Howell-Jones Law News Articles

Surrey Wildlife Trust: Trainees put to work

On a grey wet day early in July five of our trainee solicitors volunteered to spend a day getting their hands dirty clearing shrub and brambles for the Surrey Wildlife Trust.

They were preparing a six acre field on Brentmoor Heath, near Camberley for a new herd of rare Belted Gallaway cattle.

The volunteers from howell jones offices in Kingston, Walton-on-Thames and Guildford teamed up to help an SWT ranger prepare the ground for a three strand electric fence. This will keep the cattle in and marauding dogs out.

The full story, and some pictures, can be seen here.

Wrong Trousers Day: June 2008

On Friday 30th June 2008 staff in the Guildford office created and wore their wackiest Trousers to support Wrong Trousers Day, which raises money for sick children through the Wallace & Gromit’s Children’s Foundation.

The full story, and some pictures can be seen here.

Those of a nervous disposition be warned!

Buying a Dental Practice? New article available

A new article has been written by Chris Pomfret, head of the Professional Practices team, highlighting some of the pitfalls that can be encountered when purchasing a Dental Practice.

The article can be found here.

Two new Family articles published

Two new articles by Samantha Jago, one of our family lawyers, are now available on the site.

The first deals with the legal issues faced by single parent families, and the second looks at the increasingly common, but nonetheless risky, DIY Divorce.

Click the links below to open each article.

1. Single Parent Families

2. DIY Divorce - the hidden pitfalls

More information on Samantha Jago here.

Robert Audino joins howell jones

Robert Audino, a senior family lawyer from a Guildford firm, today joined the Family Team at Walton-on-Thames.

Latest Family Team recruitment

Solicitor Samantha Jago joined the Guildford office on 9 April and is the first of our new Family Team based at this office.

Ruth Jaisingh (legal secretary) will be joining Sarah Cornes at the Kingston office later this month, and Robert Audino (solicitor) will start in the Walton office in early May.

Top Matrimonial Lawyer Calls on Millions to Protect Children and Save Crumbling Family Justice System

Surrey, 8th April 2008. One of Surrey’s most experienced matrimonial lawyers is calling on the government to spend millions to protect children in the spiralling number of divorce cases.

Sarah Cornes of howell jones solicitors says: “I totally agree with the senior High Court judge, Mr Justice Coleridge, who recently lambasted successive governments for neglecting the family justice system.

“From my own 20 years experience at the coalface, I can tell you that the system needs millions to protect children. They can wait for six months before a divorce case comes to court and the uncertainty and tension can have a terrible effect on them.

“At worst, delays may result in the risk of harm to the children involved, which is totally unacceptable.

“If family breakdown is not managed to minimise the impact upon children, those caught in the middle of separations today are more likely to be tomorrow’s binge drinkers, drug addicts and criminals.”

Sarah Cornes, who was one of the first solicitors in Surrey to train as a mediator, adds that millions of pounds are needed and she echoes Judge Coleridge, who last weekend urged the government to ‘stop chipping away at the family justice system and trying to have it on the cheap’.

One solution, says Sarah, herself a collaborative lawyer, is to make more money available to fund collaboration. This is an increasingly popular process where spouses meet with specially trained lawyers to discuss the terms of the separation, tailored to the priorities and needs of the family – and particularly the welfare of the children.

“Collaboration also involves a commitment not to go through the courts and speeds up the whole process. But it should be available to families at all income levels through a legal aid subsidy. After all it is saving the courts time and the taxpayer money.

“But, most crucially, it is saving the pain that many of our children are going through.”

Sarah Cornes is at sarah.cornes@howell-jones.com

Sarah Cornes joins the Family Team

We are delighted to announce that Sarah Cornes will be joining the firm's Family Team on 10 March.

Sarah will be based at the Kingston office. She will be the first of several new additions over the next few months in the Family Team.

Howell-Jones rhw Chairman Takes Over at Surrey Law Society

Keith Howell-Jones, Chairman of Howell-Jones LLP, is the new President of The Surrey Law Society.

Surrey Law Society is the sixth largest in the country and represents over 1200 solicitors who work in 280 firms throughout the county.

The aim of the Society is to provide a service to solicitors as well as to the public by providing information and help and promoting access to justice throughout the County.

SLS also lobbies Government on behalf of the profession and has been active and vocal over the ongoing fight against the issues surrounding Legal Aid.

The Society has a close relationship with Kingston University, University of Surrey and the College of Law as well as local schools.

When asked what he hoped to achieve during his year in office, Mr Howell-Jones said, “I want to help the members deal with issues bought about by the Legal Services Act which gained Royal Assent in October. The legal profession will be facing many changes and lawyers and law firms will have to be ready to deal with and adapt to the challenges and opportunities the future will bring. The interests of clients will continue to be best served by solicitors.”

The guest speaker at the AGM on 8 November was Des Hudson, who is the Chief Executive of The Law Society in England and Wales.

For further information please call Lis Hughes at Howell-Jones rhw Solicitors on 01483 543328.

