Gavin Lock gives a view into working for Browne Jacobson's private clients and charities team.
I started my trainee journey in Browne Jacobson’s Private Client & Charities team. As the name suggests, the team specialises in advisory work for private clients and charities. The ‘Private Client’ team members advise individuals and families on matters ranging from tax and succession planning to the administration of estates (and to any other questions that a private client may have). The Charities’ team members’ work with a huge number of national charities, advising on formation, structure and governance to support many great causes. The team are spread across the firm’s London and Nottingham offices, but we serve a national client base, meaning there is always an opportunity to work from different locations.
I am about halfway through my time in this seat and can say that I’ve already been given great responsibility and client contact as a trainee. Naturally, the clients are probably the best feature of this seat. The team introduced me to clients from an early stage and a lot of my time is spent attending client meetings or directly contacting clients via email and telephone as their matters progress. As a result, I’ve become the main point of contact within the firm for many of the team’s clients. At first, this level of responsibility felt quite daunting, but it has been great for my personal development. For example, I travelled to our Nottingham office (from my home office in London) to take the lead in the initial face-to-face meeting with a potential client! I was the only lawyer physically present in the meeting, although my supervisor was present by video conference.
There have been many opportunities to attend networking events and seminars hosted by other professionals in the sector, which has helped me build my own contacts and network. These events have included rooftop bars, breakfast seminars and celebrity guest speakers!
The work in the Private Client & Charities team can be very technical and requires strong attention to detail. The relevant law and guidance is regularly updated, so you can find me at my desk reading textbooks or legal updates to ensure my advice and drafting is up-to-date. I’ve also produced my own legal updates which have been shared on the firm’s website and social media pages.
Each day in this seat is unpredictable and when I arrive in the office I may need to draft complex wills, register a new charity with the Charity Commission or even search through government publications for the legal requirements for burying a body in the garden of a private residence (true story!).
I’m definitely being kept on my toes and I’m looking forward to the next 3 months!
Created at the end of the Brexit transition period, Retained EU Law is a category of domestic law that consists of EU-derived legislation retained in our domestic legal framework by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. This was never intended to be a permanent arrangement as parliament promised to deal with retained EU law through the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill (the “Bill”).
The majority of people do not feel the need to embellish their CV to get that coveted position and move on up the career ladder. Their worthiness and benefit to the hiring organisation are easily demonstrated through the recruitment process – application, psychometric testing, selection day or interview.
As a result of a recent Charity Commission legal action, the former trustee of a Welsh charity was ordered to pay over £117,000 to Wrexham charities which support cancer patients.
Universities and colleges are not immune from deception by unscrupulous bad actors. The extent to which educational institutions can manage and control risk not only depends on financial management and internal controls, but also the robustness of security and processes which can be exploited from outside the organisation.
The Chancellor’s recent mini-budget provided a significant announcement for business as it was confirmed that the off-payroll working rules (known as “IR35”) put in place for public and private sector businesses from 2017 and 2021 will be scrapped from April 2023.
Browne Jacobson’s private equity (PE) dealmakers have advised Palatine Private Equity backed CTS Group (Construction Testing Solutions Limited) on its acquisition of In Situ Site Investigation, a market leader in Cone Penetration Testing and Pressuremeter techniques and ground investigation services.
When carrying out a mix of activities it can be less clear if it is 'economic'. We look at the impact on local authorities & charities.
Browne Jacobson’s private client practice has been ranked as Band One in the 2022 Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide for its work in private wealth law.
Today, (Thursday 16 June) 18 trainee lawyers from Browne Jacobson began the second of three planned “going green” fundraising challenges which focus on driving positive change to the environment and will raise essential funds for the firm’s charity partners.
As has been widely reported this week, some 3,000 UK workers are taking part in a six month trial to assess the viability of a four-day working week without any reduction in their normal pay.
On Saturday 14th May, 17 Browne Jacobson trainees walked 24 miles around the three highest peaks in the Yorkshire Dales to raise money for our five office charities.
There is currently no legislation requiring employees within the UK to have the COVID-19 vaccine. However, a recent Acas survey found that approximately 22% of employers intend to require their new staff to have the COVID-19 vaccination, and 21% would require their existing staff to be vaccinated too.
