BRISTOL LAW SOCIETY Minutes of 149th Annual General Meeting on 19 November 2019 at 6.00pm 12 Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST Present: Nick Lee (NL); Ben Holt (BH); Erin Sawyer (ES); Coralie McKeivor (CM); Gary Lightwood (GL); John Moriarty (JM); Helen Read (HER); Saida Bello (SB); Joanne Campbell (JC); Tara Connor-McLaren (TCM); Shahzia Daya (SD); Mary Gaskins (MGa); Michael Gupwell (MG); Ben Hanham (BHa); Toby Huggins (TH); Ian Kelcey (IK); Roisin O’Dubhlaoidh (ROD); Leonie Parkin (LP); Clair Ponting (CLP) (admin only); Huw Ponting (HP); James Shepherd (JS); Leon Smith (LS); Edward Thompson (ECT) Apologies: Jane Emanuel; Rachel Fisher; Jerry Fowler; Sarah Goodridge; Nick Haywood; Ravinder Hothi; Katherine King; Julian Kinsey; Gareth Malna; Owen Mason; Katherine Moyse; Jonathan Peacock; Janis Purdy; Helen Read; Sarah Richards; Scott Silbereis; Dagmar Steffens; Karen Stuart (resigned); Marc White; Proxy Forms: 18 forms: Jamie Russell (DAC Beachcroft); John Marcus Campbell (DAC Beachcroft); Becky Lea (DAC Beachcroft); Polly McBridge (DAC Beachcroft); Polly Frost (DAC Beachcroft); Sophie Owen (DAC Beachcroft); Amy Harris (DAC Beachcroft); Carl Jamie Keenan (DAC Beachcroft); Helen Staines (DAC Beachcroft); Alex Erdmanis (DAC Beachcroft); Tyron Cook (DAC Beachcroft); Phillip Roberts (DAC Beachcroft); Leon R Smith (DAC Beachcroft); Nick Haywood (Osborne Clarke); Marc Shrimpling (Osborne Clarke); Phillip Chivers (Osborne Clarke); Lara Flynn (Osborne Clarke); Julian Hemming (Osborne Clarke) 1. Welcome Introductions and Receiving Apologies NL opened the meeting at 6.05pm and thanked all for coming. With the number of people in attendance (and holding proxies for the others) the meeting was quorate, and could proceed. Apologies as above. 2. Minutes of the 148th Annual General Meeting held on 20 November 2018 The draft minutes having been posted along with the notice of this AGM. With no comments arising from these: Proposed: Michael Gupwell Seconded: Gary Lightwood Voted: All Motion carried the minutes would be adopted. P a g e | 1 3. Report of the Council (including President’s and Honorary Secretary’s Reports) President’s Report A copy of the President’s Report as delivered on the evening is below at Appendix 1. The President’s report was not circulated in advance. ROUND OF APPLAUSE Honorary Secretary’s Report A copy of the Report of the Honorary Secretary is below at Appendix 2. There were no questions regarding this report. 4. Honorary Treasurer’s Report A copy of the Report of the Honorary Treasurer is below at Appendix 3. Review format of monthly management accounts with bookkeeper in order to reflect position better. 5. Appointment of Milsted Langdon LLP as the Society’s Accountants Robert Rawle from Milsted Langdon was in attendance at the meeting. Milsted Langdon were very pleased to accept the appointment as Accountants to the Society and are looking forward to working with the Society for the next 12 months. Proposed: Leon Smith Seconded: Ben Holt Voted: All CARRIED No questions arising from the appointment of Accountants. 6. The Election of: It was agreed to vote on Ordinary Member applications as a block. The elections took place in reverse order: • Ordinary Member of Council (as per nomination forms received). The majority of Ordinary Members were within their 4 year terms but new ones were as follows: Leonie Parkin, Computershare Proposed: Coralie McKeivor Seconded: Ben Holt Huw Ponting, Enable Law Proposed: Coralie McKeivor Seconded: Ben Holt Saida Bello, Bristol City Council Proposed: Coralie McKeivor Seconded: Ben Holt Mary Gaskins, Burges Salmon Proposed: Coralie McKeivor Seconded: Ben Holt Eve Emery, Simmons & Simmons Proposed: Coralie McKeivor Seconded: Ben Holt P a g e | 2 Salma Maqsood, Barcan+Kirby Proposed: Coralie McKeivor Seconded: Ben Holt Nick Haywood, Osborne Clarke Proposed: Coralie McKeivor Seconded: Ben Holt No objections to each of the above: Voted: All CARRIED WELCOME ABOARD • Honorary Secretary Coralie McKeivor, CMS CMNO Proposed: Michael Gupwell Seconded: Coralie McKeivor Voted: All CARRIED • Honorary Treasurer Jonathan Peacock, VWV Proposed: Michael Gupwell Seconded: Coralie McKeivor Voted: All CARRIED • Junior Vice-President Edward Thompson, Battens Proposed: Ben Holt Seconded: Michael Gupwell Voted: All CARRIED • Senior Vice President Erin Sawyer, Irwin Mitchell Proposed: Ben Holt Seconded: Michael Gupwell Voted: All CARRIED BH presenting the Senior Vice President Chain of Office to ES • President Ben Holt Proposed: Michael Gupwell Seconded: Coralie McKeivor Voted: All CARRIED I introduce you to the 149th President of Bristol Law Society. 