11 minute read
Happenings in Hampshire
At Glanvilles Solicitors we understand the challenges faced by Armed Forces Personnel and their families. As a result, on 21st January 2020 Glanvilles signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge committing to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community.
Glanvilles have signed the covenant pledge to demonstrate that together we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives. As a firm with many colleagues connected to the armed forces community, we wanted to demonstrate our support and very excited to announce our pledge to the Armed Forces Covenant.
In our Conveyancing, Private Client and Family departments, we offer a 10% military discount. In our Conveyancing department we specialise in Forces Help to Buy. Our goal is to assist and understand where possible the challenging roles, environment and commitment our armed forces and their families can face. ■
Jasper Vincent Solicitors – Make A Will Winner
Jasper Vincent Solicitors is extremely proud to have been nominated for the Countess Mountbatten Top Fundraiser Award in the Make a Will Month. Out of the 14 firms that took part in the scheme, 6 were nominated for this award and so we are even prouder to have been announced as the Winner at the Countess Mountbatten Awards Evening on 30 January 2020.
Jasper Vincent Solicitors are very happy and pleased to have been able to devote some of our resources to assisting this worthwhile local cause. We have supported the ‘Make a Will scheme’ for several years now and hope to continue to do so in the future. Jasper Vincent also take part in many other charitable schemes and events. ■
Churchers News
Due to Churchers’ continued growth and development, a new role in the Court of Protection team was created in July 2019. Aliesha Lasisi-Saveall joined the COP team as a Legal Assistant to assist with the increased work-load.
Aliesha Lasisi-Saveall – Legal Assistant to the COP team: “I was welcomed and made to feel like part of the team from the outset. My supervisor Lauren and my mentor Alanna have extensive expertise in Court of Protection matters so I am able to gain invaluable knowledge and experience every day.”
In addition to continued growth, Churchers have been supporting two trainee solicitors in their journey into the world of law.
Eliza Watts – Trainee Solicitor: “I am now four months into my Training Contract and thoroughly enjoying my seat in the matrimonial department. I am taking full advantage of all of the opportunities my team are offering me and I have learnt that there are far more complexities to consider in matrimonial law than I first envisaged. I find this area of law fascinating and the variety of work is really keeping me on my toes. I am particularly enjoying regular attendance in Court, sitting behind Counsel, and being able to have an input into all aspects of a matter to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients.”
Alys Taylor – Trainee Solicitor: “Starting my training contract was a steep learning curve and it has been really enjoyable. The partners have an open door policy so I have always felt comfortable asking any questions or asking for help if needed. The training has been in depth in both style and substance and I have learnt a huge amount. Churchers as a firm have offered me such a lot of personal support and have welcomed me into the team in a lovely way.”
Hampshire law firms merge to strengthen market position
Leading Hampshire law firms, Phillips Solicitors and Brain Chase Coles have merged. The combined firm is now known as Phillips Solicitors incorporating Brain Chase Coles. The firm will be based at the Phillips’ Town Gate offices in London Street, Basingstoke.
It is expected that colleagues currently based at the former Brain Chase Coles Haymarket House offices will have moved to Town Gate by the end of March.
Director Jack Gardener said: “The merger is an important step towards our goal of building the region’s strongest dynamic, fullservice law firm, whilst maintaining the traditional values that both firms were built on.” He said clients will be able to better access a broad spectrum of legal expertise with a wider choice of fee earners, covering areas including: commercial and residential property, corporate and commercial, litigation and dispute resolution, family, wills and probate, estate planning, employment, insurance and education law.
Director Hayley Eachus said: “We’re excited to welcome our new colleagues to our Town Gate offices. The merger offers plenty of opportunities for further development and growth of our teams. The increased scale of the firm also means we continue to be a regional hub for employment in the legal sector, allowing us to better attract the talent we need to service our growing book of clients.”
Elizabeth Ford, who was a partner at Brain Chase Coles and is now a director at the new firm said: “There is a natural and positive cultural fit to both firms which is why the idea of a merger with Phillips felt right. The merger extends and broadens the scope of our combined practice to clients across the region, particularly in commercial and residential real estate, family and private client. We are looking forward to continuing to work with our existing clients and getting to know our new colleagues as we enter this next exciting stage of our history.” ■
Lawyer moves firms for the first time
UK law firm Shoosmiths with 13 locations including Whiteley has expanded its award-winning real estate team with the appointment of Simon Foster as a partner who will work across the south.
Simon previously worked at Laytons Solicitors in Guildford for the entire 13 years of his career and established his name by building a property litigation practice from the ground up. He is recommended in both The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.
Simon has experience in handling proceedings before the County Court, High Court, First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), in contentious property matters at non-statutory public inquiries and in supporting noncontentious property teams. His clients include household name residential developers, owners of commercial and residential property portfolios, retailers, charities, housing associations
and major construction companies.
Nicholas Shepherd, partner said: “Simon Foster is bringing his hallmark energy and enthusiasm that made him a success at his previous firm to Shoosmiths. As a senior property litigation presence, we welcome Simon to our real estate team as our plans for growth continue.”
Moore Blatch recognised as one of the UK’s best law firms
Recognised in The Times Best Law Firms 2020
Mediators Russell Evans & Nicola Cohen at IDRC
Resolve UK Mediators Judge WCA Mediation Competition
Senior Resolve UK Mediation mediators, Russell Evans & Robert Marcus, were appointed to judge the WCA Mediation Competition which took place at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London between 24-26 January 2020.
Competitors included firms such as Linklaters as well as a number of London Chambers. Russell Evans has now judged and mediated at the competition since 2012. Russell Evans has also been invited to judge the International Vis Moot.
