Sinead Sopala, Marketing Manager at Ramsdens commented: “Everyone in all eight of our offices were happy to don pink for the day and raise money for charity.

Cancer affects so many of us and if we can raise money to help fund their vital research, then we’re happy to wear any shade of pink and day of the week.”

As well as hosting events at our offices we also hosted a Pinkilicious Breakfast at Time Circa 2010 in Huddersfield.

Below are some pictures form our breakfast – this was in aid of a close friend Mandy Barwick from BiBi’s Restaurant in Leeds.

A poll of 2,000 adults found 25% had more than £200 worth of films, video and music stored online and nearly a third considered their haul important enough to be left with loved ones should the worst happen.

And while “cloud” services such as Hotmail, Facebook and similar websites continue to grow in popularity, 11% of those surveyed have already put internet passwords in their wills.  According to online company Rackspace, 53% of those polled held “treasured possessions” in such services.

Handing over passwords to online services is just one of the many ways wills and probate has evolved in recent years, experts  claim.

“With more photos, books, music and so on being stored online and in digital format, the question of what happens to these when people are gone becomes more important every day,” added one leading lawyer.

“People have not yet come to grips with the value of these digital possessions and the risk is that they may be lost if the owner dies, or even that their estate may be liable for ongoing subscriptions to online magazines or newspapers, for instance.

Have you made your will yet? Whether you’re looking to transfer your digital inheritance, or more traditional possessions, contact Jodie Hindle in Ramsdens Private Client team today and she’ll make sure your wishes are catered for.  You can contact Jodie on 01484 558 054 or email jodie.hindle@ramsdens.co.uk.

The Legal 500 not only assess firms on size and resources, but also on client recommendations. The recognition Ramsdens has received in the 2011 Edition is an independent confirmation of the increasing strength of the firm.

Our practice areas are recognised as follows:

YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER

- Corporate and commercial – Corporate and commercial: Leeds, West Yorkshire

- Dispute resolution – Commercial litigation: Leeds, West Yorkshire

- Human resources – Employment: West Yorkshire

- Insurance – Personal injury: claimant

- Private client – Family: Leeds and West Yorkshire – Family: Leeds and West Yorkshire:

- Private client – Personal tax, trusts and probate

- Real estate – Commercial property: Leeds and West Yorkshire

The Legal 500 Series, now in its 25th year, is widely acknowledged as the world’s largest legal referral guide. This year, more than 180,000 in-house counsel and lawyers have been surveyed and interviewed globally. The Legal 500 is an independent guide, and firms and individuals are recommended purely on merit.

The winners of the 2012 Mortgage Strategy Awards will be announced at a glittering ceremony on 28 February 2012.

This is a great award to win as it is voted on by you, our customers and therefore it would mean the world to us to win!

Voting is easy and quick online at the Mortgage Strategy Awards website…click here.

Deadline for nominations is tomorrow, Friday 16 September 2011…so please get voting.

The Act came into force on 1 July to ramp up anti-corruption laws and clearly define what constitutes bribery in UK business. And Munir Yakub Patel has been charged with breaching Section 2 of the Bribery Act, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said, which rules it is an offence if a person requests, agrees to receive, or accepts an advantage, financial or otherwise, with the intention that they or someone else perform a ‘relevant function or activity’ improperly.

Mr Patel, who was employed as an administrative clerk at Redbridge Magistrates’ Court in London, is charged with “requesting and receiving a bribe intending to improperly perform his functions,” the CPS said.

“It is alleged that Patel promised an individual summonsed for a motoring offence that he could influence the course of criminal proceedings in exchange for £500, on 1 August 2011,” Gaon Hart, Reviewing Lawyer for the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said in a statement.

“I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence to charge Munir Patel with requesting and receiving a bribe on 1 August 2011
intending to improperly perform his functions. Patel has already been charged with misconduct in public office and perverting the course of justice. He still faces these charges, which relate to other alleged misconduct during his employment,” Hart said.

Under the Act, companies can be found responsible for bribery carried out by its employees without its knowledge or consent,
whilst a new offence of failure to prevent bribery by people working for or on behalf of a business has been introduced.

