Category: Uncategorised

January 2015

CJCH Solicitors has expanded its trainee programme because of rapid growth in the business.

CJCH has previously taken on just one trainee at a time. It now has six, working across its expert teams.

“The business is growing rapidly, and we have expanded our trainee programme to help keep pace with the increasing scale of our operations,” said senior partner, Stephen Clarke.

“Just over two years ago, as Clarke & Hartland, we had just 24 staff – we’ve now got more than 90 and are still growing.

“Our trainees are very important to us, and we always look for talented young people who not only have a keen intellect, but are well-rounded and interesting people, who have the skills and drive to help our clients, often in very challenging circumstances.”

Our current six are:

Craig Mills, age 32, who completed his degree at Swansea University and Legal Practice Course (LPC) at Liverpool John Moores University. He joined the firm in September and works in the mental health department at the Canton, Cardiff office, and became a Law Society Accredited Mental Health Panel Member in July.

Rebecca May, age 27, gained her degree and LPC at the University of South Wales, and joined the firm in January 2015 when it merged with Gaskell and Walker.

She currently works mainly in conveyancing and also for private client wills and probate. She recently took up running and has completed several 5k runs for charity, with the aim of competing in the Cardiff Marathon.

Andrew Windross, age 26, gained his law degree at the University of Exeter, and his legal practice diploma at Cardiff University. Having joined in late 2013, he works in the firm’s corporate department in Cardiff.

Sam Pearson, age 26, graduated in history from the University of Southampton, and gained his graduate diploma in law (GDL) and LPC at Bournemouth University. He joined CJCH in October and works in family and property law in the Barry and Cardiff offices.

He plays golf, squash and football, and spent a year travelling the world, visiting exotic places such as China, Australia and Thailand.

Max Wootton, age 24, gained his degree in business at Loughborough University, and his GDL and LPC at Cardiff University. He joined the firm in October and works in the crime department in the Cardiff office. He plays rugby for Llanishen 1st XV and is an accomplished skier.

Mahbuba Ali, age 38, decided to make a career change and embarked upon the LLB Hons through distance learning with the Open University and did the LPC part time with the University of Law while working full time in a managerial role for Bawso Women’s Aid and raising a young family.

She has been working in CJCH’s family law department since joining the firm in August 2014, initially in Cardiff before moving to the Barry office.

Rebecca and Andrew complete their training in January, and are being taken on as solicitors.

“We are now of a scale that our trainee programme has a real vitality about it,” added Mr Clarke. “It’s a great way for us to develop our team with talented people who can help take the business forward.”

December 2015

CJCH Solicitors have opened a new Cardiff head office.

The move to Williams House, Columbus Walk, in Tindall Street provides more modern and spacious accommodation for staff, and a more central location.

“We had outgrown our old head office in The Parade which was a converted house, and not ideal for the way a fast-paced legal practice operates,” said senior partner Stephen Clarke. “Williams House is much more suitable, and is located just off Callaghan Square, which is becoming the city’s business hub.

“The firm has been growing in a fast, but carefully planned, way over the past couple of years,” he added. “To implement this strategy, we acquired Nick Wootton, who had over 20 years with Deloitte and provided the accountant’s approach that we needed.”

In just over two years, following a series of takeovers and mergers, the firm has grown from 25 to more than 90 and is still growing.

In addition to now occupying the 8,000-sq-ft Williams House, CJCH Solicitors also maintains its offices in the Canton area of the city, as well as in Bridgend and Barry.

“We recognised that to compete in markets where pricing is under pressure, we needed to become even more specialised and we needed to recruit,” said head of merges and acquisitions, Nick Wootton.

“We now have specialist teams of talented people who offer a breadth of services that enables us to compete in all areas of law.

“Although our growth has seen us move into Wales’ top 20 legal firms, we are intent on retaining our friendly and approachable style of developing client relationships and delivering our services

“The acquisition of Williams House is fundamental to our growth and through strong management and leadership we are looking to build on the foundations that we achieved in 2015.”

November 2015

CJCH Solicitors has provided new wet weather training kit for the 35-woman Cardiff blues womens  squad as part of a sponsorship package.

“This is a tremendous help to us as a club,” said head coach Stuart Clarke. “The women’s game is growing fast in terms of skill levels and popularity, but we don’t have the kind of money that exists in the men’s game. That’s why support like this is so vital.”

“It’s often cold and wet when we train, so the right kit is important, not just to look the part, but to keep the muscles warm and prevent injury. This support from CJCH Solicitors will make a real difference.”

Cardiff Blues women’s team competes in the Welsh Rugby Union’s women’s regional competition, and plays home games at Cardiff Arms Park.

The CJCH player of the match award in the recent game against the Scarlets went to full back Emily Kitchen.

