What others say.

I have known Paul for a number of years now and he has never failed me in any of the challenging tasks which were set for him. He is highly respected and trusted in many sectors particularly for finance in the legal Sector, in fact, he is my go to when firms ask for help.

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Paul’s understanding of financial management, combined with his specialist knowledge of anti-money laundering and the wider regulatory framework, sets him apart and firms have benefited greatly from his advice and guidance.

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As a highly experienced and respected Lexcel assessor, Paul consistently delivers practical, high-quality guidance tailored to the needs of law firms. Clients regularly highlight the significant value he brings, often crediting his support as instrumental to their success.

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His ability to integrate financial and risk management knowledge provides firms with a level of assurance and confidence that is second to none. I would have no hesitation in highly recommending Paul to law firms who may need trusted support, they will not be disappointed.

The services has been excellent and matters moved through quickly. Would be happy to ask for your help again.

We have been thoroughly impressed with the exceptional services provided by Gemstone Legal. Paul’s unparalleled expertise in client money, combined with his deep understanding of the regulatory framework, has consistently assured us that we were in the safest hands. We highly recommend that others reach out to Paul for his outstanding guidance and support.

I highly recommend Paul and his company Gemstone Legal, he has been so helpful and nothing is too much trouble for him, one of the keen things I like is his fast responses, Paul replies immediately and offers good rates and is very informative and keeps you updated from start to finish and get the job done in record time.  He is very friendly and we will certainly use him again.

I am so thankful that I found Paul and his company Gemstone Legal. Managing a law firm can be a lonely and challenging task and Paul is always there to offer impartial and objective advice which is invaluable.  I would recommend having a chat with Paul to anyone who would like to fine tune the financial management of their firm.  He is friendly and offers good common sense advice.  I’m definitely pleased that I picked up the phone.

As a recently established ABS operating in an increasingly regulated environment, we wanted independent validation that our approach to AML and our accompanying policies and procedures were all SRA compliant.  Hence we appointed Paul to conduct an AML audit and to review our documentation. Paul was approachable, very knowledgeable and well organised and produced a very helpful and constructive report. This has given us the comfort we sought.  I have no hesitation in recommending Gemstone Legal.

We had a fantastic experience working with Paul and the team at Gemstone Legal. The process was handled smoothly, communication was excellent throughout, and everything was completed efficiently. Paul was professional, approachable and proactive at every stage. We would not hesitate to recommend Gemstone Legal and look forward to working with them again in the future.

Paul was friendly and approachable to all staff which immediately put everyone at ease for our independent AML Audit. Paul is extremely knowledgeable and thorough giving constructive feedback – highlighting both positive aspects and identifying areas for additional consideration. A comprehensive report was produced in good time and Paul made himself available for a follow up session in his own time’

Paul has been simply excellent for us. He offers accurate, objective advice that has been instrumental in ensuring we are SRA compliant and fully prepared Lexcel Accreditation. Paul’s greatest asset, however, is the calmness in which he handles any day-to-day issues and questions we have. He never panics and always delivers a sensible, re-assuring solution. This allows us to focus on what we do best-helping clients!

Paul McCluskey advised us on the best rates of interest available for our client and office funds. His advice and introduction to certain banks to enable us to maximise the return on our funds has proved to be very advantageous to our practice. Paul always does his best for his clients. I would have no hesitation in recommending his services.

Paul advised the firm on its banking facilities through his relationships in the banking sector making a significant difference to client and the firm on the interest earned through holding client money. We have always found Paul to advise on what’s best for the firm not what will earn Gemstone more income and is a trusted advisor

We first heard a presentation given by Paul in October 2020 during the pandemic and experiencing a very uncertain trading period. His knowledge and experience assisted in obtaining better banking terms not only with a new bank but also gave us some valuable tips to negotiate with our current bank. I am a great believer in seeking advice from people based on their core competence area and this is exactly what Paul offers. 

It is not something we would have done without Paul’s input on how to get the best out of our client funds. He showed how easy it was to shop around for accounts to achieve the best interest rates and then simply moving money into different accounts to get the best value from our client funds. Paul has always been approachable and easy to deal with and we would be happy to recommend his services to anybody.

Paul provided a prompt, friendly and efficient service, demonstrating industry specific knowledge to provide us with the support and assistance that we were looking for.

I have known Paul for several years, both at Gemstone and in his previous role heading up Lloyds’s work with Law firms.  Whilst at Lloyds he spoke at several Law Society conferences and is an excellent public speaker.  Since setting up Gemstone he has presented to a number of my clients and has an in depth knowledge of his subject.  

