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Posts by Bernie Watson

Bernie Watson

Bernie Watson

Bernie joined Hays Allan in 1972, becoming a partner in 1985 and was managing partner for a number of years. He oversaw the merger with MacIntyre & Co in January 2001 when the present firm was formed. During his career, Bernie has worked with small and medium businesses in many industry sectors – particularly manufacturing and media - on a wide range of audit and tax issues and specialised in not for profit organisations and professional practices.

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Oct

stormy seas continue for UK law firms – and some are considering floats

It’s been another tough few weeks for the UK’s 10,000 law firms in the £25bn legal sector. The Coalition Government mounted an attack on the “compensation culture”, there are reforms proposed to the Family Court system with the proposal of mandatory mediation in cases with children and the unknown impact on Legal Aid and the Justice System generally from today’s Comprehensive Spending Review.

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Sep

things looking up for top property agents?

The Estates Gazette magazine has just published the 14th annual Top Agents Survey, which makes interesting reading after two years of generally miserable conditions in the property industry. The majority of agents lost staff leaving the collective workforce of 60 largest UK property agencies at 22,700.

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Sep

the legal profession - the lawyers UK 200

This week, The Lawyer magazine released its 100 page report on the UK’s top 200 law firms. The jolly orange scissors on almost every page supports the reports’ title of “The cost of cutting” and underlines the fact that it has been a tough year for many lawyers, with cuts in staff, income and profit.

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Sep

transatlantic law firm mergers - is biggest always best?

The legal media has been full of the recent news about Hammonds (the Leeds firm that is the 25th largest law firm in the UK with fee income in excess of £125m) being in merger talks with top 60 US practice Squire Sanders & Dempsey. If a merger were to proceed the combined firm would be among the top 50 global law firms with 37 offices located in 17 countries and with approximately 1,300 lawyers. Revenues would top £405 million.

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Aug

driving Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with the Midtown Business Club

I was recently approached by The Midtown Business Club (http://www.londonmidtown.org/) and asked to join its board for the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) sub group committee. As haysmacintyre is an active member of the Club, I was more than pleased with the opportunity to volunteer my time for the group.

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Jun

property agency deal sends shock waves through the industry

Today’s announcement that Countrywide (1,200 offices and 43 estate agency brands including John D Wood & Co) had bought upmarket agents Hamptons International (23 offices in London and a further 41 the South and 20 overseas) making it UK’s largest estate agency chain global sent a shock wave through the property industry.

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