Legal Services BulletinJuly-August 2013

COMMENT FEATURE: see overleaf

WITHERS LLP

A Smooth Take Off for

Withers Worldwide Travel Policy

The first company in the news is Balva. TheLatvian insurer built a 9% market share (bynumber of firms insured) becoming the thirdlargest indemnity insurer in the legal market thisyear, before being suspended from writing newbusiness in the UK.

Should Balva eventually become insolvent then1,300 firms face the prospect of having to find newcover.

“....what struck me was ERA’spatience, professionalism andthorough knowledge of the market...”

PC FEES UP

PRACTICE TIPS

networkpartner with

Most of England & Wales isenjoying sweltering Summerconditions, and the outlookfor the economy is lookingbrighter too.

Two of the hot topics sinceour last issue involveinsurers, and althoughstarkly contrasting eachstory has implications forlaw firms up and down thecountry.

Jason AdderleyT: 0121 602 1445M: 07824 449 577E: j.adderley@erauk.net: @ERA_Legal

The Editor

Jason Adderley is a consultant Partner with ERAspecialising in managing programmes of work forlegal and professional services firms.

He has 18 years experience of working withsolicitors and other professional consultants as aclient and as a service provider.

One wonders about the motives of the brokers thatreassured clients about placing PI with an unratedinsurer like Balva, and whether the SRA shouldreconsider allowing unrated insurers to writesolicitors PII at all.

PC FEES UPThe Law Society’s Council has approved aboveinflation increases in PC fees. The total netincrease will be only £4 (0.9%) due to a reductionin the compensation fund charge.

INTENSE SUPERVISIONThe SRA is keeping tabs on around 30 of the top200 law firms in England & Wales because of fearsabout their financial stability.

SRA HEADS IN THE CLOUDThe SRA confirmed to Legal Futures that it has noguidance to offer on cloud computing. Whilst theSRA relies on OFR, the Law Society of Scotlandhas issued detailed guidance.

competitioncompetitioncompetitioncompetition

In other news newly listed Direct Line, Britain’sbiggest car insurer, has applied to set up a law firmto operate in partnership with private equitybacked Parabis.

In a statement Direct Line said that existinginsurance customers that chose to be representedby DLG Legal “will receive 100% of any damagesawarded, protecting them from the cost of payingsuccess fees typically levied by alternative legalservices providers.”

Industry insiders suggest more insurers willfollow the likes of Ageas and Direct Line.

#4CONTINUOUSIMPROVEMENT

Why ERA?

STUDYCASE

Withers LLP

“At our stage of development – with a £140mturnover and operating in three continents –we needed a company to come in and assesshow we should best manage our travelrequirements, and to walk us down the pathtowards producing a travel policy and selectingthe right Travel Management Company.”

Michael Priestley, Head of Business Services Europe and Asia for Withers LLP

As ERA Travel Expert Derek Hodd explains “Withers’main TMC was really too small for their evolvingrequirements. Individual travellers were using variousTMCs, or booking on the web, so there was no abilitywithin Withers to gain detailed control over their travelspend.

It was even difficult for me to get the travelexpenditure data together – particularly around hotelbookings– because the whole process was sofragmented.”

ERA recently implemented a Travel Policy andnew Travel Management Company (TMC) forinternational law firm Withers LLP.

ERA is Network Partner with theLegal LSN.

LSN London Networking Event 15 July 2013

On a sweltering Summer evening 364business support professionals from over 90firms sheltered in the air conditioned comfortof The Anthologist, Gresham Street.

If we didn’t get round to say hello, thenapologies, we’ll make up for it next time.

The next Network Event is the annualOperational Leaders in Legal conference on7 November 2013.

For more information visit: www.legalsupportnetwork.co.uk

IMPROVEMENT

Many firms carry out periodiccost saving exercises everycouple of years or so.

ERA poses the question:

“Would you only carry outBusiness Development on aperiodic basis?”

Our clients benefit fromcontinuous improvement,allowing firms to ensure theyachieve value for money as themarket and the profile of theirbusiness changes.

And they save money yearafter year.

Jason AdderleyT: 0121 602 1445M: 07824 449 577E: j.adderley@erauk.net: @ERA_Legal

“What struck me was ERA’s patience,professionalism and thorough knowledge of themarket. They talked to a lot of people with alot of different ideas, and formulated the verybest Travel Policy for us and sourced the bestTravel Management Company for our mix ofrequirements.”

Michael Priestley, Head of Business Services Europe and Asia for Withers LLP

ERA produced a short-list of TMCs, reduced it to twoand Withers made the final choice. We helped Withersstaff through the implementation process, thenecessary systems and processes, including an onlinebooking tool, which automatically supports theparameters defined in the Travel Policy

Cost savings will naturally accrue from the enhancedability to manage. The project has also broughtWithers’ entire travel procurement activity into line,making it accountable and more cost-effective, as wellas ensuring that the company is acting in a way that iscompliant with current legislation when executivestravel the world.