7. The Investiture of the new President of the Society NL placing the Presidential chain of office over BH’s head. ROUND OF APPLAUSE See Incoming President’s speech at Appendix 4 below. ROUND OF APPLAUSE 8. Any Other Business None arising. Meeting closed at 6.50 pm P a g e | 3 BRISTOL LAW SOCIETY 149TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 19 NOVEMBER 2019 AT 12 COLSTON AVENUE, BRISTOL, BS1 4ST AT 5.45 PM REPORTS OF OUTGOING PRESIDENT, NICHOLAS LEE (Appendix 1) HONORARY SECRETARY, CORALIE McKEIVOR (Appendix 2) HONORARY TREASURER, JONATHAN PEACOCK (Appendix 3) INCOMING PRESIDENT, BEN HOLT (Appendix 4) P a g e | 4 Appendix 1 BRISTOL LAW SOCIETY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2019 PRESIDENT’S REPORT It has been a really enjoyable year and an honour to represent BLS and our members for the past 12 months. Reflecting on my main goals and what we have done to achieve those: 1. Promote the legal sector and our City as a whole a. BBLT- Meet ups, Tech Festival and Westminster, Legal Geek b. Joint V & ASWLS c. Social media presence d. Engagement with BCC and WECA e. Supporting Bristol Pro Bono, Pro Bono Week, Bristol Law Centre and the SW Legal Support Trust Walk f. Supporting UWE DAS g. Engagement with ICAEW h. Engagement with CBI i. UWE Law Advisory Board j. Bristol Showcasing Event 2. Enhanced membership a. Collaboration on Community Engagement, Feeding Bristol, Bristol Giving Day b. More courses c. Innovation workshop d. Presenting to corporates on the benefits of corporate membership e. Quizzes f. Summer Party g. Annual Awards Dinner h. New sponsors i. Facilitated meetings and mediations at No 12, The Meeting Rooms 3. Promoting equality and Mental Health a. BLS inclusion committee b. South West D&I Forum c. Supporting member D&I initiatives d. Bristol Equality Network and Bristol Equality Charter e. Celebrating 100 years of Women in Law f. Supporting Bristol Pride g. Pay gap seminar h. LawCare and mental health awareness A huge thank you to all on Council who have supported and run these events and new initiatives. An even bigger thank you to Helen, Clair and John who have somehow managed to accommodate all these new events. Seriously they go over and beyond to ensure that we meet the needs and wishes of our members. Resourcing continues to be a challenge and one that we are looking at closely. If we want to maximise all of our potential, we will eventually need to increase our resources. Delighted to have continued strengthening our relationships with our sponsors and strategic partners- UWE, Lloyds, Milsted Landon, Wessex Searches, Marsh JLT, Hays, Anexsys and Annecto. Really exciting to have welcomed a number of new sponsors this year- Insight Legal, Amdaris, WMR, Nine Feet Tall and Easton Bevins/Neighbourly Matters Consultancy. In addition we have been supported by ARAG, West Country Case Management, Kin Probate, Legal WorkFlow, Dual Asset Management, Griffiths Allen, Weston College, Conscious, Albion, Guildhall, at our awards dinner and conferences. P a g e | 5 Appendix 1 It has been an exhausting year, but one that has been really valuable personally. It has opened my eyes to all the innovation and inspiration within our profession and beyond. Really pleased to have raised funds for our charity of the year- The Bristol Children’s Help Society. We have raised around £3500 so far and hoping for a final push this Friday with #Casual4Kids. Last but not least… There is set to be a new kid on the block. They say he is taller, younger and better looking. That’s all lies. Delighted to be handing over to Ben Holt. Ben has been a really supportive Senior Vice and he is going to be a fantastic President. He is energetic, amusing, some say extravert, and commercially savvy. He is really popular amongst our legal community and I have no doubts he will continue to drive BLS forward. Ben and I have built a good friendship over the past few years and I am delighted to be supporting him next year. Thanks again for all your support and please continue to support BLS moving forward. Nicholas Lee President 2018/19 19 November 2019 P a g e | 6 Appendix 2 HONORARY SECRETARY REPORT TO AGM – 19 NOVEMBER 2019 Resignations Ordinary Member's resignations during 2018/2019 The following people resigned during the year: 1. Karen Stuart (Simmons & Simmons) 2. Katherine King (Burges Salmon) 3. Gareth Malna (Burges Salmon) We thank them for their contributions during their time on Council. Ordinary Member's resignations for AGM Leonie Parkin of Computershare has come to the end of her four-year term. Edward Thompson of Battens has submitted his resignation as an Ordinary Members in order to stand for positions on the Executive. We thank them all for their contributions over the years. Co-optees and Special Members at AGM Nick Haywood of Osborne Clarke, Scott Silbereis of UWE and Janis Purdy of ASWLS have all finished their 1 year terms. We also thank them for their contributions over the past year. Nominations for 2019/20 Nominations for Officers President: Benjamin Holt (VWV) Senior Vice President: Erin Sawyer (Irwin Mitchell) Junior Vice President: Edward Thompson (Battens) Honorary Treasurer: Jonathan Peacock (VWV) Honorary Secretary: Coralie McKeivor (CMS) Nominations for Ordinary Members Huw Ponting (Enable Law) Saida Bello (Bristol City Council) Mary Gaskins (Burges Salmon) Eve Emery (Simmons & Simmons) Salma Maqsood (Barcan + Kirby) Nick Haywood (Osborne Clarke) Leonie Parkin will be restanding as an Ordinary Member.