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PRESS RELEASE : 01/06/2008
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CHARITIES GATHER FOR SEMINAR |
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A number of trustees and representatives of charities from across the South West will be gathering in Torquay on Thursday 22 May to attend a seminar on fundamental changes within the charity sector.
Hosted jointly by Hooper & Wollen Solicitors and Bishop Fleming Chartered Accountants, CEO’s, Fundraising Managers and Bursars will hear about the Recent changes in the charity environment from Joe Scaife of Bishop Fleming and Limited Liability from Hooper & Wollen Solicitors. Both firms have a wealth of knowledge within the charity sector.
They will be joined by Melanie McLoughlin and Sarah Gunn from the Devon Community Foundation who as an organisation give grants to local good causes across the county. They will explain The flexible solution to local giving
If you would like to attend this event please contact Anna Thompson at Bishop Fleming Chartered Accountants on 01392 448800 or email her athompson@bishopfleming.co.uk. Places are limited for this free seminar which takes place at the Palace Hotel Torquay on Thursday 22 May at 4.30pm.
EDITORS NOTES:
Press release by Helix Marketing 01803 408676 on behalf of Hooper & Wollen Solicitors.
Should you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact Jenny Paton Helix Marketing or Anna Thompson at Bishop Fleming Chartered Accountants on 01392 448800.
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PRESS RELEASE : 01/06/2008
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SPRINGTIME HERALDS A FULLY FLEDGED SOLICITOR |
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Jaime Lott has been working with the team at Hooper & Wollen Solicitors since autumn 2005 when she joined the firm as a paralegal. Jaime took a law conversion course in London at Holborn College and whilst there worked at Moss & Co Solicitors. She then returned to Devon to study for her Legal Practice Course at Exeter University. Being a local Torquay girl she welcomed the chance to return and join Hooper & Wollen Solicitors who have encouraged and aided her through her final qualifications and from March Jaime will become a practising solicitor.
Jaime will be working with the Wills and Probate team in both the Torquay and Paignton offices of Hooper & Wollen Solicitors. Jaime explained I am really keen to move my career forward in this avenue of law and will be able to draw on the established skills of the probate department within Hooper & Wollen Solicitors. They are a fantastic team and I am looking forward to working with them all.
If you have any queries regarding making a will or have recently had a loss in the family and need to ensure the affairs are sorted fairly between your family members then you can contact Jaime on 01803 213251 or feel free to email her at jaime.lott@hooperwollen.co.uk
EDITORS NOTES:
Press release by Helix Marketing 01803 408676
For further details contact Jenny Paton on behalf of Hooper & Wollen Solicitors
jennypaton@helixmarketing.co.uk
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PRESS RELEASE : 01/06/2008
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FAMILY MATTERS |
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Family life, when all is going well ,is a rewarding and enriching experience. All manner of things can go wrong from relationship breakdown to mental health difficulties, to say nothing of drug dependency and domestic violence. Child care can then become hugely demanding leading to all sorts of difficulties. Parents often find themselves at the end of their tether, desperately needing help and advice.
Hooper & Wollen Solicitors has a large team of lawyers offering this service in Paignton, Dartmouth and Torquay including our drop in Torbay Law Shop.
There are 11 qualified members in the family law team who specialise in children related cases. Sometimes this involves social services and care proceedings and other cases are more straightforward disputes. When children are involved parents can have issues with contact, residence and other concerns such as removal from the jurisdiction, or medical treatment. Hooper & Wollen Solicitors also represent a number of young people when they feel their voice isn’t being heard, and their wishes are in danger of being overlooked.
In some circumstances if there is a financial difficulty they can help with gaining Legal Aid for a client.
Apart from the obvious emotional trauma associated with a break up, there are financial consequences which can be very difficult to negotiate. With a trained mediator and collaborative lawyers and many years experience Hooper & Wollen can ease the burden and guide you through the necessary procedures.
