Oxford Insights

Welcome to the third edition of Oxford Insights. Change is a constant, both in Oxford and in the world our clients and professional partners operate in. This edition highlights the continued growth of our team and shares practical advice on navigating the opportunities and challenges that often go hand in hand.

First, some good news of our own. Our latest Legal 500 success recognises the strength of both our practice areas and our talented lawyers, while new appointments of Derek Walsh and Jonathan Craft means even greater depth of expertise for clients and more joined-up support when navigating complex or unusual challenges.

Jonathan Heskia’s appointment as Head of Corporate & Commercial marks another important step. As Oxford businesses navigate growth, investment and change, they need advisers who understand not just the legal issues, but the wider business context. That is exactly what Jonathan and the team bring to the table.

Looking ahead, we hope many of you will be able to join us for an evening of Christmas drinks and canapés at the Cherwell Boathouse in December. Invitations will be shared shortly, and it would be my pleasure to welcome you.

The legal issues in this edition are varied, but they share a common question: what can be done now? A long-forgotten right of way can stop a development in its tracks. An asset finance agreement can prove either a safeguard or a weakness when things go awry. And business expansion, often made to sound formidable, becomes far more manageable when the structure, priorities and advice are right from the outset.

The same principle runs through our other features. Employers preparing for the next wave of reform need should not wait for legislation to force their hand. Cohabiting couples, meanwhile, should not mistake shared lives for shared legal protection. In both cases, foresight matters. That is the thread running through this edition: seeing what may be coming, understanding what is at stake and making the next move with confidence.

Patrick Mulcare
Managing Director
SE-Solicitors