wace morgan

wace
morganNEWS
Winter 2016
here to help
Civil &
Commercial
Mediation
Commercial &
Agricultural
Commercial &
Civil Litigation
Debt Recovery
Elderly Client
& Care Funding
Employment
Family
Arbitration
Family Matters
Family
Mediation
Personal Injury
Residential
Property
Social Housing
& Development
Wills,Trusts,
Tax Planning
& Probate
Momentous year for firm
It was a momentous year
for Wace Morgan Solicitors
and the firm is looking
forward to another 12
months of development
this year.
The biggest milestone during 2015 – and one of
the most important steps since its foundation in
1815 - was the move to new offices.
“We made the decision to relocate and
combine our three smaller branches into a
larger head office due to continued expansion
and development of our legal services,” said
Managing Partner Diana Packwood.
“From the first day we moved in we saw
immediate benefits for both clients and staff.
SOLICITORS
“The new open plan premises provides us with
an accessible, modern working environment
which is located in the centre of the town.
“We now have an excellent reception area,
meeting rooms and an upgraded IT system which
improve clients’ experience and quality of
care and the feedback we are receiving is very
positive.
“The move has proved to be
very successful and will
enable us to expand further
this year”
“Communication between departments is also
much easier and more efficient. All in all the
move has proved to be very successful and will
enable us to expand further this year and
continue to enhance our services.
In this issue... New Law Society president. Esther accredited as a mediator. Stefanka is
promoted to private client executive. Elderly care team expanding.A year of achievement.
Busy year for community events.
Sallie-Anne is new
Law Society
president
Esther now accredited
as a mediator
Sallie-Anne
O’Byrne
has been
appointed
as President
of the
Shropshire
Law Society
The head of our family department officially
took over the reins from Praveen Chaudhari
at the society’s annual dinner this autumn.
The society, which was founded over 135
years ago, represents solicitors across
Shropshire.
Mrs O’Byrne said: “The Shropshire Law Society
promotes the values of professionalism,
honesty and integrity amongst its many
members throughout the county. I am
delighted to accept the position of president
with a view to continuing the excellent work
and tradition of those before me.”
Praveen Chaudhari of Lanyon Bowdler
commented: “It has been a good year for
the Shropshire Law Society and a busy year
for the profession as a whole.
“I am delighted to be passing on the presidency
to Sallie-Anne O’Byrne in whom I have every
confidence to carry on the good work.”
Stefanka is
promoted to
private client
executive
“Many people do not realise that Legal Aid for
mediation is still available.”
“We are happy to see couples at any stage,
from when they first separate to when they
are in the midst of proceedings on financial
issues, children issues or both.”
One of Wace Morgan’s family
mediators, who advises people
throughout Shropshire and mid
Wales, has recently gained a
further professional accreditation.
Esther Evans qualified as a mediator three
years ago and has now received full accreditation
by the Family Mediation Council, meaning she
can undertake work with clients eligible for Legal
Aid or those paying privately.
“I am pleased to have achieved full accreditation
as a mediator and look forward to working with
a wider range of clients in the county and mid
Wales,” said Esther.
“Many people do not realise
that Legal Aid for mediation is
still available.”
Family mediation is where an independent,
trained professional helps you and your
ex partner to work out an agreement about
issues such as arrangements for your children
or your finances
If you’re splitting-up or getting a divorce,
family mediation can help you to sort
arrangements with your ex or other family
members. Family mediation assists all sorts of
people: married and unmarried, parents,
grandparents, step-parents and young people
can all take part.
Esther has now trained to consult directly
with children during the mediation process,
subject to both parent’s consent, when a
couple are attending mediation to sort out
the arrangements for children. This will help
clients resolve issues in many cases.
The family mediation service at Wace Morgan
covers Shropshire and mid Wales and is able to
see clients at bases in Shrewsbury, Telford,
Oswestry, Church Stretton, Newtown and
Welshpool.
Stefanka joined the firm in 2008 as a legal secretary and two years later started studying
towards the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives qualification.
She was promoted to private client executive recently and has carried out a range of work
including work including Administration of Estates and Powers of Attorney.
“However, I am primarily focused on Court of Protection cases, including making applications to
the court and acting on behalf of Wace Morgan Partners who are appointed as professional
deputies,” she commented.
“I look forward to being part of this dedicated team.”
“I am very pleased to have been made a private client executive at this well-respected firm. The
private client department here has always been extremely supportive and I look forward to
being part of this dedicated and knowledgeable team.”
