header-logo header-logo

21 February 2014 / Brent Wilkinson
Issue: 7595 / Categories: Features , Profession
printer mail-detail

Flex those finances

web_wilkinson

How financially fit is your law firm, asks Brent Wilkinson

Recent research from insolvency trade body R3 showed that just over 30% of UK law firms are at risk of failing within the next 12 months. How can these firms avoid failure, and how can they ensure that their law firm is “financially fit”?

In order to keep a legal firm healthy and open for business, it is important that, for example in an LLP, the members are fully aware of the internal workings. In many cases the mentality of the members can be the first downfall of any LLP; however, by thinking of the business’ needs first, there are a number of common mistakes which can be avoided.

Don’t milk the cash cow

As most partners within a law firm will be aware, remuneration within an LLP structure is dictated by both the profits generated by the business and the available cash to distribute. However many firms enter into financial difficulty by taking too much cash out of the business for partner remuneration,

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Switalskis—Naila Arif, Harriet Findlay & Ellie Thompson

Switalskis—Naila Arif, Harriet Findlay & Ellie Thompson

Firm awards training contracts to paralegals through internal programme

Ward Hadaway—Matthew Morton

Ward Hadaway—Matthew Morton

Private client disputes specialist joins commercial litigation team

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Nina Hood

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Nina Hood

Cumbria firm appoints new head of residential property

NEWS
Freezing orders in divorce proceedings can unexpectedly ensnare third parties and disrupt businesses. In NLJ this week, Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins explains how these orders—dubbed a ‘nuclear weapon’—preserve assets but can extend far beyond spouses to companies and business partners 
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified that ‘rent’ must be monetary—excluding tenants paid in labour from statutory protection. In this week's NLJ, James Naylor explains Garraway v Phillips, where a tenant worked two days a week instead of paying rent
Three men wrongly imprisoned for a combined 77 years have been released—yet received ‘not a penny’ in compensation, exposing deep flaws in the justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Jon Robins reports on Justin Plummer, Oliver Campbell and Peter Sullivan, whose convictions collapsed amid discredited forensics, ‘oppressive’ police interviews and unreliable ‘cell confessions’
A quiet month for employment cases still delivers key legal clarifications. In his latest Employment Law Brief for NLJ, Ian Smith reports that whistleblowing protection remains intact even where disclosures are partly self-serving, provided the worker reasonably believes they serve the ‘public interest’ 
Family law must shift from conflict-driven litigation to child-centred problem-solving, according to a major new report. Writing in NLJ this week, Caroline Bowden of Anthony Gold outlines findings showing overwhelming support for reform, with 92% agreeing lawyers owe duties to children as well as clients
back-to-top-scroll