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£810 raised for South Bucks Hospice at the Marlow Santa Fun Run

Last weekend, our incredible team laced up their trainers and embraced the festive spirit for the Marlow 5km Santa Fun Run, raising an impressive £810 in support of South Bucks Hospice.

Lauren Edwards, Hannah Funnell, Jack Williams, and Stephen Dean ran with determination and holiday cheer to support this vital local charity, which provides compassionate care for those living with long-term illness.

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who generously donated and cheered on our runners along the way. Your support makes a real difference in our community.

Blaser Mills wins ESG initiative award

The words “law firm” and “happiness” may not often be found in the same sentence, but at Blaser Mills we are working hard to change that.

On Friday 15 November, law firms from across the country gathered in Birmingham for a prestigious awards ceremony to celebrate excellence and achievement in the legal industry.

The event was hosted by LawNet, a not-for-profit nationwide network of over 70 member law firms, all of whom are committed to rigorous quality standards and best practice.

With only ten awards available across different categories, we were absolutely delighted to win the ESG Initiative Award.

ESG – Environmental, Social, Governance, is also known by other terms such as “Responsible Business” and “CSR” – Corporate Social Responsibility. In essence, this covers the ways in which businesses go above and beyond to benefit their people, their communities, and the environment.

The LawNet judges were particularly impressed by our creation of a dedicated role of Responsible Business Partner – Tracy Jones; putting the firm’s impact on our employees, wider community and society at the very top of our priorities.

The judges praised the active staff-led groups within at Blaser Mills, including our Inclusion Forum, Wellbeing at Work Group, Community Group, and Environment Group. They saw that we are taking care to nurture long term relationships with local community organisations, working with education centres, food banks, nature charities, hospices and children’s charities to name but a few. We actively encourages colleagues to volunteer with these groups, giving them dedicated “volunteer leave” for this purpose.

The judges were particularly impressed by our anonymous weekly “happiness survey”, a central tool in the firm’s wellness drive. Every member of staff is sent a short survey each week, asking how their working week has been. The results produce data which can spot where support may be required and encourages teams to problem solve and work together.

“The weekly happiness surveys have had an enormous impact on the culture at Blaser Mills”, explains Tracy. “Law can be a full-on area to work in, with people often not wanting to admit to feeling under-pressure, stressed or overwhelmed.”

Tracy explains that when her colleagues started to feel comfortable with the weekly surveys and the discussions that followed them, people were more open in saying that they might need a bit of extra help. Tracy saw that colleagues began to share ideas more freely, thank each other and congratulate successes. And, over a relatively short period of time, data was available to support what she was sensing – that people were becoming happier at work. “Happy people enjoy their work and do their best work – which means happy clients too! Of course, happiness ebbs and flows. But we now have a firmly established culture where our colleagues can express themselves, knowing that they will be supported.”

Tracy confesses that to her, this feels “like gold, like winning the lottery”. She says, “Having spent all of my working life in law, I know that stress and burnout are significant issues for the legal industry, so to be a part of positive change, still makes me smile every day”.

For more information please visit Responsible business | Blaser Mills Law, or contact Tracy Jones on 07939 203502 (telephone or WhatsApp anytime) or email tracy.jones@blasermills.co.uk.

Property team wins two customer service awards

We are delighted to announce that our Residential Property team has won multiple awards at The ESTAS Customer Service Awards 2024.

The awards recognise the conveyancers, agents and brokers for customer service based on ratings from clients who have been through the whole moving experience.

The team have won the following awards:
Silver – Southern
Bronze – Southern

Jane Hannaway, Partner & Head of Residential Property commented: “We are delighted recognised continuously with the ESTAS. Exceptional customer service is very important to us, and we have always been very proud of the service provided by our team. The awards prove we are delivering what we promise.”

Congratulations to all of those involved and all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.

Chambers 2025 results announced

Blaser Mills is thrilled to share its results in the 2025 Chambers UK Legal Directory rankings. Chambers UK is a highly respected legal directory that conducts in-depth research and analysis to identify and rank top lawyers and law firms across the United Kingdom.

New rankings

Naim Qureshi, Senior Associate, Family & Divorce

Naim Qureshi has a great deal of expertise advising on financial remedy proceedings post-divorce. He has experience advising high net worth clients, including on matters involving overseas assets.

‘I have no doubt that Naim’s supportive and collaborative approach led to my achieving a good outcome.’
Naim Qureshi has a very calming presence in cases. He is unflappable and very personable with clients.’
‘Naim is tenacious when he needs to be, and his client-handling skills are very good.’

Corporate M&A
Blaser Mills is well known for its high-calibre corporate offering, which routinely sees it acting on domestic and cross-border transactions. The firm’s broad industry focus includes deals in the sports, technology and insurance spaces, among others.

‘Blaser Mills Law’s attention to business matters and focus on clients’ needs are two key strengths. The team always understood complex deal structures and we felt supported throughout the process.’
‘The firm has great experience and knowledge when assisting with transactions. They provide a very efficient service and great, simple explanations, along with very quick responses.’
‘Blaser Mills Law possess deep knowledge and experience, which enables them to provide us with comprehensive and insightful legal counsel. This expertise is not only broad but also nuanced.’

Litigation
Blaser Mills Law offers considerable expertise in litigation throughout a variety of sectors including biomedicine, retail and transportation. The department is often chosen by clients for disputes with cross-border aspects and have worked on data protection, insolvency, product liability and breach of contract disputes.

‘Blaser Mills Law is always able to assist and always on-hand.’
‘The team has a remarkable breadth and depth of knowledge, provides excellent customer service and very fast responses.’
‘Blaser Mills is always very prompt with advice and coming back on matters – they’re good at maintaining momentum within a project.’

Maintained rankings

Edward Lee, Partner & Head, Corporate

Edward Lee is head of Blaser Mills Law’s corporate and commercial department. He offers extensive experience in M&A transactions and often handles cross-border mandates, including tech sector matters.

‘Edward has outstanding experience and knowledge.’
‘Edward is experienced and knowledgeable. I felt well informed and guided by him.’
‘Edward is a very capable individual and well suited to managing a multi-jurisdictional transaction. His negotiation style is calm and effective. You feel you are in a safe pair of hands.’

Noel Deans, Partner & Head, Employment
Noel Deans is head of the employment team at Blaser Mills. He is notable for his work on contentious employment matters, and he advises both individual claimants and employers.

‘Noel’s experience and advice is amazing.’
‘Noel is impressive in all aspects and provides clear advice based on the facts he has at hand.’
‘He is strategic, focused, clear and dedicated.’

Lucinda Holliday, Partner & Head, Family & Divorce
Lucinda Holliday leads the family and divorce team at Blaser Mills. She assists clients with both the financial and child care aspects of divorce and separation, including high net worth cases.

‘Lucinda Holliday is absolutely brilliant. She is responsive and empathetic, knowledgeable and tactically astute. Her advice is excellent and always geared towards the client’s goals.’
‘Lucinda is thoroughly professional, a wonderful communicator and very responsive to her clients’ needs.’
‘Lucinda completely understood my situation, offered the right solutions and guided me through an incredibly tough process.’

Ben Langley, Consultant, Crime
Ben Langley is a consultant at Blaser Mills Law in High Wycombe. He acts for clients in motoring offences, including driving without insurance, speeding and drink driving offences. He also has experience representing professionals under investigation for criminal acts.

“Ben is on top of the brief, clear with instructions and very client-friendly.”

Real Estate
Blaser Mills has a strong commercial property team offering advice on a range of matters, including the acquisition and disposal of development property, commercial lease matters and securitisation transactions. It advises a broad client base, ranging from small family-owned businesses to large house builders and property development companies.

‘Blaser Mills Law has an excellent team with a broad range of expertise and experience.’
‘The team’s ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters is very strong.’

Family & Divorce
Blaser Mills advises high net worth individuals on intricate financial remedy matters from its offices in High Wycombe, Marlow and Amersham. The firm is experienced in acting in cases where assets in dispute include portfolios of properties and pensions, as well as those involving trusts. The team offers further expertise in drafting prenuptial agreements. It also assists with private children law matters and non-molestation proceedings.

‘Blaser Mills had great experience in the way to approach the situation, which at times was difficult. They were sympathetic and understanding.’
‘Blaser Mills were very efficient, prompt with communication and professional at all times.’

Congratulations to all of those involved!

For more detailed information about the rankings and to explore the full directory, please visit the Chambers UK website. Congratulations to all those recognised in the 2024 Chambers UK legal directory and thank you to our clients for their feedback and time.

Blaser Mills Law, UK 2024 | Chambers Profiles

Blaser Mills Law receives outstanding recognition in the Legal 5002025 rankings

The Legal 500, one of the UK’s leading legal directories, has announced its much-anticipated results for 2024.  We are delighted to announce that we have achieved rankings in 11 practice areas, with 25 lawyers recommended.

Department rankings
The Legal 500 continues to rank our Employment and Wills, Trusts, and Probate teams in top Tier 1, maintaining their exceptional standing.

Employment (Tier 1)
The Legal 500 commends the Blaser Mills Employment team for their approachable and efficient service, noting their thorough approach and strong understanding of complex cases. One testimonial describes the team as “very approachable, efficient, and providing a thorough service,” adding that there was confidence in their ability to manage the case from the outset.

Noel Deans received praise for his expertise, “Noel Deans is affable and provides sound legal advice. He showed an immediate understanding of our legal issue and filled us with confidence in his ability to handle any complexities.”

