LawNet, the leading network for independent legal firms, has announced a further new member – Grant Saw LLPin south east London.
The firm is the fifth member to be announced in the last 12 months and the signing brings LawNet closer to its target of 80 firms in 2012.
Grant Saw provides legal services to a private and corporate customer base across south east London and the Docklands and has ambitions to significantly increase its share of commercial work.
“The major reason for joining LawNet was the opportunity it offered to grow, by learning from other larger firms, sharing resources and cutting our internal costs through group discounted services,” said managing partner Ray Crudgington, who also heads the commercial and probate departments. “We want to explore new ways of doing things and learn from others we respect. Best practice and customer service are both very important to us. We believe that if we do things well, the client will see the benefit.”
The firm secured Lexcel accreditation in 2007 but will now additionally work towards the LawNet ISO 9001:2008 quality standard.
Membership of the network is by invitation to those firms who fit the LawNet profile of £2m - £15m turnover and prepared to commit to securing and maintaining the LawNet quality standard, which is mandatory for all firms, with rigorous six monthly audits to ensure standards are held across the membership. Recently LawNet has reached an agreement with the Law Society to offer dual accreditation with the Lexcel mark, with reduced demand on resources through a special dual assessment programme.
LawNet chief executive John Thomas said: “We are well on track to achieve our growth plans in the geographic areas that remain to be covered through the network. We’re attracting members who can see the benefit of being part of something bigger. It’s not just about the discounted services, although cutting costs certainly helps everyone, but it’s about being focussed on strength through strategic growth.”
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The combined income of the 68 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business 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.
The changing legal services market offers big opportunities to mid size firms, according to managing and senior partners attending this year’s LawNet conference.
But the firms also said that if they were to benefit from the opportunities, they needed to develop a stronger strategy, must look at restructuring and would need to become more specialist.
Over 60% of the firms believe they need to be at least a third bigger, with a further 24% looking towards at least a doubling in size.
National brands, new styles of service delivery and price competition are seen as the biggest threats in the market.
And as the first reports reach the market of equity funding deals for legal firms, including the majority shareholding taken in the QualitySolicitors brand, almost 60% of LawNet firms said they would accept such non lawyer equity investment. And when asked what they would do with a £250,000 cash injection, the firms would be most likely to invest the money in brand development and business development, closely followed by hiring a professional CEO or other professional managers.
All the feedback from firms came through on the spot questions posed by speakers Nick Jarrett-Kerr and George Bull at the conference, tackling a range of key strategy issues, with instant feedback from the floor using audience response keypads.
The full list of topics surveyed and the responses:
Does your firm need to become more specialist to win higher value work in future?
Hardly at all, we have about the right mix
13%
Nearly there just honing skills in a couple of areas
24%
Made a start, work in progress
43%
We are too generalist, all departments need to develop
20%
Does your firm need to grow over the next three to five years to remain competitive and profitable?
Hardly at all, we are just the right size
16%
At least a third bigger
59%
Double in size
15%
More than double
10%
How would you describe the level of ambition amongst your partnership group?
Highly ambitious and entrepreneurial
10%
Mainly focused on defending our current position and profitability
34%
Cautious and comfortable
4%
A complete mixture of views and levels of ambition
52%
If I were to invest £250,000 in your firm, what would you spend most of it on?
Laterally hiring more partners
14%
Paying out non-performing partners
9%
Hiring a professional CEO or other professional managers
22%
Building IT infrastructure
16%
Developing our brand and business development
38%
Bigger offices
1%
Which one of these pressures is the greatest threat to the solicitors’ profession?
New entrants
16%
Evolving client (customer) expectations
7%
Price competition
28%
New methods of service delivery
22%
The power of brands and advertising
24%
Consolidation
3%
Do you feel your firm’s strategy is adequate to meet the challenges of the new market?
Yes
40%
No
60%
Over the next 3 years, do you expect that your firm will restructure in response to the LSA?
Yes
61%
No
39%
If approached by a new investor, would your firm accept non-lawyer equity investment?
Yes
59%
No
41%
The restructuring of the legal market is going to bring big opportunities for my firm:
Niche markets and new technology solutions were the big story for this year’s LawNet awards.
And the leading law firm network says it represents a bullish attitude to change in the sector from the mid-size independents that make up its membership.
Top awards went to Buckles Solicitors LLP in the East of England, winning Law Firm of the Year, and Managing Partner of the Year for Mark Hovell at Manchester’s George Davies Solicitors LLP.
