What to expect

A day of three full-day conferences delivering informative presentations delivered by our experts in Family Law, Wills & Probate, Residential Property and Commercial Property.

Please note: E-lecture notes will be provided for your chosen conference.

Each practice area conference will take place between 9.30am and 5.00pm. Scroll down to view the topics.

Family Law Key Developments

Presented by Safda Mahmood.

Divorce, Nullity and Separation Law and Practice – Key Points

Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act – The essentials

Practical Aspects – Key Updates

Nullity and Separation

Private Children Law Developments

Section 8 Applications and Enforcement – Developments

Fact finding hearings and Domestic Abuse Cases

Parental Responsibility – Key developments

Procedure and Case Law Update - The Pathfinder Process – How is it and what is expected?

Financial Remedy and Cohabitation Law Cases – Key Principles and Developments

Use of Trusts and Estoppel

Running cases under TOLATA 1996

Use of Nuptial Agreements - Key developments

Non- Disclosure and Consequences

Conduct Issues in Financial Remedy Cases

Costs and Procedure

Procedural Developments

Domestic Abuse Law and Developments

Developments in Procedure

Non -molestation and Occupation Orders – Developments

Enforcement and Participation

Personal Protection Order Developments and Pilots - Current position

Wills & Probate Key Developments

Presented by Professor Lesley King.

Private Client Update

This session will provide a review of current issues in Private Client Practice. It will include the implications of the November Budget for planning and advising clients. The session will focus on good practice and avoiding pitfalls. The content will depend on future developments but is likely to include:

  • The latest on the treatment of pension pots
  • Any changes to the draft legislation on business and agricultural property relief
  • Recent caselaw in the Private Client area

Administration Tips and Traps

This session will look at common problems when administering estates. It will include:

  • What can and can’t be done by post-death variation
  • Valuation issues
  • Impact of lifetime gifts

The Most Common Trust Errors

Trusts are an essential part of the Private Client Practitioner’s Toolbox but it is surprising how often mistakes are made. This session will look at some of the common mistakes and how to avoid them:

  • Not reading the trust deed
  • Using an out of date precedent
  • Not setting up the trust correctly
  • Overlooking the rule against self-dealing
  • Forgetting about fraud on a power
  • Mis-managing appointments and retirements of trustees
  • Tax errors
  • Faulty trust documentation
  • Faulty applications to court

Residential Property Conveyancing Update

Presented by David Keighley.

This full day seminar will provide a review of current issues impacting on Residential Property transactions.

The precise content of the session will depend on developments prior to the event but issues covered may include:

Listed Buildings: key issues for conveyancing

Introduction to Commonhold

Reporting to clients

Enquiries & misrepresentation

Adverse Possession

Easements & Rights of Way

Restrictive Covenants

SUDS, Build over agreements, septic tanks and lateral drains

Practice Points

Commercial Property Update
 

Presented by Ian Quayle

The aims of this course are to provide a general commercial property update for busy commercial property practitioners and to promote an awareness of issues that will impact on transactional work.

As a result of this conference, delegates should have an understating of the following issues:

Drafting and Advising on Commercial Leases – dealing with key clauses tips and traps

Commercial Lease management issues – occupation pre and post tenancy

Advising on the Building Safety Act 2022 in commercial transactions acquiring relevant and higher risk buildings and advising tenants occupying commercial premises in relevant and higher risk buildings

Dealing with lease renewal - key issues for transactional property lawyers – advising tenants and landlords and negotiating new lease

An awareness on High Street Rental Auctions - advising landlord and tenants

Dealing with due diligence in commercial transactions - searches, client inspection and CPSE's

Reporting on Title in commercial transactions - using precedents and AI, advising on restrictive covenants and easements, lessons from recent case law

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Meet The Speakers

Safda Mahmood
Safda Mahmood

Safda Mahmood

Safda has extensive experience in both practising and teaching Family and Children Law for over 27 years. Safda practices predominantly in children law proceedings, alongside his lecturing and legal writing. He has been a continuous member of the Law Society Children Law Accredited Scheme for approximately 20 years, and is both an assessor, and an author, having written in various legal publications including for the Law Society. He is a highly articulate and popular speaker, who has a practical and pragmatic approach to his subject.

TSG titles by Safda include:-

LAW2022 Online
LAW2022 Online Family Law (autumn) 6 hours of CPD

Webinar Learning Titles

Principles of Parental Responsibility and use of Section 8 Orders in Family Law [2022] 1 hour of CPD

Domestic Abuse - Key Principles and Developments [2022] 1 hour of CPD

Enforcements of Child Arrangements - Options & Dilemmas [2022] 1 hour of CPD

David Keighley
David Keighley

David Keighley

Solicitor

David was admitted as a solicitor in 1982. Until his retirement from full time practice, he was a partner in and Head of Residential property at a Legal 500 firm.

