participating Insurers, providing members of the Sole practitioners group with more choice. This extensive access is complemented by a full suite of insurance and risk advisory services.”

Contact details: 0330 123 3870 spg@lockton.com

Contact details: 0845 683 2517 info@leap.co.uk

Contact details: 0370 606 2555 contactcentre@sra.org.uk

The Legal Practice Productivity Solution (LEAP) (Conference Sponsor)

LEAP occupies a unique position in the legal software market as it includes traditional practice management and legal accounting attributes, document assembly and management, as well as many of the traditional legal publishing assets all in one solution.

Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) (Conference Sponsors)

The SRA regulates firms and individuals in the public interest. What they say, “We are committed to providing a high standard of service and to dealing with everyone fairly and equally. We understand that they may not always get it right, and we will respond to any concerns you may have”.

Istanbul Ticket Options for SPG 27th Annual Conference 2024

Refreshments and lunch are included during both conference days.

EARLY BIRD Member Essential 3 day All Inclusive £409

This ticket is for SPG members, and includes - Friday night social evening, buffet, free bar, and disco, full day Saturday conference, Saturday night four course Gala Dinner, free bar, and disco, Sunday conference and AGM.

EARLY BIRD - Member Full 7 day All Inclusive £409

This ticket is for SPG members and includes - a free networking event

Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, Friday night social evening, buffet, free bar, and disco, full day Saturday conference, Saturday night four course Gala Dinner, free bar, and disco, Sunday conference, and AGM, free Monday, and Tuesday morning networking event.

Member Essential Conference - All Inclusive Ticket £509

This ticket is for SPG members, and includes - Friday night social evening, buffet, free bar, and disco, full day Saturday conference, Saturday night four course Gala Dinner, free bar, and disco, Sunday conference and AGM.

Non-member Essential Conference - All Inclusive Ticket £599

This ticket is for non-members, and includes - Friday night social evening, buffet, free bar, and disco, full day Saturday conference, Saturday night four course Gala Dinner, free bar, and disco, Sunday conference.

Adult Guest Essential Conference - All Inclusive Ticket £185

This ticket includes - Friday night social evening, buffet, free bar, and disco, Saturday night four course Gala Dinner, free bar, and disco, and lunch on Sunday.

Child Guest Essential Conference - All Inclusive Ticket £150

This ticket includes - Friday night social evening, buffet, free bar, and disco, Saturday night four course Gala Dinner, free bar, and disco, and lunch on Sunday.

Member Full Conference - All Inclusive Ticket £509

This ticket is for SPG members and includes - a free networking event Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, Friday night social evening, buffet, free bar, and disco, full day Saturday conference, Saturday night four course Gala Dinner, free bar, and disco, Sunday conference, and AGM, free Monday, and Tuesday morning networking event.

Non-member Full Conference - All Inclusive Ticket £599

This ticket is for non-members and includes - a networking event Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, Friday night social evening, buffet, free bar, and disco, full day Saturday conference, Saturday night four course Gala Dinner, free bar, and disco, Sunday conference, Monday, and Tuesday morning networking event.

Adult Guest Full Conference - All Inclusive Ticket £232

This ticket includes - Friday night social evening, buffet, free bar, and disco, Saturday night four course Gala Dinner, free bar and disco, lunch on Sunday.

Child Guest Full Conference - All Inclusive Ticket £232

This ticket includes - Friday night social evening, buffet, free bar, and disco, Saturday night four course Gala Dinner, free bar and disco, lunch on Sunday.

Adult Saturday Night Gala Dinner Ticket £120

This ticket is for adult guests attending the Saturday night Gala Dinner only. This ticket includes - drinks reception, four course gala dinner, free bar, auction, raffle, and dancing!

Child Saturday Night Gala Dinner Ticket £100

This ticket is for child guests attending the Saturday night Gala Dinner only. This ticket includes - soft drinks, four course child’s gala dinner, free bar, auction, raffle, and dancing!

Adult Guest Friday Night Social Evening Ticket £78

This ticket is for adult guests attending the Friday night social evening only. This ticket includes - entry, buffet, including free bar, and dancing!

Child Guest Friday Night Social Evening Ticket £58

This ticket is for child guests attending the Friday night social evening only. This ticket includes - entry, buffet, free bar, and dancing!

