Brighton community law firm short-listed in city’s premier business awards

Martin Searle, a new all-female law practice, specialising in community care, housing and employment law is the first and only solicitors firm to be short-listed for the prestigious Brighton & Hove Business Awards - the BAHBAs - alongside the city’s biggest and brightest names. Martin Searle Solicitors will now go head to head with two other companies in the coveted “Responsible Business” category.

At a time when many large, established law firms are giving up publicly funded case work, deeming it to be unprofitable, Martin Searle is committed to this client group. The fixed fees now in place for legal help work means that this work is carried out at a loss, even though it involves issues essential in protecting people’s basic human rights, for example, their right not to lose their home.

To be considered for the award, the firm had to demonstrate corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the community and how the principles of responsibility are helping to drive productivity and performance in the workplace.

Martin Searle’s campaigning and innovative approach in the field of housing, community care law and employment law has resulted in a reputation built on strong ethical principles. All three directors are proud that they are changing the public’s perception of solicitors from a profit-driven to a service-led profession.

A commitment to corporate social responsibility forms a large part of their overall commercial strategy and has seen turnover double in their second year as a result of improved client confidence, loyalty, client referrals and staff motivation.

Examples of this commitment include:

• Free and discounted legal advice to the non-profit sector, charities and to the City’s most vulnerable people who are finding it difficult to access legal advice at normal legal charging rates.

• Free training to businesses - they are currently working in partnership with EU-funded Disability Equals Business to advise businesses of their obligations and duties in relation to disability discrimination legislation.

• Training businesses at subsidised rates in partnership with ACAS and Business Link to introduce best practice employment to as wide an audience as possible.

• Participation in the Brighton & Hove Community Mark scheme, providing free employment training to boards of trustees and advice to small charitable bodies on housing and property issues.

• The firm’s directors have acted as business mentors for the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow at Sussex University and the Prince’s Trust, as well as sitting as a trustee of local charity, MACS (Money Advice and Community Support Service).

• Working with the EOC for the Pregnant and Productive Campaign offering free advice sessions for both employers and employees culminating in a free seminar for employers in association with Maternity Alliance.

Co-founder and Director of Martin Searle Solicitors, Fiona Martin comments: “We believe responsible business practice should be at the heart of the core beliefs and ethics in a modern law firm, not least because it can benefit reputation, customers and ultimately have a positive impact on the bottom line.

We are proud that we have been short-listed, especially in the responsible business category, as this is recognition of the hard work we have put into creating a new kind of law firm. To be short-listed alongside such well established companies is an honour and publicly recognises our team’s hard work”.

The team at Martin Searle will be celebrating their achievement at a gala dinner where the winners will be announced on September 7th 2006. Comedian and DJ Terry Garoghan will host the event which will be attended by 500 of the City’s business and celebrity VIPs.


Notes to Editors:

Now in their third year, the BAHBAs are firmly established as the City’s premier business awards scheme. This year the judging panel examined 200 entries from 120 firms. Designed to raise awareness and to celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of the City, the BAHBAs acknowledge and honour those companies, organisations and individuals who are helping to put Brighton on the map. More on the BAHBAs at: www.bahba.org.uk

martin searle solicitors is a Brighton-based community law firm, established in 2004, that specialises in employment, housing and community care law. More on martin searle solicitors at: www.ms-solicitors.co.uk