Important directories update
A look back at recent events and what’s coming up next Celebrating our newly qualified team members – photos and gifts included! A message from our Managing Partner
AG MAG
UPDATE
FROM THE MANAGING PARTNER
When we reviewed our premises options a couple of years ago and moved our London Bridge offices to the Cottons Centre and decided to close our Elephant and Castle office, we decided to stay at the Beehive Coffee Tavern in Streatham for the time being. We took a new lease but with breaks at 3 and 7 years so that we could choose to move out early We have decided to exercise that break with effect from March 2026 to find new premises. We do want to stay in Streatham, but don’t think that the current premises are the best for us.
Firstly, the building is far too big, especially with staff opting to work some days from home post-Covid. As with our central London office, we can’t afford to provide space five days per week when many staff want to use it much less than that Currently the premises cost per head based at Streatham is actually higher than at London Bridge. Our plans do include people based in Streatham, but we would need far more than double the current numbers based there to make it add up and that isn’t practical. Secondly, although very historic, the current building is obviously old, and listed, and not ideal for modern working. Even if we spent lots on it, it still wouldn’t be air-conditioned and the windows will need regularly replacing. It’s also extremely energy inefficient It’s a never-ending demand on our cash for a building we don’t even own.
Thirdly, it’s not in the best place any more. Over the space of 20 years we have moved from Streatham Hill, down Streatham High Road to the Common as the high street died around us But Streatham Hill and the High Road north of the Library are thriving now. At the Common we are not on a High Street, and we miss out on visibility
We have several possible options under consideration. We will share more when everything is more certain.
The plan will be to have smaller better located modern premises which can accommodate working from home so more likely to have desk booking like at London Bridge which is the necessary trade-off for working from home
We will accelerate paper-lite working and bring the cultures within the firm closer, making it easier to work between offices, while maintaining the distinctive Streatham ethos serving the local Streatham community We hope that we will find somewhere by March 2026 or that the current landlord will accommodate an extension. But we will also work on a temporary Plan B in case there is a short hiatus The first priority will be to clear paper into storage or destruction over the next 6 months. We know from the Cottons Centre move how much can be achieved.
Turning to finance, the close of billings for September 2025 marked the end of the first half of the financial year We saw a strong comeback following the relatively low billed figure in the previous month. Fee income for the month was £2,015k that put us £536k (5%) ahead of the half year budget This is a very good position to be in Thank you everyone for your continued support A reminder that H1 results benefited from the ‘tail wind’ from the very large case billed by the Commercial team at the beginning of the year. This will be missing from H2, but we are seeing other departments gaining momentum on their fee income Hopefully, this will allow us to keep fee income in line with the budget over H2.
Finally, I am looking forward to seeing many of you on Thursday 23 October at the Oxo Tower to celebrate my 40 years at the firm with lots of former staff and other friends from my outside committees over the years also attending. Please do confirm your attendance by the end of Tuesday 21 October (see page 6)
DIRECTORIES UPDATE
The 2026 Legal 500 rankings are out, and we are proud to have maintained our stellar performance across all departments!
We continue to hold Tier 1 rankings in Personal Injury and Social Housing, alongside excellent departmental results and impressive individual recognitions.
Maintaining these rankings is an outstanding achievement, and we are incredibly proud of all our teams and individuals for their continued excellence. Congratulations all!
We are absolutely delighted to share some outstanding news from the 2026 Chambers rankings.
We now have 4 departments ranked in Band 1, a significant milestone and a huge testament to the excellence across the firm!
A huge congratulations to our Clinical Negligence and Court of Protection teams, both of whom have achieved new Band 1 rankings in their respective categories. This is an exceptional achievement and reflects the dedication, expertise and outstanding client service delivered by these teams
DIRECTORIES UPDATE
NEWDEPARTMENTRANKINGS
Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant (London Firms) – NEW: Band 1
Court of Protection: Property & Affairs (UK-Wide) – NEW: Band 1
Family/Matrimonial Finance: High Net Worth (UK-Wide) – NEW: Band 4
Private Wealth Disputes (London – Firms) – NEW: Band 4
NEWINDIVIDUALLAWYERRANKINGS
Samuel David (Clinical Negligence) – NEW Up and Coming
Jackie Spinks (Personal Injury) – NEW Band 1
Ian Peters (Personal Injury) – NEW Band 3
Inbar Rabinovitz (Employment) – NEW Associates to Watch
David Emmerson (Family) – NEW Band 4 (Children Law – London Firms)
David Emmerson – NEW Band 5 (Matrimonial Finance – High Net Worth)
CHAMBERSRANKINGS
Caroline Bowden – NEW Spotlight (Mediators – London Firms)
Kimberley McGhie (Private Wealth Disputes) – NEW Associates to Watch
AWARDS UPDATE
BRITISHLEGALAWARDS
We are proud to announce that we have been shortlisted in two categories at the British Legal Awards 2025:
Boutique Law Firm of the Year
Private Client Team of the Year
Now in their 16th year, the British Legal Awards, hosted by Law com International, celebrate excellence in the UK legal sector
With a record number of entries submitted this year, being recognised in both categories is an outstanding achievement and a testament to the exceptional work and dedication of our team.