Resolve UK Mediation is now celebrating its 8th year as a Ministry of Justice approved civil and commercial Mediation Panel as well as a fully accredited member of the Civil Mediation Council. The Panel has conducted mediations for ftse companies, government agencies, premiership football clubs, world champion sportsmen and national charities as well as many under privileged.
Dr Richard Marks After another successful year of mediation which has included a number of partnership and commercial disputes, contentious probate & Tolata claims as well as a mediation involving the Titanic Papers, Resolve UK Mediation is proud to welcome on board its latest mediator Dr Richard Marks to strengthen the mediation provision of medical negligence and personal injury claims. Dr Marks is a consultant anaesthetist and former Council Member and Vice-President of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. In addition to acting as a College tutor and lecturer he has appeared on ITV Good Morning, Radio 4 and the World Service. He also has a wealth of professional management experience within the NHS and private Hospitals. ■
Katy Barber & Paul Kingsley
Moore Blatch has been recognised by The Times in its prestigious Best Law Firms 2020 list – with a commendation for the firm’s Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence teams. This recognition comes after leading industry publication The Lawyer also cited Moore Blatch as a top UK law firm.
The Times’ peer-reviewed list also references two recent high profile cases from the Family Law and Clinical Negligence teams where Moore Blatch was successful on behalf of it clients. The first case is that of Claire Chipperfield, a midwife, who Katy Barber, Associate Solicitor in the Family Law team, successfully argued was entitled to 50 per cent of the £1 million house she had shared for years with her former boyfriend.
The second case references Paul Kingsley from the Clinical Negligence team who secured one of the highest ever UK clinical negligence payouts of £23 million for a girl whose birth had been mismanaged, leaving her with multiple injuries. Moore Blatch’s education specialist ensured the girl receives support at a special school after taking her case to an education panel tribunal.
Ed Whittington, Managing Partner, Moore Blatch, commented: “These cases demonstrate our commitment to providing first class legal services to our clients, helping individuals and businesses find their way through often complex and difficult situations, whether due to injury, family breakdown, or the myriad of issues that they face. To be recognised by our peers is a fantastic achievement for the firm, and testament to both the calibre of work we undertake and the expertise of our lawyers. I’m delighted that we’ve been recognised in The Times Best Law Firms listing.” ■
Hampshire Law Society – CPD Events Visit our website for the booking form and full details www.hampshirelawsociety.co.uk/cpd-and-training/
Court of Protection Tuesday 21 April 2020
SDLT Tuesday 28 April 2020
Margaret Pine-Coffin, Pump Court Chambers is an experienced child care practitioner. She deals with all aspects of child care applications. Her specialisation is in cases involving serious injury to a child or children and where there may be a parallel criminal investigation.
■ Update on deprivation of liberty ■ Inherent jurisdiction/COP – how far can the court go? ■ Some more about sexual relationships ■ Capacity to marry – new views on the meaning of marriage ■ Habitual residence ■ Medical treatment – the new guidance on applications ■ Fluctuating capacity ■ Appointment of welfare deputies ■ Property and affairs deputies – reporting provisions Paul Clark has been a commercial property solicitor for over 40 years. He is an expert on many aspects of commercial property law. There have been far more changes in the past few years to residential SDLT than to non-residential. However, in most firms the purchase of a shop with one or two flats above it would be handled by a commercial conveyancer and yet, to calculate the correct tax, knowledge of residential surcharge and multiple dwellings relief is essential – plus (where a company is buying) the 15% higher rate and its exemptions.
■ Budget news ■ Guidance on “dwellings” and “grounds” ■ Multiple Dwellings Relief ■ The 3% surcharge (‘higher rates”) ■ The 15% charge on companies (“higher rate”) ■ Issues around multiple dwellings, surcharge and mixed-use ■ The problems of section 75A
Criminal Law Update May 2020
Full details TBA.
Family Law Update Tuesday 2 June 2020
HHJ Simmonds former solicitor and member of the children panel – appointed as a DJ in 2010 as a DJ of the principal registry of the family division and transferred to the western circuit in November 2015. At the PRFD he undertook all forms of family work to include complex children and money.
Conveyancing Update Tuesday 16 June 2020
Richard Snape is a consultant with Davitt Jones Bould. He is a renowned speaker on all aspects of Real Estate Law and he lectures nationwide to a wide audience. Richard has a reputation for delivering practical advice in an entertaining and engaging way.
Property Lecture Tuesday 14 July 2020
Edward Denehan is recommended by Chambers and Partners (2015 Ed.) for Real Estate Litigation. “He is a very robust advocate, who has a good way of speaking in layman’s terms and is able to get his message across.” “He is pretty impressive when he is on his feet.”
Conveyancing continues to undergo major changes and the course will aim to look at the most important changes and their effect on the conveyancer. He is also recommended for Property Litigation in the Legal 500 and has been for many years. The 2014 Edition describes him as having ‘An impressive understanding of restrictive covenants affecting land.’
Unless otherwise notified all lectures take place at the Holiday Inn, Leigh Rd, Eastleigh SO50 9PG from 13.45 – 16.45 There is free parking at the venue distributed via email. You can find more detail on each lecture on our website: www.hampshirelawsociety.co.uk administration@hampshirelawsociety.co.uk
– PRICING –1.5 hour lecture: £55.00 (Non Member £70.00) 3 hour lecture: £90.00 (Non Member £130.00)
Members can take advantage of our CPD Smart Scheme. Book multiple places and receive greater discounts. Book a total of 10 places and save a total of £180.00 against the individual booking fee.
Total No. of Places Booked Price Discount % 1–4 £90.00 Nil
5–9 £81.00 10% 10–19 £72.00 20% 20–30 £67.50 25% 30+ £63.00 30%
