Napthens has invested in a major expansion of its Kendal office to enhance the support provided to clients throughout Cumbria.
This summer seven key appointments we’re made, taking the total number of staff at Kendal to twenty.
Legal director (rural law) Kate Seymour, senior associate solicitor (litigation) David Tew, solicitor (real estate) Sophie Ward, conveyancing executive (residential conveyancing) Rebecca Coombes, legal assistant (litigation) Jodene Conway, legal assistant (private client) Jo Pritchard, together with business administration apprentice, Jodie May Eldon, who joins under the firm’s Flourish programme.
Having lived and worked in Cumbria since 2005, Kate brings experience in rural and commercial property law through acting for individuals, charities, landed estates and corporate clients in matters including agricultural, commercial and residential tenancy, land and property sales and purchases. Kate also has expertise in lending, surrender of tenancies, claw back and option agreements and other farm estate management issues.
She joins Napthens from Burges Salmon LLP, having previously worked at Thomson Hayton Winkley Legal Services and will develop the pioneering FarmFuture offering, which serves over 400 farming families.
David joins Napthens from Arnison Heelis Solicitors with particular expertise in will, trust and estate disputes, property litigation and professional negligence claims. He is a member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association and associate member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists.
Sophie has experience in representing individuals and small to medium sized enterprises in the sale and purchase of property for investment. She also acts for institutional lenders offering advice to lenders, vendors and purchasers on the real-estate aspects of any given transaction and will work alongside Jamie Allison and Yasmin Blamire.
During her training contract, Sophie achieved a place on the Dean’s List and won awards for Outstanding Achievement in Professional Conduct and Solicitors Accounts.
Napthens’ rural team is the only firm on the legal panel of the National Farmers Union (NFU) for Lancashire and Cumbria and it is a member of Cumbria Tourism.
Jamie Allison, partner, head of Cumbria and real estate across the firm, said: “Our recruitment of seven key new members reflects a rising workload at Kendal given our successes with assisting many Cumbria based businesses and entrepreneurs, enhancing our offering to valued clients in region and reinforcing our commitment to people and businesses throughout this county.
“The ongoing growth at Kendal proves that Napthens is among the most innovative and fastest growing law firms in the north west, retaining and attracting the best talent allows us to continue to deliver outstanding leading legal services to our clients.
“We’re proud of what we have achieved so far and how we go about helping clients with their legal needs. Our Kendal office will be refurbished to reflect our needs and the way we operate as a team, so it is really exciting times for us.”
