As the new Chair of the ICAEW Solicitors Community, I am pleased to welcome members to this year’s Solicitors Conference, taking place virtually on 6 October 2026. This annual event is designed for finance professionals working with law firms, offering expert insight and practical knowledge in a specialist and fast-moving area. Sessions will cover a range of technical and commercial issues, helping delegates stay informed and support clients with confidence.
The programme reflects the real pressures facing firms today. Regulation and compliance remain central, with updates on the SRA Accounts Rules and practical guidance on avoiding common pitfalls. There will be a session on the responsibilities of the COFA, including financial controls, breach reporting and meeting regulatory expectations. We will also hear insights from NatWest on the 2026 Legal Survey, benchmarking law firm performance and highlighting emerging trends, challenges and practical strategies to support.
Commercial change is another important theme. In a competitive and consolidating legal market, sessions will explore firm sales and mergers, including deal readiness, valuation, client impact and cultural fit. The conference will also look at the future of client account interest, a topic that continues to matter for firms and their advisers.
I am particularly looking forward to the opening keynote conversation with Sarah Rapson, CEO of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which will consider the SRA’s strategic direction, long-term priorities and the wider future of legal regulation. It should offer valuable context on the issues shaping firms, practitioners and the profession more broadly.
For those advising solicitors, the value of the conference is its practical focus. Delegates can earn up to five hours of verifiable CPD while hearing directly from sector specialists and taking away points they can apply in their work with clients and colleagues.
As Chair, I want the ICAEW Solicitors Community to remain useful, responsive and member-led. This conference is an important part of that: a chance to understand what is changing and consider how firms can respond.
I encourage anyone working with law firms, or advising clients in the legal sector, to join us on 6 October.
Book your place via the ICAEW event page:Solicitors Conference 2026
*the views expressed are the author’s and not ICAEW’s
