Professionals: Law firm shines a light on legal career paths, Freeths advise Coppergreen; Wakefield’s professionals back the BID; and more

LEEDS-based law firm Shulmans has teamed up with The Shine Project to help inspire teenage girls to pursue higher education and embark on a successful career in the legal sector.

Launched in September 2013 after receiving funding from St Luke’s Cares, The Shine Project offers support, friendship and mentoring to more than 200 teens aged 11 to 18 in the inner South Leeds area.

As part of the firm’s ongoing support of the project, Sarah Briscall, solicitor at Shulmans, hosted an interactive workshop for the project’s members on the diversity within the legal sector, in an effort to prove that the sky is the limit when it comes to exciting career options.

The workshop aimed to breakdown preconceptions about the legal profession by informing young girls of the numerous different routes into a career in law, illustrating that the industry is open to everyone, regardless of their background.

This year marks 95 years since women were first allowed into the profession and according to figures recently reported by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, women now make up 47% of all solicitors in the UK, with two-thirds of practising female solicitors aged under 35.

With such growing opportunities in the industry, along with a variety of funding and support schemes, Shulmans is keen to encourage more young people to recognise these exciting prospects and pursue a career in law.

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THE taxation team at Freeths has recently advised Coppergreen Developments on a funding arrangement and acquisition.

Coppergreen, which owns and operates Woodland Lakes Lodges in North Yorkshire, has secured a £25m funding package from BGF (Business Growth Fund) and HSBC. This investment has been used to fund the acquisition of Piperdam Golf and Leisure Resort in Scotland, as well as 350 acres of adjoining land. The group plans to develop and expand both holiday sites over the next few years.

BGF has provided £11m of growth capital, with HSBC providing an additional £14m debt facility.

Partner Adrian Hackett and legal assistant Josef Korchinsky in the taxation team at Freeths’ Sheffield office advised Coppergreen on the deal. This involved advising on the restructuring of the share capital of Coppergreen and providing tax advice on other aspects of the deal.

Mr Hackett said: “There were some wonderful tax and structural complexities to this deal, and it was a pleasure for us to work with such a harmonious team across the different firms and disciplines.”

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Peter Jones Jones MyersPETER JONES, founder of law firm Jones Myers, is playing a key role in a nationwide Lobby Day campaign at the House of Commons this week.

Mr Jones is lobbying local MPs in a high-profile awareness drive spearheaded by Resolution, which champions non-confrontational solutions in family law, to campaign for no fault divorce and to improve rights for cohabitating couples.

The current ‘no fault’ divorce means that unless couples have lived apart for two years, one partner has to take the blame for the split.  

The campaign is also seeking a legal framework of rights and responsibilities when cohabiting couples split up. Ten per cent of the population – nearly six million people – live together without being married and Resolution says the framework would ensure fair outcomes when they separate or if one of them dies.

During Lobby Day Mr Jones and fellow Resolution members will also highlight to MPs how the planned closure of 86 courts across the country will further restrict access to the legal system for the vulnerable who have already been affected by substantial Legal Aid cuts.

Mr Jones said: “The distress that can follow family breakups if there is no agreement – or when one partner is being unreasonable – is considerable. Conflict is often heightened by the current law, which stipulates that one party is officially ‘at fault’.  

“It is also vital that current legislation for cohabitees who do not share the same financial rights as married couples is changed – and that action is taken to prevent even more vulnerable people being severely impacted by a raft of impending court closures.”   

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Tim Welton, partner with Williams and Co of Wakefield and CleckheatonWAKEFIELD’S legal eagles and number crunchers have backed the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) as an opportunity to attract and retain new talent into the city.

One of the leading lawyers in the city said attracting skilled people to Wakefield would create a ripple effect that every business sector would benefit from.

Tim Welton is a partner with Williams & Co which has offices in Wakefield city centre and Cleckheaton.  He said that BID’s four key planks to promote, improve and create a safer business environment that welcomed everyone would attract young professionals at the beginning of their careers and persuade them to stay and make their lives and homes in the city.

He said: “Wakefield BID will have a positive effect on every business.  Young professionals from every discipline are attracted to a business environment which offers career development and has a thriving and diverse evening economy.

“Wakefield has a diverse cultural offer with galleries, music and theatre all playing their part.  Added to that Wakefield’s bars and restaurants offer a wide and diverse range of food and drink that makes it an attractive evening economy.”

“By making Wakefield city centre welcoming and attractive and easily accessible there is a greater incentive for young professionals to stay and make careers with the commercial benefits for every business that brings to the whole city,” he added.

David Owens, chair of Wakefield BID welcomed the backing of the city’s professional sector.

He said: “Supporting the BID demonstrates how the professional sector lead by Wakefield Law Society appreciates the ripple effect of investment in marketing the city.  By creating an environment and presenting it beyond Wakefield that is welcoming, accessible, safe and diverse they understand how it attracts talented professionals to make long term careers and benefits all businesses.”

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