News & Views

Had Isambard Kingdom Brunel been a lawyer and not an engineer, suspension bridges might have remained the domain of orthodontists and we might still be rowing wooden boats to the Balearics for our summer holidays.

With the Government, the Competition and Markets Authority, the Legal Services Board, the Law Society and the legal services regulators all flashing their sequined blouses like contestants on Strictly Dumb Downing, the idea of leaving a ‘secure’ job and setting up a new law firm is likely to feature alongside bareback-rodeo and base-jumping on most people’s personal risk register.

We’ve started serving English Brexit Tea in our office. Some say it leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste while others find it quite refreshing.

“The trouble with retirement is you never get a day off.” Anon

On 6 April 2016, new rules come into force requiring companies (which includes limited liability partnerships) to keep a register of individuals and legal entities that have control over the company.

A 2014 report prepared for the Institute for Family Business stated that the UK is home to around three million family businesses which generate around a quarter of the country’s GDP and employ approximately 9.4 million people – that’s 39% of private sector jobs.

“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” David Bowie

“Fan the sinking flame of hilarity with the wing of friendship; and pass the rosy wine.” Mr. Swiveller, The Old Curiosity Shop

“You have to learn the rules of the game and then play better than anyone else.” Albert Einstein

The job of identifying, assessing and presenting risk to the insurance market is an issue that is rocketing up the corporate agenda as the Insurance Act 2015 starts to drive insurance buyers to articulate a “fair representation of risk” and the revised UK Corporate Governance code begins to take effect.