Hedges Law Limited 07428900 false 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 2023-03-31 The principal activity of the company is the provision of legal services. Digita Accounts Production Advanced 6.30.9574.0 true 07428900 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 2023-03-31 07428900 core:CurrentFinancialInstruments 2023-03-31 07428900 core:CurrentFinancialInstruments core:WithinOneYear 2023-03-31 07428900 core:Non-currentFinancialInstruments 2023-03-31 07428900 core:Non-currentFinancialInstruments core:AfterOneYear 2023-03-31 07428900 core:Goodwill 2023-03-31 07428900 core:PatentsTrademarksLicencesConcessionsSimilar 2023-03-31 07428900 core:FurnitureFittingsToolsEquipment 2023-03-31 07428900 core:LandBuildings 2023-03-31 07428900 core:MotorVehicles 2023-03-31 07428900 core:OtherPropertyPlantEquipment 2023-03-31 07428900 core:OnerousContractsExcludingVacantProperties 2023-03-31 07428900 core:OtherProvisionsContingentLiabilities 2023-03-31 07428900 bus:SmallEntities 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 bus:AuditExemptWithAccountantsReport 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 bus:FullAccounts 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 bus:SmallCompaniesRegimeForAccounts 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 bus:RegisteredOffice 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 bus:Director1 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 bus:Director4 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 bus:Director6 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 bus:Director7 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 bus:PrivateLimitedCompanyLtd 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 core:Goodwill 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 core:LicencesFranchises 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 core:PatentsTrademarksLicencesConcessionsSimilar 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 core:ComputerEquipment 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 core:FurnitureFittings 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 core:FurnitureFittingsToolsEquipment 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 core:LandBuildings 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 core:LeaseholdImprovements 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 core:MotorVehicles 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 core:OtherPropertyPlantEquipment 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 countries:EnglandWales 2022-04-01 2023-03-31 07428900 2022-03-31 07428900 core:Goodwill 2022-03-31 07428900 core:PatentsTrademarksLicencesConcessionsSimilar 2022-03-31 07428900 core:FurnitureFittingsToolsEquipment 2022-03-31 07428900 core:LandBuildings 2022-03-31 07428900 core:MotorVehicles 2022-03-31 07428900 core:OtherPropertyPlantEquipment 2022-03-31 07428900 core:OnerousContractsExcludingVacantProperties 2022-03-31 07428900 core:OtherProvisionsContingentLiabilities 2022-03-31 07428900 2021-04-01 2022-03-31 07428900 2022-03-31 07428900 core:CurrentFinancialInstruments 2022-03-31 07428900 core:CurrentFinancialInstruments core:WithinOneYear 2022-03-31 07428900 core:Non-currentFinancialInstruments 2022-03-31 07428900 core:Non-currentFinancialInstruments core:AfterOneYear 2022-03-31 07428900 core:Goodwill 2022-03-31 07428900 core:PatentsTrademarksLicencesConcessionsSimilar 2022-03-31 07428900 core:FurnitureFittingsToolsEquipment 2022-03-31 07428900 core:LandBuildings 2022-03-31 07428900 core:MotorVehicles 2022-03-31 07428900 core:OtherPropertyPlantEquipment 2022-03-31 iso4217:GBP xbrli:pure

Registration number: 07428900

Prepared for the registrar

Hedges Law Limited

Annual Report and Unaudited Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

 

Hedges Law Limited

Contents

Company Information

1

Balance Sheet

2

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements

3 to 9

 

Hedges Law Limited

Company Information

Directors

R M Camp

N Y Poole

W B Pollock

R M Kashti

Registered office

16 Market Place
Wallingford
OX10 0AE

Accountants

Hazlewoods LLP
Windsor House
Bayshill Road
Cheltenham
GL50 3AT

 

Hedges Law Limited

(Registration number: 07428900)
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023

Note

2023
£

2022
£

Fixed assets

 

Intangible assets

4

-

41,667

Tangible assets

5

45,346

96,707

 

45,346

138,374

Current assets

 

Debtors

6

868,942

804,980

Cash at bank and in hand

 

102,781

112,964

 

971,723

917,944

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

7

(691,347)

(637,978)

Net current assets

 

280,376

279,966

Total assets less current liabilities

 

325,722

418,340

Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year

7

-

(102,828)

Provisions

8

(68,078)

(68,078)

Deferred tax liabilities

 

(7,813)

-

Net assets

 

249,831

247,434

Capital and reserves

 

Called up share capital

3

3

Profit and loss account

249,828

247,431

Shareholders' funds

 

249,831

247,434

For the financial year ending 31 March 2023 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476; and

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

These financial statements have been delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime and the option not to file the Profit and Loss Account has been taken.

Approved and authorised by the Board on 29 November 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
 


N Y Poole
Director

 

Hedges Law Limited

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

 

1

General information

The company is a private company limited by share capital, incorporated in England and Wales.

The address of its registered office is:
16 Market Place
Wallingford
OX10 0AE

 

2

Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 Section 1A smaller entities - 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006 (as applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime).

Basis of preparation

These financial statements have been prepared using the historical cost convention except for, where disclosed in these accounting policies, certain items that are shown at fair value.

