Wilkin Chapman Newsletter v2 AM

Legally
Speaking

Issue 4

In this Welcome to your new look Legally Speaking.
issue... In this issue, you’ll find out about:

2 News: Unprecedented success with three
prestigious awards wins since May

3-6 Clients: including tenders, testimonials and
case studies

7 Community & events: where we’ve been out
and about raising money and what’s coming
up

8-9 Information: Learn more about the office
moves and your colleagues in the risk
management team

10-12 Employees: An update from the social party,
the experiences of a trainee solicitor, new
starters, movers and shakers and more!

“Well done to Jennifer A message from Des...
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in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum
dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.

Legally Speaking

Issue 4

News

Triple win for Wilkin Chapman

In an unprecedented triple achievement by This year marks the first time we have
the firm: broken into the top 100 list by Legal
Business 2016 and 28 is a record number
• We are now ranked 97th in the country of solicitors to be recognized by the Legal
by Legal Business 2016 500 index. In the areas of family law,
commercial property, debt recovery and
• 28 of our solicitors have been named agriculture, we were given the highest ‘tier
among the UK’s leading industry one’ ranking. Furthermore, our Sheffield
professionals by prestigious law index office has made the Legal 500 index in its
Legal 500 first year of operating. The employment law
team achieved a tier three ranking in the
• We were crowned The Forrester Boyd sub-region of Sheffield and South Yorkshire.
Business of Excellence Award winner
at the Northern Lincolnshire Business The win comes after we were crowned
Awards The Forrester Boyd Business of Excellence
Award winner at the Northern Lincolnshire
Business Awards in May.

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Legally Speaking

Issue 4

Clients

Developments in the Tenders

Public Law Sector Congratulations to our Recoveries
team who were successful in winning
Jane Eatock (Employment) and Jonathan a tender for the Canal and River Trust
Goolden (Public Law) are working (formerly British Waterways). We’ve
collaboratively on advising senior councillors held the contract for two years and
at Craven District Council in Skipton on a have been appointed for a further two
restructure of the Council’s chief officer team years. CRT are a national client and a
with Jane covering redundancy and pension’s great name to have on our client list.
issues and Jonathan tackling governance and We beat off the likes of Shulmans and
regulatory elements. Gordons from Leeds to be appointed.

Laura Clarke (Employment, Lincoln) is Many thanks and credit go to Mark
also working with Jonathan Goolden, Taylor and Mat Dix.
Dave Hayward and Pete Scarbro (Public
Law, Grimsby) on two major public sector Tenders take so much work and effort
investigations. The first is of whistle blowing to pull together all the information
allegations by the Chief Pharmacist of an NHS and ensure that we submit a strong
Trust. The second is of alleged misconduct by proposal. The recoveries team alone
councillors at Derby City Council relating to have done 10 tenders so far this year
mismanagement of a multimillion pound job and with a number of other tender
evaluations scheme across the Council and opportunities and submissions we
other issues. remain optimistic.

Jonathan Goolden has recently advised a We are currently waiting to hear
Westminster political think tank on a dispute responses on tenders for:
with the Electoral Commission over lobbying
rules for the EU Referendum. The client • Npower
was referred by the Commercial Property
Department. • HSBC panel

• Stoke City Council

• And have reached the second stage
in the tender for:

• London Borough of Newham

• Leicester City Council

• Rexel Ltd (Newey and Eyre Electrical
Distributors)

• Business Stream (Southern Water)

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Legally Speaking

Issue 4

Clients

Complaints Most common client complaints are:

Between January and Sept this year we Costs: either not giving sufficiently accurate
received [51] complaints compared with costs information to start with or presenting
[xx] for the same period last year. the client with a bigger bill than they were
expecting.
This represents less than [0.1%] of all
matters iCnotnhtaetnpt etoriobde.provided Delays: sending out paperwork,
[35] not upheld completing tasks in the agreed timescale.

[9] ongoing Failure to keep the client informed: The
client has to ring the fee earner to find out
[1] complaint referred to the Legal what’s going on. Not returning calls and
Ombudsman responding to emails.

