During this roundtable event we will dive into system-level insights that are difficult to capture through surveys or large events.
Agenda:
14:00 - 15:30 Roundtable discussion 1 - informed challenge, shared learning, honest reflection and actions on how legal services and adjacent support systems can support SMEs.
15:30 - 16:00 Refeshment break
16:00 - 17:30 Roundtable discussion 2 (Planning) - how small businesses experience legal problems in real life, and how they find their way through advice, support and legal services when issues arise.
Roundtable 1
The discussion would be structured around questions such as:
- What legal issues most commonly arise for small businesses at different stages of growth or stress?
- How do small businesses typically decide when to seek legal help and who to approach?
- Where do advice, regulation, technology, accounting, and business support intersect — and where are the gaps?
- What approaches appear most effective at reducing cost, complexity, or risk for small businesses?
- What barriers prevent innovation or collaboration in serving this market?
- What is the role of regulation, if any, in addressing these issues?
Roundtable 2:
Legal problems are common for small businesses, but they often appear at moments of pressure. Many business owners are unsure:
- what help is available,
- which options they can trust, or
- how to act early to stop problems getting worse.
The event brings together small businesses, advisers and intermediaries, legal and non‑legal providers, and public sector stakeholders to reflect the full system that shapes outcomes for small businesses.
Rather than formal presentations, the event is designed around show‑and‑tell, discussion and practical pathways:
- what support exists,
- where it works well,
- where it breaks down, and
- how different parts of the system connect in practice.
