North West Law Keep Calm and Plan Ahead November 2013 Michelle Garlick and Dominic Vincent of Weightmans LLP Legal News Services Team examine the recent PII renewal and offer advice to Unprecedented growth for firms who have yet to find cover... Weightmans real estate team The cost of securing pro - This year, the closure of the constitutes an orderly clo - spective, the effects of a dis - fessional indemnity insur - only safety net available to sure and whether firms will orderly wind-down are well page 6 ance (PII) cover has law firms – the assigned be afforded sufficient time known – bad publicity, spiralled in recent years risks pool (ARP) – coupled by the SRA to find a solution angry unpaid creditors, dis - Myerson expands Family Law and many law firms have with the collapse of unrated that averts the need to gruntled employees and in - resorted to accepting insurers and the withdrawal close, leaving staff unem - variably bankruptcy department page 7 terms from an unrated in - of several reputable insurers ployed and clients without proceedings against part - surer as the only alterna - from the market, was pre - representation. The danger ners. But too often firms fail Express Solicitors reports 35% tive to closure. dicted by many to be the is that a firm may reason - to take decisive action that catalyst for a significant ably believe that it is effec - can stop this downwards increase in turnover page 8 Insurers have defended cuts market consolidation and to tively managing an orderly spiral. Some firms continue to their underwriting books result in the demise of many wind-down of the practice, to operate in sectors where with reference to the profes - law firms. only for the SRA to disagree the fundamental business Just Costs Solicitors introduces exciting sion’s onerous minimum and take enforcement ac - model is broken, where no terms and conditions and Those firms who were un - tion in order to protect amount of professional ad - new Costs Advance Scheme page 9 particularly the obligation able to find insurance be - clients’ interests. For evi - vice or innovation is likely to to provide six years’ run-off fore the deadline were dence of this interpretive alter the fact that demand cover. Insurers are also now given a further 90 days’ risk, we only have to con - for the service offering has far more discerning about cover from their existing in - sider the SRA’s recent inter - waned or the market rate Features the types of risks they are surers to find either a new vention record, which has fallen. Recognising the prepared to underwrite and policy or a successor. During would suggest that unless a problem and taking radical firms with poor claims the final 60 days, known as distressed firm can assure action, for example through Mediation – The ADR/ODR Directive and records and primitive risk the cessation period , af - the SRA that cover or a restructuring or diversifying, management systems have fected firms may no longer sale/merger is imminent, can make all the difference. the Civil Mediation Council been among the first to fall accept new instructions, but the regulator may take mat - victim to such a methodol - are responsible for manag - ters into its own hands. page 12 ogy. ing an orderly closure. How - continued on page 12 ever, it is unclear what From a commercial per - Regulars Manchester Legal Walk 2013 Manchester Law Society Conferences MANCHESTER’S LEGAL Book now for the Management Conference & PROFESSION PUT THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD! Personal Injury Conference page 4

Manchester’s legal commu - nity certainly put their best Members Reward Card foot forward when 350 peo - ple turned out for the sixth see your latest offers... page 16 Manchester Legal Walk to raise funds for the North The World according to Fran West Legal Support Trust. page 29 Starting at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre and finish - Monthly Competition ing in the heart of Spinning - fields at The Oast House, a Win a 2 course meal - including total of 40 teams took part in mocktails and shakes at Beans the 10km charity walk which proved to be a great success. page 29 Lead walkers included the President of the North West Legal Support Trust, His Hon - our Judge Platts, Sucheet Amin, President of the Man - chester Law Society, Nazir Afzal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West, Charlotte Brinsley, Outgoing Chair of The Manchester Legal Walk’s Lead Walkers; (Left to Right) Sucheet Amin, Nazir Afzal, Fran Eccles-Bech the Manchester Trainee Solic - (Trustee, NWLST), Charlotte Brinsley, His Honour Judge Platts, Dinah Crystal OBE (Chair, NWLST), The Lord itors Group, Tony Cross QC, Mayor of Manchester Councillor Naeem Ul Hassan, His Honour Judge Bird, Gemma Harris. Representative of the North - ern Circuit of the Bar, Gemma chester, Councillor Naeem Ul sion came together to walk bers, law students and profes - Harris, Chair of the Manches - Hassan. and raise sponsorship, includ - sional bodies. ter Young Solicitors Group ing teams from the Judiciary, and The Lord Mayor of Man - All arms of the Legal Profes - law firms, barristers cham - continued on page 13 Single issue £3.50, 12 month subscription £54.00 The Monthly Publication of the Manchester Law Society free to members

President’s Column 3 President’s Column In the last few months, email the North West Re - nars tackling relevant issues which quite neatly was held firms will have completed gional Manager of the Law for businesses. These events only days before the Con - the Professional Indem - Society need not take place in Liver - servative Party Conference nity Insurance and Practis - [email protected] so pool and with the attraction in Manchester – surely a ing Certificate registration that improvements can be of Media City being a great great opportunity for some tasks. No doubt, COLPs made for next year’s re - venue, there would be an PR supporting SME business and COFAs will be breath - newal. opportunity to hold a fringe owners… ing a sigh of relief as those event more locally. If this is deadlines passed with At our October Council of interest to you, please Regardless, David everything in order and Meeting, we discussed the contact the Manchester Law Cameron’s failed appear - eager for the Christmas International Festival for Society office so we can ance was more than made markets to hit the City Business being hosted in help co-ordinate and direct up by Sir Chris Hoy who de - Centre to enjoy some well Liverpool throughout June you to the relevant contacts livered an inspirational deserved food and drink. and July 2014. The ambition (even if this is to just find speech about overcoming is to create a core number of out a bit more). More gen - adversity and challenges to However some firms faced a business events across a eral information is available succeed. Of course, he was new challenge with PII this number of industries with at www.ifb2014.com. talking about his challenges going to get out of bed this come challenges and I year, if they were unable to additional fringe events to in sport but as he embarks morning – my body is would recommend it to secure cover with no ARP stimulate economic growth Such’s Life on his own business selling aching like mad?” he would anyone who has an open being available. Only both domestically and inter - I recently attended the Na - bikes “Hoy Bikes” he intends close his eyes and run mind to these techniques. around the time this Edition nationally. The Law Society tional Entrepreneur’s Con - to take all the hard lessons through his perfect race. He is published will the final will be supporting the event vention 2013. Over 1200 over the years of training had to do this so many I then had the great honour number of those firms not as soon as the key events for people attended the ICC in and apply them to business. times in the run up to the to meet Sir Chris Hoy and securing cover in the addi - our “Festival Theme” – Pro - Birmingham over 2 days to event that when world have my photo taken with tional 90 day period be fessional & Financial Serv - learn new techniques and What grabbed me most records were tumbling be - him – a moment that will known, although at present ices are known. strategies for building a suc - about his speech was how fore he had even had a live with me forever … and it is hoped that the number cessful business. The star he used “visualization” to chance to post a time, he when I recall being in the will only be in double fig - Our “Festival Theme” is guest at the evening image the perfect race. This had the visualisation of the presence of a sensational ures. scheduled to start week Awards Ceremony was technique was taught to perfect race which true to athlete and perfect gentle - commencing 30th June meant to be David Cameron him by Steve Peters the res - form, he ended up perform - man, I remind myself that In the run up to the dead - 2014 and having attended a ... however, he had always ident British Cycling psy - ing with his own personal underneath it all, he is just line, there was significant recent committee meeting reserved the right to cancel chologist, to suppress best and new world record like all of us – the reason for promotion from the Law So - hosted by Liverpool Law So - at short notice and this negative thoughts which taking the Gold. his success was his unwa - ciety about their own insur - ciety, firms and associated event proved too unimpor - would then maintain a vering determination. ance product – Chancery businesses are invited to tant for him to keep. This strong mindset. I’m no stranger to “visualisa - PII. The Law Society is keen put forward ideas for their was surprising given the Sucheet Amin tion” having learnt the tech - President for feedback on the product own events. Such events fact that his appearance Whenever a negative nique a few years ago and I and anyone with an opin - could be breakfast or lunch was to present Awards to thought entered Sir Chris’ can vouch for the strength it ion, good or bad, should networking events or semi - elite business owners, mind, such as “how am I can give a person to over - 4 Manchester Law Society News News from Bridge Street CPD Programme Manchester Law Society AGM Your attendance is requested at the Annual General Meeting of the Members of the Manchester Proactively Managing Change Law Society, to be held at the offices of Eversheds, 70 Great Bridgewater St, Manchester M1 5ES on Monday 2nd December at 17.00 pm PROMPT. Change is a constant and is an unstoppable force which is happening all the time in both our work and social lives. As businesses owners, employees and individuals, we need to adapt for 1. Apologies many reasons in order to respond to changes in our environment such as advances in technol - 2. Minutes – Annual General Meeting held on Monday 3rd December, 2012 ogy, new legislation and customer demands to name just a few. In this seminar, Mike Ode of 3. To read, if thought fit, and adopt the Report of the Council for the past year Potential Unearthed will introduce you to practical methods and techniques that will ensure 4. Auditors Report you approach your next change project with a positive mindset. 