Some say that this was foreseeable, especially in light of the information already out there in the public domain. Indeed, I did my own data profiling ahead of the collapse. So what was going on? Did it happen whilst backs were turned - or more worryingly, were blind eyes turned? Eyes everywhere but where they should be? The collapse of PM Law, with an estimated £39.5 million in missing client money , represents one of the most serious regulatory failures in the recent histor

What does a newly-established Parkrun event have in common with one of the most significant events in recent social and political history? As it happens, quite a lot. Today, I'm discussing the trend of urban renaming and why I find it both frustrating and arguably, morally questionable. Waverley 10K Race - There I am - No. 8 The Frustration of Urban Renaming: When Places Get Rebranded to Hide Their Past Last Saturday, a new Parkrun event commenced at 'Waverley Lakes', just on

Now that Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, has removed Mazur from his Inbox, this week he highlighted how AI is transforming legal practice, requiring future lawyers to adapt to new technologies and changing client expectations. "Judgment For The Claimant" Law firms are revising business models as AI impacts judicial decision-making and client interactions. You can hear my own thoughts on this issue in my latest podcast. Click here to listen. Happy listening!

Hypnotherapy is often misunderstood, yet it holds significant potential for those seeking effective ways to manage stress, improve mental health, and enhance personal and professional performance. I first studied it back in the 1990s, and as someone who has explored various therapeutic approaches, I find hypnotherapy particularly intriguing due to its unique method of accessing the subconscious mind. This blog post will explore the benefits of hypnotherapy, its effectiveness,

Achieving regulatory compliance and operational excellence is a priority for many small to medium-sized law firms. One way to demonstrate this commitment is through the Lexcel Standard. But what exactly does this standard entail? In this post, I will walk you through the key elements of the Lexcel Standard, explaining how it can benefit your practice and help you maintain high-quality management and client care. Understanding the Lexcel Standard is essential for firms aiming

Meritocracy is one of those concepts that sounds unassailably fair at first glance. Who wouldn’t want a society where people rise by talent, effort, and ability rather than birthright or privilege? It promises a clean moral logic: those who work hardest and contribute most should advance. Yet the more closely we examine how meritocracy functions in practice, the more its cracks become impossible to ignore. What presents itself as a neutral system of reward often entrenches in

I've been analysing the implications of the Court of Appeal’s Mazur judgment for supervision of unauthorised individuals in legal practice, and the evolving role of regulators in ‘policing’ this area. How will this all be carried out and moreover, how effective will it be? Let's delve and take a look. For clarity, all the factual statements are grounded in the recent reporting on the judgment. An inspector calls - supervision Supervision After Mazur: What the Court of Appeal

A landmark determination - Unauthorised legal caseworkers aren't criminals after all! Click here to listen. Happy listening!

Donald Trump keeps telling us the job is done - whatever that means. The only certainty is the uncertainty. This epoch of heightened conflict and instability in the Middle East might feel distant for Joe Public, but for UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) they know the reality - the effects often show up quickly in day-to-day operations: costs rise, deliveries slip, customers hesitate, and risk management becomes more complex. While each business is different, there

In the dynamic world of business, one strategy stands out as particularly valuable: forming partnerships. Here at Fraxinus Business Associates, I'm always delighted to engage with other businesses. It rarely matters what your business does. There will still be benefits from collaboration with another business, even if it seems that they are poles-apart in what they do or services that they provide. Let me give you an example. Say you you run a gym. Why not branch-out into rel

Instagram and YouTube are addictive. So says a jury in a Los Angeles Court. As a result, Meta and Google, the respective owners have been fined £4.5 million. That's a drop in the ocean in relation to turnover. However, the implications are far wider-reaching and the litigation floodgates are now potentially wide-open. But are we ourselves blameless? That's the question I'm looking at today. Am I an addict? Who Bears Responsibility? The pervasive nature of social media has spa

Employing neurodivergent individuals to comply with UK equality and anti-disability discrimination laws presents significant challenges for businesses. Adjustments in workplace practices, additional training, and potential productivity concerns may increase costs and uncertainty. Listen to the argument here. Happy listening!

Explore how the meritocratic ideal shapes workplace efficiency and inclusivity by examining neurodiversity. The podcast discusses the value of hiring the best person for the job and challenges traditional notions of merit. Click here to listen. Happy listening!

I've waited until it has passed - Neurodiversity Celebration Week. There was plethora of articles around the subject and many of them highlighted neurodivergent individuals and their own stories. As I have mentioned in other articles, I don't buy in to the 'week for this' or 'week for that' scene. Last week was no different. So why? Are we all neurodivergent? Neurodiversity Celebration Week (NCW) is often lauded for fostering inclusivity, but it faces significant academic an

Let's face it, law firm compliance is a right ball-ache. It's just red tape and more red tape. And it's expensive. So, I wanted to put the actual cost of compliance into context, and it's been quite a cathartic as well as a useful personal exercise. But let's start by going back in time....... "It shall be the duty...." 1974 When I was a Health and Safety Law lecturer, my favourite session was always the one when I wheeled out the television set and video player to show my st

I captured my week - its grit, its absurdity, and that tug‑of‑war between cool‑headed objectivity and the very human pull of sentiment. Don't Mind Me! So How Did It Go? It’s been the kind of week that feels like it arrived already frayed at the edges. Personal bad news on one side, coupled with professional setbacks on the other, each taking turns like they’d scheduled themselves for maximum impact. There’s a particular fatigue that comes from that double‑hit: the sense that

In today's fast-paced and multifaceted business environment, effective leadership has evolved beyond traditional management skills. One critical competency that has emerged as a cornerstone of successful leadership is Emotional Intelligence (EI). Understanding and harnessing EI allows leaders to inspire their teams, navigate complex interpersonal dynamics, and ultimately drive organisational success. What is Emotional Intelligence? Emotional Intelligence involves the ability

The Digital Handshake We’ve all been there. You see a notification: a personalised connection request from someone in your industry. Their profile looks professional, their experience is relevant, and you think, "Sure, it's always good to expand my network". You click, "Accept". Three seconds later, before you’ve even had a chance to close the tab, your inbox pings. It’s a manifesto detailing how their proprietary SaaS solution can "revolutionise your workflow" or why you abs

False Prophets LinkedIn has evolved far beyond its origins as a digital CV repository. It is now a sprawling arena where professionals share insights, celebrate achievements, and debate the issues shaping their industries. Yet within this evolution, a particular type of contributor has risen to prominence: the aloof, hyper‑politicised commentator who treats the platform less as a space for dialogue and more as a personal broadcast channel. Their presence is reshaping the tone

Many Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategies and Policies fail to drive real change, serving as symbolic gestures rather than practical solutions. Take a listen here as to why that is the case and what your organisation should actually be doing. Happy listening!