Stefanka grew up in Wem and now lives in Shrewsbury. She has an archaeology degree and her
interests include history and archaeology, motorsport and volunteering with the Dogs Trust.
Diana Packwood, managing partner congratulated Stefanka.
She added: “I am very pleased to announce her promotion to the position of private client
executive – it is well deserved as combining study with full time work is not always easy.”
Elderly care team expanding
to meet growing need
Our elderly client and care funding department is expanding
and now comprises six members of staff.
Experienced lawyer Nicola Hawes has recently
been made senior elderly client executive;
Lydia Owen has been recruited as an elderly
client executive; Heather Evans has also been
promoted to this position and Solicitor Lucy
Kealy has moved to join the team from private
client work.
The four, who give advice and support to
elderly and vulnerable adults and their families
throughout the region, are supported by legal
secretaries Gill Davies and Jane Laws.
Specialist areas of expertise include:
l Free NHS continuing healthcare funding and
funded nurse care contribution
l Local authority funding, including issues relating
to third party contributions (“top up fees”)
l Many other funding of long term care issues,
including s117 Mental Health Act 1983 free
aftercare
l Advice on Lasting Powers of Attorney,
Enduring Powers of Attorney, Court of
Protection issues
l Advance medical decisions and wills are also
available through our Wills, Trusts and
Probate Department.
“There is a growing demand for our services
and our department is developing in response
to this need,” commented Nicola, who also
provides support and valuable talks to local
volunteer groups and charities.
Lucy is an associate member of Solicitors
for the Elderly, an independent national
organisation of lawyers who specialise in
providing advice on legal issues specific to
elderly and vulnerable adults. Lucy also sits on
the SFE Shropshire regional group committee
and has done for several years.
“Approximately £2 million
has been recovered so far”
Wace Morgan has built up considerable
expertise in the area of obtaining NHS
continuing healthcare funding for a patient’s
existing and future nursing care, including
retrospective funding claims where patients
were wrongfully requested to pay nursing fees:
approximately £2 million has been recovered
for our clients so far.
In respect of Local Authority care funding,
thousands of pounds have been recovered for
clients who have improperly been asked to fund
a “Third Party Top Up” for their loved one’s care.
The team offer a free 20 minute consultation
regarding funding of long term care issues. For
any care funding concerns please do not
hesitate to contact our elderly client team
who can assist you through the legal minefield.
A year of
achievement...
Our personal
injury team won
over £1m for
clients last year –
an incredible
achievement. The
team, headed by
Partner Jeremy
Taylor, are
specialists in dealing with Personal Injury
claims following an accident and offer a
free 20-minute consultation for clients.
Debt recovery
specialist Glenda
Hammond offers
a personal,
responsive and
cost effective
service to enable
clients to recover
money owed.
Heather Evans, Gill Davies, Nicola Hawes, Jane Laws, Lucy Kealy, Lydia Owen.
We keep our communications “jargon
free” so that you fully understand all our
comments and advice and in 2015 a
total of £185,000 of debts were
recovered. The smallest claim was
£200 and the largest was over £26,000
and these were for both private and
commercial clients.
Busy year for community events
Wace Morgan has had a busy year sponsoring shows
and taking part in community events in Shropshire.
During 2015 the firm provided
valuable backing for theatrical
performances at Shrewsbury’s
Theatre Severn such as Hairspray,
staged by Mad Cow Productions and
Sister Act, produced by Shrewsbury
Amateur Operatic Society.
A team of staff also attended
Minsterley Show, the county’s
oldest and most prestigious
one-day event, and Cruckton
Ploughing Match.
Involvement will continue this year,
with the next show to be sponsored
being Spamalot which will be
performed at the Theatre Severn
from Thursday 28 to Saturday
April 30, by Mad Cow Productions.
Some of the Minsterley Show team: Matthew Jones, Sam Briggs,
Gill Davies, Helen Alexander, Claire Jenkins and Carolyn Freeman.
Diana Packwood (centre) with some of the cast of Sister Act at the Theatre Severn.
SOLICITORS
21 St Mary’s Street, Shrewsbury,
Shropshire SY1 1ED
31 Market Street, Newtown,
Powys, SY16 2PG
01743 280 100
01686 626 641
[email protected]
www.wacemorgan.co.uk
[email protected]
www.wacemorgantomleys.co.uk
SOLICITORS