5. To pass the Balance Sheet and Income & Expenditure Account for the past year ended 31 December 2012 During the seminar you will: 6. To report that the following Officers have been chosen by the Council for the ensuing year:- · Be able to recognise the different types of change a) DAVID JOSEPH PRESIDENT · Understand the different ways in which individuals react to potential change b) LOUISE STRAW VICE PRESIDENT · Learn how to manage resistance to change c) JON HAINEY HONORARY TREASURER · Be introduced to practical techniques to manage the change process more effectively d) MICHAEL HARDACRE HONORARY SECRETARY · Become aware of strategies that help motivate people through change and which lead to a 7. Attendance of Council Members shared vision 8. To elect seven ordinary Members of Council (Nomination Sheet has been posted in the Society’s offices, 64 Bridge Street, Wednesday 6th November 2013 CPD: 1.5 Manchester, M3 3BN) Venue To Be Confirmed 9. To elect Auditors Registration and Breakfast 7.30am - Seminar 8.00am - 9.30am 10. Any other Business Member rate £20.00 + VAT (£24.00) Non Member rate £40.00 + VAT (£48.00) 11. Vote of thanks. Manchester Law Society A copy of the Society’s draft accounts and a print of the Report of the Council can be obtained in advance, at the Society’s office. Autumn Personal Injury Conference, Your early arrival at the meeting is requested as the Society’s staff will be issuing members with 11 th November 2013 voting cards (should a vote take place) and checking membership details prior to the meeting commencing. This will inevitably cause a short delay in entering the meeting. The Future of Legal Should there be a vote please note that solicitors who are not paid up members of the Society are not eligible to vote. If you are in any doubt about whether or not you are able to vote please Services telephone Victoria Ridge or Hollie Hurst on 0161 831 7337 prior to the meeting. 8.30 Coffee and Registration- Exhibits open Yours faithfully 9.00 Welcome from the President of the Manchester Law Society, Such Amin Sucheet Amin , Aequitas Legal President 9.10 Chairman’s Speech, Karen Jackson , Director Roberts Jackson Solicitors 9.20 Rob Cummings, Senior Policy Advisor, ABI Management Conference 2013 The Insurers view 9.50 Matthew Stockwell, President of APIL Marketing Client Experience & Culture The Claimants view 10.20 Panel debate : The Jackson Reforms, have we gone too far or not far enough? Monday, 9th December, 2013 – CPD:6 Rob Cummings, Senior Policy Advisor, ABI At The Hilton Hotel, Deansgate, Manchester Matthew Stockwell, President of APIL Craig Budsworth, Chairman of MASS This conference is aimed at Managing & Senior Partners, “rain-makers” and Senior Business De - John Hyde, Jornalist, Law Gazette velopment Executives Nick Bevan, Founding Director, Enable Law 11.00 Coffee break and Exhibits “More than ever law firms face the challenges of becoming businesses to survive and thrive. Clients 11.30 Craig Budsworth, Chairman of MASS are King! They are much more discerning and expect much more from a firm. To succeed firms have The future of RTA – are we on a collision course? to define policies and processes to support new business acquisition, client retention and client de - 12.00 Mark Stobbs, Director of Legal Policy, The National Law Society velopment. That alone is not enough and developing the right cultural behaviour amongst all staff The future of Legal Services, The National Law Society speaks is critical. This conference is designed to address many of the key issues in a pragmatic way so with 12.30: Panel Debate : Whats next? More reforms, consultations, a swinging pendu the right commitment and desire delegates can make extremely good use of its content in moving lum of change? their firm forward. We have much less to fear and much more to gain by getting the process and cul - Rob Cummings, Senior Policy Advisor, ABI Matthew Stockwell, President of APIL ture right. Craig Budsworth, Chairman of Mass Conference Chair: Jonathan Gulliford Mark Stobbs, Director of Legal Policy, The National Law Society Nick Bevan, Founding Director, Enable Law Programme of Events John Hyde, Journalist, Law Gazette 9.00 – 9.30 Registration, Networking, & Exhibition Donald Fowler, Managing Director, Premex 9.30 – 9.40 Welcome and Introductions 1.00 Lunch Introduction of the chairman and some indicators - Fran Eccles-Bech 2.00 SRA – Senior speaker TBC 9.40 – 10.20 Chairman’s Address Future challenges faced by lawyers, ABS, financial instability, compliance and the The essentials of putting a client and a prospect first. - Jonathan Gulliford referral fee ban 10.20 – 11.20 Understanding the full scope of marketing activity within the law firm 2.20 Adam Sampson, Chief Legal Ombudsman Client retention, development and new business. Market segmentation, product marketing, potential Its all about the consumer – How law firms can help themselves in the changing clients, route to market. Strategy through to operations PR, Advertising, Web Site, Collateral, mailing, net - market. working, events – organisation and resourcing. 2.40 Lesley Graves Managing Director, Citadel Law & Phillip Grundy, Barrister, Mark Hovell, Mills & Reeve & Ruth Shearn, RMS PR St Johns Building 11.20 – 11.40 Break, Networking & Exhibition The Way Ahead for Profit in Personal Injury Post LASPO 11.40 – 12.40 Social Media 3.00 Panel Debate : How to run a profitable practice and survive in 2013, compli What is it? How and why should we do it? What should it be used for? Who do we trust with it – lawyers? ance, financial instability, professional indemnity insurance and the referral Richard Hodkinson, DWF & Steve Kuncewicz, Bermans 12.40 – 13.40 Lunch, Networking and Exhibition fee ban. 13.40 – 14.30 Inbound & Outbound Marketing SRA speaker -tbc What differentiates the two? How should it be done? How do we structure the firm and processes to capi - Adam Sampson, Chief Legal Ombudsman talise on it? Using PMS systems at a contact level for managing prospects, sending quotes, getting signa - Lesley Graves, Managing Director, Citadel Law tures. Using MI to explore the database and create new targets and initiatives. David Vine, Business Development Manager, Allianz PLC Joanna Kingston-Davies, Lees & Bill Kirby, Professional Choice Consultancy Christine Oxenburgh, Partner, Freeth Cartwright 14.30 – 15.30 Client Experience Michelle Garlick, Partner, Weightmans LLP How important is it? What effect does a poor experience create? Mystery Shopper results. Business Rupert Scrase, Chairman, Sole Practitioners Group Processes to enhance the experience. Joanna Swash, Director, Moneypenny The Hilton Hotel, Manchester 15.30 – 15.50 Break, Networking & Exhibition 15.50-16.40 Culture £150.00 + VAT (£180.00 total) - Member delegates It’s all very well having the strategy, the plan and the processes in place but without the hearts and minds £175.00 + VAT (£210.00 total) - Non-member delegates of all staff we are wasting our time – education, accountability, SLAs, team work, buddying Simon Bernstein, Empathy Communications & Tracey Miller, TM Law Coming soon 16.40 – 17.00 Closing Remarks Key message summary - prioritisation - Nick Jarrett Kerr 12th November – Costs Estimating Post Jackson 17.00 – 18.00 Wine, Networking & Exhibition 21st November – Corporate/Commercial Conference For further details contact Victoria Ridge on 0161 241 7472 For further details contact Victoria Ridge on 0161 241 7472 [email protected] [email protected] Regulatory Affairs Committee Update This month’s round up could ted through Suspicious Activ - from the Office of Fair Trading cessation period (which lasts practice when deciding be more appropriately enti - ity Reports (SARs). Other than (OFT) to the Financial Con - 60 days) during which they whether or not to act for tled “out with the old and in a rebrand, the SAR Online duct Authority (FCA) with ef - must - subject to obtaining more than one suspect or de - with the new” as SOCA, con - Service remains unchanged fect from 1 April 2014 and cover - cease practice fendant. sumer credit group licences and you will be able to make one of the inherent changes promptly and certainly by the and those firms who failed to SARs through your online ac - may affect law firms who en - expiry of the cessation period . Criminal plea in absence of full find professional indemnity count in the usual way by vis - gage in consumer credit ac - Whilst some firms will man - disclosure which gives guid - insurance cover take a bow. iting the new NCA website: tivities, such as debt recovery age an orderly wind down it is ance to practitioners on how On the positive side we have http://www.national - work. inevitable that we will see a to discharge their profes - a new crime agency, revisions crimeagency.gov.uk marked increase in the num - sional obligations when ad - to the SRA Handbook, prac - Law firms currently benefit ber of SRA interventions that vising a client how to plea. tice notes from the Law Soci - Along with this change from the Law Society’s Group take place in the New Year as ety and someone to fill comes the need to update Licence, which enables them the SRA steps in and takes en - And finally… Antony Townsend’s shoes at your client engagement doc - to carry out certain consumer forcement action where it the SRA as Chief Executive. uments, office manual and credit activities without the sees fit. We will be monitoring As if we do not have enough website, as well as any other need to apply to the OFT for developments closely given to read we are now on the 8 th A fresh broom… documents which make refer - an individual licence. How - that the outcome of an inter - edition of the Handbook. As that they balance the require - ence to your firm’s anti- ever, this group licence will vention for many partners is well as including the much ments of their regulators and The SRA has announced that money laundering (AML) cease to have effect once the personal insolvency and a re - talked about tweak to the be aware of how to deal with Paul Philip, the Deputy Chief policies and procedures. Re - FCA assumes regulatory con - ferral to the Solicitors Discipli - rules on reporting non mate - any jurisdictional differences Executive and Chief Operat - member that Outcome 7.5 of trol. nary Tribunal. Taking legal rial breaches this latest up - that may affect insurance ing Officer of the General the SRA Code of Conduct re - advice as to your options as date includes a new cover, conflicts of interest and Medical Council, will take over quires you to comply with The detailed FCA regulations early as possible is highly rec - dedicated section dealing client monies. from Anthony Townsend as legislation applicable to your will be published before the ommended. with the overseas rules which Chief Executive from 1 Febru - business, including anti- end of the year and the SRA are of relevance to those firms Michelle Garlick ary 2014. It will be interesting money laundering and data has confirmed that it will pro - New Practice Notes with international offices. Re - Manchester Law Society to see how this change at the protection legislation. In car - vide further guidance, includ - member that the SRA defini - Regulatory Affars top affects the direction of rying out these updates, it is ing FAQs, to help firms decide The Law Society has released tion of overseas includes Committee the SRA and whether or not a also important to consider whether they need or wish to two new practice notes that those firms with offices north Weightmans new personality will change the provisions of the EU’s apply for an individual licence will be of interest to criminal of the border in Scotland. the professions perception of Fourth Money Laundering Di - going forward. defence lawyers. These are: Those firms who are dual reg - its regulator. rective which, published in ulated by both the SRA and draft earlier this year, require Swan song Conflicts of interests in criminal the appropriate entity in their What’s in a name? documented AML risk assess - cases which sets out best host country need to ensure ments. For some firms it is crunch SOCA has been replaced by time. Any who were unfortu - the National Crime Agency Consumer credit group li - nate enough to spend the (NCA) which takes over the cence scrapped month of October in the ex - running of the UK Financial tended indemnity period and Intelligence Unit, the body re - Following a consultation, reg - who subsequently failed to sponsible for receiving and ulation of consumer credit ac - secure cover or find a succes - analysing intelligence submit - tivities is being transferred sor will now have entered a Substantial Funding for International Study

