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21 February 2014 / Brent Wilkinson
Issue: 7595 / Categories: Features , Profession
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Flex those finances

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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, leaving insufficient funds to meet future financial obligations and continued

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Gateley Legal—Jack Kelly

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Gibson Dunn—Richard Surtees

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Gibson Dunn adds employee benefits and executive compensation practice in London with partner Richard Surtees

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NEWS
A series of recent decisions has clarified important principles across property law, from perpetuities to lease renewals and public rights over land
Employers cannot rely on wellbeing services alone to defend workplace stress claims after a High Court decision awarding almost £1m to an overworked employee
Andy Burnham's brand of 'Manchesterism' could offer fresh thinking on legal aid and access to justice if it reaches Westminster, according to Roger Smith, NLJ columnist and former director of JUSTICE
The constitutional fallout from a change of prime minister, rather than the politics, is under scrutiny as questions arise over the limits of executive authority in a leadership transition
The legal profession is undergoing a fundamental shift from selling services to creating technology-enabled products, according to Professor Luke Mason, Head of School of Law at Regent's University London
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