May 2016 – Legal high fliers share innovation secrets at major conference

  • 16/05/2016

Leaders at four of the North West’s leading law firms will be explaining how their innovative approach has helped them rise to the top of the legal sector.

At a time of unparalleled change in the legal industry, leaders from JMW Solicitors, Fletchers, Bott & Co and DWF, have disrupted the traditional legal services approach, driving innovation and success in their firms.

Now the four – Joy Kingsley, senior partner at JMW; Ed Fletcher, chief executive of Fletchers; Paul Hinchliffe, managing director at Bott & Co; and Richard Hodkinson, chief technology officer at DWF – will be sharing the secrets of their success at a major legal conference in Manchester on 29 June.

Through a series of journalist-led interviews and a group panel, the highly celebrated speakers will share their differentiating approach, providing a wealth of inspiration and constructive advice to take away.

The Trailblazers conference has been organised by Converge Technology Specialists, the UK’s only cloud provider dedicated to law firms, to help firms find a fresh approach to delivering legal services.

Nigel Wright, managing director of Converge Technology Specialists, said: “The legal sector is changing and innovative leaders are seizing the moment to make sure they’re riding the wave rather than being swept away by it. The North West is at the forefront of change and that’s why we’re delighted to secure such a stellar panel for our conference.”

Since becoming chief executive of Fletchers, Ed Fletcher has broken down the conventions of the standard law firm and leader; the organisation has tripled in size, been listed in the London Stock Exchange ‘1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain’, and achieved the Investors in People (IIP) Gold Award. He has been shortlisted as Leader of the Year in The Guardian Business Showcase, in recognition of his constant encouragement of employees, real open door policy and the success of the Fletchers’ Academy.

Joy Kingsley is senior Partner at JMW and heavily involved with the firm’s strategy. She previously presided over the impressive growth of Pannone LLP and has helped the unprecedented increase of revenue at JMW from £10.2 million to £22.5 million in the 5 years she has worked there. Joy has received a host of professional accolades most recently being at number 16, the highest ranked lawyer in North West Insider’s 100 Most Influential Business Woman, Winner of Decade of Excellence at the Downtown Woman in Business Awards 2015 and previously named as one of the UK’s Top 100 Lawyers according to The Lawyer Magazine. During her time at JMW the firm has twice been chosen as Manchester best Medium Size Law Firm at the Manchester Legal Awards.

Paul Hinchliffe, managing director at Bott & Co, has led operational development at the firm, overseeing the practice’s substantial investment in leading-edge IT systems and focus on quality standards, enabling the firm to support their award-winning teams. Regularly featured throughout the media with appearances on TV and radio, Bott & Co have become the most experienced and trusted authority on flight delay compensation rights in the UK.

Richard Hodkinson has 20 years of board-level experience in acquisitive, energetic law firms and is the CTO of Top 20 legal business DWF. He is ranked number 24 in CIO Magazine’s Top UK CIOs and Top 20 in the CIO Legal Power List 2014.  Hodkinson is passionate about the use of technology as a foundation for innovation, and as a result DWF has successfully used technology as a differentiator.

For more information and to register for the free conference visit:

www.convergets.co.uk/the-trailblazers