Understand Your Rights. Solve Your Legal Problems
Alto Partners SGR – which promotes and manages private equity funds that invest in the capital of small and medium-sized Italian companies, through the Alto Capital IV fund, has signed the contract for the purchase of 70% of the capital of Millefili Spa.
The fund be joined by the entrepreneur Daniele Selleri with 5%; the remaining 25% will go to Millefili Shares, whereby the CEO is Gabriele Galli, the son of the company’s original founder.
Millefili Spa specialises in the production of fine yarns for knitwear and is one of the main European players in the production of fine yarns. The company has seen growth in recent years that has enabled it to achieve in 2017 a turnover of 61.5 million euros.
Pedersoli Studio Legale assisted Alto Partners SGR with a team led by Equity Partner Alessandro Marena. The team also included Counsel Francesca Leverone and Associate Elisa Bertoni.
The Founder of Millefili, Francesco Galli and the other vendors, were assisted by BLF Studio Legale. The team included M&A expert and Partner Giuseppe Forni, Associate Giovanni Ludergnani.
Stefano Gori represented the shareholders, while the accounting and tax aspects were curated by Studio Serantoni e Associati, including Alessandro Bonazzi, Andrea Mioli and Michele Scalisi.
Media is rife that Nirav Modi, an Indian billionaire jeweller, has fled India and is now seeking political asylum in the UK, following allegations of a gigantic fraud. Below Rahul Batra of Hudson McKenzie explains how this has led to a chain of similar cases and developed a form of ‘Quit India Movement’ with a whole new meaning.
The Indian jeweller went missing in February earlier this year after allegations emerged that he defrauded Punjab National Bank, India’s second-largest state-run bank of $2 billion. Mr. Modi is now in London fearing ‘political persecution’.
Based upon the extradition treaty between India and the UK, the Indian government is now pushing for his extradition, which thus far has not happened.
As we know, India is already seeking extradition of Vijay Mallya, a liquor and aviation tycoon, over unpaid loans to his defunct Kingfisher Airlines after the businessman and co-owner of the Formula One Force India team moved to Britain in March last year.
With Mallya and Lalit Modi (another rich Indian businessman and former Chairman of the Indian Premier League), fleeing to the UK in the past fearing political persecution, we are now witnessing another rich insolent ‘joining the bandwagon’.
Therefore, it may be questioned; is the UK progressively becoming a playground for the ‘rich and famous’, who can come here and live happily ever after, once they’ve been pulled up for their ill deeds in their own countries?
The fact that Nirav Modi allegedly holds dual-citizenship doesn’t make things any easier for the Indian Government. Whilst the government is making frantic efforts to extradite him back to India, he is seen prancing around in Switzerland and reportedly ‘holed up’ in a hotel in New York.
India, as we know, tops the list among countries whose citizens acquire foreign nationality, and with several nations liked Cyprus, Malta, Austria, St Kitts & Nevis offering citizenship programmes in lieu of making investments/buying properties in these countries, is making their lives easier.
Whilst, the countries offering citizenship and residence programmes are doing so, for a bona fide reason, that is to attract investment in their respective countries for economic growth, such delinquent individuals are literally abusing the process and making amusement of the system.
Is the international law so weak? Is our judicial system so flawed so to favour asylum seekers based upon their net-worth rather than the situation? In my opinion, it deteriorates the importance of asylum seeking status for those in actual danger (like fleeing war in Syria) especially as such people have much less money, or for that matter, no money compared to political asylum seekers who could be billionaires like Modi.
It seems these people misunderstood their history lessons and have taken ‘Quit India movement’ in the wrong sense, and to another level.
UK taxpayers who fail to disclose offshore income or gains, either by failing to notify HMRC of their chargeability to UK tax, failing to deliver a tax return or by submission of an incorrect tax return will face imprisonment and swingeing penalties say leading accounting, tax and advisory practice Blick Rothenberg.
Gary Gardner, a partner at Blick Rothenberg said: “Individuals with offshore interests and their advisers should be aware that HMRC is committed to enforcing the new legislation introduced in FA 2016 in relation to undisclosed offshore income and gains in respect of which the maximum sanction is 6 months imprisonment”.
