Legal Sector Accountants

One of the challenges in a law firm is getting everyone to understand the business and approach things from a commercial perspective. Lawyers are focussed (rightly so) on client service and often don’t appreciate the value of the support they provide. The training we had with Armstrong Watson really helped us to focus the team’s minds on the value they were creating and as a result we now have an effective pricing policy that provides clients with choice and certainty whilst recognising the value that we create through our services. The training was delivered in a way that everyone understood and could relate to by Andy who is a true expert in professional services management and finance. We all came away feeling like we’d had a morning well spent.

Gill Hunter, Managing Partner, Square One Law

The session was really useful and thought provoking. Some courses simply flag issues to us and tell us what we should avoid doing. Andy's approach means not only were we made aware of potential pitfalls with things such as billing and fee quoting but he gave us solid guidance on what we can do to not only avoid the pitfalls but to turn those potential pitfalls into positive experiences for us and the clients.

Andy's knowledge and delivery inspires confidence in his recommendations.

Steve Redmond, Gateley plc

Working with Armstrong Watson on our financial forecast has been very useful over the past few years. They developed a very comprehensive model which allows us to track our performance over 5 years and plan future investments and impact on profit and budget accordingly. They customised it to our needs and have been responsive to our feedback – adding or amending things as needed.

Andy, Jordan and the team are easy to deal with, provide always a timescale and deliver their work on time. I would recommend them to other firms who are looking into improving their profitability and keeping their finances organised.

Antonio Deban Valles, Profitability Officer, Scullion law

Thank you one and all for your support – we could not have done it without you

Ian Kennerley, Managing Partner at Silk Family Law

Andy Poole was instrumental in facilitating our board strategy day that enabled us to retain focus and agree on a clear vision for our business that is centred around delivering for our people and our clients.  The format of the day allowed a clear thought process that not only meant we focused on the important matters, but also that our decisions had an appropriate basis.  We now have a plan for how to deliver our vision and we could not have achieved that on the day without Andy’s facilitation and guidance.

Steven Petrie, Ward Hadaway

We have worked with Andy over a number of years and recently he has presented a half day on financial training for partners and new partners.  This has been very well received.  We find Andy extremely easy to work with, very accommodating of any particular needs we may have, and his knowledge of this topic is outstanding.  One quote from a delegate having attended this training was “Very good course - highly recommend to those wanting to have a better understanding of a law firm's financial performance and potential ways to improve it.

Sara Palmer, Learning and Development Manager, Law South Group Limited

Andy Poole and two Armstrong Watson colleagues led a day of Law South’s May 2021 conference, “Humanising the Business of Law”. This was online due to Covid but the delivery and the pace of the day engaged everyone successfully. Andy’s presentation was titled “Boosting profits and cash” and delivered to predominantly law firm partner audience of 60 delegates. Allowing for the usual range of perspectives in such a group, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive with 94% giving good or excellent for expectations being met. A typical comment was “Very clear, things we can see we do, as well as things we don't do quite so well!” The day gave a greater understanding of law firm finances, comfort in discussing financial matters with clients, improving client service and satisfaction and a bespoke set of actions to take away. We have subsequently used Andy for training courses for member firms and are happy to recommend him to others.

Mark Day, Chief Executive Officer, Law South Group Limited

The training from Andy Poole is always engaging, informative and practical.  He's an expert who really understands and relates to lawyers.

Mike Parker, Wilsons Solicitors LLP

We engaged Andy Poole of Armstrong Watson to facilitate a series of three strategy days for our senior leadership team and the wider partner group.  This has helped us to formulate clear objectives and defined short, medium and long-term steps to achieve our ambitions.

It has helped us to become closer as a leadership team, improve communication channels across the firm and focus us on the actions we need to continue taking our business forwards.  Andy was flexible enough to allow all attendees to have their input, whilst keeping us on track and challenging us as required.  One of the attendees commented that it was “the most impactful day they had ever spent”.

