Week Ending: Barrister challenges Twitterati; PwC’s panto stars & more

MANCHESTER barrister Bill Braithwaite QC, head of Exchange Chambers, is taking on the might of Silicon Valley’s Twitter and Linked In with the launch of a social networking site for the legal sector.

Called Mootis, the site gives users the opportunity to say more than they can on Twitter – where users are restricted to a paltry 140-characters.

While Twitter users Tweet, Mootis’ subscribers can post Moots of up to 500 words – yes 500 words, not characters.

Chairman of Mootis Braithwaite said: “Sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook are hugely successful, but we feel the world of legal services is large enough to warrant its own, bespoke platform.”

Braithwaite believes Mootis will appeal to two audiences – those already registered with sites such as Twitter and LinkedIn – and those who are yet to engage with the world of social media.
 
“It’s got dual appeal,” he adds. “We believe existing social media users will welcome the benefits of a site focused entirely on legal services.
 
“For those yet to engage with social media this is their chance to get in at the beginning of something new and exciting.  It’s a brand new platform, a level playing field.”

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HE’S behind you…. It’s not every day that partners in PwC step out in fancy dress to appear in pantomime, so Week Ending thought it worth a mention.

Manchester office head Iwan Griffiths is among several senior staff to swap his sharp suits for flowing silky robes to take part in the firm’s annual pantomime, which is held in a different city every year.

This year’s performance is Dick Whittington and will run over three days at The Opera House, with more than 4,000 children from North West schools, charities and community groups attending for free.

The event aims to enabling children who may not have the opportunity, to experience the magic of live theatre. Tickets have also been donated to staff at local hospitals, including Central Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, so they can attend free with their families.

The panto is taking place between 5-7 February, with matinee and evening performances. Businesses and individuals can sponsor a child for £10 or a whole class for £300.

To buy tickets to attend or for more information and ticket prices can be found at http://pwc.blogs.com/north/2015/01/dick-whittington-comes-to-manchester-5-7-february-oh-yes-he-does.html
 
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BEING a fan of a football club like Millwall can be a lonely experience – especially if you live in the US state of Idaho.

President of PrimeGlobal – an organisation for mid-tier accountancy firms – Kevin Mead is a Londoner by birth but has lived in the States for 30 years.

True to the well-known Millwall chant of “No one likes us, we don’t care” Mead is determined to access Millwall matches on TV back home.

“I might have to resort to connecting a few wires,” he said on a visit to Manchester accountants Hurst. “I’ve got to watch Millwall matches, come what may.”