Further feedback highlights the team’s collaborative and strategic approach: “It is clear that the Blaser Mills team works in a united, efficient, personal, and innovative way to deliver the best outcomes. Value for money is excellent.” Another added, “Each member of the team is 100% committed to getting the best outcome.”

Wills, trusts and probate (Tier 1)
The directory recognises the Wills, trusts, and probate team for their professionalism, welcoming approach, and commitment to offering sound advice. One testimonial states, “The team has served my family well over the years and is very welcoming and helpful, always there to offer advice.”

Jonathan Gallop is known for being “very professional, knowledgeable, and approachable,” offering strong support during difficult times. Minesh Thakrar and Sara Rendell are also highlighted for their helpfulness and support, with Rendell described as “really helpful and friendly” during a probate process.

Corporate and commercial (Tier 2)
We are also excited to announce that our Corporate and Commercial team has improved their ranking to Tier 2.  “Blaser Mills reacts unflinchingly. We feel they have our backs and are dogged and successful in the defence of our interests.”

The team is known for its strong communication and dedication to clients, with feedback stating, “Great communication and an obvious care for your best interests. All responses are thorough and consistently reflect integrity and accuracy.”

The following teams have retained their rankings:

Family & divorce (Tier 2)
“The team are boutique in a sense that they are able to offer clients a bespoke service, clients really appreciate a personal touch point, their solicitor becomes a true emotional connection rather than just a perfunctory service. They are a first-rate team.”

Commercial litigation (Tier 2)
“Blaser Mills are hugely knowledgeable for our sector and always provide us with the support and advice and guidance on how best to proceed on certain cases. I value their opinion majorly and will always take their advice on situations. I trust their decisions are made with our businesses best intentions at heart.”

Debt recovery (Tier 3)
“They are really personable to speak to on an individual level. Every team member I interact with is so knowledgeable and goes above and beyond.”

Contentious trusts (Tier 4)

“Blaser Mills are the go-to firm in the Thames Valley for private wealth disputes, especially those concerning property and estates. Matthew Whipp deserves a special mention for his always reliable and exceptional client service and commercially pragmatic advice: clients love him.”

Property litigation (Tier 4)

“Blaser Mills champions the personal approach. You don’t feel like you are just a customer. They are on your side and trying to get the best possible outcome for you.”

PI & medical negligence (Tier 3)

Commercial property (Tier 3)

Construction (firm to watch)



Individual rankings

We are delighted to announce that Edward Lee has been recognised as a Leading Partner.

“Overall, Edward Lee stands out from his competitors due to his exceptional expertise, client-centric approach, strategic thinking, effective communication, accessibility, and commitment to excellence. These qualities make him a trusted advisor and valuable asset to clients seeking legal representation in corporate and commercial matters.”

Noel Deans, Naim Qureshi and Jonathan Gallop have retained their Leading Partner status.

“Noel Deans is affable and provides sound legal advice. He showed an immediate understanding of our legal issue and filled us with confidence in his ability to handle any complexities.”

“I work mostly with Jonathan Gallop who heads up the wills and probate team. He leads by example, always courteous and always efficient.”


Recommended lawyers

Our 2025 rankings also feature existing and new lawyer recommendations, including:

Sharron Bhandal, Minesh Thakrar, Karen Woodison, Sara Rendell, Jonathan Lilley, Kirsty Hughes, Lucinda Holliday, Kate Jones, Colin Smith, Matthew Whipp, Lewis Cohen and Victoria Harvey.

Congratulations to all of those involved and thank you to our referee’s for their participation and feedback.


To our full rankings please visit: L500 | Blaser Mills Law > England | Legal 500 law firm profiles | Rankings

Blaser Mills Law joins Charlton Athletic as official legal partner

We are excited to announce a new partnership with Charlton Athletic,  a professional association football club based in Charlton, south-east London.

As we advance into the 2024/25 season, we join as the club’s official legal partner, marking the beginning of a collaboration based on shared values and our sports sector expertise.

Blaser Mills Law will be providing vital commercial support to the club, with the potential to extend services to players for personal legal needs as they arise. Additionally, we will take on the role of match ball sponsors for several home games throughout the season, further strengthening our presence within the club and community.

Hiren Gandhi, partner at Blaser Mills Law, shared his excitement about the new partnership: “We are delighted to work with Charlton Athletic this season and contribute to the success of the club both on and off the pitch. Charlton’s recognition as Community Club of the Year for 2024 aligns perfectly with our mission to operate as a responsible business and make a positive impact on the local community.”

Barry Higson, Head of Commercial at Charlton Athletic, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating: “We are incredibly pleased to welcome Blaser Mills Law to the Charlton family. Their expertise in sports law and their commitment to supporting both the club and the community make them a perfect fit for us. This partnership is not just about legal support; it’s about aligning with an organisation that shares our values and vision for the future.

Read the full press release from Charlton Athletic here: Club announce Blaser Mills Law partnership | Charlton Athletic Football Club (charltonafc.com).

For all sports enquiries please contact us on enquiries@blasermills.co.uk.

Blaser Mills Law joins the BritishAmerican Business

We are delighted to have joined BAB (BritishAmerican Business) – the leading transatlantic trade association incorporating the British-American Chamber of Commerce in the US and the American Chamber of Commerce in the UK. 

BAB are committed to strengthening the economic corridor between the United States and the United Kingdom by supporting policies and actions that protect and enhance the environment for transatlantic trade and investment.

Blaser Mills Law has a strong international capability and we frequently advise US and other international clients on a broad range of cross-border legal issues.

Oksana Howard, Partner in our international M&A team comments:

“This membership will compliment and strengthen our already very strong US relationships, given that we regularly work with many US professionals and clients on various cross-border transactions and matters involving US/UK element.”

Blaser Mills Law ranks in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2024

The Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) Guide has announced the results of its latest rankings for 2024. The guide ranks solicitors in specialist areas of law within the High Net Worth category.

Recognised as the most commonly used directory in the legal sector, the Chambers HNW Guide has moved up our Wills, Trust and Probate team to Band 1, having ranked previously for eight consecutive years, and sees the team as a ‘Leading Firm’ in Private Wealth Law , with feedback highlighting various strengths of the department:

“Their level of expertise has given me every confidence that I am in a winning position and am in no doubt that I have the best people behind me.”
“I have always found Blaser Mills quick to marshall the client for instructions, become available for conferences, and in facilitating counsel to make difficult deadlines under pressure.”
“Blaser Mills are always very responsive, supportive and knowledgeable.”

Jonathan Gallop, Partner and Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate, has ranked for three consecutive years as a Band 3 Individual in Private Wealth Law. In the guide Jonathan’s private wealth law clients left him great feedback: “Jonathan is very approachable, he listens and seems genuinely kind and appreciates your situation if lots of bereavements.”

Senior Associate, Sara Rendell, has been ranked as an ‘Associate to Watch’ in Private Wealth Law, four years running. The guide describes Sara as a “… efficient, clear, responsive, knowledgeable and cheerful.”

We are also delighted to announce that our Partner, Karen Woodison, has ranked for the first time in Band 3. A client said: “It’s a good working relationship and I’m always pleased to speak with Karen, who is always helpful.”

Partner and Head of department, Jonathan, commented: “I am delighted that our team has been recognised as leaders in its field by Chambers, assuring our clients that we provide an excellent level of service and specialist legal advice to High Net Worth individuals. It is great to see the team rank in Band 1, moving up two positions over the last few years is a great testament to the hard work that goes on behind the scenes”.

For any enquiries related to our Wills, Trusts and Probate team contact us on 020 3814 2020 or email enquiries@blasermills.co.uk.

South Asian Heritage Month interview with Co-founder, Jasvir Singh CBE

In conjunction with South Asian Heritage Month this year, one of our trainees Simran Hoonjan reached out to one of the co-founders, Jasvir Singh CBE to find out more about the birth of the initiative and its significance. South Asian Heritage Month will run from 18 July to 17 August 2024, and this will be the 5th anniversary of the project.

A transcript of the interview can be seen below. 

1. Why did you and Binita decide to set up South Asian Heritage Month?

Jasvir Singh CBE and Dr Binita Kane established South Asian Heritage Month in 2020 to celebrate and raise awareness of the diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of South Asian communities in the UK. The initiative, which runs from 18th July to 17th August each year, aims to foster understanding and cohesion, highlight the positive impact of South Asians on British society, and address issues of identity, heritage, and integration. By doing so, they hope to create a more inclusive society that recognizes and appreciates the rich tapestry of South Asian heritage.

2. Tell me a bit more about this year’s theme – ‘Free to Be Me.’

This year, our theme is “Free to Be Me,” and we’re excited to celebrate the beauty of simply being yourself. Every one of us has a unique journey filled with moments that have shaped who we are. We want to hear about the experiences that have taught you valuable lessons and helped you grow. No matter who you are, your story matters. Our stories connect us in profound ways, and there are countless ways to share them. Whether you express yourself through art, writing, music, fashion, or food, your heritage is worth celebrating. Let’s explore the diverse ways we honour our roots and individuality. Intersectionality is given the spotlight in this manner. We also appreciate that not everyone is free to be themselves, and we want to focus on what barriers there are which prevent that from happening


3. Why is diversity and inclusion so important in the workplace?

Diversity and inclusion is so important in the workplace because it allows us to bring our authentic selves along to our professional lives, as well as celebrate who we truly are without having to hide aspects of our identity or diminish who we are as individuals

4. Tell me about your journey into law and what motivated you to pursue family law?

I became interested in family law from a young age. I was 8 years old when a family member was going through a divorce and I remember just how difficult it was for them. I couldn’t understand why it was such a painful and drawn out process, and I wanted to help people going through such painful times as best I could. That desire to help has remained with me throughout my adult life. Family law to me is about solving human issues using the legal system, and about providing a focus on the issues in hand without allowing emotions to get in the way of the best outcome. At the heart of it all are families wanting to get closure and a resolution to their problems so that they can move on with their lives.


