Copley joined the BPIF 16 years ago and was instrumental in developing BPIF Legal Ltd, the organisation’s legal business, making the BPIF the only UK trade association to offer its own law firm for members. It was launched around two years ago after the BPIF achieved it's Alternative Business Structure (ABS) licence from the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Copley will step down at the end of May and will be succeeded by Nicola Langley who currently heads the BPIF’s commercial legal services operations.
Copley said she had enjoyed her time with the BPIF: “Coming from a notoriously ‘risk-averse’ profession, I have been continually amazed and impressed by our members’ business leaders’ ability to take tough decisions every day, which impact both on their own bottom line and that of all their employees.
“I only hope some of that courage has rubbed off on me as I head off into other projects. Some of you will know of my intention to write a book based on historical research arising from my acquiring a house in Italy. Hopefully I won’t be stuck for advice on printing and publishing when the time comes!”
Chief executive Charles Jarrold said Copley would be “sorely missed” after being an integral part of the organisation for so long.
“I’ve particularly valued her ability to explain to us and to members, how to get from A to B when dealing with tricky issues, using her extensive knowledge and experience to develop practical solutions to challenges. That and her energy, enthusiasm and sense of humour will be missed – I wish her a very happy retirement,” he added.
According to Jarrold, Langley, who joined the BPIF in 2007, was appointed to take the reins at BPIF Legal after “an exacting recruitment process”.
She is due to take over on 1 June and said her immediate focus will be expanding the legal services available as part of their members' package.
"With an ABS licence BPIF Legal can be more flexible with the range of legal services that we offer to members because we are able to charge for specific legal services outside of what is included in their subscription payments. It gives members a fuller range of options and rather than charging by the hour or day as the high-street firms do, we charge economical fixed fees and offer retainers," Langley said.
"Anne has done a fabulous job in setting up the ABS and getting everything in place and running smoothly and now I want to focus on developing a wider scope of legal services available to members as part of their subscription. I'm keen to add value for them and I'll be looking at ways we can diversify and broaden the support they get."
She continued: "The nature of the goods and services that our members produce is diversifying. There is still a huge market for traditional print but they are moving into other areas, whether it be warehousing and call-off procedures, digital and online services or fulfilment services.
"Our members are an innovative and creative bunch of people and so as their customers require different things from them, their legal support needs to change too."
The BPIF is also recruiting a new employment law specialist, to replace the specialism the team loses through Copley's retirement, and hopes to have appointed someone by 1 June.
