Having completed the Legal Practice Course in Chester, I began my training contract with a firm in St Albans in 2005, qualifying into their Private Client Department upon admission as a Solicitor in September 2007. During my 13 years in practice with the firm in St Albans, I gained experience and knowledge in a number of areas of Private Client work, including Wills, Estate Planning, Probate and Estate Administration, Powers of Attorney, Trusts and advice on the payment of care by the NHS (NHS Continuing Healthcare) and Local Authorities. I joined Neves on 9 November 2020, and am based at the Harpenden office.

I am currently listed as an Affiliate Member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and am in the process of becoming a Full Member having qualified down the essay route to be such.

One of my favourite things about being a Private Client solicitor is the amount of regular client contact you get to experience. I have acted for clients (and dealt with the estates of those) with considerable wealth and those without. The key skill in any case being to quickly get to know your client and adapt accordingly.  The majority of my previous clients have been based in North London and the Hertfordshire area, which I expect to remain the case. However, it will be interesting to see what more remote working will have on this dynamic. 

As mentioned above, I have built up an expertise in a number of areas, including:

• Probate and Estate Administration Services of taxable and non-taxable Estates
• Applications for Grant of Probate/ Grant of Letters of Administration
• Powers of Attorney and Capacity Issues
• Registration and advice on Enduring Powers of Attorney
• Elderly Client Matters
• Preparation of Wills for individuals, married couples and unmarried couples
• Inheritance Tax Planning
• Care Fee Funding

I pride myself on making, what can often be relatively complex, as straightforward as possible for the client. Balancing the need to be approachable with being professional, and allowing the client to make informed decisions. 

Much of my time outside of work revolves around my family and football. I am married with two children and a dog. My daughter has just started secondary school and my son is coming into his last years at primary school. I help coach and manage my son's local football team, with training one night a week and matches on the weekend. My team is Crystal Palace FC and I hold a membership with them, but I have recently become a season ticket holder at Stevenage FC.