5. What would you say is your biggest achievement to date?

My biggest achievement to date has been getting a CBE from the King in the 2023 New Year’s honours list in recognition of my extensive charity work, including the founding of South Asian Heritage Month. Both of my parents worked in factories and neither of them went to university, so to have come from a working class background to gain such an honour means a great deal to me as well as my family.


6. What other efforts do you think law firms can do to boost diversity and inclusion?

Generally speaking, law firms tend to be diverse places of work. However, the structures do sometimes mean that the diversity can’t always be seen at all levels within the law firms. Also, intersectional identities tend to be hidden in the workplace. I’m a proud turban wearing gay Sikh man, and yet I am aware of many LGBTQ+ South Asian lawyers who keep their sexuality a secret because they fear how people may react at their law firms or in Chambers. There is much work yet to do to allow people to be truly free to be themselves. One thing I would suggest would be to create safe environments at work so that individuals can open up about themselves if they feel comfortable to do so. It’s also important to recognise that not everyone wants to be open in the workplace, and that needs to be respected and understood too.

Corporate and Commercial deal round up: 2024 so far

The deal activity for the corporate team at Blaser Mills continues to be strong in 2024, despite the challenging economic conditions. Here are a few deal summaries that the team has worked on earlier this year, to showcase our capabilities on how we have helped businesses.

1. The corporate team, specifically Edward Lee, Richard Gowing and Iona Caseby, acted for a large agritech company specialising in ‘vertical farming’, in the purchase of a group of companies instrumental in achieving our client’s objective of bringing key processing capabilities in-house. We drafted a complex package of guarantees and collaterals to give the Lender security for providing a loan; analysed and advised on the National Security and Investment Act regime; undertook a significant due diligence report for the client which led to a considerable decrease in the proposed purchase price in favour of our client and drafted sophisticated earn out and bonus structures.

2. Blaser Mills acted for the parent company of a national property management services company in its sale to an Irish-based financial services company whose group includes a market-leading national company in the same space.

Besides navigating the international dimension of the transaction, we also negotiated a complex payment scheme (which allowed the seller to obtain payment over a set time frame) and concluded the transaction in a robust position maintained in favour of our clients.

3. Our corporate team acted for a Swedish provider of technology services (and part of a listed group), in the sale of its UK-based subsidiary specialising in engineering and digital services to an overseas based technological services provider.

 We  drafted a “reverse set-off” mechanism into the share purchase agreement, under which the seller would be entitled to obtain payment under the requirement by deducting its ongoing trade debts to the buyer and help resolve certain foreign currency control issues.

Our team achieved the client’s objective to ‘hive-off’ a non-core area of its European operations while allowing the buyer to strengthen its regional and UK presence.

4. Our Corporate team, led by Edward Lee and Richard Gowing, acted for the shareholders of a postal office group, on an investment agreement under which, a private equity firm would acquire a significant percentage of the company. The concept was the funding of a ‘buy and build’ strategy.

In order to achieve this, we reviewed and negotiated the investment agreement and assisted the client with disclosure against the warranties (including the “Horizon” software issues); reviewed an investor-friendly set of company articles and shareholders’ agreement in order to preserve the interests of the original shareholders; reviewed provisions relating to the allocation of ‘sweet equity’.

If you require legal assistance in relation to buying or selling a business, please contact our corporate team on 020 3814 2020 or email enquiries@blasermills.co.uk.

Blaser Mills Law announces new Partner promotion

We are delighted to announce the promotion of Adam Smith to partnership in the firm.

Adam’s journey with Blaser Mills began in the Family & Divorce department as a trainee, where his passion for Childcare work flourished, which led him to undertaking a seat in the Child Care team with Partner and Head, Denise Herman. Since then, Adam has become an exceptional Childcare lawyer, renowned for his expertise and dedication.

Adam handles a caseload of Legal Aid Public Family Law cases, including Special Guardianship and Adoption. He ensures continuity of representation and often undertakes his own advocacy in Family Court.

He is known for his straight-talking yet sensitive legal advice, and the ability to manage emotionally challenging cases.

 A member of the Law Society’s Children Law Accreditation scheme, Adam has litigated up to the Court of Appeal and was shortlisted for Young Family Law Solicitor of the Year in 2022.

Denise Herman commented: ‘Adam is an excellent team-player, always providing support to his colleagues. He has shown himself to be a brilliant Court advocate and enthusiastically embraces innovation and technology. Above all, he genuinely cares about people – he never shies away from a challenge, and always wants to achieve the very best outcomes for his clients.’

Adam Smith added: ‘I am delighted and proud to have become a Partner at Blaser Mills, and grateful for the mentorship and support I have enjoyed here over many years. I look forward to taking care of my clients and continuing the extremely rewarding work I do, as a Partner, for many years to come.’

Congratulations Adam!

Residential Property team shortlisted for ESTAS 2024 awards

Our Residential Property team has been recognised for delivering outstanding customer service to its clients by making the shortlist for The ESTAS – the biggest award scheme in the UK residential property industry.

The ESTAS Awards celebrate the best, agents, conveyancers and mortgage brokers in the UK. The awards are powered by the ESTAS online customer review platform which enables property professionals to demonstrate the customer service standards they deliver for their clients

Our team has achieved the ESTAS ‘Standard of Excellence’ based on the service ratings they achieved via customer reviews submitted to the ESTAS review platform which is exclusively for real estate professionals, the reviews have been completed at the end of the moving experience.

Simon Brown, founder of ESTAS says “At ESTAS we’re creating a community of property professionals who all share a passion for delivering great service to their clients and a belief that excellent service should be the norm not the exception.”

Jane Hannaway, Partner and Head of Residential Property added: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Standard of Excellence award again in 2024. Our continuing commitment to delivering exceptional client services time after time is at the forefront, and we take great pride in upholding our reputation for providing top-quality legal advice.” 

The regional and national winners will be announced in October at the annual ESTAS ceremony held in London. 

Residential Property team awarded best in postcode for customer service

The Blaser Mills Residential Property team has been recognised for delivering outstanding customer service to its clients by winning a Best in Postcode Award from The ESTAS – the biggest award scheme in the UK residential property industry.

The award has been achieved via customer reviews submitted to the ESTAS review platform, which is exclusively for real estate professionals, the reviews have been completed at the end of the moving experience. ESTAS monitors and verifies service ratings over a 12-month period giving a highly accurate overview of the standard of service that’s been delivered to customers.

Simon Brown, founder of ESTAS says “At ESTAS we’re creating a community of property lawyers who all share a passion for delivering great service to their clients and a belief that excellent service should be the norm not the exception.”

Jane Hannaway, Partner and Head of Residential Property commented “We are very pleased to receive the recognition, we take our levels of customer service very seriously because we know clients have a choice”.

To get in touch with our Residential Property team email enquiries@blasermills.co.uk.

Volunteering for the One Can Trust

The team at Blaser Mills Law had a fantastic time volunteering for the One Can Trust at the local Sainsbury’s in High Wycombe.

The One Can Trust is a foodbank operating in High Wycombe and South Buckinghamshire since 2011. They work with local organisations, including Bucks Council, housing associations and the Department for Work and Pensions, to provide weekly food parcels to those in need.

Through the kindness of the High Wycombe locals, our volunteers managed to collect 32 crates worth of food donations that will help serve our local community.

We would like to thank those who supported us on the day and the One Can Trust for the opportunity.

To find out how you can donate or help click here: One Can Trust – Foodbank serving families in need

Blaser Mills Law grows Corporate team with addition of Oksana Howard as a Partner

We are delighted to announce that Oksana Howard joins the firm as a Partner in the Corporate department. With experience in corporate law at a renowned City firm and a Central London practice where she was head of the Corporate team, Oksana brings valuable expertise to Blaser Mills Law.

Specialising in cross-border transactional M&A, Oksana advises both domestic and international clients, with a strong focus on the US market. Her expertise involves a wide range of corporate transactions, including buying and selling companies and businesses, management buy-outs, joint ventures, reorganisations, mergers, de-mergers, private equity deals and investments.

Drawing upon her Ukrainian background, Oksana often supports Eastern European companies, businesses, and high-net-worth individuals with legal matters that demand expertise in English law.

Edward Lee, Partner and Head of Corporate commented: “We are delighted to welcome Oksana to the Corporate team. Oksana’s experience and expertise in handling complex corporate transactions, coupled with her international perspective, will further strengthen our ability to deliver exceptional service and value to our clients.”

Oksana added: “The reputation of Blaser Mills Law and the continual achievements of the corporate team means this is an exciting move for me. I very much look forward to collaborating with the wider team and delivering unmatched value to our clients.”

Child Care team receives Competence Plus (2) award from the Legal Aid Agency

We are delighted to announce that our Child Care team has been awarded Competence Plus (2) recognition, in the family category, from the Legal Aid Agency Peer Review Report.

The team has been praised for its excellent communication, tailored advice, proactive approach, and ability to achieve great outcomes for its clients.

Denise Herman, Partner and Head of the Child Care team, commented: ‘This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work carried out by the Child Care team, who consistently go above and beyond to ensure the families we act for achieve the best possible outcomes during what can be a challenging time.

It reminds us of our ongoing commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of the families we assist’.

For further information or advice from the Child Care team please email enquiries@blasermills.co.uk.

