Business Assets and Divorce 2010

In the current economic climate business cases are especially challenging. How can you be sure that the valuation is correct when conditions are so volatile and prospects differ so much across across the various sectors? It has never been more important to ensure that you understand the legal and practical issues inherent in the valuation and distribution of business assets.

Understanding the nature and structure of the business in question, the options available to the court and the appropriateness of each to its circumstances and those of the parties are all essential to achieving a fair outcome.

This course – presented by a leading senior counsel, highly regarded solicitor, and expert forensic accountant, all vastly experienced in business-related ancillary relief cases – has been specially designed

to help practitioners through the complications of business cases and to update them on all the latest case and practice developments.

The seminar will be enhanced by first-rate notes, and plenty of opportunity for you to raise your questions and have them answered by our distinguished panel. The afternoon session will feature a speaker-led case study involving a medium-sized business which will explore all the issues raised in the day so that delegates can apply the lessons learned in their own practices.

Programme details | Book Your Place | Download Conference Brochure (.pdf)

6 reasons to book your place now!

First rate speakers
Superb value – price held for FIVE YEARS!
Excellent venue
Topical programme
The opportunity to listen to and learn from the shared experiences of others working in this challenging area of work
Excellent notes to refer to back in the office

conference Programme

09.30-10.00	Registration and Refreshments
10.00-10.30	Business Cases – The Initial Considerations Michael Drake Understanding the issues: how are ‘Business’ cases different? Planning a strategy for the case – for the husband; for the wife Dealing with businesses in a challenging climate Single joint expert? The advantages and disadvantages Briefing the forensic accountant Alternative paths to resolving the case – Mediation? Collaborative law? The pros and cons Managing the costs and funding the proceedings
10.30-11.15	A Forensic Accountant’s Perspective – What the Family Lawyer Needs to Know Jon Dodge What can the lawyer expect from the forensic accountant? When and how to instruct Understanding accounts – all you need to know! Key considerations in today’s economic environment
11.15-11.30	Morning Refreshments
11.30-12.30	The Court’s Approach to Businesses and Divorce Chris Pocock QC Whose business is it anyway? Why does it matter what it is worth? Should the business be treated as Capital or Income? Value v Liquidity – what the latest cases tell us Geese and Golden Eggs ‘Creativity’ in ‘Discretion’ Hildebrand/Imerman – the relevance to company documents We all love an Expert
12.30-12.45	Questions & Answers
12.45-13.45	Lunch
13.45-14.00	Practice and Procedure: Are Business Cases Different? Michael Drake Getting the Form E right first time What must be disclosed – and what need not Maximising the usefulness of the FDR Self-help after Imerman : a word of caution
14.00-14.45	Valuing Business Assets Jon Dodge Alternative methods of valuation Investigation – how much is enough? Valuation v Liquidity – the key issues The income-producing asset: how should it be treated? Tax: a brief topical update
14.45-15.15	Raising Funds for the Settlement Jon Dodge and Chris Pocock QC What are the options? Can the company take the ‘hit’? Can the company dispose of assets? Other means for the company to raise cash Paying the settlement by instalments Some tax implications of extracting funds
15.15-15.30	Afternoon Refreshments
15.30-15.50	Finalising the Settlement and Ensuring it is Water-tight Michael Drake Tying up the loose ends – technical points and practical considerations Ensuring that a settlement is water-tight Protecting the business from an aggrieved spouse Dealing with employment issues/guarantees/bank mandates What should it say? What advice do you need?
15.50-16.20	Case Study Michael Drake, Jon Dodge and Chris Pocock QC A realistic, speaker-led case study will draw out the issues explored during the course of the day and answer questions relating to: Funding the litigation Is a single joint expert appropriate? How should the business be valued? On what basis? Completing the Form E The wife’s contribution to the company’s value; how should it be quantified? Is the court likely to order a sale of the business? Can a settlement be funded from the company’s resources? What are the tax implications? In view of the current economic climate, should a settlement be deferred until more certain days? What impact should the company’s future plans have on your advice? How should the court order be structured?
16.20-16.30	Questions and Answers
16.50	Close of Seminar
Top \| Book Your Place \| Download Conference Brochure (.pdf)

details

Venue: Central London
Copthorne Tara Hotel, Kensington, London W8
Date: Wed 17 November 2010
Price: £295 + VAT

Third and subsequent delegates HALF PRICE. See Terms and Conditions

cpd accredited

This conference is accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Bar Standards Board and ILEX.

speaker PROFILEs

Christopher Pocock QC is at 1 King’s Bench Walk, London. He specialises in ancillary relief cases, particularly where there are business assets involved. Chris is a contributor to the Encyclopaedia of Financial Provision in Family Matters and is co-author of Pre-nuptial and Cohabitation Agreements (Class Legal).

Michael Drake was for many years head of the highly regarded family team at London firm Collyer Bristow. Michael now specialises primarily in complex financial disputes. He is the author of Divorce & The Family Business (Jordans), a fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and was chief assessor of the Law Society Family Law Panel from 2005-2007. He is consistently nrecommended as a leading practitioner in Chambers and Legal 500.

Jon Dodge is a co-founder of Walton Dodge Forensic, a specialist forensic accountancy practice dealing primarily with ancillary relief cases. During the last 18 years, he has provided expert opinion in many hundreds of cases, often as a single joint expert. He has given expert evidence in the county courts and in the High Court on numerous occasions.

TESTIMONIALS

‘Very good practical presentations’
Barrister, Manchester

‘Excellent seminar’
Partner, Solicitor, London

‘Speakers all superb’
Partner, Solicitor, London

‘Excellent, knowledgeable speakers. Good Q & A sessions.’
Forensic accountant, Manchester

download brochure

Business & Divorce Seminar 2010 Download
Conference
Brochure (.pdf)

Lime Legal Limited
Greengate House
87 Pickwick Road
Corsham
Wiltshire
SN13 9BY

Tel: 01249 701555
Fax: 01249 701666

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