The HM Hubbard Trust is once again inviting applications from solicitors and trainees. The Trust provides Scholarships of up to £27,000 for a year’s Master’s level course to be carried out in Canada, Spain or France. Preference is given to trainees and solicitors who have recently passed their Legal Practice Course or have been practising as a lawyer for up to 3 years.

The Trust was established by the will of the London based solicitor, Henry Malcolm Hub - bard, who had substantial business interests in Canada, Spain and Latin America. It is be - lieved that he worked in Barcelona and was instrumental in bringing electricity to that part of Spain.

Commenting on the awards provided by the Trust, Vince Cheshire of TMF Group (the Trust Administrator) said:

“The funding provides a life changing opportunity for ambitious lawyers. Increasingly lawyers need to have an international outlook. Studying abroad for a higher qualification provides a substantial lift in both legal knowledge and cultural understanding both of which are very important when working across national borders.”

Further information on the Trust and the application process can be found at the Trust web site: www.hubbardlawscholarship.com. Application forms are also available from the site.

The application closing date is 30th November with short-listed applicants being asked to meet with the Trustees in mid-December. www.hubbardlawscholarship.com Eventus Legal successfully recruit legal professionals for Private Practice across the North West on both a contract and permanent basis, from Paralegal to Senior Partner level. We are trusted as “the first point of contact” for many firms to resolve their recruitment needs whether contingent or retained. Please call us on 01524 542655 or 07970252772 or email [email protected] if you have any recruitment needs or if you are a candidate who would like some honest, straight forward career advice www.eventuslegal.co.uk Unprecedented growth for Delayed flight compensation service win Weightmans real estate team legal awards double A Personal Injury law firm in his part in creating the nised among those business Weightmans LLP has ap - "The firm really values the Cheshire has become a dou - ground-breaking legal service looking forward and not pointed Deborah Rawlin - relationships it has with ble winner at the Modern in the Rising Star category back.” son to the position of both clients and employees Law Awards for its recently open to solicitors less than launched and industry- five years qualified. On receiving the Rising Star of associate at the firm’s and there is a great ethos of leading flight compensa - The service was developed the Year award, Coby Benson, North West offices. hard work and innovation tion service and the only following a ruling by the Euro - Technical Legal Manager said: that I am very proud to be - firm to scoop two awards on pean Court of Justice in Octo - “It’s been a great team effort Deborah was formerly with come a part of." the night. ber 2012 that paved the way to get this flight compensa - Bullivant Jones and latterly for hundreds of thousands of tion service off the ground, Hill Dickinson before joining Karl Jackson, Partner and Bott & Co, one of the largest claimants on delayed and with lots of legal research and Weightmans. She spe - Head of the National Real personal injury specialists in cancelled flights within the complex technology in - cialises in all aspects of com - Estate team at Weightmans the UK, diversified in the wake past six years under EU Regu - volved. I’m very flattered that mercial property work, with said: "We are once again de - of a number of industry re - lation 261. my part in this has been a particular focus on devel - lighted to be welcoming an - forms in 2013 and established recognised by such a presti - opment and retail work. She other member to our Real a new flight compensation The firm was shortlisted in gious event as the Modern will split her time between Estate team. Deborah is a service, becoming the first each of the five categories it Law awards.” two of the firm's North West highly respected lawyer and law firm in the country to spe - entered: Innovation of the offices in Manchester and brings a wealth of experi - cialise in delayed flight com - Year; Team of the Year; Rising Bott & Co attended the cere - Liverpool. ence and specialist knowl - pensation claims. Star of the Year; Alternative mony with partners EUclaim, edge. Her appointment Business Structure (100 em - Europe’s leading flight spe - Securing more than 7,500 ployees); and Compliance Of - cialists whose extensive data - Said Deborah Rawlinson:"I places us in a very confident Deborah Rawlinson am thrilled to be joining position nationally - she is a clients and almost £3m of ficer Legal Practice (COLP) of bases keep a real time record claims in just seven months the Year. of delayed flights and makes such a forward-thinking fantastic addition to our follows Associate Tony Parry since launching in February the claims process quick and in August, the promotion of firm. Weightmans is com - quickly growing team." 2013, the aviation depart - Paul Hinchliffe, Managing easy for affected passengers. mitted to developing a Matthew Williamson to the ment picked up the Team of Partner at the firm com - It is this partnership and data strong property team which Deborah is the latest in a se - partnership in May and the the Year at the Modern Law mented, “Considering the sharing across Europe that signifies a confidence in ries of appointments appointment of Ben Ache - awards, and co-founder of the tremendous effort it took to has enabled Bott & Co to be - substantial future growth. Weightmans has made to son and James Cullen as delayed flight legal service, move from concept to launch come the foremost legal au - their Real Estate team. She Partners in June. Coby Benson, took home the in just two months, including thority on recovering flight Rising Star of the Year. the integration of IT systems compensation under Regula - across two countries, winning tion 261. The Modern Law Awards is these awards is a much wel - one of the most prestigious comed recognition of our in - The Regulation entitles pas - events on the legal calendar credible team here and the sengers to claim up to ?600 with the ceremony held at the service they are providing for for a flight that is delayed Dorchester Hotel in London. passengers unable to recover more than three hours after The shortlisting panel recog - their rightful compensation its scheduled arrival time nised the innovation and en - from airlines. when departing from an EU deavour of Bott & Co’s airport or arriving from out - aviation team in assisting air “It was a fantastic and well or - side the EU on an EU carrier. passengers and recovering ganised event and with lots of The compensation is paid out compensation for delayed firms taking the upheaval of based on distance travelled and cancelled flights. the legal landscape as an op - with smaller amounts for portunity with both hands, it shorter distances. Coby Benson was awarded for was marvellous to be recog - Davis Blank Furniss becomes official provider of LawyerSupportedMediation.com Davis Blank Furniss – the mediation process. When set - Manchester & Glossop ting a fixed fee the firm’s Fam - based law firm – has been ily department will take into announced as an official account each client’s specific provider of www.Lawyer - requirements and financial SupportedMediation.com - circumstances. a new approach for resolv - ing issues arising from di - Lawyer Supported Mediation vorce or separation. Lawyer requires both parties to par - Supported Mediation is a ticipate so Advantage Resolu - growing network of senior tion Ltd will act as the family lawyers around the professional go-between to UK that was founded by Ad - impartially support both par - vantage Resolution Ltd. ties in deciding if the media - tion process is for them. If The service is aimed at sepa - called upon, it is their role to rating partners who, although establish the willingness of in disagreement, want to the separating/former part - avoid the strain and expense ner to participate. There is no Anita Shepherd of more costly court proceed - charge for this added service. ported Mediation combines ings. Choosing Lawyer Sup - The aim is to encourage sepa - the best of both worlds: one ported Mediation means that rating couples to resolve mat - of our team of expert family local North West clients re - ters without the need for lawyers providing the advice ferred to Davis Blank Furniss formal court proceedings. a client would need plus a via the company will benefit fully trained family mediator from a fixed fee for all the Anita Shepherd, head of the to help reach an agreement in legal support and advice that Family department at Davis a cost effective, supported they will need in order to Blank Furniss, commented: and seamless process.” reach agreement during the “We believe Lawyer Sup - BARRY FRIESLANDER MCIArb P: 08448 777 888 Certified Mediator M: 07973 394 803 Complex business & matrimonial disputes resolved E: [email protected] W: www.dispute-resolve.co.uk Barry holds Certified Elite Mediator status, compliant with the UK Ministry of Justice, EU & UK Civil Mediation Council Mediator Database and is accredited by the ADR Group. Blackstone Solicitors mark 3 rd Anniversary as Myerson expands Family Law department business triples in size Myerson has further ex - Based in Hale, Cheshire panded its private client Blackstone Solicitors have service by the appoint - just celebrated their 3 rd ment of Family Solicitor Anniversary. Nichola Morris, who will assist Jane Tenquist in the Set up by Emma Nawaz in Family Team. 2010 along with a secretary the business has grown and Nichola will help Myerson flourished and now has a build on its increasing pro - team of 6 and is constantly file in complex high value looking for high calibre staff. family cases and contested Blackstone Solicitors is an children matters, which innovative law Firm, special - often involve an interna - ising in dispute resolution. tional element. An official launch party was Shelley Barnes, Daniel Thomas, Charlotte Turner, Sarah Townsend, recently held at the new of - Emma Nawaz and Sophie Freelove Jane Tenquist says: “I am de - fices on Cecil Road in Hale. lighted to welcome Nichola highly reputation within the to Myerson. The Family industry and with this expe - Team has moved from rience comes a list of loyal strength to strength over clients. At the recent An - the last year and is now niversary event attended by listed in the Legal 500 as a over 100 guests Emma leading firm in the North thanked her clients for all West. We provide excellent their support. “Our philoso - client care service at com - phy is to work hard, deliver petitive rates. Nichola Morris results and provide excel - tor. She understands the family dynamic very well, but man - lent customer service. Our Nichola is known as a first ages to keep a cool head, which is very important for our tenacious approach com - rate advocate and negotia - clients.” bines an extremely high level of academic legal ex - pertise, with a wealth of ‘real Quartet of Promotions for Manchester Elizabeth Garus, Simon Ismail, Emma Nawaz, Mark Stebbings and world’ experience. Frazer Fearnhead We are thrilled to have office of Mills & Reeve Since the launch in 2010 the property disputes to much moved to this new location more complex areas of law which allows us the oppor - National law firm Mills & ter, culminating in its merger been very positive for the turnover has doubled each Reeve’s Manchester office earlier this year with Man - firm, with all staff embracing year. Predictions show that and commerce. tunity to expand further. I These include multifarious am so pleased that so many has announced four pro - chester based law firm, the merger and welcoming within 3 years the business motions, underlining its George Davies. The Man - the opportunity to build on property issues, multi mil - guests were able to join us will hit a £1million turnover. commitment to organic chester office now provides internal expertise with new lion pound commercial dis - for this special occasion in Blackstone has a diverse growth. clients with a full service colleagues and teams. Post- client base, consisting of putes and representations our calendar. The whole team are very legal offering. merger, we’ve already clients from the local area, in the Court of Appeal. Matthew Chantler of the recorded numerous suc - to both national and inter - proud of our success and passionate about winning sports team, commercial dis - Mark Hovell, partner and cesses, promotions and new national. Issues dealt with Managing Director Emma pute resolution specialist head of Mills & Reeve’s Man - client wins.” cases for our clients.” range from relatively small Nawaz has an enviable Rachael Mongan, Richard chester office, said: Hawkridge of the projects A full service law firm with and construction team, and “Congratulations are defi - nationally renowned expert - David Hawkins of the insur - nitely in order for Rachael, ise in the agriculture, chari - QualitySolicitors Abney Garsden highly ance team have all been pro - Richard, David and Matthew. ties, education, food and moted to senior solicitor. Their promotions are very beverage, health, insurance, commended in national law awards well deserved, representing a private wealth, real estate in - Over the last five years Mills & lot of hard work and determi - vestment, sport and technol - Specialist law firm, Quali - his professional life to sup - Reeve has successfully ex - nation. ogy sectors, , Mills & Reeve tySolicitors Abney Gars - porting the victims of child panded its service provision has six offices across the UK. den have achieved further abuse and has been Lead and reputation in Manches - “The last few months have success in this year’s Solicitor in over 25 different Eclipse Proclaim Modern Group Actions involving Law Awards. over 1000 Claimants. The awards, hosted by The solicitors firm also re - software company ceived special recognition Eclipse, were launched to in the category of Excel - celebrate and identify tal - lence in Innovation for its ent and success in entre - case management system preneurship, market for child abuse cases. development, business management and best Commenting on the practice in the modern awards, Managing Partner legal services arena. Peter Garsden said: “I am Peter Garsden very proud to have been Macclesfield based Peter highly commended for So - Garsden, Principal of Abney licitor of the Year at the of the Year at the Manches - Garsden McDonald and Modern Law Awards, last ter Legal Awards and have President of A.C.A.L (Associ - Wednesday - it makes all the also been short listed for the ation of Child Abuse hard work more worth - Law Society Excellence Lawyers) was Highly Com - while.” awards to be held in Octo - mended in the Solicitor of ber and the Personal Injury the Year category. He has Earlier this year the special - awards in November. devoted the last 17 years of ist law firm won Small Firm Richard Hawkridge, David Hawkins, Rachael Mongan and Matthew Chantler 8 Movers & Shakers Hilary Meredith Solicitors expands military Two new Partners at Brabners department with key partner appointment Leading North West law He has acted for military has expertise in advising firm Brabners has an - company directors, share - structor, parachutist and witness in the Baha Mousa Hilary Meredith Solicitors nounced the appointment Public Inquiry and the Al- holders and other stake - Ltd, which celebrates its diver, Grant proudly served his country worldwide for 10 of two new Partners – Sweady Public Inquiry. He holders of non-performing tenth anniversary in Octo - Lachlan Nisbet and has joined the firm from Hill businesses. He was formerly ber, has appointed military years before a knee injury Robert Turner. Dickinson, where he was a a Partner at EOS Law, before specialist Grant Evatt as a brought his military career to which he was at Cobbetts. partner. a premature end. Partner. Lachlan Nisbet has a wealth Grant will be based in the Grant’s new career as a solici - of experience in litigation Corporate recovery and in - Mark Brandwood, Manag - firm’s London office and joins tor has been equally success - and regulatory matters to - solvency specialist Robert ing Partner at Brabners, Hilary Meredith Solicitors Ltd ful. A member of the Law gether with specialist ex - Turner has over ten years said: “We are delighted to from Blake Lapthorn. He ad - Society’s specialist personal pertise in health and safety, experience in the restruc - welcome Robert and Lach - vises on a wide range of per - injury panel since May 2005, public and administrative turing field and his expert - lan to Brabners. Their ap - sonal injury claims, with a Grant has Senior Litigator sta - law, criminal and discipli - ise includes dealing with pointments build on our particular expertise and inter - tus with the Association of nary law, and firearms and non contentious and con - ongoing investments in our est in serious work accident Personal Injury Lawyers field-sports law, including li - tentious insolvency and act - corporate recovery and reg - claims and those involving (APIL), is the co-ordinator of censing and trading stan - ing for administrators, ulatory capabilities and re - members of the Armed APIL’s Military Special Interest Grant Evatt dards. Lachlan’s previous trustees in bankruptcy and flect our commitment to Group and is an Honorary Forces in relation to accidents experience extends to pros - other insolvency practition - expanding our offering to Legal Adviser to forces charity Said Hilary Meredith, CEO at on and off duty, together with ecution work for a variety of ers as well as banks, asset clients.” advice on the Armed Forces SSAFA. Hilary Meredith Solicitors, who has over 25 years’ experi - public bodies, including the based lenders and other fi - Compensation Scheme Health & Safety Executive. nancial institutions. He also (AFCS). Commenting on his decision ence in pursuing legal actions to join Hilary Meredith Solici - on behalf of the Armed Grant has a long-standing as - tors Ltd, Grant, who was Forces: “Grant is a key addi - sociation with the military shortlisted in the Outstanding tion to our military team and having joined the Junior Case of the Year category at we are thrilled to welcome Leaders Regiment Royal Ar - the 2012 Eclipse Proclaim Per - him to the firm. A passionate tillery aged just 16. After 12- sonal Injury Awards for work advocate for justice he has months basic training he in SG v Hewitt at the Court of won millions of pounds for volunteered for Commando Appeal, said: “I am absolutely military clients, often over - Forces. Grant and 2 others delighted to join the team at coming the odds. His drive, from a group of 30 success - Hilary Meredith Solicitors. This determination and passion is fully passed the All Arms was an easy decision for me clear for all to see.” Commando Course at the on both a professional and Commando Training Centre personal level. Hilary and I Grant Evatt is the second sen - Royal Marines and he was share the very same honest ior military specialist to join posted to 8 Battery 29 Com - values and strong desire to Hilary Meredith Solicitors Ltd mando Regiment RA in Ply - achieve justice for the injured in recent months. Earlier this mouth. and disabled in our commu - year the firm appointed for - nities. I can’t wait to make a mer TA Colonel and military A qualified Platoon weapon’s start.” solicitor Mark Fielding as a instructor, military skiing in - partner.

