Viv Williams’s recent comments really rubbed salt into a wound which was just beginning to heal.

I set up my practice 25 years ago and operated as a sole practitioner for all of those years, highly successfully. I had a superb, loyal following which resulted in the majority of instructions coming from recommendations from satisfied clients - not customers.

Financially, the practice was highly rewarding also. Nevertheless, I had to give the practice away; no money changed hands. Ironically, one of the last transactions I dealt with was the sale of a small local fish and chip shop, whose goodwill was valued at £120,000. Makes you wonder doesn't it?

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