meet the team - wills & probate
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Fiona Barnes - Head of Division Fiona Barnes joined mfg’s private client division as a partner on 1 October 2008 after six years with another legal practice in Shropshire. She is now based in the firm’s Shropshire office in Telford as head of the private client division. She qualified as a solicitor in 1997, following five years’ commissioned service in the British Army. Areas of expertise: Her wide-ranging experience includes Will and estate planning, such as the use of agricultural and business property reliefs, probate and trust administration and advice to the elderly, and Court of Protection work. Membership of professional bodies and organisations: Fiona is a full member of the national Solicitors for the Elderly organisation, and is a committee member and current treasurer of the group’s Shropshire and Mid-Wales branch. She is also a trustee of an almshouse charity in Shrewsbury. |
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Paul Rhodes - Head of Division Paul qualified as a solicitor in 1970 and worked his way through the ranks until he was appointed a partner in February 1973. Areas of expertise: Paul decided to specialise in private client work having done just about everything else in the "old days". Membership of professional bodies and organisations: He is the deputy coroner for Telford and can probably tell one or two rather interesting stories. Because of his experience with Court of Protection matters, he was appointed as a member of the Court of Protection Receiver’s Panel, which authorises him to be appointed by the Public Guardianship Office to look after the affairs of someone where there is no one available to do so. Interests: He is married to Pat who also assists occasionally in the firm. He has two children, one of whom married a couple of years ago. He has recently become a proud grandfather for the first time but does, however, still find time to have occasional walks around the golf course knocking a few balls about. He also likes walking which is probably just as well as he does most of that around the golf course, also gardening and attending the theatre. Like many of the members of the private client division he used to enjoy sporting activities but now, like most, tends just to watch it. Formerly Paul was the president of the Wellington Rotary Club but now sits back and lets others do the organising. He is also a trustee of the Shropshire and Telford Community Trust. |
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Alan Neal MA CTA TEP Alan joined mfg Solicitors in 1974 and is now the managing director and finance partner of the firm. He is also office partner of the Halesowen office. He specialises in finance and tax within the private client division. Areas of expertise: Alan has a wealth of experience both in the law and in taxation and is named in the Legal 500. He qualified as a solicitor more than 30 years ago and then obtained dual qualification as a chartered tax adviser some four years later. His professional expertise extends not only to private clients, including high net worth individuals but to owner-managed businesses and the farming and agricultural community. Alan has recently been involved in three high profile inheritance tax cases, namely Antrobus I and Williams, both of which went to the Special Commissioners, and Antrobus II, which went to the Lands Tribunal. All of these cases were groundbreaking in clarifying important issues relating to agricultural property relief for inheritance tax purposes. Membership of professional bodies and organisations: He is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, having previously served on the Birmingham branch of that organisation and on its technical sub-committee. In addition he is clerk to the General Commissioners for Income Tax Purposes for the Kidderminster Division and is also a member of Solicitors for the Elderly, an organisation committed to providing and promoting robust, comprehensive and independent legal advice for older and vulnerable people, their family and carers. Email: alan.neal@mfgsolicitors.com
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Valerie Robinson Valerie Robinson is a partner at mfg Solicitors, working in the private client division as the deputy divisional head. Areas of expertise: Valerie has specialised in wills and probate and related matters since she qualified as a solicitor in 1994. Her particular areas of expertise are wills, covering areas such as tax planning, providing for disabled beneficiaries and other complex or unusual circumstances, administration of estates, including high net worth cases involving agricultural and business property, deeds of variation and elderly client issues, including community care, asset protection trusts, powers of attorney and court of protection Membership of professional bodies and organisations: Valerie is a member of the Probate Section of the Law Society and currently acts as the company secretary to Bewdley Festival Ltd. |
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Maria Shakespeare Maria is home grown talent, having qualified with the firm. Areas of expertise: Maria is an associate who moved from the Kidderminster office to run the Bromsgrove private client department in June 2003. She deals with all aspects of private client including wills, administration of estates, inheritance tax planning, trusts and Enduring Power of Attorney documents, Lasting Power of Attorney documents and Court of Protection work. Membership of professional bodies and organisations: She is a member of the Probate Section of the Law Society and is currently working towards becoming a full STEP member. |
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Amanda Piper Amanda Piper is a Fellow of the Institute of legal executives having qualified in 2000 and joined mfg Solicitors in 2003. Prior to this she had worked as a Legal Executive at a practice in Birmingham. Areas of expertise: Amanda’s original area of expertise was insolvency, which was her main focus at the practice in Birmingham. After deciding that she wanted the opportunity to increase the amount of client work she was undertaking, Amanda decided to specialise in wills and probate. As the sole wills and probate practitioner at the Worcester branch, Amanda undertakes the entire caseload of wills and probate issues, together with cases relating to court of protection. Amanda enjoys the high volume of client work. Interests: In her leisure time Amanda enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter. |