Selling your law practice: Single buyer v multiple buyers

If you are thinking about selling your law firm or exiting a market as a sole practitioner, there are many components that should be considered. Selling your practice can be complex, and a well structured plan is required to ensure a smooth transition.

Some of the main issues that you should bear in mind when selling a solicitors practice are regulatory considerations, market dynamics, your firm's financial health, and the transitioning of your client base.

However, the main factor to be considered when selling your legal practice is the buyer. Who are you selling your firm to?

Early succession planning

A well thought out succession plan is crucial for ensuring a seamless transition when selling your sole practice. This includes:

• Identifying potential acquirers: As a sole practitioner, you will most likely require an external buyer. Identifying the right successors is crucial for the firm's future.

• Training and transition: Ensuring successors are well-prepared to take over the firm, including understanding its culture, client base, operations, and strategic direction.

• Legal and financial structuring: Structuring the succession in a way that meets legal requirements and financial goals, including tax implications and ownership structures.

• Regulatory considerations: The SRA's approval may be required for certain aspects of the sale, particularly when ownership changes involve non-lawyers.

• Work in Progress (WIP): How can you get good value for the work you have completed on your files?

Selling to a single purchaser

Whether you plan on selling your law firm as a whole or selling files as an exit strategy from a

single legal market, you should weigh up your options in terms of selling to a single purchaser vs multiple purchasers.

Selling to a single buyer has some advantages, including:

Simplicity and speed:

Selling to a single buyer often results in a straightforward and quick transaction process. Negotiations, due diligence, and legal proceedings can be more focused and efficient.

Control over selection:

You have the opportunity to choose a buyer who aligns with your firm's values and goals, potentially ensuring a smoother transition for clients and staff.

However, selling to a single purchaser poses many challenges, especially concerning client care, case specialisms, and other operational issues.

Potential Disruption to Client Relationships:

A key concern is the potential disruption to established client relationships. Law firms often build their reputation and client base on personal relationships and trust cultivated over years. A single new owner may not necessarily hold the same rapport with clients or understand their needs as well as the original firm did.

This could lead to dissatisfaction, a decline in service quality, or even the loss of clients who feel their expectations are no longer being met under the new management.

Risk to specialised services

Sole practitioners often have specific areas of specialisation, and are often experts in particular fields. A single purchaser may not have the same level of expertise or interest in all the specialised services offered by the firm.

This can lead to a dilution of specialised services, negatively affecting the firm's ability to serve clients effectively in these areas.

Reduced continuity and consistency

Clients often choose law firms for the continuity and consistency of service they offer, particularly in handling ongoing or complex cases. A sale to a single buyer can disrupt this continuity. New owners may implement changes in how

cases are handled, prioritise different areas of law, or alter communication and operational processes. Such changes can unsettle clients and potentially compromise the quality and effectiveness of legal representation.

Focus on short-term financial gains over long-term client care

A single purchaser may prioritise short-term financial gains over the long-term relationship and care of clients. This focus can lead to costcutting measures that may adversely affect the level of personalised service and attention to detail that clients have come to expect.

Over time, this can erode the firm's reputation and its ability to attract and retain clients.

Selling to multiple purchasers on the R&R Solutions panel

As an alternative to selling your law firm to a single purchaser, R&R Solutions provides a method of running off your work in progress files by selling them to a panel of multiple Solicitors.

The firms on our panel of Solicitors assist by taking on part-run cases and running them to conclusion.

On the successful conclusion of each case, the Solicitors then pass their obtained files onto an independent cost drafting firm to assess each case so that they can allocate a fair split of costs.

The benefit of running off files in this manner is that we can ensure that you retain the value of your WIP in a fully outsourced, managed, and compliant manner.

Using the method of selling your Work in Progress (WIP) files to multiple purchasers on the R&R Solutions panel offers several advantages, particularly for law firms looking to offload part-run cases efficiently and effectively. This approach contrasts with the traditional method of selling the entire firm or its assets to a single purchaser. Outlined below are the key benefits:

Diversification of Risk:

Through the distribution of your WIP files across multiple solicitors, you are not putting all your eggs in one basket. This diversification helps mitigate risks associated with the performance

or financial stability of a single purchaser. If one solicitor faces issues, it only affects a portion of your files, not the entire batch.