l-r Robert Turner, Mark Brandwood, Lachlan Nisbet Express Solicitors reports 35% increase in turnover Manchester-based per - partment of six. sonal injury law firm, Ex - Testament to its continued press Solicitors, has commitment to organic reported a 35% increase growth, it has also recently in fee income over the last promoted seven of its new 12 months. End of year client team to junior fee figures were £5.3 for 2012 earners and paralegals. and £7.2m for the year end in 2013. Managing partner at Ex - press Solicitors, James Express Solicitors has also Maxey said: “This has been a seen its caseloads grow by fantastic year for us, despite 34% over the same period the changes in law that ac - following a year of signifi - tually make it harder for per - cant organic growth. sonal injury law firms to The firm attributes its suc - succeed. cess to increased web spend from £20,000 to “We are an ambitious firm £40,000 per month, focus - with a solid growth strategy ing on PPC and SEO, the in place and we’ve been James Maxey launch two new dedicated proactive in both marketing websites covering serious and recruitment to ensure injury and cerebral palsy the firm deals with the Express Solicitors currently and a 53% increase in its enormous changes in the comprises 147 employees stake in Injury Lawyers 4 U legal marketplace , without including 12 partners and Solicitors consortium. feeling their force finan - 40 earners. cially. The firm specialises in per - During the financial year, sonal injury and accident Express Solicitors also fo - “With a great team behind claims, medical and clinical cussed on strengthening its us, we will look to consoli - negligence claims and seri - clinical negligence team date and grow over the next ous injury cases. with Nicola Winslett and year to help us reach our Kathryn Turner appointed at target of £10m turnover partner level to lead the de - within two to three years.” Local News 9 24 New Recruits for JMW Just Costs Solicitors introduces exciting Leading full service Man - Stephen Reynolds and leased the entire building new Costs Advance Scheme chester based law firm Nathan O’Connor, who both over a 5 year period for fur - Just Costs Solicitors has we are pleased to an - JMW Solicitors LLP has completed their training ther expected growth joined forces with a lead - nounce the re-launch of this taken on 24 new recruits contacts at JMW. Nathan across all departments in ing litigation funder to re- important product and with in the last 3 months. This last year won the Rising Star the firm. launch a Costs Advance this new facility now in is in addition to those who award at the JCI Manchester Scheme. place, we are delighted that joined from Goodman Young Talent awards. The Commenting on the num - a number of our law firm Harvey in June 2013. Department had already ber of new appointments at This product enables law clients are benefitting from been augmented by the ad - JMW, Senior Partner, Joy firms to draw down up to improved cash-flow, which JMW’s corporate team has dition of Partners mark Kingsley commented; 70% of their likely recover - is helping to accelerate their grown with the recruitment Jones and Alsion Parry from able costs once damages practice growth. of three new Solicitors and Goodman Harvey. “We are pleased to welcome have been settled on their one newly qualified Solici - all of our new starters who Personal Injury, Clinical Mark goes on to set out tor. Sara Bluston joins from JMW’s clinical negligence have joined us over the sum - Negligence and Industrial some of the key benefits to Brabners LLP and Mona Ni - team has recruited a new mer. All our departments Disease cases, within 48 the Costs Advance scheme ayesh joins from Ralli Solici - Solicitor, Ciaran Harper who seem to be flourishing at the hours. “there are no personal guar - tors LLP and is joined by joins from Asons Solicitors moment and we are de - antees required to set up Kate Wagstaffe who quali - in Bolton and Francesca lighted with how the firm is Mark Hartigan, Client Serv - the facility, payment is fast Mark Hartigan fied as a Solicitor in Septem - Powell joins the team as a continuing to grow and pros - ices Director of Just Costs (within 48 hours) and ber after completing Paralegal. Scott Ritchie joins per. It has been a very busy says “We ran a similar money is paid straight into Negligence cases. This will training contract at JMW. the residential conveyanc - time at JMW over the last few scheme to this 5 years ago the law firm office account be launched with in the Rachel Dudley joins the in - ing team as a Conveyancer years and our continued which was very popular with all administration sim - next 6 weeks. tellectual property team from Lewis Hymanson Small growth has meant the need amongst our client-base ply carried out via an online from EMW Law LLP based in Solicitors. Scott works in all for us to occupy more office but, due to the credit system. For further information, Milton Keynes where she areas of residential con - space as we now have over crunch, the sector saw contact Amber Holt, Na - spent 6 months on an IP veyancing but specialises in 230 staff based in Spinning - many specialist funders In addition to the Costs Ad - tional Client Relationship secondment at Santander acting for new build devel - fields compared with 150 ,3 withdraw from the market - vance Scheme, Just Costs is Manager on 0161 618 1784 UK Plc. oper’s purchasers and years ago.” place. However, having working with the funder to or email: counts Seddon Homes as worked with a number of launch a disbursement [email protected] The commercial property one of his clients. Commenting on the lease funders over the past year, funding product for Clinical team has seen the arrival of of the Old School House for two new Solicitors and an JMW’s newly established additional office space for Associate as it continues to costs team have grown JMW, Bill Jones, Managing grow after the acquisition of from one person to a team Partner at JMW said; “We The deadline for the December edition of Goodman Harvey in June of five in just 5 months and looked at several options with the arrival of Stephen is headed up by Debbie when we realised that we The Messenger is 13th November 2013. Goodman and then the ap - Monaghan. The team was would need more office pointment of Claire Hamil - originally created to assist space to meet with the de - ton as Partner from Mills the personal injury team mand for our growing num - and Reeve (formally George but now also works with ber of staff and Partners. I Send your stories to [email protected] Davies). Julian Rogozinski JMW’s clinical negligence was delighted when it be - joins as a Solicitor from Lin - and commercial litigation came clear that our best op - der Myers and Emma Town - teams. The in-house costs tion was to lease the whole ley joins as a Solicitor from team ensure a smoother of the Old School House, Southerns, where she and swifter agreement of which was our office until worked for over 5 years and costs between JMW and the 2006. It is great news that counts Handelsbanken as a defendant insurers. we are all able to stay on key client. Paul Burton came one site.” as an Associate from DWF JMW have also recruited six LLP and covers all areas of Trainee Solicitors across var - In May 2013 JMW an - commercial property but ious departments. nounced that Income at the has specific expertise in oc - firm was up by 13% from cupiers’ especially within To keep up with this contin - £13.2 million to £15 million the leisure industry, social ued growth JMW has leased and profit by 25%. This year housing and renewable en - 9000 ft. of space in the Old has already seen further ergy. School House, which used growth with revenue up to JMW’s office until 2006 30% on the same 5 month JMW’s Commercial Litiga - when they built their state period last year. tion team has taken on two of the art office on their car newly qualified Solicitors, park. The firm have now 10 Movers & Shakers Aequitas Legal’s growth continues ... Myerson expands Commercial Aequitas Legal based in paralegal and Emma Tyson Legal really did put the Exchange Quay has hired supports the administrative clients at the centre of Property team four new employees to functions as an office assis - everything they did. The support its continued tant. commitment to ongoing Altrincham commercial growth based on an 8% training and development law firm, Myerson is very increase in new matters in Sucheet says “recruiting the beyond the core legal skills pleased to announce that 2013. right attitude in people is was a strong factor why I Karen Parry has joined the key here. We can always wanted to work here.” firm as a Solicitor in its Suzanne Mason and Carl train skills but attitude is Commercial Property de - Jones, both experienced hard to change so it is im - As a specialist personal in - partment. personal injury specialists portant that we find the jury practice facing the chal - join the team of solicitors qualities in people that lenges of adapting to the Karen joins from Brabners, under the Managing Part - match our core values”. Jackson reforms, the firm is Manchester and specialises ner, Sucheet Amin who is striving to set itself apart on in the sale and purchase of also President of Manches - Suzanne commented customer service and expe - business premises, com - ter Law Society. “throughout the unusual in - rienced solicitors to attract mercial leases (acting for terviewing process, it was new business in the future. both landlord and tenant) Tarandip Lally joins as a clear to me that Aequitas and property finance. Karen’s appointment takes Karen Parry the Commercial Property team at Myerson to seven Lee and Andrew Chapman. are able to offer our clients. and comes on the back of Richard Lloyd, Partner and We now have one of the another successful year for Head of Commercial Prop - largest commercial prop - the department. This suc - erty at Myerson, said:- “I erty teams outside of Man - cess has recently been am delighted to welcome chester City Centre and are recognised by the Legal Karen to the team. As with able to offer a real alterna - 500, with the department all our solicitors she comes tive to the city centre firms, being ranked as a second with many years’ expertise both in terms of cost and tier firm ‘Elsewhere in the gained at a large city centre high quality service deliv - North West’ and individual commercial firm and her ar - ery.” lawyer recommendations rival further strengthens the for Richard Lloyd, Jeremy property offering which we Record levels of new instructions for Just Costs - as the Manchester firm scoops ABS Award Latest figures released by structions by the end of At the same awards cere - North West firm Just Costs September represents our mony, Shirley Rothel was Solicitors reveal it has re - strongest performance yet. also highly commended for Tarandip Lally, Suzanne Mason, Emma Tyson, Carl Jones ceived a record-breaking The high volumes are as a her role as Compliance Offi - 5000 new instructions so result of increased levels of cer for Finance and Admin - far this year - with the business from long stand - istration at Just Costs. legal costs specialists also ing clients and instructions being named as “ABS Firm from a wide range of new Shirley has the day to day of The Year (50 to 100 em - clients we have attracted to responsibilities for the Fi - ployees)” at the newly the business. In total, we nance and Administrative launched Eclipse Proclaim are now acting for over 300 Teams at Just Costs and en - Modern Law Awards. law firms across the UK.” sures that the business is fully compliant. Under Just Costs was granted ABS Commenting on the firm’s Shirley’s guidance, Just status in January 2013 – be - award, which was pre - Costs have experienced coming the first legal serv - sented in front of 500 peo - clear audits and have never ices provider specialising in ple at the Dorchester Hotel incurred any SRA breaches. legal costs to become an in London, Paul Shenton ABS. added: “We are particularly Just Costs, launched in pleased to see our progress 2006, has offices in Man - “2013 is turning into our since receiving our ABS li - chester, London and best ever year,” said Manag - cence recognised with a Chesterfield. ing Director Paul Shenton, leading industry award. It is The firm has recovered who is dual qualified as a so - recognition from a panel of record levels of costs for its licitor and barrister. independent judges that clients since inception, we are adapting to the fu - namely a quarter of a billion “To receive 5000 new in - ture.” pounds to date. Environmental expert joins Stripes

Environmental expert contaminated land guide - Denise Dowen has joined lines. Stripes Solicitors as Head of Environment, Health Denise also has extensive and Safety Law. experience in defending health and safety prosecu - Denise has many years ex - tions including fatal acci - perience in complex envi - dents. ronmental litigation having represented waste manage - Managing Director Andrew ment companies, pesticide Stripe said ‘we are very manufacturers and national pleased to have Denise on construction companies. board and this addition to She has developed a partic - the firm shows our contin - Denise Dowen ular niche in advising major ued commitment to ensur - insurance companies on ing that our commercial pollution claims affecting clients have access to spe - the insurance industry in - cialist advice’. cluding advice on the new DNA - the true test of any relationship Dr Neil Sullivan gives an update on recent developments in DNA testing

The use of DNA testing is a fine example of the devolution of complex technology into our society, through testing for ancestry (the recent exhumation of Richard III is a good example), to testing for possible criminal activity in foren- sics and the use of DNA technology to identify and quan- tify horsemeat in beef.

But it is the application of DNA testing to family law where the technology has found its greatest proponent and television programmes such as “Trisha”, “The Jeremy Kyle Show” and var- The Ministry of Justice provides a list of companies who it has grandparents or uncles and aunties. While the figures for re- ious soap operas have made DNA testing accessible and ac - accredited for section 20 paternity testing, by virtue of run - latedness will not be as strong as for a direct paternity test, we ceptable to the general public. ning laboratory services which meet the ISO 17025 standard. can often gain probabilities of relatedness of 85% to 95%, If you are intending a DNA test on behalf of a client, for any which can be a very useful supporting figure when taken with Not unsurprisingly, many family law, inheritance and social purpose, then it is strongly recommended that you choose an other evidence. services cases are now being resolved satisfactorily by use of accredited supplier from this list (*see link below). DNA technology, as the possibilities for the accurate determi- The use of DNA profiling is now embedded as a key tool for nation of close biological relationships become understood A key issue is that we have “appropriate and qualifying” con - the legal profession and new applications of the technology by a wider audience. sent to carry out a DNA test, an activity which is is regulated will support case-work for several years to come. by the Human Tissue Act, 2004. The majority of cases requiring a DNA test are those where we * http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/paternity-testing/pater- are trying to prove that a tested male is, or is not, the true bi- This means that we require such consent from each adult nity-test ological father of a tested child. party to be tested and if the test involves a child under 16, then we must have consent from a person with parental re - Dr Neil Sullivan, General Manager, Complement Genomics Ltd To establish paternity the DNA is extracted from a few cells sponsibility for that child. (trading as dadcheck®), is a company accredited by the Min- taken from the buccal cavity, a painless and non-invasive pro- istry of Justice as a body that may carry out parentage tests di- cedure. This is generally the mother, but may be the father under cer - rected by the civil courts in England and Wales under section tain circumstances or some other body (sometimes jointly 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969. The DNA is then examined for regions of similarity between shared with the parents), such as the local authority. the tested persons. A DNA test report will then confirm that Website for professional use: http://www.dadcheckgold.com the tested man is (with a certainty in excess of 99.999%) or is DNA technology can be just as useful for deciphering other bi - not the biological father of the tested child (with 100% cer - ological relationships, e.g. in cases where parents are not avail - tainty). able we can establish a presumed parentage via use of 12 Feature Mediation – The ADR/ODR Directive and the Civil Mediation Council

I am the Law Society’s rep - any professional indemnity there will be an ADR proce - form’). The ODR platform resentative on the board insurance. dure available for all con - will link all the national ADR of the Civil Mediation tractual disputes in every entities. This single entry Council (the CMC). The The mediator profession is market sector and in every point is designed to be a CMC is a voluntary body an eclectic one with multi - Member State (apart from user-friendly and interactive set up to promote the use farious interest groups the health and education website, available in all EU of mediation throughout claiming the right to repre - sectors which will not be official languages and free the UK. At the moment, sent them. However, it re - covered by the ADR Direc - of charge. Online traders individual mediators and mains to be seen whether tive). In addition, all ADR en - will also provide an elec - mediation providers can the current hegemony will tities will have to meet tronic link to the ODR plat - become members of the continue. quality criteria which guar - form on their websites to CMC. antee that they operate in inform consumers. These are exciting times in an effective, fair, independ - The CMC, however, only ac - the mediation world, with ent and transparent way. Member States will have 24 credits mediation providers the Jackson reforms having Those traders who commit months after the entry into and there is no official regu - yet to have their impact on to, or are obliged to use, force of the Directive to latory organisation dealing civil litigation. The recent re - ADR will need to inform transpose it into their na - with mediators as a whole view of the Chancery Divi - consumers about ADR on tional legislation, which profession, similar to the sion recommended a their websites and in their means that it should be im - SRA which regulates solici - change in culture to pro - general terms and condi - plemented by mid-2015. tors and the Legal Ombuds - mote mediation more ac - tions. All traders will need to man which deals with tively. The impetus is inform consumers about Consumers who encounter complaints about them. towards increasing the ADR when a dispute cannot a problem with an online There is no obligation to be take-up of mediation, as op - be settled directly between purchase will be able to registered with the CMC in posed to litigating. the consumer and the submit a complaint online order to offer mediation trader. through the ODR platform, services, but being accred - The EU is also promoting in the language of their ited by the CMC is the pre- mediation through the EU The ODR Regulation will en - choice. The ODR platform requisite of being able to directive on ADR and ODR able EU consumers and will notify the trader that a apply to the Find a Civil Me - (“online dispute resolution”) traders to submit disputes complaint is lodged against diator Directory on the Di - The position is that the ADR arising from online pur - him. The consumer and the Peter Causton rect Gov website. Anyone Directive is intended to pro - chases to ADR online, using trader will then agree on can act as a mediator and vide for full ADR coverage at the EU-wide dispute resolu - which ADR entity to use to that some overarching body need not necessarily have EU level. This means that tion platform (‘ODR plat - solve their dispute. When on this issue and the MOJ is is likely to be given the task they agree, the chosen ADR looking into regulation of of regulating the “ADR enti - entity will receive the details ADR entities under the EU ties”, whether an existing of the dispute via the ODR directive. It is an exciting body like the CMC, the Fi - platform. time, therefore, to be in - nancial Ombudsman Serv - volved in the CMC and I will ice, Trading Standards or The ODR platform will be continue to keep the Man - some other body. connected to the national chester Law Society in - Whilst not only involving ADR entities set up and no - formed as to any mediation, it is likely that tified to the Commission, in developments. Likewise, if some form of regulation for line with the new rules of any member has any feed - mediators may be in - the ADR Directive. The new back as users of mediation evitable in an era of con - rules will provide for ADR services which they would sumer rights. entities to settle a dispute like me to raise with the within 90 days. CMC, please let me know. It is unlikely, in my view, that the current system of medi - The MOJ is likely to be con - Peter Causton ator regulation and accred - sulting about the imple - Mediator itation will continue. mentation of the Directive Berrymans Lace Mawer The CMC recently issued a in 2014, but it seems likely consultation to members continued from front cover