The new rules were devised partly in response to the immense political, media and public pressure for HMRC to criminally investigate and secure convictions against tax evaders, with the focus on wealthy individuals, and are likely to drive a further increase in the number of criminal investigations relating to offshore tax evasion.
Critically, the new rules do not distinguish between those who have intentionally misled HMRC and those who have merely “got it wrong” since the legislation is framed in such a way that the mere existence of undisclosed offshore income and gains is sufficient to enable the sanctions to bite. The prosecution does not have to prove that there was “mens rea” (a guilty mind).
Despite the “strict liability” nature of the offence the taxpayer can put forward the defence that he had a reasonable excuse for the failures or inaccuracy. However, the onus is squarely on the taxpayer to demonstrate this.
Gardner added: “The offence applies from the tax year 2017/18 which means that HMRC will begin to take action from 6 October 2018 because taxpayers have until 6 months after the end of the year of assessment in which to notify HMRC of their chargeability to tax which means the cut-off date for such notification is 5 October.”
Gardner says: “Practitioners have perhaps been overly focused with the Requirement to Correct (RTC) and Failure to Correct (FTC) rules and overlooked earlier legislation in 2016 which brought in a new strict liability criminal offence for offshore tax evasion.”
He added: “A preoccupation with the Requirement to Correct (“RTC”) rules is entirely understandable as the sanctions for failing to correct any inaccuracies in an individual’s tax affairs in relation to offshore matters by the 30 September 2018 deadline are severe; with penalties of up to 300% of the tax involved and a minimum penalty of 100% of the tax evaded. In addition, despite the drive to increase prosecutions it is likely that the majority of cases will still be dealt with on a civil basis so will involve the imposition of penalties.”
Gary said: “It is not surprising that the earliest date that an offence can be committed coincides closely with both the deadline for the RTC and the first full automatic exchange of information by over a 100 countries under the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) on 30 September 2018. The huge increase in information that CRS will deliver to HMRC will enable them to escalate their drive to stamp out offshore tax evasion.”
Gardner advised: “Those with any doubt that their offshore tax affairs are all in order should without further hesitation ask their advisers to undertake a ‘health check’ to ensure that they not exposed to the sanctions associated with non-compliance.
(Source: Blick Rothenberg)
From the very real statistics to the overall atmosphere in the legal sector, below Lawyer Monthly hears from Francine Ryan, lecturer in law and member of the Open Justice team at The Open University, on the problematic lack of work across the legal sphere.
Figures from the Law Society show that in 2016-17, 17,855 UK students were accepted to study law at undergraduate level in England and Wales. In the year ending 31 July 2016, 5,728 new traineeships were registered with the SRA and in 2016/17 the Bar Standards Bar confirmed, 474 first six and 485 second six pupillages started.
Law remains a very popular degree course, the figures demonstrate how competitive it is to secure a training contract or a pupillage. So in this very crowded market place, how do you stand out?
Academics are a given!
Academic success is important but anecdotally a 2(i) is a requirement for many applications. Law students are also competing against non-law students, according to data released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) law has the lowest number of first class degrees awarded than any other subject.
So if it is not about grades, what can you do?
Securing legal work experience
Gaining legal employment experience is invaluable, it demonstrates a commitment to law and gives a real insight into legal practice. You should apply for summer vacation schemes or if that’s not possible then consider volunteering at your local Citizens Advice or Law Centre as alternative ways of securing legal work experience. If you are considering pupillage go and sit in the public gallery of your local court, watching how advocates perform will give you an understanding of what is required at the bar.
Pro bono experience
Pro bono work is another excellent way to gain practical legal experience as well as volunteering in your community. Most law schools have legal advice clinics, or support their students to go into schools and community groups to give ‘street law’ presentations. A list of student pro bono opportunities is available here. Pro bono work allows you to develop your legal skills and knowledge but on your CV and in an interview, it is important to demonstrate what you have learned from these experiences. You might find keeping a diary or a journal useful because it will help you remember examples of when you worked as part of a team, or when you had to deal with a challenging situation.
