Tag Archives: wills

News

Quartet promoted at Bromleys Solicitors

Four solicitors have been promoted to senior associate at Tameside law firm Bromleys.

The quartet are Anthony Theakston, Kate Allsop, Rachael Frankland and Francesca Rigby.

Senior and managing partner Mark Hirst said: “This round of promotions reflects the acknowledged expertise of each individual in their respective fields as well as recognising their dedication, the success they have achieved for their clients and their contribution to the growth of the firm.

“Anthony, Kate, Rachael and Francesca all have a great future here with Bromleys and are integral members of our growing team. Their promotions are very well-deserved.”

Anthony, who joined Bromleys in 2018, works in the care proceedings and children services team. He specialises in child care work and deals with private and public law matters, representing children, parents and other family members where there are disputes within families or involvement with social services.

He is a member of the Law Society’s Children Law Accreditation Scheme, which independently recognises and accredits specialists in children and family law work.

Kate also works in Bromleys’ care proceedings and children services team. She mainly acts for children, parents and other family members in care and adoption proceedings and in private law proceedings relating to children and special guardianship cases and advising parents involved in social services disputes. She also has expertise in the field of domestic abuse and forced marriage protection cases.

Kate has held the Higher Courts Rights of Audience qualification since 2012, when at the age of 27 she became one of the youngest solicitors in the UK to achieve this accreditation from the Solicitors Regulation Authority due to her expertise. She is also a member of the Law Society’s Children Law Accreditation Scheme, Resolution and Child Concern.

Rachael splits her time between dispute resolution and employment work. She has a broad practice in relation to disputes, advising on contractual and commercial matters, neighbour disputes, contested wills, landlord-tenant matters, professional negligence claims, insolvency and bankruptcy, debt collection and credit control.

Her employment expertise covers contentious and non-contentious work, including drafting contracts of employment, staff handbooks, employment policies and advice on TUPE transfers.

She also has wide experience of contested claims on behalf of employers and employees in the High Court and County Courts for injunctions to enforce restrictive covenants and money claims, and in employment tribunals for unfair or wrongful dismissal, discrimination and unlawful deductions from wages.

Rachael’s litigation work includes representing clients in cases involving injuries at work, road accidents, public liability claims and Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority claims. Rachael, who has been at Bromleys since joining as a trainee, is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

Francesca joined Bromleys last year as the head of its Wills and Probate and Court of Protection teams. She specialises in all private client matters, including wills, probate, lasting powers of attorney, Court of Protection work, trusts and elderly client administration.

She is a member of both the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE), a global professional body comprising lawyers, accountants, financial advisers, trustees and other practitioners who help families plan for the future. Her memberships recognise her as an expert in the field of wills and probate.

Meanwhile, several non-legal staff at Bromleys have also been promoted. Hailie Applegate has been promoted to associate in the accounts department, where Jackie Brindley has been promoted to legal cashier. Caroline Renshaw, a law costs draftsman, and practice manager Louise Nolan have also become associates.

They are the first non-legal members of staff to be promoted under the firm’s career path, which was recently amended to recognise people’s expertise in specialist areas, not just in the legal field.

Appointments, Law, News

Senior appointment for Aaron and Partners’ Contentious Estates team

The Wills, Trusts and Tax department at legal firm Aaron and Partners has announced a senior appointment to help meet increasing demand from private clients.

Vlad Macdonald-Munteanu joins as a Senior Associate, specialising in contested wills, trusts and estates. The new hire adds a range of experience to the firm, having specialised in the resolution of contentious probate matters for the last six years and being listed in both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners directories – two coveted industry guides.

Vlad’s appointment will see him help to deal with high value and complex claims for a wide range of clients. He is known for taking a personable approach and has successfully pursued claims in the High Court and Court of Appeal, as well as resolving matters through a variety of alternative methods.

“I’m very pleased to be joining Aaron and Partners and to be part of a team that is already so well regarded,” said Vlad.

“The Wills, Trusts and Tax team at Aaron and Partners has an outstanding reputation for delivering outcomes that focus on clients’ needs and I’m looking forward to being able to strengthen the services they offer and enable us to help even more clients across the country.”

Clive Pointon, Partner and Head of Wills, Trusts and Tax at Aaron and Partners said, “We’re very pleased to welcome Vlad to the team. His appointment comes following increased demand of new instructions and additional work for clients seeking expert advice in contentious probate matters.”

Vlad will be working remotely from Cardiff but will be supporting the firm’s Chester and Shrewsbury-based teams following a rise in enquiries and instructions relating to contested estates probate.

He is also a member of The Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) – a forum for leading specialists in contentious trust and probate work.

Clive added: “Vlad has a fantastic reputation and a wealth of experience in dealing with complex claims, and with remote working much more prevalent, we’re delighted that he will now be supporting our teams in Chester and Shrewsbury, as well as growing our offering in South Wales too.”

Coronavirus, Economy & Jobs News, Law, Legal News

Spike in family members challenging Wills since onset of Covid pandemic

THE number of people making a will has increased dramatically since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic.

That in turn led to a rise in family members contesting ‘lockdown wills’ as thousands of people of all ages across the country – notably the clinically vulnerable – rushed to get their affairs in order.

These factors, coupled with the added strain on mental health, having more time to reflect in self-isolation and health fears alleviated by Covid-19, all contributed to a surge in numbers.

Edward Hughes Solicitors, based in Rhyl and Colwyn Bay, has experienced this trend in past months.

There have been challenges from those who were left out of a will, or with questions over whether it was properly signed and witnessed, how much they were left and the deceased’s mental capacity at the time of writing the document.

“There are several contributing factors,” said senior partner David Jones.

“Many people are suffering financial hardship and there is widespread concern and even panic in some instances – which is understandable given the unprecedented situation we are in – among more elderly members of the community and retirees who want to secure the futures of their loved ones.

“To see a subsequent increase in people contesting wills is down to the challenges many are facing and, given widely reported issues around mental health and dementia, what the deceased frame of mind was when the will was signed.

“This is all unfortunate, but it is happening – as well as forgery and fraud of wills – so we try to be there to support clients who have any questions and avoid these disputes during what is already a torrid and emotional time.”

Last March, solicitors nationwide reported an immediate rise of more than 75% in will enquiries due to the uncertainty around the virus.

With lockdown rules in effect, they were forced to find alternative socially distanced ways to ensure correct procedure was observed, and PPE (personal protective equipment) and video conferencing became the norm.

But that in turn could lead to future probate battles in court, added David.

“Even where the intention and requests of the deceased seem clear, an estate could still be contested under law,” he said.

“This can be a complicated process so we urge anyone in this position to get in touch and, where possible, together we can work towards an amicable outcome for all concerned.”

For more information, visit www.qualitysolicitors.com/edwardhughes and follow them on social media @QSEH_Solicitors.