The emphasis for those tion and that the partners ward, both affected individ - firms on the brink should be are aware of their obliga - ual firms and the wider pro - on designing a route map tions to minimise losses to fession tackles the for turnaround rather than creditors. This process will fundamental structural is - closure. Time and again it is involve consultation with sues with a view to identify - the firms that take early re - professional advisers, and ing a sustainable solution medial action who avoid the bank will usually be pre - and seizing emerging op - disaster. Similarly, those that pared to sanction the ex - portunities. manage a successful turn - penditure on such advice. around are very often firms Detailed cash flow forecasts Michelle Garlick and Do - where all partners buy in to and projections are also minic Vincent are both the process and remain fo - conditions precedent and partners at Weightmans cused on the task in hand. the bank will be more likely LLP and member’s of the to be supportive if they be - firm’s Legal Services Team, Another essential ingredi - lieve that the firm’s partners which provides legal ad - ent of a successful turn - are united and that leader - vice and support – rang - around strategy is the ship is strong. ing from employment to approval of those stake - insolvency - to law firms holders, such as the SRA, It may now be too late to throughout the UK. If your banks and creditors, whose avoid casualties arising from firm is experiencing any of co-operation is paramount. the refusal of PII cover and, the issues raised above, Banks, for instance, will in light of the fact that a Weightmans’ specialist want to know that the firm market correction is unlikely team can be contacted for has taken appropriate ad - to be forthcoming, it is im - confidential advice on vice regarding its cash posi - perative that, going for - 0161 2140590. Local News 13 Dinah Crystal, Chair of the them for their continued sup - charities that offer free advice North West Legal Trust port.” to those most in need. (NWLST) said the funds from the walk would help support His Honour Judge Platts In January 2013 the North the most disadvantaged made a speech at the drinks West Legal Support Trust members of society. reception after the Walk at made grants to the following “The charities supported by The Oast House in Spinning - organisations; the NWLST help facilitate ac - fields and urged all the partic - cess to justice for the poorest ipants to keep supporting the Blackpool CAB and most disadvantaged Trust’s fundraising efforts over Cumbria Law Centre members of society providing the coming months, to ensure Independent Choices (who free legal help to people fac - the NWLST can continue to support victims of domestic ing problems such as home - support free legal advice abuse) lessness, debt, employment, charities across the region. Liverpool Central CAB family issues, discrimination Merseyside Employment and injustice.” The North West Legal Support Law Trust is a charity which raises Vauxhall Community Law & “Without the involvement of money to distribute to legal Information Centre all levels of the legal profes - advice agencies throughout sion including the Lead Walk - the North West. The Trust is More information is also ers, Members of the Judiciary, supported by the Access to available at Law Firms, Chambers, Legal Justice Foundation and along www.nwlst.org.uk Professional bodies and Law with six other regional trusts, Students this event would not raises funds that enable it to be possible, and we thank make grants to legal advice

Burton Copeland ‘cops and robbers’ - Laura Ward-Jones, Nick Terry & Gina Clayton Deans Court Chambers win Regional Chambers of the year Award The Chambers UK Bar two circuit judges and a silk Michael Hayton QC, who Slater & Gordon Awards highlight the ex - have all been appointed collected the award on be - cellence of the UK Bar. from within its ranks. A half of Chambers said: “This Deans Court was de - Chambers of choice in the award was the culmination lighted to win the award North, it has also hand - of a tremendously success - which recognised them as somely increased its aver - ful year for Deans Court the best set outside Lon - age earnings and expanded built upon the hard work, don. On the 3rd October its international and private application and ability of all over 500 attended the client work”. members of chambers and event in London. The pro - our outstanding clerking gramme for the evening The set is proud of its team. Of course, our clients highlighted some of their achievements and qualities deserve the greatest thanks, achievements: and promotes the Northern as their loyalty to Chambers Circuit. Deans Court added is the foundation upon “This set has had a bumper in its submissions - “London which all of our success has year. A Lord Justice of Ap - – this Manchester set is been based.” peal, a High Court judge, knocking on your door!”.

Pictured (from left to right) are - James Cowdell, Bar editor of Chambers and Partners, barris - ters Glenn Campbell, Peter Atherton, Rosalind Emsley-Smith, Michael Hayton QC, Senior Clerk Matthew Gibbons and, host for the evening, Clive Anderson.

Feature 15 Getting to know you...... This month Elizabeth Hughes, Senior Associate Solicitor at Hugh Jones Solicitors talks to The Messenger... Name but, in reality, the most satisfying part of my job is seeing Elizabeth Hughes some of my severely brain injured clients achieve their per - sonal goals. Some of them just want to live in their own home Job role rather than in a residential unit and helping them to achieve a Senior Associate Solicitor lifestyle that most people take for granted is very rewarding.

Firm Who inspires you? Hugh Jones Solicitors The parents of profoundly disabled children who have made enormous personal sacrifices in order to care for and achieve Area of Practice the best possible outcome for their children. Court of Protection Do you have any advice for anyone considering a career in If you hadn’t gone into the legal profession, what alterna - the law? tive career would you choose? Get as much work experience as possible in as many areas of I would have been a doctor. I was good at biology and chem - law as possible. It will give you better insight into the area that istry at school and I once worked as a dispenser in a phar - suits you and it may not be the area that you expect. That was macy. certainly true in my case.

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the pro - How do you relax? fession today? I find that spending time with family and friends helps to keep Ours is a small, niche firm and our challenge is to ensure that things in perspective. the client and their needs are at the forefront of the service we provide. We cannot take the clients we have for granted Is there a book that had an impact on your life? and believe that putting client service at the top of our list of I tend only to have the time to read when I am on holiday and priorities is vital to set us apart from other firms. the holiday tends to have a greater impact than the book!

What work gives you the most satisfaction? Finally, sum up yourself in three words I imagine it would be dealing with the last email in my inbox Hardworking, reliable, helpful Milestones... Mike Devlin, partner and head of the family department at Stephensons LLP looks at how things have changed over a career spanning 30 years...

Milestones in life offer a cashier, an elegant ex-mili - be replaced by anxious ‘fee sanctuary protected from chance to look back and tary man with a well earners’ obsessed with clients, now any ‘socialising’ reflect on what has hap - trimmed beard, manicured maximising their fixed fees. has to have a purpose and a pened for better and/or hands and a superior atti - business objective: net - for worse. tude. Questions were de - Business Plans are works of working, practice develop - flected with the skill and art spanning five years, con - ment, converting enquiries Change can often feel un - panache of an expert stantly updated and found and achieving a balanced comfortable, unwelcome swordsman. Requests for a on the central drive; budg - business score-card. and unnecessary at the cheque or worse still cash ets are scientific, often chal - time. With the perspective were treated with the suspi - lenging, but always realistic, And finally, the ultimate of time it is far easier to cion reserved for a hissing always a carrot and never a taboo. Can you imagine the evaluate. cobra. Unless of course you stick. utter horror of this sce - were the senior partner in nario? When I joined the prede - which case every request The cashier who was a cessor to my current firm in was met with an unctuous brigadier has been replaced A newly appointed trainee 1982, there were certain affability and instant co-op - by ‘Accounts’ who engage solicitor on his first day norms to which everybody eration. in a one-way conversation leaning back in his chair in adhered. by e-mail transmitting not his open plan office and Fourthly, business plans receiving. Unctuous affabil - lighting up his first Park Firstly, everybody smoked. only existed in your head ity has been replaced by Drive of the day? At the The office was permanently and budgets were quite lit - emoticons and whilst ‘Cash point I started out in the shrouded in a fog of ciga - erally on the back of a fag is King’ it is now nowhere to law there would have been rette smoke and overflow - packet. be seen. Management in - universal contempt and dis - ing ashtrays sat on every formation on the other gust. Who on earth would desk. And finally, almost every - hand is not only constantly stoop to smoking Park body at some stage in their being cascaded (down is Drive? Secondly, all partners gath - career had been to the the prevailing direction) ered in the pub at Friday Magistrates’ Court and and in such volume that How things have changed. lunchtime for 3 or 4 pints. done a criminal case. drowning is ‘quite literally’ a Mike Devlin Food was optional. threat. By Mike Devlin, partner And now? Nobody but a and head of family de - Thirdly, “Management Infor - self-selecting few cross the Whereas Friday lunchtimes partment, Stephensons mation” was an unknown threshold of a Magistrates’ in the pub with partners LLP term and the only records court. The swaggering big and colleagues was a ritual we had were kept in a beasts of the 70s and 80s as important as Mass on handwritten ledger by our have almost faded away to Sunday, a ritual in a place of

Local News 17 Key for the City Reporter The plan was to go and watch a film at Parrs This ensured that my lovely waiter at Frankie Wood Cinema in West Didsbury and then to and Benny’s was more than happy to reduce have dinner at a local establishment to dis - the bill and take 20% off the price off the food cuss the film thereafter. In total, twenty em - at dinner that evening. This made a substan - ployees from the firm were able to attend tial difference to the final cost of the evening on the night and we had a most enjoyable and made me very popular with the ladies in evening. finance (shout out to Kayleigh and Jennie).

The faithful eating establishment chosen So at the end of the evening not only had I was one of my most favourite chains, enjoyed a relaxed dinner with colleagues and Frankie & Benny’s. I dare say that every per - enjoyed a truly hilarious film (Were the son in the Northern Hemisphere knows this Miller’s, if you’re interested, very funny) but I branded restaurant well enough to recite was able to come home and write my column their most ordered dish from the menu (12 without the pressures of a looming deadline!! oz Double BBQ Cheese burger with herb Note to self, stay ahead of deadlines. fries and a diet coke please!), if not all the menu. However on the off chance that you Should this be the first time that you have have been living on the moon for the last read my amazing article and you feel that you Our City Reporter, Craig Worrall this fifty years, F&B is an American style dinner too could truly benefit from a Key for the City month visited Frankie & Bennies which is instantly recognisable by the big card then don’t delay, contact Victoria Ridge red neon sign and warm interior. The restau - at the Manchester Law Society offices on This month our key for the city report rant usually boasts informal booths to sit 0161 831 7337 or alternatively email shows there is always a great opportunity with friends and eat drink and chat in an in - [email protected] to utilise your card and even when you formal setting. to ensure how your firm would qualify to be least expect it. eligible for one. The evening was exactly what I had ex - This year my regular monthly column on pected the restaurant was inviting and the Right signing off until next month….. how to continue to get the best out of your staff were extremely friendly. The usual (and my) Key for the City card was truly at American 50’s and 60’s music was playing the back of my mind when I was invited to (Which you can purchase for a very reason - attend an evening by Roberts Jackson for able price) and the food was great! the firm hitting another one of its monthly I ensured that each and every Roberts Jack - targets. son employee that attended was able to produce their card on demand.

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Recruitment 19 The future looks brighter for Manchester’s lawyers

Improving conditions partments so they are appropriately structured with more routine work, or work that can be commoditised being filtered down to paralegals. Many firms are also The legal recruitment market in Manchester is slowly improving after a number exploring ‘apprenticeships’ as a means of bringing through new recruits in a cost of challenging years. effective manner. The pace of improvement is steady rather than dramatic and only time will tell The insurance and personal injury market has long been working on this basis whether it is a sustained recovery, but for the time being the signs are looking and most personal injury teams are staffed by large numbers of fee earning para - quite positive. legals with a small percentage of qualified lawyers and partners.

The transactional disciplines of corporate, real estate and banking are picking We may not return to the boom years soon, where salaries were one of the key up and the demand we are seeing is often for those with up to four years’ expe - drivers in the market, but the improving economic picture and increasing desire rience. The shortage of professionals in this area is largely due to the fact that of firms to hire lawyers will certainly mean that salaries will rise again. many organisations didn’t take on newly qualified lawyers during the recession. However, the recruitment market is moving back again to being candidaate led Rewarding performance not experience in these transactional areas as well as across a number of other practice areas. Traditionally salaries have been linked to experience with year on year increases Despite the much talked about Jackson Reforms, the defendant insurance mar - for all lawyers. ket has been surprisingly busy and certain pockets of the claimant market have also continued to hire. In contrast, it has generally been quieter in employment, There is a trend to move away from this system and instead firms are realigning Oliver Gibbon corporate recovery and to a certain extent in commercial litigation. their processes so that assistant and associate salary increases will be based on Business Director at Hays The question is whether the general trend of increased demand will lead to their performance rather than benchmarked to experience. Firms see this as the higher salaries. best way to reward star performers. Legal Bonuses are another means of rewarding lawyers at all levels and typically range Newly qualified salaries from 10% to 20% of annual salary. Salaries for newly qualified professionals will depend on the type of firm and the The triggers tend to be based around individual fee/chargeable hours perform - sector of the market. Across the North West, in the commercially focused firms, ance, team/firm wide turnover or profit targets and contribution to business de - salaries for NQs range from £27,000 to £38,000. velopment. We have found the market receptive to those newly qualified lawyers that have We are not witnessing much change to their structure but they are becoming strong technical skills, a wide range of quality experience during their training more commonplace. contracts but also exhibiting good client facing skills. The outlook for salary rises in 2014 is looking positive as we expect more and more firms to invest in newly Partners and lateral hires qualified lawyers as they grow their businesses. This part of the market continues to be as busy as ever in terms of partner hires. The squeezed middle We are still seeing an adjustment to many fixed share and equity partners earn - ings where their fee contribution is not commensurate with their remuneration. While most lawyers have seen salaries frozen over recent years, it is those with Typically, when moving, partners are expected to have a client following of between 2-5 years’ experience who have seen their salaries impacted the most roughly three times earnings. However, the recession most definitely brought as the changing legal landscape has caused firms to re-appraise salary structures. about more innovative structures that are still being used. Fee margins have been eroded and there is an increasing trend towards fixed fee This has often involved the incoming partner bearing more of the risk if they are structures. not able to guarantee their following, with a lower base salary and bonus struc - tured around their fee delivery. The lid may be lifted on charging rates as the economy improves but the per - This, of course, requires some flexibility on the part of the moving partner but ception is that clients and in-house counsel are now wise to the ‘new world order’ can enable them to more effectively manage situations where certain clients and will continue to demand transparent and often fixed fee pricing. don’t follow or are much less active than envisaged in the business plan. This has created a difficult dynamic for law firms. Looking forward While firms are keen to reward assistants and associates who are performing strongly, their hands are increasingly tied by the charge out rates they can sus - The outlook is improving and salaries look set to rise again. tain. What we expect to see though is that these increases will be performance based and given to those lawyers who are not just technically able but who can We often hear that clients are prepared to have a partner led service on more demonstrate demonstrable client care skills and work winning ability. high profile matters but the cost pressures for many pieces of work mean that they have to be done at a more junior assistant level or by paralegals. For more information about salaries please visit our up to date salary survey found at: Addleshaw Goddard has ramped up its Transaction Services Team that is staffed www.hays.co.uk/salary-guides by paralegals working on the less complex matters, thereby freeing up its asso - or speak to Oliver Gibbon, Business Director at Hays Legal, ciates to work on matters where they can add value. on 0161 228 7770 or [email protected] This is an increasing trend in the market and many firms are gearing up their de - 20 Feature Management Matters This column is now into its fifth year and feedback is still good. We would still like to receive observations and ideas for future issues. Please mail Bill Kirby at [email protected] or the publisher Julia Baskerville at [email protected]

CRM Systems – Really? utilisation what they may generate. Which commercial clients did I do some employment work for in 2011? Which estate agents provided me work in 2010? – Be more effective, cheaper and quicker I am also going to make a big assumption at this point that and so on. The whole point is that your existing PMS/CMS sys - partners are open with one another, declared their personal tem can give you the data to repeat and cross sell. There are We are just a month away from this year’s management con - aspirations, retirement plans, likes and dislikes (marketing and not too many people capitalising on this. ference – 9th December at The Hilton Hotel Manchester. The management) and believe they will step aside and support theme this year is about Marketing, Client Experience and Cul - those brave enough and equipped enough to take on man - For years the marketing capabilities of PMS/CMS systems were ture. If we don’t get the last two right then any efforts and ex - agement and business development. not developed as they should be. Techies in the software penditure thrown at the first item can be wasted. houses and perhaps clients not aware of the need to drive At our strategy meeting we need a clear idea of where we marketing within law firms. Both parties have a lot of catching I still don’t think that everyone is convinced that the most have come from so fee income and gross profit by work type up to do. valuable asset within a law firm is the client. This is the person and location (it is still very scary that many firms do not meas - or organisation that has accepted the firm as a trusted supplier ure this) and we need an open discussion of the profile of the So – strategy, plan, accountability for some within the firm to for what is often a stress purchase and if he gets good service firm of where we would like to be in three years and what ac - do business development, accountability within the firm for he is likely to stay loyal. Let’s take brilliant legal work for tions and milestones we need in order to get there. No need everyone to enhance the client experience though business granted. for a CRM system yet. process and above all through attitude and culture.

