A new family law firm has opened in Ripon.

Wildblood Legal, which is based at Ripon Community House, offers support on divorce and finances, children, nuptial agreements and mediation services.

Owner Amanda de Winter, who is from Ripon, qualified as barrister in 1998 and will be on hand to offer services alongside a family solicitor.

She said:

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge.

“We have had a great response since we opened last month.”

The firm offers free initial consultations, as well as help with documents such as wills, lasting power of attorney and partnership agreements.

Wildblood Legal, which launched in December, is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Read more:

• Lidl scraps plans to open Ripon retail park store
• Ripon woman to climb Yorkshire three peaks to mark one-year ‘cancerversary’

When Greenwoods Solicitors attended the Yorkshire Legal Awards on Thursday, for director Camilla Greenwood it felt as if they had already won. 

It’s been 18 months since her mother, Knaresborough solicitor Lynda Greenwood, tragically died in a fire at her home in Brearton, leaving the firm’s future up in the air. Camilla had a job she enjoyed with Leeds law firm Irwin Mitchell, and the magnitude of carrying on her mother’s legacy was daunting. 

Speaking exclusively to the Stray Ferret, she said: 

“My family home had just burned down, my mum, who was my only relative, had died, and I could barely even feed myself. The thought of dealing with all this – I didn’t know if I had it in me. 

“But then it became a sort of security blanket. This was my mum’s lifetime’s work and she was a pillar of the community. And it wasn’t just about me; it was everyone else who was involved as well – the members of staff, and the clients with ongoing cases.” 

Lynda founded Greenwoods in 1991 and was determined it would be a trusted part of the local community. The firm now has a team of six – Camilla calls it “small but mighty” – and has just appointed a seventh to help it cope with an increase in private client work. Now, Camilla wants to continue the firm in the spirit her mother intended, maintaining the very human ethos that elicited loyalty among clients. 

She said: 

“My mum opened Greenwoods when I was six months old, so I saw it all – I used to do my homework at a desk in the office. I grew up here, so I felt partly raised by the firm, really. 

“You’ve got to carry on. She did that too – she set up this firm so she could have me, so we extend that support to other parents. Our new employee has a little boy, so we’ll alter her working hours so she can take him to school and pick him up – because that’s what the firm was for.

“You don’t have to have one or the other – you can have a family and a career, and we’ll support you with that.” 

The firm, which has a double frontage on Knaresborough’s High Street, applies the same kind of human approach to its dealings with clients. Camilla said: 

“We know that moving house is really stressful, so give us a ring and you’ll speak to the same person every time you call the office – you’re not going to be fobbed off with a ‘press 1 to speak to…’. You’re not a number, and that’s something that has to be relevant to staff and clients.” 

The Greenwoods team dressed for the awards season.

Camilla is soon going to have reason to take advantage of her firm’s family-friendly employment policies, as she’s due to have her first baby at the end of November. She said: 

“Timing is everything, isn’t it?! I found out I was pregnant in the week of the anniversary of my mum’s death. It was very spooky. 

“Just when I thought I was gaining some control and thought I had reins on the situation, here comes generation three!” 

It was a lovely and unexpected twist in the tale of Greenwoods’ survival after such a shocking tragedy, and it seems fitting that Camilla’s daughter will be brought up “in the firm” just as she was. It also feels in some way like a vindication – a seal of approval – on Camilla’s decision to carry on the business. She said of that time: 

“It took a lot of soul-searching, but once I’d made the decision to do it, there was very little that was going to stop me. I needed the ground to stop shaking after the earthquake for me to take a breath and say ‘let’s do this’, and since I made the decision to do it, magical stuff has happened.” 

That “magic” isn’t just confined to the imminent new arrival. Greenwoods has been nominated for several awards over the last few months, and has won some of them, including Family-Run Business of the Year at the Knaresborough Business Awards, which Camilla says was “really special and touching” . 

