Francis Benali and key Southampton charities join Paris Smith LLP for rare dinner in the Mayor’s Parlour

Paris Smith LLP was gifted the rare opportunity to dine with the Mayor of Southampton following its landmark 200th anniversary and invited Francis Benali and key Southampton charities along.

The firm, which has offices in Southampton and Winchester, took the opportunity to invite charities within the city, to the dinner held in the Mayor’s Parlour in Southampton’s Civic Centre.  It also gave Paris Smith the opportunity to congratulate Franny Benali on his incredible Ironman efforts and reaching his goal of raising £1 million for Cancer Research UK, of which Paris Smith’s recent donation contributed.

In attendance from Paris Smith were senior partner and head of charities Nick Vaughan and head of planning, Janet May.

Nick said: “It is a great honour to have the Mayor of Southampton host this dinner in the Mayor's Parlour as an acknowledgement of Paris Smith's 200 years of providing legal services in Southampton.  It was especially poignant it was the current Mayor, Councillor Stephen Barnes-Andrews' final event of this mayoral year as the 796th Mayor of Southampton.

“We wished to mark this special occasion by inviting individuals and representatives from charities which make a real difference within the city. The dinner also coincided with the end of Francis Benali's incredible Ironman challenge and we hope Paris Smith’s recent donation contributed towards his £1 million target.”

The charities in attendance were Age UK Southampton, The Rotary Club of Southampton, Hampshire and IOW Air Ambulance, Thorners Homes, No Limits South, Solent Mind, Weston Church Youth Project, Autism Hampshire, Mayflower Theatre Trust and The Society of St James.

Joining the Mayor and his wife, the 22 attending enjoyed a three course dinner of salmon roulade, ballotine of lamb and cheesecake.

For further information on Paris Smith LLP and its work with local charities, please visit www.parissmith.co.uk.