Extra curricula activities
Hobbies and interests allow potential employers to get to know you as an individual. They also help build confidence and support the development of skills such as teamwork. You don’t need to have climbed Mount Everest to impress, you just need to have interests that you can talk passionately about- it could be playing sport, or being a collector of sci-fi comics-whatever your hobby is, it’s a way of distinguishing yourself from the pack.
Establish your presence on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a professional social network, it is an opportunity to build connections and a voice. You can contribute to discussions, share things of interest and use it as a tool to give a sense of who you are as a professional. Try to connect with people you could learn from and perhaps in time might offer to mentor you. You could extend this to create your own blog or twitter profile, using social networks effectively is a good way to develop your network.
Networking
It is not just about online networks but about creating links with people who may be able to help you- think about who you know, who may, in exchange for a cup of coffee offer their advice, and time to support your career development. Be prepared to be proactive and take a risk- you could email trainees, pupils, junior associates in firms or chambers you are interested in and invite them for a coffee- you might be surprised how many are prepared to meet with you.
Be aware
Join relevant groups and organisations that help you develop an awareness of what is happening in the legal sector. For example, if you have an interest in law and technology, join the Society for Computers and Law or if you are passionate about human rights and the rule of law become a member of Justice. Being able to talk knowledgeable about the wider issues connected to law will make a difference to your confidence and how you project yourself in an interview.
Notwithstanding the statistics, it is an exciting time to be a law student- you may be committed to becoming a solicitor or a barrister but perhaps this is an opportunity to think about other innovative ways to use your law degree.
Now is the time to think about your experiences and how you can use them to distinguish yourself from the pack!
New figures from the “Barristers’ Working Lives 2017: Harassment and bullying” report, released by the Bar Council, indicate that reports of harassment or bullying and discrimination within the barristers’ profession, as well as reports of observations of harassment or bullying and discrimination, have increased in comparison with previous years.
Among other findings, the survey reveals differences across practice areas, with more barristers in criminal practice reporting personal experiences of harassment or bullying, compared to those in chancery and commercial practice. Gender was cited as the most common basis for unfavourable treatment, and, at the self-employed Bar, fellow barristers were most frequently reported as responsible for the bullying, harassment or discrimination.
The survey did not define what amounted to harassment, bullying and discrimination, so answers from respondents depended on their own perceptions.
Key findings include:
Chair of the Bar, Andrew Walker QC, said: “Over the last 12 months a spotlight has been shone on harassment and abuse of power, not just through international campaigns such as #MeToo, but also through those specific to our own profession, such as Behind the Gown – a campaign launched recently by barristers committed to tackling harassment at the Bar.
“The findings in this report explore the prevalence and nature of reports of bullying, harassment and discrimination in the profession. The results are a cause for concern and cannot be ignored. As a profession, we must do much better. We do not and will not tolerate harassment and bullying at the Bar.
“The Bar Council already offers a confidential helpline, training and other support to individuals and chambers. If any members of the Bar are facing harassment or being bullied, we urge them to use these services. We want to help. We are also working with the Bar Standards Board to ensure rules about reporting encourage chambers and others to call out and deal with unacceptable behaviour, rather than stay silent for fear of the consequences of speaking out.
“We have also published a work programme alongside this report, which explains our approach to tackling this issue across the Bar, and sets out further steps we are taking to build on our existing and ongoing work to combat all forms of inappropriate behaviour within the profession.
“I hope the findings in this latest report remind everyone to be vigilant and to take responsibility by challenging this behaviour. We must get much tougher on this, and support each other better.”
(Source: The Bar Council)
Two years after the UK decided to exit the European Union, a lot has changed. Below Paresh Raja, CEO of Market Financial Solutions, discusses in depth the long term impact Brexit has had on the UK’s property market and the challenges moving forward.
23rd June 2018 marked two years since the UK public voted in favour of leaving the European Union. The implications of this decision were felt almost immediately – David Cameron’s resignation as Prime Minister on the morning of the announcement triggered a sharp downturn across various financial markets, with economic commentators fearing the worse. However, in the months that followed, the UK economy was able to effectively bounce back from the initial shock, with a “business as normal” mentality soon taking hold throughout the private sector.
