Programme
The 2020 AGM will kick off with the Africa and Asia Pacific Regional Meetings on Wednesday 13th May at the offices of England and Wales member firm Mackrell.Solicitors, 10 minutes from the conference hotel.
The Africa Regional Meeting will take place in the morning and Asia Pacific Regional Meeting in the afternoon.
Wednesday evening sees the opening of the Mackrell International AGM with a Welcome reception and dinner at OXO II, the award-winning restaurant at the top of the famous OXO Tower – 2 minutes walk from the hotel. Oxo Tower is an award-winning, landmark building situated on the riverside walkway part of London’s fast moving South Bank and Bankside areas. Oxo Tower Wharf is home to some of the UK’s most innovative and internationally renowned contemporary designers, restaurants, cafes, bars and exhibition venues and galleries. The Oxo Tower has been a riverside landmark since the 1930s. During its industrial heyday it was owned by the makers of the OXO brand.
This year the AGM focus will be Increasing your Profitability – so making yourself and your firm more profitable, by improving Client Service and Marketing.
The Thursday Business Meeting Agenda starts with a unique and fun Table Rotation Networking event. As there will be many first time attendees at the meeting this hour long event, using a complicated algorithm, gives you the chance to meet everyone who is attending in rotation and present to them your 1 minute elevator pitch. It is a great “ice-breaker”!
After the usual Mackrell International general business, lunch will be followed by a break in tradition. For the first time, there will be an hour long break after lunch and then all delegates will be transported to the theatre at The Ham Yard Hotel in Soho, for an inspirational and thought provoking talk by Geoff Ramm, the UK’s most inspirational marketing and sales speaker. His unique style will take you on a journey full of amazing real-life marketing stories that will help you gain more clients, increase your profitability, and stand out from the competition. He is the creator and author of Celebrity Service and OMG Marketing.
Accompanying Persons will then join delegates at Ham Yard after Geoff’s presentation for a casual dinner and fun evening of bowling and karaoke.
On Friday, after the morning business, for the first time Mackrell International will host an International Business Connections Reception, with special guest Cherie Blair CBE QC, Barrister and Queens Counsel, married to Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, followed by a lunch. This will bring together a substantial number of UK and International business people, with several special guests, who are active in international business and therefore have a need for, and use, international lawyers. This will be a unique opportunity to network and market yourself and your firm to many potential clients. This will start with a drinks reception at midday, and then the guests will be asked to join us for lunch. Bring lots of business cards!
After lunch, the Business Agenda will cover new members, forthcoming meetings and other Mackrell international business.
Friday evening brings a unique experience; the gala dinner will be hosted in the Old Library at The Guildhall in the City of London, one of the most prestigious venues in England. Designed and built in 1872, Guildhall's original medieval library was 'borrowed' in the mid-sixteenth century by Lord Protector, Edward Duke of Somerset, to furnish his new palace on the Strand. It appears he forgot to return it so this was built to replace it.
For Accompanying Persons there are many exciting things designed for all ages – with, on Thursday, lunch in the private dining room at the Ivy, the leading celebrity restaurant originally opened in 1917, followed by an afternoon at the theatre to see the hilarious new West End musical “& Juliet”, and on Friday a morning shopping at Harrods followed by lunch in the Strangers Dining Room at the Houses of Parliaments - The Strangers’ Dining Room was originally a committee room, which was later transformed into a dining facility in approximately 1867, and renamed the Strangers’ Dining Room during the interwar period. When Parliament is in session, the room is used by Members of Parliament to meet their guests and these visitors are referred to as "Strangers". It is a stunning room combining intricate wood carvings and elaborate red flock wallpaper – designed by Augustus Pugin. A tour of the Houses of Parliament will follow.
Saturday brings something we believe you will never have done before! A full day excursion to Southend-on-Sea where Delegates and Accompanying Persons will experience a day at the Great British Seaside including a traditional Fish & Chip lunch at the end of the longest Pier in the world – and some surprises. There is also a funfair for the brave at heart – and of course plenty of opportunity to network with your fellow attendees.
Saturday evening is London party night. This will take place on the Cutty Sark, The Cutty Sark is a British tea clipper ship. Built on the River Leven, Dumbarton, Scotland in 1869 for the Jock Willis Shipping Line, she was one of the last tea clippers to be built and one of the fastest, coming at the end of a long period of design development, which halted as sailing ships gave way to steam propulsion. The ship is our party home for the night with good food, good wine, and plenty of dancing!
For the full programme of activities see: MACKRELL INTERNATIONAL AGM 2020 TABLE OF EVENTS