The presentational currency of the financial statements is Pounds Sterling, being the functional currency of the primary economic environment in which the company operates. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest Pound.

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
In the application of the company’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.
 

Judgements

No significant judgements have been made by management in preparing these financial statements.

Key sources of estimation uncertainty

Amounts recoverable on contracts - The process of assessing amounts recoverable on contracts requires various estimates and judgements to be made. Fee earners are required to record time spent on client assignments and this is used as the basis for the amounts recoverable on contracts and work in progress estimates. A year end report of time on all assignments is circulated to fee earners to identify likely recoverable amounts. The carrying amount is £53,462 (2022 -£55,362).

Bad debt provision - due to the nature of the business, there are high levels of trade receivables at the year end, and therefore a risk that some of these balances may be irrecoverable. A bad debt review is carried out, where debts are assessed and provided against when the recoverability of these balances is considered to be uncertain. The carrying amount is £38,828 (2022 -£40,880).

Dilapidations - a provision for dilapidations on the company's property leases is being built up each year based on the amount expected to be payable at the cessation of the leases. The carrying amount is £50,000 (2022 -£50,000).

Client claims – the provision is based on a review of potential claims and an assessment of any potential settlements that are considered likely as a result of these. The carrying amount is £18,078 (2022 -£18,078).

 

Hedges Law Limited

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Revenue recognition

Fee income represents the fair value of services provided during the year on client assignments. Fair value reflects the amounts expected to be recoverable from clients based upon time spent, skills provided and expenses incurred, and excludes VAT. Income is recognised as contract activity progresses and the right to consideration is secured, except where the final outcome cannot be assessed with reasonable certainty.

Income in respect of contingent fee assignments is recognised in the period when the contingent event occurs and collectability of the fee is assured.

Unbilled income on individual client assignments is included as amounts recoverable on contracts within debtors.

Tax

The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the profit and loss account, except that a charge attributable to an item of income or expense recognised as other comprehensive income is also recognised directly in other comprehensive income.

The current corporation tax charge is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date in the countries where the company operates and generates taxable income.

Deferred tax is recognised on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the financial statements and on unused tax losses or tax credits in the company. Deferred tax is determined using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and a valuation allowance is set up against deferred tax assets so that the net carrying amount equals the highest amount that is more likely than not to be recovered based on current or future taxable profit.

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are stated in the statement of financial position at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

The cost of tangible assets includes directly attributable incremental costs incurred in their acquisition and installation.

Depreciation

Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets, other than land and properties under construction over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

Asset class

Depreciation method and rate

Leasehold land and buildings

Over the period of the lease

Fixtures and fittings

Straight line over 8 years

Computers

Straight line over 4 years

Motor vehicles

Straight line over 5 years

Intangible assets

Goodwill arising on the acquisition of an entity represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the company’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the entity recognised at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is held in the currency of the acquired entity and revalued to the closing rate at each reporting period date.

Separately acquired trademarks and licences are shown at historical cost. Trademarks, licences (including software) and customer-related intangible assets acquired in a business combination are recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Trademarks, licences and customer-related intangible assets have a finite useful life and are carried at cost less accumulated amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses.

Amortisation

Amortisation is provided on intangible assets so as to write off the cost, less any estimated residual value, over their useful life as follows:

Asset class

Amortisation method and rate

Licensing agreements

Straight line over 5 years

 

Hedges Law Limited

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Trade debtors

Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for or services performed in the ordinary course of business.

Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. All trade debtors are repayable within one year and hence are included at the undiscounted cost of cash expected to be received. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the debtors.

Trade creditors

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the company does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade creditors are recognised initially at the transaction price and all are repayable within one year and hence are included at the undiscounted amount of cash expected to be paid.

Borrowings

Interest-bearing borrowings are initially recorded at fair value, net of transaction costs. Interest-bearing borrowings are subsequently carried at amortised cost, with the difference between the proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the amount due on redemption being recognised as a charge to the profit and loss account over the period of the relevant borrowing.

Interest expense is recognised on the basis of the effective interest method and is included in interest payable and similar charges.

Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the company has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting date.

Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the company has an obligation at the reporting date as a result of a past event, it is probable that the company will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

Leases

Leases in which substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases are charged to profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee.

Assets held under finance leases are recognised at the lower of their fair value at inception of the lease and the present value of the minimum lease payments. These assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful life of the asset and the lease term. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the Balance Sheet as a finance lease obligation.

Lease payments are apportioned between finance costs in the Profit and Loss Account and reduction of the lease obligation so as to achieve a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.

Share capital

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Equity instruments are measured at the fair value of the cash or other resources received or receivable, net of the direct costs of issuing the equity instruments. If payment is deferred and the time value of money is material, the initial measurement is on a present value basis.

 

Hedges Law Limited

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Dividends

Dividend distribution to the company’s shareholders is recognised as a liability in the financial statements in the reporting period in which the dividends are declared.

Defined contribution pension obligation

A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the company has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.

Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as employee benefit expense when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.

