Southern Forum 2023

REGIONAL FORUM - Join us for the Southern Forum 2023 as we explore the big issues facing the profession and the Southern economy.

What to Expect
Programme
The Social Golf Day
Pricing
Sponsors

Online registrations are now closed, if you would like to attend the Southern Forum please contact the events team at [email protected]

Outline:

We are delighted to announce the return of the R3 Southern Forum 2023, after a two-year hiatus as a result of the pandemic. We are looking forward to welcoming you in person at the De Vere Wokefield Estate, Reading.

Bringing together insolvency, restructuring and turnaround professionals from the Southern & Thames Valley, South West & Wales and London & South East regions.

Local speakers will discuss issues of most relevance and importance to our regional member, it is a great opportunity to make new connections with colleagues throughout the southern regions.

The theme of the forum is ‘Looking to the Future’ and will focus on the challenges that currently face our profession. Further details on the programme and speakers will follow.

We are pleased to announce we have an excellent keynote speaker Jeremy Mindell, who will give an entertaining and thought-provoking analysis of the impact on the UK and world economy.

Gala Dinner

Included with the Southern Forum ticket is the gala dinner will be hosted on Thursday 23 March. The evening will start with a welcome drinks reception followed by a three-course dinner.

It has been too long since we were last together, and we are pleased to offer the opportunity to meet again and network with previous and new colleagues.

Dress comfortable for dinner with a smart casual look.

Accommodation

This is available for delegates on Thursday 23 March. We encourage all those registering and requiring accommodation to book as soon as possible as spaces are limited.

Golf

There is an opportunity to register for golf scheduled for Friday 24 March.

We very much look forward to seeing you there.

Thanks to our Sponsors:

Manolete

Isadore Goldman

Main Sponsor

Thank you to our drinks reception and gala dinner sponsor

Proudley Associates

Drinks Reception and Gala Sponsor

Thank you to our golf sponsor

Compliance on Call LTD

Golf Sponsor

Session Time	Session Title & Description
09:00 - 09:30	Registration opens
09:30 – 09:35	Welcome and Opening of Southern Forum 2023 Overview of the forum Speakers: Neil Stewart, Associate Director Southern Office, Manolete Partners PLC - view bio Stephen Baister, Independent Non-Executive Director, Manolete Partners PLC - view bio
09:35 – 10:10	Off-shoring: Reality and lessons learned working with an offshore team The reality of off-shoring: what the sales pitch may not tell you. Carrie established and worked with an offshore the team for over 4 years. She will share her experiences with managing, growing and developing a team as part of a UK based practice. The positive results and the pitfalls. Speakers: Carrie James, Partner, Kreston Reeves, and recent past President of the Insolvency Practitioners Association - view bio Chair: Malcolm Niekirk, Head of Insolvency and Restructuring, Frettens Solicitors - view bio
10:10 – 10:40	The impact of pre-pack evaluations on Administration practice With the benefit of extensive historical experience of selling businesses out of administration and receivership, Antony will summarise the requirements for evaluator reports and provide insights into how the process has introduced healthy competition, structure and stability if used in the right way. Speakers: Antony Fanshawe, Director, Antony Fanshawe Limited - view bio Chair: Neil Stewart, Associate Director Southern Office, Manolete Partners PLC - view bio
10:40 – 11:10	Morning Break
11:10 – 11:45	Legal update: The latest on the ‘Quincecare’ duties of banks to their customers and assignment of claims by office holders Quincecare duties - The scope and content of the Quincecare duty have kept the highest courts busy in recent years. This whistle-stop review of the current landscape will consider the implications of the key recent cases for insolvency practice delivered by Joseph Curl KC (9 Stone Buildings). Assignment of claims - A bird’s eye view of how challenges to assignments of claims by office-holders have been dispatched delivered by Neil Stewart (Manolete). Speakers: Neil Stewart, Associate Director Southern Office, Manolete Partners PLC - view bio Joseph Curl KC, Barrister, 9 Stone Buildings - view bio Chair: Nick Oliver, Director, Isadore Goldman - view bio
11:45 – 12:15	At the sharp end in hospitality Lessons drawn from real world experience in trading administrations, focussing on the hospitality sector on its emergence from the pandemic Speakers: Andy Merricks, CEO, LSS Group - view bio Stephen Hunt, Partner, Griffins - view bio Chair: Neil Stewart, Associate Director Southern Office, Manolete Partners PLC - view bio
12:15 - 12:45	Representing the profession when it matters most Against a backdrop of regulatory reforms, new legislation, and economic turbulence this session will look at what R3 is doing right now to ensure the profession has a strong and influential voice across government and the media. Speakers: Christina Fitzgerald, Partner, Edwin Coe LLP and President at R3 Association of Business Recovery Professionals - view bio Caroline Sumner, CEO, R3 Association of Business Recovery Professionals - view bio Anthony Walters, Head of External Affairs, R3 Association of Business Recovery Professionals - view bio
12:45 – 14:00	Networking Lunch
14:00 – 14:05	Welcome Back Welcome back to the afternoon sessions Speakers: Stephen Baister, Independent Non-Executive Director, Manolete Partners PLC - view bio
14:05 - 14:45	People: recruitment and retention in the insolvency sector Fresh approaches to an old problem that’s becoming increasingly challenging. Following an introduction, delegates will have an opportunity to discuss hot topics in table-based breakouts. The aim is produce a collaborative charter for best-practice, based on the current issues within our sector. Speakers: Astrid Davies, Founder and Managing Director, Astrid Davies Consulting - view bio Chair: Olivia Proudley, Director, Proudley Associates Ltd. - view bio
14:45 – 15:05	Afternoon Break
15:05 - 15:50	Legal update: Recent developments in the scope of directors’ duties, the successful use of restructuring plans by SME’s, and cryptocurrency considerations in 2023 and beyond The session will cover: Directors’ duties - The latest in directors’ duties, including the Supreme Court decision in Sequana delivered by Jon Colclough. SME Restructuring Plans - Developments in relation to the use of restructuring plans by SME’s and the outlook for the future delivered by Marcus Haywood. Crypto - Tracing and recoveries beyond bitcoin. Valuation, custody, and compliance delivered by Dan Sutch. Speakers: Jon Colclough, Barrister, New Square Chambers - view bio Marcus Haywood, Barrister, South Square - view bio Dan Sutch, Associate Director, Grant Thornton UK LLP - view bio Chair: Nick Oliver, Director, Isadore Goldman - view bio
15:50 - 16:35	Keynote Speaker Spring Budget time and Jeremy Mindell will give an entertaining and thought-provoking analysis of the impact on the UK and world economy of current socio-political factors, as well as HMG’s fiscal policy Speakers: Jeremy Mindell, Director, Primondell Limited - view bio Chair: Neil Stewart, Associate Director Southern Office, Manolete Partners PLC - view bio
16:35 – 16:40	Closing of The Southern Forum Wrap-up and close Speakers: Stephen Baister, Independent Non-Executive Director, Manolete Partners PLC - view bio Garry Lee, Associate Director, Evelyn Partners - view bio
18:30 - 23:00	Evening Drinks and Gala Dinner - Sponsored by Proudley Associates Animated by Master of Ceremonies: Colin Phillips, member of the Magic Circle

Golf

The golf will take place at The De Vere Wokefield Estate Golf Club on Friday 24 March, we will be welcoming up to 40 colleagues to this prestigious club and offering a fantastic opportunity for colleagues to join us to experience golf at its best.

It is a not-to-be-missed opportunity. There is limited capacity at the venue – so please book now to avoid disappointment.

Please note this has an additional price to the Southern Forum ticket.