Sifa video offers guide to setting up

Five firms have taken part in a financial services video put together by the Solicitors for Independent Financial Advice group (Sifa).

The video, which discusses whether and how to set up in financial services, features Kent firm Leigh Williams, Nottingham firm Gompertz Buckley, St Albans firm Pictons, Kettering firm Toller Hales & Collcutt, and Leeds firm Lupton Fawcett.

In the video, Les Sharpe, financial services manager of Leigh Williams, says Leigh Day started its financial services department in 1984. At that time business was 65 per cent mortgage related; now it is predominantly collective investment and pensions.

He said that most of his referrals came from the trust, probate, commercial and matrimonial departments. According to Sharpe, fee earners in these departments were happy to refer work, although "there was a conversion job to do first". He added that some fee-earners "needed convincing why they should get involved".

The two-hour video, in production for 18 months, has been accredited by the Law Society for continuing professional development.