Buzzacott's 2012 Budget Evening - A sprint through the main Budget points!

Following the success of last year's event, Buzzacott are pleased to invite you to an evening of rapid review of the main high (and low!) lights of the 2012 Chancellor's Statement.

Buzzacotts say that they would be delighted if you would join us at our offices on Wednesday 21st March for an evening of drinks, canapés and our infamous 'Big Buzzacott Budget Quiz'!

At the starting gun, Buzzacott Chairman Anthony de Lacey will give an official welcome before Buzzacott Partner, Alastair McQuater races through an overview of the main Budget points and covers how businesses and individuals can jump the hurdles that will affect them. As they speed towards the finish line, they will have the Big Buzzacott Budget Quizz and provide participants with an opportunity to quench their thirst and replenish their energy levels with refreshments and canapés.

This is an extract from the original Buzzacotts invitation. For more information and to RSVP please visit: www.buzzacott.co.uk/events/buzzacotts2012budgetevening

What price - Moral Values?

No matter what sort of organization you are: public sector, Software House specialist, law firm, surveyors or consultancy – would you pass the test? Mumsnet have developed an assessment for firms to test just how effective they are in employing staff flexibly – and now you can see through Ethicability whether all you do is defined by a moral code signed up to by all.

“ethicability® makes a compelling case for why doing the right thing is not a function of good business, it is good business.” Joe Garner, Deputy CEO & Head of UK Retail Bank. HSBC

Ethicability are delighted to announce that Version 3 of our proprietary MORAL DNA Profile diagnostic is now launched and available at: www.MoralDNA.org

A major new feature is measurement of the differences between At Home and At Work preferences. This information has been highly valued in trials with BP and HSBC. A 6 page Report is emailed to all participants highlighting 6 Characters for easy identification of “type”.

There is no charge for individual usage . If used for business purposes we are happy for a small number of people (Max 6) from the same organisation to trial the MDNA Profile but for wider usage an IP sliding scale fee will apply as follows:
• Up to 100 users £10 per person
• 101 -1000 users £8 per person
• 1001 -10,000 users £6 per person
• 10,000 + £4 per person

Well over 50,000 people from some 180 countries have taken this unique “Test” and the research data we have gathered is throwing fascinating new light on various aspects of moral behaviour. Your participation is therefore highly valued as a contribution to this ongoing work. For more information check out www.ethicability.org

NB The fourth edition of Prof Roger Steare’s classic text book on “good” decision making – ethicability® is also now in stock.
RSP is £20+p&p available from Amazon at £17.

Let us know what you think!!

Singapore hits the headlines again – year of the Dragon!

Having returned from Singapore 10 days ago I can report that it is growing as a legal centre, challenging Hong Kong as a great place to be for law firms with global / international aspirations.

We held several Round Table discussions with Managing Partners, hosted by Arfat Selvam, MP at Duane Morris Selvam and another hosted by Alban Kang, MP at ATMD Bird & Bird. It is anticipated that these will become quarterly events and includes MPs from UK, European, US and Singaporean firms. (If you would like to join, please let Charlotte know).

Bryan Tan, MP of Keystone Law Corporation sends out a regular newsletter advising firms looking to do business in Singapore - you may be interested:

www.keystonelawcorp.com/downloads/SingaporeKeystoneLaw2012-2E.pdf

Allen & Gledhill one of the Top 4 Singaporean firms, has dropped it current relationship with Linklaters and now likely to cosy up with Allen & Overy. Once this is approved the doors will open – and there are a growing number of very capable, smaller local firms we are meeting who could offer a great foothold for foreign firms.

And The Lawyer has commented similarly:

www.thelawyer.com/lion-city-set-for-roaring-trade/1011474.article

Watch this space – and Patricia would love to celebrate her year as a Dragon with a drink in the Long Bar at Raffles – if you are around in Singapore in May!

Introduction to the partnership

Here is an opportunity for new Partners to understand just what you need to consider so that you have a successful career in your firm. From all the comments and experiences from other partners I suggest you focus on:

• Clarity around your role and key responsibilities and how these are measured – and valued (whether rewarded directly or not);
• Consider how you will use your contacts to grow not just your practice – but the wider firm (far too many partners are too selfish in their BD view);
• Setting aside enough for you to have a decent pension fund – whether that is a portfolio of properties, other assets – or a straightforward fund. Don’t get caught out as some of those partners in their mid-fifties and on who are going to have to keep working to plug that gap
• Consider how to manage your career so that you remain an asset to the firm – and it to you!

So why not attend Smith & Williamson’s excellent programme.

Maybe see you there!

PS we are running short introductory programmes for Partners about taking on NED and Not for Profit responsibilities: challenge yourself and come along.

Emotional Intelligence goes beyond Intellect but do your Senior Executives Partners have it?

We have been working with JCA for over 15 years and recognize the value of their superb work. John Cooper and his team have been working with some of our law firm and technology clients and achieved great enhancements in self awareness, self regard, awareness of others and so affected the bottom line.

In a recent article "Emotional intelligence: thinking and feeling on the job" in the Guardian’s money section (11the February, 2012) it sets out the case for the financial benefit in having a healthy and effective Board.

This approach is part of the Strategic Portfolio Career Mapping for Partners © approach available, and there is an increasing demand for solutions to holding on to partners, to ensure that selection criteria for partnership now includes such sophistication – i.e. going beyond those blunt instruments: pure financial measures.

Lawyers as NEDS – can it work?

Well due to a recent article in the Yorkshire Post, Partners and ex-Partners are increasingly taking up the challenge of getting onto Boards as NEDs, Trustees or Governors – so what are you doing?

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/business-news/lawyer_faces_new_challenge_with_public_relations_agency_1_4216828 gives an illustration of how you can turn a client or sector relationship into gold! Check our latest selection of half day workshops – carrying CPD, delivered by experts in the field such as Simon Wethered, Richard Evans and Mike Spur. Why not book a place on any one of these workshops and learn just what is involved in managing your current role as a Partner, how to tailor your CV and how to exploit your sector expertise by taking on these responsibilities. Innovative and well focused firms are seeing this as a positive way of providing stimulus, aligning individual and the firm’s strategy and so much more.

Duke Street Bets on Law (extract from the Times)

Interesting to see the different options UK firms are taking to take advantage of external investment to develop the delivery of their legal services to an ever widening group of clients.

10 days ago, Slater & Gordon publicized their proposed acquisition of Russell, Jones & Walker and now Duke Street are taking a significant stake in the Group behind the Plexus Law - Parabis - valuing the legal services business at between £150m and £200m. (All subject to the SRA)

The sale of shares in Parabis, subject to clearance by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, will give the group sufficient fire power to pursue its plans for a series of acquisitions. Paul Lester, former boss of VT Group, will become chairman of Parabis after the deal, while Bob Scott, previously chief executive of Aviva, the insurer, will also join the board.

The stake sale is the latest, and biggest, in a series of deals in the legal profession. The investments have been sparked by the introduction of the Legal Services Act, which allows firms to raise money from outside investors for the first time. The legislation has been dubbed Tesco Law as it was predicted that big retailers would muscle into the market.

As the public are increasingly exposed to such comments in the Press, we will see more adventurous forays into this market place by Private Equity as well as Corporate Finance. What is your firm doing, how is your Board responding to this challenge to how your firm will survive?