He is also very interested in how easy it is to deal with the firm With this desired profile we need to interface this with – are In Case you missed it from first contact – web site, letters, telephone call, how clear we sure that we are going to hang on to our existing clients the service he is going and getting is explained, realistic pric - for repeat work – Wills, PI, commercial property. Our business From November 2012. It is not getting better ing, realistic billing methods, being kept up to date, having ac - processes and culture are geared to make this happen. With cess and the handling issues/complaints. If that is all done our current clients (private and commercial) are we going to IT WARNING – CUT THE FAITH well, effectively and efficiently with a smile on the face then be able to introduce them to other services that we offer so he is much more likely to come back for an update of this serv - that we generate more revenue from them. Then of course we You are all aware that I am a great supporter of hosted IT and ice and if we have advised of other services extending further have new business. What do we want this to be and how are in time it will become an even more natural solution – with what he, his family and his wider network are likely to buy we going to go after it. Three key activities that warrant a plan strong enforceable SLAs and right remedies. from your firm. for each of them. Still no need for a CRM system yet. However, in the interim can I strongly suggest that every firm The instant argument that many put forward is the firm needs Maybe also we can introduce private client work to staff or carries out an internal audit/check to ensure their systems are to invest in a CRM system but it is complex and costs too much members of a commercial client or membership organisation. as they believe them to be? Whether they are managed by money. CRM systems are potentially good but for many law We have all seen some smarter law firms make a major mar - your own teams or through a managed service/third party firms not necessary at this point in time. There have been so keting issue of what we all do to potential new clients – the maintenance company. many failures with CRM projects or also a clear failure to first 15 minute FOC consultation before going on the clock. achieve the level of ROI that was expected. Most firms have Just about everyone does it only a few sing about it. 15 years ago, when I worked for one of those practice and case the capability to support their developing client interface al - management suppliers we started to offer a service to our ready on board and within their control but they just don’t see We have so many marketing tools available to us. The web site, clients where we would receive their back up tapes on a it. PR, Networking, advertising (expensive). These all cost a little monthly basis and we then tried to restore from those back bit of money but done well within the strategy and plan offer ups. In 35% of the cases a restore was not possible. Imagine I was at a conference in October and it was suggested that all a great ROI. These activities by upping the firm’s image and the impact on your business if this is the case – 15 tears ago law firms should start with a 10 year strategy and business profile generate interest from potential clients. It is what hap - also there were still a lot of paper files. plan. I regarded that as somewhat over the top being more in pens once interest is generated. How well do we handle favour of 3 year strategies, updated annually and annual busi - phone calls into the firm or enquiries through the web site? Please just check a few things out. It is sometimes not enough ness plans/budgets. These of course need to be business Over the last few months we have published information on to have the procedures and contracts in place. proactive in nature and revenue for the next year not just mystery shopper exercises, demonstrated Moneypenny sta - based upon number of existing fee earners and with the right tistics of up to 20% of inbound calls are new enquiries and still · When was the last time a test was carried out to restore data we do not overall handle them well. from back up?

Most firms are sitting with a PMS/CMS system for which they · What evidence is there that back up is being carried out as have paid a great deal and followed it up with annual main - specified? tenance payments for enhancements. Most firms will already have the capability to run a workflow or business process at a · Is the back up secure and off site? contact level but don’t know this and you certainly cannot necessarily rely on your internal IT man or supplier account · Where you have invested in replicating data to another site manager to put this under your nose. Imagine a call coming is it being verified? into the firm, being received by someone that wants it who can create a contact, do a conflict check at any time, send e- · If your server fails how quickly will the firm be able to be up mails, letters, quotations, even e-signatures and then convert and running again this contact into a client. Five years ago you would not have been able to do this but most of you now can so for this kind o E-mail of enquiry you could actually ditch your separate CRM system. I have seen firms that have given this sort of activity a good try o Full systems (7 hours down for 20 fee earners but they sit there with thousands of matters with no billing at £200 an hour is £28k – 5 days down £140k – the as it was the only way to send someone a letter – not now, No firm can decide where in that timeframe its credi need for a CRM system for that. It’s also a very good reason bility with its clients disappears) why the line management of a firm should regularly meet with the account manager from an IT supplier. · If there is a power failure will the servers close down prop - erly? So we have our marketing activity underway and we have now found a way to support that with existing systems so we · Where you have more than one location have you back up can measure business sources and conversion rates to enable comms lines, have they been tested? us to modify how we market and handle enquiries coming in house. · You will have paid out for Microsoft licences – have you the licences in a secure place and listed on your asset register? This We already concur that our user base is vital. If we speak to an is for when Microsoft or FAST put in a visit. account manager from a software supplier unless he is excep - tional he will define the marketing module that if you have the Bill Kirby is a director of Professional Choice Consultancy foresight or have been lucky enough to put clients/contacts offering advice to firms on all things IT from strategy, into “groups” then you can market to them. CRM products can planning, effective use and outsourcing continuity and certainly do that, as can your PMS/CMS system. What you have DR. He can be contacted at that is pretty unique though is the MI tool within your [email protected] PMS/CMS system where you can ask it. Who did I do a Will for in 2009? Who did I do a house sale or purchase for in 2005? Local News 21 MYSG News Mediation Matters

It is all change on the MYSG lent speaker, with many anec - few. committee! David Patterson dotes from his time at St Mar - of Squire Sanders is the new tin’s college right up to the The MYSG committee is also Chair of the MYSG and the present day. There are pic - expanding as we are ex - committee are extremely ex - tures from the event on the tremely keen to encourage Whisper it quietly, especially amongst the readership of this august magazine, but quite often cited about the prospects for MYSG website and we would input from a wide range of the biggest bar to settlement of mediation is ... the lawyers! this new era. David has many encourage all of our members PQE’s. If you are interested in new and innovative ideas to visit this and the face book joining the committee, please You might expect that the parties who would least want settlement are the litigants themselves, going forward and we are page to see the photographs do visit the MYSG website for the warring factions who maybe can’t even bring themselves to speak to the other side, let alone sure that all of the young so - from this and previous events. more information on how to to reach an agreement with them. However, experience shows that, quite often, by the time that licitors in Manchester will contact us or find us on face - the parties have agreed to mediate, they may actually be desperate to settle – and not infre - benefit from the events which Going forward, the MYSG are book by searching for Man - quently on terms that involve a very significant compromise. are currently being booked planning many events to chester Young Solicitors for the forthcoming few keep the winter blues at bay Group and liking our page. So, knowing the likely readership of this article, it’s with some trepidation that I say that it is quite months. which will include both net - often the legal representatives who are the main stumbling-blocks to settlement. working and educational The MYSG has over 1,000 mem - Why should that be? It may be that the lawyer is so entrenched in the battle with his opponent The outgoing Chair, Gemma events to cater for everyone. bers and we invite qualified so - that regards any sort of compromise as amounting to a loss of his (i.e. the lawyer’s) face (sorry to Harris, ended her reign with a Some of the forthcoming licitors up to 10 years PQE used the male pronoun here, but the most dogmatic lawyers at mediation do tend to be male!). fitting finale with the excel - events include a Christmas (excluding Partners) from in It may be that the lawyer simply has such an innate belief in his client’s case that he can’t bear to lent Jeff Banks event. Mr drinks event and CPD accred - and around Manchester to join see his client “selling itself short”. It may be that the lawyer is enjoying the case so much that he Banks proved to be an excel - ited seminars to name but a our group. We arrange social doesn’t want the case to settle (irrespective of what the client might want!). Or, most cynically, events for solicitors, networking it may be that he has budgeted for the future fee income that the case may bring! events with other professional groups in Manchester including And objections to settlement don’t just come from the solicitors’ end of the table. Counsel can bankers, accountants and sur - be just as stubborn – normally on the grounds that there is legal authority that supports their veyors, educational and CPD client’s case, and that it would be some form of intellectual sacrilege to settle against the back - seminars, and other events ground of that convincing authority (interestingly, experience says that that authority suddenly which we think will be of interest becomes less convincing on the eve of trial, when the other side’s skeleton argument is received!). to our members. Membership is free and the costs of our events So, having alienated the entirety of the Manchester legal profession with my remarks above, how are met by sponsors. If you does the mediator cope with overcoming these objections? In particular, if you identify your - would like to join the MYSG and self in any of the categories of lawyer mentioned above (and be honest!), does a mediation mean you do not currently receive our that you will end up being “overruled” or “browbeaten” by a mediator? Absolutely not. A good emails, please email us at mediator understands the lawyer’s concerns as well as those of the litigant. A good mediator un - [email protected], or contact us derstands that lawyers are human also and that quite often they have invested so much in the through our website, case (in terms of emotion, intellect and, indeed, financial support) that they have a sense of own - www.mysg.org.uk or via our ership of the case too. A good mediator will keep the lawyer (as well as the client) onside. Facebook page, "Manchester Lawyers". I had a mediation recently where a client was being repeatedly told by her solicitor that she had Jeff Banks CBE a very good case and that she should not consider settlement below 90% of the value of her claim. It was only by bringing “reality” to the claim that it became apparent that the merits were, in re - ality, considerably less than 90%. Indeed, it became apparent that so much of the claim was de - pendent upon factual evidence, that in truth, the merits of the client’s claim were probably not much more than 50%. At the end of a long day, we reached settlement, and, although it was clear that both of the litigants were relieved, I feared that I may be met with an unhappy solicitor – MTSG News never an ideal situation! After the Consent Order had been prepared and signed, the client left, and I braced myself for a It’s been a busy month for the (FELT) was held on 17th Octo - Please visit our website for all rant from the solicitor. MTSG, with a launch party to ber at nearby Revolution Par - the photographs from each rival all others on 3rd October. sonage Gardens and event – www.mtsg.org.uk. What a surprise: the solicitor thanked me profusely for settling this case, admitting that he had Revolucion de Cuba was pos - provided a further opportu - been far too gung-ho in his advice to the client at the start and that he had had difficulty in ex - itively booming on the night, nity for members from Raana Afsarpour, tricating himself from the positivity of that advice. He also said to me that he hadn’t realised how with MTSG members proving smaller firms to network and Express Solicitors, shaky his client’s factual evidence was until we had probed it during the course of the mediation. that Thursday really is the let their hair down with a Chair 2013-2014 Within a few days, I got another appointment as mediator from the same solicitor! new Friday. Custom cocktails, glass of wine and a mini Mexican fayre and a live band burger. Many thanks to Dou - The Manchester Trainee Solici - The moral of the story is not to be afraid of the mediator. Mediators understand the dynamic that were the order of the night glas Scott Legal Recruitment tors Group provides social, ed - exists between client and lawyer, and we want to help that relationship to prosper. and it was a great opportu - and Heaney Watson Solicitors ucational, sporting and nity for members to get to for their support. networking opportunities for Jeff Lewis know each other and share junior legal professionals in Mediator their first horror stories of the This month we’re looking for - and around Manchester. If you North West Mediation Solutions year. We would like to say a ward to the annual Deans would like to join us as a para - Brabners LLP massive thank you to our Court Chambers Seminar and legal, prospective trainee, [email protected] sponsors without whom it the grand old MTSG quiz. As - trainee or newly qualified solic - www.nwmediationsolutions would not have been possi - semble your teams and we’ll itor, please visit the 'join us' sec - ble: Hays Legal, University of see you there! On the sports tion of our website Law, Express Solicitors and front, the MTSG football and www.mtsg.org.uk Deans Court Chambers. netball teams need YOU! In - formation will be circulated to To advertise in The launch party for firms members shortly so dust off with eight or less trainees your kit and get warming up. The Messenger please contact Julia Baskerville on 01253 829431

