Penningtons Manches' private client team further strengthened by three new hires

Posted: 02/01/2018

The private wealth team at Penningtons Manches has recruited three new lawyers to expand its award-winning private client team in the South. The practice, which is widely acknowledged as one of the top private client teams in the UK, has had another successful year, with recent accolades from industry awards programmes and leading legal profession guides including eprivateclient, Citywealth and The Legal 500. The latest edition of Chambers High Net Worth has described the team as ‘thoroughly excellent’, listing eight of its lawyers as notable practitioners in recognition of the complexity of their work and their dedication to clients.

Associate Rachel Spruce joins the private client team in the firm’s Guildford office from GRM Law. Since training and qualifying with Teacher Stern LLP, Rachel has built on her experience of advising clients on a wide range of private client matters including will drafting, estate planning, lasting powers of attorney, probate and lifetime trusts. She graduated from the University of Cambridge.

The contentious probate and trusts disputes team welcomes two new lawyers, associates Jack Bailey and Jessica Davies.

Jack joins the firm from Blandy & Blandy LLP, with significant experience in Court of Protection matters and mental capacity law, including contentious and non-contentious applications; lasting powers of attorney comprising advice to lay attorneys on their duties; offering clients guidance on care fees and related issues; and advising trustees and beneficiaries. He also advises on contentious probate matters, including challenges to the validity of wills, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

Jessica, who completed her training in the London office of a US law firm, acts for clients nationwide on all aspects of UK trust and probate litigation, including will validity disputes, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, estate administration disputes and proprietary estoppel claims.

Head of the Penningtons Manches private client team, Clare Archer said: “We are delighted that Rachel, Jack and Jessica have joined the firm, bringing with them a wide range of experience and an outstanding level of client service. I know our already successful team will develop even further with their valuable input.”

Commenting on the new arrivals, Michael Cash, head of the firm’s contentious private client team, said: ''The practice experienced a significant increase in instructions during 2017 which looks set to continue in 2018; our new hires will help meet this increase in client demand. I am pleased to welcome our new associates to the team and look forward to working with them as they continue to develop their roles at the firm.”

Return to news headlines