The Fourth Annual Employee Owned Law Conference by Ison Harrison is Announced for March

“Points of Difference” is the theme for the Fourth Annual Employee Owned Law Conference hosted by Ison Harrison Solicitors. The conference will take place on 4 March 2026 at Aspire, Leeds, with an evening meal at the iconic Queens Hotel to follow. This year’s event brings together employee owned law firms from across the UK for a day of discussion, inspiration and knowledge sharing, with Howdens Group confirmed as the event’s headline sponsor for 2026.

Here’s what to expect at this year’s conference:

Live Contributions from Employee Ownership Experts

As a longstanding advocate for legal sector employee ownership models, Robert Camp of Robert Camp Consulting, is the chair of this year’s conference and will take delegates through the conference agenda.

On the day, delegates will explore the conference theme “Points of Difference” with a focus on what makes employee owned law firms distinct across behaviour, values, leadership and long-term vision, in addition to structure.

Those who attend can look forward to shared experiences of positive outcomes, reflections on challenges and points of learning from participants.

Now in its fourth year, the conference facilitates opportunities for open dialogue and discussion about employee ownership (EO). The programme features two major keynote contributions:

• EO Worldview – James de la Vingne, Employee Ownership Association

James will explore the wider EO landscape, offering a perspective on what sets EO organisations apart.

• “Who paid for that teabag?” Law Firm Culture and the Cost of a Cuppa – Nicola Jones, Athena Professional

Nicola will examine the cultural impact of employee ownership.

The programme on the day also includes:

Interactive Breakout Sessions for Peer Led Learning

Following a similar format to previous years, these sessions offer practical, role specific discussions designed to spark meaningful exchange.

•    Finance Directors’ Session: Profit Distribution, Founder Debt & Financial Freedom
•    Trustees’ Session: Communication, Influence & Decision Making
•    Founders’ Session: Adjustment, Frustrations & Communication

Underwriters’ Insights – John Wooldridge, Martin Ellis and Colin Taylor, Howden Group

John Wooldridge, Martin Ellis and Colin Taylor from Howdens Group will share how underwriters view employee owned businesses. Their session will offer a clear, practical overview of how EO structures are assessed in the insurance market, the factors that can strengthen an EO firm’s risk profile, and the opportunities employee ownership presents when engaging with insurers.

An Afternoon Tea Discussion with Paul Cogan, Bettys & Taylors Group

For the afternoon programme expect a dedicated session with Paul Cogan, Collaborative CEO at Bettys & Taylors Group, one of the UK’s most admired long‑standing purpose led businesses. Over afternoon tea, Paul will share insights into sustaining a successful culture, ensuring financial resilience, and balancing business performance with strong employee engagement.

The Queens Hotel Hosts an Evening to Connect and Celebrate

With delegates now filled with inspiration and the latest knowledge, the conference concludes with an evening meal at The Queens Hotel, Leeds. Attendees can expect an insightful after dinner talk from Simon Weaver, Manager of Harrogate Town Football Club, and the opportunity to build on connections and discussions throughout the evening as part of the collaborative network that supports the EO legal community.

Employee Ownership Advisor and the Annual Employee Owned Law Conference are brought to you by Ison Harrison Solicitors.

If you would like to find out more about how to become employee owned, you can download our guide or call Employee Ownership Advisor on 0800 232 1620.