Profile

Andy Poole, Legal Sector Director at Armstrong Watson. Head of the firm's specialist team advising lawyers throughout the UK. Based primarily in our Carlisle and Leeds offices, but also covering the firm's other 9 locations.

Overview

Focus exclusively on advising the legal profession throughout the UK.
Understanding the issues that the legal sector is facing.
Providing timely and proactive advice in response to those issues.
Assisting in formulating strategy via our partners’ strategic workshops.
Improving legal businesses via our: 
    Benchmarking service 
    Lock-up reviews designed to free up your hard earned cash 
    Trading structure reviews 
    Limited Liability Partnership & Limited Company conversions 
    Merger & Acquisitions service 
    Solicitors' Accounts Rules Training Courses
Working with law firms to assist in: 
    Partnership disputes 
    Business valuations 
    Court appointed expert witness duties 
And of course, preparing your accounts, Solicitors’ Accounts Rules reports and tax returns in a knowledgeable and efficient manner.

Recent Assignments

May 2011 - joint instructions recieved from two firms of solicitors in the Midlands to manage their merger - including practice valuations, business planning, deal structuring, facilitating and keeping the process on-track.

July 2011 - instructions received from a firm of solicitors launching a new service - advice provided on how to launch the service, pricing, marketing and targeting.

Professional Memberships

• ICAEW, 09/1999-

Publications & Presentations

• Partnership affairs, Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer, 07/2011
• Getting real, Law Gazette, 02/2008
• Goodbye to all that, Law Gazette, 11/2009
• The tax implications of leaving a partnership, Law Gazette, 11/2009
• Solicitors could reclaim overpaid VAT, Law Gazette, 09/2008
• Mergers and acquisitions - how to position yourself, LawGroup UK national conference, 09/2009
• The effectiveness of Lexcel, LMS Finance Forum, 06/2007

Previous Firms & Positions Held

Hawsons Chartered Accountants, Solicitor Services Director, 09/1999 - 05/2011

Languages Spoken

• English