About

Who are we?

Ink & Dots is a content marketing and training agency based in London that specialises in working with law firms, other professional services firms and property agents, both residential and commercial. Our background in these areas means we understand your business. And our experience in journalism means we have the skills to put your message across to your audience. 

Simon Manuel

Ink & Dots was founded by director Simon Manuel.

Background as a solicitor

I started my career as a copywriter and journalist in 2011 after practising for 24 years as a solicitor, mainly in commercial and residential property. The last 10 of these years were spent as a partner in a firm called Clegg Manuel based in Clerkenwell that I set up in 2000 with Richard Clegg.  We sold the firm in 2010.  

Retraining as a journalist

The next couple of years were pretty hectic as I combined my duties as a consultant to a law firm with getting my copywriting career off the ground and doing an MA in Magazine Journalism at Kingston University. 

One of the things I particularly enjoyed was going out on work experience. I was lucky enough to spend time at The Telegraph, The Sunday Times Magazine, Shortlist and Champions. Every day was different and I felt as if I was on a steep learning curve.

Through Kingston University I began freelancing at Haymarket Network and worked on the award-winning Daily Programmes for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The excitement of being on the desks while the Games were going on and having to produce copy as the clock ticked towards deadline is something I will never forget. 

That job led in turn to me doing more journalism at Haymarket Network, in particular for men’s magazine Forever Sports where I worked as a sub-editor for two years.

At the same time, I acted as a part time marketing consultant to a firm of London estate agents and started producing content for some London law firms and other property agents. 

Ink & Dots

At the beginning of 2015, I decided to focus exclusively on Ink & Dots. This gives me the best of all worlds as it uses all the skills I have acquired over the years in law, property and journalism. 

It also allows me to use the knowledge I built up working for so many years running my own solicitors’ practice and being involved in the commercial and residential property market.

I focus on these industries as they are the ones I know best.

A bit of personal information

I am the proud father of three boys, have a season ticket at Chelsea FC and am a keen golfer.