Strategic moves ahead

On 29 July 2020 Blanchards Bailey held the firm’s first “virtual strategy day” via Zoom. The event has long formed part of the firm’s calendar (usually taking place in May) as marking unofficially the start of the financial year. It serves as an opportunity to reflect on the year gone by and look ahead to the year to come.

Prior to March 2020, few people seemed to have heard of Zoom – a video meeting platform able to host up to 100 participants and far more for streaming online lectures. However, over the last few months the platform has become part of our common language as many of us use video meetings to connect with colleagues and family.

The approach represents the continuation of the firm’s positive steps to embrace new technology coming in the same year as the integration of new virtual telephone systems which allow staff to take calls anywhere in the world if needs be. The system integrates seamlessly with the firm’s existing software which has allowed the provision of client services to continue during months of lockdown with may staff working remotely via “cloud based” software.

Over the hour and a half meeting the Partners of Blanchards Bailey reflected on the past year but primarily on new announcements to take effect this financial year to greater bolster the quality and variety of services available to clients.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Dunlop as Blanchards Bailey’s first Managing Partner. Paul succeeds our CEO Alan Horne who made the role his own and has been crucial in the formation and success of Blanchards Bailey as it is today. Alan shall assume the role of Finance Partner and join Paul on the Management Board along with fellow partner Jerome Dodge. The handover from CEO to Managing Partner shall take effect on 1 September 2020 following a handover period in August.

The news comes in the same year as Paul’s re-election for a second year as President of the Dorset Law Society (the professional association that represents and governs solicitors for England and Wales). The committee members have taken the bold move not to charge for membership fees to member businesses for the year 2020/21. Paul stated, "Membership fees are paramount for the society's income and longevity, but in these uncertain times we wanted to help the businesses that comprise the legal advisors of Dorset."

We are also delighted to announce that Robin Cole, partner, is to be Blanchards Bailey’s newly appointed Head of Commercial Services. Since joining the firm a little over one year ago, Robin has made himself invaluable to the development of the firm and the commercial offering to our clients. His commercial experience is unparalleled in the region and we are delighted to have him heading up our commercial team.

The firm is pleased to announce plans to open its Shaftesbury and Dorchester offices for client attendances in the coming weeks. Following the reopening of the Blandford office for client appointments, the firm is now exploring how best to recommence client meetings (following the same guidelines as the Blandford Branch) in the coming weeks. Although our Shaftesbury branch is currently the only legal firm open for business in the town, this is currently for staff attendance only. We are looking forward to reopening for client appointments soon.

Finally, the firm voted upon and chose its community charity for the coming financial year. An official announcement (confirming the name of the charity) will be made in the coming weeks but it promises to be the start of an exciting and rewarding relationship between this year’s incredibly worthy cause and the staff and partners of Blanchards Bailey.