BULLETIN
THE MAGAZINE OF THE BIRMINGHAM LAW SOCIETY
CLASSICAL GUITARIST MILOS
MUST LAW FIRMS MEASURE SUCCESS BY THEIR ABILITY TO EMBRACE CHANGE?
legal innovation
What does
really mean?
CELEBRATING OUR LEGAL COMMUNITY
FINANCIAL SERVICES & INSURANCE ADVICE IN LEGAL PRACTICE NOVEMBER 2019
WHY BUSINESS WORKS WITH BIRMINGHAM LAW SCHOOL
ONE PROFESSION... ONE REGION... ONE VOICE
THIS ISSUE
ADVERTISE HERE INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE BIRMINGHAM LAW SOCIETY BULLETIN IS PUBLISHED BY FRASER URQUHART MEDIA. To advertise your business to Birmingham Law Society members call Fraser Urquhart Media on 0116 2533445 or email jon@fu-media.co.uk or kevin@fu-media.co.uk Editorial enquiries to info@fu-media.co.uk and editorial@birminghamlawsociety.co.uk
Disclaimer: Copyright Fraser Urquhart Media. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publishers. Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy in compiling this publication, the Publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, omissions, breach of copyright or otherwise since compilation. The Publisher cannot be held responsible for any material submitted to the publication, not excluding advertisements. The views expressed within this title are not necessarily the views of the Publisher. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply recommendation by the Publisher. © Fraser Urquhart Media 2019
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President's Letter. Celebrating our Legal Community
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News. A round up of what's been happening at the Society and members' news.
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Regulation Report. Jayne Willetts on Financial Services and Insurance Advice in Legal Practice
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Opinion. Insight Legal ask if law firms must measure success by their ability to embrace change
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Opinion. Why business works with Birmingham Law School
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Opinion. What does legal innovation really mean?
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Out of Hours. Practical Performer- the new Mercedes CLA Sporting Brake.
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Out Of Hours. We talk to classical guitarist Miloš who is back with a new album and UK tour.
CONTACT US Birmingham Law Society Suite 101, Cheltenham House 14-16 Temple Street Birmingham B2 5BG Tel 0121 227 8700 info@birminghamlawsociety.co.uk www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk @birminghamlawsociety Officers April 2019 - April 2020 President – Linden Thomas – University of Birmingham Vice President – Inez Brown – Harrison Clark Rickerbys Deputy Vice President – Stephanie Perraton Squire Patton Boggs Hon. Secretaries – Chaitali Desai – Eversheds Sutherland & Sophie Samani – Henderson & Jones The Board 2019/2020 Chair: Regan Peggs Director: Karen Bailey Director: Caroline Coates Director: Laura Daly Director: Catherine Edwards Director: PJ Ellis Vice Chair: Professor Bernardette Griffin Finance Director: Ben Henry Director: Dee Kundi Director: Tony McDaid Ex Officio: Linden Thomas Ex Officio: James Turner Contact c/o Birmingham Law Society www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk 3
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
CELEBRATING OUR LEGAL COMMUNITY the profession and little opportunity to gain insight into what life is like in practice. Therefore, in November, our social mobility sub-committee will be hosting a speed networking event at Aston University for our student members. The aim of the event is to enable students without a wide range of contacts in law to engage in structured networking with legal professionals.
The event sold out within a week of being advertised and we have over 175 students signed up to take part. Once again, I am grateful to both the lawyers who have volunteered to organise this event and those who have volunteered to spend an evening networking with the students. I hope these few examples serve to demonstrate the wealth of contributions made by our members to enhance and enrich our legal community. I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to each and every one of them.
One of the most enjoyable things about being President of Birmingham Law Society is having the opportunity to work alongside so many enthusiastic and dedicated lawyers who are willing to step beyond their own practices and work together for a common good. As I pass the halfway point of my Presidency I can already think of countless occasions in recent months when I have been impressed and immensely proud of the work done by the members of this Society on behalf of others within our legal community and beyond. To share just a few examples from recent weeks: • In early October, I was asked to give my approval to five consultation responses drafted by members of our Employment Law Committee. The responses addressed issues ranging from dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace to whether legislation ought to be introduced to ensure better support for staff with ongoing health difficulties. The amount of work that had been put into each response was obvious and the quality of the responses demonstrated the wealth of expertise and experience of the lawyers who did the drafting, as well as their commitment to ensuring balanced and proportionate answers, which took the interests of both employers and employees into account. • Also in October, our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee marked Black 4 www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk
History Month with daily social media updates that told the stories of black lawyers, past and present, who have made an impact on our profession. I am grateful to the team at Bailey Wright & Co for leading on this important project. • Our legal community includes students currently studying at university law schools around the city. In September, student members from Birmingham City University, the University of Law and the University of Birmingham came together and braved dizzying heights as they abseiled off the roof of The Custard Factory to raise money for my chosen charities, Citizens Advice Birmingham and Central England Law Centre. • Applications for our inter-organisational mentoring scheme for women closed at the end of August. I was delighted that over 50 people put themselves forward to participate in the scheme and that we have been able to match every applicant with a mentor from an organisation beyond their own. From trainee solicitors to Judges, paralegals to partners and barristers to academics, participants in the scheme derive from all areas of legal practice and represent the richness of experience and diversity amongst our membership. • I consider it to be an important function of Birmingham Law Society to support the next generation of lawyers. Many aspiring lawyers have no contacts within
Within the pages of this month’s magazine, you will find many more examples of the legal community that Birmingham Law Society enables. As I said in my first article as President, this is a Society that brings us together as a group of people with a shared interest in the impact that our profession has on the rest of the world and the impact that the rest of the world has on our profession. Good things happen, in our own interests and in the interests of others, because we reach out beyond our own practices and work together. It is my privilege to have been a part of that for the last ten years and I look forward to continuing to be a part of it for many years to come. The Society’s 201st Annual Dinner is being held in The Great Hall at the University of Birmingham on 21st November. This year, the focus of the evening will be on celebrating of our legal community and the contribution that it makes to our profession and our city. I look forward to seeing many of you there and having the chance to say thank you in person. Linden
Birmingham Law Society is proud to work in partnership with our sponsors:
LEGAL MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY LAWCARE LAUNCHES CHAMPIONS SCHEME Legal mental health charity LawCare has launched a new advocacy scheme ‘LawCare Champions’ to coincide with World Mental Health Day, 10th October. The programme aims to appoint legal professionals in the UK to act as mental health and wellbeing advocates within the legal community. Fourteen champions, including Charles Jacobs, Senior Partner and Chairman at Linklaters, James Pereira QC, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Lloyd Rees, Herbert Smith Freehill’s Samantha Brown, David McCahon from Barclays and IP inclusive lead executive officer Andrea Brewster OBE have been appointed with more to follow next year. Elizabeth Rimmer Chief Executive of LawCare said: “We are very proud to launch this new scheme on World Mental Health Day. This is a cross-jurisdiction, cross-profession initiative and our new champions have all been carefully chosen for their commitment, passion and enthusiasm in raising awareness about the importance of good mental health and wellbeing in the legal community. We hope our champions will help us to drive positive change in the culture of law. The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is suicide prevention, and we must all come together in the legal community to improve dialogue on mental health issues.”
