4 www.homebusinessnetwork.co.uk Issue 2July 2009
PROFILE :: KEYSTONE LAW SNAP SHOT
Home-based lawyers offer a cut-price service
By Russ Greenslade past five years. she specialises in
commercial litigation and dispute
Keystone Law has a small office in resolution. “Most of my work involves
London’s Kentish town from which correspondence, mostly by email, so I
its core team of four support staff can really work anywhere. And if I do
operate. the 85 fee-earning senior have an hour’s down time I can sit in
lawyers are all home based. my garden with a cup of tea.
“We have been called lots of “Being self employed gives me much
things,” says partner William Robins. more autonomy over when I work and
“Dispersed, home workers and even how much I do,” she says. “I work for
hybrid. there is no industry-wide term Keystone but also for a number of
for a firm that has a lot of home-based other law firms. It means I can do what
staff; someone needs to coin it.” I want and am not obliged to take on
Keystone Law was created in 2002 everything that comes my way.
by lawyer James Knight and finance “the remuneration is better
director Charles stringer. It began because we don’t carry the
as Lawyers Direct, dealing with overheads and we are not expected
commercial and corporate matters to bill three times our salary [which is
but the name gave off the wrong
Rachel Barber: Smaller wardrobe
the norm in law firms]. My wardrobe
SNAP SH
OT
impression, says William. costs are reduced enormously. I no
“By 2005 it was clear that the firm “We adjust our working style and longer need 25 suits. Most of the time
wasn’t servicing the sort of clients times to fit in with the clients. We can I sit around in whatever I want. If we
Name: Robert Ashton
its name suggested. It was seen as work in their offices if that’s what they ever get into video phoning we’ll have
Location: Norfolk
a cheap and cheerful bucket shop,” prefer. Because we are not tied to the to smarten ourselves up!”
Company Name: Turnpike Farm
added William who joined earlier this main office, we can change hours to the difference, she says, of
Age: 53
year. the name change was part of an suit their deadlines. We are free to do working this way rather than being
Most useful item: The view from my office window. The
image overhaul. things the way the client wants.” a fully-fledged legal practice is that
fields, trees and the odd deer helps me think creatively
small and medium-sized businesses the lower price, says William, comes the lawyers do not have to carry
Home worker tip: Have a separate phone line for work
still make up the backbone of the from the way Keystone works. It has no their own professional indemnity
and personal calls
£6m turnover company. “But we are trainees so there is no duplication of insurance. “that’s provided by
Web: www.robertashton.co.uk
now also working for some very large work. “Clients are advised by solicitors Keystone or the other practices I
clients - some of the biggest companies with at least five years post qualification work for. It’s the best of both worlds.”
“I was made redundant in 1990 and have worked for
in the world use us,” he says. experience obtained at the country’s Rachel works from her home in
myself ever since. It gave me the nudge to make the
Its clients, like its lawyers, are spread very best law firms. this means that east London. “Working this way really
switch, which was really something I needed to do. I used
across the UK. “We communicate with they do not pay for our lawyers to learn suits people who don’t want to fit into
to be sales and marketing manager for a mobile home
a blend of technology. We have an on the job.” the result is lower costs a big organisational structure,” she
manufacturer and before that marketing manager for a
intranet and use VoiP, instant messenger, which means Keystone charges half the says. William adds: “there are a lot
fertiliser manufacturer.
LinkedIn, file share and email. that allows usual hourly rate “But we also get twice of senior lawyers out there who don’t
Turnpike Farm provides practical (sometimes grant
us to stay in touch virtually.” as much done in the hour,” he says. want to be a partner or run their own
funded) support to people starting and growing an
the edge, says William, comes from its All the Keystone lawyers are practice; they want to be lawyers not
enterprise, in particular a social enterprise. I am a best
aYour business idea quarter page advert 128 x 157mmbility work remotely on clients’ site, and self-employed. Rachel Barber business owners. Working this way is
selling business author and speaker. It’s going well and
also its ability to offer a cut price service. has worked for Keystone for the ideal for them.”
generates about £150,000 a year turnover.
I followed what has become my best piece of advice.
I did what I knew best which in my case was sales and
“If you suffer from
marketing. Instead of providing this service to an
cashflow problems,
employer, I provided it to a growing number of clients,
look at invoice
then recruited people to help me as the business grew.
financing. When an
There are currently four of us working in Turnpike Farm.
invoice is raised,
We market the business via word of mouth, PR and
up to 85% of its
networking. I’ve found that once you start to help others,
value is released
others will help you. We have a diverse and constantly
TOP TIP
within 24 hours.
evolving range of customers, from charities to caravan
the remaining 15%
parks, police forces to publishers, conference organisers
is paid, less a small
to franchisors.”
service fee, once
payment is received
Robert’s ninth book, How to Start Your Business – for
from the customer.
Entrepreneurs launches in August.
STARTUP AWARDS 2009
the startups Awards 2009 celebrate Previous winners have included
and reward the most outstanding new GlassesDirect, BeatthatQuote, RtL Games,
companies across the UK. they are now iteddy and sportstars.
accepting entries from businesses that this year’s judging panel consists of some
continue to improve and flourish in spite of of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs
the recession. and business experts, including Doug
“We all know business has been difficult Richard, founder, school for schools,
recently but this makes it even more Margaret Manning, Ceo, Reading Room and
important to celebrate the companies Will King, founder, King of shaves.
that are thriving in spite of the troubled to be eligible to enter, the business must
economy,” says David Lester, small business have been trading for less than three years,
expert and founder, startups.co.uk. be privately owned, and employ fewer than
“the startups Awards are seeking to 60 people.
identify its sixth generation of inspirational But hurry, the closing date for entries
new business across the UK. such recognition is 31 July 2009 and finalists will be
will not only reassure employees, but it will announced on 25 september.
also help small businesses to gain customer For details of how to enter and a full list
and client loyalty” of categories visit www.startupsawards.co.uk.
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