Blaser Mills Law raise £1,240 during Movember

Throughout the month, our Inclusion Forum has been raising awareness and shedding a light on men’s mental health challenges, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and suicide.

Our wonderful mo’ growers and BML colleagues have raised a hugely impressive £1,240!

We would like to thank everyone who joined the movement and contributed a donation to this amazing cause. 🙌🎉

#Movember lives on beyond the facial hair, as we continue to champion men’s health every month! 🤝

https://uk.movember.com/team/2459445

Ps: Spot the comedy mo’…

Blaser Mills Law announces three partner promotions

We are delighted to announce the promotions of Samantha Bellia, Victoria Harvey, and Tracy Jones to partnership in the firm.

Samantha Bellia is very well known throughout the region as a top residential conveyancing practitioner. Blaser Mills Law was delighted to recruit her in 2021 and her rapid rise to partnership is testament to the remarkable contribution that she has made to the firm since joining.Sam’s wealth of experience, dedication to client-care, and long-standing strong connections within the local property network enable her to ensure that the process of moving home is made as stress-free as possible.

Victoria Harvey joined Blaser Mills Law in 2017 from a major London firm. Recognised as a leading practitioner in medical negligence and personal injury law, Victoria has spent her career helping people who have suffered major injuries to rebuild their lives – securing tens of millions of pounds in damages for the victims of negligence. Victoria is not only a great lawyer but also has genuine empathy, enabling her to provide a great service while securing exceptional results for her clients.

Tracy Jones is a partner dedicated solely to Responsible Business (often also referred to as ESG or sustainability). To have a partner in this position is almost unique in law firms. Tracy joined Blaser Mills Law in 2017, following two decades of experience as a property lawyer. Having then embraced a new role in business development, she took on becoming a Responsible Business Director in 2021. As a Responsible Business Partner. Tracy leads the firm’s focus on inclusion, diversity, wellbeing, community and the environment. Tracy’s success in this role has played a huge part in shaping Blaser Mills Law’s culture and the firm’s standard-setting approach to these vital issues.

CEO Dave Matthews says: “This is a great trio of promotions. Sam and Vicki are true leaders in their respective fields, and the promotion of Tracy shows our genuine commitment and passion to becoming a truly
responsible business, prioritising the important values that companies should embrace at their core”.

Congratulations to all.

Key takeaways: Chancellor’s Autumn Statement

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s recent Autumn Statement outlined tax reductions, permanent business incentives, and a £500 million investment in AI. Economic challenges were acknowledged, but the notable omission of inheritance tax raised concerns among experts. This overview breaks down the key points, giving a glimpse into the UK’s economic direction.

1. Tax reductions for employees and the self-employed:

  • Employees’ contribution rate reduced from 12% to 10%.
  • Self-employed see cuts with the abolition of class 2 contributions and a 1% reduction in class 4 contributions, down to 8% from 9%.

2. Permanent “full expensing” for businesses:

  • Businesses granted a 100% first-year allowance for qualifying plant and machinery assets.

3. £500 million funding for AI innovation:

  • £500 million allocated to establish the UK as an AI powerhouse, supporting innovation centers.

4. Economic outlook and forecasts:

  • OBR predicts a decrease in headline inflation from 4.6% to 2.8% by end-2024, reaching the government’s 2% target in 2025.
  • Economic growth forecasts reduced to 0.7% in 2024 and 1.4% in 2025, down from earlier projections.

5. Inheritance Tax (IHT)

  • IHT nil rate band freeze until April 2028; concerns raised about its long-term impact.
  • Inheritance tax described as the “elephant in the room” and likened to a “polar bear” due to prolonged nil rate band freeze.
  • Expert advises regular checks on IHT status and planning to minimise liability.
  • Individuals can pass on up to £325,000 tax-free; additional £175,000 for the main home passing to a direct descendant.
  • Strategies to reduce IHT include making gifts, utilising trusts, and understanding exemptions and allowances.
  • Specialist advice recommended for trusts and gifts, highlighting the importance of record-keeping and financial planning.

The Autumn Statement focused on tax reductions, business incentives, and AI innovation funding. However, concerns persist about the unaddressed issue of inheritance tax, prompting experts to highlight the need for proactive planning to navigate complexities and minimise liabilities.

Blaser Mills Law shortlisted for CICM British Credit Awards 2024

We are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for the CICM British Credit Awards 2024.

The British Credit Awards recognise the achievements of the most deserving individuals, teams and organisations in the international credit industry.

Our Commercial Recoveries, Litigation & Insolvency team has been named as finalists in the ‘Legal Provider of the Year Award’. A category aimed at legal providers that offer the highest quality service and appropriate solutions to its clients.

Nina Toor, commented: ‘We are very pleased to be shortlisted for the award and to be recognised within the industry reflects on the hard work and dedication from our team’.

Winners will be announced on the 1 February 2024 at the Royal Lancaster of London.

Blaser Mills Law wins multiple awards at The ESTAS

We are delighted to announce that our Residential Property team has won multiple awards at The ESTAS Customer Service Awards 2023.

The team have won the following awards:
Silver – Southern High Wycombe
Bronze – Southern Amersham
Best in postcode – HP6
Best in postcode – HP11

The awards, which this year celebrated their 20th birthday, power the ESTAS own customer review platform which recognises the best conveyancers for customer service based on ratings from clients who have been through the whole moving experience with an agent. This year’s results were calculated from over 300,000 customer review ratings.

Jane Hannaway, Partner & Head of Residential Property commented: “We are thrilled to be recognised in this year’s ESTAS. We take our levels of customer service very seriously and have always been very proud of the personal service provided by our team. The awards prove we are delivering what we promise.”

The firm would like to congratulate everyone in the Residential Property team and thank them for all their hard work.

Blaser Mills Law announces Chambers UK 2024 results

Blaser Mills Law is delighted to announce its results in the 2024 Chambers UK Legal Directory rankings. Chambers UK is a highly respected legal directory that conducts in-depth research and analysis to identify and rank top lawyers and law firms across the United Kingdom.

New Individual Rankings

Noel Deans, Partner and Head of Employment – Noel Deans is head of the employment team at Blaser Mills Law. He is notable for his work on contentious employment matters and he advises both individual claimants and employers.

Client feedback
“I have relied on his vast expertise in domestic and international employment matters.”
“He gives good advice.”
“He’s strategic, sophisticated and excellent.”

Lucinda Holliday, Partner and Head of Family & Divorce – Lucinda Holliday leads the family and divorce team at Blaser Mills Law. She assists clients with both the financial and child care aspects of divorce and separation, including high net worth cases.

Client feedback
“Lucinda has a really good knowledge of where a sensible settlement lies and doesn’t litigate for the sake of it.”
“I cannot speak highly enough of Lucinda and her professionalism – she has provided excellent counsel and a considered approach tailored to my specific circumstances, dealing with a high-conflict situation with grace and decorum.”
“The service she provides is exceptional.”
“Lucinda is fantastic at the job she does, with quick turnarounds and realistic outcomes when giving advice.”

Ben Langley, Criminal Defence Consultant – Ben’s contributions to the legal field have earned him a well-deserved individual ranking in the directory.

Client feedback
“He has a great attention to detail and is very client friendly.”

Retained Individual Ranking

Edward Lee, Partner and Head of Corporate, has maintained his Band 1 individual ranking.

Client feedback
“Edward is an excellent corporate lawyer who brings a great deal of commerciality as well as technical advice.”
“Edward is a highly astute and competent individual.”
“Edward is a highly competent lawyer who gives good, practical and commercial advice. He helped us navigate multiple challenging scenarios.”

New Departmental Ranking

The Employment team has received a new ranking in the 2024 guide. The team advises a wide range of clients including large corporates, SMEs and individuals. The team is multi-skilled and regularly advises clients on employee disputes, both in and out of court, as well as on day-to-day matters.

Client feedback
“They deliver for my organisation 100% of the time.”
“They are very knowledgeable and helpful from start to finish in an incredibly timely and supportive manner.”
“I always found them to be knowledgeable and able to articulate the process and legislation clearly.”

Retained Departmental Rankings

The departments of Criminal Defence, Family & Divorce, and Real Estate have once again demonstrated their exceptional capabilities and have retained their top rankings in the 2024 guide.

For more detailed information about the rankings and to explore the full directory, please visit the Chambers UK website. Congratulations to all those recognised in the 2024 Chambers UK legal directory and thank you to our clients for their feedback and time.

Blaser Mills Law, UK 2024 | Chambers Profiles

Blaser Mills Law achieves record Legal 5002024 recognition

The Legal 500, one of the UK’s leading legal directories, has announced its much-anticipated results for 2024.  We are delighted to announce that we have achieved rankings in 12 practice areas and 27 of our lawyers have been recommended, achieving our best results to date.

Department rankings
The Legal 500 continues to award Top Tier 1 status to Employment and Wills, Trusts, and Probate.

The Legal 500 describes the Employment team as ‘exceptional’ with ‘vast amount of knowledge’. The team received a glowing testimonial from a former client Excellent service from start to finish, very timely, very knowledgeable, feel very safe in their hands and that they have my best interests at heart’. Another client went on to say ‘From the first call through to resolution, the team is outstanding. The expertise of the team is invaluable…’.

The Wills, Trusts and Probate team have been complimented for their ‘calm, common sense approach’ and the Legal 500 highlights on the fact they are ‘strong across the board’. A client further praises the team on their ‘efficient and pragmatic approachwhilst another client finds them ‘…very approachable.’

New rankings

We also welcome two brand new rankings for 2024 – Corporate & Commercial contracts and Insolvency.