Jacqui Seal, a senior partner at CJCH Solicitors said:

“We recognise the value of sport to communities and individuals, so were very pleased to support Cardiff Blues women with new wet weather training kit.
“Sixty per cent of our staff are women, so supporting the women’s team was a natural choice for us. We’re hoping it brings them more success on the field this season.”

http://www.barry-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=102234&headline=Law%20firm%20sponsors%20%20Blues%E2%80%99%20women&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2015

http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/14129410.Barry_law_firm_backs_Cardiff_Blues_women/

http://www.weltchmedia.com/2015/11/our-client-backs-cardiff-blues-women/

November 2015

CJCH Solicitors has secured a major contract from a multinational software company, to support its strategy on protecting its Intellectual Property and lead its fight against international piracy of its products. The contract with Dassault Systèmes to combat the unlawful use of its design software stretches across countries in Europe and the Middle East.

The CJCH team, led by senior partner Stephen Clarke, investigates the use of pirated software in these countries and takes the appropriate action against the infringers with the aim of either regularising the situation or stopping the misuse through the legal process.

“We first worked with Dassault Systèmes six years ago,” explained Mr Clarke. “Initially, it was just in the UK and in compliance related issues. However the success we achieved led to our firm being invited to run pilot projects with the focus being the commercial use of pirated software. We started the pilot last summer in six European countries and from the results achieved we won the full-time contract that has now been widened further.”

“The latest contract adds 10 further countries in Europe to our portfolio, as well as the Middle East. “

Andrew Clarkson the Global head of Anti-Piracy and Compliance for Dassault Systèmes says of the partnership with CJCH “It has been a great success for Dassault Systemes and the way that CJCH has managed the project is completely in line with our strategy of encouraging the use of legally bought software and educating business around the risks of using ‘cracked’ software.”

Dassault Systèmes is a major provider of 3D design software (www.3ds.com) serving 12 industries (automotive, aerospace, consumer goods, energy, life sciences, natural resources, etc) around the world.

Copying of the software and using it without a licence are criminal and/or civil offences in all countries, and CJCH’s expertise includes deciding how best to deal with each case it identifies.

The team has expanded from six to 15 with many being law graduates with language skills, and some coming from overseas to study a Masters in Law at Cardiff University, staying on to work with CJCH.

“It’s a very talented team, and we have a huge range of languages covered – French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, and several Asian languages,” said Mr Clarke.

“We’re now looking to add someone with Scandinavian languages to our team, as our work expands into those countries.”

Mr Clarke has also been chosen by Dassault Systèmes to help their lawyers covering, North and South America and Asia by offering them his expert advice and guidance.

The CJCH anti-piracy team is based in Cardiff.

Earlier this year, CJCH’s anti-piracy work earned it a place as a finalist in the international business category at the inaugural Cardiff Business Awards.

October 2015

Cardiff-based CJCH Solicitors, formerly Colin Jones Clarke and Hartland, has expanded from 24 staff in 2013 to more than 70, as it has taken over smaller firms and developed its team. It is now well positioned in the top 20 of Wales’s largest firms.

The firm now has offices across South Wales, including Bridgend, Barry and its Cardiff headquarters. Further expansion is expected in the next few years.

Its gross income has more than doubled in the last two years, and projected income for 2015 is in excess of £4 million and an increase of 25% by the end of 2016.

“Our growth has been rapid, but carefully planned,” said senior partner, Stephen Clarke, one of the firm’s founding partners, along with Jacqui Seal and Tim Hartland. “We have set out on a strategic path to expand, and the pace of progress has even surprised us. We have been fortunate to have within our staff the experience of Nick Wootton, formerly of Deloitte, guiding us through this growth and his expertise in business and finance has been invaluable.

“Although much of our work is local to South Wales, we also represent major international clients and large national associations, and that combination has enabled us to expand, while some other firms have struggled.

“Changes in the legal aid system have created difficulties for solicitors who have relied heavily on that work, but our diversity and our success at national and international level puts us in a strong position, which has enabled us to absorb some small practices, and to recruit very talented people into our team.”

CJCH Solicitors was formed by the merger of Colin Jones Solicitors and Clarke and Hartland Solicitors, two established businesses, each with over 30 years of experience.

“Both firms were very successful but we all realised that the legal profession was rapidly changing in the way that services are delivered, and clients were becoming more knowledgeable and demanding,” explained Mr Clarke.

“We knew that we had to move with the times and wanted to create a viable and modern business, able to serve existing and new clients with a professional and experienced teams of lawyers capable of advising on all legal issues.”

“To achieve our goals, we have invested heavily in IT, enabling our staff to work outside traditional core business times, which some of our clients demand – we even operate a 24/7 emergency mobile number.”

At a time when legal practices are becoming ever more specialised, CJCH Solicitors has been intent on retaining a traditional friendly and approachable style with the ability to provide expert advice over a range of issues, particularly areas such as commercial, intellectual property, employment law, mental health, property, family, child care, crime and motoring.

“As with many professions, the days of the two or three person general law practice are fading” said Mr Clarke. “We are seeing a ‘supermarket’ style of legal services developing, but at the same time, we feel there’s an important place for firms like ours, with a traditional approach, a complete range of legal expertise.”