Professionals: hlw Keeble Hawson; LCF Barber Titleys; Newtons Solicitors

VANESSA FOX, hlw Keeble Hawson partner, is marking 25 years as head of the firm’s family law department.

An acknowledged expert in high net worth cases and situations where divorce affects family businesses, Ms Fox is collaboratively trained and a qualified mediator who has modernised South Yorkshire Resolution since becoming chair in 2013.

Ms Fox, who is also a member of the Law Society’s Family Law Panel and the Children Panel, says the last quarter century has seen “seismic changes” in family law which include landmark legal reform, rapid social and attitudinal shifts – along with major technological advances and heightened political scrutiny.

She said: “My first year as head of department brought the Children’s Act 1989 – a milestone piece of legislation which addressed the vital issues of residency and contact. We have also witnessed a ‘swing’ of matrimonial financial law – firstly towards wives and then back towards husbands, in terms of wives being expected to get a job and not expect a meal ticket for life.

“I champion the advent of mediation and collaboration as methods of resolving divorce issues without going to court as a very positive trend. Collaborative law wasn’t even thought of when I began practising and the general flavour of matrimonial work was very acrimonious – I don’t miss those times.”

Not so positive developments for the family lawyer include the 2013 demise of legal aid and the rise of the unmarried family – with particular emphasis on the continuing lack of knowledge about the lack of rights for unmarried women.

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CONVEYANCING lawyer Lynn Wilkinson has joined Harrogate-based LCF Barber Titleys, which is part of LCF Law, to head up the office’s residential property team.

Ms Wilkinson has worked across all areas of residential property including sales, purchases, re-mortgages, equity transfers, leases and shared ownership, as well as dealing with non-registered land issues and reconstructing titles.

She said: “This is a great opportunity to move to a forward thinking law firm in Harrogate, which is surrounded by many of the North of England’s most sought after residential addresses.  The region’s strong housing market, combined with low interest rates, makes this a very busy time to work in residential conveyancing and there’s a lot of potential to expand our market share, which is a challenge that I’m really looking forward to.”

Simon Stell, managing partner at LCF Law, added: “Lynn’s experience and knowledge of the market will prove to be hugely valuable and further enhance the service that we can offer to home buyers, property owners and estate agents.” 

Last year Harrogate-based Barber Titleys merged with LCF Law to create LCF Barber Titleys.  LCF Law employs more than 130 people across offices in Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate and Ilkley. 

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SANTANDER Corporate & Commercial has appointed Yorkshire and North East law firm Newtons Solicitors to its UK national commercial panel.

Newtons Solicitors, which was founded in 2009 and has 11 offices between Darlington and Ilkley, will provide legal support to Santander and its customers in commercial lending transactions.

The appointment, which is initially for 12 months, follows an application by Newtons to Santander which was led by commercial partner, David Lucas and property director, Gareth Jones.

The contract involves the entire Newtons office network, with more than 100 staff, and it is expected that instructions will be received from Santander offices between the North East, York and Leeds.

Newtons Solicitors Darlington office property partner, Gareth Jones, says: “We are delighted with this commercial panel appointment which is the first of its kind for the firm and is an important stage in Newtons becoming recognised as a strong regional practice.

“We have worked hard at delivering a strong service but with a local presence away from the larger commercial centres.  This appointment shows that this strategy is working and we are looking forward to developing closer ties with Santander.”

Newtons Solicitors has a £4.2m annual turnover and offices in Darlington, Harrogate, Ilkley, Knaresborough, Leyburn, Northallerton, Ripon, Richmond, Stokesley, Thirsk and York.