Black Norman Solicitors Limited 06962622 false 2024-04-01 2025-03-31 2025-03-31 The principal activity of the company is the provision of legal services. Digita Accounts Production Advanced 6.30.9574.0 true 06962622 2024-04-01 2025-03-31 06962622 2025-03-31 06962622 core:AcceleratedTaxDepreciationDeferredTax 2025-03-31 06962622 core:ProvisionsDeferredTax 2025-03-31 06962622 core:CurrentFinancialInstruments 2025-03-31 06962622 core:CurrentFinancialInstruments core:WithinOneYear 2025-03-31 06962622 core:Non-currentFinancialInstruments 2025-03-31 06962622 core:Non-currentFinancialInstruments core:AfterOneYear 2025-03-31 06962622 core:Goodwill 2025-03-31 06962622 core:FurnitureFittingsToolsEquipment 2025-03-31 06962622 core:LandBuildings 2025-03-31 06962622 bus:SmallEntities 2024-04-01 2025-03-31 06962622 bus:AuditExemptWithAccountantsReport 2024-04-01 2025-03-31 06962622 bus:FilletedAccounts 2024-04-01 2025-03-31 06962622 bus:SmallCompaniesRegimeForAccounts 2024-04-01 2025-03-31 06962622 bus:RegisteredOffice 2024-04-01 2025-03-31 06962622 bus:Director1 2024-04-01 2025-03-31 06962622 bus:PrivateLimitedCompanyLtd 2024-04-01 2025-03-31 06962622 core:Goodwill 2024-04-01 2025-03-31 06962622 core:FurnitureFittingsToolsEquipment 2024-04-01 2025-03-31 06962622 core:LandBuildings 2024-04-01 2025-03-31 06962622 core:ParentEntities 2024-04-01 2025-03-31 06962622 countries:EnglandWales 2024-04-01 2025-03-31 06962622 2024-03-31 06962622 core:Goodwill 2024-03-31 06962622 core:FurnitureFittingsToolsEquipment 2024-03-31 06962622 core:LandBuildings 2024-03-31 06962622 2023-04-01 2024-03-31 06962622 2024-03-31 06962622 core:CurrentFinancialInstruments 2024-03-31 06962622 core:CurrentFinancialInstruments core:WithinOneYear 2024-03-31 06962622 core:Non-currentFinancialInstruments 2024-03-31 06962622 core:Non-currentFinancialInstruments core:AfterOneYear 2024-03-31 06962622 core:Goodwill 2024-03-31 06962622 core:FurnitureFittingsToolsEquipment 2024-03-31 06962622 core:LandBuildings 2024-03-31 iso4217:GBP xbrli:pure

Registration number: 06962622

Prepared for the registrar

Black Norman Solicitors Limited

Annual Report and Unaudited Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

 

Black Norman Solicitors Limited

(Registration number: 06962622)
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025

Note

2025
£

2024
£

Fixed assets

 

Intangible assets

4

570,000

600,000

Tangible assets

5

49,671

52,538

 

619,671

652,538

Current assets

 

Debtors

6

710,190

575,607

Cash at bank and in hand

 

25,284

4,288

 

735,474

579,895

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

7

(776,414)

(980,174)

Net current liabilities

 

(40,940)

(400,279)

Total assets less current liabilities

 

578,731

252,259

Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year

7

(19,000)

(73,667)

Deferred tax liabilities

8

(4,132)

-

Net assets

 

555,599

178,592

Capital and reserves

 

Called up share capital

100

100

Retained earnings

555,499

178,492

Shareholders' funds

 

555,599

178,592

For the financial year ending 31 March 2025 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. As permitted by section 444 (5A) of the Companies Act 2006, the directors have not delivered to the registrar a copy of the Profit and Loss Account.

Approved and authorised by the Board on 4 September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
 


R R Entwistle
Director

 

Black Norman Solicitors Limited

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

 

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:
67-71 Coronation Road
Crosby
Liverpool
L23 5RE

 

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.

Group accounts not prepared

The company has taken advantage of the exemption in section 398 of the Companies Act 2006 from the requirement to prepare consolidated financial statements, on the grounds that it is a small group.

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.

 

Black Norman Solicitors Limited

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

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. The carrying amount is £476,013 (2024 -£462,979).

Revenue recognition

Turnover 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 on time spent, skills provided and expenses incurred, and excludes VAT.

Turnover is recognised as contract activity progresses and the right consideration is secured, except where the final outcome cannot be assessed with reasonable certainty.

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

Unbilled turnover on individual client assignments is included as amounts recoverable on long term 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 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 income 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

Fixtures & fittings

15/33% reducing balance

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.

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

Goodwill

Straight line over 25 years

 

Black Norman Solicitors Limited

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

 

Black Norman Solicitors Limited

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

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.

 

3

Staff numbers

The average number of persons employed by the company (including directors) during the year, was 32 (2024 - 33).

 

Black Norman Solicitors Limited

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

 

4

Intangible assets

Goodwill
 £

Cost

At 1 April 2024

750,000

At 31 March 2025

750,000

Amortisation

At 1 April 2024

150,000

Amortisation charge

30,000

At 31 March 2025

180,000

Carrying amount

At 31 March 2025

570,000

At 31 March 2024

600,000

 

5

Tangible assets

Improvements to property
£

Fixtures and fittings
 £

Total
£

Cost

At 1 April 2024

29,479

66,848

96,327

Additions

-

3,267

3,267

At 31 March 2025

29,479

70,115

99,594

Depreciation

At 1 April 2024

-

43,789

43,789

Charge for the year

-

6,134

6,134

At 31 March 2025

-

49,923

49,923

Carrying amount

At 31 March 2025

29,479

20,192

49,671

At 31 March 2024

29,479

23,059

52,538

 

6

Debtors

2025
£

2024
£

Trade debtors

95,533

107,314

Prepayments

138,644

5,314

Amounts recoverable on contracts

476,013

462,979

710,190

575,607

 

Black Norman Solicitors Limited

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

 

7

Creditors

Note

2025
£

2024
£

Due within one year

 

Loans and borrowings

9

241,722

438,203

Trade creditors

 

17,095

44,077

Taxation and social security

 

370,619

454,713

Accruals and deferred income

 

23,761

43,181

Other creditors

 

123,217

-

 

776,414

980,174

Creditors include bank loans which are secured.

Note

2025
£

2024
£

Due after one year

 

Loans and borrowings

9

19,000

73,667


Creditors include bank loans which are secured.

 

8

Deferred tax

Deferred tax assets and liabilities

2025

Asset
£

Liability
£

Accelerated tax depreciation

-

4,918

Short term timing differences

786

-

786

4,918

 

Black Norman Solicitors Limited

Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

 

9

Loans and borrowings

Current loans and borrowings

2025
£

2024
£

Bank borrowings

38,001

38,000

Bank overdrafts

-

199,573

Other borrowings

203,721

200,630

241,722

438,203

Non-current loans and borrowings

2025
£

2024
£

Bank borrowings

19,000

57,000

Other borrowings

-

16,667

19,000

73,667

 

10

Related party transactions

Summary of transactions with parent

Resp Topco Limited
  At 31 March 2025, the company owed Resp Topco Limited £110,581 (2024: £nil) for funds lent during the year. No interest is payable on the loan and it is repayable on demand.

 

11

Parent and ultimate parent undertaking

With effect from 5 July 2024, the company's immediate parent is Resp Topco Limited, incorporated in England and Wales.