Happenings in Hampshire

HAPPENINGS IN HAMPSHIRE

Paris Smith continues to invest in its people

Paris Smith is delighted to announce the appointment of four new trainees, together with a number of other promotions and new hires across the firm.

Trainees Sian McKernon, Louis Iveson, Henry Goodchild and Minaz Rahman started with the firm on 1 October, following a virtual assessment day back in the summer.

Since lockdown in March, the firm has appointed five new solicitors and two paralegals, as well as adding to its data and compliance team. Sue Murphy has also joined the firm in the new position of head of business development and digital marketing. These appointments emphasise the firm’s commitment to investing in its people, across all departments.

Peter Taylor, Managing Partner; “We are committed to helping all members of Paris Smith reach their full potential, to be the best versions of themselves, in an inspiring and safe working environment. The pandemic has not altered that sense of purpose. Indeed, we have expanded our team during the pandemic such has been the interest in the solutions and experience we are able to offer our clients and our communities.

We are particularly delighted to welcome our 2020 cohort of prospective solicitors as they start their practical training after many years of academic focus. They join at an exciting time as we pivot the business to a more flexible way of working, maintaining our culture and ongoing commitment to enabling our clients to thrive through responsive, reliable and relevant expert advice.” ■

Partner of Winchester firm Shentons Solicitors and Mediators awarded top legal prize

Partner Chloe Jay has been awarded the top prize at the Law Society’s Excellence Awards – the highest accolade for law firms in England and Wales.

Chloe was announced as winner of the Solicitor of the Year in England and Wales. The judges noted that her social impact was “truly inspiring” – from speaking to students about legal careers to campaigning for legal funding, she is an exceptional example of a criminal defence solicitor who is dedicated to her work.

The event – held virtually for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic – shines a spotlight on the achievements of solicitors in England and Wales. Professionals and their firms are recognised across a range of categories covering all areas of legal practice and business.

Chloe said: ‘I am completely honoured to receive this award and am immensely proud to be a solicitor working in criminal justice.’

Shaun Underhill, Senior Partner, Shentons: ‘I am immensely proud of Chloe and her achievements which are a credit to her and her determination, ability, empathy, compassion and humility whilst making hard yards in criminal defence; we are delighted for her and equally so that she is a partner in Shentons.’

Law Society of England and Wales President David Greene said: ‘2020 has been an extremely challenging year for the profession and the public.

Solicitors have gone above and beyond in order to keep individual and business clients out of trouble, often at risk to their own mental, physical and financial health.

At the Law Society Excellence Awards, we come together to celebrate outstanding success.

There are more than 9,000 firms and 190,000 solicitors in England and Wales, so to win an Excellence Award is an extraordinary achievement.

Congratulations to all the winners and those shortlisted.’ ■

Portsmouth solicitors completes merger to open a second Isle of Wight office in Newport

A a merger to open its second office on the Isle of Wight, expanding the firm’s clientele and allowing people on the island to access more legal services.

Biscoes Solicitors, one of the region’s leading law firms, with offices in Gosport, Petersfield, Portchester, Waterlooville, Wickham and Ryde, merged with Newport-based firm Wheelers Solicitors on October 1.

The merger gives business clients, individual clients and members of the Armed Forces in and around Newport access to a complete range of legal services.

As well as this, it adds an eighth office to Biscoes branches and its second office on the Island.

In 2018, it successfully merged with Heyes Samuel and Co in Ryde and Gurney-Champion and Co in Portsmouth.

This merger marks another important strategic development for Biscoes Solicitors.

Latest in widening its reach on the Isle of Wight, Nicholas Gurney- Champion, formerly of Gurney-Champion and Co, will jointly head the new Newport office with previous principal, Paul Wheeler.

Nicholas was born on the Island and has a family tree which can be traced back more than 400 years of Island inhabitants. Biscoes’ managing director, Alison Lee said: ‘We’re delighted to welcome our colleagues at Wheelers as part of the Biscoes team.

‘As well as bringing fresh talent and new expertise into our organisation, this merger will allow us to work with businesses and individuals in and around Newport on the Isle of Wight who may have previously been outside our network of local offices.

‘This move will bring real benefits to existing clients of both firms. We are especially pleased to have, as part of the Biscoes offering, a second office on the Isle of Wight that will be staffed by people who live on and love the Island.

‘We can now offer to the residents of Newport not only property, Wills and estate administration advice but also a greater range of legal services, including civil litigation, personal injury, Immigration, mental health and family and fertility law advice to the residents of Newport.’

In 2018, Biscoes, which has been running since 1964, was named Family Law Firm of the Year at the Family Law Awards and has, twice in the past four years, been named the Hampshire Law Society Law Firm of the Year in the Under 20 Partners Category.

In 2019, the firm won the LawNetUK National Enterprise Award for progress and engagement.

In the same year, it was awarded the Gold Employer Recognition Award in the Armed Forces Recognition Scheme – and was then only one of 150 businesses in the country to hold the award.

The new merger gives the firm a more modern outlook and very strong corporate social responsibility policy, working with the local community.

Retirement and recent recruit After 63 years in the law, John Cobbett who was based at Biscoes’ North End office has retired to enjoy his hobbies which include DIY, photography and gardening.

John Cobbett

He served the community with his extensive knowledge of commercial, probate and trust matters and latterly he acted solely as an executor and trustee and as a notary public.

He qualified in 1957, spent time at King & Franckeiss in Portsmouth, who merged with Biscoes in 2004 and officially retired from the firm on October 30.

In 2018, John and recommended the law-graduate grandson of a family friend, Luke Brown, for work experience at the firm. Luke impressed the partners with his enthusiasm and was subsequently offered a training contract. Luke studied at the University of Portsmouth for his LPC alongside his training contract in the residential conveyancing department.

Luke Brown

Sadly, due to COVID-19, the firm were unable to celebrate John’s contribution as they would have liked, but instead lined the car park for his final departure from the office and sent him off with a clap and a wave. ■

New divorce and family lawyer

Jasper Vincent is very pleased to have recruited and engaged Aggie Rudy an experienced Divorce and Family Lawyer. Aggie, has practiced law in South Africa for the last number of years and she will Head our Family Department and be based at our Segensworth office.

Aggie Rudy

Aggie considers herself an ethical practitioner who understands that the breakdown of a marriage is one of the most distressing times in one’s life and insists on fairness especially when children and financial division of assets are involved. Aggie is always looking for a positive outcome for all parties involved in such matters. She will be responsible for building the firm’s profile and reputation within the field of Family Law and we are excited at the possibilities that lie ahead

Aggie lives in Southsea and is very family orientated, she is an avid reader and runner. Like all members of Jasper Vincent Solicitors, Aggie has strong family and community ties. Jasper Vincent would like to pass on their Congratulations to Aggie on this new role and we look forward to working with her as we move in to 2021. ■