Professional Practices Alliance

We are delighted to share with you the recording of the recent Professional Practices Alliance webinar, Moving The ESG Needle For Law Firms – Deciding What Matters And What Can Be Achieved, in which our expert panel discuss how professional practices priorities are shifting regarding ESG.  In this webinar, our chair Andrew Pavlovic, (CM Murray LLP), Rob Millard (Cambridge Strategy Group), Zulon Begum (CM Murray LLP) and Sarah Chilton (CM Murray LLP) discuss the following: Materiality – how firms should determine their priorities when it comes to ESG, as firms move away from focussing on their own emissions and are now increasingly considering the environmental impact of their client work  Stakeholders - the importance of identifying key stakeholders and carefully considering and incorporating their interests into your ESG strategy  Client Selection - taking a nuanced approach when considering whether or not to act for clients whose ESG-related aims and values may not wholly align with that of your firm,

We are delighted to share with you the recording of the recent Professional Practices Alliance webinar, 'Show me the Money! Shaping a Dynamic and Flexible Profit Sharing System to Smooth the Bumpy Road of Succession'. In this webinar, you can hear from guest speaker Jonathan Blair (Womble Bond Dickinson), chair Zulon Begum, (CM Murray LLP), and PPA speakers David Shufflebotham (Pep Up Consulting), and Sarah Chilton (CM Murray LLP) as they discuss the following:   A refresher on the different types of profit sharing systems used by firms and how to deploy them, focussing on fixed share, variable share, managed lock step, and managed merit systems  An assessment of the impact that each profit sharing system can have on partner behaviours, specifically assessing the impact that they have on collaboration, apportionment of risk, and investment Structuring a firm to motivate, encourage, reward and incentivise partners not only financially but through peer recognition and career progression The succe

We are delighted to share with you the recording of our recent webinar, ‘Is Your Firm prepared for the Financial Year Ahead? Key Trends and Challenges for Professional Services Firms in 2023/24’, in which our expert panel discuss the financial year ahead for professional services firms. In this webinar, you can hear from Chair, Corinne Staves (CM Murray LLP), and speakers Robert Millard (Cambridge Strategy Group), David Shufflebotham (Pep Up Consulting) and Andrew Pavlovic (CM Murray LLP) as they discuss the following issues to include in professional service firms ‘to do’ list for the next financial year:  How to remain profitable and effectively manage the firm’s cash flow at a time of stalled economic growth, inflation, cost of living crisis and basis period reform. Implementing a strategy and the importance of having a Plan B strategy, especially during a time where firms are adapting to deliver client services in a new technological era. How to maintain and enhance a firm’s culture and productivity

There is increased pressure on professional firms to enhance their social engagement and sustainability. Thus, it is important to consider what measures professional firms should undertake to assess their impact performance on stakeholders and subsequently improve it. We are delighted to share with you the recording of our recent webinar, ‘The Greater Good; How Professional Firms Are Embracing B Corp Status, ESG & Other Non-Profit Making Objectives’, in which partnership law specialists and sustainability management experts discuss the importance of promoting accountability and transparency to a wider group of stakeholders along with environmental, social and corporate governance and how this can be achieved within professional firms. In this webinar, you can hear Chair Rob Millard, (Cambridge Strategy Group), and speakers Emma Bartlett, (CM Murray LLP), Dr John Henry Looney, (Sustainable Direction Ltd) and Corinne Staves, (CM Murray LLP) discuss the following: What is B Corp and how can professional

We are delighted to share the webinar recording of part 2 in the Professional Practices Alliance webinar series, ‘”Should we merge?”, a discussion on whether, when and how to merge with another firm, in which an expert panel explores how firms should plan and prepare for a merger. Please see below for full details. In this webinar, you can hear Chair, Corinne Staves (CM Murray), Robert Millard (Cambridge Strategy Group), David Fisher (CM Murray LLP), Zulon Begum (CM Murray LLP), David Shufflebotham (Pep Up Consulting) and Andrew Pavlovic (CM Murray LLP) discussing issues such as: How does the SRA view mergers and whether there are any concerns around confidentiality and conflicts of interest. Whether a merger is really about two firms merging, or whether it is about creating a new, more successful firm. How do you persuade and reassure the workplace on the major upheaval causes by a merger? Understanding why it is important to have your finger on the pulse in understanding your partners and what decisio