INTRODUCING
THE NEW BSG COMMITTEE: 2019/20:
From top left to right: Chair, Chrissie Wolfe (Irwin Mitchell); Vice Chair and Treasurer, Tara Wright (Irwin Mitchell); Secretary, Alex Morris (Emms Gilmore Liberson); CSR Representative, Tona Zefi, (Emms Gilmore Liberson), Communications Officer, Phil Hunt (Emms Gilmore Liberson); Liaison Officer, Neena Sangha (Trowers & Hamlins); Junior Lawyers Division Representative, Tom Kearney (Eversheds Sutherland); PR Officer, Bal Atwal (DLA Piper); and Events Officer, Marissa Jacquet (Grove Tompkins Bosworth). Find out more ar www.birminghamsolicitorsgroup.org or on Twitter @BhamSolsGroup, LinkedIn Birmingham Solicitors' Group and Instagram bsg_events
The charity has also launched a new animated video highlighting the support they offer – available to view at www.lawcare.org.uk The full list of champions are: Andrew Brewster OBE, Lead Executive Officer, IP inclusive Samantha Brown, Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills Joanna Fleck, Co-founder Claiming Space Clare Good, Solicitor, Capital Law and Wellbeing Officer, Cardiff Law Society Catherine Hart, Partner and Professional Support Lawyer, Digby Brown Jodie Hill, Managing Director, Thrive Law Karen Jackson, Solicitor and Managing Director, didlaw Charles Jacobs, Senior Partner and Chairman, Linklaters David McCahon, Global Head of Commercial, Innovation and Technology Legal & Wellbeing Leader at Barclays James Pereira QC, Barrister and Coach Nick O’Neill, Governance and Practice Manager, Wirral Borough Council Lloyd Rees, Knowledge Lawyer, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Anna Robinson, Senior Solicitor and Psychotherapist Joanne Theodolou, General Counsel at Simply Business and Trustee of Mind, the mental health charity. www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk 5
NEWS
IRWIN MITCHELL BECOMES OFFICIAL LEGAL PARTNER OF ENGLAND RUGBY single brand identity. Andrew Tucker, group CEO of Irwin Mitchell said: “Our core values fit perfectly with England Rugby as they are very much focused on the people involved in the game and the whole Rugby community. We’re very excited to be helping them to develop a mentoring programme to support young people and help them transition into the adult game.
Irwin Mitchell has been named as the official Legal Partner of the England Rugby team in a multi-year agreement. Through the partnership which includes the men and women’s teams, the national law firm, which provides legal and financial services to both businesses and individuals, will develop a new mentoring programme with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for young players. This new programme will create a community of mentors across 750 clubs throughout England to support around 35,000, 14-18 year old players with
the aim of improving retention of more young people in the sport for longer and smoothing the transition for age grade players into adult rugby. Irwin Mitchell will also work with the RFU’s in house legal team and the 1000+ community member clubs to support their legal needs. The agreement will also give Irwin Mitchell access to exclusive rights and awareness building opportunities over the next four years, which, the law firm will use to showcase its refreshed branding which encompasses more of its legal and financial services under a
“We have a strong track record of working with international and UK based sports governing bodies, local clubs and players at all levels across a range of commercial and individual legal services. We also have a strong affiliation with rugby in particular, through our work in helping to develop concussion guidelines, our support for the charity Wooden Spoon and our own programmes to get more people involved in disability sport. “Becoming the official Legal Partner of the England Rugby team is a natural fit to take us to the next level.” Irwin Mitchell is ranked number one for sports law in the independent Legal 500 rankings and has previously helped the Rugby Players Association to develop its concussion guidelines to better protect players on the field from serious injuries.
UPCOMING E V E N T S EMPLOYMENT JUDGES' FORUM 06/11/2019 18:00 @ Gowling WLG (UK) LLP (Birmingham), Two Snowhill B4 6WR NATIONAL PRO BONO WEEK 2019: BREAKING THE MYTHS OF PRO BONO 07/11/19 17:30 @ Gowling WLG Two Snow Hill B4 6WR KICK-STARTING LEGAL INNOVATION 12/11/2019 08:30 @ Pinsent Masons LLP (Birmingham), 55 Colmore Row B3 2FG Have you ever wondered why solicitors need a charity? After all, legal professionals are successful, wealthy and live a stable lifestyle, right? You're probably shaking your head at this moment thinking, this sentiment doesn't quite reflect reality. And you'd be right. The truth is, lawyers are vulnerable to life's hazards like everyone else. Simply being a lawyer doesn't shield you from illness, accidents, family breakup, job loss or bereavement and more. With this in mind, it's no wonder so many solicitors fall into financial hardship each year. Fortunately, there is hope for those in crisis. SBA The Solicitors' Charity supports solicitors (and their dependants) through financial assistance. This support pays for 6 www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk
essential items most people take for granted. These include Utility bills, Groceries, Transport and Household repairs. The charity also helps with access to services for debt and welfare advice, mental health and career coaching. Last year, lawyers across Birmingham gave generously to SBA The Solicitors' Charity. There are many ways for you to supported positive changes for those in crisis. These include: ● Donating money yourself or via your firm ● Donating your unclaimed client balances ● Telling your colleagues about SBA The Solicitors' Charity and how it helps solicitors Visit the SBA The Solicitors' Charity website for further details: www.sba.org.uk
NEWLY QUALIFIED SOLICITORS AND BARRISTERS CELEBRATION 2019 14/11/19 17:00 @ Victoria Law Courts 1 Newton Street B4 7NA ANNUAL COMPLIANCE UPDATE NOV 19 18/11/2019 13:00 @DWF LLP (Birmingham), One Snowhill Snow Hill Queensway B4 6GA ADVOCACY TRAINING - NOVEMBER 2019 19/11/2019 12:30 @ No5 Chambers, Fountain Court Steelhouse Lane B4 6DR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY UPDATE NOVEMBER 2019 26/11/2019 12:30 @ Clarke Willmott LLP (Birmingham), 138 Edmund Street B3 2ES Book your place at: www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk or email: events@birminghamlawsociety.co.uk
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NEWS
FORWARD THINKING AT BCU A BUSY SUMMER FOR THE Thinking, the new journal EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE Forward created by Birmingham City University’s Volume 1 Issue 1 September 2019
Unknown to many members of BLS the Government issued seven consultation papers this summer, mainly proposing legislative change following the Good Work Review which in turn followed the Taylor Report into the “gig” economy and related employment issues. At a time when committee work tends to go a little quieter the employment committee had to ramp up its resources and members gave up considerable amounts of time to scrutinise the proposals not only in meetings but in the extensive drafting required to make appropriate responses on behalf of both employees and employers. The aim being that any new legislation is
FORWARD THINKING
effective and workable and does not have unintended consequences.
School of Law, showcases the excellent research collaborations between students and staff in the School of Law.
As a result the first six responses have been sent in dealing with such issues as Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, a single enforcement body for employment rights, occupational health changes, Neonatal Leave and Pay, one sided-flexibility, and transparency of flexible working. The seventh is not required until the end of November.
Forward Thinking compiles highlights from the School of Law’s impressive portfolio of research opportunities for students. In 2018/19, the School of Law provided over 100 opportunities for students to work with staff on research projects; diversifying the School’s research community and developing students’ employability skills.
