Red tape and ever-changing legislation can be a serious problem with legal implications for many businesses.

But a Scots businesswoman, with 30 years experience in the financial industry, has launched Company Policy Ltd to offer online executive compliant business packs to help new and established companies operate efficiently thus avoiding potentially, crippling financial penalties that accompany legal breaches.

Monthly subscription packages are also available to ensure all clients are kept up to date with any changes that new regulations may require.

These executive business packs – Sole Trader Business Start Up is among the first – have all the documents needed and include service agreements, terms and conditions, compliance policies and much more.

Bespoke online business plans for individual companies have been developed that will include what businesses should do when it comes to issues such as debt recovery, grievance procedures, intellectual property and confidentiality.

Susan Wilson is behind Company Policy Ltd, based in East Lothian, and has already secured a Capital Venture investor who has committed to a long-term investment.

“The idea is to have these expert packs where all the relevant information, guidance and help is in one easily-followed location,”said Susan, who also set up Lothian Accountancy and Book-Keeping Services (LABS) three years ago and now has almost 150 clients on board.

“It can be a nightmare for new businesses, and even not-so-new ones, to get the advice and directions they need, especially as they change so regularly, adding to the confusion,” she said.

“Over the past few years, clients have been telling me how difficult and confusing it can be to ensure they operate within the law or even know what the legal position is for them. So this new online Company Policy service is a direct response to what we’ve been hearing.”

She added: “No-one can measure the cost of issues such as compliance, correct customer procedures, health and safety issues and employment regulations.

“Our guide packs are easy to follow but comprehensive as well so any size of business can use them in the full knowledge they will be trading legally – and with that comes peace of mind.

“No-one can put a price on issues such as compliance, correct customer procedures, health and safety issues and employment regulations. Our packs will help them avoid potential HMRC and Companies House Penalties.”

Pamela Shearer and Shelley Black, with expertise in HR regulations, policies and procedures and digital documentation, respectively, also helped establish the company.

Pictured (L-R): Pamela Shearer, Susan Wilson and Shelley Black.

Commercial law firm Maclay Murray & Spens LLP has strengthened its financial services capabilities with the appointment of Carolyn Bell, as director of its financial services group in Edinburgh.

The former in-house managing legal counsel with Lloyds Banking Group and Aberdeen Asset Management joins the firm’s financial services group, comprising over 20 lawyers, including six partners, operating across the UK-wide practice.

Carolyn Bell has over ten years’ experience in the UK and overseas investment funds sector, including the merging of asset management businesses and providing advice on regulated and unregulated investment structures. Her main areas of practice are collective investment schemes, pooled investments and financial services regulatory work. She handles onshore schemes, including authorised and unauthorised unit trusts and limited partnerships and offshore schemes, such as trusts, open-ended companies and closed-ended funds. Carolyn also has broad experience of operational matters and outsourcing arrangements in the asset management industry.

Carolyn also undertakes general financial services work, including regulatory advice, structuring and marketing investment schemes.

Guy Norfolk, partner and head of MMS’ Financial Services Group, said: “Carolyn is a highly regarded investment funds lawyer and her appointment is in line with our strategy to further strengthen our financial services offering, at a time when we are advising on a number of major transactions in the asset management space. Her significant and broad experience covering the UK and overseas asset management sectors, coupled with her specialist expertise across insurance, pensions, private equity and wealth, will be a valuable addition to the our corporate division as a whole.”

Carolyn Bell added: “I am very excited by this opportunity to join the firm’s financial services group, which has established an impressive track record in the asset management and financial services sector.”

A member of the Law Society of England & Wales, Carolyn has 16 years of experience working within the highly regulated financial and asset management services sector in both private practice and in-house counsel roles. This includes ten years in London working in mergers and acquisitions with city law firm Hammonds, before moving to Scotland in 2008, eventually going in-house, first with Lloyds Banking Group and latterly as managing legal counsel with Aberdeen Asset Management.

Carolyn Bell is a non-executive director of Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.