www.baskerville-publications.co.uk 22 Feature

This month Adam Jupp, Head of Business, continues his series of articles... Im my particular line of work, ing BCEG, MAG and GMPF!!). It was no doubt slightly em - And the fact Airport City is other major cities because a I come across a lot of jargon barrassing for London Mayor now set for take off (sorry) is major player from the Orient and have to remember what It all centred around a group Boris Johnson, who is em - down to local leadership, just is already involved. all manner of acronyms actu - being formed to develop the barking on his own Far East as much (if not miles more) ally stand for. £800m Airport City project on foray at the same time. than it is the intervention of Secondly, the arrival of busi - land next to Manchester Air - government. nesses with Far East links will I can be told that the J-V port, in a move set to create Boris has insisted he is “ab - further strengthen the case hopes to be earnings-enhanc - 16,000 jobs. solutely thrilled” the two trips Bosses of Manchester Air - for a direct flight service be - ing by the end of Q1 and if it are taking place simultane - ports Group – in partnership tween Manchester and China is, that could provide a boost A key feature of the deal is the ously, with the pair set to with council chiefs – studied to be set up. to local GVA, which would get involvement of the Beijing stand side-by-side at Peking the success of similar more people off JSA. Construction Engineering University today, at which schemes in Amsterdam, If all these things come off, it Group, funded by the biggest point he is eager for them to Frankfurt and Barcelona and will mean thousands of jobs Of course, however, there will bank in China. “talk-up the links between set the wheels in motion to for Manchester and a huge be concerns that could lead London and China.” replicate it here. boost for trade in and out of Adam Jupp to a period of stagflation. This is significant on a num - the region. ber of levels. Firstly, the deal That jars slightly with the The whole idea is to create af - OMG, this is a serious test of was announced during a noises made by the Tatton MP fordable office, warehouse And on the subject of Man - my IQ. trade mission led by Chancel - in announcing the Airport and manufacturing space to chester winning out over Lon - lor George Osborne, which is City joint-venture, which he be filled by global companies don, it was also great to note There is a danger that devel - the first trip taken to China by said was all about his plan of that will benefit from being that the Manchester office of opments of real significance a senior government figure “making sure more economic next to an airport. Eversheds carried out the can pass people by as a result since a diplomatic “deep activity in Britain happens legals on the deal. of so much jargon being used freeze” set between the two outside the City of London is The Chinese investment an - when key announcements nations after the UK hosted working.” nounced yesterday has huge It pipped firms in the capital are made. the Dalai Lama last May. significance here too. to win the instruction for the However, away from the Airport City project, which is Thankfully, that doesn't ap - The fact the Airport City deal jostling within the Tory Party Firstly, it is hoped Far East testament to the legal expert - pear to be the case with the is the main announcement to (Boris and George have both firms looking to set up Euro - ise that exists here. news that came out of China have been made during Mr been tipped as future lead - pean headquarters in the this month (which, inciden - Osborne's visit, shows just ers), it is great Manchester is coming years will be encour - tally, was about a J-V involv - how important it is. grabbing the headlines. aged to pick Manchester over Local News 23 Halliwells, Cobbetts, Harris Cartier - how MANCHESTER PROFESSIONALS’ to avoid being the next for closure? DINNER CLUB

There may or may not be pact of these events. Clients DATE: Monday, 18th November, 2013 TIME: 6.00 pm for 6.30 pm something of an identity with generational allegiance VENUE: Velvet Central, 2 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5WQ crisis among UK law profes - to local town centre practices COST: £40.00 + vat @ 20% per ticket – including a welcome drink, three course meal, coffee sionals, as they consider will much appreciate their and a half bottle of wine (total £48.00) with anxiety the ripples family solicitor’s valiant sur - caused by the collapse of vival initiatives. Meanwhile We are delighted to announce that the next venue for our Manchester Professionals’ Dinner Halliwells or Corbetts and the cry at large is one of Club is ‘Velvet Central’, bought to us by Mark Cain and Sunni Syal, the team behind the fabu - the disquiet that permeates merger and acquisition, not lous Velvet and Velvet Hotel on Canal Street. There’s a real pavement cafe feel to Velvet Cen - the legal professions at the only for these small practices, tral with their wonderful terrace, with lunchtime crowds devouring fast-serve salads, and suggestion of one in five but also for medium sized law after-workers missing their buses home to order another bottle of wine! firms being at risk. firms as they marshal suffi - cient critical mass to enhance There’s plenty to like here, whether you’re a fan of the originals or new to the Velvet vibe. From my perspective, as an capacity. Good, crowd-pleasing food, flamboyant decor, and friendly service. Organisational Development specialist, I am somewhat be - Despite some firms commit - The inside is decked out with mirrors, murals and drapes, and they've opened up the mezza - mused by the closedminded - ting themselves to significant work website illustrates the nine balcony area to create a rococo-styled space for VIP’s or private parties. The menu fea - ness of solicitors to other strategic strides, in respect of biggest firms utilising this tures old favourites from the Canal Street Velvet along with a small plates menu and a professions as they attempt mergers and acquisitions, broad skill base but invariably, build-your-own sharing platter section. Why not come along and see for yourself the de - bravely, but possibly foolishly, there’s still a chilling tale re - at closer scrutiny, all the job lights that Velvet Central has to offer? to combat their current diffi - lated in the new (SRA) Solici - descriptions require “experi - culties singlehandedly. tors Regulation Authority ence of professional services”. This is an informal inter-professional social networking event and we hope that it will be an report. It identified 55 firms as In other words different skills opportunity for: Clearly, inadequately balanc - being at high risk of financial are respected but only within ing income and expenditure instability, highlighting solici - certain parameters. Perhaps You to mix and network for both business and social purposes; or instances of misconduct tors’ practices standing frozen at the heart of the SRA report can toll the woeful demise of in their inability to either per - is an unspoken warning. Provide a social platform to build professional networks; any firm, legal or otherwise. ceive, accept or address seri - Don’t try to keep everything There are also, what can be ous organisational problems, within the family. It becomes Get to know other business practitioners facing the same issues in practice and discuss collectively called, the perva - they are both operationally incestuous and, likely as not, matters relevant to your business with likeminded people; sive variables. Things outside and strategically inept, leads to a messy end. To steer an individual’s or company’s demonstrating poor manage - themselves more effectively Meet people from other professions and practices which may result in cross referral control, like the current reces - ment, ineffective financial di - solicitors will need, among of work; sion or politically determined rection, and are often others, the assistance of Or - systemic changes to practice, hampered or hindered by ganisational Development Enjoy a superb menu and have a fantastic evening with old and new friends! like the reduction of legal aid, over dominant and mis - professionals, preferably that herald both immediate guided senior partners. those who have experience of demands and a forewarning the broadest canvas of sec - MENU of further inevitable adjust - Members of the legal profes - tors, interventions and client Glass of Champagne on arrival ments. sion are undoubtedly intellec - groups, before it’s too late. tually gifted but today’s ~ Starters ~ It’s hard to see how smaller economy requires a varied Paul Billington (V) Lightly Spiced Sweet Potato Soup law firms can face and suc - skills and perspectives to sur - Organisational cessfully withstand the im - vive. The Legal Support Net - Development Practitioner (V) Layered Vegetable Terrine

Mini Cottage Pie

~ Main Courses ~

Cornfed Chicken Breast with White Bean & Chorizo Stew

Salmon Fillet with Crushed Dill Potatoes & Orange Creamed Leeks

What Google's recent updates mean for you (V) Potato Gnocchi with Goats Cheese, Cherry Tomatoes & Spinach Google is constantly refining depth, authoritative content. insight from. its service. It's just what you'd It's about the meaning and in - expect from an innovative tent of the search, so your It's by no means the end of ~ Pudding Menu ~ company focused on provid - content should provide infor - search engine optimisation, ing the best possible user ex - mation and answers rather as it has little effect on the Lemon Posset with Shortbread perience. But for businesses than keyword-stuffed waffle. way campaigns are run and trying to gain visitors and Of course, SEO experts have sites are optimised. What's Raspberry & Chocolate Tart with Crème Chantilly & Berry Coulis leads via search engine opti - been saying this for years. missing is the granular, user- misation, understanding by-user keyword data which Hazelnut Parfait with Mixed Nut Brittle these changes is vital. Not Provided provided transparency as to ~ Filter Coffee/Tea~ If you're working with an the success of those SEO cam - The way Google ranks the re - agency or have in-house mar - paigns. What this means for Half bottle of wine or soft drinks to the equivalent per person sults for any search is deter - keters, you may have heard you is minimal, but the smart mined by its algorithm – a the words 'not provided', usu - online marketing agencies For further details contact Victoria Ridge constantly changing set of ally closely preceded or fol - will already be discussing this 0161 241 7472 factors based around code, lowed by a grumble. with you and finding ways to content and links. The most continue delivering transpar - [email protected] recent change to the algo - For the last two years Google ent reporting. rithm is nicknamed Hum - has gradually been increasing mingbird, and was privacy for its users. A big part Just as the law sector must announced in late Septem - of this is masking the search adapt to policy and legisla - ber. It's said to be fast, precise, terms used to enter a site, pre - tion changes, the marketing ‘tis the season to be jolly.... and another step closer to 'se - venting them from appearing industry must adapt to any mantic search'; providing use - in the site's Google Analytics Google updates. Strategies ful answers to searches, rather reports – returning (not pro - will adapt to Hummingbird, than just matching the words vided) instead. Recent and reporting techniques will In the December edition of the Messenger our Talking Heads that were searched for. changes mean that (not pro - adapt to (not provided). And vided) is set to increase to if you've got a forward-think - question will be “What is the best or worst christmas So what does this mean for 100% of Google searches, re - ing agency on your side, it's your site? Like countless up - moving a large chunk of the likely you'll always be one present you have ever received?” - please send your dates before it, Hummingbird keyword data that many step ahead of Google's up - will reward high quality, in- agencies and marketers gain dates. responses of no more than 50 words to [email protected] no later than 13th November. Please also send a photo, of either yourself, or the present..... 24 Charity & CSR Slater & Gordon volunteer at Birdhouse Fund Charity The Slater & Gordon team breads, scones and jam and gether to raise funds to sup - volunteered for the Bird - carrot cake. port women across Greater house Fund Charity at the Manchester who are in Manchester Food and The Birdhouse Fund was set need. Drink Festival 2013 in Al - up by Manchester women bert’s Square. The Bird - for other local women who The money raised will make house fund participates in are struggling to achieve a massive difference and the Festival each year, their full potential often be - the charity is delighted with championing the largest cause life has dealt them the efforts of the team at selection of home made some nasty knocks. Slater & Gordon in volun - cakes to be seen in Man - The Fund helps them to teering their time to help”. chester. make a new start whether it’s through training, devel - The Birdhouse Fund did a Charlotte Brinsley, Keith oping their skills or support - wonderful job and over Etherington, Rachel Shafar, ing them via community £750 was made on the day Anna Rooney and Charlotte projects. for this worthy cause. If any - Egan of Slater & Gordon one would like to make a Lawyers all showed their Charlotte Brinsley, Family further donation to this support on the day helping Lawyer at Slater & Gordon worthy cause please click to sell the various baked who is also a committee on the following link goods as well as baking an member of the Birdhouse http://www.justgiving.com/ array of appetising cakes in - Fund said “the charity is all BirdhouseFundCakes13 cluding millionaire short - about bringing people to - Cycling to success – again! Mills & Reeve retains Her - The event takes its name as it is a physical test and cules cycle challenge title from the trophy; a vintage this year we had set our - Hercules bike frame used by selves the specific challenge Legal experts from the team Hercules in the Tour of retaining the trophy Slater Heelis helps St Ann’s Hospice Manchester office of na - de France in 1955. The ter - which has been proudly dis - £9600k donation helps Cheadle hospice and marks launch of free legal surgeries tional law firm, Mills & rain was challenging with played in our offices for the Reeve, swapped paper - the total climb averaging past year. work for pedal power this approximately 1,500m cou - weekend to ensure the pled with unfavourable “There was certainly a level firm retained its title as weather conditions for the of healthy competitiveness champion of the Hercules team as they cycled between the two Mills & Cycle Challenge for the through the impressive Reeve teams which worked second consecutive year. scenery on the route. The in our favour to secure the trophy is currently on dis - two top podium places, an The annual event saw a play in the Mills & Reeve impressive feat in itself.” total of 24 Mills & Reeve col - Manchester office before leagues and clients from going on its own tour of the The Mills & Reeve Manches - across the firm’s six offices, other participating offices. ter colleagues taking part in including five from Man - the challenge included chester, compete across two Niall Innes, partner at Mills & Amanda Bailey (solicitor), company teams which Reeve’s Manchester office, Alison Bull (partner), David placed both first and sec - who took part in the race, Hawkins (senior solicitor), ond in the 100 km race said: “Despite a few grazed Mark Hovell (partner and through the Surrey hills and arms and some very sore head of the Manchester of - involving around 3200ft of legs, the Hercules challenge fice) and Niall Innes (part - climbing. is as much about team work ner).