Our Corporate and Commercial teams have been praised by the Legal 500 for their ‘integrity and accuracy’ highlighting Edward Lee as a ‘first-class corporate lawyer’. The team received many positive testimonials from former clients ‘The corporate team were willing to go the extra mile to ensure deals are completed. They are always available to offer advice and support’ ‘Blaser Mills reacts unflinchingly. We feel they have our backs and are dogged and successful in the defence of our interests.’

The Legal 500 highlights on the Insolvency teams ‘very good depth of talent’ naming Jackie Ray as an ‘excellent and client-focused commercial lawyer’. Clients go on to say ‘The firm has excellent strength in terms of service provision and delivery. It has very good depth of talent at all levels of qualification.’

In addition, the following teams have retained their rankings, here is what our clients think:

Commercial Litigation (Tier 2): ‘Blaser Mills is excellent at delivering debt recovery solutions for clients, whether at volume or in one-off cases. They are adept at using a systems-based approach. The firm has excellent strength in terms of service provision and delivery. It has very good depth of talent at all levels of qualification.’

Property Litigation (Tier 4): ‘Blaser Mills Law have, in my experience, always proved to be extremely pro-active in all aspects of property litigation that we have been involved with. They have an extremely responsive team with a clear billing strategy.’

Debt Recovery (Tier 2): ‘We have used this practice for many years and have never had an issue or been disappointed with their service.’

Real Estate & Development (Tier 3).

Family & Divorce (Tier 2): ‘The team are boutique in a sense that they are able to offer clients a bespoke service, clients really appreciate a personal touch point, their solicitor becomes a true emotional connection rather than just a perfunctory service. They are a first-rate team.’

PI & Medical Negligence (Tier 3): ‘The clinical negligence team at Blaser Mills is very user-friendly, knowledgeable and experienced. They always put their clients first and will do everything to secure the best possible result for them.’

Criminal Defence (Tier 4): ‘Blaser Mills Law offers an outstanding service in relation to all criminal matters. Head and shoulders above ordinary high street practices.’

Contentious Trusts and Probate (Tier 4): Any dealings with Blaser Mills have been easy at a very stressful time. The knowledge and the response times were fantastic.

Individual Rankings

Leading Individuals
The Legal 500 announced that James Simpson, Commercial Parnter, and Naim Qureshi, Senior Associate in Family & Divorce, have retained their rankings as Leading Individuals.

Naim’s received a excellent testimonial from a former client ‘Naim is wonderful and is an extremely safe pair of hands. He is very gentle and reassuring with clients but can be as robust as they come in representing them’.

Newly ranked Leading Individual Noel Deans, Partner and Head of Employment, has also received a glowing testimonial ‘Noel Deans is quietly confident, his knowledge of employment law has not gone unnoticed. He presents clear and unambiguous advice. Noel has outstanding knowledge, is calm, and understands the complexity of my case, providing me with a strategy that I endorse.’

In addition, Jonathan Gallop, Partner and Head of Wills, Trusts & Probate, has improved his ranking from Next Generation Partner to Leading Individual…‘Jonathan Gallop is very user friendly and responsive, with a calm, common sense approach’.

Rising Star

Our Rising Star for 2024 is Jade Salton-Brooks, Senior Associate in our Commercial Dispute Resolution team. Clients note Jade is ‘phenomenal’ and ‘truly excellent’ at what she does.

Recommended

Our 2024 Legal 500 rankings announced new individual lawyer recommendations across various practices.

Edward Lee, Partner & Head of Corporate: ‘Edward Lee’s experience is invaluable. Edward is a first class corporate lawyer who brings sensible commercial advice to the deal.’

Colin Smith, Partner & Head of Commercial: ‘Blaser Mills reacts unflinchingly. We feel they have our backs, and are dogged and successful in the defence of our interests.’

Ben Lindsay, Associate in our Employment: ‘Ben Lindsay was always available to provide support, guidance and updates in a timely, professional and helpful manner’.

Nina Toor, Senior Associate and Head of Commercial Recoveries: ‘Nina Toor is a very good junior lawyer, who is well attuned to clients’ needs.’

Olivia Dann, Lawyer Family & Divorce: ‘Olivia Dann handled my divorce and made an emotional process manageable with her gentle nature, understanding, and support in reaching the best possible outcome for me. I cannot thank Olivia enough for her approach in my vulnerable position. She is wise beyond her years and an excellent strategist.’

Juliana Pooler and Sara Davies, Property Litigation:Blaser Mills Law have, in my experience, always proved to be extremely pro-active in all aspects of property litigation that we have been involved with. They have an extremely responsive team with a clear billing strategy.’

The following individuals have retained their recommended status: James Simpson, Noel Deans, Jonathan Gallop, Karen Woodison, Minesh Thakrar, Sara Rendell, Jackie Ray, Jonathan Lilley, Lucinda Holliday, Naim Qureshi, Victoria Harvey, Daria Stepien, Dave Matthews, Ben Langley, Emma Hurrell, Jade Salton-Brooks.

To our full rankings please visit: Blaser Mills Law > High Wycombe > England | The Legal 500 law firm profiles

Congratulations to all of those involved and thank you to our referee’s for their participation.

Blaser Mills Law ranks in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2023

The Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) Guide has announced the results of its latest rankings for 2023. The guide ranks solicitors in specialist areas of law within the High Net Worth category.

Recognised as the most commonly used directory in the legal sector, the Chambers HNW Guide has moved up our Wills, Trust and Probate team to Band 2, having ranked previously for seven consecutive years, and sees the team as a ‘Leading Firm’ in Private Wealth Law , with feedback highlighting that we are a “experts best in the field”.

The guide includes client testimonials for the team:

“They are just so professional, excellent communicators, and I definitely recommend them as legal counsel. They are always quick to respond and instil great confidence in clients.”

“Both the support and guidance I was given by the probate and conveyancing teams has been outstanding. The expertise and professionalism has been excellent.”

Jonathan Gallop, Partner and Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate, has ranked for the second consecutive year as a Band 3 Individual in Private Wealth Law. In the guide Jonathan’s private wealth law clients left him glowing feedback: “We felt as though we were in safe hands. Jonathan and his team were very responsive.”

Senior Associate, Sara Rendell, has been ranked as an ‘Associate to Watch’ in Private Wealth Law for the third year running. The guide describes Sara as a “clear, concise and a balanced communicator. She is an expert in the field and is always willing to listen.”

Jonathan commented: “I am delighted that our team has been recognised as leaders in its field by Chambers, assuring our clients that we provide an excellent level of service and specialist legal advice to High Net Worth individuals.”

For any enquiries related to our Wills, Trusts and Probate team contact us on 020 3814 2020 or email enquiries@blasermills.co.uk.

Blaser Mills Law achieves ‘Standard of Excellence’ to make The ESTAS shortlist for 2023

Our Residential Property team has been recognised for delivering outstanding customer service to its clients by making the shortlist for The ESTAS – the biggest award scheme in the UK residential property industry.

The team’s dedication and excellence have resulted in them receiving prestigious awards with The ESTAS over the past two years.

The team has achieved the ESTAS ‘Standard of Excellence’ based on the service ratings they achieved through their clients submitting reviews to the ESTAS platform. The ESTAS team monitors the service ratings over a 12-month period giving a highly accurate overview of the standard of service that Blaser Mills Law provides to its clients.

The ESTAS Awards honour the best agents, conveyancers, and mortgage brokers in the UK. Their strict verification process ensures reviews are genuine, this year’s shortlist has been calculated following the evaluation of 300,000 customer review ratings.

The winners will be announced in October at the annual ESTAS ceremony held in London. The awards will be presented by the UK’s favourite property expert Phil Spencer in front of 1,200 of the UK’s top property professionals.

Jane Hannaway, Partner and Head of Residential Property added: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Standard of Excellence award again. Our continuing commitment to delivering exceptional client services time after time is at the forefront, and we take great pride in upholding our reputation for providing top-quality legal advice. Our team has worked really hard to meet the demands and ensure smooth property transactions, even during incredibly busy periods. It means a lot to receive the recognition”.

For all your conveyancing needs please email our Residential Property team today on enquiries@blasermills.co.uk.

Blaser Mills Law advises on over £350m of corporate deals

During the 2022/23 financial year, the Corporate team at Blaser Mills Law successfully completed over 30 deals, with a combined connected value in excess of £350m, from its High Wycombe office alone. Despite the challenging economic climate, the team reinforced its strong position in the market, resulting in a considerable surge in deal volume with a number of deals between £35m to £70m.

The team received instructions from clients across diverse sectors, seeking assistance with their transactional matters. This included the shareholders of national insurance firms, international development consultancies, elite sports agencies, as well as companies specialising in audio-visual media, advanced robotics and agritech. Many of these have comprised an international dimension, either due to the multi-national nature of the operations of the target entity or the location of the buyer and/or their financing.

Headed up by Edward Lee (ranked in Band 1 by Chambers UK), the team regularly advises clients on UK and cross border mergers, acquisitions and disposals as well as private equity investments.

The success comes at a time of strategic expansion and investment in the team over recent years, with key hires from large regional and magic circle firms.

During the current financial year, the team aims to become a major force in the regional, national, and international legal markets, having increased their deal volume and size consistently over the past two years.

Edward Lee, Partner and Head of Corporate commented: ‘Blaser Mills Law is rapidly establishing itself as a preferred firm for Corporate transactions within our key regions. The team had a very successful year by delivering high-quality deals across several sectors. Looking ahead, we are confident deal activity will remain high’.

