What is a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)?

An LLP incorporated in the UK is a corporate entity with rights and responsibilities in its own name. So, it is similar to a Company. Unlike a conventional Partnership, the Members of the LLP are not liable personally for the debts and liabilities of the LLP beyond any sums they have contributed to the LLP by way of capital. This is similar to the concept of a Member’s contribution to share capital of a Company.

How will the firm be regulated?

Lichfield Planning LLP will be governed by UK legislation covering the incorporation, management and financial reporting of an LLP. The firm will be required to publish annual audited financial statements, similar to a Company’s audited accounts.

Lichfield Planning’s professional activities will also remain subject to the relevant codes of conduct of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Why is Lichfield Planning becoming an LLP?

Lichfield Planning was started in 1992 by our two Senior Partners, Dalia and Nathaniel Lichfield. Up to now, Dalia and Nat have remained the sole owners of the firm, the other Partners being salaried staff. Since 1992, the firm has grown significantly - establishing its second office, in Lincoln, taking on more staff and developing its client base and work both in the UK and overseas. In addition to our core staff in London and Lincoln we now also work closely with our Associates in places as diverse as Cardiff, Nigeria and the Caribbean.

With our portfolio of projects and clients growing both at home and abroad – and Planning become an ever-more complex activity - we now need to share partnership responsibilities evenly across the firm. Converting to a limited liability partnership will help us achieve this.

This is one of a series of changes through which we intend to improve still further the service we provide for our clients. Our overriding aim is to maintain a high quality service and close contact with all our clients as we grow further.

Who are the Members of the LLP?

The initial Members of the LLP are the same people who were Partners previously:
• based in London, Dalia Lichfield, Nathaniel Lichfield and Mark Jackson;
• based in Lincoln, Steve Kemp and Phil Scrafton; and,
• heading our International work, Ed Chmara.

A list of the Members of Lichfield Planning LLP will be available at our offices and will be updated from time to time to show any changes.

How does the change to an LLP affect our Clients and Suppliers?

In simple terms, the main change is that in formal contracts, and for banking and accountancy purposes, the firm that was referred to as Lichfield Planning is now to be referred to as Lichfield Planning LLP. Records should, therefore, be amended, where necessary. Otherwise, there will be few, if any, perceptible changes:
• the scope and level of our Professional Indemnity Insurance remains unchanged;
• the services we provide remain the same;
• the Members and Staff of Lichfield Planning LLP are the same people who were Partners and Staff of Lichfield Planning.

We hope the only other changes you may notice will be improvements to the service we strive to provide to our clients.