For further information on separation, divorce or to arrange a Free 30 minutes consultation with a member of our Family Law Team simply contact 01803 213251 or email: rebecca.procter@hooperwollen.co.uk
EDITORS NOTES:
Press release by Helix Marketing 01803 408676
For further details contact Jenny Paton on behalf of Hooper & Wollen Solicitors
jennypaton@helixmarketing.co.uk
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PRESS RELEASE : 16/11/2006
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NEW RECRUIT FOR FAMILY DEPARTMENT |
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South Devon Solicitors Hooper & Wollen welcomes Alison Caddell to the firm. Alison is a senior Legal Executive and has recently joined the Family Department taking its team up to 10 members. She originates from Birmingham where she was employed by Birmingham City Council’s Legal Department and specialised in the area of Child Care Law.
Since her move to Devon four years ago Alison has worked in private practice. specialising in all areas of family law. She has experience in representing and assisting clients in a broad range of problems including contact with children by either parents or grandparents, disputes relating to where children should live, and issues that arise from the breakdown of a relationship. She also has expertise in representing parents whose children have been taken into care by the local Authority’s social services department. Alison will be based at the firm’s Paignton office in Victoria Street which, following the merger earlier this year with Courtney Richards extends the existing family department to the Paignton office and also the firms other office in Dartmouth. Hooper & Wollen is one of the leading firms in South Devon and this expansion continues the firm’s commitment to provide quality legal service to the community. This includes the availability of a first half hour interview free of charge at all three of the offices. Photo – left to right. Alan Brookes, Alison Cadell, Lindy Stephens, Ian Cunningham, Rebecca Procter, Julie Buckley.
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PRESS RELEASE : 22/08/2005
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NEW NOTARY PUBLIC FOR HOOPER & WOLLEN |
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Edward Richards, a partner in Torbay Law Firm Hooper and Wollen has been appointed a Notary public. Edward joins his partner Nigel Wollen as one of only 4 Notaries in the Bay.
Edward commented “I am delighted to be admitted to such an ancient and esteemed profession. I see the need for Notarial services becoming ever more important as more and more people own property and conduct business abroad”
A notary public is a lawyer who verifies and certifies documents and events for use abroad. Most important documents, acts or events that have to be verified for a foreign jurisdiction will need certification by a notary public. He does this by adding a certificate with his signature and official seal. The signature and seal of a notary public is recognised in foreign countries where the signature and seal of a solicitor generally is not.
Notaries are also qualified to prepare and witness powers of attorney for use overseas, provide documents to deal with the administration of the estate of people who are abroad, or own property abroad, authenticate personal documents and information for immigration or emigration purposes, or to apply to marry or to work abroad.
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PRESS RELEASE : 17/02/2005
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HOOPER & WOLLEN ACHIEVE LEXCEL QUALITY STANDARD |
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A Torquay law firm with a long history in the town since 1868 has become the first legal practice in Torquay to achieve a prestigious award from the Law Society.
Hooper & Wollen Solicitors recently received the Lexcel award, a Law Society quality mark for the profession.
The firm employs more than 60 staff at its offices on the Terrace, and provides a full range of legal services, including property, wills and probate, litigation, family, company and licensing work.
“We are delighted to be awarded this prestigious accreditation” said Managing Partner Chris Hart. “Lexcel demonstrates how determined and focused we are on the importance of delivering a first class service and the best legal advice to all our clients.”
Senior Partner Nigel Wollen also commented “Achieving this award shows we are committed to maintaining the quality of professional relationship to meet the personal and business needs of our clients.”
Hooper & Wollen was audited by the Law Society and the audit focused on a number of key areas including risk and financial management, managing people, forward planning, provision of advice and standard of service.
The Lexcel award is the second feather to be added to the Hooper & Wollen cap this year. The firm gained the Investors in People award given to organisations that demonstrate a link between their organisational aims and the future development of their staff.
Hooper & Wollen’s Practice Manager Clive Meredith said: “ Hooper & Wollen is committed to the training and development of everyone in our team and this ensures we continue to deliver the highest quality service to our clients.”
