Last week Lovetts fielded a team in the Cardinal Gold Cup, which was held at the Laithwaite Community Stadium, the club’s official ground. The 5-aside football festival was extremely well attended, and the entry fees provided by each team will be put towards next season’s playing budget.

It’s the first time that the Lovetts Lions have played together as a team, and it was great to see them start their club history with a 3 – 0 victory on the hallowed Woking turf! Unfortunately the results didn’t quite go our way after that and we were unable to take home the trophy, but it was a fantastic event to be involved in and one that produced a great community environment on the day.

As a ground and media sponsor with Woking FC, Lovetts attended a number of events at the stadium last season. In addition to corporate and consumer engagement, the club plays a strong role in the local community, having formally launched its Woking Football in the Community project in 2004 with the goal of providing ‘individuals through sport the opportunity to participate in educational, health and fun based sport activities regardless of age, gender, ethnicity and ability.’

The athletic branch of the company will next turn its attention to the Cancer Research Race for Life, when the Lovetts ‘Pink Ladies’ team competes in local race, the Guildford ‘Pretty Muddy’ 5k. You can find out more about that event here, and in the meantime a huge congratulations to Woking, who were promoted to the National League earlier this month!

A team from Lovetts Solicitors will take part in the Cancer Research Race for Life in July, entering the Guildford Pretty Muddy 5k. The ‘Lovetts Pink Ladies’ (and Danny Zuko) have already begun fundraising for the event and you can view the official team sponsorship page here.

The run will take place at 11am on Saturday 27^th July in Stoke Park, Guildford, and is comprised of an obstacle course as well as (you might have guessed) lots of mud! Every two minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer, and all money raised at the event will be used to fund life-saving research.

“As a company we’re always looking for things we can do in the cause branding and social investment fields,” says Sarb Dhaliwal, Legal Manager for Lovetts. “Race for Life is obviously something that’s just a bit more fun, which a number of members of the team probably would have entered into anyway, and doing it this way allows us to do the activity together as a company. We all know somebody who’s life has been impacted by cancer in some way or another, and while other causes might have become more fashionable in recent years, I think it’s important to keep the awareness and the fundraising up around cancer research.”

As the Cancer Research website outlines, just £5 kits out one of the Charity’s ground-breaking research labs with essential chemicals, £20 buys a new bulb for microscopes, and £400 is the cost of running Cancer Chat for one day.

If you would like to donate please visit the official Lovetts Pink Ladies team sponsorship page here.

Lawyer Monthly, a corporate law based publication which boasts a broad global readership, has announced Lovetts Solicitors as the UK Debt Recovery Law Firm of the Year. This prestigious award is presented to a firm that has provided an outstanding service to their clients in the previous twelve months, not only through expertise and response to changing demand, but also with a dedication to innovate the sector they are in.

Since 1994, Lovetts Solicitors have specialised in debt recovery. Having always been a forward thinking firm with a true passion for technology – going paperless in 1998 and developing their market leading client portal CaseManager shortly afterwards – Lovetts continue to meet and exceed the expectations of their clients in all aspects of their debt recovery journey. Lovetts will continue to transform and modernise in step with their client base.

Speaking of the award after its announcement, Lovetts’ Managing Director Michael Higgins said “Lovetts have been specialist debt recovery Solicitors for over 23 years. To be recognised as the best debt recovery law firm is a great honour but credit goes to the team at Lovetts because without their hard work, quality and professionalism this award would not have been possible.”

If you or your business struggle with unpaid invoices or late paying customers, get in touch with Lovetts Solicitors through our website today.

Lovetts Solicitors has been featured in the latest issue of the Surrey Chambers of Commerce magazine, in an article examining flexible working opportunities within the modern workplace.

The article follows on from the recent Business Women in Surrey (BWiS) event, which featured Lovetts Operations Director, Cassandra McCarthy, and took place at Surrey Business School on the University of Surrey Campus in Guildford.

During the event the panel shared practical experiences and examined pragmatic approaches to how companies can physically implement more flexible working patterns for their staff. The panel emphasised that businesses are no longer solely adapting to traditional gender issues like opportunity and equality, but seeing an overall shift in employee attitudes and working processes.