The triggering of Article 50 on 29 March 2017 signalled the beginning of a two-year negotiation period, which will lead to the UK’s eventual withdraw from the EU in March next year. However, the calling of a snap general election followed by a hung parliament and formation of a minority-led Conservative Government brought into question Theresa May’s ability to manage Brexit. According to a nationally representative survey conducted by Market Financial Solutions at the beginning of the year, 58% of investors said they had less confidence in the strength and unity of the Government than they did at the beginning of 2017.
Yet, as we review the 24 months that have passed since this momentous political announcement, there has been little actual detail revealed as to how Brexit will impact areas such as immigration, taxation and investment. Despite such uncertainty, the UK economy has continued to post impressive growth figures – national GDP grew by 1.8% in 2017, which was higher than the 1.5% forecast issued by the Office for Budget Responsibility.
One of the industries that has remained a leading topic for debate is real estate. Worth an estimated £6.79 trillion – or 3.65 times of GDP – in 2016, the UK’s housing market is important due to the significant volume of capital investment it receives, not to mention the huge interest there is among prospective buyers. Observing the events that have transpired since 23 June 2016, it is timely to consider how the property market has fared?
UK property market remains robust
Following the EU referendum, there were concerns that property’s attractiveness as an asset would decline. This was based on the assumption that investors would be unwilling to pursue such a sizeable investment during times of political transition, with claims that foreign investors would be compelled to look to other European countries.
However, what we have seen instead is the UK’s on-going popularity as a destination for property investment. The Office for National Statistics revealed an annual rise of 4% in total investment in Q4 2017, equivalent of £84.1 billion worth of capital being injected into the UK’s construction, commercial and residential property sectors. Moreover, in April 2018 the average house price in the UK was £226,906 – a 3.9% increase on the previous year’s figures and a 6.6% rise since the EU referendum.
Part of the reason why property prices are rising is due to investor demand for a secure asset. Traditionally, investors gravitate towards assets that are able to offer safe returns in times of economic and political transition.
Indeed, to assess how investors were approaching their financial strategies in 2018, Market Financial Solutions surveyed more than 2,000 UK adults – the research found that 53% of investors would rather invest in traditional asset classes such as property instead of newer asset classes, such as cryptocurrencies. Moreover, nearly two-thirds (63%) of investors said they consider property to be a safe and secure asset in the current market.
This timely research demonstrated that investors are holding a positive long-term outlook for the UK property market, and are not letting the uncertainty surrounding Brexit affect their financial strategies. Moreover, the investor community is clearly confident in the future growth prospects of the UK economy.
Addressing the long-term challenges
Looking to the future, there is little indication that people in the UK will turn away from property investment. On the contrary, market demand is currently outweighing supply, leading to an imbalance which is making it more difficult for people to quickly find and complete on a property purchase. The Government has introduced a range of creative measures to increase the available housing stock, including proposed reforms to home planning laws. These have been generally welcomed by the sector, but there remain calls for more to be done.
Despite uncertainty surrounding Brexit, the UK property market remains increasingly competitive – this make it extremely important for government and industry bodies to address the fundamental challenges faced by those seeking real estate investments, including access to finance. Its popularity as a safe and secure asset, coupled with its stable returns, mean that Brexit will ultimately not deter investors from property opportunities; but evidently progress must be made to help people get on, or move up, the property ladder.
As the deadline for the Package Travel Directive (PTD) fast approaches on 1 July, Rajeev Shaunak, head of travel & tourism at accountancy firm MHA MacIntyre Hudson, shares ten top tips to ensure compliance.
The new package travel regulations will be the biggest change to the system since the regulations were first implemented 25 years ago. Many travel companies are underprepared and the timeframe is tight. Travel businesses not adhering to the PTD’s conditions from 1 July 2018 will be breaking the law.
Agents should ensure their IT systems and terms and conditions meet the regulation requirements, and take note of the following 10 considerations to avoid breaching the rules:
1. Decide what sort of business to be. Retailers can continue to sell packages sold by other principals but flight plus sales will almost always now be packages.