Buckles Solicitors LLP scooped the award after racking up a list of achievements during the year under the leadership of managing partner of Colleen Gostick, including a strategic refocusing of the business into key specialist teams, who said: “Our culture is about valuing strong, long-term client relationships and our portfolio of services is designed to clearly distinguish us from our competitors. Acting for a number of national and international household names and drawing clients from across East Anglia, the Midlands and beyond, we are well on our way to becoming a regional heavyweight firm.”
Other innovations for Buckles included strategic alliances with other niche practices designed to build its competitive advantage in key target sectors; late night and Saturday opening hours for clients; and internal IT improvements which include a desktop key performance indicator dashboard for fee earners.
According to John Thomas, chief executive of LawNet: “Buckles stood out. These were real innovations, not just window dressing, and combined with a strong financial performance, it’s placed the firm in an excellent position to take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.”
Manchester’s George Davies Solicitors LLP nominated Mark Hovell for Managing Partner of the Year, citing his inspirational approach and fearless attitude to change. Lindsey Farrelly, solicitor and business development manager, who submitted the nomination, said: “He brings out the best in people. There’s a real buzz across the firm.”
Headlining Hovell’s achievements was his relocation of the firm from its old four storey offices to a modern open plan headquarters in the heart of the city, without increasing premises costs. The new location is credited with helping to draw high profile lateral hires into the firm over the past year, and improving cross referrals between departments. Hovell has also drawn international attention to the firm through his specialist sports practice and his role with the Court of Arbitration of Sport in Switzerland, which has included acting as independent arbitrator at the Commonwealth Games and World Cup.
He said: “We’re keen to remain an independent mid-size firm, so nurturing talent is crucial, whether it’s retaining young lawyers coming up through the firm or attracting the lateral hires we need to fill gaps and enable us to up our game plan in key sectors. Last year was tough, but this year’s figures are up 18% for the same period and pipeline is looking good.”
From Bath, Mogers Solicitors LLP won best business development initiative for allHR their new Amazon-style online human resource service which combines the skills of the firm’s HR manager with its employment team. This online document store of HR policies, documents and letters, was designed for SME’s that were otherwise missing out on professional support. The firm says the new service has secured clients in new markets, as well as delivering added value to existing clients.
Two further awards recognised technological innovation amongst firms. For Clarkson Wright & Jakes, an overhaul of their website – with integrated social media, networking and webinars – has drawn a big increase in traffic. And at Fidler & Pepper in Nottinghamshire, their newly extended Super Case Tracker, an upgraded system giving real-time via the web and smartphones, won the award for best use of technology. Following on from being the first to develop online case tracking back in 1998, this was once again developed wholly in-house by the firm and has, they say, transformed the way information is accessed and displayed to clients.
IBB Solicitors in London were named for their outstanding client care, with a programme that has included a new after care strategy and new processes and training to help staff aim for excellence in every client interaction.
Added LawNet’s John Thomas: “This isn’t about handing out gongs. The real intent behind the awards is to recognise what’s valued within LawNet. For each category we’re looking for sustainable and measurable improvements, underpinned by strong risk management. This year’s submissions were exceptional in the range of new ideas, but all were clearly built on firm foundations.”
This year’s winners were:
Best use of Technology sponsored byTikitTFB
Fidler & Pepper Solicitors
Best Business Development/Marketing Initiative sponsored by thecabinetoffice
Mogers Solicitors LLP
Best Website sponsored by Conscious Solutions
Clarkson Wright & Jakes Ltd
Outstanding Client Care sponsored by Acuigen
IBB Solicitors
Managing Partner of the Year sponsored by Wilkinson Read & Partners
Mark Hovell, George Davies Solicitors LLP
Law firm of the Year sponsored by Voicepath
Buckles Solicitors LLP
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Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk Twitter : @magtay
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk Twitter: @helenhshaw
LawNet is to provide its CPD accredited training free of charge to members, saying it wants to help firms maintain training standards against a backdrop of tough economic trading conditions.
The scheme was successfully piloted on a selection of courses earlier this year and is now to be rolled out for a full year.
LawNet, the leading law firm network with nearly 70 mid size independent law firm members, delivers over 50 CPD accredited learning events each year for its member firms, covering a wide range of technical, practice management and business development topics.
And now around 35 of these will be delivered free of charge during the coming year, with 1400 delegate places across over 20 specialist practice areas.