Now, with a growing team, local praise for the firm’s newly refurbished offices, and a slew of five-star client reviews, Camilla says things are very much looking up: 

“We’re getting recognition from the industry, from clients and from the community. I feel quite emotional about it. I know my mum would be so proud.” 

Greenwoods didn’t win the awards they were shortlisted for at the awards ceremony in Leeds on Thursday evening, but Camilla says it doesn’t matter – the transformation of the firm’s fortunes over the last 18 months feels like a huge win in itself. She said: 

“Literally a couple of days after the fire, I was shell-shocked and one compliance solicitor in London told me I had two options: either close or dispose of the firm. But I thought ‘those aren’t my only options; there is another choice: I do this, I find a way and make it work’ – and I have done.

“We’re not just coping, we’re thriving, and I think that needs celebrating.”

Read more:

• ‘I loved my 6-month job so much I’ve stayed for 20 years’ says Knaresborough business owner
• Any vehicle can park in Knaresborough electric vehicle bays, says council

This story is sponsored by Truth Legal.

A Harrogate law firm is celebrating supporting those most in need of legal advice for 10 years.

Truth Legal, which is based on Victoria Avenue, was founded by Andrew Gray back in 2012.

It was set up to help provide access to justice for those who may find the law difficult to navigate and has prided itself on having a “honest and ethical” ethos.

Since then, Truth Legal has gone onto support people for personal injury, clinical negligence, employment, small businesses and immigration cases and even expanded its client base into Leeds with a new office.

Georgina Parkin, the Managing Director at the firm, said the purpose of the company continues to be helping those people who find the law hard to access. She said:

She said:

“Truth Legal was set up in 2012 with the ethos of providing ethical and affordable access to justice. Access to justice has been reduced over the last 12 years with reductions in legal aid and increased court fees.”

“There has been a lot of changes to various areas of the law over the years, such as legal aid and employment tribunals.”

Georgina, who started out as a trainee back in 2013 before rapidly rising to director, is set to oversee the next milestone in the company’s history.

Truth Legal at their 10 year anniversary celebration.

Along with Louis MacWilliam and Navya Shekhar, Georgina will take on majority control of the firm. Catherine Reynolds will continue in her role as a Director of the firm. Andrew will continue to provide support as a consultant.

Going forward, Truth Legal wants to undertake another ambitious recruitment drive and look at setting up another office.

It also intends to take on more social justice cases and expanding its immigration, employment and clinical negligence teams.

For Georgina, the mission of the firm will remain the same – providing access to justice for those who need it most.

For more information on Truth Legal and how to get in touch for legal advice, visit their website here or call 01423 788358.

This article is sponsored by Harrogate Family Law.

If the prospect of divorce has crossed your mind, you’ll know it’s one of the biggest decisions you could ever make.

Whether you have been married for many years or only a short time, considering ending the relationship can be daunting: from finances to children, there are many aspects which make the situation feel complicated.

Before you make a decision, here are some suggestions which could make the process easier for everyone involved.

Speak to a solicitor

This may feel like a big step, and one which should come much further down the line, but it’s actually something many people do in the early stages – even before speaking to their spouse.

Andrew Meehan, director of Harrogate Family Law, said:

“A lot of people come to us when they haven’t even decided it’s finally over.

“It’s the biggest decision you will ever make in your life, but most people have never been through it before.

“Knowledge is power: people want to know what they are in for and what they would potentially come out with.”

Choose the right law firm

It’s important to do your research and be confident in your choice. Your solicitor will need to know everything about your life, including your finances, so make sure it’s someone you feel comfortable with.

Solicitors are not just there to resolve disputes, but are an essential part of ensuring any agreement is legally sound.

Mr Meehan said:

“Even if you have agreed a settlement with your ex-partner, it still needs to be put into a court order so it’s binding.

“People sometimes think that the introduction of no-fault divorces means they don’t need to have everything done through solicitors, but that’s not the case.

“Whether it’s an amicable settlement or things are more contentious, it is really important to get the right advice to ensure your settlement is fair from the outset and will be fair to you in the future too.”

