We have a continuous programme of events for our private and business clients and we offer bespoke seminars at our premises for small groups. Call Pam Whittle on 01256 854642 or email Pam here for more details.
Thursday 16th October 2008
A joint seminar with Reed Employment, decoding the latest employment legislation for employers.
For more information email Pam Whittle, or call Pam on 01256 854642.
Thursday 15th May 2008 at The Elvetham
The changing economic climate and its impact on businesses and individuals were the main themes for the last seminar in our series of three called ‘Changing Lives’. The seminar started with a ‘state of the nation’ piece on the credit crunch and its implications for businesses and investors; followed by a question and answer session put to the panel of experts, covering business issues, succession planning, capital gains and the property market. The final part addressed individual plans for the future and ended with a memorable ‘role play’ twist that resonated with the delegates.
Tuesday 20 May 2008
Two of our solicitors gave a short presentation each on aspects of employment law that affect businesses and the latest on licensing law.
1. Kelly-Jean Lees, our solicitor specialising in employment law gave an update and some tips for any business employing temporary staff, covering rights, privileges, policies and how to stay on the right side of the law and avoid the employment tribunal.
2. Red cards, yellow cards, three strikes or two? No, it’s not football but Melanie Roberts, our solicitor specialising in licensing law, explained what licensees should know about the government’s review of the Licensing Act, sanctions, licences and how to evaluate your premises licence, balancing the needs of the community with your business objectives.
Thursday 6th March 2008 at The Elvetham
Delegates at this second seminar, in our Changing Lives series of three, enjoyed the dynamic panel format made up of experts from Phillips, Baker Tilly and Clydesdale Bank and gave in-depth advice to help delegates plan for the ‘expected’ life changes and protect families from the ‘unexpected’ ones. Key topics covered:
Thursday 20th September at The Elvetham
Over fifty delegates discovered how to best take advantage of their private and business properties in a seminar hosted by Phillips Solicitors, Baker Tilly and Clydesdale Bank. This first in our series of three seminars took place at the stunning venue, The Elvetham, Hartley Wintney on 20th September 2007. Each seminar focuses on a different aspect to help individuals manage their wealth throughout their lives.
Monday June 11th in Sherborne St John Village Hall at 7.30
Local residents of Sherborne St John enjoyed a short, hilarious 'role play' on how to leave your affairs in good order. Mr and Mrs Moneybags, a nightmare couple, arrived for a meeting with the wills and probate team, who presented some solutions to their financial affairs in the most entertaining way! Guests at the local event enjoyed the wine, the presentation and a summer's evening together, taking home with them a pack of useful information.
Thursday 19th April at the stunning venue, The Elvetham, 3.45pm - 6.30pm
Around 70 business owners and local entrepreneurs learned how to increase and realise the value of their business during a dynamic seminar at The Elvetham, hosted by professional advisers from Phillips Solicitors, Tenon and Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets.
Delegates were treated to 'the big picture', whilst benefiting from detailed professional advice from each of the principal parties involved in a deal - banks, accountants and lawyers. Tenon, provided important insights into planning effectively for succession, business grooming and how to realise value. Lloyds TSB outlined what banks look for in a good business deal and how to get your hands on the money. Jonathan Pender, partner at Phillips Solicitors, discussed the whole process and emphasised that the earlier businessmen start a dialogue with professionals, the more likely it is that the deal will succeed.
Adding a real life experience of having achieved a great business sale, John Worboys, CEO and founder of FPS plc, captivated the business audience with his account of how he built and sold his business £17.5m.
Thursday 22nd March 2007 at The Ark Conference Centre
Nearly fifty delegates attended two short, dynamic seminars on the intricacies of employment law at The Ark Conference Centre on 22 March. Phillips Solicitors and Reed Employment hosted the talks, given by Alastair Blackwood Hodge, a top London Barrister with a great sense of humour. Representatives from the local business community were brought up to date on the everyday contractual and regulatory issues that affect their businesses. Employment legislation is changing all the time and is fast becoming the greatest area of risk of claims for employers so the delegates were keen to ensure that their employment practices comply with the new laws.
Alastair, pictured in the middle, gave a lively presentation covering aspects of age discrimination, responsibilities for maternity leave, flexible working, and gave an update on the newest employment laws.
For help with any aspect of employment law, call Gill Brown at Phillips on 01256 854605.
A breakfast 'round table' on Thursday 30th November 2006
Accountants, tax specialists and financial advisers enjoyed a lively breakfast 'round table' hosted by Ann Corrigan and Karin Cox-Putker, two of our solicitors and mediators from the family law team. They unlocked the myths of living together and pointed out the traps that lie in wait for unwary couples who choose to live together without being married. And of course, Ann and Karin were able to offer some solutions.
If you would like a copy of the handout notes, email Pam Whittle here
Two seminars on Wednesday 29th March 2006 at 11.30 - 1.30pm and 4.30 - 6.30pm
Business alliances in and around Basingstoke were invited to attend one of two seminars on 29th March which majored on highly interactive discussion and answers to the big questions surrounding the implementation of Home Information Packs (HIPs).
These are being piloted this year and are due to come into force from June 2007. Phillips offered a flexible “pick‘n'mix” solution to estate agents, surveyors, mortgage brokers, lenders and solicitors who enjoyed wine and refreshments after each two-hour session.