Publishable deals in 2022:
Blaser Mills Law successfully act on the sale of UKGlobal to Aston Lark – Blaser Mills Law
Blaser Mills Law successfully acts on the sale of Collision Management Systems Ltd to SambaSafety – Blaser Mills Law
Corporate team successfully act on the sale of Ansible Motion to AB Dynamics – Blaser Mills Law
Corporate team successfully act on the sale of Audiologic to EAV Group – Blaser Mills Law

Work closely with our corporate lawyers
For advice on your business’s next phase, please contact Edward Lee on 07850 255907 or email epl@blasermills.co.uk.

Blaser Mills Law raises thousands in aid of the Thames Hospice

As part of our Responsible Business initiative, we are committed to making a difference in our local communities. Those in the local area will know about the fantastic work of the Thames Hospice, and in 2022 our staff chose them to be our very worthy charity partner. Through various fundraising activities organised by the firm, we are delighted to announce that we have raised the fantastic sum of £5,339.

About Thames Hospice

Located on the beautiful Bray Lake, Thames Hospice has served the community for more than 35 years, offering world-class palliative and end of life care and support to people aged over 16 years across East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire. Thames Hospice rely heavily on donations to allow them to operate, making us keen to support this fantastic organisation.

The money raised by us has already paid for 133 hours of one-to-one counselling sessions for bereaved families.

What we got up to

Throughout the year we managed to host some amazing events and activities. These included:

  • Charity golf day
  • 50 Miles in March walk
  • Charity wellbeing and yoga day
  • 350k steps in October

We also enjoyed numerous office fundraisers, including a delicious bake sale!

A thank you to all of those involved!

We would like to thank all our staff and those who joined us at the events, for helping us to fundraise and raise awareness for the amazing work that the Thames Hospice do. Each activity brought plenty of smiles and laughter as well as a great sense of achievement.

We would also like to thank the Thames Hospice for their support throughout the year. The team supported all our events, allowing us to meet some great individuals along the way.

“Everyone we met at Blaser Mills was so keen to get involved and help raise funds.  The golf and yoga days were great opportunities to meet staff and clients and helped to raise awareness in the community about the support we offer to families dealing with a bereavement. Thank you.” Jane Symmons, Major Gifts Associate Director.

To be continued

We look forward to continuing our relationship with Thames Hospice and already have some initiatives planned for the near future.

To find out more about Blaser Mills Law’s Responsible Business initiatives, click here.  

Legal Aid widened to help more families in Complex Child Protection Proceedings

Adam Smith, Senior Associate, discusses the recent changes in non-means and non-merits tested Legal Aid Funding for Public Family Law (Child Care and Child Protection Proceedings).

Last month, the Legal Aid Agency has brought more people into scope of Legal Aid for the first time in a significant period – to cover respondents to freestanding applications for Placement Orders, and applications for final Adoption Orders.

It has always been the case that when a Local Authority Children (Social Services) Department brought an application for a Care or Supervision Order in respect of a child, that child’s parents and anybody with parental responsibility for the child would be entitled to non-means and non-merits tested Legal Aid.  However, this has now been extended to situations where:-

  • The parents are opposing the making of an order that their child should be ‘put up’ for adoption (applications for a Placement Order)
  • They are opposing (or seeking permission to oppose) the making of an Adoption Order itself, when an application is brought by the adoptive parents to make the adoption final. 

Often, Local Authorities applied for Placement Orders and Care Orders at the same time, so legal aid funding could cover both. However, the new funding will cover situations where a child that is already under a Care Order might have their Care Plan changed to become “adoption” later down the line.  It will also give parents one last opportunity to explain to the Court why their child should not be adopted at the point that the final adoption application is made.

This Legal Aid funding always used to be subject to a strict means and merits test but will now be available to anybody, on a non-means and non-merits tested basis.  In short, it does not matter how much money you have or how good or bad the case is, you should be able to get free legal representation if you oppose the application. 

There is a pending increase in Legal Aid funding concerning Special Guardianship as well as for parents who are trying to oppose the making of a Special Guardianship Order.  However, these changes will not come online until May.

If you would like to discuss whether your case may be eligible for non-means and non-merit tested Legal Aid, under the new rules or the old ones, then please do contact Adam Smith on ats@blasermills.co.uk, 01923 725013 to explore your options.

You can read the Legal Aid Agency update here.

Blaser Mills Law welcomes new Construction partner

Blaser Mills Law is delighted to welcome Lewis Cohen as Partner in the Dispute Resolution team. With over 25 years of experience in the field of Construction & Engineering, Lewis brings extensive expertise and a proven track record of success to the firm.

Lewis acts for a range of commercial developers, residential homeowners, main contractors, and specialist sub-contractors as well as a number of consultants including architects, engineers and interior designers. Having previously worked in City firms, his clients are predominantly based in London and the Home Counties.

Lewis trained as a specialist litigator undertaking High Court Litigation, Adjudication, Mediation, and International Arbitration. He obtained an MSC from Kings College London in Construction Law and Arbitration and a Diploma in Adjudication from the RICS. He is also recognised as a specialist in the field of Construction Insolvency.

In his new role at Blaser Mills Law, Lewis will be responsible for leading a specialist unit to advise on all matters related to Construction & Engineering. He is comfortable drafting and negotiating contracts and is often called upon to troubleshoot difficult projects.

Lewis’s broad range of experience and deep knowledge of the industry will allow us to better service the requirements of our clients.  

Jonathan Lilley, Executive Chairman and Head of Property Litigation commented: “Lewis is well known to the firm, having acted alongside us for clients over a number of years. His knowledge and experience in the Construction industry is second to none and his appointment brings additional strength in depth to our property litigation team”.

Lewis Cohen added: “I am thrilled to join Blaser Mills Law and look forward to working alongside the excellent team to expand the department further”.

Blaser Mills Law very much welcomes Lewis, and we look forward to him making a positive contribution to the partnership.

If you would like to speak with Lewis on any Construction matters, please get in touch on 07956 964466 or email lnc@blasermills.co.uk.

Welsh FA latest to implement equal pay

The Welsh Football Association (‘WFA’) has recently announced that they will implement an equal pay policy for both men’s and women’s football teams.

This will apply to professional contracts at club and academy level, as well as performance-related pay. This comes at a time with women’s football is growing in popularity and recognition, but often undervalued in terms of pay and resources. The changes will help to create a more level playing field for both genders and is a huge step forward for the representation of women in sport.

The WFA has stated that they will provide equal opportunities for both genders in terms of resources – such as marketing and media exposure.

The men’s team agreed to a 25% pay cut to enable a 25% rise for the women’s team, thus ensuring parity when representing Wales.

Both teams released a joint statement in support of the decision, emphasising the value placed on the Together Stronger ethos of collaboration across all Welsh teams – both on and off the pitch.

England and Ireland both implemented equal pay policies for their men’s and women’s teams in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Furthermore, Scotland’s women’s team recently launched legal action against the Scottish FA for equal pay and treatment claims, demanding a contract stipulating equal pay and improved resources for their teams.

This equal pay policy is an historic moment for Welsh football as it serves as an important reminder that sports equality is possible and achievable. Moreover, it sets a precedent for other sports associations to follow.

FIFA launches new worldwide football agent regulations

FIFA’s Football Agent Regulations (the “FFAR”) were approved by the FIFA Council on 16 December 2022 and came into force this week. 

There are major implications for football agents, including:

  1. The (re)introduction of an examination
  2. A licensing system
  3. A cap on agents’ fees
  4. Limits on multiple representation.

The FFAR will have major ramifications for all those involved in football worldwide and, as such, it is important that all stakeholders are fully aware of what these changes entail.

The enforcement will fall into two tranches with a transition period in between the first and second date.

  • 9 January 2023 – The provisions regarding becoming a football agent, including the requirement for agents to pass an exam and obtain a licence, will enter into force on this date.
  • 1 October 2023 – The remaining regulations come into force on this date and this includes the obligation to only use licensed football agents, the cap on agents’ fees and limits on multiple representation.

The Blaser Mills Sports Law team are here to assist those effected by these widespread change.

Blaser Mills Law shortlisted for CICM British Credit Awards 2023

The British Credit Awards recognise the achievements of the most deserving individuals, teams and organisations in the international credit industry.

We are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for the CICM British Credit Awards 2023.

Our Commercial Recoveries, Litigation & Insolvency team has been named as finalists in the ‘Legal Provider of the Year Award’. A category aimed at legal providers that offer the highest quality service and appropriate solutions to its clients.

“We are very pleased to be shortlisted for the award and to be recognised within the industry reflects on the hard work and dedication from our team”.

Winners will be announced on the 2 February 2023 at the Royal Lancaster of London.

Residential Property team wins multiple awards at The ESTAS

We are delighted to announce that our Residential Property team has won three awards at The ESTAS Customer Service Awards 2022.

The team have won the following awards:

  • Bronze & Silver – Best Conveyancer in the South Region
  • Gold – Best in County Buckinghamshire

Now in their 19th year the awards recognise the conveyancers, agents and brokers for customer service based on ratings from clients who have been through the whole moving experience. This year’s results were calculated from over 200,000 customer review ratings.

Alexandra Kirk, Partner & Head of Residential Property commented:  “We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised in this year’s ESTAS. It means so much to us as we know it’s our customers who have judged our performance.  We take our levels of customer service very seriously because we know clients have a choice.  We have always been very proud of the personal service and this proves we are delivering what we promise.”

The firm would like to congratulate everyone in the Residential Property team and thank them for all of their hard work.

