Author: Andrew Sargood

J6 Property Meet – January

Posted on by Andrew Sargood

J6 Property Meet – In Collaboration with Aston Bond

This year marks the start of something new and exciting here at Aston Bond. We’re proud to announce that every month we will be co-hosting the J6 Property Meet at our offices here in Slough. Read on to find out more and enjoy our gallery below the blog!

J6 Property Meet is an amazing networking event targeted at property professionals. Whether you are an estate or letting agent, architect, builder, developer, investor, expert, solicitor, planning consultant or just looking to expand your network and make the right connections this is the perfect event for you! Manni Chopra founded this networking event in 2016 and is passionate about helping people become financially free.

On 10th January 2017, we co-hosted the first of many J6 Property Meets. The networking event started at around 6:00pm and the lively atmosphere went on until late in the evening. Aston Bond provided wine, soft drinks and some nibbles in the lobby where the networking took place. Sumeet Shangari, Director and Head of Real Estate, kicked off the event in the boardroom with an introduction of himself and Aston Bond as a business. Manni Chopra, Founder of J6 Property Meet, then also introduced herself and J6 and let the crowd know the schedule for the evening. With over 10 years experience within property investment Manni gave the audience an in depth personal view into property investment. Next up was our first speaker of the evening, Luke Beavan, Mortgage Adviser at AFP. Luke covered a wide range of mortgage related subjects and provided a great insight into the industry. We then had a short break to gather our thoughts, discuss and refresh. This provided the attendees a chance to mingle further and grow their network.

Key Speaker of the evening was Ranjan Bhattacharya, Host of Baker Street Property Meet. With over 20 years experience within property development/investment he shared his story and valuable insight. The presentation “Evolve, Adapt & Change to Survive and Thrive” had a brilliant response and covered things such as complex refurbishments, building a business, impacts of market changes, strategies and many more.

The next event will be held on the 7th February here at Aston Bond. Come and grow your network and be part of a supportive community.

BOOK HERE

Aston Bond’s Christmas Fundraiser

Posted on by Andrew Sargood

Aston Bond’s Christmas Fundraiser was an amazing success and we had great fun taking part. We hope you enjoy looking at some of the snaps from our events below the blog.

Here at Aston Bond we like to make the most out of the Christmas period. We had our tree up nice and early as we were eager to get into the festive spirit; we took part in Xmas jumper day on the 16th December and held a secret Santa event amongst the team.

During the Christmas period, we also think it is important to get involved in our own fundraisers to help out the community. This year we held a Christmas Bake Sale between the 19th and 22nd of December to help raise money and awareness for Slough Homeless Our Concern (SHOC), an amazing local charity which focuses on supporting the homeless. We baked cakes, brought in food and mulled wine and even had an amazing cake donated to us from Creams the dessert restaurant.

Before it all took place, we went down to SHOC to let them know about our event and get more of an idea of what they get up to there, we really wanted to get a feel for what they do. After our visit we were even more eager to get started and raise money and awareness for them. During the last day of the bake sale we set up a stall in the Queensmere shopping centre by the Christmas tree with two people from the team dressed as Santa and a Reindeer. It was a great chance for Aston Bond to help Slough get into the Christmas spirit!

Once the bake sale had finished, there was a Santa parade where we were giving out free goody bags to children in Slough. The response from this was amazing! The children were excited to see Santa, his reindeer and Elf, and the parents were filled with gratitude.

Over the week we raised £250 (and counting) and have 3 boxes full of donations ranging from tinned food, clothes, shoes, toiletries and more!

We are very proud that we can help give back during Christmas; it is a strong belief of Aston Bond’s to be able to help support the community. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the team!

The Best Christmas Advert Of 2016 – Watch and Vote

Posted on by Andrew Sargood

Watch the best Christmas adverts right here and vote for your favourite below…

Solicitors are not famed for their heart-warming Christmas adverts, but here at Aston Bond, we love everything Christmas! John Lewis has always been known for having the best Christmas advert each year, but this time round there are a lot of worthy competitors battling for the title. From Buster The Boxer, to Kevin The Carrot and Mrs. Claus all making an appearance on our screens, we want you to vote on which you think is the best Christmas advert of 2016.

We will be getting into the festive spirit with our very own Christmas events coming soon, so keep an eye out for more information!

If you haven’t seen them already (or just fancy watching them again) check out the adverts below the poll, and feel free to let us know what you think in the comment section.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr6lr_VRsEo

  • Aldi: Kevin The Carrot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCZrWFrRgbQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtKYdG9r0Pk

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First Brexit and now Donald Trump

Posted on by Andrew Sargood

Donald Trump will officially be the next president of the United States of America, but what similarities are there to Brexit?