Chris Welch, Managing Partner, Sintons LLP

Andy and his team structured this deal to enable me to transition my duties to others in a move towards my retirement. Andy found the perfect partner for us in MAPD who are clearly committed to supporting the firm in its existing structure, and providing expertise to help the firm grow, while maintaining its own identity and brand, which is very well known within Tameside and Greater Manchester.

Andy had taken the time to really get under the skin of our firm and understand how we operate, which proved enormously helpful in getting the deal over the line. Throughout the process, he displayed a real in-depth understanding of how law firms operate. Thanks to Andy for all of his help, effort and assistance.

Mark Hirst, Bromleys

I started and have developed my career at Bromleys and make no secret of the fact that it plays a massive part in my life. That’s why it was so important to choose the right partner to help us unleash the potential that Bromleys has.  That partner is MAPD. We are now part of a group that shares our values and ambitions for the future. This is an exciting time for our staff and offers us the opportunity to grow together whilst supporting our existing and new clients. Armstrong Watson's professionalism and determination really made a difference. We were very pleased that we had you on our side of the transaction as your approach, knowledge and organisation was exemplary.

Paul Westwell, Managing Director, Bromleys

Any merger process can be stressful, however, the support and efforts provided by the team at Armstrong Watson helped make the process as smooth as possible. The team were quick to respond to our queries and worked well with MAPD’s advisors to achieve a positive result for all parties.

John Cooke, Director at Thomson Hayton Winkley

"The discussions regarding benchmarks and indicators of financial instability were really useful but I was particularly enthused as well as assisted by the KPI's and Benchmarks and the impact assessment - especially impact and getting my brain working with what differences could be applied.  What was of particular use to me was understanding the KPI's and not needing to be awash with information to understand the direction and profitability of the business.  The Key Indicators and suggestions were a reassuring endorsement of the direction our firm has been taking coming out of Covid and helped me understand the impact as well as reasoning behind our 3 monthly cashflow projections and our use of the pipeline procedure."

Claire Barnes, Partner Dispute Resolution of Taylors Solicitors

We engaged with Armstrong Watson in 2019 to assist with our conversion from a traditional partnership to an LLP.

We’re based in Buckinghamshire and the Armstrong Watson Legal Sector team that were assisting us with the LLP conversion are based in the far North of England, but this did not affect the support we received with all meetings being carried out over teleconference (way back in mid-2019).

As part of the LLP conversion, we also engaged with AW’s Legal Sector team for our SRA Accounts Rules work. Although the intention was always to carry this out remotely, given recent circumstances, there would have been no choice in any case!

The process was simple and easy with very little disruption. The AW team let us know in advance what we were required to deliver for them to undertake their work and when, and they facilitated this through the use of a share file. Requests for additional evidence and information were done via email allowing us to collate what they required at times convenient to us rather than disrupting the working day, and the final meeting to discuss their findings was held again via teleconference.

Finally given that this work was being undertaken in March 2020 mid-pandemic there was no interruption to the service provided.

Paul Gardener, Partner, JGA Legal LLP (trading as J Garrard & Allen)

We spent an outstanding couple of days with Andy.   It has helped with our cashflow, with profitability and interestingly clients have accepted a new process and approach to fees.  The profit per file will be up.  It was worth the time and effort and is the most useful session I’ve been on in years.

Paul Bennett, Bennett Briegal LLP

During the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic it became apparent that the bookkeeping and management accounts were potentially going to be problematic logistically.

Sharon was proactive in providing possible solutions in advance of our scheduled quarterly timetable and was available at several opportunities to test our preferred option of working remotely. Microsoft Teams proved to be invaluable in ensuring we could adapt to a rapidly changing working environment with relatively short notice. Armstrong Watson were instrumental in bringing about this change and ensuring, not only the work getting done on a timely basis but also, staff safety being prioritised.