[0] to SRA

Client complaints January - June

(Year on year)

Jan- June 12 Jan- June 13 Jan- June 14 Jan- June 15 Jan- June 16

60 57

50 51 Content to be provided

40 37 31
30 28

20
10 10 9 12 12 8

0 Upheld complaints 23311
Number of complaints
received Number referred to LeO

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Legally Speaking

Issue 4

Clients

Always be willing to help, you never know where it might lead

In today’s busy world, it is so easy to pass the These cases are very difficult and rarely
buck, say ‘I have not got time’ or, ‘sorry I don’t succeed. Following the Hillsborough disaster,
deal with that sort of thing’ but sometimes, when thousands of people were present there
people just need a little guidance. That and thousands more watched it unfold on
happened in the case of Andrew Burnett. television, to stop an enormous flood of claims
rules were put in place to say that the only
Four years ago he came into reception people who can claim are those who:
following a dispute with his partner, asking
how he could get access to his deceased • see the accident itself or the immediate
daughter’s things. We could not help in a aftermath of the accident and
legal services sense, but we tried to help him
anyway and he appreciated it. • had a close tie of love and affection with
someone physically injured and
Since that chance meeting we have now
acted: • witness an event of sufficient horror and

• in a personal injury claim for Andrew, • suffer recognised serious psychiatric injury.

• in a fatal accident claim for his partner, It was further complicated by the fact that
when the client first consulted the firm she was
• in a family friend’s personal (psychological) already several months outside the deadline for
injury claim, and bringing a personal injury claim.

• in an unrelated clinical negligence claim for However, despite the hurdles, we proceeded
the grandparents. on the suspicion that the insurance industry
would not want a case to go to court for fear
In the case of the psychological injury claim, they may lose, which would set an industry
the client was a family friend of Andrew and precedent that family friends might have
his daughter. When they were both involved close enough ties of love and affection to
in a road traffic accident where, unfortunately, seek compensation and result in an influx
the daughter died, Andrew called the client in similar cases. Our suspicions were right
who went to the scene. As a result of what and they wanted to avoid that and settled
she witnessed, she developed psychological the client’s case. The client can now afford
problems. As she was not involved in an the psychological treatment she needed after
accident herself, the client was a ‘secondary witnessing the aftermath of the accident.
victim’ claiming ‘nervous shock’.

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Legally Speaking

Issue 4

Clients For
Tracy Rowbotham:

I just wanted to take a minute to say a

Testimonials huge personal thank you from myself for all your
help, support and expertise in finding a resolution
to my friend’s disciplinary process… My friend has lost
his job as a result of some nasty false allegations against
him but he has now won through and this is purely down
to your professional help so thank you. Also your friendly

and kind attitude towards my friend has been a huge

help to him and I know he appreciates it, as do I. It

For is very rare nowadays to deal with someone as
Oliver Tasker: kind and caring as well as professional as
yourself. Thank you so much.

Oliver’s approach to employment
law is very refreshing. Able to quickly
understand the issues and give clear and
concise professional advice on the best

way forward, Oliver makes a difficult subject

easily manageable. Keeping in regular contact

throughout the process, providing timely

responses and full support, Oliver is now For
our preferred contact for any employment David Buckle:

matter and we would thoroughly David Buckle took on my case at a
recommend his services to others, late and crucial stage, working hard with
exemplary professionalism and expertise,
without hesitation. leading to a very successful outcome. I was

confident from our first meeting that my case

would be handled competently and effectively.

I valued David’s pragmatic approach and I

was kept up to date with developments at

For every stage. My grateful thanks for a
Alison Elwess: job well done.

Alison is, I think, the most
expert, meticulous, helpful
and sympathetic solicitor I’ve
ever consulted. She and her
colleagues made the writing

of my will quick, easy
and pleasant.