As Chair of the Committee I cannot praise the huge efforts of members of the committee enough. We could only get these responses in with a great deal of team work on top of the day job. My thanks also go to the President, members of the Consultations Committee, Becky and Johanna for their eagle-eyed scrutiny of our responses. Mike Hibbs , Chair of the Employment Committee
A CELEBRATION OF THE RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN STAFF AND STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL OF LAW
In 2018/19 projects ranged from literature review tasks evaluating domestic and international case law, to projects focused on improving the School’s Virtual Learning Environment and exploring the SQE. Students also had the opportunity to work on research projects connected to the School of Law’s wide global network, including lawyers and organisations in the USA. Students contributed to The UPR Project at BCU’s submissions to the UN’s Universal Periodic Review.. The Co-Leads of the Staff and Student Research Collaborations, Dr. Alice Storey and Laura Smillie, have found that both students and staff have really enjoyed their experiences working together and have learnt a lot from it. Going forward, they said that: “The School of Law is very keen to collaborate with Birmingham’s wider legal community to develop opportunities for students to work on projects that would be valuable to practitioners. Please get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss a potential project.” Forward Thinking is available online at www.bcu.ac.uk/law/ student-experience-and-employability/student-researchcollaborations
EMOTION AND LITIGATION: NEW SURVEY ASSESSES IMPACT OF DISPUTES ON CLIENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH out about their experiences with handling clients’ mental health during litigation. The results indicated a worrying amount of clients were showing signs of struggling with symptoms relating to depression and anxiety during divorce and children cases, with many more suffering in silence. One respondent said: “Some clients are really unwilling to seek mental health help during proceedings because they think it will negatively influence the outcome. The reality is the exact opposite: social workers see it as a sign of strength to seek support, not a weakness.
The majority of people going through divorce or dealing with family issues such as access to children are reluctant to seek help for mental health issues despite often showing clear signs of distress, a new survey by Irwin Mitchell has revealed. The survey of solicitors has revealed the vast majority of clients suffer from mental health issues in the early stages of litigation proceedings, but most don’t ask for help. For World Mental Health Day, leading national law firm Irwin Mitchell polled its specialist national Family Law team to find 8 www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk
“It can affect anyone at any age. Lately I’ve referred a number of adult children to family therapy and they’ve found it immensely helpful to deal with the emotions around their parents getting divorced, but I have referred clients of all ages and walks of life in the past and will continue to do so.” 87% of all respondents said either most or some of their clients had expressed feelings of anxiety, depression or other mental health issues because of their litigation – and even more concerning, 89% said they suspected their clients were reluctant to ask for help. A staggering 92% of family lawyers said
their clients’ mental health concerns became apparent in the first six months of divorce or children proceedings, and out of that percentage 68% of mental health issues appeared in the first three months. Ros Bever, national head of Family Law at Irwin Mitchell said: “Mental health is now being talked about more and more in all areas of society, and it’s something that can affect a client at any time, whether they’re directly involved in the proceedings or children caught in the crossfire between warring parents. “As solicitors, it is our job to make sure our clients get the best outcome for their situation. Our clients often open up to us as we are their main pillar of support at what can be a very vulnerable and distressing time for them. “The fact so many clients demonstrate signs of depression or anxiety and so early on during the litigation tells us urgent change is needed in the way the law works for people involved in divorce. “We signpost our clients to the relevant services where possible including GPs, therapists and counsellors and are providing more mental health training for all our staff to help them better support clients as well as themselves.”
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THRIVING IN THE EXPERIENCE ECONOMY Experience is also trumping price when it comes to consumer preferences. A 2019 Accenture study found 61% of consumers stopped doing business with at least one company due to a poor customer experience. This is reflective in findings from a Walker study that found 68% of consumers were willing to pay more for a great customer experience and concluded that by 2020 customer experience will overtake price as the key brand differentiator.
The search for more meaningful encounters is shaping the future of service and defining new parameters for consumer expectations. These expectations aren’t limited to bricks and mortar retailers or everyday consumer experiences. People have come to expect more from all their encounters. It’s no longer just about good service, but about a good experience. So, what do we mean by experience in conveyancing? From a home mover’s first enquiry through to exchange and post-completion they want to feel that their needs are considered and accounted for. We’re living in an always-on culture that breeds opportunity but has also resulted in a permutation of new hours of operation. The modern home mover is heading online to source quotes well after the answering machines have been switched on and doors have been locked for the evening. They’re looking to access updates on their purchase or sale at a time that’s most convenient for them. We’re living in the age of experience writes Adam Bullion, General Manager of Marketing, InfoTrack. While there has been a shift across all generations towards more experience-focused satisfaction, Millennials are at the helm of the movement. An Eventbrite study found 78% of Millennials would choose to spend money on experiences or events over material possessions. 72% also identified they would prefer to increase their spending on experiences over the next year.
The experience is everything. It’s the communication, service and information you provide. It’s how they access that information, when and where suits them. The experience is characterised by their expectations. Home movers are looking for firms that can provide their services in a way that connects with their lifestyle, so how is your firm going to deliver on their expectations? To find out more visit www.infotrack.co.uk
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NEWS
FREETHS INVESTS IN OFFICE FITOUT FOLLOWING EXPANSION
Estilo Interiors has completed the design and build refurbishment of Freeths’ Birmingham office on Colmore Row. The top 50 law firm moved to the Colmore Building in 2015, acquiring additional space in 2019 to accommodate its expanding workforce. The firm now occupies 15,000 sq ft on the third floor of the building, with space for up to 150 people. Freeths’ brief to Estilo was to design ‘neighbourhoods’ within an open plan environment, to accommodate specialist teams. The objective was to create a workplace which will see the business into the next decade and provide staff with an environment to work effectively and collaboratively, encourage mobility, flexibility and stimulate interaction. Richard Beverley, managing partner at Freeths, said: “Our history in Birmingham has been one of rapid growth and we are proud of the progress we have made here. When expanding our office space to twice its original size, we took the opportunity to create an office for the 2020s, adopting the latest technology and moving to a fully agile working environment. The feedback from both our staff and visitors to the office has been extremely positive.” Estilo Interiors, based in the Jewellery Quarter, specialises in interior design, fit-out, refurbishment and furniture provision for the office and education sectors. Established in 2003, the business turned over £15million in its last financial year and is looking to grow to £20m in 2020.
WEST MIDS LAW FIRM ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNER Reiss said: “I am very proud to have been promoted to partner at Enoch Evans LLP and feel this reflects the ongoing success and growth of the firm. “I enjoy having the opportunity to make a positive impact on someone’s personal circumstances and guiding them through what can otherwise be a complicated or stressful experience. My aim is to build long term relationships with my clients and their families and then support them in making some of life’s key decisions.
Black Country and West Midlands-based law firm Enoch Evans LLP has announced that Reiss Matthews from its wills, tax, and probate team has been promoted to partner. Reiss specialises in a broad range of private client legal matters including inheritance tax, lasting power of attorneys and administration of estates. Reiss joined Enoch Evans LLP in 2014 after reading law at Aberystwyth University and completing a legal practice course at Birmingham City University. Reiss has also been instrumental in establishing the firm’s Sutton Coldfield office which opened its doors at the end of 2017. 10 www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk
“I’ve also relished the chance to strengthen recognition of Enoch Evans LLP in a new location. As a Sutton Coldfield resident, it’s been fantastic to be involved with introducing ourselves to the community; we’ve hosted free legal advice drop-in sessions, presented at the town’s senior showcase, and partnered with the local Cancer Support Centre to raise money through our ‘make a will fortnight.” Enoch Evans has its head office in Walsall in addition to a branch in Sutton Coldfield. The 135-year old firm has grown to over 85 staff specialising in a range of private and commercial services, wills inheritance tax and probate, management of financial affairs, matrimonial and family, child care, employment law, litigation, residential conveyancing and criminal and motoring offences. Visit www.enochevans.co.uk
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REGULATION REPORT
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND INSURANCE ADVICE IN LEGAL PRACTICE by the SRA’s Scope Rules and will need to provide relevant information on its status to its clients as required by the Conduct of Business Rules, usually through its terms of business. Failure to include the required wording in client care documentation is a common non-compliance reported by the SRA on compliance audits and does need to be taken seriously as it means that the firm will not simply be in breach of the SRA’s requirements but will also be committing a criminal offence under FSMA. The required ‘status disclosure’ wording will be found in Rule 2 of the Conduct of Business Rules. Firms should check at the very least that they now refer to insurance distribution and no longer mediation.