Karen Walsh, Director, Paramount Legal Costs Limited

Following conversion to LLP/ABS and putting in place succession plans we felt it was important that we partner with accountants with deep knowledge and experience of the legal sector to support our future strategy. We found this in abundance at Armstrong Watson and following a delightfully smooth transition we are already benefitting from a wide range of their services. Andy Poole and the AW teams provide proactive advice, are easy to work with and we would recommend them without hesitation.

Andrew Perry, Practice Manager, Russell & Russell Solicitors

Armstrong Watson have provided our payroll services for a number of years.  The team there are excellent; the whole process is user friendly, extremely efficient and very cost effective – everything I need.  Any questions I’ve asked have been answered straight away (even daft ones) and they are terrific at dealing with last minute amendments!

I would thoroughly recommend the payroll team at AW to businesses of all shapes and sizes and look forward to continuing to work with them.

Scott Garson, Practice Manager, Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors

I would like to acknowledge the huge contribution that Andy Poole made to the success of our business planning weekend in March 2019. Andy’s pre-meeting preparation, insight, experience and clarity of thought enabled us to achieve in just one working day what it would otherwise have taken us many working days to accomplish, over a much more protracted timescale. As a result of Andy’s overall contribution and willingness to challenge, we identified and unanimously agreed the strategic aims which will form the essential foundation of our business plan for the next five years. Andy made an invaluable contribution to our business planning process that was not only highly productive and outcomes focused but one that was inclusive and enjoyed by all who took part. I would recommend Andy to other law firms without hesitation or reservation.

Paul Bury, Managing Partner, The Endeavour Partnership LLP

Pepperells Solicitors are a dynamic and growing law firm founded over 25 years ago, employing over 100 staff in the Humber area. In 2016 we engaged the services of Armstrong Watson's specialist legal sector as we sought to change our business structure to reflect Pepperell's modern approach to Law. During the process we were introduced to Justin Rourke. Justin and the legal sector team advised us on ensuring the business and it's key stakeholders are adequately protected in the event of death or critical illness and continues to guide us through our pension planning.

Ben Pepperell - CEO Pepperells Solicitors

When invited to acquire the Practice from the former Partners, we approached Richard Gibson and his Glasgow legal sector/Corporate Finance team to assist us with the purchase.

Richard and his team quickly demonstrated an excellent knowledge of the taxation and regulatory issues surrounding the purchase, and helped structure the transaction to ensure the acquiring business was structured appropriately, and benefited from the most tax advantageous structure when completing the purchase.

Richard built an excellent working relationship with our corporate legal advisor, our funders and the in house finance team to make the purchase and takeover as seamless as possible, and his ongoing involvement has allowed us to focus on the development of our own Practice.

Graham Craik, Managing Partner, Levy & McRae

We engaged the Armstrong Watson legal sector team to provide outsourced FD services and to assist us through a period of transition following the departure of our previous in-house FD.  Their knowledge of the issues and bespoke recommendations have helped to refocus our management thought process and implementation of our strategy.  Armstrong Watson has refreshed the output of our accounting function and that has allowed our management team to focus attention where necessary. We use their user friendly KPI focused management information and this allows for a joined up approach with our strategy and informed management decisions.  All in all, we are delighted with our decision to outsource our FD function and wish that we had done it long before.

Peter Stafford, Managing Director & Head of Business Services, Cartmell Shepherd

Following a recommendation made to us, we have engaged the specialist Legal Sector team at Armstrong Watson for our accounts, audit and SRA Accounts Rules compliance requirement.  We have been impressed by the breadth of their specific knowledge of the sector and how that helps them to proactively advise us.  We greatly appreciate the consistent use of staff, and their interaction with our accounts team works very well indeed.  Their advance planning makes everything work seamlessly and they have already spotted and enacted improvements that have helped to simplify our accounts and save us money.