Do your research

In many divorces, there is an imbalance of assets between the two parties. While one person having a higher income than another can be obvious, it’s often also the case that pensions, trusts, business ownership and other factors need to be considered to ensure the settlement is fair.

Getting all the information together will help your solicitor to ensure you get what is fair and that your needs for the future will be protected.

Mr Meehan said:

“We deal with a lot of cases where there is a family business to consider, or where one partner has focused on their career to earn money for the family while the other has taken a step back to raise the children and look after things at home.

“Not only does that mean their current incomes are vastly different, but it also means their future earning potential, their pension provision and their other assets can be affected quite significantly.

“Knowing all of these details helps us to get the full picture of the finances and ensure they are split fairly, so one partner is not disadvantaged because of the role they played while the family was together.”

Don’t panic

Facing divorce at the outset can be a worrying time, even if it is likely to be amicable.

When you add in potential challenges, such as one partner making the situation more difficult or displaying narcissistic tendencies, it can feel insurmountable.

However, your solicitor should be there to guide you through it and ensure the end result is right for you, said Mr Meehan.

“Our strapline is ‘on your side’ and that’s what a good solicitor should be. They should understand your worries and help to put your mind at ease.

“We know that people are often concerned about the necessities: keeping a roof over their heads, having money to pay bills and cover their legal fees, and managing their finances before the settlement is agreed.

“Having the right solicitor who understands this is absolutely essential for your peace of mind, now and in the future.”

Switalskis, a group of three specialist law firms, has appointed Julie Guest as its head of people.

Julie Guest gained experience as a HR professional at CNG  She has also worked in positions with Morrisons, Pinsent Masons and William Hill.

The recruitment is a part of the group’s growth strategy, which has already seen an expansion with the investment of firms Atherton Godfrey and Pryers Solicitors.

Ms Guest said:

“It’s great to join a firm with such a strong focus on its people, culture and values.

“My role will involve further integration of people and systems following the acquisition of Atherton Godfrey and Pryers. I aim to enhance Switalskis’ already strong talent development and create an environment and culture in which everyone is able to flourish.”

John Durkan, managing director of Switalskis group, said:

“Julie brings a wide range of valuable experience to this role along with a proven HR leadership track record.

“She has been responsible for a number of successful change and development programmes within professional services businesses, and I’m delighted she has joined us as our first head of people.”

Julie has 28 years’ HR experience and will take on developing Switalskis’ talent, leadership and inclusion strategies.

Harrogate business leaders encouraged to sleep rough for charity

Business leaders in Harrogate will be joining a ‘sleepout’ challenge to help raise money for charity.

CEO Sleepout UK has organised the event, which will see business execs, directors and CEOs from across North Yorkshire sleeping out to raise money for local charities.

The event will take place on May 19th at Harrogate RUFC.

It is expected that around 40 businesses will participate in this years event.

Ison Harrison Solicitors, Cairns Hotel Group and Harrogate Borough Council are just among a few who will take part.

In previous years, the sleepout raised over £23,000.

Harrogate CEO sleepout at the RUFC launch

This year, the funds raised from the sleepout will be sent to YMCA Ripon, Harrogate RUFC community projects, Trussell Trust Harrogate, Walking With The Wounded and CEO Sleepout with 10% of all funds raised going to the DEC Ukraine appeal.

Bianca Robinson, chief executive of CEO Sleepout, said:

“Harrogate isn’t particularly associated with rough sleepers, but this doesn’t mean that homelessness doesn’t exist. We see people sleeping in cars with their children, on friends’ sofas, or worse; risking exploitation in exchange for a roof over their heads.

“The event is a chance for local people to learn about hidden homelessness in the area and what’s been done to help those at risk.”

CEO Sleepout UK was started in 2013 by Andy Preston, now the mayor of Middlesbrough, and has raised over £2.7m to combat homelessness and poverty.

Read more:

• Harrogate bookshop Imagined Things set to move
• All Creatures Great and Small donates food to Knaresborough charity