Black Country legal specialist appointed to Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel

One of the region's leading clinical negligence specialist solicitors has been appointed to the Law Society's Clinical Negligence Panel.

Clare Langford, an associate at Midlands law firm Higgs & Sons, is only one of a small number of clinical negligence lawyers to be appointed to the panel. Her appointment recognises her achievements within clinical negligence law which includes dealing with claims involving injuries of maximum severity and fatal cases.

Speaking of her achievement, Clare said: "It's a vigorous process to be appointed and I had to present a portfolio of my cases to the Law Society to demonstrate my experience."

"The appointment means that I can now take on the role of clinical negligence supervisor, enabling Higgs & Sons to offer clients public funding through the Legal Services Commission in appropriate cases.”

Ian Shovlin, Senior Partner at Higgs & Sons states, "Clinical negligence litigation is a specialist area of law requiring a knowledge of both the law and medicine. Clare's appointment to the Law Society panel is evidence of her experience and expertise in dealing with these complex claims.”

Clare is a volunteer for the charity Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA) and attends on a pro bono basis at the Manchester office to run the clinical negligence helpline. The service offers free advice and assistance to members of the public concerned about any aspect of their medical treatment.

Kingswinford-born Clare joined Higgs & Sons in 2001 as a trainee and qualified in 2003.

Higgs & Sons employs over 170 people from offices in Brierley Hill's Waterfront Business Park and Kingswinford.

Higgs celebrates professional services award

Leading Midlands law firm Higgs & Sons is celebrating after winning the prestigious Black Country Chamber Professional Services Firm award 2010.

Senior partner, Ian Shovlin, was presented with the award this week by Mark Prisk, MP and Minister of State for Business and Enterprise at a special gala lunch in Wolverhampton.

Speaking of the accolade, Ian said: “2010 is proving to be an extremely exciting year for the Higgs team. Earlier in the year we moved 155 of our people to some of the best office facilities in the Black Country with a £1.5 million move to the Waterfront Business Park.

“To meet the needs of our clients, we have also recruited 16 lawyers and five support staff this year.

“Now, to be honoured by the Black Country Chamber in its annual awards is the icing on the cake.

“Our aim has always been to provide businesses and individual clients of the Black Country and beyond with the very best legal advice and care and to be recognised for this is great news for everyone at Higgs.

“Higgs has achieved its success due to the loyalty and support of our clients, professional advisors, suppliers and colleagues. We really value our relationships with them and thank them for helping us to win this award.”

Higgs strengthens employment team with senior appointment

Higgs & Sons has strengthened its employment team with the appointment of a new partner.

Damian Kelly joins the Black Country legal firm from Eversheds where he trained in 1994 and was most recently a partner in the employment team.

Tim Jones, head of Higgs’ employment team said Damian’s appointment comes at a time where the volume and quality of work coming in to the department requires an experienced partner to meet demand.

“Damian’s appointment means our employment department is now seven lawyers strong – by far the largest team in the Black Country.

“One of our key strengths is our ability to take a case from the very start to the end thanks to our experienced advocacy team.

“Damian joins us at an exciting time, with the firm’s business disciplines now housed under one roof at the Waterfront Business Park. In the few short months since our move, we have already seen increased work from our strong corporate team, which we are looking to capitalise on further in the future.”

Damian said: “I am delighted to join Higgs & Sons at such a progressive time in its development. The firm has an excellent reputation in the employment field and I am looking forward to helping the team achieve its ambitious growth plans.

Higgs shortlisted for prestigious legal awards

Higgs & Sons has been shortlisted for the prestigious Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards 2010.

The Black Country law firm, which recently moved 150 of its team into a new £1.5 million office, is shortlisted for the Law Firm of the Year (16+ partners).

Senior partner, Ian Shovlin, said: “2010 is proving to be an extremely exciting year for the firm. Our move to Waterfront Business Park has created the largest law firm in the Black Country. Now, to be recognised by our peers as one of the best law firms in the region, is the icing on the cake.”