The ability of firms to provide financial advice to their clients and to recommend that they obtain insurance to address an identified risk is an important but often overlooked aspect of law firm compliance requirements. Little wonder, some may say, as the provisions involved are some of the most complex and obscure rules and regulations that apply to the profession but they do nonetheless commonly feature in SRA inspection visits and, as ever, ignorance will not provide a defence. writes Jayne Willetts, Solicitor Advocate with Jayne Willetts & Co. The starting point for getting to grips with this topic is the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (‘FSMA’) which made it an offence to provide financial advice unless the adviser was properly authorised to do so, and also subject to appropriate regulation. Solicitors’ firms are not authorised to provide direct financial advice to their clients, but most firms are authorised to provide ancillary financial advice when it is incidental to mainstream legal services. Good examples would be advice from a family lawyer in relation to the split of assets within financial proceedings or negotiations; a probate lawyer taking steps to claim and then distribute the deceased’s investments; or commercial negotiations in relation to shareholder disputes or other corporate reconstructions. In relation to all such activities, solicitors’ firms will be permitted to act by virtue of an exemption to the usual requirement for FCA authorisation through being an ‘exempt professional firm’ or ‘EPF’. This authorisation is provided through nominations from the SRA to the FCA through its records of firms’ activities. The full range of the types of services that law firms can lawfully undertake is set out in the SRA Financial Services (Scope) Rules and the controls on how they do so will be found in the 12 www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk
closely linked Financial Services (Conduct of Business) Rules – both now forming part of the Standards and Regulations in revised formats. The regime also extends beyond ‘regulated financial services activity’, in the revised terminology of the SRA Standards and Regulations, to the provision of insurance advice. Insurance distribution is widely defined as being the process of “advising, arranging, acting as an agent or assisting in the administration and performance of a contract of insurance” under Article 2.1 of the Insurance Distribution Directive 2016/97. This will therefore cover recommendations to obtain insurance for after-the-event legal costs, conveyancing issues such as chancel repairs or building regulations problems, and so on. The degree of involvement needed to trigger the need to comply with these provisions is low and applies even if the lawyer merely introduces the client to an insurance broker in order that they can obtain such a policy on the client’s behalf. This latter point is a common cause of confusion: simply referring a client on to an insurance broker might seem to fall under one of the exemptions under the Regulated Activities Order 2001 on which the SRA rules are based, but the exemptions are qualified so it is preferable to ensure that you are registered as an EPF in any event especially as it costs nothing to do so. To check whether your firm does appear in the EPF register, you should go to the FCA website and click on the ‘search the register’ function. If you do not appear there you should then check on the SRA website to see whether you need to be by consulting https://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/firm-basedauthorisation/notify-financial-services/. Most firms will need to be registered and if needed that part of the SRA website will take them through the application process. Once the firm is duly registered it will then need to limit its activities to those permitted
The wording does tend to sound rather repetitive when set out in terms of business documentation, but it is mandatory to provide the required information in the required format. Rule 2.1 outlines what must be covered in relation to financial advice but then sets out the actual wording required on insurance distribution at rule 2.2. Perhaps most importantly of all, whenever a policy is to be obtained for or recommended to the client they must also first be served with a ‘demands and needs statement’. This could be a simple letter or email or it might be by way of pro forma, but either way it will need to provide a summary of what is known about the client, why the need for insurance arises and how the policy will meet the client’s requirements and be suitable for them. It will also be necessary to inform the client if it is making its recommendation on the basis of a personal recommendation and, if so, whether it has undertaken a ‘fair and personal analysis’ of the market. A number of other requirements apply, most of which should be satisfied by running files in accordance with normal best practice, but one final point to note is that to be fully compliant some element of in-house training will be expected on this topic, on which see rule 20.1 in the new SRA Financial Services (Conduct of Business) Rules 2019 requiring all ‘relevant employees’ (and so presumably partners as well) to have the ‘appropriate knowledge and ability in order to complete their tasks and perform duties adequately’. In addition, firms must ensure that all involved in insurance distribution activities are of good repute i.e. a clean criminal record and not having previously been declared bankrupt. This is yet another topic to add to the long list of compliance requirements but it is something that may attract more interest in the future from the regulator – so is worth swotting up on.
Jayne is also a director of Infolegal Ltd www.infolegal.co.uk which provides compliance services to law firms
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OPINION
ADVERTORIAL FEATURES
LAW FIRMS MUST MEASURE SUCCESS BY THEIR ABILITY TO EMBRACE CHANGE By Deborah Witkiss, Professional Services Director at Insight Legal AN INHERENT RESISTANCE For any business operating today, change is inevitable. The legal sector is no exception. Firms must embrace change to maintain growth, success and their competitive edge. While caution is natural, law firms are seen as significantly more risk-averse than most types, with many practitioners perceiving change as risk rather than an opportunity. The top 10 firms identified new technology as the biggest challenge the sector will face over the next two years. Of course, embracing new ways of working isn’t simple. The time needed to research and implement, the money and resources used and the preconception that it might be too big a job can discourage managers. While some firms are driving change, many others must alter their view in order to embrace new processes and achieve the most positive return. REPLACE OUTDATED PROCESSES Many law firms still have legacy processes and products that they are comfortable using and have worked for them in the past, but are no longer fit for purpose. For example, firms which continue to manage case specific files and data manually offline are likely to operate much less efficiently than those using modern tools. Unnecessary tasks are created, which ultimately cut into fee-earning time and reduce the opportunity for efficiency. This is where change, particularly by introducing technology, plays a fundamental role. These solutions enable firms to 14 www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk
evaluate their current operations and identify the processes which could be streamlined to free up time for undertaking high-value work. They can then determine the right time to adopt changes in order to ensure business continuity and greater productivity. With a wide range of legal software systems now available, every firm will be able to find a system to meet its specific needs. Moreover, the supplier support that should accompany this software can be crucial both during transition and beyond - taking pressure off decision makers and enabling a smoother transition for staff. THE TRUE VALUE OF CHANGE By applying change across their practice with modern IT systems, firms can move into a new era of software-based workflows and embrace new processes which improve overall success. These systems can also be invaluable in maintaining compliance, by generating prompts and task reminders to avoid missed deadlines and ensure necessary processes are followed. With the many regulations and protocols affecting the sector, this can prove vital for helping firms to avoid the damaging consequences of falling behind. To succeed in the modern legal sector, firms must first evaluate their processes and discuss their goals with potential suppliers to find systems that will support their practice with the greatest return on investment. Those who realise the true value of change - and measure their success accordingly - will open up new avenues for higher productivity and better processes for their staff, whilst future-proofing their practice as the sector continues to evolve. To discuss this topic further or the services we can offer, please give us a call on 01252 518939, email us at info@ insightlegal.co.uk or visit our website; www.insightlegal.co.uk
190x136mm Embrace Change Ad 15/10/2019 09:36 Page 1