Specialisation and efficiency:

The firms on our panel have varying areas of expertise and specialisation. This means your cases will be matched with solicitors who are best suited to handle them, leading to better outcomes, higher success rates, and more efficient case management.

Maximised value retention:

As we have an independent cost drafting firm assess each case upon conclusion, we ensure a fair and accurate allocation of costs. This process helps in retaining the maximum value of your WIP.

Compliance and management oversight:

Using our model means that the management and oversight of the WIP files are handled in a

fully outsourced yet compliant manner. This setup ensures that all legal and regulatory standards are met throughout the process, reducing the burden on your firm to manage these aspects directly.

Financial flexibility and liquidity:

Selling off WIP files gradually to multiple buyers can provide your firm with a more consistent cash flow compared to a one-time sale. This financial flexibility is crucial during transitions, allowing for smoother operations and strategic planning.

Ease of transition:

For law practices looking to exit certain areas of practice or wind down operations entirely, this method offers an orderly way to manage the transition without the abruptness of a full sale. It allows the firm to scale down gradually while ensuring that ongoing cases are handled appropriately.

Client continuity:

As we carefully select solicitors who can competently take over cases, we help to ensure continuity of service for your clients.

Why Choose R&R Solutions when selling your law firm?

R&R Solutions is the optimal choice for those looking for a structured exit from any legal market and wanting to recover 100% of their WIP value.

Whatever the reason for selling your firm, R&R Solutions will ensure the most positive and profitable outcome is achieved. The unique scheme offered by R&R Solutions is suitable for both law firms and professional advisors, such as accountancy firms and insolvency practitioners.

We guarantee 100% confidentiality for all clients. If you would like to find out more, get in touch today using the information below.

What Unwanted Oranges Have In Common With Your Legal Practice

In March I was in Southern Spain, near Seville. The orange trees were groaning with big, ripe oranges – which were ready to drop onto, and dent, your car if you foolishly parked beneath them. (Say goodbye to your car rental excess if you make that mistake!)

What’s surprising is that when these oranges fall, the locals ignore them. They just rot on the ground until the local council clears them up with other rubbish.

THE MYSTERY OF IGNORED CITRUS

Although they look ripe and delicious on the trees, nobody wants these oranges. They are too bitter to eat as a fruit and, surprisingly, ‘Seville Orange Marmalade’ isn’t found in this part of Spain, meaning the locals don’t collect them to preserve them either.

Which means these oranges have a PR problem – the locals don’t know why they should care about them.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BITTER FRUIT AND LEGAL SERVICES

These unwanted oranges are a bit like the legal services your clients don’t realise they want or need. Whether it’s a shareholders’ agreement, a commercial lease, a will or an LPA, if your prospective clients don’t understand why they need that service they won’t want it.

If they don’t want it, it doesn’t matter how attractive you make that service appear, your prospective clients will ignore it.

EDUCATE TO STIMULATE DEMAND

The way to address this PR problem is to educate your clients about why they need that particular service, so they want it. You can do this by showing them the benefits of that service, based on their specific circumstances or the challenges they may be facing.

For example, if you’re a commercial property lawyer you might need to educate business owners about the legal intricacies involved in commercial leases and the risks of not having the right clauses and provisions in place. Once they understand that, they will be much more likely to seek out proper legal advice.

Or if you’re a private client lawyer, you can educate potential clients about the benefits of having a Lasting Power of Attorney. If you do that effectively then, instead of seeing it as an extra expense, they will see it as a way to avoid their loved ones going through the heartache (and very long delay) involved in applying to the Court of Protection if they lose mental capacity.

Or if you’re a dispute resolution lawyer, you could help your potential clients see the dangers of trying to manage the initial stages of a dispute on their own, and show them the positive outcomes (like early settlement opportunities) that come from getting the right legal advice and setting the right litigation strategy from the start.

Put these educational messages into your articles, videos, blogs, or into a ‘Client Magnet’ guide or report that you offer on your website. Or host webinars or seminars where you discuss the pitfalls or problems your legal advice will help

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

clients avoid. Use every opportunity you have to educate your potential clients about why they need your services.

FROM OVERLOOKED TO INDISPENSABLE

Just as the Seville orange can be turned into sought-after marmalade with the right preparation, your legal services can transition from being overlooked to indispensable through effective marketing and education.

By highlighting the relevance and benefits of your services, you will create demand for your legal services, making sure they don’t suffer the same fate as the Seville orange!

