North West Law Good Evening Manchester! April 2011 The Manchester Legal Awards News Courts Estates Reform Programme The 2nd annual Manchester Legal Awards took place on 3rd March at (CERP) Update the Midland Hotel, where over 500 guests and sponsors filled the page 5 Alexandra Suite to celebrate the cream of the Manchester legal DWF receives industry acclaim for client profession. Julia Baskerville reports on one of the highlights in the satisfaction Manchester legal calendar... page 6 Following on from the success of last year’s Man- Glaisyers continues to expand chester Legal Awards, the 2011 event was even more page 7 successful. For the win- Mills & Reeve secures Sunday Times top ners it was an evening of celebration, for the run- 100 ranking for eighth consecutive year ners-up there was some disappointment, but it page 8 was most definately an evening that recognised the cream of the Manches- Features ter legal profession. Guests began their evening with a champagne recep- Management Matters tion, sponsored by Trimega Laboratories, in the lobby of with Bill Kirby the Midland Hotel before page 12 moving in to the Alexandra Think Individual Client! Suit e for Dinner and the Awards ceremony. page 22 Fran Eccles-Bech, the Execu- tive Director of Manchester Regulars Law Society welcomed the guests with a resounding “Good Evening Manchester, Education & Training Programme welcome to our very own oscars!” page 10 President of Manchester City Profile: Law Society, Nick Daven- port also welcomed guests Ruth Shearn of RMSPR to the MLA in the UK’s great- est city. He said it was an page 11 evening to celebrate the The latest new from the MYSG, MTSG & outstanding legal talent in the city and that the task of ILEX the judges had been an ex- tremely difficult one in view page 13 of the high volume and quality of the entries. Fran’s Foray This month Goodman Harvey Nick also thanked the many individuals who had been page 24 involved in the organisation of the event as well as the many sponsors of the evening and individual More news, photos and reports awards . In partnership with Kevin Feddy, Business E ditor from the Manchester Legal Awards of the Manchester Evening News, the media partner for on pages 15 - 18 continued on page 15 The Monthly Publication of the Manchester Law Society Manchester Law Society President’s Column 3 I write this month’s col- John - whose attention to their firms. However we the Authorisation of Sole umn immediately after detail and sheer hard work cannot guess at every- Practitioners. It will be in- the Manchester Legal was outstanding. Fran thing that may be of rele- teresting to see over the Awards Dinner on 3rd managed to persuade a vance to members. We are next few months what no- March. The evening small army of people to here to serve our mem- tice (if any) that the SRA demonstrated the out- help the MLS team on the bers so if there are topics takes of the many re- standing legal talent in day and I am very grateful of interest to any firms sponses it has received on this great city. The winners for what they contributed. could they please let ei- recent consultations. My were all worthy, and my ther me or our education thanks are due to Brian congratulations go to At the Legal Awards Din- co-ordinator, Hannah Ker- Rogers of Lewis Hyman- them all. Those who were ner some advance public- shaw, have details. I would son Small for taking on the not successful have my ity was given to the also recommend you look onerous role of chairing commiserations, and Manchester Law Society carefully at the blue book- this vital committee. should remember there is Charity Ball to be held on let that accompanies the always next year. The Saturday 8th October, Messenger every month, At the end of March I will event has now become a once again at the Midland as we try to provide CPD be attending the Local fixture in our calendar, Hotel. The charities we will at a rate which is substan- Law Society conference in with demand exceeding be supporting will be the tially more cost effective Surrey. One session looks supply. 496 attended this North West Air Ambulance than the commercial particularly interesting - it year’s event, with a wait- and Nordoff Robbins, the providers. consists of a panel discus- ing list of 80. There is a children’s music charity. It sion involving our Na- clear message for next will be another glittering Continuing on the theme tional President (Linda year: book early to avoid event so I urge you to re- of education we are in the Lee), The Law Society’s disappointment. serve your table early. At process of finalising a joint chief executive (Des Hud- The Manchester Legal the Legal Awards we held venture with the College son), the Chairman of the My thanks must go to all a prize draw for these two of Law to provide mem- SRA (Charles Plant), and Awards demonstrated of our sponsors who charities, raising in excess bers of the Society with the Chief Legal Ombuds- helped to make the dinner of £4,300 which is out- online continuing educa- man (Adam Sampson). I the outstanding legal such a success. From my standing. The generosity tion at excellent rates. Full will report on this confer- conversations with them of all who entered is ap- details of this exciting ven- ence in next month’s col- talent in this great city. at the event it seems clear preciated. ture will be released umn. they enjoyed partnering shortly, but I am sure it will The winners were all with Manchester Law Soci- In addition to my role as offer much at a reasonable Nick Davenport ety in putting on a glitter- President I have the privi- price. President worthy, and my ing evening. Our media lege of chairing the Educa- partners MEN Media gave tion Committee of Our newly formed Regula- congratulations go to the event outstanding Manchester Law Society. tory Affairs Committee has coverage the following Much work is put in by the been busy. The Society has them all. day. My final thanks must members of this commit- responded to the two lat- go to the dedicated team tee to devise an education est consultations issued at Manchester Law Society program that is of assis- by the SRA on Client Fi- - Fran, Vicky, Hannah, and tance to members and nancial Protection, and President’s Column President’s 4 News Eversheds’partner takes on consultant role after 40 years The Manchester office of international law firm Eversheds has appointed M&A partner Edward Pysden as a consultant when he retires from the partnership on 30 April 2011. Edward spoke to Julia Baskerville about his life in the law... After more than four thing moved much more says “the pitches we see for there are many challenges decades at Eversheds, Ed- slowly and gave you time to global and major companies ahead for the profession, ward will continue provid- think, now everything has to are highly sophisticated and particularly for smaller firms ing advice to his clients be instantaneous. Similarly responsive to the clients de- who specialise in family, while also continuing with the training of solicitors has mands, they want access to conveyancing, matrimonial a portfolio of activities out- changed. Trainee solicitors information, value for and legal aid work. He adds side the firm. used to spend much more money and expertise. “ “my impression is that some time with their principals. of the smaller firms are fac- Edward joined Eversheds When I was training I had Edward has also seen the ing a difficult time and constituent North-West law two principals who would development of Manchester changes in legal aid are firm Alexander Tatham in sit with me and go through as a legal centre change dur- going to restrict access to 1970,and has specialised in everything in depth.” ing the last 20-30 years. He justice in the future.” corporate law. Edward has comments “During the mid advised on many of the re- Although the pace of prac- 80s Manchester’s law firms Throughout his career, Ed- gion’s most substantial tice has changed, Edward were much smaller than ward has been passionate transactions, such as bring- recognises the advantages those of Leeds and Birming- about the growth of the ing in £4 billion procure- and benefits that technol- ham. Leeds firms had the Manchester economy and ment for the Greater ogy has brought to modern advantage of serving several the health of the cultural life Manchester Waste Disposal practices. He says “Technol- large Yorkshire based Build- in the North-West of Eng- Authority to a successful ogy has modernised prac- ing Societies and the law land. He has been engaged conclusion in 2009. He has tices making them more firms benefitted from the in the development of the been recognised for a num- costs efficient and competi- regular flow of work this Manchester economy ber of years in Chambers di- tive. It has made the world generated. However the ex- through his roles as a board rectory as the leading smaller.” pansion and mergers of a member of Marketing Man- corporate lawyer in the number of firms such as chester, Knowledge Capital North-West of England. Edward has found that over Eversheds, Addleshaws, and pro-manchester, of the years, relationships with Dibb Lupton Allsop and which he became Chairman. So over the forty years what clients have changed.