Clarke and Son News

Just in time for the Christmas and New Year Celebrations, Clarke & Son’s prize at a recent Meet the Chamber Event was a bottle of Champagne. The delighted winner was Claire Freer of FCM, who said of the event:

 ”I thought the Chamber of Commerce Event offered a really good mix of businesses - all of whom I was able to speak to.  I also liked the format where members and non-members could speak briefly about their company at the beginning.  Winning the bottle of Champagne from Clarke & Son topped off a very successful evening!”

Clarke & Son were promoting their Commercial Services at the event, offering free business healthchecks to attendees and advice on Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures and Commercial Property Issues.

Charles Marchant-White, Partner and Chairman of the North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce felt that the event went very well.

“This was an ideal opportunity for SMEs and fledging businesses to come and find out more about all services on offer in Basingstoke. I felt the event was very well attended and look forward to similar opportunities in the future.”

For further information on Clarke & Son’s Commercial Services, contact Charles Marchant-White on Tel: 01256 320 555.

Bhupendra Sankhla, Partner and Head of the Family Department at Clarke & Son LLP is now able to offer clients a Collaborative Law Service.  This is an alternative to court for divorcing couples, involving four-way meetings with both parties and accompanying solicitors.

 The aim is for all parties to set the agenda and to reach an amicable conclusion within their own timetable.  It helps to reduce the amount of cost to the client as there is less correspondence between solcitors.  Also, the solicitors sign an agreement to say they cannot represent the client in court, giving the client an incentive to work with this process.

It is an alternative to mediation which involves an independent person known as a ‘mediator’ who assists the parties reaching an agreement.  However, the mediator is not a legal representative and therefore each party is advised to take additional legal advice.

 Bhupendra says of the new service:

“I am delighted to be able to offer clients this alternative to court proceedings, which can be costly and stressful for all concerned.  It is vital that all parties are happy with arrangements, especially when children are involved and this process will hopefully help to achieve this.”

For more information on Collaborative Law, please email Bhupendra Sankhla, who is an accredited specialist member of Resolution (formerly known as The Solicitors Family Law Association) or tel: 01256 320 555.

Saleem Arif from Quality Solicitors.com recently visited Clarke & Son’s offices to formally present the firm with the Certificate of Membership.

It was a great opportunity for Senior Partner, Peter Turner to find out more about how the company is moving forward.  Saleem explained that their promotion was moving away from just acting as a referral site and towards the ‘Quality Mark’ aspect of the company - so that anyone who uses a member firm knows they are getting a quality service.

Clarke & Son LLP was proud to be chosen as one of the 150 members of Quality Solicitors earlier this year, the only one in the Basingstoke area.  Quality Solicitors.com was also recently shortlisted for the Law Society Excellence Awards.

For more information on Quality Solicitors. com, please visit their website.

Clarke & Son LLP has been looking towards a period of improved growth with the expansion of their staffing levels.

Experienced commercial solicitor, Chris Lockley who spent 12 years at another well-known Basingstoke firm joins the commercial property department.  Kim Brooksbank, an experienced solicitor from West Sussex joins the Wills & Probate department.  This is much to the relief of newly-promoted Department Head, Nia Wharry who has had to cope with an ever-increasing workload in recent months.  Trainee Claire Redhead who already has experience in matrimonial matters joins the family department.  Thomas Hunt who started as a trainee at the Firm in 2007 is delighted to continue as their Employment Specialist after his qualification in September.

 Peter Turner, Senior Partner says of the new recruitment drive,

“We are very happy with the recent appointments and hope that the presence of more fee-earners in the Firm will add to our continued growth.  It has been a tough twelve months, but we have most certainly kept our head above water and are looking forward to a successful 2010.”

 Clarke & Son LLP is a member of Quality Solicitors.com

On 19 October 2009, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) published a discussion paper setting out its proposals for major reforms to the UK mortgage market.  The discussion ends on 30th January 2010.