UNLOCKING YOUR FIRM'S GROWTH POTENTIAL

Creating the right educational message to attract more clients is just one of the 9 Profitable Practice ‘Accelerators’ that will increase your clients, fee income and profits. To learn more about all 9 ‘Accelerators’, and to create an Accelerator Plan to grow your law firm or legal practice over the next 12 months, visit www.thebusinessinstructor.com

Michelle Peters (Founder of The Business Instructor) is a former practising solicitor from a Magic Circle firm. She is the creator of the Profitable Practice Programme which has enabled hundreds of sole practitioners and small firm owners to attract better clients and increase their profits without working more hours. Michelle is also the author of the No.1 Best-Selling Book ‘The Client Magnet Formula for Lawyers: How To Attract And Convert More Of Your Ideal Clients’, and she recently contributed to the book ‘Profitability In Law Firms’ published by Globe Law and Business.

The importance of a DNA test for Immigration applications

Dr Neil Sullivan

Thisenables the child to become a UK citizen and hence for the mother to gain residency. It appears that despite the rules banning the practice, these “fathers” are advertising on social media and are using elaborate and convincing backstories, which can only get more convoluted with use of AI. Social media posts involve both men advertising themselves as “fake fathers” and women searching for a British “citizenship daddy”.

Falsification of a birth certificate is a criminal offence 2 yet the practice continues, with rare examples of prosecutions 3 . As evidence of paternity, sufficient checks are required and the technology to do this, via a DNA test, is both readily available and tried and tested 4

Since the Home Office has not published data on the number of visas given to non UK parents of British children, the scale of this fraud is not publicly known. However, it is the case

An investigation by the BBC in May last year1 revealed that there are UK men who are posing as fathers for migrant women and taking fees of up to £10,000 for falsely adding their names to birth certificates.

that if an illegal migrant female gives birth in the UK to a child who has either a) been fathered by either a man with indefinite leave to remain or b) is a British citizen, then the child will be British by birth. This does the correct thing of course, it protects the child, but the consequence is that the mother can apply for a family visa and hence citizenship.

The BBC reported that this practice has been going on for many years, including communities from Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

In these cases, where the “red flag” is raised, there is a clear requirement for a DNA paternity test. For example, a red flag would be a British child with one British parent who is named on the birth certificate and a nonBritish mother who is without a visa. Unfortunately, there is no legal requirement in the UK for a DNA test when an application is made for a

child’s passport or when registering the birth. There is a strong case for change.

In the cases of unmarried parents, the responsibility for registering the birth of a child lies with the mother and only the mother has parental responsibility. If both “parents” are present at the registration, then there is the situation where the fake father or the citizenship daddy will have parental responsibility for the child. Falsification aside, once the visa/citizenship process is complete, the mother may claim “genuine mistake” and via a DNA test, apply to have the fake father or citizenship daddy removed from the birth certificate. Equally, should the biological father appear, he may also apply for an amendment, but this would not give him parental responsibility unless a court order was in place or unless the mother agreed.

A DNA test for paternity either excludes a man from biological parentage with 100% certainty or

determines that he is the biological father. The latter, an “inclusion” is usually given as a probability of paternity and will give a statistic in excess of 99.99%, especially of we have been able to test the mother. Of course, paternity DNA tests of this nature should be conducted by an accredited company, such as our own, which is on the Ministry of Justice list as “a body that may carry out parentage tests directed by the civil courts of England and Wales under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969” 5

By using such a company for these tests, you can be assured that as far as is possible, checks are carried out to establish identity and facts, plus we control the sample collection, via use of one of our registered samplers and adherence to the legal procedure for collecting samples for DNA testing 6 This is important because there is a chain of custody which allows reliance on the DNA testing data.

The BBC investigation into birth certificate manipulation has provided illumination into circumstances which are disconcerting and indeed, helps makes the case for more accredited DNA testing to be used in immigration applications.

Notes

1UK men offered £10K to pose as dads in visa scam, BBC investigation finds - BBC News

2Section 4 of the Perjury Act 1911

3Mum jailed for lying about the dad of her baby on birth certificate to spite ex-boyfriend - Wales Online

4www.https://dadcheckgold.com

5dadcheck® is UKAS accredited testing laboratory No. 2743.

6Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971 (SI 1971/1861), as amended Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) (Amendment) Regulations 2015.

About the author:

Neil Sullivan, BSc, MBA (DIC), LLM, PhD is General Manager, of Complement Genomics Ltd (trading as dadcheck®gold). The latter is a company accredited by the Ministry of Justice as “A body that may carry out parentage tests as directed by the civil courts in England and Wales under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969” and by virtue of directly running laboratory services which meet the stringent and internationally recognised ISO/IEC 17025 standard.

Please see: dadcheckgold.com Tel: 0191 543 6334 e-mail: sales@dadcheckgold.com

Safeguarding Estate Administration: The 4 keys areas of Family Tree Verification

In the probate genealogy industry, family tree verification ensures that inheritances and estates are rightfully distributed to the correct beneficiaries. This is a vital step for solicitors and other legal professionals dealing with the administration of a client’s estate. We will delve into the four crucial areas that emphasise the importance of family tree verification, highlighting why legal professionals should lean on the unique expertise and resources of a probate genealogy company.

IMPORTANCE OF A VALID WILL

As we know, a Will outlines the deceased's wishes and intentions to distribute their assets. However, it's not uncommon for discrepancies to arise, whether due to outdated wills, wills not properly witnessed, or the absence of a will altogether. If the Will is invalid, then the rules of intestacy will apply. This is where family tree verification becomes essential.

Validating the family tree ensures that the correct beneficiaries are identified, and the assets are distributed according to the deceased's true intentions. Without a reliable family tree, there is a risk of distributing the estate incorrectly, which can lead to legal disputes and emotional distress for all parties involved.

RELYING ON FAMILY TESTIMONIALS (DON'T DO IT)

Family testimonials can be a valuable source of information when piecing together a family's history. However, they are often riddled with inaccuracies, omissions, or biased perspectives. Relying solely on family testimonials for genealogical research can lead to incomplete or incorrect family trees.

To avoid such complications, it is essential to cross-reference and validate the information obtained from family testimonials with official records and other credible sources that may only be accessible by a Probate Genealogist. At Finders International, we are experienced in using an arsenal of tools to ensure the accuracy of family trees.

ENSURING THE FULL FAMILY TREE IS KNOWN (FINDING OTHER BRANCHES)

One common pitfall is working exclusively on the immediate family, overlooking other branches of the family tree. In probate cases, unknown distant relatives may have a legitimate claim to the estate, making it vital to explore and verify the complete family tree.

The diligent exploration of all branches of the family tree can uncover potential heirs who might otherwise go unnoticed. By expanding the search and confirming the authenticity of these extended family connections, Finders International can help ensure that rightful heirs receive their due inheritance.

IMPORTANCE OF WORLDWIDE RESEARCH

In many cases, family members may be scattered across the globe and may have migrated, changed names, or settled in different countries, making it challenging to track their whereabouts.

International research is crucial to locating distant relatives and establishing their rightful claims. This often involves engaging with international records, immigration documents, and collaborating with genealogists or experts in different regions. Our dedicated International Research and Asset teams are here to assist in such matters and elevate the burden of what can be a headache area for legal professionals.

CASE STUDY

On instruction, the solicitors were only aware of the Deceased's child, David.

However, our investigation uncovered paperwork relating to an Aviva personal pension and retirement investment account. These documents identified Ruth as the beneficiary, the Deceased's wife, who the solicitors initially assumed was a half-sibling to the Deceased.

Further investigation led to the discovery of the marriage record between the Deceased and Ruth and a third marriage for the Deceased. Unfortunately, the Deceased's third wife had predeceased him, and there were no surviving children from their union.

We successfully located Ruth, who now uses her mother's maiden name. Through a representative visit, Ruth confirmed numerous details about her relationship with the Deceased, including the fact that their marriage had ended in divorce and that they had no children together.

Unaware of the Deceased's second or third marriages, the solicitors were surprised by our findings. Our thorough research unearthed crucial information about the Deceased's marital history and provided clarity on potential beneficiaries, ultimately aiding the solicitors in their probate proceedings. Without our involvement, the solicitors may have faced significant delays, legal complications, and potential disputes regarding the distribution of the estate.

If you need a family tree verified or would like to get in contact regarding any of our services, please contact us via email on quotes@findersinternational. co.uk or visit our website www. findersinternational.co.uk.