Leading full-service legal firm Woodfines has announced a string of promotions within its Private Client, Family, Employment and Practice Service teams.

The promotions, effective as of 1^st April 2024, include two partners, four associates and one manager.

Accepting the promotion to partner are Jenny Teall and Helen Simpson.

Jenny, a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), joined Woodfines’ private client team in 2019. She handles a wide variety of private client work, assisting clients with the drafting of their Wills, administration of estates and trusts, inheritance tax planning and powers of attorney.

Helen undertook a Law and Sociology degree at the University of Warwick, before completing her LPC at De Montfort University in Leicester. She received a scholarship from the Ministry of Justice to do her LPC and worked full-time throughout her LPC studies as a court clerk before obtaining a distinction. Helen joined Woodfines on a training contract in 2013, qualifying into the private client team in 2015.

Accepting the promotion to associate are Thomas Hale, Millie Ireson, Natasha Moore & Shireena Sheridan.

Thomas joined Woodfines’ private client team in 2018, completing his training contract in 2021. He has built a reputation for being straightforward and professional with a refreshing approach to dealing and trust matters and lifetime planning. Thomas genuinely cares about delivering excellent outcomes for his clients and has a keen interest in passing down wealth in the most tax-efficient way.

Millie has progressed through the firm, completing her exams in 2020 to qualify as a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX). She specialises in all areas of family law including divorce and separation and children matters, both private between parents/grandparents and public matters involving the Local authority.

Natasha joined Woodfines in 2012 and completed her training, qualifying as a Fellow and Chartered Member of the Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) in 2018. She specialises in employment law and has experience in advising and preparing employment related documentation such as contracts of employment, staff handbooks, settlement agreements and redundancy procedures.

Shireena joined Woodfines in 2022 as a solicitor in the firm’s private client team. She is knowledgeable and experienced in preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney and administering both taxable and non-taxable estates. She is currently studying to become a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and has passed the first four exams.

Kerry joined Woodfines in 2003, initially working in the firm’s family team. With her thirst for knowledge, hard work and natural affability, she moved to work in the marketing team in 2016. Kerry manages the firm’s events and social media campaigns, where she continues to demonstrate her creativity along with strong organisational and planning skills.

Managing Partner, Neil Gibbs comments: “We appreciate and recognise the achievements of our people, and it is always fantastic to see the progression of both homegrown and acquired talent.

The promotion round this year is testimony to our strategy of developing our people to support excellence in all that we do.”

You can read more about Woodfines and its services on www.woodfines.co.uk