He now uses his extensive experience and understanding of practical conveyancing to cut through the academic niceties and make things relevant for the busy practitioner. He is a contributing editor to the Law Society Conveyancing Handbook.

TSG titles by David include:-

LAW2022 Online

LAW2022 Online Residential Property (autumn) 6 hours of CPD

LAW2022 Online Residential Property (spring) 6 hours of CPD

Webinar Learning Titles
Residential Easements Update [2022] 1 hour of CPD

Reporting to Lenders: What are the Obligations? [2022] 1 hour of CPD

Prof. Lesley King
Prof. Lesley King

Prof. Lesley King

Professor Lesley King is a leading professional author and lecturer in Wills, Trusts and Probate. Lesley is a former member of the Law Society’s Wills and Equity Committee and the Probate and Estates Committee of STEP and an honorary member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate specialists. She is also a Professional Development Consultant at the University of Law and writes and lectures extensively on private client matters.

TSG titles by Lesley include:-

LAW2022 Online
LAW2022 Wills & Probate (autumn) 6 hours of CPD

Webinar Learning Titles
Avoiding and Dealing with Claims under I(PFD)A [2022] 1 hour of CPD

Where are we now on the Trust Register? [2022] 1 hour of CPD

Ian Quayle
Ian Quayle

Ian Quayle

Ian has delivered over 1500 training courses (all property related) for city and regional firms, local law societies, and local authorities. His style and delivery is relaxed but he is able to explain the law and practical issues relating to the training topic in a way that ensures delegates learn or reinforce learning and derive meaningful benefit from the training provided. Feedback is always positive.

Watchman Services
Watchman Services

Watchman Services

Watchman provides a range of services including Unoccupied Probate Property Insurance- a specialist policy for solicitors. Watchman’s Insurance policy offers deferred premiums which has have been revolutionary in changing the way probate solicitors protect their clients’ estates.

Watchman also provides services to support lawyers and executors throughout the probate property process

Streamline your probate property requirements through a single point of contact- helping to minimise compliance risks and avoid delays in estate distribution.

From valuations to property maintenance, Watchman is committed to delivering high-quality service, making estate management simpler, faster, and more efficient. 

Anthony Allsopp
Anthony Allsopp

Anthony Allsopp

Head of Business

I have 20 years’ experience working within the legal industry and have spent the last 9 years specialising in niche aspects of probate and estate administration work. I regularly consult with professional or lay executors regarding intestate estates or UK estates that have cross-border elements.

Henry Ives
Henry Ives

Henry Ives

Solutions Consultant

Henry partners with law firm teams on transformation projects, helping them harness collaboration platforms, document automation, and generative AI to drive measurable ROI. Drawing on deep expertise across a broad range of legal tech, he works closely with client teams to maximise adoption across practice areas and tailor solutions to real‑world workflows. By streamlining operations and aligning technology with business goals, Henry enables firms to accelerate revenue growth and attract new clients through the smart application of AI and workflow software.

Melissa Traynor
Melissa Traynor

Melissa Traynor

Senior Business Development Manager

I am a Senior Business Development Manager at Perfect Portal with over 20 years of experience across the legal and property industry. I started my career as a conveyancer before moving into estate agency, giving me first-hand experience of the challenges faced by solicitors, agents and home movers. Joining Perfect Portal three years ago felt like a natural step because I could see the real difference its technology makes for law firms, referrers and, most importantly, clients. Having experienced the property journey from every angle, I genuinely enjoy showing how Perfect Portal makes the process simpler and less stressful for everyone.

Neil Wood
Neil Wood

Neil Wood

Neil is a seasoned property professional with 12 years of experience, bringing a well-rounded perspective on conveyancing—from environmental factors to stamp duty and property searches. Known for making complex topics easy to understand, he regularly speaks at events, webinars, and presentations on key issues like flood risks, contaminated land, stamp duty, and Japanese knotweed. With a passion for simplifying the property process, as company Director, Neil is committed to keeping clients and industry professionals informed, ensuring smoother transactions and better decision-making.

Brianna Numa
Brianna Numa

Brianna Numa

Account Manager

Brianna is an eCOS Account Manager, working closely with law firms to help them meet their AML and compliance obligations with confidence. With hands-on experience supporting solicitors across onboarding, risk assessments, and ongoing monitoring, Brianna understands the practical challenges firms face. In this session, Brianna will talk through how eCOS helps simplify AML processes, reduce risk, and support firms in staying compliant as regulations continue to evolve.

Craig Dade, LEAP UK
Craig Dade, LEAP UK

Craig Dade, LEAP UK

Business Development Manager

Craig brings a wealth of legal experience in delivering technology to the legal market, working closely with 100s of law firms across the UK to help them improve their processes, streamline efficiencies and improve service, helping them become more profitable whilst building their reputation and better serving their clients' needs.