Events

Regulatory requirements continue to evolve, creating new challenges for probate practitioners. In this practical webinar, regulatory specialist and author Katie Jackson will explore key compliance issues affecting probate work and examine the expectations set out by professional codes of conduct and regulators, including the SRA, BSB, CLC, CILEx Regulation, NALP, and ICAEW.
Drawing on more than 20 years’ experience working within and alongside legal regulatory bodies, Katie will discuss the circumstances behind common probate-specific regulatory questions and the standards expected by professional regulators. She will also challenge attendees to consider whether firms are taking a strategic approach to compliance, asking:

“To what extent do probate practitioners plan long term for compliance challenges, and do we fire-fight regulatory pressures instead?”

Key topics include:

• Common regulatory challenges faced by probate practitioners
• Professional conduct obligations and compliance expectations
• Risk management strategies for probate teams
• Long-term compliance planning versus reactive problem-solving
• Practical steps to strengthen regulatory processes within your firm

Attendees will leave with actionable guidance and a practical framework for addressing key regulatory requirements, helping to reduce risk and support best practice in estate administration.

Join Rachel Gaffney and Emma Pottinger for an informative discussion on no‑contest clauses. This webinar will explore how no‑contest clauses operate in practice and provide practical guidance on advising different categories of beneficiaries, including:

• What is a no‑contest clause and how does it work?
• Advising a disgruntled beneficiary
• Advising a creditor‑beneficiary
• Advising a beneficiary who is also an executor and has concerns about validity
• Advising an innocent beneficiary worried about the estate being dissipated
• How no‑contest clauses operate differently in trusts

Reporting to the SRA causes anxiety, stress and fear. If you report issues correctly, it need not be so daunting.

The collapse of Axiom Ince left more than £60 million missing from the client account, and the profession is picking up the bill through higher Compensation Fund contributions. Repeated large-scale failures have created distrust of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) by politicians and the Legal Services Board (LSB). An independent review then found that the SRA itself had failed to act on the reports it received. The regulator is under pressure and will expect more of you, not less. In this practical session, you will gain knowledge that aids you in discharging this key obligation.

For private client and probate firms, the reporting triggers are particularly sensitive around assets and money. Residual estate balances sitting on the client account. Vulnerable and elderly clients. Questions of capacity and undue influence. The solicitor who is both executor and beneficiary. The source of funds behind an estate in an AML context.

What you will take away

• A clear understanding of the reporting framework, and of what “serious” and “prompt” really mean in practice.
• When, why and how to report.
• The confidence to make the judgement call, and to manage both the over-reporting and the under-reporting risk.
• The current position on enforcement and fines, including the SRA’s new powers in relation to economic crime
•  Practical drafting: how to write a report the SRA will take seriously, and how to record a sound decision not to report.

Who should attend

COLPs, COFAs, partners, deputies, practice managers and senior fee earners in private client, probate, wills, trusts and estate administration practices.

During this webinar, Sally and Charlotte will provide a practical and insightful deep dive into the latest judicial trends shaping claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, with a particular focus on the growing number of adult child claims.

Key points they will cover:

•  The increasing prevalence of adult child claims and the reasons behind this trend
•  How the courts are approaching these claims in practice
•  The central importance of evidencing “need” in 1975 Act claims
•  The role and relevance of the divorce cross check in spousal claims
•  Whether a moral claim strengthens an applicant’s position
•  The impact of costs risks on litigation strategy and outcomes
•  Key themes emerging from recent case law and what they mean for practitioners

The session will conclude with a practical focus, discussing the steps you can take in your day to day practice to identify risk, manage evidential issues and protect your client’s position from the outset.

Entries are now open for the STEP Private Client Awards – recognising excellence, innovation and best practice across the global private client community.

Why enter?

• Gain independent recognition for your expertise and the vital work that you do on behalf of your clients
• Raise your professional and firm profile with peers and clients worldwide
• Differentiate your practice in a competitive market
• Amplify your achievements and celebrate the work and talent of your team

25 award categories are open for entry until 10 April. Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on 17 September 2026 at the London Hilton on Park Lane, UK.

Find out more and start your entry

We’re living longer — but not necessarily living well for longer. As life expectancy increases, so too do the complexities of later life: declining capacity, rising care needs, and difficult financial decisions. At the same time, many are supporting children who are staying financially dependent for longer, creating pressure from both directions.

How do you balance the competing interests of multi-generation families? How do you protect assets, plan for care, and ensure vulnerable family members are supported — without creating conflict or unintended consequences?

This webinar will explore the legal and practical challenges facing the “sandwich generation”, including care funding, capacity considerations, and forward planning strategies to help families navigate an uncertain future with clarity and confidence.

A Flagship Event for SME Law Firm Leaders

The Legal Conference (TLC) is a flagship, full day event that brings together Managing Partners, CEOs, COOs, Practice Directors, Heads of Department, Senior Partners and Equity Partners from small and mid sized UK law firms (10–200 staff) to focus on leadership, strategy, innovation and operational excellence — a dedicated space to step back from the day to day and concentrate on the future of your firm, your people and your clients.

Why SME Law Firms Need TLC

Small and mid-sized law firms are the backbone of the UK legal sector, yet they are often underserved by the major industry events, which tend to focus on the large City and national firms.

TLC was created to change that. We bring together the senior leaders of SME firms for honest, practical and community-focused conversation. No big firm posturing. No irrelevant content. Just the insights, connections and ideas that actually matter to your firm.

Our vision is to build an annual event that grows with our community, a genuine home for SME law firm leadership development in the UK.

Cybercrime is no longer just an IT problem – it is a routine risk in everyday professional practice.

This session moves past technical jargon to look at the real-world behaviours, decisions, and workflows that criminals exploit.

You will learn how modern cyber threats affect client work, communication, and sensitive data, alongside the simple, daily habits you can adopt to drastically reduce risk.

Key Topics Covered

• How criminals use social engineering, impersonation, and open-source intelligence to target professionals and clients
• Analysing recent case studies of compromised communications and data theft to uncover actionable lessons
• Safeguarding your workflow: verifying instructions, protecting sensitive data, and spotting subtle red flags
• Helping clients avoid scams and recognising vulnerability
• Developing simple, repeatable habits that bridge the gap between IT policy and daily reality

Why Attend?

• Walk away with practical, usable guidance you can implement now
• Understand exactly how modern cybercriminals operate and where you are most exposed
• Know exactly how to handle suspicious requests, unusual client behaviour, or high-risk scenarios
• Turn strong information-handling practices into a competitive advantage that reassures your clients