Expansion at Walton-on-Thames

We are currently expanding our Walton-on-Thames offices and are looking for a couple of new people to join the team there. If you are working in the Residential Conveyancing market locally and want a new challenge, then we could be the answer to your prayers.

Have a look at the Careers page and if you like the sound of us, drop us a line.

Inheritance Tax Article

This article on Inheritance Tax was written by David Semmens of our Old Bailey office and appeared in The Times on 18 September 2007. Click here to read the article

Calling all Legal Secretaries

Due to the continued expansion of the firm, we now have a number of secretarial vacancies. These vary in office and work type, so please check the Careers page for details.

Welcome to Lis Hughes

We are delighted to announce that Lis Hughes has joined Howell-Jones rhw as Business Development Director.

Lis was most recently the previous Chief Executive of the Surrey Law Society and this experience coupled with her marketing knowledge and qualifications means she is ideally placed to drive the firm forward.

George Abbot Art Exhibition

Guildford’s historic Guildhall played host last week to an eclectic array of outstanding paintings, prints, graphics and photography as A-level art students from George Abbot School displayed their work.

Local solicitors Howell-Jones rhw sponsored the event to raise awareness of the exceptionally high standards of art at the school and to raise money for a new Performing Arts and Sixth Form Centre, due to be built at George Abbot later this year.

Opening the exhibition, the Mayor of Guildford, Mike Nevins commented ‘I'm gobsmacked by the exceedingly high standard of work by these students at George Abbot. Much of it I'd like to have on my walls. I'd also like to praise the efforts of teachers, students and parents in creating this fabulous work.’ He went on to add ‘I'd like to thank Howell-Jones rhw solicitors for their support and sponsorship of this event. Without them it would not have happened.’ Other dignitaries at the Preview Evening included the High Sheriff of Surrey and his wife, Mrs Sealy.

The exhibition was the brainchild of Martyn Whiteman, a member partner of Howell-Jones rhw and former school parent, who said ‘We are delighted to be sponsoring this exhibition and encouraging young people in Surrey in their creativity’. Over 140 visitors viewed the work on display during the event, which was open to the public from 10am until 8pm on Tuesday 17th July. Staff from Howell-Jones rhw manned the Guildhall throughout the day, providing visitors with refreshments and information about the artwork.

There was a good deal of support from local companies, many of whom donated raffle prizes or sponsored specific items for the exhibition. The proceeds of the raffle were split equally between the Surrey Air Ambulance and Disability Challengers, a charity which provides play and leisure activities for disabled children and young people. Sponsors included The Guildhall, Les Caves de Pyrene in Artington, The Big IQ and Pandora.

Volunteers from Howell-Jones rhw Solicitors Give a Day to Disability Challengers

Press release.

Four volunteers from the law offices of Howell-Jones rhw solicitors in Walton-on-Thames, Kingston and Guildford have teamed up to do a day’s hard gardening for the children’s charity Disability Challengers.

Challengers wanted brambles, dangerous branches, hawthorns and nettles to be cleared from their grounds for their annual showcase - Family Fun Day.

The four volunteers from Howell-Jones rhw worked all day in blistering temperatures and finished by erecting 300 metres of bunting which they provided themselves.

“They were really good as they worked very hard clearing really tough stuff,” says Ella Pierce, corporate fund raiser for Disability Challengers. “I was surprised solicitors were so fit and prepared to get stuck in. “They were also prepared to be flexible, which was exactly what we needed. I’d definitely have them back.”

One of the volunteers, Kamal Huxtable, a commercial property solicitor at the Howell-Jones rhw Kingston office, said: “I wanted to help these kids have a hazard-free, fun day. It’s my way of doing my little bit and I’ve been clearing the access to the field where the Fun Day is being held. “I got branches in my face and loads of scratches from the thorns, but I’ve enjoyed working out of doors and I like gardening.”

Lucy Wallace, a personal injury and clinical negligence lawyer at the Howell-Jones rhw Walton-on-Thames office, added: “I’m doing this as it’s a great cause to help kids and I also like being outdoors and gardening. “I’ve never done this kind of voluntary work in the five years I’ve been at Howell-Jones, but it’s a great day, despite the pain in my back and my hands are aching from the secateurs!”

Jackie Tate, head of marketing at the Howell-Jones rhw Guildford office, says: “The Disability Challengers charity is not supported by government funds, so it has to get its own money and we wanted to help. “They do vital work for young, disabled children and teenagers to have a place to have fun, and that’s why we are here.”

Olly Bourne, a trainee solicitor at the Kingston office was also very positive: “It’s a wonderful chance to help those who are less able than myself, and it’s also a good way of building team spirit. The Howell-Jones rhw offices are dotted around Surrey, so it’s a good way to inter-act.

“I’d definitely do it again and would recommend it to others as good stress relief from office life - being in the fresh air and helping others.”

Howell-Jones rhw solicitors Ride the High Seas in the Manches Cup

A team of partners and staff from Howell-Jones rhw solicitors braved the elements at the recent Manches Cup regatta at Cowes.