“We recognise that in tough economic times, it’s often training budgets that get slashed but this is just the time that firms most need to invest in skills to stay ahead. We do not want our firms to suffer from lack of skills or the benefits that come from getting together and engaging in face-to-face learning,” explained director of services Helen Hamilton-Shaw.
“As we operate as a mutual organisation for the benefit of members, our training delivery has always been delivered on a not for profit basis. Because of the growth of the network over the last year, combined with savings elsewhere, we’ve been able to make this happen and help our firms at a very practical level. The backbone of our network is the quality ethos; all our firms must maintain our ISO.9001 standard, and ongoing training is key to good practice and risk management.”
John Britten of Actons, LawNet member in Nottingham, has welcomed the free CPD saying: “For me the training and sharing of knowledge continues to be one of the most important aspects of membership.
“The training is developed in response to what members actually want, and as we are a group of like-minded firms of a similar profile, wanting broadly the same sort of training, it’s a bit like having bespoke in-house training but at a very good value rate – even better value now that so many courses will be free.”
Specialist professional development and residential courses run by LawNet will continue to be chargeable, including their strategic leadership and management programme, which involves leading specialist speakers.
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 Twitter : @magtay
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk Twitter: @helenhshaw
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. Each firm has an exclusive geographical operating area to enable collaboration.
The combined income of the 68 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business 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.
A team from Gamlins in Rhyl have taken the LawNet Challenge title, completing an 11 mile course with a 3800 foot ascent to the summit of Snowdon, in a blistering 269 minutes and 10 seconds.
The team, comprising Huw Rees, Dafydd Roberts, Ron Davison and Gwyn Pritchard, were almost 100 minutes faster than their nearest rivals.
Taking part on the day were 80 lawyers in 17 teams, all drawn from LawNet member firms across the country.
The all-male winning team from Gamlins were spotted sprinting down from the summit, as they literally ran to victory; unlike their female counterparts from the same firm, who took a wrong turn at an early stage – leading to the usual jokes about women and directions. However humble pie was the order of the day as the ‘Gamlins Girls’ still managed to secure second place in the Challenge, finishing in 361mins 16secs, with third place going to a team from Lincoln firm Andrew & Co, in 402mins.
At the start of the LawNet Challenge, organiser George Coombes (front right) with the team from Gamlins who went on to win, channelling Tom Cruise aviator style...
Each year leading law firm network LawNet arranges a Challenge event for its 70 strong membership of independent firms. Previous events have included the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge and Helvellyn and Striding Edge.
The event is organised by George Coombes, LawNet’s Marketing & Services Manager, who said: “Members enjoy the opportunity to network in a more informal setting and environment, whilst having a bit of competitive fun. It was a close call with the weather after snowfall on Snowdon just a week before and bad rain predicted, but we had a great day.”
He added: “Seeing the winning team descend was reminiscent of a scene from Mission Impossible, all running from the summit and one member channelling Tom Cruise in a pair of big aviator mirrored sunglasses! The winning Gamlins team also completed the mini-orienteering challenge at checkpoint 1, whereas some teams decided to take a 30 minute time penalty and miss this out. They certainly were deserving winners.”
Last year’s winners, Darbys from Oxford, finished sixth in 417mins 39secs and the LawNet head office team a respectable seventh in 418mins 26secs.
Team list:
Andrew & Co LLP
Berry & Berry
Breeze & Wyles Solicitors LLP
Darbys Solicitors LLP
Gamlins (3 teams)
Gardner Leader LLP (2 teams)
Gepp & Sons
Lamb Brooks
LawNet
Mullis & Peake LLP (2 teams)
Myers Lister Price Solicitors
Oxley & Coward Solicitors LLP
Parrott & Coales LLP
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. Each firm has an exclusive geographical operating area to enable collaboration.
The combined income of the 68 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business 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.
Following the announcement by the SRA on the outcome of last year’s Work Based Learning pilot scheme for trainee solicitors, one of the organisations involved has said the sector will face a tough learning curve to implement the new rules.
LawNet, the collaborative network for independents, joined together with The Oxford Institute of Legal Practice (OXILP) to run a pilot of the Work Based Learning scheme for 8 trainee solicitors within LawNet member firms, typically mid-size independents.
This pilot was designed for small to medium sized firms and under the scheme OXILP helped trainees prepare a development plan, review their progress against SRA outcomes and provide a final assessment while LawNet supported the training programme on behalf of firms, including bespoke training sessions to supplement the trainees’ learning experience and support the learning outcomes.
