Barristers Host Fundraising Seminar for Spinal Injuries Charity

L – R: Back Row: 

Derek Jenkins, CEO St. John’s Chambers, Glyn Edwards, St. John’s Chambers

Martin Pettingell, Clarke Willmott LLP

Front Row: 

Tony Stephenson, SIA, Emma Zeb, St. John’s Chambers, Peter Hutchings, SIA.

Members of the Personal Injury Team of Bristol-based St. John’s Chambers organised a special drinks reception and seminar on behalf of the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA), sponsored by Clarke Willmott LLP which raised more than £1700 for the charity. 

Over 60 delegates including solicitors, attended the event held at the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel, to hear key-note speakers and learn more about spinal cord injuries (SCI.  Following a welcome address by chair, Martin Pettingell of Clarke Willmott, Chamber members, Glyn Edwards, Head of Personal Injury Practice Group and P.I. expert Emma Zeb spoke on two areas of interest to those involved in the management of catastrophic injury cases. 

Derek Jenkins, Chief Executive St. John’s Chambers says: “The Spinal Injuries Association is a national charity which supports people who have suffered from a spinal cord injury (SCI); this is for any injury to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma instead of disease.  Our Special Injury Team is recognised nationally as a leader in personal injury litigation and this successful event helped to not only raise much needed funds but also the profile of this worthy cause −the feedback from attendees has been very positive.”

Peter Hutchings, Outreach Manager, Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) gave a well-received presentation on ‘Community peer support – bridging the gap’.   He says: “SIA is grateful for the support of St. John’s Chambers and the impact of the money raised will help us to further develop our services for spinal cord injured people in the region.” 

www.stjohnschambers.co.uk

Business professionals offer their expertise to help local charities

Experts from two Southernhay based firms join forces to help local charities and not for profit organisations get a better understanding of the legal and financial implications in delivering contracts, sub-contracting or entering into partnerships and consortia. The interactive workshop for voluntary and community sector staff was supported by Exeter CVS in partnership with the Devon Consortium VCS commissioning project - part of the Stronger Communities Programme funded by Devon County.

The event, held at Wonford Community Centre on Remembrance Day, was led by partners from Chartered Accountants Haines Watts LLP and Tozers Solicitors LLP offering extensive expertise in financial and legal matters to 15 representatives from Devon based voluntary and community organisations.

The partners from each practice hosted surgery sessions on key questions posed by charity delegates. These covered a range of issues including the implications of VAT when sub-contacting; different legal forms of partnership; various types of contracts and TUPE.

Ben de Cruz senior partner of Haines Watts Exeter specialising in the owner managed business sector, is also a non executive director for charitable and not for profit organisations.

Ben de Cruz says “With my background and the services we offer as a Practice to this specialist sector, I felt it important to support local charities in this complex process. The areas you need to look out for when entering into a sub-contracting relationship can be very labour intensive and complicated and I was more than happy to offer my time and expertise to help.”

Tozers LLP are regular presenters at charity, schools and employment seminars and based at Broadwalk House, Southernhay West.

Head of charities at Tozers LLP, Richard King, comments “We were delighted to be able to offer those working in the voluntary and community sector some guidance on the legal implications of contracts. My focus is advising charities and social enterprises on their legal responsibilities; Stephen Jennings who is a fellow partner and solicitor at Tozers LLP, is particularly expert on employment and contracting issues.”

The leading force behind the event was Exeter CVS and the Devon Consortium bringing together experts from the business sector to support charity skills and growth.

Deborah Fisher CVCS Commissioning Officer says "It is great that local firms are willing to give their time and skills to support voluntary and community sector groups get to grips with very difficult and complex issues. This type of specialist, focused support can really help build the capacity of local organisations to successfully adapt to the changing environment."

EXETER'S ROUGEMONT CHAMBERS UNVEIL NEW BRAND

Over 100 associates and clients attended the official opening of Rougemont Chambers’ prestigious new offices in Victory House, Dean Clarke Gardens, Exeter.    The leading civil set of barristers west of Bristol was the first business to purchase premises in the refurbished Victory Wing building at the end of last year.  Judges, Barristers, Solicitors and members of the local business community enjoyed a champagne reception and watched the unveiling of the new brand undertaken by His Honour Judge Cotter Q.C.

Established in 1997 Rougemont Chambers has been recommended in the prestigious ‘The Legal 500’ for the last two years.   Chambers has several specialist teams including civil, employment, land, family, planning, mediation and criminal.  The new offices located in the vicinity of the Exeter combined Court Centre which incorporates the High and County Courts as well as the Crown Court offers two conferencing rooms, a visitor’s room, library and mediation rooms.  This makes it the only set of Barristers in the region to offer a dedicated mediation suite and be able to provide qualified mediators.   



Judge Cotter and Michael Berkley unveil the new brand



Michael Berkley Head of Chambers says, “We feel very privileged to have Judge Cotter carry out the official opening ceremony and reveal our new logo.  This has been an exciting year for Chambers; the team has worked in challenging conditions and it is wonderful to now be working in a modern and spacious building.  Conveniently located to the Courts we find that more and more solicitors are utilising the wonderful facilities we can now provide which offers privacy and comfortable surroundings. In addition, as a leading Civil set offering our services under the Bar Council’s Direct Public Access scheme, we are able to work directly with local businesses. Now being based right in the heart of the City helps us to further establish these links. We are going from strength to strength and very much looking forward to the future.”

www.rougemontchambers.co.uk