NEWS
NEW PRACTICE MANAGER AT KANG & CO Patrick said: “Kang & Co Solicitors has a strong reputation in the legal industry and of being an active part of the community it serves with both local business sponsorships and charity fundraising activities. This translates into strong relationships with its client base and that was one of the things that attracted me to the role. I am delighted to have joined the firm during a time of innovation and growth, as the business now has established bases in Birmingham, London, and Milton Keynes”.
West Midland law firm Kang & Co Solicitors has announced the appointment of Patrick Kelly as the firm’s new Practice Manager. Patrick joins the Crime and Motoring firm, Kang & Co, with numerous years of operational and customer service experience in the West Midlands. Most recently, Patrick worked for Regus where he provided top-quality customer service to clients, both past and present, and potential new prospects.
Manjinder Kang, founding Director at Kang & Co Solicitors, said: “Our close client relationships, built on reputation and the personal service we extend to every client is central to what makes Kang & Co different as a law firm. The practice manager role is central to making this possible by supporting the wider team and ensuring operations run smoothly. Patrick will be driving our firm forward by striving to improve and innovate. We’re delighted to welcome Patrick and look forward to his input moving forward.”
VWV APPROACH EXPANDS WITH NEW HIRE VWV approach, the free law firm referral and support network operated by national law firm VWV, have welcomed James Shepherd as Regional Relationship Manager with the aim to expand the network’s reach. VWV approach was launched in 2014 and has grown into a strong network of more than 150 firms, centred around VWV’s offices in London, Watford, Birmingham and Bristol and with some members further afield. As members of VWV approach, law firms can introduce their clients to VWV, with the reassurance of a non-poaching agreement and access to wider support and benefits, such as legal training. The network is actively looking for new law firms to benefit from the VWV approach arrangement and James’s recruitment reinforces VWV’s commitment to its relationships with law firm referrers. Evidence of the member firms’ trust in VWV has been seen since the first lockdown in 2020, with referral income up 30% in the period since then, demonstrating that the firms in VWV approach rely on them to help their clients when they can’t do so themselves. In small to mid-sized firms where the impact of coronavirus has been felt acutely, VWV approach has provided support in the form of regular updates and sharing of ideas on managing change caused by the pandemic. James’s early career experience stems from his work with the Department for Transport and the Ministry of Justice, before joining the Law Society of England and Wales ten years ago. Outside of work (and lockdown permitting), James can often be found running, playing football, or fundraising to keep his local school on a stable financial footing as a member of its PTA committee. 6 www.birminghamlawsociety.co.uk
ANTHONY COLLINS RELEASE FINDINGS FROM NEW SOCIAL IMPACT REPORT Anthony Collins Solicitors has revealed the scale of its social impact during 2020 as part of its annual Social Impact Report which examines its work across sectors including housing, local government, charities, private individuals and social care. Key findings include • £1.4 billion raised from funding projects to build up to 7,000 new affordable homes • £28 million compensation recovered for private individuals in clinical negligence cases • Over £1.9 million worth of publicly funded work undertaken for those financially unable to access legal representation • 384 vulnerable children supported to find better living arrangements • 63 new charities registered • 50 schools supported through the academy conversion process As well as quantifying the social impact of its work, the report also details some of the critical support the firm has provided to its clients. Peter Hubbard, senior partner at Anthony Collins Solicitors, said: “Publishing a Social Impact Report enables us to show how our legal services contribute to improving lives, communities and society. Many of our charitable clients publish similar reports and we believe profit-making businesses should do the same.”