Blaser Mills Law receives outstanding feedback from Chambers Student 2023

Chambers Student Guide (sister publication of Chambers) has released its annual review of law firms who offer traineeships.

The publications are considered the bible for students and graduates seeking law firm training contracts. They offer an unbiased, independent advice on the type of training contract, culture and working environment.

The trainees take part in a survey and are guaranteed anonymity to give them confidence to speak frankly about the firm, ensuring the write ups are as accurate as possible.

We are delighted to share the highlights of our 2023 results with you.

The firm
Starting strong Chambers Student 2023 said: “You may think that competition in the legal market is less fierce in the Home Counties than in the capital, but we can assure you that there’s no shortage of firms vying to be top dog. Our interviewees placed Blaser Mills up there among the best of them”

Chambers UK went on to comment further about the firm: “Chambers UK praises Blaser Mills’ personal legal services work in particular at the moment: the firm gains rankings for its family, personal injury and crime expertise (the latter of which is rated in the top tier for the area). Chambers High Net Worth, meanwhile, gives kudos to Blaser Mills’ private wealth law know-how, which includes tax planning and Court of Protection work in the region. On the commercial side, it’s Blaser Mills’ real estate practice that currently shines the brightest”.

Trainee life
Our trainees have left us a glowing reference in particular highlighting what the culture is like at Blaser Mills Law:
“Trainees told us that they “genuinely like each other!” … “we are just friends for real. We gather for lunch and we’re playing badminton tonight – we try and get new people to come along, too.” This is all part of the Blaser Mills experience of “learning to be a little family.” We heard that people are unanimously “very supportive and looking to help each other,” with trainees receiving mentorship from lawyers who are usually a few years post-qualification: “We can speak to them about anything and usually meet with them for a coffee once or twice during a seat to catch up.” Senior partners were rated for their support: “They’re brilliant. They come around to say hi. They always have an open door, and you can have a chat and a laugh with them. In the coffee room we can crack jokes and be open. It’s very welcoming and warm”.

Diversity & Inclusion
The outstanding work our Responsible Business Director, Tracy Jones, carries out has had some fantastic feedback:  “developing the firm, making a lot of changes and going in the right direction.” An emphasis on diversity and inclusion is one of these changes – “it’s getting there. We’ve got a D&I forum and we’ve had talks with partners and people are receptive and proactive.” Overall, Blaser Mills was rated as boasting an “inclusive and comfortable environment.”

Female sources were also happy to report that: “there are many women in the partnership and senior roles, which is appealing.” Another interviewee added: “The firm is really good with its diversity and inclusion training, along with its mental health training.” 

We would like to thank all of our trainees for taking part in the research and to Chambers Student for our write up.

You can read the full Chambers Student 2023 review here: https://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/blaser-mills-law/true-picture/6014/1

Corporate team successfully act on the sale of Audiologic to EAV Group

The Blaser Mills Law Corporate team are delighted to have been instructed by the shareholders of Audiologic in the successful sale of the business to EAV Group.

Audiologic is an award winning UK distributor which specialises in supplying AV products and solutions for professional installers and system integrators.

The acquisition comes after a shared vision to deliver consultative sales and service led competences. Both Audiologic and the EAV Group offer dedicated training academies, marketing expertise and excellent relationship management with manufacturers, integrators, and dealers.

The Acquisition is a natural next step to strengthen the ability for Audiologic to develop and grow.

Commenting on Blaser Mills Law’s role in the transaction, Audiologic’s Matt Boland and Simon Stall Say: “We want to thank the Corporate team at Blaser Mills Law for all of their help over the last few months. The team has done a fantastic job and helped us get to where we need to be, with a great result”.

Edward Lee, Partner and Head of Corporate added: “We were delighted to have worked with the Audiologic shareholders in their sale to the EAV Group, they were great clients to have and the deal is one that will take the brand to the next level and reflects all the hard work of its shareholders to get it to this point”.   

Alongside Blaser Mills Law, the shareholders of Audiologic were advised by BCMS, a specialist M&A advisor.

Jasmine Allen wins Best Businesswoman Awards 2022

The Best Businesswomen Awards have announced their winners for 2022 at a Gala Awards held at the Hilton Wembley.

We are delighted to announce that Jasmine Allen, Consultant Solicitor from our Wills, Trusts and Probate team (also known as The LPA Solicitor), has won two Silver Awards the “Best Businesswoman in Legal Services” & “Best Customer Service ” categories.

Despite another challenging twelve months, the tenacity and resilience of female entrepreneurs shone through. All winners, selected by a panel of business experts, demonstrated a flair for entrepreneurship, business acumen and an abundance of sheer determination. 

The Best Businesswomen Awards are designed to recognise the achievement of female owned businesses and charities across a wide range of business categories and are open to any female business owners.

Debbie Gilbert, the organiser of The Best Businesswomen Awards, said: ‘Owning a business brings incredible challenges. Our awards are designed to showcase female entrepreneurs and recognise their achievements. The judge’s selection process is rigorous and to win is a major achievement. Winners were selected for their business expertise, innovation, and high levels of customer care. Our winners are shining examples of outstanding entrepreneurs who have proved their success to our judges and have shown they have the ingredients worthy of being recognised and rewarded.”

Jasmine Allen commented: “It was fantastic to be surrounded by so many incredible female entrepreneurs at the Awards Gala and I am delighted to have received these awards.  Client care is always at the forefront of everything I do, so to be recognised for the level of service I give to my clients really does mean the world to me, and I am so grateful to receive such acknowledgement as a businesswoman in the legal industry.”

The team at Blaser Mills Law would like to congratulate Jasmine on her achievement.

Legal 500 Future Lawyers: Outstanding results and award win for work-life balance

The Legal 500 Future Lawyers (sister publication of the Legal 500 and previously known as Lex100) has released its annual review of law firms that offer training contracts. The publication is highly recognised amongst students and graduates who seek a career in law.

Legal 500 Future Lawyers offers unbiased, independent advice on the type of training contract, culture, and working environment that each participating law firm offers. The survey trainees undertake is completely confidential which allows them to speak openly and honestly about their current workplace.

Future Lawyers – Winner of work-life balance.

We are delighted to announce that we have won an award in the Future Lawyers rankings for Work-life Balance.

The results

Feedback

Legal 500 Future Lawyers commented: ‘A training contract at ‘ambitious, growing firm’ Blaser Mills Law offers seats in personal and business-oriented practice areas, making it perfect for those looking for a well-rounded experience’.

What our current trainees have to say

Some of the best things about the firm included: ‘Work/life balance and colleagues’, ‘I’ve recently been working out of the firm’s shiny new Marlow office and it’s an absolute joy. I feel very lucky to be able to work in such a stunning location. Oh, and we have an office dog, Bailey!’, ‘everyone is friendly and approachable’, ‘the quality of work is great, with lots of variation and challenges’

Some of their best moments: ‘Realising that I definitely want to qualify into employment law and working towards this’, ‘working on my own client matter from start to finish (with supervision) and getting the best outcome for the client’, ‘being offered a NQ position’, ‘taking on my own property transactions’

The survey allows us to continue to strive and make improvements to our employee satisfaction on a yearly basis. For full feedback please visit The Legal 500 Future Lawyers website.

Corporate team successfully act on the sale of Ansible Motion to AB Dynamics

The Blaser Mills Law Corporate team are delighted to have been instructed by the shareholders of Ansible Motion Limited in the successful sale of the business to AB Dynamics plc.

Ansible Motion is a leading provider of advanced simulators to the global automotive market. The acquisition comes at an exciting time of significant growth for the business.

The acquisition by AB Dynamics will form part of the Group’s simulation portfolio supplying advanced products and services to the automotive and motorsport industries. Both Ansible Motion and AB Dynamics share a common vision and will be joining forces to better serve their automotive customers worldwide, with a broader and deeper offering.

The Corporate team were pleased to have received praise following the conclusion of the matter. Kia Cammaerts, Technical Director, at Ansible Motion, commented: “Blaser Mills Law acted for the shareholders of Ansible Motion on the sale of the business to AB Dynamics. The team were a pleasure to work with and hold some of the best corporate lawyers I have dealt with in my professional career so far, their contribution was critical to the success of the sale process”.

Partner and Head of Corporate, Edward Lee added: “We are delighted to have acted on this strategic transaction that further assists client delivery to the industry globally. It is always pleasing to receive fantastic feedback from clients, and Ansible Motion’s shareholders were a pleasure to work with”.

Blaser Mills Law achieves exceptional recognition in the Legal 5002023 rankings

With 10 practice areas ranked, 24 lawyers recommended, 2 ‘Rising Stars’, 1 ‘Next Generation Partner’ and 2 ‘Leading Individuals’, we are delighted to announce our Legal 500 rankings for 2023.

Legal 500 is a world-renowned law firm rankings publication who, through in-depth, objective research, identifies and ranks the best lawyers and law firms.

You can visit our Legal 500 firm page for more details on each of our rankings and see below for what our lawyers have been recommended for.

Employment

Our employment team continues to hold its strong Tier 1 ranking.

James Simpson (Leading Individual and Recommended): ‘James Simpson is experienced in executive dismissals, restructurings and TUPE issues.

Noel Deans (Practice Head & recommended): ‘Heads the employment practice with an excellent reputation in contentious matters’.

Wills, Trusts and Probate

The wills, trusts and probate team continues to hold its Tier 1 ranking.

‘I have used Blaser Mills Law for over 20 years. It has always been essential for me to feel confident in my dealings with matters such as this and the team at Blaser Mills have always been professional yet friendly. Communication via the phone, email or personal visits have always been dealt with efficiently. Time has been given for discussion and reflection. I have in fact recommended the firm to others’.