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PRESS RELEASE : 30/11/2004
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HOOPER & WOLLEN RECOGNISED AS AN INVESTOR IN PEOPLE |
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NOVEMBER 2004
A SOUTH DEVON law firm that has earned an outstanding reputation for its
professionalism and legal expertise has been recognised as an Investor
in People.
Hooper & Wollen has developed into one of the bay's finest teams of
lawyers, providing wide ranging legal advice and a dedication to the
highest professional standards.
This commitment is nothing new for Hooper & Wollen, a firm which has
been a part of the Torbay landscape since 1868.
Hooper & Wollen was supported through the Investors in People process by
Business Link Devon and Cornwall.
"We are delighted to be recognised as an Investor in People, it is a
real credit to everyone's professionalism and teamwork," said Clive
Meredith, practice manager. The Investors in People process has enabled
us to review and refine the training procedures that we already had in
place and make them that much better." Managing partner, Chris Hart,
commented "We are committed to providing the highest standard of
services to our clients. We are only able to do this if we are
constantly reviewing our training and updating our areas of expertise."
Hooper & Wollen are a traditional family firm of solicitors. It has a
reputation to be proud of - both in terms of looking after its clients
and taking care of its staff. It has expanded over the years through
organic growth, which its partners feel is the inevitable product of
doing a good job.
But Hooper & Wollen is also willing to look to the future and innovate.
For example, the firm opened The Torbay Law Shop in 2001 and have been
very successful in attracting new business as a result of this unique
walk-in service.
Hooper & Wollen employs 60 staff, including nine partners, seven
additional solicitors, 10 other fee-earners and 34 support staff, each
and every one of them committed to the highest standard of service.
The firm provides advice across a number of legal areas, including
property, commercial work, litigation, probate, and mediation/family
matters. Hooper & Wollen is also regulated by the Law Society.
Hooper & Wollen has consistently demonstrated a clear commitment to
staff training, providing its people with the time and support needed to
develop within their roles. This commitment is measured in both the
words and actions of the partners and senior management team, who play
an active role in the personal development of their staff to the benefit
of the firm and its growing list of clients.
At the same time, fee earners have undergone specific training
programmes that have added to the firm's expertise. The training is
equally impressive for the support and secretarial staff who are
encouraged to undertake ILEX2 qualifications and/or paralegal roles.
In recommending Hooper & Wollen for recognition as an Investor in
People, Assessor Liz Willars said: "This assessment has shown that the
firm is fully committed to supporting the development of its people. It
recognises the importance of well-trained and motivated staff in helping
to achieve its business objectives. The practice manager and partners
ensure that a wide variety of learning opportunities are available, and,
as a result, people in all roles have developed high levels of knowledge
and skills."
Clive Meredith
Practice Manager
Ext 124
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PRESS RELEASE : 11/08/2004
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FLYING THE FLAG |
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Two well established Torbay firms have joined forces to create a new company. Ensign Financial Planning Limited was established in early May by Torbay solicitors Hooper & Wollen and David Jones Financial Planning Limited to provide financial advice to clients of Hooper & Wollen.
Offering a comprehensive range of services to include financial planning, investments, pensions and mortgages, Ensign Financial Planning Limited will be able to offer professional advice and guidance through the sometimes complex maze of financial matters that we are all faced with today. The company is completely independent, and will therefore be able to provide genuinely objective advice.
Hooper & Wollen have always specialised in private client work, including trusts, estates and tax planning. They have developed a close working relationship with David Jones Financial Planning Limited who in turn have been providing clients with the highest standards of integrity and impartiality in financial planning. The formation of Ensign Financial Planning Limited is a natural progression to formalise the close working relationship that already exists between both firms.
