(Light hearted) look at the first year of Partnership....the Building Safety Act, and the ups ( and mostly downs) of loving the Claret and Blue ( Not Villa, Andy)

Having been asked to write a blog on something other than my work type that interests me, I was estopped from regailing you in the joys of the Building Safety Act, and the happiness that fills every Conveyancers heart when they are dealing with a Leasehold Property, just to find out that it’s over 5 stories ( or 11 meters), or when selling a Maisonette and the Buyers Solicitor asks for a Landlord and Leaseholder Certificate, or if it’s a Higher risk Building!

So I won’t do that, so what then? I could bore you with Football, and/or Cricket till the cows come home, and some would venture that I already have in days gone by, so I’ll try to mix it up a bit in amongst the main point of my first year as a salaried Partner. Obviously Partnership matters are confidential, so I’ll shy away from the nitty gritty.

What was the first thing I learnt in Partnership from the brilliant minds, and sage like knowledge, of those sitting in the meeting room? The first thing I learnt was... not to order the Coronation Chicken Baguette! First time at a meeting, and the only objective is not to make a fool of yourself, and you’ve already made a Schoolboy error before even starting. How would I eat that in front of everyone without getting it all down myself? It was not subtle, and I’ve never ordered it again!  Also, for the record, don’t order a “Fat” Coke, and then take the Diet Coke, particular if it belongs to the Managing Partner ! Not sure if Richard has forgiven me yet!

I have been A FILEX for 30 or so years, and for many of those you couldn’t be a Partner, and it was not something that had generally crossed my mind, as I was happy doing the job I was paid to do.  Having worked at the Strood Office for 7 years, and a brief hiatus for a couple of years, I ended up coming back to the Firm in 2009 after a meeting in the most formal of all surroundings, on a Golf Course.  Everything was sorted by the 3^rd in all probability, I played as badly as normal, and myself and Richard resorted to the usual discussion about his team, Nottingham Forest, and mine, being West Ham, and the woes of supporting such average Clubs! I joined up with the Ashford Branch, and there were 3 Men in the Office at the time ( I think !), and two of them supported Forest.  What are the chances of that in the South of England! When we lost 5-1 to them one year, I only wish   hybrid working had been a thing, so I didn’t have to walk into the Office facing the smirking faces!

Anyway, Partnership was something that came about for me late in my Career really, and I was grateful for the opportunity. I thought I’d missed the boat, but was happy that the Partners considered me capable enough of helping with the vast amount of work that goes into running the Firm.  You only realise the amount of unseen work that goes on when you’re within the “inner circle”, with the numerous Committees, never ending Compliance information required and to be updated, Lexcel audits, ISO audits, accounts audits, dealing with Staff, Training Contracts, Supervision, Complaints etc etc, all whilst trying to run a large caseload of their own and remain profitable.  I’m still trying to get used to it after 18 months, and my workload is a mere percentage of others, and trying to juggle your work, which is all I’ve had to do for 30 years, with other administration matters certainly doesn’t fit into a normal working day. Hence so much work by Partners goes unseen out of “normal” Office hours, and prioritising between your workload and your Partnership role/work can be difficult.

I’ve tried to learn as I go. What do you volunteer for, and as a newbie have I just fallen into a well laid trap? Everyone needs to get involved, but my Supervising Partner was very amused when I volunteered to join the AML Committee just when the Money Laundering Officer was retiring.  Fortunately I dodged that bullet ( thanks Hannah).

Different meetings at different times of year have different requirements, and whilst all Partners make everyone very welcome, you do need to try to understand your place, and where you can help, and where you keep quiet.  Reading the room, I believe it’s called, and I’ve never been great at that !  I’m getting better, I hope, as now I think rather than say !  Bonus time is interesting as a Salaried Partner, as you are as involved in agreeing Bonuses as the equity Partners.  That took a bit of getting used to; what’s the opposite of Turkeys voting for Christmas?

I have been asked to get involved in a couple of separate meetings by the Managing Partner.  One was with Sales Progressors, as an update on things such a s Rent Charges, and other questions that they may wish to raise.  Richard took control of the meeting explaining to them the issues regarding Ground Rent being over £250, and the necessity for Deed of Variations for this matter and similar.  I was happy nodding along, and chipping in where I could, and all was good in my world, until Richard suddenly said, “ and Danny will go through that for you”, and off he went (more Biscuits probably!).  No warning, nothing, and my brain whirring as to how to explain Rent charges, and Section 121 LPA in a non legalese way.  I think I got away with it, but a few weeks later when Richard called a Residential Conveyancing zoom meeting regarding the Building safety Act, I wasn’t getting caught twice.  I did my research, printed off and read the legislation, highlighted important points, and even typed up notes on the important parts of the process.  I was ready, but as the meeting progressed and Richard went through the Act, it was clear that I had been a little over zealous, and keen to prove that I’d done research this time I was itching to chime in with the information that I’d got and researched.  I felt like that kid at School who keeps putting his hand up.  Another lesson learned!

I’ve heard about the Partners weekend before, and as Staff we’ve all joked that it was a bit of a jolly. This year was my first one, and it is an important part of the Partners year, setting out the path for the year ahead.  Yes, it can be light hearted at stages, and it needs to be, but it is an important part of the Calendar.  Having not done one before, I was there early as I am useless with a laptop, and always start with, “ Nameeta, can you help…”.  Being a Forest fan, Richard clearly didn’t consider that the Sunday of our meeting was West Ham v Arsenal.  Declan Rice back at the London Stadium.  Anyway, my first weekend Partners meeting, can I get away with my phone on the desk, so I get the notifications? So, the game starts, and after a few minutes, I get the first notification, 1-0 down.  A few minutes later 2-0, and I notice a few smiles around the Table. 20 minutes gone, I  think as I’ve tried to erase it from my mind, and we’re 4-0 down, I’m praying for Full time now, and all the Football enthusiasts around the Table are outwardly mocking me as the next Goal goes in.  5-0 down at Half time, and the Partners meeting has turned from the important Business of the day to ridicule of the sole West Ham fan as the next goal goes in.  Nothing could get worse in the Second Half could it? Course it could, as Declan Rice scores a worldy to make it 6.  Cue more “Banter”, as the Villa, Forest and Chelsea supporters join in. I definitely needed half a Shandy that night!

So, on a more serious note, Partnership is now something that everyone can aspire to.  It’s hard work, that I can see, and everyone gets stuck in, but it is rewarding.  You get to see things from a different perspective.  Everyone wants that new Copier, an extra Secretary, the expensive Biscuits (eh Charlotte), but Partners act in the best interests of the Firm, and I do say this outwardly in this Office, their priority is to look after their Staff as they are the most important part of the Firm. I am learning from those above as I go on, and hopefully be there to help Hannah and Tom in their first year if required.