Legal
Sector Focus Law firm champions social mobility
A social mobility charity has named a Midlands law firm as one of the best in the UK for helping young people from low-income backgrounds. The Social Mobility Foundation has rated
Browne Jacobson as the UK’s fifth best employers for promoting social mobility in the workplace. Last year, the firm rated 82nd in the
foundation’s Social Mobility Employer Index 2020, and is now one of the highest ranked law firms in the country. The Social Mobility Foundation (SMF) is a
charity that aims to make practical improvements in social mobility for young people from low-income backgrounds. The charity singled out Browne Jacobson’s
partnership with the National Literacy Trust and its support for schools in deprived areas where a high proportion of children are eligible for free school meals. It also noted the firm’s decision to remove academic grades for its trainee recruitment programme, and make CVs anonymous, to remove the possibility of unconscious bias. Also taken into account was Browne
Jacobsen’s mentoring programme to support students in higher education from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the firm’s success in attracting graduates from a wider pool of universities than many others. Caroline Green (pictured), senior partner at Browne Jacobson, said: “To achieve a top five
position nationally in only the second year we have been assessed is incredible and testament to everyone who has contributed to our journey to be more inclusive as a business. “As a national powerhouse we don’t just
want to be recognised for our legal expertise - improving equality, diversity and inclusion lie at the heart of our ethos as a business and social mobility is central to this.
‘We have never rested on our laurels and will use this platform to advocate for social mobility’
“A few years ago, we took a bold decision to
remove minimum entry requirements for our lawyer trainee programme. For us this has been a game changer. “This year we retained over 90 per cent of
our newly qualified lawyers, proving law firms can still attract and recruit exceptional legal talent by removing traditional academic thresholds and in doing so improve career opportunities for those that need it most. “As a business we have never rested on our
laurels and will use this platform to advocate for social mobility, implementing new approaches that challenge others in both the legal sector and beyond, to do more over the next 12 months.”
Mills & Reeve advises on £23m software firm deal
Mills & Reeve, which has an office in Birmingham, has advised on the £23m sale of software business to an Australian technology firm. Delta Financial Systems Limited,
based in Birmingham, is a software business that provides technology to the UK’s pensions administration sector. The firm has been
acquired by Bravura Solutions, which was founded in 2004 and provides software to financial institutions across the world. Bravura chief
executive officer Tony Klim said: “We are delighted that Delta is joining Bravura. Both businesses have complementary products that together, provide a compelling offering to support the mission-critical operations of wealth management firms in the UK.”
Michael Power, CEO and co-
founder of Delta said: “Bravura is a leader in the UK wealth management marketplace and Delta’s products sit perfectly alongside Bravura’s offering.
“The Delta management team
look forward to working together with Bravura to deliver outstanding service to both Bravura’s clients and Delta’s clients.” “I thank Mills & Reeve for all their
efforts in working with us to achieve this transaction. “Mills & Reeve provided valuable management and oversight of the acquisition process as well as strong leadership of the constructive, commercial and pragmatic engagement between Delta as sellers and
Bravura as buyers. This acquisition is an important
and exciting and step forward for Delta in supporting our valued clients.” Peter McLintock (pictured), a
partner at Mills & Reeve’s Birmingham office, said: “We have supported Delta from its early days and the end result of this acquisition was happy clients who are very satisfied with their deal and very excited about joining the buyer’s group. A win-win for all.”
December 2020/January 2021 CHAMBERLINK 69 The Social Mobility Employer Index was
created by the SMF in 2017, and ranks employers on the actions they take to ensure they are open to and progressing talent from all backgrounds. Sarah Atkinson, chief executive of the SMF,
said: “I am delighted that Browne Jacobson committed to entering the Index this year.”
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