For Clients
Family Law
The main area of expertise is Family Law, dealing with problems which arise whenever a couple's relationship breaks down. When this happens I help clients to deal with:
• Children
• Property
• Maintenance
• Divorce
• Civil partnerships
• Cohabitation
I have gained detailed knowledge of these matters ever since I started training as a lawyer in 1975. It takes years of experience to develop the proper attitude to clients and their separated partners to bring about as good an outcome as possible. Cases range from the consensual divorce which runs like clockwork to the very acrimonious arguments about children and property which require very careful handling.
Whatever your requirements you can be sure that I will give you sensible advice and hard work to get the best for you.
Conveyancing
Buying and selling houses is often said to provide the bread and butter for solicitors. My practice is no different. My special interest is in unregistered land, but I also deal with all types of residential conveyancing, including:
• Sales
- preparing the Home Information Pack to paying off the mortgage on completion.
• Purchases
- from advising about preliminary searches to registering the new property in your name.
• Leases
- from dealing with the complicated documentation to registering your interest with your new landlord.
Some conveyancing can be extremely complicated but there are very few aspects which I have not encountered frequently over the years.
Probates
When someone dies their affairs have to be put into order and their estate divided in accordance with their wishes. This can be time-consuming and often frutrating work, involving tax forms (even for the smallest estates), finding out what assets exist and then distributing everything after obtaining the authority of the court. This takes the form of a Grant of Probate if there is a Will, or a Grant of Letters of Administration if there is not. If I think a client can deal with this him or herself I encourage this and offer timely advice. If not, I get on with the task in hand as efficiently as possible.
Wills
If you die without a Will it causes confusion for your family. My aim is to provide my clients with Wills which work. Simple wills for small estates and more complex wills for larger estates or where provision has to be made for vulnerable members of the family.
Elderly Law
Elderly clients have special needs. They should appoint family members to enable them to do things on their behalf using Lasting and Ordinary Powers of Attorney. There may be cases where they need advice about funding for their accommodation in residential homes. As people live longer I spend more and more time helping to make things as easy as possible for aged clients and their families.
Immigration
I help clients wishing to bring close family members to settle here or friends to visit. Most of my work has involved the Indian sub-continent. I prepare the documents needed to sponsor the applicant and advise if problems arise, handing the appeals if necessary.
Employment
Compromise Agreements are made when employees leave their employment in difficult circumstances. It is a requirement that the employee is given independent legal advice and this is a service which I provide. This is not just a "rubber stamp exercise." If done properly it involves careful consideration of the facts and an attempt to negotiate a better settlement. The costs are almost always paid in full by the employer.
Litigation & Personal Injury Cases
I practised litigation in the County and High Courts for many years but rarely do so now because of changes in the costs regime. My main aim when litigation is imminent is to try to find a way to avoid it. If you need to start a court case you will find someone to do it on a "No Win, No Fee" basis but only if you have a very good case. If you have to defend a case brought against you then I can help you or advise you about the best way to deal with it.
Small Business
Setting up a small business often involves starting or assigning leases, making a partnership deed, considering whether to set up a limited company and many other questions which require professional advice. As a small businessman myself I can and do help those setting out on this route, helping to make sure their dreams turn into reality, but sensibly.
Services Not Offered
• Legal Aid (which I stopped doing in 2000 after the Government made it impossible to do work properly under the drastically reduced schemes).
• No Win, No Fee or Conditional Fee Arrangements because these require a large quantity of cases to cover the risks involved and the system buids in a very serious potential for conflict between lawyers and their clients.
• Asylum Cases because I have never had to do so despite years in dealing with immigration matters and because by their nature they are difficult for clients to finance.
• Employment Tribunals for employees because these are almost all done on a Conditional Fee basis.
• Crime because, having stopped legal aid in 2000, I have lost touch with the criminal courts and no longer have the expertise which used to ensure that most of my clients were acquitted when they pleaded Not Guilty.
• Company work except for small businesses.
FAQ
What are your charging rates?
For Conveyancing I will give you an estimate in advance dependant on the price of the property and the complexity of the transaction(s) involved.
For all other matters my charging rate is £135 per hour, £13.50 per letter or email written, £6.75 per letter or email received and £13.50 per telephone call made or received. Advocacy is charged at £180 per hour. Travelling and waiting time is charged at half the usual rate.
All plus VAT at the current rate.
How much will it cost?
I am very reasonably priced ecause my hourly rate is low as I have lower overheads than most firms. I am a realist and will only charge you a fair amount for the work done. I cannot give a fixed price because it is impossible to guarantee how much work wil be required. I will give you an estimate and wiltell you whenit seeems likley that the ccost will be higher than I estimated. My hourly rate is only £135 per hour plus VAT bu even soit is eay to run up big bill and I will always be happy to give you an upoto-date figure.
Is the first appointment free?
The first twenty minutes is free but I will let you know at the first appointment what the costs are likely to be so that you can decide whether you want toproceed.