Conference programme - Thursday 22 April 2010
Establishing a fair and competitive environment for tomorrow’s legal profession
08.00 Registration
08.30 Chairman’s opening remarks
Professor Stephen Mayson, consultant in legal practice
08.45 Keynote: A journey through unchartered territory – the changing
legal services landscape
To say that opinions are split over the nature of change in legal services
provision would be a considerable understatement, but it is clear that the legal
services landscape is evolving. Hear the views of one of the profession’s
leading figures on how legal services are at a critical crossroads and gain
unique insight into the opportunities and challenges yet to overcome.
Chris Kenny, chief executive officer, Legal Services Board
09.20 Plenary: The principles behind "principles-based"
professionalism – risk-based and proportionate regulations for the legal
profession
One of the most pressing matters to resolve before any kind of legal services
liberalisation comes into force is the establishment of a robust, proportionate
and principles-based regulatory framework. Led by David Hunt, who recently
completed a comprehensive report for the Law Society of England and Wales on
this topic, this session will address the likely shape and structure of
regulation going forward. It will deal with bread-and-butter issues such as how
best to deliver the regulatory framework, how to fund regulation and the future
role of the oversight regulator.
Lord Hunt of Wirral, shadow business and justice minister and
partner, Beachcroft LLP
09.50 Delivering outcomes-focused regulation
The SRA is transforming the way it regulates firms and solicitors and, once they
are permitted from October 2011, ABSs. The SRA believes that the way the legal
market is evolving, demands that regulation should focus more on the quality of
clients’ experience, than prescribing the approach firms should take – what the
SRA are calling outcomes-focused regulation (OFR).
This approach is also consistent with the Legal Services Act 2007, which
requires the SRA to have regard to ‘the principles under which regulatory
activities should be transparent, accountable, proportionate, consistent and
targeted only at cases in which action is needed’.
Samantha Barrass, the director leading this transformation will outline some of
the important, practical elements of this reform.
Samantha Barrass, director of Corporate Regulation Project,
Solicitors Regulation Authority
10.00 Morning break
10.30 Panel debate: Identifying the possibilities and vision for
future business models
The legal profession is in a stage of transition with a number of
critical factors impacting the way many see the future of legal services.
Shifting client demand, changing partnership models and the introduction of
Alternative Business Structures are just a few . This in depth panel debate
offers a selection of senior figures from potential partner organisations and
law firms as they share their vision of the future. Discover how client
relationships will be managed in the future and hear innovative ways that law
firms will be structured going forward.
Chairman: Professor Stephen Mayson, consultant in legal
practice
Simon Beswick, managing partner, Osborne Clark
David Furst, immediate past president, ICAEW and chairman,
Horwath Clark Whitehill
Neil Kinsella, chief executive, Russell Jones & Walker
11.30 Interactive focus groups
A) Examining the SRA proposals for ABS regulation
This focus group explores the Solicitors Regulation Authority's (SRA) proposals
to deliver changes to the provision of legal services in the interests of
consumers.
Samantha Barrass, director of Corporate Regulation Project,
Solicitors Regulation Authority
B) Regulating City law firms – addressing the need for substantive
reform
Regulation of City law firms has long been a contentious issue. However, in the
light of the post-LSA regime and following the detailed review by Nick Smedley,
it would seem that the mood is more optimistic that a substantive solution can
be worked out. Following Lord Hunt’s presentation in the morning plenary, join a
select group of senior City lawyers and debate whether and, if so, how it can be
done.
Alasdair Douglas, senior partner, Travers Smith
C) Establishing an effective Legal Disciplinary Partnership (LDP)
agreement
With the introduction of Legal Disciplinary Partnerships (LDPs) many law firms
are starting to think about how to structure one effectively. Join this focus
group to get to grips with the challenges and opportunities you can expect when
drawing up a LDP.
Rachel Khiara, partner, Addleshaw Goddard
12.30 Lunch
13.30 Interactive focus groups
A) Can technology prove itself as a disruptive force in legal
services provision?
The use of technology in the legal profession is not a new phenomenon, however,
many law firms are increasingly seeing the benefits of a new wave of technology
set to increase efficiency and build closer client relations. Hear practical
case studies from the people who have implemented new technology infrastructures
and realise the potential benefits and pitfalls.
Abby Ewen, director of business transformation, Simmons &
Simmons
B) Looking past the hype – re-engineering the model for legal process
multi-sourcing
With a shift change in the world economy comes an increased need for law firms
to take a strategic rather than ad hoc look at legal process resourcing. As
demands for cost reduction increase and workflow picks up, law firms and
corporate law departments alike will have a much more competitive and mature
Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) sector to fall back on. Hear the perspectives of
this pre-eminent panel as they talk through the decision making behind their
moves to LPO.
Jonathan Brenner, director and co-founder, Lawyers on Demand,
Berwin Leighton Paisner
C) Assessing the impact of the Act and Code changes on the Bar – what
shape will the Bar take and will barristers form Legal Disciplinary
Partnerships?
The idea of forming a partnership with a law firm is relatively unexplored by
many chambers, however, with Code changes announced on 20 November 2009 and set
to be implemented in 2010 now is the time to start assessing the opportunities,
challenges and competitive consequences of such a shift on the Bar. How will the
changes in an emerging new market affect the structure of chambers? How will
such changes effect the quality of service, specialism and efficiency of
service?
Timothy Dutton QC, Fountain Court
Tim Gerrard, chief executive officer, Quadrant Chambers
Patricia Robertson QC, board member, Bar Standards Board
14.30 Ensuring a consumer-focused approach to complaints
handling
The proposed reform and widening of the complaints handling system is set to
impact the whole legal services system in 2010 and beyond. Given past criticism
of processes in general and the introduction of new non-legal partners into the
legal model it is essential to act quickly with such reforms. Hear from one of
the leading figures guiding the complaints handling reform as he highlights the
likely structure and impact on your legal practice.
Adam Sampson, chief ombudsman, Legal Ombudsman
15.00 Closing panel debate: assessing client appetite for legal
services change
The importance of strengthening client relationships is critical in such
demanding economic environments. Join this expert panel of in-house counsel as
they explain their needs for legal services provision and describe their vision
for the future.
Chairman: Professor Stephen Mayson, consultant in legal
practice
Dr Dianne Hayter, chair, Legal Services Consumer Panel
Andrew Garard, group legal director and company secretary, ITV
16.00 Chairman’s closing remarks
Professor Stephen Mayson, consultant in legal practice
To reserve your place at the Future of Legal Services Forum 2010, call Steve Hands on +44 (0)20 7004 7460 or email legalweekconference@incisivemedia.com