OPINION
WHY BUSINESS WORKS WITH BIRMINGHAM LAW SCHOOL
Ranked as the 6th most innovative University in the UK, businesses, including many professional services and law firms, choose to work with the University of Birmingham because of our track record in delivering impact and growth, focusing on product and service innovation, enhancing business strategies and providing answers to global challenges writes Andy Newnham, Deputy Director of Business Engagement at the University of Birmingham. To give some examples of work immediately relevant to law firms, Catherine Mitchell’s longstanding work on interpretation of contracts has recently been supported by grant assistance from the Leverhulme Trust, while Nelson Enonchong’s book on Duress, Undue Influence and Unconscionable Dealing went into its third edition this year. Rosie Harding’s work on supported will making is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and Rosie’s work on care, disability and social justice is supported by a Philip Leverhulme prize, alongside the work of a second prize winner, Fiona de Londras for her work on human rights. Karen McAuliffe is working on law and language within the Court of Justice of the European Union in a project supported by a €1.8m grant from the European Research Council. In the Criminal Law area, John Child is part of a British Academy project on law, philosophy and neuroscience which explores criminal blame for conduct that 16 www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk
leads to accidental or mistaken harms. Much of the research in the School is forward looking. There is work on AI including within professional service firms and Karen Yeung who holds a joint chair in the Schools of Law and Computer Science is a member of the EU’s High Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence. Muireann Quigley holds a £1m plus grant for her work on ‘everyday cyborgs’ which essentially explores the human body and biomaterials. Robert Lee is part of a team funded by a £9.4m grant from the Faraday Institution researching on electric mobility. Martin Trybus is the Network Coordinator and Director of Research for an Innovative Training Network on Future Trade and Investment Policy (EUTIP) funded (€4.5m) by the Marie Skłodowska Curie (Horizon 2020) scheme of the EU. Connecting and collaborating, pulling together communities of influence and interest around specific projects is key to successful research outcomes. For example, the recent AI in BPFS firms research brought together stakeholders from technology, law, consultancy, trade and government regulatory bodies. The work on electric mobility has a number of industrial partners from sectors such as energy production, the automotive industry and metal recycling. In addition to research, there are a range of engagements, with the University of Birmingham, from which the legal profession can benefit, from non-financial activity, working within the students’ curriculum to deliver events and lectures, taking on students for internships or other placements, as well as graduate trainees. The
Law School looks increasingly to the Birmingham market as the first place to place its graduating law students. The University of Birmingham’s strong civic role also provides CSR and volunteer opportunities for legal professionals to provide legal outreach and support for disadvantaged local communities. We’re also creating opportunities for businesses to upskill teams in evolving areas that are crucial to our social and economic lives in a flexible way. One example of this is the launch of our online distance learning LLM in Energy and Environmental Law. This remote course will equip professionals within firms with the essential skills to tackle the world’s energy issues and the demands of climate change. We intend to recruit globally on to this course but would especially welcome students from the West Midlands. Within Birmingham Law School, our academic collaboration with the legal profession is supported by the Business Engagement team, an award winning, best-in-class knowledge exchange unit within the University. The team provides a bespoke and specific pathway for each firm, ensuring that any partnership with the University is fully supported, for the best experience and outcomes for all stakeholders. We remain conscious of the historic role of the University as a civic institution and look to continue to work within that tradition. Please do get in touch if you would like to learn more. Reference https://www. timeshighereducation.com/student/ news/top-100-most-innovativeuniversities-europe-2018
ADVERTORIAL FEATURES
WHAT DOES LEGAL INNOVATION REALLY MEAN? The phrase “legal innovation” has become a bit of a buzzword amongst law firms. And there’s a good reason for it. An SRA Survey found that 40% of firms had already put in place procedures to support innovation, and 80% were open to new ideas to facilitate it. Nonetheless, there’s still a fair amount of ambiguity and confusion surrounding it. So, before jumping on the bandwagon, you should be clear on what innovation means, and how it can bring positive change to both your firm and your clients. A definition of innovation for the legal sector “Innovation” is defined as - (the use of) a new idea or method. In isolation, this can be vague and at risk of becoming meaningless. It’s not about introducing a new idea for the sake of it. Rather, it’s about introducing a change that is new to you and that drives value for your customers. In short, if it’s a new idea to your firm and it’s valuable to your customers – it’s innovation. It’s not just about technology either. The key to innovating in the legal sector is to adopt a strategy of changing working practices and processes for the better, not just the technology you use. By doing so, your firm might look to deliver the following improvements: - Increased efficiency – saving time on repetitive tasks and streamlining processes, such as billing, via automation. - Higher client satisfaction – reducing costs, delivering better value and enhancing access to justice. - Better collaboration – improving communication internally, with clients and externally with 3rd parties. Even with an established definition of legal innovation, it can still be difficult to understand what this looks like in practice for your law firm. Technology ≠ Innovation Innovation is as much about people as it is technology, yet the two are often used interchangeably. Tech is certainly playing a part, but it’s just that, a piece in the jigsaw rather than the solution itself. The management of change and continuous improvement in a business is a huge factor, and ultimately, one which boils down to people. In order to innovate, your firm must first foster a cultural shift that allows it. Positive change must be driven from the top. If leaders aren’t able to recognise the benefits legal
innovation can bring, nor create an environment in which it is promoted, it’s unlikely to happen.
Here are some examples of how tech is helping to drive legal innovation:
What can leaders do to facilitate innovation?
Cloud – often a starting point for innovation and modern business practices. The cloud enables flexibility through remote working and a collaborative approach. In turn, this can increase productivity and improve employee satisfaction - which will ultimately have a positive impact on the value delivered to your clients.
1. Define Innovation A common definition and understanding of what legal innovation means for your firm is the starting point. As discussed earlier, this means outcomes, not just new ideas. 2. Culture and Behaviour Everyone must feel comfortable in their ability to innovate and improve. If the fear of being blamed for failure is too great, people are more likely to comply with existing norms. 3. Communication Open and honest dialogue between all stakeholders is essential to explore ideas, challenge assumptions and gather different perspectives. A cultural shift will increase the chances of positive change through innovation – but the barriers to innovation can also have more to do with people than technology. Barriers to legal innovation 1. Knowledge Gap Implementing improved processes requires investment in people, not just technology. Staff training for new skill sets, brought about through changes to the way the firm operates, is essential for innovation programmes to be successful. 2. Resources and Time 48% of legal professionals see this as the biggest challenge. Innovation requires the creation of dedicated teams, outside from, but influenced by, the general running of the firm. Without dedicated resources, teams are naturally drawn to day-job, deprioritising the role of innovation in the process. 3. Resistance to Change “This is the way we’ve always done it.” “We tried this before and it didn’t work.” These are problems common to innovation and change management in general, not just legal. Your people are integral to creating and implementing innovation in your firm. Now it’s time to look at the other piece of the puzzle – technology. Technology’s role in legal innovation While technology does not equal innovation, it most certainly plays a role in enabling it. This can mean reducing your costs, offering better value to your clients, and improving the day-to-day work processes of your staff.