Financial instruments


Classification
Financial instruments are classified and accounted for according to the substance of the contractual arrangement, as financial assets, financial liabilities or equity instruments. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities. Where shares are issued, any component that creates a financial liability of the company is presented as a liability on the balance sheet. The corresponding dividends relating to the liability component are charged as interest expenses in the profit and loss account.

 Recognition and measurement
All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the financial asset or financial liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

 Impairment
Assets, other than those measured at fair value, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each balance sheet date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss as described below.

A non financial asset is impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after initial recognition, the estimated recoverable value of the asset has been reduced. The recoverable amount of an asset is the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and its value in use.

The recoverable amount of goodwill is derived from measurement of the present value of the future cash flows of the cash-generating units ('CGUs') of which the goodwill is a part. Any impairment loss in respect of a CGU is allocated first to the goodwill attached to that CGU, and then to other assets within that CGU on a pro-rata basis.

Where indicators exist for a decrease in impairment loss, the prior impairment loss is tested to determine reversal. An impairment loss is reversed on an individual impaired asset to the extent that the revised recoverable value does not lead to a revised carrying amount higher than the carrying value had no impairment been recognised. Where a reversal of impairment occurs in respect of a CGU, the reversal is applied first to the assets (other than goodwill) of the CGU on a pro-rata basis and then to any goodwill allocated to that CGU.

For financial assets carried at amortised cost, the amount of an impairment is the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate.

For financial assets carried at cost less impairment, the impairment loss is the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the best estimate of the amount that would be received for the asset if it were to be sold at the reporting date.

Where indicators exist for a decrease in impairment loss, and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the prior impairment loss is tested to determine reversal. An impairment loss is reversed on an individual impaired financial asset to the extent that the revised recoverable value does not lead to a revised carrying amount higher than the carrying value had no impairment been recognised.

 

Hedges Law Limited

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

 

3

Staff numbers

The average number of persons employed by the company (including directors) during the year, was 40 (2022 - 41).

 

4

Intangible assets

Goodwill
 £

Licensing Agreements
£

Total
£

Cost

At 1 April 2022

384,851

100,000

484,851

Disposals

-

(100,000)

(100,000)

At 31 March 2023

384,851

-

384,851

Amortisation

At 1 April 2022

384,851

58,334

443,185

Amortisation eliminated on disposals

-

(58,334)

(58,334)

At 31 March 2023

384,851

-

384,851

Carrying amount

At 31 March 2023

-

-

-

At 31 March 2022

-

41,667

41,667

 

Hedges Law Limited

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

 

5

Tangible assets

Leasehold land and buildings
£

Fixtures and fittings
£

Computers
£

Motor vehicles
 £

Total
£

Cost

At 1 April 2022

21,005

125,524

102,950

74,351

323,830

Additions

-

2,573

6,697

-

9,270

Disposals

(11,241)

-

-

(74,351)

(85,592)

At 31 March 2023

9,764

128,097

109,647

-

247,508

Depreciation

At 1 April 2022

6,278

107,353

62,686

50,806

227,123

Charge for the year

976

6,642

18,344

12,392

38,354

Eliminated on disposal

(117)

-

-

(63,198)

(63,315)

At 31 March 2023

7,137

113,995

81,030

-

202,162

Carrying amount

At 31 March 2023

2,627

14,102

28,617

-

45,346

At 31 March 2022

14,727

18,171

40,264

23,545

96,707

 

6

Debtors

2023
 £

2022
 £

Trade debtors

646,483

493,228

Other debtors

195

47,817

Prepayments and accrued income

168,802

208,573

Amounts recoverable on contracts

53,462

55,362

 

868,942

804,980

 

7

Creditors

Note

2023
 £

2022
 £

Due within one year

 

Loans and borrowings

9

398,795

371,565

Trade creditors

 

105,015

97,271

Social security and other taxes

 

137,760

138,381

Outstanding defined contribution pension costs

 

8,614

7,068

Accruals and deferred income

 

10,349

7,591

Corporation tax liability

30,814

16,102

 

691,347

637,978

Creditors include bank loans and overdrafts and net obligations under finance lease and hire purchase contracts which are secured of £264,658 (2022 - £278,797).

 

Hedges Law Limited

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Note

2023
£

2022
£

Due after one year

 

Loans and borrowings

9

-

102,828

Creditors include bank loans and overdrafts and net obligations under finance lease and hire purchase contracts which are secured of £nil (2022 - £74,609).

 

8

Provisions

Client claims
£

Dilapidations
£

Total
£

At 1 April 2022

18,078

50,000

68,078

At 31 March 2023

18,078

50,000

68,078

 

9

Loans and borrowings

2023
£

2022
£

Current loans and borrowings

Bank borrowings

71,036

62,814

Bank overdrafts

193,622

215,983

HP and finance lease liabilities

-

8,473

Other borrowings

134,137

84,295

398,795

371,565

2023
£

2022
£

Non-current loans and borrowings

Bank borrowings

-

74,609

HP and finance lease liabilities

-

28,219

-

102,828

 

10

Financial commitments, guarantees and contingencies

Amounts not provided for in the balance sheet

The total amount of financial commitments not included in the balance sheet is £98,488 (2022 - £169,853).