We are delighted to share the webinar recording of Part 1 in the Professional Practices Alliance webinar series, “Should we merge?” A discussion on whether, when and how to merge with another firm in which an expert panel explore how firms should plan and prepare for a merger. In this webinar, you can hear Chair, Corinne Staves (CM Murray LLP), Partner Zulon Begum (CM Murray LLP), Simon Slater (Guest Speaker, Cripps Pemberton Greenish and Byfield Consultancy), Giles Murphy (Guest Speaker, Smith & Williamson) and Rob Millard (Cambridge Strategy Group) discussing issues such as: Mergers are usually the riskiest growth strategy – are there other (less disruptive) routes (e.g., organic growth, lateral hiring) to realising the firm’s strategic goals? Identifying the right merger partner can take time and diligence and requires compromise as there is never a “perfect” merger partner. How to “win hearts and minds” to align partners with any merger strategy early in the process and ensure that the requisi

There are many ways of dealing with the dual challenges of under rewarded high flyers and over rewarded under performers. Making sure that reward and performance systems are right is critical to the growth strategy of a firm. In the first webinar of the Professional Practices Alliance Growth Strategy Webinar series, Chair Zulon Begum, (CM Murray LLP) and expert panel, Beth Hale (CM Murray LLP), David Shufflebotham (Pep Up Consulting) and Corinne Staves, (Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP), share their experiences and top tips for dealing with under-rewarded high flyers and over-rewarded under-performers. The webinar discusses: Partner performance management and remuneration systems The practical steps to dealing with these issues in the short to medium term Structural issues that may need to be addressed in the medium to long term The culture of a firm and how this may affect partner performance Three key factors firms need to consider when dealing with partner performance management are: Putting in place

We are delighted to share with you the recording of our recent Professional Practices Alliance (PPA) webinar on 'What might the Future hold for Law and other Professional Services Firms?', in which our expert guest speakers from the Law Society of England and Wales (LSE&W) discuss the future of Law and Professional Services firms based on the findings of their recent research into changes and uncertainties in the legal profession in England and Wales over the next 30 years, through the lens of global trade and competition.  Rapid technological developments have made, and will continue to make, a significant impact on professional service firms by changing the way in which they devise new business models, replace distribution channels, and modify and adapt the way people and businesses interact with each other. Everybody has an opinion about how professional services are evolving, and how “firms of the future” might be different to those of today. In the legal sector, which is arguably less ‘transform

Earlier this summer, the Treasury launched a consultation to reform taxation for self-employed businesses where the accounting year for the business differs from the tax year. Under the proposals, the transition for the change was due to take place in 2022/23, however last week the Treasury announced a delay by at least 12 months with the transition not coming into effect before 2023/24. In addition, the Government recently announced a new health and social care levy by increasing National Insurance Contributions by 1.25% to take effect from 6 April 2022, before the Budget announcement on 27 October. In this webinar, you can hear Chair Claire Watkins, Buzzacott LLP, and speakers Zulon Begum, CM Murray LLP, Corinne Staves, Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP, James Currie, Buzzacott LLP, and Rob Millard, Cambridge Strategy Group discuss the following: 1. How important it is for firms and partners to understand that taking advantage of the transitional period for the Base Period reform could result in their paying su

Partners of professional practices spend their entire careers focused on protecting the interests of their clients.  This can sometimes be at the expense of their own planning. We are pleased to share with you the recording from our recent Professional Practices Alliance (PPA) expert discussion, ‘Personal Risk Management for Partners’. In this podcast recording, you can hear Chair, Corinne Staves (Partner and Head of Professional Practices, Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP) and panel speakers, Rachel O’Donoghue (Partner and Head of Financial Planning, Buzzacott LLP), James Currie (Senior Tax Manager, Buzzacott LLP), David Shufflebotham (Founder, PEPUp.consulting), Fiona Poole (Partner, Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP) and Beth Hale (Partner and General Counsel, CM Murray LLP) explore the actions that all partners should be considering and the extent to which firms should be involved in personal risk management. In particular, this panel address the following: the key personal risks for professional partners; fin