Facing high winds and rough seas, the Surrey solicitors raced on their 44 foot yacht, competing with law firms from all over the UK.

Despite the weather and competing against mostly more experienced opposition, the Howell-Jones rhw crew put up a very creditable performance finishing midway in their class.

“This was our first time in this race and I was initially concerned about the challenging conditions because some of our crew had never sailed before.

“However, everyone pulled together and working as a team, we achieved a good result,” says Chris Pomfret, who has been sailing for many years and specialises in advising dentists on practice acqisitions and disposals.

Charmaine Dudman, a trainee solicitor and a complete novice sailor, said “ It was hard work but very exciting. There was no time to think about the conditions. We wanted to be first across the line and we went for it.”

Howell-Jones and rhw merger news

Howell-Jones rhw, will provide a comprehensive package to commercial and private clients throughout Surrey and the South-East.

The combined firm will consist of about 40 lawyers, and a total staff of over 70, working from offices in Guildford, Kingston, Leatherhead, Walton-on-Thames and Raynes Park. The firm will have six owners (see photo, right), three each from the two merging firms.

Together the new firm will have nearly 50 years experience in Surrey and while rhw have 70 per cent commercial clients and 30 per cent private, it is exactly the reverse with Howell-Jones. This was one of the key factors in the merger.

Keith Howell-Jones, founder of Howell-Jones Partnership, and chairman of the new LLP, says: “Joining forces with rhw makes very sound business sense. Combining Guildford with our geographical spread which is more North Surrey, is an excellent opportunity to grow a dynamic new business across all areas of the law.

“We greatly relish the new opportunities. Our founding principles were to create a good law firm with a simple aim: happiness; happiness of the clients, the staff and partners. And this is very much the ethos of our new joint firm.

“The service will be built on shared principles of being highly professional, friendly and fair-priced.
Together Howell-Jones rhw aim to provide the best comprehensive service to businesses and private clients in Surrey, building on our extensive knowledge of the area over many, many years.”

“Everyone is very excited about the future and we are having a number of events to celebrate the launch in the coming months.”

rhw has a national reputation for its expertise in care homes, doctors, vets and dentists, but has neither matrimonial nor personal injury departments. Howell-Jones will fill this gap and offers 30 years of experience in Surrey across all aspects of law, including conveyancing, dispute resolution and employment.

Martyn Whiteman, senior partner at rhw solicitors says: “The synergy between our two firms is spot on and was a compelling reason for our decision to merge.

“We are particularly strong in the care home and medical sectors, whilst Howell-Jones have a formidable reputation in Surrey and bring to the table their expertise in matrimonial and personal injury law. It’s very exciting and we’re all looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

Compromise Agreements – A warning from the Employment Appeal Tribunal

A new article has been added to the Employment section of the site.

The full article can be accessed here

New Statutory Limits published

Two articles have been added to the Employment section of the site.

Article 1 covers the new Statutory Limits for Employment related awards from 2 February 2007 and can be found here.

The second article outlines the new rates of statutory maternity pay (SMP), statutory paternity pay (SPP) and statutory adoption pay (SAP) and statutory sick pay (SSP) to apply from April 2007. Click here for more details.

Commentary: The implications of the Queens speech to employees and employers

The new legislative timetable - The Queen’s speech

The Queen has today set out the government’s programme of 29 bills for the next parliamentary session. The speech is dominated by plans to combat climate change, terrorism and crime. However there are proposals in the Queen’s speech, which will have an impact upon both employees and employers alike.

The proposed measures include:

The corporate manslaughter Bill will create a specific offence of corporate manslaughter. This is something which has been discussed for many years and is yet to come to fruition. This would have an impact on company directors.

The Pensions Bill will raise the state pension from 65 to 68 by 2046.

The Border and Immigration Bill will increase the power of immigration officers, and will no doubt mean that companies will have to spend more money verifying the identity of employees.

The Welfare Reform Bill will create a new benefit, the Employment and Support Allowance, which will replace Incapacity Benefit. This new benefit is seen as an overhaul of the present structure and it is predicted that there will be incentives to encourage individuals back to work.

An interesting addition is the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill, which will join the National Consumer Council, Energy Watch, Post Watch and the National Consumer Council. The Office for Fair Trading will be able to inspect records kept by estate agents. This will allow disenchanted property buyers or sellers to make more effective complaints against estate agents, and could be seen as a step towards regulating the industry more vigorously.

Howell-Jones Partnership will provide an analysis of the proposed legislation when the bills are published in detail by the government during the next parliamentary term.

If you have any questions regarding these issues, please contact the author, Philip Henson.

Joint Seminar with Vantis - "Selling your business - the way out".

In conjunction wth Vantis plc, leading accountancy, business and tax advisors, we presented a seminar on "Selling your business - the way out".

The seminar, held at Kingswood Golf Club, was well attended and well received by the audience.

If you would like to see the notes from this presentation, they are available in the Library section of this site. Please contact us if you wish to ask any questions relating to the subject of business sales planning or strategy.