After looking at the requirements of our governing body in relation to an annual AML review we decided that this was something best undertaken by an external expert.  We were put in touch with Paul at Gemstone and from thereon the process was well organised and dealt with promptly.  Staff felt at ease talking with Paul for their interviews and did not feel like they were being interrogated at all.  Communication was great and the process as a whole was less stressful, straightforward and simple under Paul’s guidance.

Paul McCluskey (Gemstone) offered a first rate service when offering guidance on SRA compliance. His years of applicable experience meant that he was able to both talk in our language and provide the targeted advice that we needed.

Comments following delivery of inhouse company wide training on AML and Financial Crime

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I found Paul to be so engaging and up to date and it was relevant to what we do.  

Paul made it so much easier to understand, especially when scenarios were used. I enjoyed his sense of humour too, which was welcome. 

The best AML training I’ve had so far, and I hope we have more training in the future from him!​

Thank you Paul.  You have been a great discovery and all your help and good advice has been much appreciated. 

Paul who carried out our assessment was very good at putting all staff at their ease.  He was clear in what he was asking for, and had a friendly disposition.  I have heard cases where people have said it felt like the inquisition, however not with the chap who did our assessment, if anything, it felt like a learning experience on how we could improve the level of our service to our clients.

Paul was an easy choice when I asked him to contribute to my book Mergers with the Benefit of Hindsight. My overall vision was a practical and relatable guide not some weighty legal tome that would be admired and put on a shelf to look good. I literally have sweaty palms at the thought of complex financial explanations with no desire to read further, so what Paul brings with his financial stability scorecard and financial benchmarking is a brilliant “dummies guide” and I say that as an accolade.

Thanks again for all your help and support.  Your handling of the process really did make all the difference!

Paul had been recommended as a contact for the firms independent AML audit.  Paul was a pleasure to deal with, making, what we thought was going to be a bit of an ordeal, a smooth, well organised, friendly experience.  The staff were comfortable with his approach, making them feel at ease.  The audit report was clear, concise and any questions were answered pragmatically with expert guidance.  I would not hesitate in recommending Paul for an AML audit for your firm

Paul’s knowledge of the legal industry, his expertise & connections mean that he is invaluable. His kindness & the support he provides set him apart from others offering the same service.  I’d like to thank Paul McCluskey for helping me to achieve my dream. He’s a brilliant person to have on side

Comments following completion of an independent AML audit. 

Paul had a very good manner which put people who were nervous at ease so they were able to answer his questions. He was inquisitive and constructive, giving praise where due. He was thorough and reassuring with a comprehensive report giving excellent guidance on matters to consider.

Paul is a very talented individual and has developed a depth of knowledge about the legal profession. There is no doubt that Paul could actually run a Law firm with both his people and financial skills. Apart from that he’s a thoroughly nice chap!

Your words / thoughts gave me the confidence to go forward and to give the 'my own firm' project a real go..... Three and a half years after launch, we have two members of staff.  A third is set to join in January. Just wanted to say a big thank you - it was tough at the start, but you gave me a bit of confidence to really give it a go.

Comments following a Lexcel assessment

I have to say, it has been a pleasant experience being assessed by Paul. Paul's in-depth knowledge and very professional approach to our assessment provided the guidance and further importance on the need for our firm to maintain the Lexcel gold standard we have received.

What Paul has created is very impressive.  The whole process has been streamlined to the point where the customer’s only concern is inputting data on to the documents that you will need to complete for him to find you the best interest rate for your client’s money.’-Darren Maynard – Legal Cashier

Paul was an absolute pleasure to work with. His knowledge of and contacts within the legal sector are second to none. He was able to bring to bear his experience in managing large sales team to help us form a sales strategy, process and ongoing training for sales staff targeting the legal sector.

Paul has made a massive difference to the role of treasurer at Saffron Walden Town Fc. As Chairman I needed someone who would, not only look after the finances but also look at ways to create the business model of our club with the right finance opportunities. On a personal note Paul has helped my own company with various projects and has always come up with the right plan. Highly recommended. You come up with fantastic ideas! #OutsideTheBoxThinker

Paul was a fantastic help in advising on all things financial when we recently set up our new law firm. His experience of the banking world and legal sector gives him a wealth of knowledge to draw on as well as giving practical advice on options available regarding financing, as well as helping to move things forward very proactively. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him and Gemstone to others.