However, companies can escape liability if they show that they have ‘adequate procedures’ designed to prevent bribery in place.

Under the Act, the maximum penalty for individuals found guilty of bribery is ten years’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

For more on the Bribery Act and its consequences, head to www.ukbriberyact2010.co.uk

Now in their second year, the awards, organised by women’s networking organisation Forward Ladies, celebrate the region’s brightest female entrepreneurs.

There are 25 business leaders shortlisted in nine categories.

Winners will be announced at a glittering lunch ceremony at the New Century Pavilion at Elland Road in Leeds on Friday, October 14, where one successful entrepreneur will also find out if they have won the overall 2011 Forward Ladies Businesswoman of the Year title.

Sarah Dunwell chief executive of social enterprise catering company Create, who won the Not For Profit Business Woman category in 2010, beat off competition from eight other regional businesswomen to take the overall title at the inaugural event last year.

Etta Cohen, founder of Forward Ladies, said: “The quality of the entries this year has been outstanding, and we would like to thank our sponsors. We are also thrilled with the response from professional women taking part. It’s a pity they can’t all be winners.”

Good luck to our very own Laura Smith an Associate in Ramsdens Solicitors Commercial Property team who has been shortlisted in the Young Business Women’s award.  Laura commented: “I am so delighted to have been nominated.  Forward Ladies is such a valuable networking group and I am honoured to have been recognised in this category.”

Mrs Cohen added: “We’ve seen last year’s winners go from strength to strength, which highlights the importance of their success in helping their businesses to develop.

“Forward Ladies is here to encourage women to be more enterprising and to encourage them to start and grown their businesses, and support them on their professional journeys in their chosen careers.”

Weather isn’t wonderful but we are hoping for sunshine later this evening.

For a live feed to all of the events taking place over the next 3 days follow @Huddsfoodfest on Twitter or visit their website http://www.huddersfield-htcpl.co.uk/foodanddrinkfestival/index.htm

Our event will be starting from 5:30pm at St.George’s Square, we will have live music from Richard Daniels http://www.richsingsswing.co.uk/ a BBQ with Hinchcliffe’s and some beer from The Star Inn.

So join us this evening from 5:30pm for some great networking and support our food festival.

for more information call Sinead on 01484 558087 or email sinead.sopala@ramsdens.co.uk.

MYnetwork supporting partners are Ramsdens Solicitors LLP, The Media Centre, SMileS and MYCCI.

Being shortlisted as a finalist is a real accolade as the number of entries this year has been the highest ever and reflects what  a successful year Ramsdens has had, in spite of the tough economic climate.

Paul Joyce, Managing Partner at Ramsdens comments: “This recognition puts our regional practice on the map and is a real tribute to the hard work and determination of our entire team across our eight offices throughout Kirklees and Calderdale.”

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at The Queens Hotel, Leeds on Wednesday 5th October 2011.

To see all the finalists click here.

The move follows recommendations by the Legal Services Consumer Panel earlier this year which claimed that will-writing services should be regulated for the good of all consumers.

Figures show “that one in five wills prepared by both unregulated will-writing companies and solicitors were failed by expert assessors in a mystery shopping exercise conducted by the panel,” the Guardian claimed.

In one of the worst examples of malpractice flagged up by the Legal Services Board, married clients whose will purported to leave life insurance policies in trust. It was discovered only after the husband’s death that the trust in the will was invalid as it failed to provide for any beneficiaries.

“A will may have huge personal and financial consequences for those who we care about most. It’s vital that advisers do a competent job, especially since any defects are unlikely to be discovered until it’s too late to fix them,” said Dr Dianne Hayter, chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel.

“Most people were happy with the service they got from will-writers, but there is evidence that a rogue minority is pressuring people to buy services they do not need and charging excessive prices.”

If you need any advice on wills contact Jodie Hindle from Ramsdens Private Client Team who will be able to help.  You contact Jodie on 01484 558 054 or email jodie.hindle@ramsdens.co.uk.

You can also follow Jodie on Twitter to keep up-to-date with legal news from the Private Client team.