This week is Maternal Mental Health Awareness week, a campaign organised and led by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) member of the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership UK and is designed to raise public and professional awareness of perinatal mental health problems. MMHA is a UK-wide charity which works collaboratively with health professionals and families to bring care to those affected by perinatal mental health problems.
In late March, P&O Ferries made 800 members of staff redundant instantaneously and with no notice, to then go on to replace them with cheaper agency workers. This sparked wide range shock and triggered government interest in introducing a new statutory code of practice covering fire and rehire.
The new regime introduced by the Act will take shape over the next 18 months, but those who design, build or manage high rise buildings are being urged to get ready for the changes to be introduced through the act.
From 6 April 2022, right to work checks on all migrant or settled prospective employees must be online and checks on British or Irish nationals will be manual (free) or digital (charged for).
This webinar looks at the three key themes in the decision, and is aimed at sports & social clubs (including safeguarding officers).
Browne Jacobson has announced its new charity partners which it will support to raise vital funds for over the next two years. Each of the firm’s five offices have nominated a local community charity that underpin its commitment to diversity and inclusion as well as corporate social responsibility.
Many charities are continuing to experience an increase in demand for their services against a significant decrease in income due to the extent to which coronavirus has affected the charitable sector.
On 17 March 2020 a report by Clive Sheldon QC was published. He had been appointed by the FA back in December 2016 to carry out an independent review into allegations of sexual abuse by coaches and scouts working in youth football between 1970 and 2005.
In a pivotal and much anticipated judgment for the social care sector, the Supreme Court has ruled that workers are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage for all time spent on a sleep-in shift.
We are increasingly asked are there any limits on how members can exercise their powers.
Due to covid-19 restriction, gyms and leisure centres are temporarily closed to reduce the spread of the disease. Nevertheless, the impact this has on leisure providers is critical due to loss of income and their limited cash reserves.
All organisations across the UK are currently being impacted by covid-19, including small charities which provide crucial support during this difficult time. According to the Small Charities Coalition, small charities make up 97% of all charities and they offer a diverse range of services. This article discusses the overarching challenges that small charities are facing as well as support that can be offered.
Gavin Lock gives a view into working for Browne Jacobson's private clients and charities team.
Nazareth Care Charitable Trust which operates a care home in Bonnyrigg, Scotland, recently received a fine after a resident at one of its care homes suffered a fatal injury after falling down a flight of stairs.
Andrew discusses changes to IR35 tax rules which are due to be implemented in April 2020
Browne Jacobson has enhanced its reputation as one of the country’s leading M&A advisers according to the latest rankings data from Experian.
A new online system for probate applications was introduced in early October 2019, which will allow us to process and track applications for grants of probate online.
For anyone who has followed the evolving case law in the social care sector, this title is likely to raise some questions. Most notably, “What about the decision in Armes?”
Browne Jacobson’s Manchester team has advised the Youth Hostels Association (YHA) on its acquisition of two hostel businesses in Newcastle and Liverpool, from Euro Hostels Limited.
As your previous blog post authors quickly approach their qualification, leaving us ‘baby lawyers’ behind, the timely transfer of the Trainee Talk Blog baton has been passed to us, your dedicated first (soon-to-be second) year trainees – Nikita, Marina, Kerry and Hina.
26 trainee lawyers from Browne Jacobson will undertake the first of three endurance testing events this weekend with the aim of raising thousands of pounds for the national firm’s five charity partners.
In May 2016 an inquest into the charity’s care was opened following the death of Sophie Bennett.
National law firm Browne Jacobson has announced the promotion of nine lawyers to partner and legal director positions across its offices in Birmingham, London, and Nottingham.
A unique local charity that provides life changing support to children with disabilities and their families has received a funding boost from the city’s largest law firm.
Browne Jacobson has been ranked as one of the 10 leading law firms advising the charity sector for the first time in the latest edition of City Financials’ Top 3,000 Charities 2019 directory.
On 5th April 2019 the latest changes to the small trading exemption for charitable companies and CIOs came into force; the same changes came into force for unincorporated charities on 1st April 2019.