AI – by monitoring data left in systems regarding meetings, phone calls and document work, artificial intelligence can automate billing processes. Compared to the lengthy process of drawing up invoices manually, this drastically increases efficiency. Data Use – analysis of data can provide you with insight on average timings and work required for specific tasks. This then informs workflows, allocation of resources and pricing offered to clients. Internal Management Systems – increasingly case and practice management systems are being embraced by lawyers, as they have become more of a facilitator to their work than a hindrance. Access to data and reports on performance can give Practice Managers a live picture on demand. Conclusion Legal innovation is a prominent feature of the legal industry and the increasing disruption to traditional processes means it’s no longer business as usual. Defining what the phrase means to your firm has to be the first step in formulating your strategy for improvement. With an open and introspective approach, led from the top, you should be able to identify areas of weakness and potential innovation. With the right approach towards cultural shifts and identification of the appropriate technology, your decisions can positively shape the future of your firm. If improving your firm through Innovation is something you’re interested in, then why not join our upcoming “Kick-starting Innovation” event, in conjunction with Birmingham Law Society. We’ll be joined by expert speakers from the world of legal innovation to share their experiences and practical tips on how you can get started. Whether that's a small change to processes or a businesswide transformation programme, register now to get started. www.oosha.co.uk
www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk 17
OUR COMMUNITY CELEBRATING OUR LEGAL COMMUNITY With over 5000 members, Birmingham Law Society is one of the largest local law societies in the country and is the hub of a thriving and active legal community. There are many ways our members can get involved in our legal community. From sporting events and fixtures, to wellbeing initiatives and networking opportunities, there is something for everyone. We have detailed just some of the ways to engage with your local law society within the pages of this month’s Bulletin. To find out more about how you can get involved in any of these activities, email info@birminghamlawsociety.co.uk. Social events and networking opportunities The Society hosts several social and networking events each year. From after work drinks, to the annual quiz, to comedy nights and play readings there are plenty of opportunities to make new friends, build new contacts, meet with other professionals working within and beyond of the legal profession and have a good time.
Sporting events Our annual football, netball, golf and ‘It’s a Knockout’ competitions give members a chance to unwind and engage in a bit of friendly competition.
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The Birmingham Law Society Choir The Choir was founded in 2018 for the Society’s Bicentenary Celebrations and has also performed at the Albert Hall. The Choir practices weekly and always welcomes new members.
Supporting mental health and wellbeing In the last 12 months, Birmingham Law Society has increased its focus on supporting mental health awareness and wellbeing amongst our members. Our lunchtime mindfulness course gave our members an opportunity to take time out of their busy days to focus on their wellbeing and our Mental Health Awareness Week event gave members a chance to hear from, learn from and connect with people in the profession who are facing similar difficulties to them. Promoting equality in the profession Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee works to progress initiatives on behalf of the Society which ensure equality for all members of the profession regardless of race, ethnicity, heritage, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. From daily tweets throughout Black History Month highlighting contributions made by inspirational black lawyers around the world, to the launch of an inter-organisational mentoring scheme for women that aims to address the attrition rate of women from the profession, the committee is working to promote equality for all those within our community.
Representing our profession In the last 12 months, Birmingham Law Society has submitted 22 responses to consultations from the Government and the professional regulators. Members of our specialist committees work together to ensure that the best interests of our members and their clients are represented.
Charitable fundraising Each year, the local legal community come together through Birmingham Law Society to raise thousands of pounds for worthy causes. In 2019-20, the Society’s chosen charities are Citizens Advice Birmingham and Central England Law Centre.
Supporting tomorrow’s profession Birmingham Law Society works closely with local universities to support aspiring lawyers and to retain future talent in our city. From speed networking nights for students, to social events, careers talks and the forthcoming launch of a mentoring scheme for prospective lawyers, we work to nurture and encourage the next generation of legal professionals.
Facilitating research that matters Our close links with local universities has enabled the Society to instigate independent research, conducted by world-leading academics on topics that matter to our members and the wider public. For example, in 2017 we partnered with researchers from The University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University on a study which explored the profile of litigants in person in the Birmingham Civil Justice Centre. The findings painted a striking picture of vulnerability of many of those forced to represent themselves due to lack of legal aid.
Promoting Pro Bono Our pro bono committee works to promote pro bono opportunities to our members, share good practice and assist with the implementation of collaborative pro bono projects for the benefit of the local community. In 2017, the committee facilitated the secondment of four Birmingham-based criminal lawyers to Uganda to share their expertise on criminal justice for prisoners with the charity, The African Prisons Project. The committee also worked to secure funding from five member firms for trainee solicitors at Central England Law Centre and in 2018 it was instrumental in launching a new pro bono project in conjunction with the Employment Lawyers Association, to support litigants in person at the Birmingham Employment Tribunal.
Promoting Birmingham as an international centre of legal excellence Birmingham Law Society regularly hosts delegations of international lawyers who visit our city to learn more about the legal services our members can offer. Our international committee works to promote the city and hosts events and seminars that address different aspects of doing international business. Supporting continuous professional development The Society provides topical and relevant training for our members through locally hosted, accredited, seminars, conferences and workshops. We constantly review our offering to ensure our offering is timely and relevant. If there is a particular topic you would like us to offer, we would love to hear from you. www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk 19
OUT OF HOURS
ADVERTORIAL FEATURES
THE PREMIER LOUNGE -
ARENA BIRMINGHAM’S NEWEST EXCLUSIVE HOTSPOT
Since Arena Birmingham opened the exclusive Premier Lounge, it’s proved an exciting new hotspot in the city for enjoying live events in style. The new contemporary lounge, run by the Arena’s hospitality arm Amplify, is the ultimate way to enjoy Arena Birmingham’s world class events – whether it’s music, comedy or sport that takes your fancy. Every Premier Lounge member receives a welcome drink as they enter the lounge, before being taken to their private balcony seating with panoramic views across the Arena. From there they can browse the menu of Premier Lounge’s very own bar, from which in-house caterers Amadeus serve up an exclusive range of drinks (including a selection of cocktails), alongside deli-style platters designed by their award-winning chefs. Drinks can be ordered right to your seat with Amadeus’ bespoke Qjacker app created for the venue – making sure you won’t miss a moment of the show. For the ultimate way to personalise their experience, members will also receive the unique opportunity to put their name, or company name, on their very own seats. Premier Lounge brings with it a new debenture-style of membership, similar to what you might expect from a football or rugby season ticket. Each membership purchases access to 1 seat for 20 performances and includes access 20 www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk
to Amplify member events and exclusive discounts for future shows. Amplify is run by a dedicated team of account managers who know their clients’ needs inside out and aim to take the headache out of organising corporate entertainment or that big night out. The team recently won the prestigious accolade of “Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Business of the Year”, with the six-strong team praised for their “mindset of continuous improvement” and growing performance from modest beginnings. Amplify offers a portfolio of hospitality packages at the two NEC Group Arenas in Birmingham, Resorts World Arena and Arena Birmingham. Packages range in levels from Freestyle single event packages to their most premium annual membership, Air. Prices for Premier Lounge membership start at £2500+VAT. To find out more about the Premier Lounge visit www.arenabham.co.uk/ premier or to receive a tour of the space from the Amplify team, please give them a call on 0844 338 0333.