2. Learn what constitutes a package; there are six different definitions and the new concept of a Linked Travel Arrangement (LTA) which may also require financial protection.
3. Learn new pre-sales requirements. All customers buying a package or LTA must be told exactly what they are buying, their rights and provided a link to the new regulations. How can you give this information over the phone or face to face?
4. If you need one, consider how and at what cost you will apply for your ATOL licence. For first time licence holders, a financial bond will be required and you will need to appoint an ATOL reporting accountant (ARA). Ask your accountant now if they’re an ARA and seek their advice on your application.
5. Take advice on the need for public liability insurance and make sure your cover is sufficient.
6. Make sure you have conditions of sale. Consumers are becoming more litigious and you need conditions that protect your interests as well as theirs.
7. If you plan to sell LTAs you must have financial protection in place but it can’t be an ATOL licence. Some businesses may need to arrange a bond, take out insurance or set up an independent trust account.
8. If you sell products created by overseas suppliers and defined as a package, check the overseas company has adequate financial protection in place; if they don’t and cease trading, you will be responsible for refunding customers’ money.
9. Watch out for changes being proposed by the CAA, expected in a month’s time. Some changes could go beyond requirements of the PTD.
10. Get a copy of new guidance notes due to be issued with the new regulations. The government promises they will clarify many unanswered questions that exist at present. Whether they do or not remains to be seen.
The Office for National Statistics has released its report into the effect of tax and benefits on household income for 2016/16. It finds that the richest fifth of households have an average income of £88,800 a year – 12 times more than the poorest fifth (£7,400). After accounting for all benefits and taxes, that shrinks to under four times more.
However, VAT and taxes on spending unwind some of this spreading of the wealth, because the poorest fifth spent 30% of their disposable income on these taxes – while the richest fifth spent 15% on theirs.
Given that the VAT bill is growing, and direct benefits are shrinking, poorer households are being squeezed in both directions.
Sarah Coles, personal finance analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown: “Overall, benefits and taxes make a dent in income inequality: the richest fifth of households make 12 times more than the poorest fifth – but after tax and benefits they end up with five times more. Once you add in the impact of things like health and education it’s less than four times.”
“Wealth inequality after taxes and benefits has remained steady for years, but given the rise in the minimum wage and the fall in unemployment, you might have expected it to shrink. The problem for poorer households is a combination of benefit cuts and rises in taxes on spending.”
“Over the previous year the poorest half of households received £270 less in cash benefits. Meanwhile, we have also seen the burden of taxes on spending (like VAT) rise, which hit those on lower incomes disproportionately hard. The poorest half of families spent £350 more on these taxes than a year earlier (after accounting for inflation), and the amount of VAT paid by the poorest fifth of households increased by 14%.”
“Given that state support is shrinking and taxes are growing, it’s important that those on lower incomes get all the help they can. It’s well worth speaking to experts at charities like Citizens Advice or Stepchange, who know the system well, can let you know what you are entitled to, and can help you apply for benefits too.
Other findings:
(Source: ONS)
There has been plenty of concern raised about the NHS over the past few years, with the latest headline warning that NHS England is treating too many patients as an emergency. Is it all bad for the organisation though? Join Tilly Bailey & Irvine Law Firm, experts in hospital negligence claims, as they weigh up both the positive and negative aspects of the NHS as we head further into 2018:
Warning about the NHS treating too many patients as an emergency
It was the National Audit Office (NAO) — Whitehall’s spending watchdog— which raised concerns in March that hospitals across England are currently admitting many people as medical emergencies. They pointed out that the country’s hospitals are collectively treating 5.8 million patients as emergency admissions on an annual basis, which is an increase of 24 per cent when compared to figures recorded a decade ago. They estimate that this costs the health service £13.7 billion; close to a 10th of its overall budget.
According to the watchdog, the knock-on effects of this are strain on the NHS’s finances and additional threats to the organisation’s ability to function.
The NAO’s report did deliver praise to NHS England by pointing out that it has been effective at handling the extra number of patients. However, it also criticised the organisation’s failure to establish enough services which operate outside of their hospitals with the aim of keeping patients healthy.