As part of the strengthening of our community links, six members of Phillips’ staff took part in Basingstoke’s careers event designed to help young people kick start their careers. Representing the legal profession, we aimed to inform and inspire 800 young people from over 11 schools in and around Basingstoke. The event was organised by Basingstoke and Deane and included many other professions, agencies and businesses offering careers advice. Andy Craig from Meridian TV opened the event which attracted much media coverage.
Phillips celebrated 20 years of leading the legal scene in Basingstoke and providing top class advice to our business and private clients. The celebrations for invited clients, business colleagues and old friends were held in our newly refurbished premises in the listed building next door at no.36.
The Civil Partnership Act became law on Monday 5th December and to explain all the ramifications of this new Act our Phillips law teams gave a presentation at the Ark Conference Centre on 7th December. Attending this lively event were HR managers of local companies, Registrars, voluntary groups such as Relate and the CAB, the police, and representatives from the gay and lesbian community.
Ann Corrigan, from our family law team, outlined the new Civil Partnerships Act, discussed what legal rights and responsibilities a civil partnership confers, how to go about it and how it can affect employment law. Sheila Glyn-Owen, partner, then talked about the necessity of drawing up new Wills and considering all the other issues surrounding inheritance tax planning. The delegates enjoyed a glass of wine and a delicious buffet whilst chatting informally at the end of the evening.
Congratulations to Paula and Sarah-Jane, pictured here, who had their Civil Partnership registered on December 21st 2005.
If you would like a copy of our presentation notes, please email Pam Whittle here or give her a call on 01256 854642.
Around 200 business leaders and entrepreneurs packed the Hampshire Centrecourt Hotel in Basingstoke all day on Wednesday 23rd November at INSIGHT05, to take part in an event designed to address some of the common challenges that businesses face when planning for growth. It gave delegates a chance to take a day out, stand back and review their business position, learn a whole host of new skills and have unlimited access to the region’s leading support organisations. They could pick and choose six topics from an inspiring programme of twelve seminars - ranging from revealing the secrets of successful entrepreneurs, to learning how to stay ahead of the market. Jonathan Pender, our head of commercial services, delivered a seminar to a packed audience who came to learn how to value and buy a business.
On hand for one-to-one confidential advice was the Phillips’ team of lawyers who were able to answer delegates’ employment law and commercial questions. The whole day had a real buzz about it, with business managers having a chance to relax and swap notes with each other, whilst picking up essential ideas for helping them to prosper and grow.
The event was sponsored by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the South East of England Development Agency, the Learning Skills Council and Basingstoke College of Technology.
Phillips Solicitors and Haines Watts, just two of the professional firms who presented seminars and ran one-to-one Advice Clinics throughout Insight05. Picture courtesy of the Basingstoke Gazette
24th October saw the start of a mediation awareness campaign, sponsored by the government, to promote the use of mediation as an alternative way of resolving a wide range of legal disputes. Town Gate Mediation, the mediation arm of Phillips Solicitors, played a full part in the events. On 2nd November members of the public and the media were invited to an open evening at Aldershot and Farnham County Court where they were able to hear more about mediation, watch a short video and ask questions. Delegates were able to see how family, commercial and community mediation can resolve disputes amicably without the expense of going to Court.
An excellent talk from Sheila and Shirah on some difficult life issues. Feedback from Rotary members was very positive and I'm sure many of them will be following up the advice given."
Chris Fleming, President, Basingstoke Loddon Rotary Club
Members of The Rotary Club of Basingstoke were treated to an informal presentation on issues that affect us all - Wills, death and taxes! Sheila Glyn-Owen and Shirah Real, from Phillips’ Wills and Probate team, gave top tips to Rotary Club members on getting their affairs in order and keeping them that way. They covered what can happen if you don’t make a Will, what happens to your estate if you write a do-it-yourself Will and get it wrong, what to do in case you become mentally incompetent, as well as a host of other topics on minimising tax liabilities and managing Inheritance Tax.
Fantastic way to keep up with the complexities of employment law."
Peter Smith, Binz UK
Just under 30 delegates were enthralled by London Barrister, Alastair Blackwood Hodge, who delivered a lively but hugely informative presentation on employment law on Tuesday 28th June. The breakfast seminar in Absolutely Offices, Chineham, was co-hosted by Source4 Recruitment Solutions. Clients and local business leaders were given special advice on these topics:
The seminar was given as part of Phillips and Source4's service to their clients, but there was a 'ticket' price of £15. All the proceeds were donated to St Michael's Hospice, a local charity that provides palliative care for the community of North Hampshire.
It was extremely useful having access to a collection of experts all in one place."
Dennis Patton, Patton Scaffolding Services
Around 30 business delegates had the opportunity to 'ask the experts' in this 2.5 hour breakfast event. Following a short introduction, delegates were able to speak informally with all of the experts from the Phillips employment law team, LloydsTSB Bank, accountants Pridie Brewster, Marketing specialists CProject, and TQS, IT consultants.
All the host companies involved recognise that businesses today face significant challenges in keeping up with legislation on employment and accountancy issues, as well as knowing how to manage IT and do effective marketing. Clients at the event benefited from freely-given no-nonsense advice, in a friendly environment and have asked us to make sure we invite them to the next.
If you would like to come along to similar future events, email us your details today>>
Excellent presenter. Very useful to keep finger on the pulse, please invite me to the next one."
Mr H
Phillips and Gateway Recruitment hosted a breakfast seminar on disciplinary and grievance procedures in January 2005. Around 30 delegates were spellbound by Alastair Blackwood-Hodge's electrifying presentation of the latest changes in employment law. They also enjoyed a delicious breakfast whilst networking with other delegates.