“This is not just an issue that is related to flexible working hours around women or even parenting in general,” said Cassandra McCarthy. “At Lovetts, we see examples of flexible working across the company. We have a number of younger staff members for example who are currently undertaking legal training, and have approached us to schedule their hours around that. Some people come early to avoid traffic, or find it helps to work from home on certain days. It’s about evolving past that more traditional view of a 9-5 working structure and encouraging a level of flexibility through which people feel they are performing at their best.”

Also in attendance of the event was Lovetts Solicitors Managing Director, Michael Higgins, who gave his views on the subject: 

“Flexible working has been a hot topic since Flexible Working Regulations were introduced in 2014,” says Higgins. “This was one of the most interesting and engaging events I have ever been to with fantastic contributions from the panel. At Lovetts Solicitors we have become more open to flexibility and this fortunately resulted in Cassandra McCarthy joining the Lovetts team in 2014 as a Solicitor. Failure to adopt flexible working risks businesses losing out on employing extremely talented people such as those that appeared on the panel.”

Woking FC took on Premier League side Watford in the FA Cup earlier this month, and as an advertising partner of the local club, Lovetts was on-hand to throw our full support behind the team. We’ve collected together some of the key messaging and images around the tie here.

Beaten 2-0 by Watford, Woking put on a strong display in the third round of the FA Cup, but sadly in the end didn’t have enough for the Premier League side.

It was nonetheless a great occasion, and in addition to our advertising within the ground, on the Woking FC website, and in the regular home game programmes, Lovetts Solicitors also published messages of support in the Woking News & Mail, across our social media, and in the special souvenir matchday programme that was published in special celebration of the tie.

To view a selection of images from in and around the FA Cup tie, simply click here.

Woking still sit second in the National League South, with two games in hand over rivals Torquay. The Lovetts team will be attending a live game later this season to see The Cards in action first hand, and we wish them the best of luck in their upcoming fixtures! 

Cassandra McCarthy, Solicitor & Operations Director for Lovetts, this week spoke at a Business Women in Surrey (BWiS) event, as part of a panel discussing the topic ‘Change Works – How Flexible is YOUR company?’ Hosted at the Surrey Business School on the University of Surrey Campus in Guildford, the well-attended event attracted leading male and female business practitioners from a wide variety of industry sectors.

Joined on-stage by Sally Pritchett, Co-Owner of Something Big, Amanda Shovelton, Business Growth Enabler at NatWest, Jenni Riley, Business Director & Co-Founder of Itarmi and Abi Bradbeer, School Manager at Surrey Business School, the panel discussed the implementation of flexible working practices within business.

“It’s important to facilitate development,” said Cassandra McCarthy, Solicitor & Operations Director for Lovetts. “My request at interview stage to work 4 days a week, as a solicitor, was granted.  I was swiftly promoted to a manager of a team and was able to do so within my flexible working arrangement. My Managing Director, Michael Higgins, had no doubts that I would be able to carry out the role, as I had demonstrated that flexible working can be successful and that there was never any impact on either staff or clients.”

The panel shared practical experiences and examined pragmatic approaches to how companies can physically implement more flexible working patterns for their staff. Additionally, they looked at wider issues of fairness and equality in the workplace and adapting to social and technological change, inclusive interestingly of the next set of challenges now being faced by a new generation of individuals coming into the workforce.

“There is generational change,” says Abi Bradbeer, School Manager at Surrey Business School. “And that’s because so many things in our society are changing. Increasingly we have digital natives who are exposed to social media, and wider broadcast media. They come to us at 18-19 every year I’m not saying it’s tougher these days, but the pressures are different and maybe more complex and student mental health for example is a big issue. But equally, we have a generation that is more able and willing to talk about their health, which I think is a tremendously helpful thing.”

The panel emphasised that businesses are no longer solely adapting to traditional gender issues like opportunity and equality, but seeing an overall shift in employee attitudes and working processes.

“This is not just an issue that is related to flexible working hours around women or even parenting in general,” said Cassandra McCarthy. “At Lovetts, we see examples of flexible working across the company. We have a number of younger staff members for example who are currently undertaking legal training, and have approached us to schedule their hours around that. Some people come early to avoid traffic, or find it helps to work from home on certain days. It’s about evolving past that more traditional view of a 9-5 working structure and encouraging a level of flexibility through which people feel they are performing at their best.”

You can find out more about the Business Women in Surrey (BWiS) network here. 

