Legal
New system to alert charities when money is left in wills
A new system alerting charities to when they have been left money in wills is to be established by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), following a decision to end its current arrangement. Representatives from charities are
being invited to help establish a new service to deliver a ‘sustainable and efficient arrangement’ for the sector. This follows a decision by HMCTS’
to end its arrangement with Smee & Ford, a private company which has provided a paid-for notification service to participating charities for several years. While this was established in
good faith, HMCTS has since found that it is ‘not consistent with the department’s legal duties’. HMCTS chief executive, Susan
Acland-Hood, said: “I recognise the value to charities of receiving early notification of bequests left in wills and we are committed to working alongside the sector to establish a new, sustainable arrangement that works for everyone.” In the West Midlands, Thursfields
Solicitors, whose Birmingham staff recently moved into bigger offices
Sector Focus
Freeths is a top place to work
For the second year running law firm Freeths, which has an office in Birmingham, has been placed in the Sunday Times’ ‘UK Top 100 Companies to Work’ list. The results, compiled from
staff satisfaction surveys, rank Freeths at number 57 in the mid-sized companies category. It has also retained its two-
star accreditation from Best Companies, which provides a reliable measure of ‘workplace engagement’. Of the eight factors used for
On the move: The team based at Thursfield’s new Birmingham office
in the city centre, is taking moves to alert charities to the change. Katherine Ellis, a senior associate
solicitor at the Birmingham office, who was previously a legacy manager at the British Heart Foundation, said that while a new system was in the pipeline, it was important that charities didn’t lose out as a result. She said: “There will be a new
notification service alerting charities of bequests, but because of the huge importance of legacy
giving, the charity sector is understandably keen to ensure that this change does not have a negative impact, particularly given the short timescale for change.” “We will keep our charity clients
updated regarding the changes as they develop. “Meanwhile, we can offer advice
and support to charities on how to best utilise the current notification service to maximise your charity’s legacy income whilst also limiting the risk of any adverse publicity.”
the accreditation, the firm excelled in ‘Giving Something Back’, due to the importance it places on community social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The firm also has a ‘green
group’ which involves staff in various initiatives to reduce the impact of the business on the environment. Freeths also scored highly in
categories such as ‘Wellbeing’, thanks to its lunchtime ‘mindfulness’ sessions, cycle to work scheme and provision of fruit and discounted massages for employees.
Multi-million pound overhaul: Andy Street (second left) with, from left: Steve Allen, Claire Clarke and Justin Ripman of Mills & Reeve
Mayor opens office refit
A multi-million pound refurbishment of law firm Mills & Reeve’s Birmingham office has been completed. The office is on Colmore Row,
and the refurbishment has involved a complete overhaul of six floors of the period building. Part of the refurb is the
installation of a new feature wall in the office’s main foyer, replicating a map of the city’s canal network. The newly-refurbished office was officially re-opened by West Midlands’ Mayor Andy Street, who said: “Innovation is key to business success now and in the future, and Mills & Reeve is set to continue delivering on its commitment to
driving this forward here in the region with this new state-of-the- art office. “The investment into such a
stunning workplace is a real show of intent, one that will no doubt inspire its 250-strong workforce and build on the firm’s reputation as a great legal business.” Steve Allen, head of Mills & Reeve Birmingham and vice-president of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “Mills & Reeve is committed to Birmingham, a city that has been our home since 2005. “This significant financial
investment into our base here will set the tone for the firm in the years to come.”
April 2019 CHAMBERLINK 77
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