Law Firm’s Family Team Expands after Growth in Demand

Esther Stirling, Gareth Williams and Denise Wilkinson

legal expertise being available for their clients and the sector as a whole.

Denise Wilkinson, head of the agriculture and rural affairs team, said: “Although we have more sector specialists post-merger, we share a common focus - providing tailored advice to each client, informed by a real understanding of their individual circumstances and the agricultural industry.

“I am delighted that, for former Hewitsons clients, the merger adds more depth and experience particularly in agricultural dispute resolution and advice on regulatory, health and safety and environmental matters.”

Esther Stirling, head of agricultural dispute resolution, also welcomed Hewitsons’ strong track record of supporting those involved in the rural economy.

She said: “I particularly like the fact that, as a team, we can offer advice to anyone in the sector, and on everything that they might encounter day to day plus all the essential strategic planning that farmers and rural landowners require.”

Gareth Williams, head of agricultural property, said: “Our clients include everyone from farmers, landed estates and institutions, landed charities and those who own rural property for leisure or investment purposes. We can offer advice based on years of specialist knowledge both relating to both the law and the rural businesses environment. As well as wrestling with the post CAP agricultural policies, hot topics for our clients include carbon capture, biodiversity net gain and renewables for landowners.”

The growing team is spread across all 11 of the merged firm’s offices with centres of excellence in Cambridge, Cardiff, Hereford, Northampton and the Wye Valley.

Law firm’s family team expands after growth in demand

A Worcestershire law firm has expanded its family division amid rising demand for its services including advice around cohabitation and pre-nuptial agreements. mfg Solicitors has welcomed newly- qualified lawyers Amy McGowan- Docherty and Katie Banks to its respected family team where they will work across the firm’s offices in Worcestershire alongside head of department Claire Backler, partners Katherine Tippetts, Gurdip Brring, Alison Webber and senior associate Rupinder Nandra.

The growth of mfg’s 13-strong family division comes as the team are responding to rising numbers of enquiries for their specialist advice.

Claire Backler, partner and head of the Family Division at mfg Solicitors, said: “We have remained busy throughout the pandemic as people re-evaluated their lives, but we have been experiencing a further upturn in demand for our services as people look to the future. This includes more people wanting to formalise cohabitation agreements without getting married and a host of other marital and family issues.

“As fewer and fewer couples opt for marriage, this is an area of work that is