Philip Browell, Director, Browells Smith & Co Solicitors Ltd

We recognised that we could benefit from a more effective rewards programme for our staff and fee earners in order to reward and further encourage high performance. However, we were unsure about how to structure such a rewards programme in a way which would not have an adverse affect on morale within the firm or the culture of the firm.  

We were impressed by the knowledge, experience and awareness of Andy Poole and the specialist legal sector team at Armstrong Watson.  They really understood the likely impacts of potential rewards programmes and were able to provide a comprehensive report, suggesting a bonus scheme that was bespoke to our business, helping us to drive performance in our key areas.  The presentation of the scheme, suggested rules and financial awareness training delivered to our fee earners has had a positive impact on our business.

Ian Kennerley, Partner, Silk Family Law

In 2016 we engaged the services of Armstrong Watson’s specialist Legal Sector as we sought to change our business structure to reflect our modern approach to Law at our dynamic and growing law firm. Andy Poole and the team were able to guide us through the various structure options to find the structure which met our business needs. The checklist approach used allowed us to delegate tasks to the appropriate people and track what needed to be done and when. 

As part of this process we were introduced to one of Armstrong Watson’s Financial Planning team who advised us on ensuring the business and its key stakeholders are adequately protected in the event of death or critical illness and continues to guide us through our pension planning including the use of commercial property. I actually enjoy talking with him and the rest of the Armstrong team!

We were delighted by the forward thinking joined up approach and look forward to our working relationship with the Armstrong Watson team continuing to develop.

Ben Pepperell CEO, Pepperells Solicitors

We used Armstrong Watson for the first time this year to conduct our SRA Audit.  I was impressed; not only with their thoroughness and professionalism, but also with the efficiency of the whole process.  The audit is an essential element of our compliance processes, but it also has the potential to be a major distraction for the business.  The Armstrong Watson team gave us very clear guidance from the outset and used technology well to deliver a highly effective audit with no unnecessary work for us.  We will be returning to them next year.

Nick Benson, Managing Director, Ortolan Legal Limited

Despite being the largest independent claims management company in Ireland, when we made the decision to move into legal services in England, we knew the process of applying to become an ABS could well be a time consuming and daunting task.

We wanted to make the ABS application process as smooth and efficient as possible from our point of view, and so decided to instruct the specialist legal sector team at Armstrong Watson to assist us with our application.

From our initial enquiry, and right throughout the process, I was impressed with the level of professional input and advice from Rosy Rourke and the team working with us.

The result was that our ABS application was approved very quickly, and we were very happy with the service that we received. I would recommend the team at Armstrong Watson to anyone else considering applying to become an ABS.

Alan Bailie, Director, MIS Legal Services Limited

We moved to Armstrong Watson due to their specific legal sector expertise and knowledge.  We have been very pleased with the quality and efficiency of the accountancy, tax and financial advisory services provided by Andy Poole, Graham Poles and the rest of the AW team.  We value the fact they truly understand our business and the legal sector as this enables them to provide us with pro-active valued added advice and suggestions to make our business and strategic business planning even better.

Carl Newton, Managing Partner, Myerson

The specialist legal sector team at Armstrong Watson has been instructed by Burnetts Solicitors to prepare the firm’s financial statements, tax returns and SRA Accounts Rules reports as well as the partners’ personal tax returns since 2011.  I have been in a joint managing partner position since 1 January 2014 and have worked particularly closely with them since becoming sole managing partner on 1 January 2015. In that time, I have been impressed with their speed of response.  When we need something actioned, it is always done within the agreed timetable.  That is in part due to their attention to ensure that we provide them with everything that they need in order to help us.  Initiatives have been established to ensure that timetables are adhered to and all costs are agreed in advance.

We benefit from their pro-active advice and suggestions; particularly recently regarding our trading structure, law firm alliances and ways to reduce our costs.  In addition, they have presented to our people on cross-selling initiatives and improving their understanding of their impact on the success of the firm.  They have also offered one to one tax surgeries with each of our partners in order for them to plan their personal affairs, which we will benefit from this year.  Their benchmarking analysis of the firm allows us to have strategic conversations with them, and also with my partners internally.