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Christine Neal Associate at the firm Chris Neal joined mfg Solicitors in 1987 as a secretary. She worked her way through the ranks and is now private client manager. Chris was originally based in Kidderminster, were she worked for twelve years before moving to the Halesowen office in 1999. Areas of expertise: Chris deals with all manner of private client matters including probate, wills, Court of Protection, asset protection trusts and assisting with the financial affairs of the elderly. She frequently undertakes home visits to elderly or disabled clients, and is proud of mfg Solicitors’ commitment to travel into the community where clients have difficulty to attend the office. Membership of professional bodies and organisations: She has been a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners since 1995 and is also a member of Solicitors for the Elderly, an organisation committed to providing and promoting robust, comprehensive and independent legal advice for older and vulnerable people, their family and carers. Interests: Chris is married to the managing director and finance partner of the firm Alan Neal and has worked alongside him for the past 20 years. Chris has 2 children, 1 step-son, 3 grandchildren and a rescued psychopathic Jack Russell. Her walls are adorned with photographs of dogs that she has received from clients. Chris enjoys travelling, reading and most of all, cooking. Email: chris.neal@mfgsolicitors.com |
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Rachel Summers Rachel joined mfg Solicitors as a school leaver in 1984 as an office junior. Since then she has contributed to the company through many different and varied roles, including work in the accounts department, on reception and as an office administrator. Areas of expertise: Rachel is now a legal assistant with vast experience within the private client department based at the Kidderminster office. Rachel deals with administration of estates, advising on and preparation of wills and matters involving the Office of Public Guardianship in relation to receivership and Lasting Powers of Attorney. Rachel enjoys client contact, and finds it important to support clients through times of emotional upheaval. Interests: Rachel lives with her partner and they have a grown up son. Rachel’s spare time is mostly taken up by walking her dog. She enjoys travelling and socialising with her friends. |
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Helen Timson Helen qualified as a solicitor in 1980 and first joined mfg Solicitors (then R Gwynne & Sons) to work in civil litigation. She had a long break to raise two children and returned in 1999 after having completed a College of Law legal practice course in wills, probate and administration. Areas of expertise: Helen now specialises in will drafting and the administration of estates. She can also assist private clients with legal issues concerning the elderly, powers of attorney and Court of Protection matters. Membership of professional bodies and organisations: Helen is currently a trustee with Age Concern Wrekin and Newport. |
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Gary Priest A hugely experienced tax specialist, Gary Priest works in mfg’s expanding private client division as an associate. Areas of expertise: Having worked in the sector for over eight years, Gary is able to provide mfg clients with expert legal advice on the broad range of matters relating to estate and tax planning but has particular expertise in inheritance tax and capital gains tax planning. Gary specialises in working with farmers, landed estates and owner managed businesses. Membership of professional bodies and organisations: A qualified solicitor, Gary is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). |
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Tracy Parry Tracy joined mfg Solicitors shortly after qualifying as a solicitor in 2005. Since then Tracy has worked within the private client department at Kidderminster. Areas of expertise: Tracy deals with all aspects of private client matters including advising on and preparing Wills, administration of estates, Inheritance Tax planning, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Court of Protection issues and Asset Protection Trusts. Tracy supports and advises clients during times of emotional upheaval. Interests: In her spare time Tracy enjoys travelling and scuba diving. |
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Sophie Yates Sophie joined the firm in 2005 as Administration Assistant. Since then Sophie has worked her way up through the firm to become a Legal Executive. Areas of expertise: Sophie works within the Private Client Department, specialising in advising clients in relation to Wills, Administration of Estates, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection issues. Interests: When Sophie is not working at mfg or studying she is on the ski slopes as she is a fully qualified artificial ski slope instructor and works part time at the local dry ski slope. She also spends most of her holiday from mfg abroad teaching or training. As well as skiing other hobbies include spending quality time with friends and family, and socialising. |
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Michael Gwynne Michael Gwynne is a consultant solicitor in the Private Client and Rural Divisions at mfg Solicitors. Areas of expertise: He specialises in agricultural law, estates and Wills. Michael has an extensive knowledge of legal issues which affect the rural community, and acts for both farmers and landowners and on inheritance tax planning generally. Michael has developed this expertise over his 40 plus years in the legal profession. He was appointed HM Coroner in 1974 and retired from that position in October 2009. |
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Kim Scolari Kim completed her training with mfg and fully qualified as a solicitor in September 2009. Areas of expertise: Kim deals with all aspects of drawing up Wills, the administration of estates, probate applications, lasting power of attorney, Court of Protection work and asset protection trusts. She particularly enjoys the regular contact with clients that her work brings. Interests: Kim is learning British Sign Language and is part way through obtaining her Level 2 qualification. She is also a big sports fan – she is a keen runner and avid football fan, enjoying games at all levels from the Premiership to the local Sunday League. She is also a fan of horse racing, and holds membership at Cheltenham racecourse. Kim loves to travel, and has visited America, Africa and Thailand. |