Arena Birmingham is one of the busiest indoor entertainment venues in the world – so members won’t be short of shows to choose from. Here are some upcoming shows to use your Premier Lounge membership on, as recommended by the Amplify team: SALLY WALDER, GENERAL MANAGER: “I’m really looking forward to Rod Stewart’s date with us on 13th December. I’ve seen Rod live a few times and he puts on a great show. And the great thing about being in the Premier Lounge is there’s plenty of room to get out of your seat and dance!” PHILIP BOYCE, SENIOR TICKETING EXECUTIVE: “Liam Gallagher returns to Birmingham on 12th November and I genuinely cannot wait to see him perform live. He has such amazing on-stage presence and charisma; coupled with strong vocals and who doesn’t love an old school Oasis sing-a-long?” SAM GREEN, SALES EXECUTIVE: “It’s got to be Jack Whitehall for me on 15th November. I went to his show with us in 2017 and he was absolutely hilarious – I had tears in my eyes! This year promises to be his biggest and funniest show yet and I cannot wait!”
NEW & EXCLUSIVE
Introducing Premier Lounge - the brand new, exclusive contemporary lounge bar with panoramic views across Arena Birmingham. Your Premier Lounge Membership includes: Access to 1 seat at 20 performances of your choice at Arena Birmingham, such as: LIAM GALLAGHER CRAIG DAVID ELTON JOHN Private Balcony Seating to watch the performance A complimentary welcome drink at every performance
Access to exclusive Amplify member events
ÂŁ2,500 +VAT
Per Membership
A R E NA B H A M .CO.U K / PR E M I E R
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PRACTICAL PERFO Remember those carefree days when all you needed from a car were two seats, somewhere to throw a weekend bag and a couple of hundred horses under the bonnet? Fast forward a few years though and add in a couple of kids, a dog and the detritus of family life and that sporty little two seater has had to be relegated to the back of the garage in favour of something much more practical. But practical can be sporty too, at least that’s what Mercedes Benz have to say with the release of this new Shooting Brake version of its CLA coupe. Mercedes-Benz introduced the first generation of the CLA Shooting Brake in 2015: a five-door, clearly a Coupé in terms of its proportions, and yet with considerable effective load space thanks to the roof which continues through to the rear and the rear door. From the striking sharknose at the front of the vehicle to the clean edge with accentuated surfaces, the design is athletic right down to the muscular rear. It’s this rear that increases the CLA Shooting Brake’s functionality offering much more space for the spontaneity of family life be it on an 22 www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk
extended shopping spree or for sports and outdoor activities where space is required. The new CLA Shooting Brake is also a designer car, which in the first instance is emotionally appealing on account of its proportions: a long bonnet, compact greenhouse with coupé-like windowlines, muscular shoulders over the rear wheel arch and crouched rear, which clearly shows its sports car genes. The outline of the frameless windows is identical to the outline of the Coupé’s up to the B-pillar. Behind it, the windowline runs considerably higher, which makes entering for rear passengers easier. Elongated into the rear, it tapers off into an acute angle. Opt for the AMG model and the distinctive front end tilted forward and the elongated bonnet with striking powerdomes form dynamic style elements. The flat headlamps, the lowslung bonnet and the diamond radiator grille with the central star, mark the typical Mercedes-Benz sports car look. The narrow two-part rear lamps and the licence plate positioned in the bumper are typical for the GT rear
with a flush transition between the rear bumper and the tailgate. The rear view is dominated by the rear apron with a diffuser insert and four vertical fins, the AMG airflow break-away edge in the vehicle colour on the roof spoiler and the two round tailpipe trims on the left and right. The two-piece, narrow tail lamps and the number plate housed in the bumper make the tail end look especially wide. From a side view, the aerodynamically optimised 18-inch light-alloy wheels in a 5-twin-spoke design (19-inch optionally available) and the dynamically sculpted side sill panels catch the eye. The outline of the frameless windows is identical to the outline of the Coupés itself up to the B-pillar. Behind it, the window line runs considerably higher, which makes entering easier for rear passengers and facilitates the larger load compartment capacity. Buyers can style up their CLA with a number of design packages including an AMG Night Package with design features in black, such as front splitter and black chromed tailpipe trims.
ORMER Inside, just like the four-door CLA Coupé, the Shooting Brake puts its own spin on Mercedes’ current fluid design language and as per the new A class, turns the interior into a coolly designed user interface for intelligent digital technology. Frameless doors open to an interior with a high-tech ambience where quality and elegance meet fully digital displays. Characteristic features of the “35” models include sports seats with upholstery black leather. The AMG-specific centre console in highgloss black with standard touchpad has additional buttons that control the 3-stage ESP®, manual transmission mode and the optional AMG RIDE CONTROL adaptive damping system. The characteristic, sporty AMG ambience is also underscored by the sports pedals in brushed stainless steel with rubber studs; floor mats in black with AMG lettering and insert in a nubuck-leather look; the roof liner in black fabric and the AMG door sills in brushed stainless steel at the front with “AMG” lettering. The three air vents are incorporated here, and their sporty turbine look appeals to the senses even without the lighting. This CLA is aimed
at customers for whom, just a few years ago, Mercedes Benz was not the first thing that came to mind when they were looking to buy a car. You’ll find the interior is technology packed with intelligent interior assistants and refined voice recognition making the operation of ever more functions more natural and much simpler. Great emphasis is placed on individualisation with an increasing and diverse range of apps and services, which can be downloaded from Mercedes me depending on your own preferences. The combination of sporty design and sophisticated details is also featured in the MBUX infotainment system with its innovative operating and display concept. MBUX creates an even closer connection between the vehicle, driver and passengers. Emotionally appealing presentations underline the clear control structure and feature brilliant maximum-resolution 3D graphics.
