Member Article

Frenkel Topping announces landmark legislation to set the agenda at Deputy Day 2019

Frenkel Topping has revealed that the theme of economic abuse will set the agenda for its Deputy Day Annual Conference in London, 9 May 2019.

With landmark change proposed by the Government to extend the legal definition of domestic violence to include economic abuse, Frenkel Topping is calling for the financial services industry to unite in support of this proposal.

“Economic abuse is a cause we have long been passionate about and we welcome the Government’s proposals for legal reform,” said Mark Holt, managing director of Frenkel Topping.

“It’s up to us as an industry to help change the outcomes for anyone who may be subject to economic abuse, recognising the critical signs and ensuring appropriate care is in place.

The professional deputies managing the finances of the people they represent have come to rely on our annual Deputy Day conference as a source of current opinion, legislative updates and best practice and this year takes the lead on this important issue.

The Deputy Day has become a major event in the financial service industry’s calendar. Paul Lewis, champion of consumer causes and host of BBC Radio 4’s Money Box has been announced as this year’s keynote speaker.

Other high profile speakers at the conference include HHJ Carolyn Hilder of the judiciary Court of Protection, who will discuss protecting vulnerable adults with borderline capacity and identifying financial abuse; Paul Tregoning of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), who will provide an update on the pilot scheme for mediation and financial abuse between family members; and a representative from 9 Gough Square Chambers, speaking on notable recent financial abuse cases.

Mark Holt continues, “We are proud to host this key event to help raise awareness of this critically important financial issue. At Frenkel Topping, we are passionate about ensuring that those who have suffered a catastrophic accident aren’t taken advantage of and are provided with the best possible outcome to their case.”

Under the new directive, the impact of economic abuse will be legally recognised as domestic abuse and can be reported as a crime. Legal guidance for prosecutors will be changed to ensure cases of economic abuse can be successfully prosecuted where appropriate.

Frenkel Topping advises many of the UK’s leading law firms and barristers on settlements and investments for their clients and manages the finances of people who are unable to act for themselves following life-changing accident or personal injury, and therefore may be vulnerable to financial abuse.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emily Hallinan .