“[The health service] cannot know if its approach is achieving enduring results until it understands whether reported increases in readmissions are a sign that some people admitted as an emergency are being discharged too soon,” the watchdog outlined. “The NHS also still has too many avoidable admissions and too much unexplained variation. A lot of effort is being made and progress can be seen in some areas, but the challenge of managing emergency admissions is far from being under control.”
Organisations and health unions which make up the NHS were receptive of the conclusions made by the NAO in its report. Donna Kinnair, the director of nursing, policy and practice at the Royal College of Nursing, commented: “People, particularly older people, are not getting the support they need in the community, which leads to more emergency admissions and dangerous levels of bed occupancy when demand is high, as we have seen this winter.”
However, Professor Keith Willett, the medical director for acute care at NHS England, was also keen to note: “As the report states, there are 12 per cent fewer A&E patients being admitted than was predicted at the start of the decade, and hospitals, community trusts and GPs trialling new models of care have meaningfully reduced admissions compared with their peers. In addition, growth in the cost of managing emergency admissions has been less than a third of the growth in demand.”
Rise in violence against NHS staff
Another concern within the NHS at the moment is the increase in violence that has been recorded against the organisation’s workers.
According to data obtained from 181 of the 244 NHS hospital trusts by the Health Service Journal and trade union Unison following a Freedom of Information request, 56,435 attacks against staff were reported by the trusts in 2016/17. This is up from the 51,447 attacks which were recorded during the previous year. The pressure caused from funding cuts and staff shortages at the NHS were acknowledged as creating a “hostile atmosphere” for workers.
Sara Gorton, the head of health at Unison, commented: “It’s no accident that trusts where the pressures seem the most extreme — where there are huge financial deficits or where it’s a struggle to meet growing demands on services — have seen the steepest rise in the number of attacks. This desperate situation is only set to worsen as the squeeze on resources gets tighter.”
A spokesperson for NHS England has responded to the findings, by stating: “It is completely unacceptable that a nurse, paramedic, porter or any member of NHS staff should be assaulted physically or verbally as they care for patients. NHS England continues to work with trusts and any of our staff affected, to help the police and other authorities do everything needed when an assault takes place.”
Furthermore, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson stressed that they “are making crucial legal changes to ensure those who are violent face the full force of the law and NHS employers should have no hesitation in involving the police if their staff are subject to aggression or violence”.
Personalised NHS budgets could reduce pressures on the health system
Steps seem to be made to reduce the amount of pressure on the NHS. Government proposals revealed in April, for instance, could see up to 350,000 people with physical disabilities and mental health conditions across the country being giving the option to receive personal allowances for their own care needs.
Those eligible for the allowances will be given the right to select and pay for treatments that they either need or want at their own discretion. The money would either be delivered to them through a direct payment, given to a third-party to manage or left with the NHS to control.
Ministers are confident that the initiative has the potential to improve satisfaction ratings throughout the NHS, not to mention alleviating the pressure being placed on social care budgets. NHS head Simon Stevens backs the proposals, as does the country’s health secretary Jeremy Hunt. It could be in place as early as the end of 2018 when the government outlines its changes to the nation’s health and social care system.
Minister for care Caroline Dinenage noted: "These changes will put the power back into the hands of patients and their families, potentially allowing up to 350,000 extra people to take up a personal health budget if they so wish. This would not only improve quality of life and the care they receive, it will offer good value for money for the taxpayer and reduce pressure on emergency care by joining up health and social care services at a local level.”
New technology coming to the NHS
The pressure being felt on the NHS could be eased further with the introduction of new technology.
For instance, NHS England is reportedly fast-tracking the launch of four new pieces of technology which the organisation’s chief executive Simon Stevens has claimed “will improve patient safety and potentially reduce the need for invasive and expensive tests”.
The four pieces of technology which could soon be seen across NHS facilities in the months to come are as follows:
Meanwhile in the North East of England, a number of academic and healthcare institutions have agreed to pool their resources as they aim to create their own advancements in the medical diagnostics field.