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Legally Speaking

Issue 4

Community & events

HSBC football tournament Castle 2 Coast
2 Castle
Nick Shaw, chartered legal executive from
Lincoln led the WCLLP team to victory. The team took part in
the Lincolnshire Castle
£900 was raised by HSBC through 2 Coast 2 Castle in
fundraising and through their “Pound July, which is a 100
for Pound” scheme, presented a cheque mile bike ride in aid of
for £1800 to our chosen charity ‘Motor charity.
Neurone Disease’.
We also took part in:
Brave the Shave
• Macmillan Golf Tournament
Steve Robinson from our St Marys • Macmillan Coffee Morning
Chambers office raised • Grimsby 10K, with the proceeds being
an amazing £463
when he ‘braved donated to Motor Neurone Disease
the shave’ for • Southwelll Show
Macmillan. • Launched young professionals network in

Beverley

Upcoming events

October Business Hive Live October Lincolnshire Media November Breakfast seminar
18th Business Awards 3rd with Handelsbanken
4th Academies
Education Seminar November LLG Annual
4th Conference
October HR Forum with Hays October Legal Health check
12th Recruitment breakfast seminar November Midlands Machinery
19th 24th- Show
October Think2Speak Live East Midlands
13th Landlord & Letting 23rd
Agent Expo

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Legally Speaking

Issue 4

Information

Cartergate

With the Cartergate offices in Grimsby
developing rapidly before our eyes we
thought you may be interested to know a bit
more about the building layout and which
departments will be residing on which floors.
Ground Floor - Archivists , Receptionist &
Post room
First Floor – Recoveries, PI, Litigation, IT
Second Floor - Corporate & Commercial,
Employment, Family, Public Law, Domestic
property, Commercial property, plot sales,
Wills and probate, Marketing, Purchasing
and Facilities, Des Mannion, Mark Carlton
Third Floor - Accounts & HR, Board Room
and meeting rooms

Office re-organisation

Our presence in Sutton on Sea is coming
to the end of an era. With effect of 1st
October Sutton on Sea staff will be
relocating to the Alford office. Bringing
all our staff under one roof makes perfect
sense. We will be able to provide a more
streamlined and efficient service to our
clients.
Alford is such a short distance from Sutton
on Sea, we will still be able to provide the
same level of personal service we have
always done.

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Legally Speaking

Issue 4

Information

Risk Management Team (RMT)

Who are they? Cybercrime

The RMT is composed of: Think before you open links in / reply to
unexpected emails.
• Jonathan West: Risk Partner and MLRO
• David Buckle: Complaints and Indemnity If you are paying money to a client obtain a
copy bank statement or bank card to confirm
Claims Partner the account details and the name the account
• Tean Butcher: COLP is held in.
• Jonathan Goolden: Deputy COLP
• Janet Ward: Practice Accountant and Do not accept account details by email.

Deputy COFA If in doubt call the client the check the details
• John Duffin: Quality and Risk Manager are correct.

What do they do? Bogus firms - check the opposition out on the
SRA website - the firm and the individual.
The RMT meets on a six-monthly basis to
review and manage the risks to the firm. ID checks

The RMT is responsible for: Make sure ID is obtained in accordance with
the policy AND is in the ID registry.
• Taking actions to mitigate and manage new
and existing risks Client confidentiality

• Keeping our risk register and compliance If you are taking client papers out of the office
plan up to date for any reason (meetings, court hearing,
working from home) keep the documents safe
• Helping to create the culture and and secure - take them in a bag or case - don’t
environment for risk management to work leave them unattended in a vehicle - papers
effectively throughout the firm were recently found in the car park which had
been dropped by a barrister working for one
What are the current risks to the firm and of our clients.
what can you do to help manage those
risks?

Engagement letters REMEMBER we all have a responsibility
for identifying, controlling and
Take the time to think about what should be reporting risks to your departmental
included:- head or the risk partner. IF IN DOUBT
REPORT - you will never be ignored.
• Make clear what you are advising on and
what work you will do

• It’s just as important to say what you are not
advising on and what work is not included

• A realistic and sensible cost limit / estimate 9

Legally Speaking

Issue 4

Employees

Staff Social

Saturday 18th September saw the neon and
perms arrive at the Country Park Inn in Hessle
for this year’s staff social.
The 80’s Experience was the theme for this
year’s dinner which was attended by approx.
120 staff from across all the offices. Everyone
made a real effort to get into the 80’s groove
and there were some amazing fancy dress
costumes.
A special shout has to go out to Matt Dix, or
Beetlejuice as he was on the evening.
Feedback from the event so far has been
nothing short of positive and a fantastic time
was had by all, with some sore feet on Sunday
morning from all the dancing.
We will be sending round a survey shortly
and, whether you attended or not, we would
greatly appreciate you looking and completing
the survey.
We want to try and get your feedback on what
you want from a staff social to ensure we can
continue to try and provide an event we can
all enjoy.