reach far into the background to an artificial horizon. All that extra space doesn’t compromise the car’s sporting characteristics as, along with the CLA Coupé, the CLA Shooting Brake features a wider track and which offers a lower centre of gravity. The top-of-the range engine will be the agile high-torque 2.0-litre four-cylinder which delivers 306 hp, variably distributed to the front and rear axle via the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and the AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive resulting in powerful acceleration of 0-62 mph in 4.9 seconds The new Mercedes Benz CLA Shooting Brake goes on sale this autumn with the AMG version starting at £30,664. Find out more at www. mercedesbenz. co.uk
Visually, the two displays under one shared glass cover blend into a Widescreen Cockpit and as a central element consequently emphasise the horizontal orientation of the interior design. The customer can choose between the three AMG display styles “Classic”, “Sport” and “Supersport” for the instrument cluster. The “Supersport” mode is particularly striking with a central, round rev counter and additional information presented in the form of bars to the left and right of the rev counter: with a three-dimensional perspective, they www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk 23
OUT OF HOURS
MILOŠ Three years after suffering from a serious hand injury at the peak of his career, guitarist MILOŠ is back with his just released fourth studio album and a UK tour including Birmingham Town Hall on the 21st January. What was the inspiration for your new tour and album? This tour and the album are a very personal scrapbook of music that will always have a special meaning to me – from Bach to the Beatles, Granados to Portishead, Piazzolla to Radiohead. It comes after one of the biggest challenges of my life - suffering a serious physical injury and mental burnout - and the programme is a musical reflection on that time and on my long journey back to full health. It is the music I love above all else. When did you start playing the guitar and why? Were you born into a musical family? I was born in Montenegro during the Balkan wars, in a very happy but isolated environment. My parents aren’t musicians but it was always the thing I was most passionate about. I thought that playing the guitar was special because it made me instantly connect with people. I gave my first proper public performance in Paris when I was 14 years old and I will remember it for the rest of my life – being there felt as if for the first time I was seeing life in full colour and hence I knew it was what I wanted to do forever. You sustained a devastating hand injury a few years ago – what happened? It was a very difficult period of my life – both professionally and personally. I developed a repetitive strain like hand injury, which quickly spiralled into bigger issues. There were moments I thought and was told I would never be able to play again. It took time and a huge support network to heal and recover – I needed to rest, rebuild my self-belief and reevaluate my relationship with music and the world I was part of. It was the most important lesson of my adult life and I now feel much stronger and better than ever before. Who are your musical inspirations? As a teenager, John Williams was everything to me - his peerless sound aesthetic, projection and clarity will forever be a huge inspiration and I learned so much by listening to his recordings. I’m inspired by other classical guitarists, their 24 www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk
life and work – Leo Brouwer, José Luis Merlin, Máximo Diego Pujol, Francisco Tárrega, Segovia – most of whom appear on my new album. And I’m also inspired by the musicians I meet, the conductors I work with, composers that write for me – it’s a privilege to connect with people and discover everyone’s unique gift, not just in music, but in every other way too. What was it like selling out the Royal Albert Hall in 2012? You were the first ever classical guitarist to have performed a solo recital there! In my imaginary world, when I was a teenager in Montenegro, the Royal Albert Hall was the stage of my dreams. So even before I actually did it, I had played that concert hundreds of times in my head. I was of course very nervous before-hand but mostly I was just insanely excited and focused. It was a huge moment and to this day the best thing I have ever done. What is it that makes the guitar so special to you? It’s not an accident that the guitar is the most popular instrument in the world. Whether classical or pop guitar there is a truly special quality about it. In the classical world, however, the guitar is still fighting for its place, although in the last decade things have changed dramatically. At a time when classical music is searching for new audiences, the guitar is the perfect vehicle to bridge the gap as it sits so perfectly between the worlds of classical and mainstream. You’ll be playing some music by the Beatles in this concert – why do you love their music? The Beatles were a bit of an artistic departure for me and through their work and influence I found the sound I had always searched for. It’s music that has stood the test of time, and which will stay for many years to come. On this tour, I hope that everyone will be able to find their own favourites in such an eclectic programme. From Bach to the Beatles, Schubert or Paul Simon, it is all music to me, and I love it. MILOŠ performs at Birmingham Town Hall on 21 January. For more information visit www.thsh.co.uk His new album, ‘Sound of Silence’ is released now.
LAST WORD
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WHY QUILL TICKS ALL THE BOXES the Institute of Legal Finance & Management, we’ve credited all of our cashiers, support team and trainers with paid-for-by-Quill membership as well as diploma studies for those at the early stage of their career progressing towards recognised legal cashiering qualifications. As the leading education authority and membership body for the sector, the ILFM is perfectly aligned with Quill, being industry specialists too. CASHIERING SERVICE PROVIDER We’re not exclusively a software house. We have a team of 60 experienced cashiers who offer outsourced legal accounting support in compliance with the stringent SRA Accounts Rules, CLC Accounts Code or Scottish Accounts Rules. Clients can choose from Pinpoint – complete with deep integration to Interactive – or Precision – remain using an existing accounts application whilst reaping the benefits of the same rigour and knowledge applied to Pinpoint.
BY JULIAN BRYAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, QUILL Our recently acquired Cyber Essentials accreditation is yet another tick in the growing list of reasons to use Quill’s software and outsourced support. Carrying the National Cyber Security Centre’s seal of approval with Cyber Essentials certification means our infrastructure is recognised as robust and we’re committed to raising the security bar even higher. Clients now have more incentive to choose their trusted full-service supplier. But the rationale for designating Quill preferential provider status doesn’t end there. No other legal sector software and outsourcing house can boast the unique combination of Cyber Essentials endorsement along with: CONTINUALLY ENHANCING SOFTWARE Our Interactive Cloud case management, document management and legal accounts application is subject to an extensive development roadmap which is responsive to end users’ demands and agile enough to flex as marketplace priorities change. Functionality is added constantly and communicated to clients through our monthly e-newsletters. Law firms using Interactive are assured of having the optimum toolkit for complete practice management from accounting and AML checking to matter management and time recording. With an absolute focus on compliance, all new and enhanced features are designed with regulatory guidelines at their core. Essentially, we see our role as software provider to lighten the load where compliance is concerned. We liaise intently with regulators, keep abreast of ever-changing rules and develop our systems accordingly way ahead of deadline. Take the refined SRA Accounts Rules 26 www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk
2019. Although the rules themselves are simplified, being less prescriptive actually makes them more open to interpretation with accompanying higher risk of error. And the penalties for mistakes are no less severe than previously. We’ve been introducing important changes to Interactive in line with the new rules, for example warning messages about transferring unbilled disbursements (rule 4.3) and narrativeonly transactions (rule 2.2) to record monies paid directly from practice to third parties. LSSA FOUNDER MEMBER We’ve been in close alliance with the UK industry body from day one of its formation. We live and breathe its code of conduct, uphold high quality professional standards always and take our accountability to safeguard clients’ best interests extremely seriously. In fact, we assign accountability such gravity that it’s literally in our brand. BEST COMPANIES STATUS If anything demonstrates what a great company Quill is to work for and do business with, it’s Best Companies official recognition. Being a 1-star organisation indicates workplace engagement as an integral component of our success and growth. In other words, we look after our employees and they, in turn, look after our clients. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved. LIVING WAGE EMPLOYER Having voluntarily signed up to the Living Wage Foundation’s scheme, we promise to calculate salaries for permanent, temporary, apprenticeship and contracted staff on the higher hourly Living Wage rate rather than the lower Minimum Wage. Our responsible leadership stance is a way of actively closing the gap between what people need to earn in order to live in society and the Minimum Wage as defined by government. ILFM MEMBERSHIP By fortifying our partnership with
PAYROLL AND TYPING OUTSOURCING SERVICE PROVIDER With an extended range of outsourced services in the form of payroll processing and pension management, and typing assistance, there really is no better logic for selecting Quill as the primary supplier for all back-office requirements. The former – outsourced payroll – is delivered by our in-house specialist payroll clerks who are fully conversant in the latest payroll and pension legislation, PAYE, RTI, AE, SSP, SMP, SPP and attachment of earnings amongst them. The latter – outsourced typing – is powered by the renowned Document Direct team, enabling clients to dictate from anywhere and receive expertly typed-up documents within agreed timescales. We’re setting out our stall like this because lawyers are sometimes surprised to learn the full extent of what we do at Quill. The fact of the matter is we’re the one-and-only company who can make bold claims about supplying the complete behind-thescenes framework to thrive in today’s challenging legal environment. We’re different and proud of it. Why not take a closer look at our accreditations, awards, portfolio and history? Then get in touch with our friendly team to chat about the best blend of tools to optimise the performance of your practice. Please visit www.quill.co.uk, email info@ quill.co.uk or call 0161 236 2910. Julian Bryan joined Quill as Managing Director in 2012 and was also the Chair of the Legal Software Suppliers Association from 2016 to 2019. Quill has been a leading provider of legal accounting and case management software, and the UK’s largest supplier of outsourced legal cashiering services to the legal profession for over 40 years.
Practice management & accounts software
Outsourced cashiering using Interactive
Outsourced cashiering on any software
Outsourced payroll service
Outsourced bookkeeping service
Outsourced typing service
Don’t puzzle - choose Quill 0845 226 2587 info@quill.co.uk quill.co.uk
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