The UK’s go-to legal finance, compliance, and law firm management conference returns on Thursday 21st May, 9am-5pm at The Law Society, London.
The Institute of Legal Finance and Management (ILFM) Spring conference is a fantastic opportunity for Legal Secretaries whose work crosses over into assisting with accounts and finance. It is a chance to network, learn and gain valuable insights into your role.
This year’s ILFM Annual Conference welcomes actor and accidental accountant Simon Paisley Day, who brings his brilliantly titled keynote "VAT of Stagnant Emotion" to the stage. A self‑confessed "ostrich" banker, hopeless with money and entirely devoid of pension planning, Simon has spent thirty‑five years navigating the gloriously unpredictable world of stage and screen. Retirement, he insists, is optional — “just keep acting till you drop”.
For most of his career, the letters V, A and T referred only to his own psychological state: “a vat of stagnant emotion”. As a jobbing actor with no fixed trajectory, he never earned enough to trouble HMRC. Then came an unexpected bumper year, a sudden leap over the VAT threshold, and the bewildering arrival of accounting software, quarterly submissions and the cold reality of self‑employment. How had it come to this? Why couldn’t he stay PAYE forever? And shouldn’t the son of a government auditor be better at this sort of thing?
With trademark wit and candour, Simon reflects on a life spent chasing non‑financial rewards, embracing insecurity and persisting in a profession that is, by his own admission, “a ludicrous way to spend your life”. Yet despite the chaos — financial and otherwise — would he choose the same path again? "Abso‑bloomin‑lutely."
Known for roles in Born a King, Brexit: The Uncivil War, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, This England (as Dominic Cummings) and even Doctor Who, Simon brings a unique blend of humour, honesty and hard‑won perspective to this year’s keynote.
Other speakers are:
Ian Johnson (Partner at Hazlewoods LLP, ILFM Council Member & Past Chair). Topic: “Compliance and the Legal Financial Landscape”
Emma Dimbylow (COO, Teal Compliance) Topic: "Economic Crime Update"
Chris Handford (Director of Regulatory Policy, SRA) & Mike Shields (Head of FI and Intelligence, SRA) Topic: “SRA Update”
Kirsty Pappin (Aries Legal Practice Management) Topic: “Shaking and Making Projects with the Three Cs”
Gabriel Santos (Chief Revenue Officer at Efimis) Topic: "From Back Office to Boardroom"
Hannah Beko (Authentically Speaking) Topic: "Staying Authentic and Human"
This fantastic line-up of interesting topics will be hugely beneficial to Legal Secretaries who want to gain an understanding of legal finance and management, as well as those who already have responsibilities in this area.
See the full agenda and book your tickets here.