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Legally Speaking

Issue 4

Employees

Movers and Shakers

Teresa Thomas will be heading over to our
Beverley office, spending 3 days a week there
from 10th October. She will be focusing on not
only increasing the employment work in the
region but also the strategy and development
of the office.
Congratulations to Nikki Hawkins and Mike
Squirrel on becoming partners.
Congratulations to Lyudmila Stephenson and
Karen Tuff on their new positions.

New Starters Lincoln:
Laura Clarke, Solicitor
Welcome to the following staff members Lynne Harrison, Receptionist
who have recently joined our team: Gordon Holt, Senior Solicitor
Abigail Jack, Paralegal
Grimsby: Jonathan Mackinder, Trainee solicitor
Ellie Belton, Post room assistant Felix Parkinson, Post room assistant
Sarah Clarke, Insolvency administrator
Daniel Faulder, Post room assistant Beverley:
Frederick Haith, Post room assistant Elizabeth Cochrane, Paralegal
Eglantina Hajdari, Paralegal Shirley Houseman, Legal secretary
Kerry Lobley, Accounts clerk
Kirsty Norrie, Billing team leader Other:
Alexander Schofield, Trainee legal Ellie Smith
executive Luke Thompson
Chloe Whittingham, Post room assistant

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Legally Speaking

Issue 4

Employees

What does being a CPD
trainee solicitor at Wilkin
Chapman involve? We are rapidly approaching the time
of year when we need to be able to
Tom xx talks about his recent experience: confirm to the SRA that all qualified
solicitors have completed their required
As one of the new trainees taken on by Wilkin number of CPD hours. Without this the
Chapman solicitors, I have recently had the firm is unable to renew your Practising
opportunity to spend some time working in Certificate. From the records held on
the agricultural department at the firms’ Louth Cascade there are some significant
office. shortfalls in the number of CPD hours
recorded. This is an issue when needing
I was presented with the opportunity to work to sign off Practicing Certificates and has
alongside a partner and solicitor in a major also been recorded as a non-conformity
transaction relating to the acquisition and in a number of cases during a recent
mortgage of an agricultural business spanning ISO audit in Recoveries. As you will
nearing 1.500 acres, together with the be aware since last year everybody is
associated mortgage of over 1,000 additional responsible for maintaining their own
acres. training record in Cascade. If you would
like any guidance on how to upload
I arrived in Louth just as the transaction your training or what is acceptable to
was picking up momentum. From a trainee the SRA as training please contact Tina,
perspective, it was a great matter to be HR Administrator.
involved in for a number of reasons. One of
the early tasks was to establish and investigate Additionally, an integral part of our
title on a large number of deeds. Working appraisal process is the completion
closely with the bank’s solicitor was a feature and uploading onto Cascade of a Staff
throughout the transaction, and although this Development Plan & Record for all
meant added time pressure it was useful to be employees, regardless of position within
given clear and direct responses whenever the firm. Please remember to enter your
an issue arose in respect of the bank’s training / learning requirements and
requirements. any undertaken during the year. All logs
will be reviewed and will be needed to
As the deal moved towards completion the enable the firm to sign the declaration
pace quickened. We spent a good amount for the renewal of Practising Certificates
of time in person with the clients, and it was each October.
encouraging to note that they didn’t have any
problem with dealing with a trainee, despite
the size of the transaction.

“I would just like to say Tom was a pleasure 12
to deal with on the deal. Very friendly and
approachable.” - client

Throughout my time in Louth the firm was