Annual Report & Accounts 2026
37
OUR GOVERNANCE
DIRECTORS’ REPORT
The Directors have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 January 2026.
PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND BUSINESS REVIEW
The principal activities of the Group during the year were the provision of legal services, whilst the Company acts principally as a holding company. The results for the year and the financial position of the Group are as shown in the annexed financial statements. A review of the business and its future development is given in the Chairman’s and Chief Executive’s statements together with the Financial Review and Strategic Report.
RESULTS AND DIVIDENDS
The results for the year are set out in the consolidated income statement on page 47. The Directors propose a final ordinary dividend of 17.2p per share subject to the approval at the Annual General Meeting on 18 June 2026.
LIKELY FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Our priorities for the following financial year are disclosed in the Chief Executive’s Statement on pages 09 to 11.
SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDINGS
As far as the Directors are aware, the only notifiable holdings equal to, or in excess of, 3% of the issued ordinary share capital at 25 March 2026 were as shown in the table below:
No. of Shares
% Holding
James Knight
8,927,012
28.15
Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management
3,770,409
11.89
JPMorgan Chase & Co
2,504,399
7.90
Liontrust Asset Management
1,850,707
5.84
Stancroft Trust
1,630,000
5.14
River Global (London)
1,211,144
3.82
Royal London Asset Management
1,130,000
3.56
DIRECTORS AND THEIR INTERESTS
The Directors who served throughout the year, except where otherwise stated, and in place at the date of this report, are as follows:
• James Knight
• Ashley Miller
• Robin Williams
• Isabel Napper
• Salar Farzad The Directors’ interests are included within the Report of the Remuneration Committee.
DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION
Directors’ remuneration, payable in the year ended 31 January 2026, is set out in the Report of the Remuneration Committee.
DIRECTORS’ INDEMNITIES
The Directors are entitled to be indemnified by the Company to the extent permitted by law and the Company’s articles of association in respect of certain losses arising out of, or in, connection with the execution of their powers, duties and responsibilities.
The Company also purchased and maintained Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance throughout the year.
OUR GOVERNANCE
DIRECTORS’ REPORT
The Directors have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 January 2026.
PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND BUSINESS REVIEW
The principal activities of the Group during the year were the provision of legal services, whilst the Company acts principally as a holding company. The results for the year and the financial position of the Group are as shown in the annexed financial statements. A review of the business and its future development is given in the Chairman’s and Chief Executive’s statements together with the Financial Review and Strategic Report.
RESULTS AND DIVIDENDS
The results for the year are set out in the consolidated income statement on page 47. The Directors propose a final ordinary dividend of 17.2p per share subject to the approval at the Annual General Meeting on 18 June 2026.
LIKELY FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Our priorities for the following financial year are disclosed in the Chief Executive’s Statement on pages 09 to 11.
SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDINGS
As far as the Directors are aware, the only notifiable holdings equal to, or in excess of, 3% of the issued ordinary share capital at 25 March 2026 were as shown in the table below:
No. of Shares
% Holding
James Knight
8,927,012
28.15
Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management
3,770,409
11.89
JPMorgan Chase & Co
2,504,399
7.90
Liontrust Asset Management
1,850,707
5.84
Stancroft Trust
1,630,000
5.14
River Global (London)
1,211,144
3.82
Royal London Asset Management
1,130,000
3.56
DIRECTORS AND THEIR INTERESTS
The Directors who served throughout the year, except where otherwise stated, and in place at the date of this report, are as follows:
• James Knight
• Ashley Miller
• Robin Williams
• Isabel Napper
• Salar Farzad The Directors’ interests are included within the Report of the Remuneration Committee.
DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION
Directors’ remuneration, payable in the year ended 31 January 2026, is set out in the Report of the Remuneration Committee.
DIRECTORS’ INDEMNITIES
The Directors are entitled to be indemnified by the Company to the extent permitted by law and the Company’s articles of association in respect of certain losses arising out of, or in, connection with the execution of their powers, duties and responsibilities.
The Company also purchased and maintained Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance throughout the year.