We are pleased to share with you the recording from our recent Professional Practices Alliance (PPA) expert discussion, ‘Neurodiversity in Professional Services Firm Leadership’. Individuals who may be described as “neurodivergent” bring a plethora of skills and different perspectives to an organisation, offering firms a sustainable, competitive advantage that will be particularly beneficial in the current economic climate. Harnessing and embracing the cognitive divergence of a workforce will enable professional services firms to home in on an untapped pool of innovators and high performers to inform its decision making and wider strategies, and promote an inclusive workplace culture. It is important for firms to raise awareness about neurodiversity related issues, whether through the day-to-day advocacy of senior management or the delivery of firmwide training, to help managers and colleagues to better understand neurocognitive differences and the needs of their neurodivergent colleagues. In this webinar, yo

The transition that any firm must undergo if it is to survive and thrive after its founders retire affects every aspect of the organisation. It is at the same time both strategic and intensely personal. For founding partners, it involves giving up control of an organisation that in many cases defines who they are and trusting the next generation to lead and manage it into a successful future. For that next generation, it means stepping up to a whole new level of responsibilities. It almost always involves difficult discussions, including about money, power and influence. For the firm’s employees, the outcome determines no less than their future livelihoods. For clients, such transitions can significantly impact the quality of service that they receive in both the long term and while the transition is underway. This issue is deeply relevant in 2021; the (then) young entrepreneurs who founded a disproportionately large number of professional service firms in the early 1990s are fast approaching retirement. Ma

If England’s COVID roadmap progresses as planned, stringent COVID restrictions should be lifting or lifted during summer 2021. The office and future working arrangements are dominating discussions at all levels within professional services firms. This peer-to-peer discussion aims to provide an understanding of market practices and trends, addressing topics affecting your people, your business and your clients. In this discussion, you can hear Session Chair Corinne Staves, Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP, Beth Hale, CM Murray LLP, Robert Millard, Cambridge Strategy Group, and guest speaker Oliver Richards, Orms, discuss the following: • What the ease of adaption to such significant working changes has proven about the resilience of the professions • How the past year of home working has already altered everyone’s horizons and how Firms will need to reflect this in their long-term strategy • What the key components of a successful workplace will be, allowing people to balance companionship and communication, without

We are pleased to share with you the recording of this Professional Practices Alliance expert interactive panel discussion on what the medium-term holds for law firms emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic and how they can prepare for changes to the economy, office life, and the tax landscape. The panel addressed issues including: - The impact of the pandemic on law firms and how to emerge stronger on the other side. - How office workspaces can be adapted to meet the requirements of a workforce that wants greater flexibility. - The key points of the UK’s first 2021 Budget and the measures that will most affect law firms and their clients. - The employment law challenges that arise out of new ways of working. The panel: James Campbell - International Partner, Cushman & Wakefield (Guest Speaker) Andrew Hosking - Managing Director, Restructuring & Insolvency, Quantuma (Guest Speaker) Beth Hale - Partnership and Employment Law Partner, CM Murray LLP Alastair McQuater - Tax Partner, Buzzac

Over the last year the issue of workplace inequalities and under-representation of minority groups has been reignited or come to the fore on the agenda of many businesses, including professional services firms. Such firms may now be looking afresh at how to drive and measure diversity and inclusion within their partnerships and wider staff constituency. In this panel discussion, you can hear Chair Sarah Chilton (CM Murray LLP, Partner), Emma Bartlett (CM Murray LLP, Partner), David Shufflebotham (Founder of PEP Up Consulting), Corinne Staves (Partner & Head of Professional Practices, Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP) and excellent Guest Speakers, Mouhssin Ismail (Principal of Newham Collegiate Sixth Form) and Ray Berg (UK Managing Partner of Osborne Clarke LLP) explore some of the vital diversity and inclusion issues with which firms will need to engage, including: - The moral, economic and regulatory importance of partnerships driving and embedding a sustainable culture of diversity and inclusion. - The imp