Lovetts Solicitors has become a trusted partner of Woking Football Club, displaying both a stand banner and a traditional advertising hoarding at the Club’s Kingfield Stadium in Surrey. In addition to displaying a ground presence, representatives from the firm will also be in attendance at a series of Woking events including fundraisers, and selected match days. 

“Lovetts’ partnership with Woking FC highlights our commitment to local business and the local area,” said Michael Higgins, Managing Director for Lovetts. “Over the past two years, the firm has experienced a period of growth both nationally and internationally, but local-based businesses and those based in the wider South-Eastern region still make up a strong proportion of our client base. We are proud to be affiliated with such a longstanding and recognisable institution within the local community, and as a season ticket holder at the club myself, I look forward to seeing the Lovetts brand on display at the Woking ground!”

Woking FC currently plays in the National League South, which is the sixth tier of English football. Founded in 1889, the club has won the FA Trophy a joint-record three times. The partnership also provides Lovetts with a season-long presence in the match day programme, which is available at all Woking FC home games, as well as a presence on the official club website.

In addition to corporate partnerships, the football club also plays a significant role in local area initiatives, with its Woking Football in the Community scheme having been formally launched in 2004 to consolidate and grow the interface between the Club and the local community.

Lovetts Solicitors has this week been featured in the Evening Standard newspaper, in a special supplement looking at Financial Services. In an article examining how businesses can better optimise their cash flow Lovetts Managing Director, Michael Higgins, provides his ‘Top 5 Tips’ on avoiding bad debts. 

The dedicated financial services supplement was given out alongside the main newspaper across London yesterday, and the firm was extremely pleased to offer its insights into the changing world of dispute resolution and debt recovery. 

Michael Higgins, Managing Director for Lovetts, wrote: “All businesses rely on cash flow to survive. At Lovetts Solicitors we specialise in helping businesses recover debts. Above all, taking a measured but proactive approach to cash flow is key. This is the lifeblood of your business, and putting a professional recovery process in place can enhance business growth and success.” 

It’s not the first time that the company has been featured in the business press in recent months, having spoken in August to James Caan’s Your Business magazine about the recent advancements that have been made in cash flow management and dispute resolution. Lovetts is committed to providing first class, transparent advice on all aspects of the debt recovery process, and this extends to the information that we as a legal and financial institution are allowed to put out into the public domain. 

Lovetts Solicitors has been featured in Your Business magazine. The James Caan-backed publication provides insights and practical advice on all aspects of running a business from accountancy to law and social media and marketing.

In an article looking at modern approaches to debt recovery, Lovetts provides information on the debt recovery process, recovery costs, and fixed-sum compensation.

“As solicitors, we have found that correspondence from us is far more effective in moving a late payer to action,” Michael Higgins, Managing Director for Lovetts, told Your Business. “Reminder letters from businesses that are owed can often be ignored, while notifications from debt recovery agents are not always welcome. So when looking at late payments as part of a wider accounts cycle, solicitor assistance can be extremely useful. Furthermore, thanks to the Lovetts business model, obtaining the added impetus to pay that comes from a Solicitor’s involvement has never been more cost effective.”

The two page feature also includes information on CaseManager, the company’s unique software system, which allows clients to directly track the progress of their claims in real-time.

Lovetts has secured Lexcel accreditation once again, having first achieved the Law Society’s top accolade in 2012. Lexcel recognises excellence in law management and is the Law Society’s legal practice quality mark for the highest standards in legal practice management and client care.

Lexcel sets the required standard in seven different areas, including financial management, people management, risk management and client care. Assessment includes conducting background checks and a probing on-site visit from an experienced, trained Lexcel assessor.

Our clients’ needs and interests lie at the heart of everything we do at Lovetts. Lexcel accreditation recognises our commitment to providing a personal and ethical service.With this mark of quality from Lexcel, our clients can be assured that Lovetts operates best practice, supported by a dedicated team of professionals.

The Lexcel assessment stated, “Once again, Lovetts has demonstrated excellent adherence to Lexcel requirements. Its policies and systems are considered and sophisticated and are applied diligently and consistently. In addition, the people at the firm display high degrees of compliance and client focus. In short, Lovetts covers a single area of law – debt collections – and performs it expertly. Only the very best firms gain and maintain accreditation, helping clients find legal practices they can rely on.”