All in all, they help us to improve our business.

Nick Gutteridge, Managing Partner, Burnetts

Having faced a number of approaches from law firms and companies over the years to acquire Pryers, it was important for us to wait patiently for the right opportunity with the right company to forge ahead with. Pure Legal undoubtedly presents that opportunity and I am delighted to get this deal over the line and I look forward to working with Phil and his team.

Thanks to our Accountant, Andy Poole and his team from Armstrong Watson, for their diligent work. We were genuinely impressed with their advice and representation.

Ian Pryer, Managing Partner, Pryers LLP

Armstrong Watson provided a refreshing approach to the accounts review meeting, with the benchmarking report proving especially useful

Tim Berg, Partner, Short Richardson & Forth LLP

Having appointed Armstrong Watson to prepare our SRA Accounts Rules reports, we have been extremely impressed with the manner in which they arranged the transfer of responsibilities from our previous accountants.  Their specialist legal sector team has been very easy to deal with and they have provided practical solutions to issues, based on experience.  The whole process has been unbelievably smooth and we are delighted with the decision that we have made.

Shru Morris, Finance Director, Napthens LLP

We engaged Andy Poole and his specialist legal sector team at Armstrong Watson as our accountants in 2012, only the second firm of accountants we have used in our 18 year history.  We found that their management of the handover of responsibilities from our previous accountants was very smooth and constructive.

In the first year, we have been very satisfied with the level of specialisation which they bring to our sector.  Our previous accountants were a top 10 UK firm, but we do not feel that they were able to offer the same depth of advice.  Andy’s knowledge of the legal market shines through in his pro-active advice and they have been very keen to help to improve our business.

They have already suggested and implemented a change in our business structure to better suit our commercial needs.  This should result in very significant tax efficiencies, even though we have not noticed any real changes to the way we run our practice on a day to day basis.  We get on with running our practice and they get on with supporting us. 

We are very happy with our decision to appoint Armstrong Watson and we are sure that they will bring on-going benefits to our business going forward.

John Gaunt, Senior Partner, John Gaunt & Partners

Andy's knowledge of the legal sector is phenomenal and his in-depth understanding of the issues being faced by lawyers at this time of unprecedented change is undoubtedly of huge help to his clients. He can identify ways of structuring a legal business so as to operate within the confines of a highly regulated environment but whilst making it more effective and more profitable. He is also personable and presents informative and engaging training sessions - which are not always qualities that can be attributed to accountants!

Natalie Saunders, Managing Director, Pharos Legal

On recommendation from a fellow partner, who had experienced similar problems to me, I contacted Andy Poole at Armstrong Watson to see if he could assist me with a share valuation in respect of my shareholding in my former legal practice.

Andy and his team were consummate professionals from the outset. Throughout my dealings with them all my enquiries, and those from my legal team, were dealt with very promptly. Following receipt of an initial favourable advice, Andy was instructed to proceed and prepare a detailed valuation for presentation to the appointed expert pursuant to the terms of the Shareholders Agreement. This was a very detailed and meticulous piece of work. It could not fail to impress.

The other parties produced a very slip shod valuation by comparison, and then some fanciful counter arguments by way of response to Andy’s report. These were dealt with in very short order in Andy’s supplemental report.

When the expert’s fair price valuation of my shareholding came through it was within 4% of Andy’s valuation figure.

Quality always shines through and the quality of the work produced by Andy and his team really shone through.

Sincere thanks once again to Andy and his team at Armstrong Watson.

Partner, Anonymous

We engaged the services of Andy Poole of Armstrong Watson to assist us with a proposed merger with another solicitors’ practice.  We found Andy Poole to be extremely personable and his considerable experience of similar mergers proved invaluable.

Partner, Anonymous