Tell us about yourself
I am a solicitor and a qualified tax adviser; After working in banking and for Age Concern I qualified in 2001 and joined Atkins Hope in 2007.
What is your Expertise?
My specialist expertise lies in the field of Estate Planning and services specifically designed for older clients. I cover a range of areas that help clients plan for a more secure future for themselves and their families. These include:
- Trusts and Tax planning
- Will writing
- Enduring and Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Elderly client issues
- Tax compliance
- Court of Protection applications
- Probate and estate administration
What do you offer clients of Atkins Hope Solicitors?
A high level of expertise; I have recently successfully resisted a claim for approximately three quarters of a million pounds from HM Revenue and Customs.
Secondly, I like to think my informal approach helps put clients at ease. Naturally I am professional, but I feel it is important to create a comfortable air when dealing with complex, serious issues like estate planning.
I think clients benefit from my breadth of experience outside the law.
What else would you like to tell us about your role?
Two years working for Age Concern gave me considerable insight into most aspects of the issues faced by older people which means that, when dealing with the Public Guardianship Office, the Court of Protection and Community Care issues amongst other things, I have the technical know-how to get the finer details spot on which can save clients considerably in terms of money and time.
My twenty year background in banking adds to my ability to deal in depth with money and asset related issues.
Specialist Panel and Association Membership show you have reached a notable level of expertise and experience in your specialist area of law. Do you belong to any of these?
I am an Associate of the Federation of Tax Advisers.
Could you give us a quote?
“Law is a people business. My business is to provide people with complete peace of mind via the highest level of advice and service in the most cost effective, clear and considerate manner.”
Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
I would like to let clients know that I am happy to visit them at home or in hospital and that I am prepared to be as flexible as possible with appointments. I would also like to say that if clients need to talk to me, they will get to talk to me: I always take and return calls and my letters are written in plain English.
Do you have something intriguing to leave us with?
I have a number of relatives who are lawyers but it took me more than two decades to decide to join them!