Sale based law firm Slater blinds. Slater Heelis will also decades of work in the com - Heelis LLP is helping St now be running regular munity. Working with the Ann’s Hospice with a do - legal surgeries in the three hospice to launch our free nation of £9600 to mark St Ann’s hospices to advise legal surgeries means that the launch of a series of patients and their families we are there to help pa - free Protect Your Family on legal issues and deci - tients, their families and St legal surgeries to assist St sions they may be facing Ann’s staff with any legal Ann’s patients, relatives and on how to ensure their worries they may have, at and staff. families and assets are pro - what can be an upsetting tected for the future. time.” St Ann’s Hospice will receive £9600 to support their es - Chris Partington, a Partner Mandy Pope, Major Rela - sential work caring for and at Slater Heelis LLP and tionships Manager at St helping around 3,000 pa - member of Solicitors for the Ann’s Hospice, said: “We’re tients and their families and Elderly, is pictured here with extremely grateful for this carers every year who are af - Fundraising Manager Kat - kind donation from Slater fected by cancer and life rina Bury (left) and Nicky Heelis. Some of our wards limiting illnesses. The Monks, Inpatient Wards are in need of freshening up money will be used to carry Manager (right). Chris says: and we want patients to feel out urgent work replacing “We’re very pleased to be that they’re being cared for sinks for the in-patient able to help St Ann’s to con - in a modern, homely envi - ronment .” David Hawkins, Alison Bull, Mark Hovell and Niall Innes. wards at Heald Green and tinue to build upon their in - providing new curtains and credibly important four Send your CSR & Charity news to [email protected] Lifestyle 25 Countdown to Christmas with.. Wrapped in Leather

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The recent recession has In the simplest terms, brands point are what makes a brand The internal drivers are things wheel. It is simply a case of changed the legal market exist to simplify choice. stand out. which drive your actions and unlocking the ideas, bringing forever and there is more Whereas a product or service decision making. They’re the them together coherently competition for fees than does something, a brand Just about every legal firm we long term vision, the funda - and consistently and sharing ever before. Dan Gledhill, stands for something and speak to believes it offers high mental values which shape them with all employees so director of RMS PR, dis - helps customers narrow quality advice and service. your behaviour and your be - the whole firm lives the cusses the importance of down their shopping list and But so it should, after all it’s liefs – the things which make brand. defining and promoting then make a final decision. It what you do on a daily basis you get out of bed in a morn - your brand in order to stand is essential that your firm de - and quality really should be a ing. In practice, this newly defined out from the competition. fines its brand values and ex - given. brand will have a huge im - presses them distinctively Thirdly, your personality is the pact on the everyday running In order to build business in and consistently. What firms are more likely to style and tone with which you of your business. If imple - tough economic conditions struggle with is how to con - communicate and manifest mented in a structured and and in a legal market poised The ideal brand for a law firm vey their message to achieve the brand in all applications. consistent manner, your for unprecedented change, is one which incorporates client confidence and desire; In other words, how you be - stronger brand will convey never has it been so impor - both rational and emotional in other words, how to posi - have, how you look and how superiority in the market - Dan Gledhill tant for law firms of every size meanings. Clearly, it must tion the firm to be a light - you talk. place, justify your price premi - to build a strong brand. guarantee quality and confi - house in a fog of uncertainty. ums and increase customer branding may, or may not, fit dence in the firm’s ability to And this is where the fun be - When these three compo - loyalty. It will enable you to in with that vision, but this Brands are not just the pre - provide commodity based gins. nents all come together, in differentiate your firm from will become clear during the serve of consumer giants. In services whilst also conveying support of your firm’s core in - the competition and motivate process. fact, it can be argued strong an aspiration and perceived To achieve a strong brand you tent, you will find you have potential new clients to in - brands have to work even superiority. must understand three key the basis of a strong brand to struct you. With more choice than ever harder in the business-to- components; external propo - help you achieve your busi - before in the market, those business world, as there are A strong B2B brand is built on sition, internal drivers and the ness goals. A strong brand does not sim - firms with the strongest often more people involved five pillars, which are ex - firm’s personality. ply mean a new visual iden - brands and the clearest vi - in the buying cycle. pressed through every aspect If this sounds daunting, you tity or logo for the firm. Many sions will have the best op - of your firm’s business and ex - The external proposition is needn’t worry. All the ideas firms undertake a brand portunities for success. In a congested and challeng - perienced by the core target the key offer to your audi - and vision to bring your proposition development ing sector there will undoubt - audience. A high awareness ence; why they should buy brand to fruition and to the project to define or refine Dan Gledhill edly be casualties. Lots of amongst the target, high from you. And remember, this attention of your target mar - their position in the market RMS PR firms offering the same serv - quality products and services, won’t be quality of product ket will already be in exis - and to create a relevant, moti - ices and clients demanding a distinctive standpoint, a de - and service; every firm will say tence within your vating and differentiated more than they ever have be - fined personality and consis - they offer that as a matter of organisation. Remember, proposition. The existing fore will soon weed out the tent delivery at every touch course. you’re not reinventing the company logo and visual weak from the strong. 0161 425 5206 We are located on the 2nd Floor, House of Fraser, Deansgate, Manchester M3 2QG

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28 Lifestyle

7 Reasons You MUST Have Optimal higher levels of vitamin D showed significant improvements in strength and performance. 6. Boost your immune system. Vitamin D is essential for immune system health, priming Vitamin D Levels ‘T’ cells, which can help keep you healthy.

7. Reduce your risk of osteoporosis and improve your bone health. Vitamin D is vital for Vitamin D is one of the most important biochemical markers we aim to optimise with our calcium metabolism and bone health! personal training clients. Why? Read on… As vitamin D can be toxic to the liver at high levels (250 nmol/l +), it is essential that test - In recent years, vitamin D (actually part vitamin – part hormone) has gone from being the ing is performed on a regular basis while supplementing. Based on the latest research useless looking kid at the back of class, to centre stage; boasting a host of benefits from three sixtyº recommends a level of 125-180 nmol/l. The NHS currently recommends a level health to body composition and athletic performance: of 50nmol/l or above (it used to be 20 nmol/l), but don’t worry, they’ll catch up to the re - search in another 10 years or so. 1. Cut your risk of cancer: vitamin D has been shown to reduce risk of cancer in hormone related cancers, including breast, cervical, endometrial, prostate, pancreatic and colon. My vitamin D level? 141.3 nmol. 2. Cut your risk of chronic conditions. Vitamin D is anti-inflammatory, and inflammation Vitamin D testing is quick, accurate, easy, and cheap. We supply our clients with tests is at the root of many chronic diseases. Studies show that risk of heart disease, hyperten - which can be performed at home and are processed by our lab for only £25. sion, diabetes, and cognitive impairment are decreased with optimal levels. A lack of vi - tamin D is also associated with depression. three sixtyº Personal Training is based on Bridge St and is a bespoke, private per - sonal training gym dedicated to taking care of Manchester’s busy professionals. 3. Vitamin D is essential for muscle growth and male hormone health – even moderate levels of supplementation have been shown to increase testosterone levels by 20%. For more information visit www.threesixtypersonaltraining.co.uk, call Matt on 07971 192357, or email [email protected] 4. Vitamin D has been shown to promote fat loss in women – low levels may pre-dispose the body to fat accumulation, and an association between obesity and low vitamin D lev - Manchester Law Society Members receive a 10% discount on personal training upon els has been shown in the published literature. production of their Benefits of Membership Card 5. Need improved strength and athletic performance? In a number of studies those with Lifestyle 29 The W rld

Cruisin’...... according to Fran Due to Peter’s accident, the house move, catching up with work, the hormonal, grunting 18 year old (and the fall out from the massive telephone bill whilst we were away) I really haven’t had the time to write a full column for this month.

I am writing this on Friday, 4th October and am due to go away on my 50 th birth - day cruise tomorrow morn - Ready for the off... In a champagne bar, Crete.... ing. As you will have read in riences but thought I would When in Rome... earlier editions this was a fill this column with photos birthday pressie from Peter of The Messenger in the and my very good friend most obscure places I can Kate. Not only am I going find whilst on my travels. away with Kate but Peter This is the gauntlet to you isn’t coming – god help the all for you to send in your other passengers. I am photos of the Messenger in VERY, VERY giddy! weird and wonderful places! (PS little tip – don’t take the I will write next month whole thing – just take off about my virgin cruise expe - St Peter’s Square, Rome the outer pages!)

I have just spoken to Kate, my friend, who is THE MOST Monthly Competition UNORGANISED person I know. She hasn’t done her Bean's has reopened its door as a new, brighter and can we on-line booking for the dare say it, cooler and smoother operator. With a brand new cruise or got any travel in - theme and a swing in our step, we are offering up ourselves on surance yet (it is 4.00 pm a plate to you. We have taken inspiration from our location with and we go tomorrow at 5.00 printing and industry being at the forefront of the design. Cus - am!) but she has got the tomers can sit cosily in our home-made library courtesy of kids sorted thank goodness! paramount books shop on shude hill, can leave feedback on We are flying to Rome and one of our typewriters that are authentic and smell of years having a night in Rome first Ephesus, Turkey gone by, can lounge on reupholstered sofas that we have done then getting the ship and ourselves or drink cocktails for tin cans to remind us of a time before swanky hurricane glasses!. We wanted to put our own visiting Sicily, Turkey and stamp on Bean's...make it about us, where we are and the peo - Greece. ple that come to us. Yes we are part of a big company but what I have been to Rome before we do here in Manchester is not about that at all...the ideas come from us and are executed by us. Our company operate and loved it but Kate hasn’t wine bars and restaurants....with 2 bean's in the portfolio, we and so I asked her what she are not a fat cat....we are practically an independent! wanted to see – the Vatican, the Spanish Steps, the Coli - We select our butcher and bakers so that only the best food seum, Palatine Hill and the comes out of our kitchen.....our staff are passionate about mak - Roman Forum, the Capi - ing and shaking great cocktails. There is no ping ping boil in the tolini Museums or the bag or topped up premixed cocktails from a carton....this is Borghese Gallery – she said what we care about....a great bar serving great drinks...and “can we just go shoe shop - some great food to boot! ping and are we having Most venues have a history, a background...where the idea champagne on the plane!” came from...I just looked at where we were and what being in the Printworks means to me and my team. Henry J Bean's used to be where Venus is now....it was a small but busy cocktail bar that served wings and burgers and some American classics...but the focus was always on cocktails and a good old time... I want that for this Bean's now. And how will we make a good old time? With funky house on a Saturday, 90's dance on a Friday and a compilation mixed tape made by staff for mid- At the Acropolis week drinking...we want to cover the bases but stand out from the crowd. We want for people to forget about the old fash - ioned name and logo, forget about the location and what they think they know about us....and to give us a try and see what we've got.

To win a 2 course meal and cocktail for a family of 4 (mocktails and shakes available ) answer the following question: Q Who is Bean’s named after? Messenger’s fave drink on and send to [email protected] no later than the cruise - but which one? 13th November 2013. Sunbathing.... The port of Messina

Manchester Law Society Classified 31 Classified Directory

CEDR Mediation Locums Expert Witnesses Holiday Property

Commercial Property Locum Luxury Spanish Apartment CEDR Mediator Solicitor available. Computer lit - Golfing Breaks & Family Holidays erate. Recent experience Joe Shammah is a CEDR includes a year’s Commercial Accredited Mediator, Property Locum work for a lead - undertaking Mediations in ing commercial practice. Phone Commercial Litigation cases Paul Bryson at 01457 763340 or and Training for e-mail [email protected] Solicitors and Barristers Senior residential and conducting Mediations. commercial property Solicitor l2 Bedrooms (1 Double, 1 Twin) with over 4 years continuous l Pool Tel: 07860 844481 Locum experience offers you cost lFrontline golf views effective solutions for holiday email: lExcellent family facilities maternity and sickness cover .No [email protected] l Agency fees to pay. Please Gated resort with restaurants, pub and shops contact Martin Libman on 0161 Prices start from £125 Per Week / £29 per night (min 3 nights) 485 1240 or 07939 508543. Mark Mattison, a Mediator www.alhama-golf-rentals.com based in South Manchester is 18 years as Locum Solicitors in [email protected] available for commercial the North West. Tel John 07748 327062 mediations and for training on Bradley/Lynda Greenwood 07790 Situations Wanted all forms of ADR. 612906 Available to deal with Grasmere in the Lake District Autumn and Winter breaks from £200 Conveyancing and Family. 07831 302797 Senior Residential Property WHY PAY AGENCY FEES? Solicitor [email protected] Senior Residential Property seeks position www.markmattison.co.uk Solicitor with over 30 years (full time or part time). coveyancing experience (29 years Over 30 years coveyancing as a sole practitioner) available experience Easedale is a delightful rural retreat set in several acres of wooded hillside grounds for holidays, maternity and (29 years as a sole practitioner) which are graced with the presence of many different varieties of birds, badgers, sickness cover. Reasonable rates. Anywhere in the Greater deer and red squirrels - one in particular who regularly visits the tree right outside Shareholder Disputes the front door! If I can help, please telephone Manchester area. David on 07896 617287 (or email Email: [email protected] There are some well-known walks from the door including Alcock Tarn, Loughrigg, or telephone David on Fairfield and the Rydal Round. Grasmere village is only a short walk down the hill, Solicitor with 23 years [email protected]) where you will find a wealth of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs and the famous experience in such matters further details and availability. 07896 617287 Gingerbread shop. Dove Cottage and Grasmere lake are also only a short walk available on an Agency basis away. to assist firms who wish to DUAL QUALIFIED , very experi - Accommodation: Front door entrance into hallway with space for coats and boots. keep clients in-house. enced criminal specialist advo - To place an advertisement Door leading off to the sitting room/dining room/bedroom (TV/DVD/CD/Ipod cate with higher rights. Crime docking station), which has high ceilings, period cornicing and large sash win - Please contact by email in The Messenger please work and Crown Court work. dows with lovely views towards Grasmere lake and Silver Howe beyond. Further [email protected] Very resonable rates, short term call Lee Gilbert on doors lead off the hallway to the shower room with corner shower, basin and wc, or telephone/fax: and also to the well equipped kitchen in a modern shaker style. locum contract considered. 07971 706 2783 0161 445 1850 Please contact Christine on Available for short breaks Friday to Monday, Monday to Friday or week long book - 01772 741816 or 07967 530138 ings in October, November & December 2012 and January – March 2013 from as or email little as £200 To check availability please email [email protected] or call [email protected] 07810 793649 Couriers www.baskerville-publications.co.uk Kitchens and Bedrooms Notary Public · Sliding Mirror Doors · Laminate Floors Notary Public · Joinery Work John Cusack · Plumbing and Electrics City centre based couriers covering all aspects of courier work and more. worldwide documents Notarised 3D Designs Available Contact 0161 272 7576 Mike or Steve. accessible & efficient service home & office visits Supply and Fit or Supply Only well-established (since 1984) & experienced Kitchen Fitting Service

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