Latest News

Covid-19: Government Grants

Ensure your business does not miss out on much-needed Government Grants by checking the application process with your council. Click here for links

Budget Measures Announced to Support Businesses

Summary of key things business owners need to know from the Budget on 11 March 2020.

Is your Top Team Performing?

Briefing Note January 2020 

Law firms need to be agile if they are to successfully identify and respond quickly to threats to their businesses and to take advantage of opportunities. To be agile, law firms must focus strongly on change management, have quick response times to threats and strategic opportunities, have streamlined decision making processes and above all have capable people (including lawyers and those in management) who are open minded, flexible and prepared to learn new skills and ways of operating.

Cyber Security for law firms

Cybercrime is becoming big business, and cyber risk should be a focus for all businesses including law firms.

Outsourcing for law firms

Larger numbers of law firms appear to be outsourcing increasing aspects of their businesses as they look to build leaner and more efficient practices. Here our Strategic Business Adviser, Nick Palmer outlines some of the key issues.

Following a successful 1962 mission to orbit the earth, John Glenn (US astronaut and, later, politician) was asked what it felt like to sit in a rocket awaiting blast-off.

Does the size of your law firm matter?

Mark Baines, Legal Sector Manager reviews LexisNexis’ Is the Future Small? - the latest discussion paper in their Bellweather Report Series.

New SRA Accounts Rules come into force from 25th November 2019

At first glance, most law firms may have thought that continuing to apply the existing principles will be acceptable to comply, however, there are certain specific changes that require further consideration.  There has been some further guidance issued by the SRA, but the lack of detail in the rules means that complacency regarding the changes may result in breaches by your practice 

All references are to the new rules unless stated otherwise.

Brabners Disbursements VAT case update

The Law Society has updated its guidance on the treatment of disbursements for VAT. VAT Consultant Stephen Ferrie discusses the implications for Law firms.

What’s it worth?

I’m often instructed to value legal practices, whether that is part of advising on a merger/acquisition, restructuring, partnership dispute or retirement. Valuations have become increasingly important during the past couple of years, particularly as we have seen major changes within the ownership and trading structure of law firms. As we move forward into the post Legal Services Act era, and as external ownership of/investment in law firms is permitted, the valuation issues will become ever more important.