AI Issue 8 2017

52 Acquisition International - August 2017 Walker Morris occupies a distinctive position as the largest single-site UK commercial law firm outside London. The firm was selected as the Leading Risk and Compliance Adviser of the Year – UK, as part of the Leading Adviser Awards 2017. We invited Andrew Northage, partner in the Regulatory & Compliance Group at law firm Walker Morris LLP to tell us more about the range of the firm’s work, in providing straightforward legal advice. ith a staff of over 450 including 49 partners, Walker Morris is uniquely recognisedfor itsstrongmulti-disciplinary teamwork and straightforward advice. It is a full-service, commercial law firm focused on providing national and international clients with partner-led, high-quality advice. The firm acts for an enviable range of clients including regional, national and international organisations in both the public and private sector. Walker Morris offers a full range of commercial expertise including: banking, restructuring & insolvency; commercial contracts; competition & state aid; construction & engineering; consumer finance; education; employment & pensions; environment; financial services; healthcare; food & drink; government; health & safety; housing & regeneration; infrastructure; insurance litigation; intellectual property; M&A; public sector; planning; procurement; regeneration; regulatory & compliance; technology and media & telecoms. Andrew began the interview by revealing the firm’s partner-led work, their approach to clients and something of their background in the legal industry. “We offer clients truly accessible partners who get the job right, providing partner-led advice based on their knowledge and understanding of working with individual clients. It’s why over 90% of our partners are recognised in Chambers and Legal 500 for their expertise. “Walker Morris was formed in May 1988 although it can trace its origins back to the 1880s in Leeds. We have specifically chosen to create a single-site, national centre of excellence in Leeds providing a complete commercial legal service for its regional, national and international clients. Company: Walker Morris LLP Email: andrew.northage@ walkermorris.co.uk Web: www.walkermorris.co.uk Address: Kings Court, 12 Kings Street, Leeds LS1 2HL UK Phone: +44 (0)113 283 2500 High-Calibre Legal Advice W 1707AI13 “For our clients, this means efficiency and cost effectiveness from a single location office where lawyers are focused on working on our clients’ behalf. We deliver the right result and share best practice and process efficiencies within Walker Morris and with clients. We build long term relationships with clients and it is one of the reasons why 54% of our top 50 clients have been clients for 10 years or more.” Andrew is eager to reveal how it feels for the firm to be selected as the Leading Risk and Compliance Adviser of the Year – UK, as part of the Leading Adviser Awards 2017. “The Walker Morris Regulatory & Compliance Team is delighted to be named as winners of the ‘Leading Risk and Compliance Adviser of the Year – UK’ in the AI Leading Adviser Awards 2017. Receiving this award is testament to the team’s commitment and client focus and we are grateful to everyone who voted for us. “We are honoured to receive this award which recognises our investment and commitment to this specialist area of legal expertise.” Andrew sketched the wider industry challenges Walker Morris faces in the UK. “Recent developments in the data protection landscape, particularly the implementation of the GDPR and the EU-US Privacy Shield mean that this is a key time for businesses to ensure their regulatory requirements are in order. “In less than 12 months’ time, the new EU-wide data protection regime comes into force. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) introduces key changes, including new and enhanced rights for individuals, specific legal obligations on data processors, obligations to notify data breaches, fines up to the greatest of 4% of annual global turnover or €20 million, and detailed record-keeping requirements. The implementation of GDPR in the UK is unaffected by Brexit, and there is no transitional period, which means that businesses must be compliant by 25 May 2018.” Andrew highlighted what expertise Walker Morris LLP can offer to potential clients in the future. “We are honoured to receive this award which recognises our investment and commitment to this specialist area of legal expertise.”