Deemed Diagnostics North East, the collaboration involves the Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria, the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University. During the partnership, the institutes will look to develop new diagnostic tests and devices and aim to introduce them to patients in a more rapid manner.
Michael Wright, Newcastle Hospitals’ deputy medical director, commented: “Our strong collaboration, allied to first class clinical facilities and a strong culture of clinical research, is ideally placed to accelerate the pathway from innovation through to patient benefit.”
Time will tell whether schemes such as those detailed above will help to reduce the pressure that the NHS has been subjected to recently.
Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/mar/02/nhs-england-too-many-patients-as-emergency-nao-warns https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/nhs-staff-shortages-violence-physical-assault-mental-health-budget-cuts-unison-hsj-a8307476.html https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/apr/17/rise-in-attacks-on-nhs-workers-blamed-on-lack-of-staff-money-and-delays https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/apr/16/plans-to-extend-personalised-health-budget-scheme https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/hundreds-thousands-nhs-patients-given-12372318 https://www.digitalhealth.net/2018/04/nhs-england-four-innovations-fast-track/ https://www.digitalhealth.net/2018/04/new-partnership-diagnostic-technology/
When it comes to dietary decisions, everybody is different. Some people may feel better after eating a hearty steak with a side of fresh salad, while others may feel just as good having indulged in a succulent vegan burger with chips. What you choose to eat is an entirely personal decision influenced by everything from preference to health, and there are certainly benefits to most individuals’ eating habits.
Over the last few decades, vegetarianism has become an increasingly popular option for anyone who wants to make more conscious choices about what they eat. Not only does avoiding meat ensure you aren’t consuming animals but being vegetarian also has a number of health benefits. Bess Berger is a Registered Dietician Nutritionist in New Jersey who has found that vegetarian diets can even “decrease the risk of many forms of cancer, heart disease, gallstones, kidney stones, osteoporosis and diabetes.” Plus, vegetarians often have lower cholesterol and blood pressure than their omnivore counterparts.
Clearly, there’s a lot to be gained by going veggie so we thought we’d take a look at how the vegetarian lifestyle can not only impact your personal life and your health but could also improve your career as a lawyer.
1. Going Vegetarian Could Improve Your Mood
Nobody wants a moody co-worker or a grumpy lawyer and going vegetarian could help you avoid being the misery of the firm. Mood is impacted by a number of factors including sleep and exercise but, in this case, the most important factor is food. More specifically, vegetarian food, which has been proven time and time again to have an impact on mood. According to a 2012 study published in the Nutrition Journal, the restriction of meat, fish and poultry in omnivores improved mood significantly, leading to lower stress levels and less psychological distress. This is most probably due to the high nutritional value of vegetables, as well as the fact animal-based food has high levels of chemicals such as arachidonic acid, which can disturb moods.
2. You Might Have the Best Palette in the Office
Ever wanted to be the person in the firm who brings in the best food and introduces all your co-lawyers to the best recipes? Well, by going vegetarian this could very well become a reality. It’s widely accepted that becoming vegetarian causes your palette to change significantly, transforming foods from hated to favourites and even leading to you recognise spices and delicate flavours more easily. This is probably one of the reasons restaurants seem to be offering more complex, unique vegetarian dishes than ever before. Take food courier service Deliveroo’s vegetarian takeaway options as an example and you'll see that for every sort of cuisine you can think of, there's someone out there serving dishes tailored towards a veggie palette. You could be the one to introduce these delicious, trendy meals to your entire law firm.
3. You Could Become the Perfect Employee
Though there’s a chance you'll feel a little rundown at first, as your body adjusts to your new diet. But once your levels have all balanced out you could have more energy than ever. This is due to the mass amounts of vitamins, antioxidants and fibre found in veggies which will, in turn, improve digestion and lead to higher energy levels. More energy could make you a better lawyer than ever. Since you’re already the happiest one in the office who brings in the best lunches ever, you'll be winning on all planes!
We’re sure there are plenty of other positive changes that vegetarians have experienced in the workplace and in their personal lives, but we think being the best you can be is good enough for today. If you're vegetarian, and your life and work have been improved by your dietary choices, let us know in the comments below.