The awards ceremony takes place at City Central at the HAC on 26 November 2025, and we are looking forward to the event, hoping to take home both wins!
Congratulations to everyone involved!
HUMAN RESOURCES UPDATE
NEW STARTERS
Lucrezia Cicogna joined the BAS team in Streatham as a Business Administration Assistant on 8 September
Sophie Cornthwaite joined the Court of Protection team in London Bridge as a Paralegal on 8 September.
Laura Worton joined the BAS team in London Bridge as a Business Administration assistant on 15 September
Nicole Subrovska re-joined the Employment team in London Bridge as a Solicitor on 22 September.
Henrietta Brew-Riverson joined the Court of Protection team in Streatham as a Paralegal on 1 October
Rebecca Lacey has joined the Court of Protection team in London Bridge as a Paralegal on 8 October.
DAVID’S 40 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EVENTS FINAL REMINDER
OCTOBER 23RD
JOIN US FROM 6:30PM AT THE OXO TOWER AS DAVID MARSHALL CELEBRATES 40 YEARS AT ANTHONY GOLD
The countdown has begun for the biggest event in the firm’s calendar. Per Freya’s recent email if you have not already RVSP’d please so do by next Tuesday, as we will be providing QR codes which will only be sent to those who have responsed.
A follow up will be sent next week with any final changes, in the meantime if you have any queries please email Freya directly.
We hope you are all looking forward to the event and celebrating this incredible milestone with David!
EVENTS CALENDAR
OCTOBER 2025
DECEMBER
EVENTS UPDATE
LUNCH AND LEARN WITH LONDON AIR AMBULANCE - 08 OCTOBER
Last Wednesday, we welcomed Frank Chege, Patient Liaison Nurse at London Air Ambulance, to the London Bridge office for a lunchtime talk
Organised by the PI and Clin Neg teams, the session gave an eye-opening insight into the life-saving work of the LAA, including the types of callouts they attend and the decision making that goes on behind the scenes by the call takers, paramedics, pilots and more.
Thank you to everyone who joined and to Frank for an inspiring session.
STREATHAM FESTIVAL LAUNCH
Last Friday marked the launch of the annual Streatham Festival, a celebration of the local area and its art and culture
We had the opportunity to catch up with the organisers, who already know the firm well after over 20 years of sponsorship, as well as lots of local artists and the Mayor! (pictured right, with Philip). We had a fantastic turnout - huge thanks to Steve, Phil, Angus, Kim, Lee and t
CONTENTIOUS PROBATE & COP EVENT EVENTS UPDATE
A big thank you to the 31 attendees who joined us for our “Deputies and Attorneys in Civil Litigation” roundtable event last week
The evening offered a valuable platform for knowledge-sharing, collaboration and meaningful discussion among professionals from across the sector Lively conversations continued into the networking reception that followed, where new connections were made and ideas exchanged
We’d like to extend a special thank you to David Wedgwood and Holly Miéville-Hawkins TEP, for their insightful presentations Their expertise on the complex roles of deputies and attorneys in civil litigation sparked thought-provoking dialogue and contributed to the event’s success
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
The next course in our VinciWorks series is The Effective Bystander.
Learning objectives:
Why it's important for bystanders to take action when they witness inappropriate behaviour
Some common obstacles to effective intervention
Key intervention strategies and when to use them
VinciWorks will provide us with completion reports for the courses and we will update your training records in Personio on your behalf, but you can of course still do this yourself if preferred.
A reminder to those who have not yet completed the previous training courses, please log in and complete these. If you need any assistance or have any queries, contact Lucy Giles.
