UK Enterprise 2020

161 | UK Enterprise Awards 2020 Smith & Co Legal Services provide specialist Estate Planning & Administration services that are tailored to the individual needs of every client. Operating across London and the Home Counties, their mission has remained the same since the firm’s inception; to provide affordable access to the best legal protection available. This ambitious company is now celebrating success at the UK Enterprise Awards 2020, and we took a closer look to find out the factors to their success. Best Emerging Estate Planning & Administration Services Business - London & Home Counties Jul20124 Smith & Co Legal Services is a family run company committed to providing the best legal protection for each of their clients, offering a comprehensive Estate Planning and Administration Service that includes Wills, Powers of Attorney, Trusts and Probate. Since the company’s inception, the mission has been to provide access to the best legal protection available, by offering a high quality, accessible and affordable service that has been tailored to the needs of each and every client. This mission centres around values of Integrity, Service and Excellence and an ethos that strives for ethical and sustainable growth for both their clients and Smith & Co itself. Planning an estate is a bespoke service that requires personalisation to suit each client’s unique circumstances. Smith & Co offers an extensive network of specialists and knowledge to find the right solution, providing a dedicated planner to each case. Being a family run company means that every member of the team is supported as they actively pursue further qualifications and accreditation, so that Smith & Co is able to boast a team of experts that meet our client’s needs. As part of the New Generation of Estate Planning, Smith & Co is striving to not only drive professional and industry standards forwards, but to achieve their goals in an ethical and sustainable way. Every member of the team shares a sense of social and corporate responsibility and are committed to working towards a better future for the generations to come. Research shows that most people are unaware of the necessary requirements to protect their estate and are therefore at risk of losing valuable available tax allowances and exposing themselves and their families to unforeseen, hefty tax bills and legal costs. Smith & Co have recognised the impacts of this particularly in the regions they are operating in, as property prices in London and the South East can present both challenges and opportunities for estate planning. Property owners within this region are likely to benefit hugely from estate planning or potentially suffer significant losses without it. Thanks to the efforts of firms like Smith & Co, statistics indicate an increased awareness of and demand for estate planning. However, the gap is still significant between the protection required and the protection in place. In addition, parts of the industry remain disappointingly unregulated. Smith & Co, is actively participating in efforts to support regulation within the industry and operates to the highest standard, using all guidance available. Smith & Co is continuing to work on improving their own services, with exciting plans for the years ahead. COVID-19 presented challenges for the firm, but also resulted in a huge boom in demand and a shift to the digitisation of the industry, which Smith & Co is wholeheartedly welcoming as an opportunity for significant innovation. Further accreditation for the company will be finalised by the end of this year as part of Smith & Co’s commitment to drive professional and industry standards forwards, and 2021 will see the launch of exciting plans for expansion. This will provide access to more protection products and further their aim to provide ethical and sustainable solutions. Smith & Co is looking forward to the advancements in the industry, as we all meet the challenges posed by the pandemic. Proud to work with many innovators within the Legal Services sector, Smith & Co is committing all their efforts to support the ‘bounce back’ of the industry, as it moves towards the new normal. Company: Smith & Co Legal Services Ltd Web Address: www.smithandco.uk.com