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), concluded in late December 2020, addresses a range of topics of interest to professional practices, but a glaring omission is a framework for trade in services between the EU and the UK. This has significant strategic implications for professional practices that are based in the UK but service the needs of clients in the EU (and vice versa), or who have offices in both the UK and EU. While much remains to be agreed, over time frames that might extend to several years or more, there is a lot that such practices need to do now. In this discussion, you can hear Session Chair, Robert Millard, Cambridge Strategy Group, Zulon Begum, CM Murray LLP, and guest speakers Mickaël Laurans, The Law Society of England and Wales, Ceris Gardener, Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP and Markus Hartung, Kanzlei Chevalier discuss the following: • What steps professional practices need to take in the short term in order to align with the new realities. • What impact the TCA will have on mar

We are pleased to share with you the recording of our recent Professional Practices Alliance (PPA) live panel discussion on “Life and Partnerships without The Billable Hour: Business Model Transformation Post-COVID-19". The increasing use of technology to deliver professional services in new and more efficient ways means the billable hour is under pressure. Our expert panel consider the potential impact on business models in the professional services sector if it became impossible or irrelevant to measure billable hours. In this discussion, you can hear Session Chair, Zulon Begum (CM Murray LLP),  Corinne Staves (Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP), David Shufflebotham (PEP Up Consulting), Robert Millard (Cambridge Strategy Group) and guest speaker Philip Goodstone (UK&I Head of Law at EY) discuss the following: · Why do business models in law firms and other professional services firms need to evolve? · How has the increased use of technology in the professional services sector driven changes in business mo

We are pleased to share with you the recording of our recent Professional Practices Alliance (PPA) live panel discussion on “We Need to Talk About the Office". The Government’s announcement on 22 September that office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter has resulted in many professional services firms halting their plans to bring staff back to the office and instead gearing up for a further phase of remote working. In this discussion, you can hear Session Chair, Corinne Staves, Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP and speakers Beth Hale, CM Murray LLP, Claire Watkins, Buzzacott LLP and Robert Millard, Cambridge Strategy Group discuss the following: • What positive lessons can firms learn from the previous experience of long-term remote working. How can we build on these? • What will firms do differently this time? • What is the long-term future of the office? Is it too early/uncertain to be making long-term decisions? • To what extent can evolved working practices be used

The partnership model is proven to be effective in generating cash and reward for partners of professional practices but is the partnership model attractive for external investors and how will partner reward structures be impacted by external investment? In this session, our PPA experts and guest speaker discuss: · The benefits of the partnership model · How partnerships can facilitate fair reward structures · The different types of business models we see now · Identifying the right time to go down the external investment route · The pros and cons of employee ownership · Other forms of external ownership and how investors measure their rate of return Guest Speaker: John Aldred, Barclays - Industry Director of Business and Professional Services joins the PPA panel to provide the bank’s view when it comes to attracting finance from external investors.  PPA Speakers: Matthew Katz, Buzzacott LLP - Partner and Head of Corporate Finance David Shufflebotham, PEP Up Consulting - Partner Remuneration specialist R

In this discussion, you can hear Session Chair, Zulon Begum, CM Murray LLP, and speakers Claire Watkins, Buzzacott LLP, David Shufflebotham, PEPUp.consulting, Robert Millard, Cambridge Strategy Group, Sarah Chilton, CM Murray LLP and Corinne Staves, Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP, discuss a range of metrics and strategic issues that professional services firms should carefully consider when evaluating partner reward. Our PPA experts discuss the following: 1. What areas are firms currently weak at measuring in respect of evaluating partner reward? 2. What areas should firms focus on measuring and how can they do that from a practical perspective? What types of data should firms be looking for in respect of various metrics? 3. How can firms ensure that metrics and data are aligned with their overall strategy, particularly given that many firms will need to reassess their business plan over the next few months/years, given the current climate? 4. What are the key issues associated with sole reliance upon financial m