Jonathan Gallop (Next Generation Partner & Recommended): ‘I have mainly instructed Jonathan Gallop on private client matters – wills, probate and lasting powers of attorney. I have found him to be very responsive and thoughtful in his approach’.

Minesh Thakrar (Recommended): ‘Minesh Thakrar was very professional and extremely helpful…went the extra mile to complete all transactions needed’.

Sara Rendell (Recommended): ‘Sara Rendell is an excellent communicator and clear and precise in her reading of client requirements’.

Karen Woodison (Recommended).

Commercial Litigation

Our Commercial Litigation team continues to hold its Tier 2 ranking.

‘An excellent Team that provides a City of London service, while being approachable and unstuffy.’

Jonathan Lilley (Recommended): ‘Jon Lilley is cool and calm under fire. He keeps his focus on achieving good results for clients. Sees through the bluff and bluster which some opponents employ. Sensible, practical and a natural solution-finder. And if an obvious solution cannot be found, he’ll fashion one’.

Sangita Manek (Recommended): ‘Acts for blue chip commercial clients on matters involving mediation and commercial contracts’.

Alka Kharbanda (Practice head & recommended): ‘I dealt with Alka Kharbanda on a complex case. They were very helpful, gave good advice to the family I was dealing with and were quick to respond to email queries. They manage to settle a case quickly and wrote several excellent letters that ensured the other side settled quickly but were pragmatic with it’.

Jackie Ray (Recommended).

Family & Divorce

Our family & divorce team have retained their excellent Tier 2 ranking.

Lucinda Holliday (Practice head & recommended): ‘My dealings were with Lucinda Holliday. She was clear and concise. I was confident from the first meeting that she would look after my case to the best of her knowledge and my interests were always at the forefront. She explained the process and followed everything up efficiently’. ‘The team have a strong collaboration and ensure that between them the work is completed to a high level’

Naim Qureshi (Leading Individual & Recommended): ‘Naim Qureshi is a true professional providing sound advice at all times. Naim is knowledgeable, always providing exemplary advice and support throughout and is a pleasure to work with. He is undoubtedly someone I would recommend’.

Javita Malhotra (Rising Stars& Recommended): ‘Javita Malhotra looked after my business impeccably. I was confident of a good outcome from my first contact with her’.

Sarah Scriven (Rising Star & recommended).

Personal Injury

Our personal injury team continues to rank in a strong position of Tier 2.

‘Andrew Castle and Victoria Harvey are outstanding. Both are very much at the top of their game. They both have excellent knowledge of their cases. Both also fully understand the importance of negotiating well at the right time’.

Andrew Castle (Recommended): ‘Andrew Castle was always happy to take a call, explain anything I didn’t understand and he provided a completely personal experience for me. When my case was passed over to Andrew I thought I would be left in the dark but Andrew worked so hard to get an amazing result’.

Victoria Harvey (Practice Head & recommended).

Debt Recovery

Our Debt Recovery team has increased its ranking from Tier 3 to Tier 2.

Jackie Ray (Practice head & recommended): ‘We have worked with Jackie Ray over the past 33 years and she is always meticulous in her approach to every matter. She has achieved excellent results in the field of debt recovery’.

Daria Stepien (Recommended): ‘Daria Stepien often represents clients in various commercial disputes at trial or as a mediator’.

Real Estate & Infrastructure

Our Real Estate & Infrastructure team continues to rank in Tier 3.

Carlos Pierce heads up the Real Estate & Infrastructure team …‘The Amersham-based office is led by Louise Benning who specialises in residential development with expertise in option agreements, unilateral undertakings and site assembly. David Michaels is experienced in property finance and handles building construction and housing association matters. ‘Communication and the ability to get things or make things happen on time and thinking outside of the box to overcome problems are stand out features.’

David Michaels (Recommended): ‘Very good and dedicated.’

Simone Ganley: (Recommended): ‘Simone Ganley is a delight to deal with, her advice is always directional and to-the-point. She understands how to guide clients who may have prior experience with property matters, but is equally adept when supporting those who require more comprehensive guidance. Simone also delivers the wider Blaser Mills offering in a very neat, targeted way, identifying areas where clients may need to consider wider issues or engage with colleagues. From a relationship perspective, she makes Blaser Mills very easy to use.’

Telecoms

Carlos Pierce (Recommended) and Tina Middleton (Recommended) are highly experienced in telecoms.’

Contentious Trusts and Probate

A new submission from the private litigation department has ranked them at Tier 4.

Alka Kharbanda (Practice Head & recommended): ‘empathetic, patient, highly professional and her equally empathetic and helpful assistant’.

Sangita Manek (Recommended): ‘Sangita Manek was professional and focused on the task in hand. She paid direct attention to the details and facts. She kept me concentrated on the facts and not getting caught up in emotion and distractions. She explained the law and processes in detail so that I understood exactly what I needed to do and where I stood. It took the stress and emotion out of the situation. At the same time, she was empathetic and worked to make sure the advice and work was kept within my financial boundaries. Sangita gave me proper professional advice which brought the sad situation to a close.’

Child Care team acts in reported case – Hertfordshire County Council-v- Mother & Ors

Blaser Mills Law Child Care team acts in reported case – Hertfordshire County Council-v- Mother & Ors

Denise Herman, Partner and Head of the Child Care team, acted for the successful father in a case where a child suffered serious head injuries, which were originally thought to be non-accidental.

The case involved complex medical evidence being substantially challenged at a fact-finding hearing lasting over a week. At the conclusion of the expert evidence, the Local Authority reconsidered their position and sought to withdraw their application. This was refused by the judge after hearing on behalf of the parents why they should be fully exonerated in respect of the allegations they faced. The Court had to evaluate the quality of the work of some of the experts, as well as whether their identities should be published. The Court found the child’s injuries were entirely accidental and completely exonerated both parents of causing their children any harm.

Blaser Mills Law instructed Sally Stone KC and Sue Quinn and worked closely with them to achieve this exceptional result for the Father.

Full details of the case can be found here:  https://www.judiciary.uk/judgments/hertfordshire-county-council-v-mother-ors-fact-finding/

Blaser Mills Law expands its Sports team

We are delighted to welcome Josh Easterbook into the Sports department.

Josh is currently undertaking a training contract with Blaser Mills Law and will work closely alongside David.

Josh graduated in 2020 with a 1st Class BA (Hons) in Sports Law and Business and continued to further expand his knowledge in Sports Law through completing a Master of Laws (LLM) in Sports Law and Practice at De Montfort University.

While completing his further education, he spent 3 years at Wycombe Wanderers Football Club within the commercial department, starting off as Commercial and Legal Executive. He oversaw the process of the selling of the club’s commercial inventory through to the drafting of the commercial agreement which accompanied the sale, liaising with governing bodies ensuring the club adhered to all relevant commercial regulations.

He supported the General Counsel and the Owners in various commercial disputes throughout his time at the club, and towards the latter end, became head of the commercial department before leaving the club to pursue a more legal orientated role.

At the start of the 2021 football season, he joined First Access Sports, a sports agency based in the Knightsbridge, working as a paralegal. His role was to support the in-house General Counsel with all matters within the department, including; preparing representation agreements for potential new clients; reviewing and analysing agreements between clients, the agency and clubs; and advising on commercial matters involving the agency and its clients.

We are excited to have Josh on board and very much look forward to working with him.

Blaser Mills Law team named finalists at the Lending Awards 2022

We are pleased to announce that our Commercial Recoveries & Insolvency team has been named as finalists in the ‘Best Legal and Advisory Service’ category at the Lending Awards 2022.

The Lending Awards is an awards programme distinguishing and rewarding individuals, teams and businesses across Alternative Lending, Commercial Finance, and Mortgage Industries, The Lending Awards celebrates and rewards excellence across the entire lending market.

The team is very pleased to be shortlisted for this award.

Winners of the awards will be announced on the 1 November 2022.

Adam Smith shortlisted for Young Solicitor of the Year at the Family Law Awards 2022

We are delighted to announce that Adam Smith, Senior Associate in the Child Care department, has been shortlisted for the ‘Family Law Young Solicitor of the Year’ award at the Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards 2022.

The Family Law Awards brings the family law community together celebrating excellence, networking and recognising its vital contribution to society.  Now in its twelfth year, the Family Law Awards were launched in 2011 to recognise the important work of family lawyers, and celebrate their many successes and outstanding achievements.

Adam commented: “I was very honoured to have been shortlisted for this award. I am very pleased to be representing the position of young, legally aided public family lawyers in a field of extremely able solicitors from across family law disciplines”.

The winners will be announced on the 28 November at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London.

Blaser Mills Law welcomes new Residential Property Partner

We are delighted to welcome Jane Hannaway to Blaser Mills Law. Jane will be joining our Residential Property team as Partner.

With over 14 years of experience Jane specialises in handling High Net Worth property cases. She has previously acted for a range of buyers, sellers, lenders and developers as well as investors and international clients.

Her strong business development drive has led to a fantastic reputation amongst her clients in and around Buckinghamshire.

Alexandra Kirk, Partner and Head of Residential Property commented: “We are pleased to announce Jane’s appointment as part of the team’s ongoing growth and expansion. Her wealth of experience will be a huge attribute to the department as we continue to provide an excellent service to our clients”.

Jane Hannaway added “ I am very excited to join Blaser Mills Law given its reputation, culture, and drive for growth. I look forward to working alongside the excellent team in expanding the department further”.

Blaser Mills Law very much welcomes Jane and we look forward to her making a positive contribution to the partnership.