SMITHS-LAW_LLP - Accounts

The members of the limited liability partnership have elected not to include a copy of the profit and loss account within the financial statements.

For the financial year ended 31 March 2022 the limited liability partnership was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 (as applied by the Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts and Audit) (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2008) relating to small limited liability partnerships.

The members acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act (as applied to limited liability partnerships) with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These financial statements have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to limited liability partnerships subject to the small limited liability partnerships regime.

Smiths-Law LLP is a limited liability partnership incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 3rd Floor, 5 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1LG.

The limited liability partnership's principal activities are disclosed in the Members' Report.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting by Limited Liability Partnerships" issued in December 2018, together with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The disclosure requirements of section 1A of FRS 102 have been applied other than where additional disclosure is required to show a true and fair view.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the limited liability partnership. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

Turnover represents the amounts recoverable for the services provided to clients, excluding value added tax, under contractual obligations which are performed gradually over time.

If, at the Balance sheet date, completion of contractual obligations is dependent on external factors (and thus outside the control of the Limited Liability Partnership), then revenue is recognised only when the event occurs. In such cases, costs incurred up to the Balance sheet date are carried forward as work in progress.

Members' participation rights are the rights of a member against the LLP that arise under the members' agreement (for example, in respect of amounts subscribed or otherwise contributed remuneration and profits).

Members' participation rights in the earnings or assets of the LLP are analysed between those that are, from the LLP's perspective, either a financial liability or equity, in accordance with section 22 of FRS 102. A member's participation rights including amounts subscribed or otherwise contributed by members, for example members' capital, are classed as liabilities unless the LLP has an unconditional right to refuse payment to members, in which case they are classified as equity.

All amounts due to members that are classified as liabilities are presented within 'Loans and other debts due to members' and, where such an amount relates to current year profits, they are recognised within ‘Members' remuneration charged as an expense’ in arriving at the relevant year’s result.

Profits are automatically divided as they arise, so the LLP does not have an unconditional right to refuse payment and the amounts arising that are due to members are in the nature of liabilities. They are therefore treated as an expense and presented as members remuneration charged as an expense in arriving at the result for the relevant year. To the extent that they remain unpaid at the period end, they are shown as liabilities.

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the profit and loss account.

At each reporting period end date, the limited liability partnership reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

Stocks represent work in progress unbilled at the balance sheet date. They are stated at the lower of cost and estimated realisable value less costs to completion.

At each reporting date, an assessment is made for impairment. Any excess of the carrying amount of stocks over its estimated realisable value less costs to completion is recognised as an impairment loss in profit or loss. Reversals of impairment losses are also recognised in profit or loss.

The limited liability partnership has only has assets which are classified as basic financial instruments.

Short-term debtors and creditors are measured at the settlement value. Any losses from impairment are recognised in profit and loss.

Equity instruments issued by the limited liability partnership are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the limited liability partnership.

Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation in the period are included in profit or loss.

The average number of persons (excluding members) employed by the partnership during the year was:

In the event of a winding up the amounts included in "Loans and other debts due to members" will rank equally with unsecured creditors.