The awards take place on Thursday 25 March 2010 at Birmingham’s ICC.

Higgs opens doors to largest legal practice in the Black Country

This week Higgs & Sons officially opens its doors for business at its new prestigious Waterfront Business Park address.

The leading law firm has already given over 300 of its clients and contacts a sneak preview of the new premises at two high profile launch event evenings.

The move creates the largest legal practice in the Black Country, with 76 lawyers and a further 80 support staff relocating to the new premises in Brierley Hill’s Waterfront.

Higgs has spent the last five months refurbishing the new 30,000 square foot facility to create leading edge headquarters for its growing team and clients. The firm worked closely with fit out specialists Morgan Lovell and designers Grant Thorp on the new building. The deal was one of the largest commercial property transactions of 2009 and was supported by NatWest.

Ian Shovlin, senior partner, said at the official opening of the new building: “In bringing over 150 of our team together under one roof, we can now offer all services, meetings and events from one fantastic location.

“2010 is the 135th anniversary of Higgs & Sons and I can think of no more fitting tribute than to take the firm to the next stage in its development.

“The new facility means that our specialist lawyers can continue to offer clients the very best legal advice but now in a purpose designed building which not only meets our requirements today but also as we grow in the future.

“We now have the premises to match our great team and we look forward to offering a complete service to all our business and private clients at our new home for many years to come.”

Higgs signed a 10 year lease on the new building. The move will bring together Higgs’ team which is based across offices in Brierley Hill and Stourbridge. The firm will keep its presence in Kingswinford to serve the local community.

Picture shows Ian Shovlin, Senior Parter, Higgs & Sons

Wealthy parents could be hit in the pocket after latest court ruling

A recent family court decision could have worrying implications for wealthy parents and those in line to benefit from family trusts, according to a leading family law specialist.

The head of Higgs & Sons’ family department, Philip Barnsley, says the case of SR v CR, where separated parties were unable to reach an agreement on how to split assets valued up to £7.88m could have implications for other family cases.

The couple asserted that these assets were inadequate to maintain a lifestyle of the standard to which they were accustomed, which was costing approximately £1 million annually.

However, the husband was a beneficiary under a number of offshore discretionary trusts with a value of $170m endowed by his father and had received support from these, and from his father, for a number of years.

On appeal, the High Court included the trusts as a resource available to the husband and ordered that the husband pay his wife a total of £6.25m.

Philip Barnsley explained: “The court was persuaded that, given a history of the previous payments to the husband, it was likely that the trustees would exercise their discretion and make further capital available to him.

“The trustees gave evidence that a debt of the husband’s failed property business to the trusts (£1m) would be taken off his apportionment and that he might be provided with rented accommodation and a modest living allowance. Further, the trustees stated that they must have regard to his father's wishes, that he was not prepared to give his son more money and would oppose any distribution to him from the trusts.

“The court found that the husband had a reasonable expectation of further capital advances from the trust in the short to medium term and, as he would expect to receive his share of the trust when his father died, it was therefore a resource which the court should take into account.”

Mr Barnsley concluded: “This case highlights the need for trustees to employ great caution in the manner in which they exercise their discretion under these kinds of trusts.

“However, the husband’s father was no doubt pleased that he had set up the offshore discretionary trusts in the first place, as these did act to protect the principal sums within them from these proceedings.”

To find out more contact Philip Barnsley, partner and head of family law team at Higgs & Sons on 01384 364148 or e-mail philip.barnsley@higgsandsons.co.uk.

Higgs & Sons is one of the largest law firms in the region. The firm has recently announced it is to move its 170-strong team to state of the art new premises at 3 The Waterfront, Brierley Hill.

Notes to editors: full case reference is SR v CR (Ancillary Relief: Family Trusts) [2008] EWHC 2329 (Fam).