Description
Heads Up Compliance has been set up to assist firms to be compliant with the Solicitors Code of Conduct and the FCA regulationsHeads Up Compliance is the brainchild of Julian who began his career as a commercial apprentice with British Steel, where he trained as a Management Accountant, but was then "fast tracked" into senior management roles where his problem solving and negotiating skills were used in the rationalisation programmes required in a declining industry.He then went on to hold several directorships in the industrial sector before answering a "cry for help" from a friend who was an Equity Partner in a mid-tier Black Country law firm with "partnership" issues. The business stabilised and opened one of the first "one stop shops" by the acquisition of an Estate Agency feeding the conveyancing arm of the firm. He then advised both the Legal Aid Board and Law firms in the transition to the Legal Services Commission and the "Franchising" scheme. For eight years he advised Neil Kinsella of Russell Jones & Walker on a number of topics, including the acquisition of the Claims Direct brand and streamlining the delivery of legal services, becoming Commercial Director of 4 Legal. With advent of OFR,Julian was appointed Head of Risk and Compliance at Russell Jones & Walker in order to lead RJW through the process of an "Alternative Business Structure" to enabling external funding. Julian and RJW were integral to the SRA's pilot helping to develop and shape the new code. Julian received a personal letter of thanks in recognition of this. RJW were then acquired by Slater & Gordon where Julian became "Head of Risk and Compliance UK". Julian has first-hand knowledge of the regulatory requirements under the new code and is ideally placed to help firms develop the "culture of compliance" required under OFR. John Barton, BSc (Hons) MCIM