This differed from the other pilots – which were for Magic Circle firms and for paralegals - where trainees were supported and assessed either wholly in-house by their employers, or externally by Nottingham Law School.
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, director of services at LawNet, said: “This was a very interesting exercise and a successful one for us, although inevitably there were varying experiences across the trainees and the firms. If Work Based Learning is to go ahead, firms have the prospect of managing the introduction of yet another significant internal change.
“Fortunately, we are very well placed to support our firms in implementing the new regime, as we’ve already created the infrastructure and proved it in the market through this pilot, so that will make things easier for our members, but it’s likely to be a tough learning curve for others without that infrastructure, even though the long term gain may be better quality.”
Julie Brannan, Director of OXILP said: “Despite the inevitable challenge of the new, it is clear from the LawNet/OXILP pilot that Work Based Learning has the potential to provide real training gains for firms who implement a successful programme.”
The OXILP/LawNet pilot scheme was undertaken with member firms Parrott & Coales LLP, Aylesbury; IBB, Uxbridge; Aldridge Brownlee Solicitors LLP, Bournemouth and Lamb Brooks, Basingstoke.
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. Each firm has an exclusive geographical operating area to enable collaboration.
The combined income of the 68 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business 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.
News Release:
ABS and investor strategy opportunities are top of the agenda for a group of independent firms.
They will be working with leading industry strategists in a LawNet masterclass that has been designed to place law firm leadership development in the context of the Legal Services Act.
Robert Mowbray
This two day residential programme is delivered by four industry experts and authorities in their field – including Robert Mowbray on financial well being and Andrew Hedley on law firm strategy. Other topics will cover business development, people development and leadership.
Andrew Hedley
The masterclass is part of LawNet’s specialist Strategic Leadership and Management Programme launched last year. Open to all law firms, not just LawNet members, it’s designed for both existing and up and coming partners.
“We’ve got some of the best and most talented strategic practitioners in the legal sector, each with an outstanding track record,” said LawNet director of services Helen Hamilton-Shaw.
“This programme gives firms access to the sort of development previously only afforded by Top 50 firms through in-house corporate programmes.”
Each year, leading law firm network LawNet delivers over 60 CPD accredited learning events for member firms, covering a wide range of technical, practice management and business development topics.
LawNet, the leading network for independent legal firms, has announced four new members – Breeze & Wyles in Hertfordshire,Denison Tillin York, Godloves in Leeds, and Swinburne & Jackson in the North East.
Welcoming the firms, LawNet chief executive John Thomas said: “It’s excellent to welcome four more firms with such strong credentials - they will be a credit to the LawNet community. I am sure they will bring real value to other members through their involvement in the specialist groups, training and other peer to peer events.”
He added: “We’re committed to the continuing growth of the network and it’s great to see the recognition by such firms of the benefits and strengths that we offer them, in this fast-changing legal environment.”
The signing of the new members brings total LawNet membership to 68 firms, and the network ambition is to reach 80 firms by 2012. Membership is by invitation to those firms who fit the LawNet profile of £2m - £15 turnover and will commit to securing and maintaining the LawNet ISO 9001:2008 standard. The quality standard is mandatory for all firms, with rigorous six monthly audits to ensure standards are held across the membership.
Breeze & Wyles Solicitors has four offices across Hertfordshire and North London, employing more than 130 fee earners and staff. It has a range of specialist departments providing volume legal services to banks, building societies, housing associations and other corporate customers, alongside its more traditional and longstanding legal services for local markets.
Denison Till is a 14 partner firm with a head office in York. It has the largest corporate department in the city and specialises also in ecclesiastical law.
Godloves Solicitors has four offices across Leeds, employing more than 70 fee earners and staff, with a range of specialist departments providing legal services to a private and corporate customer base across Yorkshire.
And North East firm Swinburne & Jackson has grown from a traditional family practice to operate from four offices across the North East, with headquarters in Gateshead.
ENDS
333 words
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: The combined income of the 68 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business 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.
Technology-based services for legal solutions will improve internal efficiencies and open new markets without compromising professional offering
A group of leading independent firms are pioneering online legal service delivery following an exclusive deal between the LawNet network and Epoq’s DirectLaw online document automation solution.
Under the agreement, each of the 68 LawNet member firms will be able to deliver online legal services to clients through their own personalised portal, designed and integrated with each firm’s individual web site.
The move is designed to help create a new edge to the firms’ traditional service offering, but there’s no plan to push customers into DIY, according to LawNet.