The FSA’ proposals include:

• Introducing a “targeted degree of production regulation” for high-risk mortgage products.
• Requiring verification of the borrower’s income for all mortgage products.  This would mean that self certified and fast track mortgages would no longer be available.
• Making the lender ultimately responsible for verifying whether the borrower can afford the loan.
•  Prohibiting loans to borrowers where there are a combination of high-risk factors (for example, a high loan-to-value ratio and a borrower with a poor credit rating and unstable income).

 Shortly, Paul Cowdery, Property Partner, will be publishing details of a survey of local agents regarding the state of the residential property market in Basingstoke including comment on the implication of the FSA’s proposals.

For more information on buying or selling your home, please contact Paul Cowdery on Tel: 01256 320 555.

In April 2009, great-grandmother Betty Figg was snatched by social workers against the wishes of her daughter, her former carer. Social workers arrived with police and a battering ram to remove the 86-year-old woman suffering from dementia from her daughter’s house. The media quickly spread pictures and video footage of Betty being taken from the house in her wheelchair with a towel thrown over her head.

It seems social services did not agree with Betty’s daughter that it was in Betty’s best interests to be cared by her daughter in a specially converted room, in her daughter’s home.

Could this happen to a family in Basingstoke?

There is a way that it can be avoided; by giving a health and welfare lasting power of attorney to a family member, social services are prevented from making care decisions. Without this document, social services can make decisions on behalf a vulnerable person, if they think they lack mental capacity and believe it is in their best interests. They do not have to follow what the family want and cannot be liable for their decisions.

Nia Wharry, of Clarke & Son solicitors, a member Solicitors for the Elderly, is encouraging all older people to plan ahead and make a health and welfare lasting power of attorney.

‘It is an important document and sensible to get advice about the choices you have. What happened to Mrs Figg may never happen to you, but if it does, you and your family will be glad you made the power.’

For further information on Health & Welfare Lasting Power of Attorneys, contact Nia Wharry on Tel: 01256 320 555.

Local Firm, Clarke & Son LLP have recently raised over £700 for Great Ormond Street Hospital, their chosen charity for the year 2008/2009. The firm undertook various fundraising events for the national charity including a weekly lotto, staff lunches, guess the number of golf balls, Guess what’s in the Box, a cake sale and the Grand National sweepstake.

Catherine Sheard from the Fundraising Team at Great Ormond Street Hospital was delighted with the Firm’s efforts:

“The money you have raised is helping us to fund life-saving equipment and ground-breaking research to find cures and treatments, giving children everywhere a brighter future.”

Clarke & Son hope to double their efforts for Naomi House Children’s Hospice, in Sutton Scotney, near Winchester, their chosen charity for 2009/2010. The hospice provides care and support through good days, difficult days and last days to children, young people and their families from the counties of Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Sussex and Wiltshire.

Julie Tunnicliffe, Legacy Co-ordinator at Naomi House explains the importance of local support,

“With just 10% of our income coming from the government, Naomi House relies on the generous support of local people and businesses like Clarke and Son to help us raise £2.5million each year to provide care to life-limited children and their families.”

For more information, please contact: Peter Turner, Senior Partner on Tel: 01256 320555

Basingstoke solicitors Clarke & Son LLP, have recently joined the Perk Card Scheme run by Destination Basingstoke - a new, not-for-profit marketing agency for the town of Basingstoke and the surrounding area.

The scheme aims to promote the Borough as an attractive place to live, work and visit as well as a first choice location for business. Profits from the membership scheme will go towards the marketing and promotion of Basingstoke.

As an incentive to staff, businesses around Basingstoke buy into the annual scheme that offers Perk Cards to each of their staff.  These cards then offer the holders varying discounts on products and services from 35 businesses within Basingstoke.

Clarke & Son are now offering 10% discount* on all their legal services for Perk Card Holders.

See details of our Perk Card scheme and where you can make savings!

For more information, contact Clarke & Son Solicitors or telephone 01256 320 555.

* Up to a maximum of £50. Must not be used in conjunction with any other Clarke & Son offer.