12 Nov Having your cake and eating it
Pictured (left to right) :
LawNet board members were joined by head office staff to celebrate the network’s 25 year anniversary. Philip Hoskins of Andrew & Co; LawNet chairman Rob Salisbury of Gamlins; founder Simon Maddox; Nicolle Warren, LawNet finance & administration manager ; Chris Marston, LawNet chief executive and Simon Gittings of Stamp Jackson & Procter.
LawNet, the national network for independent law firms, is marking its 25th anniversary with a call for independent firms to innovate.
And that will be the message for the network’s annual conference, when nearly 200 members from firms across the country take part later this month, (November 2014). A programme of high profile experts will be outlining how to adopt an innovative mindset, develop a strategy and structure the business in a way that put innovation at its heart.
Originally conceived as a collective purchasing group when it was set up in 1989, LawNet is well known for its long established professional indemnity scheme, which helps to stabilise and reduce premiums for firms through a member scheme with £1.2bn of premium buying power. But twenty-five years on, the network’s offering now extends across quality accreditation, networking, practice development, marketing and CPD learning alongside its buying power.
This will be the first conference for new LawNet chief executive Chris Marston, who previously developed the professional practices division for Lloyds Banking Group. After taking over earlier this year, he is now spearheading a major growth plan for the network, with a focus on progressive firms who wish to remain independent but want to collaborate on the things that matter.
“As we move into our next quarter-century, our focus is firmly on innovation and helping our firms to succeed,” said Chris Marston.
“We set high quality and management standards for members, and that helps to maintain the parity between our firms, which in turns leads to a cooperative powerhouse effect, where everyone benefits from collaboration and networking.”
“We’ve recruited four new member firms in as many months since my arrival, and that tells me there is value in a mutual model that protects the identity of well-managed SME-sized firms.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
About LawNet
LawNet was established in 1989 to enable a collaborative, non-competing national network where independent law firms could access big firm resources and benefit from collective purchasing, shared knowledge, best practice and expertise.
All members share a commitment to excellence and must achieve and maintain LawNet’s own ISO.9001 standard and the associated Mark of Excellence in client service.
The combined income of the 64 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £20m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, practice development, marketing and compliance. It currently places some £1.2bn worth of PI cover alone for members each year, which helps stabilise premiums for firms.
Twitter: @LawNetUK