“This agreement provides a perfect fit to the ambitions we have to provide members with online marketing and technology-based legal solutions,” explained director of services Helen Hamilton-Shaw.
“DirectLaw should help firms secure a strong position in online markets as well as delivering internal efficiencies, by getting to first draft documents faster. It gives them new options in terms of services, whilst still assuring their customers that there will be an expert and careful eye over anything undertaken online.”
She added: “We are committed to helping our firms keep ahead of the competition through the LawNet national framework which gives them quality accreditation, networking, knowledge sharing and buying group services, and outsourcing is high on the list of where we will be delivering over the coming year.”
Epoq’s executive chairman, solicitor Richard Cohen, said: “Creating a successful offering depends on how inbound enquiries are dealt with. Customers are drawn to a service giving accessibility and clear pricing, but don’t want to be roaming around the web unaided. DirectLaw provides a differentiator for firms, a move towards enabling greater involvement by clients and the ability to make more from each hour for the firm by using document automation.”
LawNet firms will have access to five libraries of DirectLaw documents covering wills and probate, family, landlord and tenant, employment and business start-up.
ENDS
308 words
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
Emma Hopson, Marketing Manager, Epoq
Direct line: 020 8731 2432 Email: emma@epoq.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. Each firm has an exclusive geographical operating area to enable collaboration.
The combined income of the 68 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business 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.
DirectLaw from Epoq has led the way in enabling law firms to deliver legal services online. By utilising Rapidocs®, Epoq’s unique, content rich document automation system and delivering it seamlessly via the web, DirectLaw allows solicitors to engage with clients conveniently online and make their firms more competitive, efficient and profitable.
And, because Epoq is the leader of developments in online legal solutions, law firms can be sure of technological excellence as well as affordability. Today, over 150 law firms are using Epoq’s online technology to differentiate their firms and deliver legal services more efficiently and profitably.
LawNet firms receive their awards at the annual conference
South East firm Matthew Arnold & Baldwin LLP has been named the LawNet Law Firm of the Year.
The firm scooped the prize for its successful strategy in driving up its commercial client base and its attitude to staff and client needs. The announcement was made at the annual conference of LawNet, the collaborative national network for independent law firms.
Said LawNet chief executive John Thomas, who presented the awards alongside BBC sports presenter Garry Richardson: “Their client list is now really impressive with some big hitters in the field and this has helped to drive their profits forward. They have increased their profile through various routes, including focussed use of networking, and have launched their own training academy which is available for all staff.”
Winner of the Managing Partner of the Year award was Derwent Campbell of Bath-based Mogers Solicitors LLP, who has overseen international recognition for the firm through the development of their expat services.
The use of leading edge techniques on their website saw a third successive win for East of England firm Kester Cunningham John who have started to sell some legal services online and have secured a 200% increase in traffic after an overhaul of their website.
Another firm rewarded for online innovation was Hertfordshire-based Breeze & Wyles Solicitors LLP, who won the business development award, after introducing an innovative online process to manage conveyancing work, which was written internally and has automated transactional work.
Best CSR policy went to Darbys Solicitors LLP in Oxford, for a clearly defined strategy that involves employees and covers involvement in both community and resource initiatives. The firm has recently secured ISO 14001 accreditation for its environmental management systems, one of only a handful of law firms in the country to do so.
And Ipswich firm Gotelee Solicitors won the Client Care award for a number of recent initiatives and processes, which have included a move to fixed fee billing and the introduction of a Client Promise strategy, which sets out how they will match up to their service claims and tackling everything about the client interaction process, through to how long a client may wait in reception.
The full list of award winners:
Law Firm of the Year
sponsored by comparelegaljobs.com
Matthew Arnold & Baldwin LLP
Managing Partner of the Year
Sponsored by Voicepath
Derwent Campbell of Mogers Solicitors LLP
Commitment to Client Care
Sponsored by Certainty
Gotelee Solicitors
Best website Sponsored by Hallam Communications
Kester Cunningham John Solicitors
Single Best Initiative: Business Development/Marketing
Sponsored by thecabinetoffice
Breeze & Wyles Solicitors LLP
Best CSR Policy
Sponsored by Westfield Health
Darbys Solicitors LLP
ENDS
360 words
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. Each firm has an exclusive geographical operating area to enable collaboration.
The combined income of the 68 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business 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.
Top awards went to Buckles Solicitors LLP in the East of England, winning Law Firm of the Year, and Managing Partner of the Year for Mark Hovell at Manchester’s George Davies Solicitors LLP.