David Jones, Managing Director of David Jones Financial Planning Limited, who is a Certified Financial Planner, Member of the Society of Financial Advisers, and an Associate of the Institute of Financial Planning, is a director of the new company and will be responsible for client enquiries and financial planning issues. David commented, Ensign is committed to providing clients with a service specifically tailored to their individual needs; bringing to financial services the level of professionalism traditionally associated with the legal profession.
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PRESS RELEASE : 14/01/2004
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New Web Site For Leading Torbay Law Firm |
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Torbay Solicitors Hooper & Wollen have always been at the forefront of IT development, and were one of the first Solicitors practices to have a website designed at a time when the true importance of web sites was underestimated.
Times change and IT development moves at a relentless pace, and as a result Hooper and Wollen have substantially redesigned their web site (www.hooperwollen.co.uk) and also their Torbay Law Shop site (www.torbaylawshop.co.uk) Both sites now have a more contemporary design and feel and also host a number of innovative features that will give existing and prospective clients more access to legal information than they have ever had before.
“The premise behind the site was to have as much information available as possible, but to have it easily accessible so users don’t have to search for hours trying to find what they want” commented Chris Hart Hooper & Wollen’s managing Partner. The site was designed by who specialise in the designing website for the legal profession. Director Richard Arney commented, “It has been a long project but the results have been well worth waiting for. I was given a particular brief and it’s great to see the end product working so well, I am delighted.”
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PRESS RELEASE : 30/12/2003
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New Trainee Solcitors |
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Thriving local solicitors practice Hooper & Wollen have recently taken on three new trainee solicitors.
Mark Edwards, Amelia Hole and Luke Sherwood have all recently begun their training contracts with the firm.
Mark Edwards has been with the firm for 18 months and has been working within the Litigation Department. Amelia, from Totnes studied law at Kings College London and began with the firm in September, and Luke who completed his law degree in Bristol began with the firm on November 24th.
Managing Partner Chris Hart said, “We are delighted that all three have begun their training contracts with the firm. Each bring their own individual qualities and interests to our organisation. Mark is experienced in Litigation, Amelia has interests in Probate and Luke in Family Law. Their appointments are part of the long term development plan of the practice and bring a balance to our future growth.”
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PRESS RELEASE : 01/06/2003
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THREE NEW STAFF IN PROBATE DEPARTMENT |
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Leading local law firm Hooper & Wollen have recently re structured their Trust and Probate department and have welcomed three new members of staff in the process.
Jeremy Craig has been appointed as an Associate Solicitor, Sophia Honey as an Assistant Solicitor, and Karen Osmont has been appointed as Trust Administrator.
Jeremy was trained in London, and has specialised in private client work since graduating in law, qualifying as a solicitor in 1978 spending his first 5 years in a leading London firm. He specialises in Estate Management has a wealth of experience in the areas of preparation of wills, the administration of estates, the affairs of the elderly, and trusts both private and charitable. He is also a long standing member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
Sophia, who read Law at Leeds University and graduated in 1991, was articled at Chadwick Lawrence in West Yorkshire, where she was appointed as an assistant Solicitor specialising in Probate, Wills and Conveyancing. She, her husband and young family moved to Devon last year and she will now be involved full time in the administration of estates, the affairs of the elderly, and preparation of Wills.
Karen Osmont’s background is one of Trust and Company Administration in the offshore finance sector in Jersey. After training with PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Trust and Company Administrator, she then moved to Deutschebank International (C.I.) Limited to work in their corporate department. Karen will be responsible for the administration of the substantial portfolio of trusts and settlements with which Hooper & Wollen is involved.
The 3 new members will join the firms existing experienced lawyers Veronica Crawley and Steve Bell to provide expertise on all aspects of private client work.
Nigel Wollen, head of Trust’s & Probate at Hooper & Wollen commented, “Hooper & Wollen has long been regarded as a leader in private client work, with particular regard to estate planning, probate and the elderly. It is the only Torbay firm to be named in this category in the Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession.
I am delighted that we have been able to recruit such excellent lawyers to work alongside our existing team and ensure the success of the department for many years to come.”
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