There are a number of comparisons which can be made between the Brexit vote and the more recent USA elections; controversial, un-predictable and a close call are a few things that spring to mind. With only a 1% difference in votes Trump has won the presidency, against all the bookies odds… much like the Brexit vote.

Commentators have noted that there is a distinct mood-change around the world, with people willing to take a risk and vote for the more unpredictable or unconventional in order to facilitate a change in their country.  It also seems that voters are tired of being told what to do.

But what could Trump being in power mean for a post-Brexit Britain? The economic results are still to be determined but Trump has mentioned trade deals with us as a country are not being ruled out. Teresa May was quick to point out that our “special relationship” will continue and she hopes to make it even stronger.  And indeed some believe that any change will be in Britain’s favour. How will the global market be affected?  The dollar and the Mexican peso fell yesterday as the results were announced although our pound surged.  But this is not highly unusual and there is always some fluctuation immediately after an election.  Any more significant changes will likely only be seen once Trump begins to start giving some more specifics as to what changes and legislation he wants to introduce.

And the Brexit comparisons don’t end there.  Both Farage and Trump also have a few similarities… The media has targeted them for their outspoken and controversial statements and straight forward, un-censored views, but both have evidently come out on top.  Indeed Farage has reportedly flown straight out to the USA to put himself forward for a job working with Trump as his Ambassador in the EU.

The victory of Donald Trump has clearly caused some upset among citizens of the USA. As a result of this there have been anti-Trump protests and demonstrations across many different cities.

These recent events have proven one thing, what people want most within their countries is change. The victory of Britain leaving the EU and Donald Trump winning as the next President for the United States stems from this. Only time will tell if change is for better or for worse in both situations.  Whatever happens, no-one can deny that interesting times are ahead.

Let us know what you think of Trump’s victory. Can this be compared to our own Brexit referendum? We’ll be holding a seminar in the near future discussing Brexit for Britain and more current issues. So stay tuned.

Leave a comment and share your views…

Halloween at Aston Bond

Posted on by Andrew Sargood

Here at Aston Bond we love the chance to decorate reception and dress up for Halloween. We want to share with you, some snaps from the day.

We also carried out a Halloween giveaway on social media. The lucky winner, Donna, won a Super Retro Sweet Hamper from Funky Hampers. Congratulations again!

Happy Halloween!

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Kerry Roshier – Joining Aston Bond

Posted on by Andrew Sargood

I joined Aston Bond in Slough three weeks ago as a Real Estate paralegal having spent a year working in a regional office of a larger practice. I was keen to make the move and gain more practical experience in the legal field. From the first day I found myself involved in interesting and challenging work that far exceeded my initial expectation.

In my previous role I was a small part of a bigger team. At Aston Bond I have enjoyed the opportunity to have a greater involvement in client cases and to work using my own initiative. Within my first few days I was tasked with drafting my first lease which was quite challenging and was something I didn’t expect to have the chance to do so soon.

One of the main things I have noticed whilst working at Aston Bond is how quickly the day goes. Being constantly involved in interesting work means I never find myself watching the clock. I have found everyone to be friendly and welcoming from day one and have experienced a lot more responsibility and exposure to work meaning I am constantly learning every day.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my first few weeks at Aston Bond and look forward to getting more involved with the variety of law cases the firm deals with. I’m hoping this will broaden my knowledge more quickly than may have been the case working at a larger practice.

Kerry Roshier – Real Estate Paralegal

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Aston Bond’s Legal 500 Awards

Posted on by Andrew Sargood

We are proud to announce that, for the second year running, we have been awarded a number of prestigious Legal 500 awards.

You might be wondering what a ‘Legal 500’ award is. Well to sum it up: “For 28 years, The Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research programme revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The Legal 500 assesses the strengths of law firms in over 100 jurisdictions.” *

We have been recognised as a ‘Legal 500 Top Tier’ Law firm in the South East.

Our head of Immigration, Ravinder Kaur, has been placed in the elite ‘Leading Individual’ list, personifying her expertise and knowledge within this field.

We have also had 3 lawyers ‘recommended’ in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2016 editorial (listed below)

SOUTH EAST

Human resources – Immigration:

– Ravinder Kaur

Real estate – Commercial property – Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40:

– Sumeet Shangari

– Nick Powe

We’re exceedingly honoured to have received these recommendations and feel is represents Aston Bond’s dedication, hard work and passion. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our clients from in and out of Slough who have helped make this possible.

* http://www.legal500.com/assets/pages/about-us/about-us.html

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Ravinder Kaur’s School Visits

Posted on by Andrew Sargood

Here at Aston Bond we believe in giving back to the community and that the next generation’s education is of utmost importance. Getting involved in schools to help students understand new and exciting things is an incredible way to engage young learners and open up new possibilities, maybe even a career in law!