Further to our announcement in September’s AGMag, our Newly Qualified Solicitors and Trainees have spent the last 7 weeks settling into their new roles Here they have shared their experiences and some top tips on their route to qualification
Robyn Lane: Training contract and LPC
“The first couple of months as a newly qualified solicitor in the Family team at Anthony Gold have been both challenging and rewarding. I’ve really appreciated the opportunity to get hands-on with the work and start building confidence in my role. I’m especially grateful to Loraine and the entire team for their continued support, guidance, and patience it’s made all the difference in helping me settle into my new role”
Chikira Smith-Richards: Training contract and LPC
“I'm thrilled to have qualified into the Housing team at AG, having spent over three years in the department as both a paralegal and trainee. I'm incredibly grateful to everyone in the team for their support, guidance, and enthusiasm, which have shaped both my growth and experience at the firm. A special thank you to those who have supervised me along the way your mentorship has been invaluable. I’m excited to continue my journey with the team and look forward to what lies ahead.”
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
Gabriella Magalhaes: training contract and SQE
“I am ever so grateful to Anthony Gold, and particularly the incredible COP team, for support throughout my training contract, and I am delighted to continue my career as a solicitor within the team. The first few months have certainly been a step up, and while I am still learning and developing, I feel fortunate to be doing so alongside such talented colleagues and with such strong support from my peers and supervisors.
Regarding the SQE – The exam is challenging, and the workload should not be underestimated. However, for those qualifying on the SQE pathway, it is important to remember that in your daily work as a paralegal or trainee solicitor, you are already building and reinforcing many of the skills you will need for the exams. ”
Stephanie De La Haye: paralegal route with SQE
“I am pleased to share that, after completing SQE1 and SQE2, I have now qualified as a solicitor within IMC I would like to say a big thank you to my supervisors, Jock and Amy, as well as the rest of the IMC department for their support and encouragement whilst I was undertaking my exams
My SQE journey started in 2023 when I started on the BARBRI SQE1 40week course BARBRI advises that the course should take 10-12hours of studying per week. I completed my SQE1 exams in July 2024, just before starting at Anthony Gold, and was pleased to learn I had passed both FLK1 and FLK2 in September 2024. I then commenced on the SQE2 20week course in November 2024, before completing the exams in AprilMay 2025.
From my experience, one of the greatest difficulties of the SQE is studying whilst working fulltime. Managing your workload, whilst ensuring you ’ re remaining consistent with your studying, is incredibly challenging. It is important to have good communication with your supervisors, so they can support you where necessary, and understand the additional pressures you are under.
Tips!
My biggest tip for those undertaking SQE1 is: do more questions! Do as many MCQs as you can! And for those undertaking SQE2, I would focus more time on learning FLK than your skills. Many of the skills that you need will be picked up during your day-to-day work.
Finally, for those lucky enough to not have to do SQE, please support those who are! They’re incredibly hard exams with extremely low pass rates, so if you are undertaking SQE, be kind to yourself and make sure you take regular breaks from revision!”
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
Chikira, Robyn, Gabby and Steph with their gifts for qualifying!
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
Beth Pipe will be delivering 2 afternoon sessions on the above topics. We are limited 30 places per session therefore please could you email Lucy by Friday 24 October if you would like a place on either or both workshops
HANDLING DIFFICULT PEOPLE/ DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS: (1:30PM – 3:00PM)
The first step when facing challenging behaviour in others is to first be able to recognise and control our own behaviours This course looks at elements of psychological theories to recognise how we can better handle confrontational situations.
•Why are people being difficult?
•Understanding why some people “just push our buttons”
•Recognising your own emotional response to different challenging situations
•Managing and responding appropriately to conflict
•Recognising the games other people play and how to avoid getting drawn in
DEVELOPING ASSERTIVENESS: (3:30PM –5:00PM)
Assertiveness means different things to different people In this workshop we’ll examine the triggers for different levels of assertiveness, learn from our strengths rather than our weaknesses and understand how different styles of communication can affect our assertiveness
•Defining assertiveness
•Gaining a clearer understanding of what drives our behaviours in different situations
•Identifying our own natural communication style
•How to work more effectively with those with a different communication style
•Quick fixes for a quick boost
•What are we great at and what can we learn from that?
LexisNexis: LexisNexis offer various New User and Refresher sessions throughout the year Lexis can also run 1-1 sessions for anyone who has specific queries or issues with using the programme
Please let us know if you would like to join any upcoming sessions.
MBL: We have a subscription to MBL on-demand webinars covering a range of practice area topics and skills training
If you do not already have a log in for MBL, please use this link My MBL Register - MBL Seminars to set up an account. You will need to sign up using your work email address and create your own password.
RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS COMMITTEE UPDATE
UPDATE FROM DEMELZA
This month’s update focuses on the vital bereavement support available at Demelza It’s a timely topic, especially with Teresa, Nicola, Lesley and Norma attending Grief Awareness training last week via Teams - a valuable step in helping us better support colleagues in the workplace who have experienced loss. A special thank you to Teresa, who also arranged a generous £500 donation, which Demelza have already received
AUTUMN OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS AT DEMELZA
Get ready for an exciting season of fundraising and festive fun! Whether you want to walk, run, shop, or soak up some Christmas cheer, there's something for everyone – and opportunities to volunteer or get involved through sponsorship too!
Elf Trail & Festive Market –Sittingbourne Hospice 22 & 23 November
Christmas trail, Santa’s Grotto, local market stalls and activities for all ages.
Volunteers and children’s selection box donations needed.
Santa in the City– London 2, 3 & 4 December20254km festive fun run or walk through central London. Open to ages 3 and up.
Celebration of Christmas –Greenwich 9 December2025an evening of candlelight, carols and readings at the Chapel of St Peter and St Paul.
London WinterWalk 24–25 January2026 -
full and half marathon, 10K and Family 5K options. Starts and finishes at The Oval, taking in the best of London’s landmarks.
Celebration of Christmas –Canterbury16 December2025a magical evening of music and readings at Canterbury Cathedral, now in its 21st year.
MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE UPDATE
MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE UPDATE
SAVE THE DATE - 4 FEBRUARY 2026 TH BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND - THE AG QUIZ!
Get ready to put your trivia skills to the test- the AG Quiz is back!
�� Location: London Bridge Office
�� Teams: 5 or 6 people
�� Entry: £3 per person (all proceeds go to Demelza, our Charity of the Year)
�� Perks: Pizza and bar included in the ticket price!
Don’t miss this fun evening of friendly competition, food, and fundraising!
DELOITTE’S AI SCANDAL
A WAKE-UP CALL
Many of you will know about Deloitte’s recent AI controversy, where a government report they produced contained fabricated references and even a fake court quote. The discovery led to public criticism, reputational damage, and Deloitte returning a portion of the AU $440,000 contract fee This was not a minor error; the report influenced welfare policies affecting millions of people. The flaws were uncovered by an academic, prompting Deloitte to issue a corrected version and disclose that generative AI had been used The case is now seen as a cautionary example of deploying AI without proper safeguards.
LESSONS ON RESPONSIBLE AI USE
The incident shows how quickly credibility can be lost when AI is introduced without clear processes, verification, and accountability. Generative tools are powerful, but without robust controls they can introduce errors that are hard to detect and damaging to correct The lesson is not to avoid AI but to embed it within professional standards. Some key takeaways for us:
Define boundaries and be clear where and how AI should be used.
Verify thoroughly by fact-checking and validating all outputs.
Be transparent about the use of AI from the start
Assign accountability so that outputs are reviewed and approved.
Match scrutiny to the impact of the work, applying stricter review where the stakes are higher.
This is also a key reason our AI Committee exists. While its primary goal is to explore how AI can boost productivity and improve workflows across the firm, it is equally focused on raising awareness of the risks and responsibilities that come with using these tools. Encouraging everyone to participate in this conversation helps us build a culture of both innovation and accountability.
Our own use of AI reflects this balance. In marketing content development, AI supports the early stages by analysing competitor material, researching search trends, identifying optimisation opportunities, and preparing structured outlines This groundwork helps Fee Earners produce blogs more efficiently and strategically.
Crucially, the final content is always written, reviewed, and approved by a Fee Earner AI accelerates the process, but judgment, quality, and professional standards remain firmly in human hands. This approach allows us to harness the benefits of AI while maintaining the trust and credibility that underpin our work
STAFF NEWS
INMEMORYOFJOANGOLD
We were very sorry to learn of the passing of Joan Gold last week at the age of 88. Joan was the widow of the firm’s founding partner, Tony Gold, who passed away in 2020.
Family was always very important to Joan and Tony and they are survived by children Debra and Jonathan, and grand-children Rebecca, Daniel, Louise and Sam.
Our deepest condolences go to, and our thoughts are with, the family at this time.
