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Month: October 2025

Blaser Mills sponsors Stoke Park bonfire night

Posted on by dominika.piechota@blasermills.co.uk

We’re delighted to be headline sponsors of Stoke Park’s Bonfire and Fireworks Night, a much-loved annual event that brings people together from across Buckinghamshire.

It’s a pleasure to support such a fantastic community occasion, and we look forward to what promises to be an unforgettable evening of fireworks and celebration.

A big thank you to Stoke Park for their hospitality.

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased here: Stoke Park Bonfire Event 2025 Tickets, Sun, Nov 2, 2025 at 4:30 PM | Eventbrite

Standish v Standish: five key principles

Posted on by Britt Thompson

The recent Supreme Court decision in Standish v Standish has provided welcome clarity on how the courts distinguish between matrimonial and non-matrimonial property on divorce. This distinction is often central to financial proceedings, particularly where one spouse enters the marriage with significant wealth or receives assets by inheritance or gift. The judgment sets out five key principles.

1. The distinction between matrimonial and non-matrimonial property

Matrimonial property is built up during the marriage through the couple’s joint efforts. Non-matrimonial property usually refers to assets owned before the marriage, or those received through inheritance or gift.

2. The sharing principle only applies to matrimonial property

The court’s starting point of equal sharing does not extend to non-matrimonial assets.

3. Matrimonial property should normally be shared equally

Although there can be reasons to depart from equality, fairness requires an equal division of assets generated by the marriage.

4. Non-matrimonial property can become matrimonial

This process, called “matrimonialisation”, happens when a couple’s conduct shows they have treated an asset as shared over time.

5. Tax planning does not usually mean sharing

Where an asset is transferred between spouses purely to save tax, this does not normally amount to matrimonialisation. The intention is tax efficiency, not joint ownership.

Conclusion

The principles in Standish v Standish underline the importance of understanding how the courts treat different types of property. For separating couples, the case confirms that wealth created during the marriage will normally be shared equally, while inherited or pre-marital assets are more likely to remain separate unless clearly treated as shared.

For further information or advice, please contact Naim Qureshi, Senior Associate in the family and divorce team on 01494 781356  or email naim.qureshi@blasermills.co.uk.

Blaser Mills achieves top tier Legal 500 2026 recognition

Posted on by Britt Thompson

Blaser Mills is proud to announce its latest Legal 500 rankings for 2026, showcasing both new achievements and continued recognition across a wide range of practice areas in London and the South East.

For the first time, the firm has been ranked in London > TMT (Sport), entering at Tier 6. Joshua Easterbrook, Colin Smith and Becky Cooper have all been named as Recommended Lawyers. This marks a significant step forward for the firm’s growing Sports practice.

‘A boutique sports practice offering an impressive range of experience across a multitude of sports. They have a number of really excellent institutional clients.’

‘Josh Easterbrook is very impressive for his relative junior status, and he understands the needs of institutional sports clients.’

In the South East, the firm has retained strong positions across key practice areas:

Employment: Tier 1

  • The Employment team has retained its Tier 1 ranking for many years.
    ‘The team at Blaser Mills have a diverse knowledge base, they are active in the local community, and they have a great business understanding enabling excellent client relationship skills.’
  • Noel Deans has retained his status as a Leading Partner.
  • Hannah Funnell has been newly recognised as a Recommended Lawyer.
    ‘Hannah Funnell always responds promptly to emails and enquiries, she is efficient and has provided a very competent and professional service.’

Personal tax, trusts and probate: Tier 1

  • The team has once again retained its strong Tier 1 ranking.
    ‘The Blaser Mills team are highly professional, technically strong and friendly in their approach.’
  • Jonathan Gallop has retained his status as a Leading Partner.
    ‘This practice is local to us in Marlow and provided an excellent, professional, prompt service. The solicitor we dealt with, Jonathan Gallop, was well-informed, prepared to discuss our options, and offered relevant advice which we found most helpful.’
  • Minesh Thakrar has been newly recognised as a Next Generation Partner.
  • Karen Woodison has retained her Recommended Lawyer status.
    ‘Karen Woodison is outstanding. Karen provides excellent advice, adopting a friendly, patient and supportive approach. Karen is highly knowledgeable and provides great guidance, particularly when making wills, which is a complex subject.’
  • Heenal Chhipa-Gadday and Kathy James have both been newly recognised as Recommended Lawyers.