Aston Bond’s Ravinder Kaur: Head of Immigration, jumped at the opportunity to head to James Ellemen School and Godolphin School based around Slough to visit classrooms and speak to children about the Rule of Law and why it is so important in the UK. She also spoke about what it is like to be a solicitor and barrister. Ravinder spoke to them about how the Rule of Law is implemented, the court system, miscarriages of justice, system of punishment and the education and qualifications required to be a lawyer. She was asked questions like “What is it like to be a lawyer? “How many cases have you lost”? “Is there still hanging in the UK? “What is the age of legal responsibility?” “Why did you chose to become a lawyer” and most importantly… “What car do you drive?”img_0756As well as chatting to the students, Ravinder also got involved in helping them out with a project they will be doing based on her visit. She was asked to be photographed on the children’s iPads and the children would then make a collage with words and sentences relating to the Rule of Law and the matters discussed in the talks. We’re looking forward to seeing the results!img_7036Ravinder absolutely loved her time at James Ellemen School and Godolphin School and had this to say about her time there:

“I am used to speaking in front of many different audiences however I found this to be the most challenging and rewarding. I wanted to break down the law and how it works into language that a child would understand and engage with. The children were interested and showed knowledge of the law far beyond their years. They were also very interested in the alleged financial rewards of the job and also quite blood thirsty and obsessed with the old practice of hanging as punishment. Many appeared quite upset that this was a practice no longer in use in the UK. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to and with the children and I believe I may have met some budding lawyers”img_0724

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My Work Experience by Anjali Mehra

Posted on by Andrew Sargood

Although my work experience at Aston Bond consisted of only a short period, within such a small time scale, I was provided with an excellent insight into the working life of a solicitor, and gained a solid understanding in regards the jobs they are involved in on a day to day basis, and challenges they face.

Throughout my work experience at Aston Bond, I had the privilege of attending meetings with clients,  witnessed the signing of clients wills and deeds,  and read several large cases based on employment law and litigation that involved a great deal of in – depth documentation, evidence and critical  analysis of each case from the start until finish. I rather enjoy collating evidence and conducting analysis to conduct a case and examining these cases further fuelled my interest. I was also able to directly witness the influence of current affairs and recent advances in politics and government changes such as Brexit, and was able to see the strong impact it has on the Home Office and an immigration lawyer’s job which was particularly intriguing, and one of the highlights of my experience, as I was able to distinctly apply a real life application of law.

The staff at Aston Bond were friendly and approachable and provided me with support and useful advice in regards to achieving a successful future career in law; I was particularly impressed with how the solicitors conducted themselves with such high levels of professionalism and integrity whilst maintaining a down to earth approach when communicating with clients, and learnt how to adapt and communicate with a variety of different clients.

Overall, I would like to thank everyone at Aston Bond for an exceedingly insightful and hugely beneficial experience that has motivated and driven me to work hard in my law degree when I start in September this year. I would thoroughly recommend work experience at Aston Bond to any student who is eager to pursue a career in law, and is interested to gain a broad insight into the profession.

My Work Experience by Jasprit Babraha

Posted on by Andrew Sargood

When embarking on my first ever work experience, the term ‘a little fish in a big pond’ had never been so significant. My knowledge and experience was minuscule, and I couldn’t help but recount horror-filled anecdotes regarding work experience that I’d been acquainted with in the past during the days prior to my work experience beginning. Sunday night consisted of a bout of tossing and turning as nerves got the better of me, but what adolescent wouldn’t feel the same way when change comes along?

However, when the fateful morning of Monday 11th July 2016 came along, I was amazingly surprised. My butterflies were diminished instantly as I entered the law firm, the warm smiles of my colleagues for the week melting all of my worries away. My first impressions of Aston Bond were highly positive, as I was formally introduced to every worker in the firm and guided through the building. I was then informed of what my work experience would consist of; meetings, documents and cases, and set my first task.

I faced challenges while at work that put me outside of my comfort zone, but due to the experience and support of my colleagues I was able to use my common sense and will to complete these tasks to the best of my ability. Everyone working at Aston Bond was warm and approachable during my time there, and had no problem with the questions I’d ask and support I’d sometimes request for. At first I believed my age would act as a hindrance during work experience as I’m only going into Year 11 this September, but I was completely proven wrong. I was treated and respected by my colleagues at Aston Bond, and I couldn’t have chosen a better place to carry out work experience at.

My outlook on the world of law and knowledge on what being a solicitor consists of has considerably increased due to this enriching and intriguing work experience. I have now been enlightened and attracted to the world of work in corporate law thanks to this opportunity. I wholly recommend completing work experience at Aston Bond, as they’re a welcoming, open and cordial place.