Ingemar is founder and lead consultant at HCL. He is a solicitor and qualified civil and commercial mediator. He was in private practice in a solicitors firm as a litigator for 24 years, 14 of which as an equity partner. He sat on the Board and was Head of Department of 60 litigators. He founded HCL in 2014 with a view to help law firms with the business of running their firm. His experience was that most ‘partners’ were more focused and interested in their client work. Since then the work has expanded to also assist businesses outside of the Legal Services sector. He is the lead on the work on the LEAP case management system and the SQE & QWE, with a reasonable level of knowledge in the other aspects covered by HCL in which he is ably supported by the team.

Paul is our expert on SRA Code of Conduct, SRA Transparency Rules, Lexcel, CQS & SQM and compliance with the Sanctions regime and AML in the legal services sector. He also writes our OPM. Paul Wilkinson is a seasoned compliance specialist with over 25 years’ experience supporting legal practices in meeting regulatory obligations and maintaining quality standards. He is an expert in the SRA Codes of Conduct, SRA Transparency Rules and compliance with the Sanctions Regime and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements. Paul also provides specialist guidance on Lexcel, Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), and Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) accreditations.

Paul leads on the development and maintenance of our Office Procedures and AML & Sanctions manuals, ensuring they are tailored, up-to-date, and aligned with current regulatory expectations. He delivers bespoke compliance audits, risk assessments, and policy reviews, and provides practical support to COLPs in managing their regulatory responsibilities.

A qualified trainer and lecturer, Paul regularly delivers in-house training on AML, complaints handling, practice management, regulatory affairs, and sanctions compliance. He is also an ADRg Accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator and lectures on Mediation and International Investment Arbitration Law at the University of West London.

In addition to his work with HCL, Paul runs his own consultancy and advises on compliance matters within the conveyancing sector.

Nick leads our team of team of specialists in Data Protection compliance. He is a Data Protection Officer (DPO) in a number of businesses operating in the UK & overseas, accredited GDPR Practitioner, qualified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E), Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) and a Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP). He advises organisations in various sectors on their data protection obligations, helping them to become and remain compliant. Nick also acts as named external Data Protection Officer on a part-time basis for various organisations.

As well as working with HCL, Nick runs his own company and also advises business owners on business strategy, growth and exit planning, and acts as mentor and sounding board to directors and senior managers. He has been in business for over 40 years at board level, as Commercial Director, Managing Director, Non-Executive Director and Chairman and uses his business experience to offer pragmatic, jargon-free advice whether on data privacy or business strategy.

Ian heads up our team of experts in the area of finances for businesses in the Legal Services Sector, SRA Accounts Rules compliance and is also an expert on the benchmarking of law firms in the UK, writing the annual law firm benchamrking survey. Ian is a qualified accountant and auditor and has spent his professional life working almost exclusively with law firms, ranging from small sole practitioners to large international LLPs, Limited Companies and PLCs.

Ian spent a number of years as an auditor at a Big 4 accountancy firm, working with some of the UK’s largest law firms. He is now a partner at Hazlewoods LLP, a UK top 30 firm of accountants and has spent more than 15 years as a legal sector specialist. Ian is currently part of the Executive Council of The Institute of Legal Finance and Management (ILFM) and Chair of the ICAEW Solicitors Advisory Group.

Colin is our expert in CyberSecurity compliance and fraud prevention in which he provides training to our clients. He was formerly a police officer and investigator with a specialism in online investigative techniques including threats posed by the Dark Web. He has lectured at Warwick University and the University College Isle of Man on subjects including Cyber Espionage & Professional Investigative Skills, for academic degree programs. In 1999 he was nominated as one of the top 10 Due Diligence Service Providers in the industry, and as Asset Tracers of 2022.

As well as working with HCL, Colin runs his own business specialising in risk and security management.

Luke works in Ian’s team for HCL providing expertise in SRA Accounts Rules compliance and training and will coach on a one-to-one basis on Accounts Rules compliance.

Luke heads up the SRA Accounts Rules audit division of Hazlewoods LLP. With over 140 SRA Audit clients, his team also provide advice and guidance on the SRA Accounts Rules. Luke works with several networks providing finance training for legal practices. He used to work at the Lloyds banking group and the TSB bank, but now works with Ian at Hazlewoods.

Brenda is the Office Manager and accounts lead for HCL. She also works with LEAP clients providing general support and assisting with set-ups and implementations. Her professional career before working in HCL was in business finance and office management.

Vin provides HCL with the ability to help users of the Access Legal eclipse Proclaim case management system. He assists with the design and creation of workflows, screens and reports and training on usage where required. Proclaim is a particular passion and he enjoys helping law firms get the most from the Proclaim case Management System.

As well as working with HCL, Vin runs his own business which is more focused on the provision of strategic IT support and project management, helping law firms evaluate and implement case management systems and using technology to provide efficiencies within businesses. Vin has worked in Legal IT for over 15 years with multiple firms and have over 30 years of IT experience within different sectors.

Maggie provides HCL with the ability to assist users of the Access Legal Proclaim case management system. Maggie has over 25 years’ experience developing Proclaim systems for the legal sector and beyond. She assists with all aspects of Proclaim system development including case type design creation and implementation, streamlining workflows, bespoke screen designs, reporting and training end users where required. She also brings with her a wealth of experience in building bespoke integrations between Proclaim and other software platforms for the autonomous transfer of data. This includes API’s, XML’s, Webhooks, CSV, WhatsApp.

As well as working with HCL, Maggie also runs her own businesses providing similar services to a wide range of firms.

Sam works in Nick’s team for HCL providing expertise in Data Protection and e-Privacy compliance. Sam has 20 years’ experience working in the data protection, information rights, and information governance profession across the public, private and third sectors. She has successfully achieved the ISEB Certificate in Data Protection qualification.

As well as working with HCL, Sam runs her own data protection business providing compliance advice and training to businesses ranging from SMEs to large multi-national organisations. She is also an external DPO in several businesses operating in the UK & overseas.

Vicky brings with her expertise as a Business Coach specialising in law firms. She has many years of experience in coaching people and teams in law firms at all levels, leading strategy days and suchlike. This may be provided on-site or remotely. Vicky will work with the firm to run through all aspects of the business from back office to Managing Partner/CEO and all the roles in between. Typically, this involves an initial scoping day, followed by a Strategy Day, before the firm embarks on a 12–18-month programme. Vicky will also work with individuals of the business for those who would benefit from 121 coaching.

Clio - Vicky also has expertise in supporting firms using this case management software - training advising & assiting. 

As well as working with HCL, Vicky runs her own business providing these services and compliance support for law firms.

Mitchell provides HCL with ability to help clients who use the Actionstep case management system. As well as implementing the system into firms, he can provide ongoing and new starter training and configuration, including to precedents, workflows and background set-up for existing systems.

He is also very experienced with working with LEAP and is HCL’s expert in building workflows in LEAP.

As well as providing these services through HCL, Mitchell runs his own company implementing Actionstep and LEAP into law firms.