Corporate and commercial: Tier 2

  • The team continues to retain its Tier 2 ranking.
  • Edward Lee continues to be recognised as a Leading Partner.
  • Colin Smith continues to be recognised as a Key Lawyer.

Family and divorce: Tier 2

  • The team has retained its Tier 2 ranking.
    ‘The appeal of Blaser Mills is their ability to handle HNW and low value cases really in the same breath, with no drop in service standard of quality. They punch above their weight compared to other firms in the Thames Valley and offer the kind of service comparable to central London firms.’
  • Sadie Glover is newly listed as Practice Head and as a Key Lawyer.
  • Lucinda Holliday has achieved a new ranking as a Leading Partner.
    ‘Lucinda Holliday is a supreme litigator. She guides clients expertly, settling cases when they need to be settled, but not shying away from a fight.’
  • Naim Qureshi has retained his recognition as a Leading Partner.
    ‘Naim Qureshi is a very sensible, experienced and thorough lawyer who is able to get to the crux of the issue.’
  • Kate Jones continues to be recognised as a Key Lawyer.
    ‘Kate Jones is incredibly conscientious and hard working for her clients. She goes above and beyond not only to make sure her clients get the best possible outcome but also to make sure they feel supported and able fully to participate in their proceedings. Her client care is second to none in the private law sector. She’s particularly careful to ensure that any counsel instructed are the right “fit” for the client and the case.’

Commercial property: Tier 3

  • The team has retained its Tier 3 ranking.
    ‘What sets them apart is their ability to balance legal expertise with a client-focused approach. Their responsiveness is particularly noteworthy and queries are addressed promptly and efficiently, which is not always easy to find in the legal sector. This reliability makes them an invaluable partner, particularly in complex or time-sensitive matters.’
  • Louise Benning, with Jacqueline Craig and Sarah Harley are recognised as Key Lawyers.
    ‘Jacqueline Craig and Sarah Harley stand out for their exceptional commitment and client-focused approach. Working with them feels like having an extension of my own team—they are not just providing legal support but actively collaborating to achieve the best outcomes.’


‘What truly sets them apart is their reliability and efficiency. I can trust them to handle matters with precision and deliver results on time, making them an integral part of any project. Their proactive and solution-oriented approach makes a significant difference compared to other firms, reinforcing why Blaser Mills remains a top choice.’

Contentious trusts and probate: Tier 4

  • The team has retained its Tier 4 ranking.
    ‘Their attention to detail is unmatched – no stone is left unturned, ensuring I’m always well-informed and prepared for what’s ahead. What I appreciate most is their responsiveness and genuine commitment to my case. It’s clear they care deeply about achieving the best possible outcome, and their thorough approach gives me confidence every step of the way.’
  • Matthew Whipp continues to be recognised as a Key Lawyer.
    ‘Working with Matthew Whipp has truly been a remarkable experience. What sets them apart is not just their deep legal knowledge, but their ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable advice. From the start, Matthew took the time to fully understand my specific situation, offering thoughtful solutions that were both strategic and practical.’

    ‘Matthew Whipp’s deft client handling and empathetic approach make him ideal in dealing with complexities. Clients always know that he is on their side, and his legal knowledge is impressive to match. Robust with opponents, commercial with his advice – Matthew is exceptional.’

Clinical negligence: Tier 4

Property litigation: Tier 4

Commercial Litigation

Congratulations to everyone involved and thank you to our professional contacts for the amazing feedback. These results demonstrate the depth and breadth of expertise across the firm, with recognition for both business and private client services.