TRIBUTESTOJOAN
“Joan was vital for the firm in the early days. As well as looking after Tony, bringing up their two children whilst working herself - she ran a nursery in Balham and later became a lay magistrate, Joan was a great supporter of the firm and in particular always looked out for the wellbeing of the staff The early partner strategy days were often held at Tony’s house, and I remember her hospitality as she catered each year for the increasing numbers In more recent years I have been in many trustee meetings with her, and she was always practical, sensible and had a great sense of humour. I will miss her.” – David Marshall
“I was deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Joan Gold. I recall her quiet and unassuming demeanour when she attended the Streatham office. She always found the time to speak with staff, listen to them, and take an interest in their lives. Very much the matriarch of the firm when it was much smaller. She will be missed.” – Donovan Lindsay
Tony and Joan Gold, pictured in 2014 at the firm's 50th anniversary party
STAFF NEWS
SAMANDNALA’SLONDONLEGALWALKIESCOMPLETION TRAILWITHATAIL
“I attended the Trail with a Tale Final Viewing on Tuesday for Demeza – a collection of sculptures created by artists and local schools across Kent and the South East – the scupltures have formed a trail through Tunbridge Wells until Tuesday, and were being auctioned that evening to raise funds for Demelza. The sculptures were all so impressive, I took my girls after school, and they loved it –they brought their toy cameras and were taking photos of their favourites (which seemed to be all of them!).
Spot the two monkeys in school uniform amongst the sculptures!” - Sarah Hughes
A big congratulations to Sam and Nala for taking part in the London Legal Walkies 2025, which they successfully completed on Sunday 21st September in Greenwich Park.
Sam would like to thank everyone who donated and supported them along the way thanks to your generosity, Nala raised an impressive £160 for the London Legal Support Trust (LLST)!
LEEATTHEWARSAWMARATHON
Congratulations to Lee who completed the Warsaw marathon on 28 September in 3 hours 38 minutes! He is now training for the Barcelona marathon on 15 Mach 2026. th th
Here is a lovely photo of Nickola’s dog Bentleycatching the last few rays of sunshine before the autumn weather kicks in BENTLEYTHEDOG!
STAFF NEWS
CONGRATULATIONSALEXANDERANDYASEMIN
Warmest congratulations to Alexander and Yasemin, who got married on Friday, 10th October.
Alexander, son of David Marshall, tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony held at the Eastern Orthodox Church in Cambridge Following the service, the celebrations continued at a nearby country house, where friends and family gathered to mark the special occasion in style
We wish the happy couple a lifetime of love, laughter, and happiness!
CONGRATULATIONSMUNZERANDALIZÉE
We’re delighted to share that Munzer and his wife Alizée welcomed a healthy baby girl on Thursday night Her name is Tala Wehbe Warm wishes to the new parents as they begin this wonderful chapter!
STAFF NEWS
BERMONDSEYSTREETFESTIVAL
Kim, Jordan and Vicky attended the Bermondsey Street festival in September!
KITCHENREEL
You may have noticed the new Kitchen Reel playing in the kitchen – it's a fun, visual update created by staff, for staff! It's a great way to share team highlights, shoutouts, milestones, and anything else worth celebrating
The reel will be updated monthly, so if you have something you'd like to add, please get in touch with the Marketing team. We’d love to include your contributions!
BUSINESSCARDS
We're looking at moving our business cards to a digital format for better convenience and accessibility You'll be able to save your card directly to your phone and even add it to your Apple or Google Wallet – making it easier to share on the go.
We've also noticed many of you prefer connecting via LinkedIn, so there’s now an option to include a link to your LinkedIn profile on your digital card. If you'd like to add yours, just send your profile link to Amarah and we’ll get it sorted!
STAFF APPRECIATION
“Special thanks goes to the below senior colleagues for their contributions in making the 2026 trainee assessment day a success:
David Marshall
Amanda Hopkins
Sana Bibi
Sarah Cummins
Vicky Rylatt
Teresa Wright
Alex Knipe
Loraine Davenport
Andrew Brooks
Grainne Feeney - Lucy
Thanks also to the following Trainees and junior Solicitors who shared their experiences with the group:
Katie Charlton
Robyn Laye
Clemmie Bridges
Shayli Chandarana
Alina Shevchenko
Chikira Smith-Richards”
“A special thank you to Helen, for giving me these beautiful flowers following the Chambers success, it truly means a lot to have my efforts recognised and appreciated! Your encouragement and positivity make such a difference, and it’s a pleasure to be part of this success under your guidance. Thanks for being such a fantastic boss and for always bringing out the best in all of us! ����” - Gillian
ODETOTHEOLDCOFFEEMACHINE
Oh humble brewer of sachet fame, No crema crowned your daily claim Your steady pour, your measured pace, A quiet hero, short on grace.
From 9:30 starts to midnight’s plea, You kept us billing cheerfully
Your buttons tired, your light grown dim, Yet still you served at every whim.
Now cold you rest, our caffeine queen, The finest partner we ’ ve ever seen
