Sheffield firm wins Private Client Award

3rd October 2006

One of the longest established law firms in Sheffield, Bell & Buxton solicitors showed their continuing strength by winning the 2006 Yorkshire Lawyer Awards Private Client Category.

Mary Butler, senior partner at the firm won the award in recognition of the strength and quality of service to private clients through Bell & Buxton’s Wills & Probate department, and particularly as a result of Mary’s recognised expertise and success in handling the most difficult complex ‘contentious probate cases’ where disputes arise during the administration of a deceased persons estate. Mary also specialises in handling cases involving financial abuse of the elderly, acting to retrieve properties or monies misappropriated from elderly people. As an appointed Panel receiver to the Court of Protection, she also works to protect the interests of people who have become mentally incapable and oversee their affairs in the event of no suitable person being identified to do so.

Examples of cases include:

• She was referred the case of a murder victim whose house had been fraudulently transferred to a family member by a forged signature. Once the house had been restored to the estate the beneficiaries had to be identified which was very complex and involved consideration, amongst other things, of the case of Dr. Crippen.
• Mary was successful in tendering for instructions from a public authority to apply for a rare form of Creditor’s Grant to enable two properties to be realised more than 15 years after their owner’s death. Consequently large sums owing to the authority were eventually repaid and the family also received a distribution.
• Upon taking instructions in a large estate she discovered that tax planning arrangements by a Bank had been defective with the result that there was an additional tax bill of £300,000. The bank had already agreed to indemnify £250,000 but Mary noticed two other potential causes of action. After complicated and detailed technical argument the bank capitulated and settled the additional claims at virtually full value together with costs.

In addition to expertise and success in a particular field, the award also recognised a demonstrable dedication to clients and a broader contribution to the community.

The award ceremony took place on 4th October at Rudding Park, Harrogate with Alex Ross, partner at Bell & Buxton proudly collecting the trophy from the TV presenter Gaynor Barnes.

It is a tremendous achievement for the firm as the awards are judged throughout the Yorkshire region to win this prestigious title.

Mary Butler, Senior Partner at Bell & Buxton said: “This is a remarkable privilege and a testimony to the hard work of all our staff. We are dedicated to our work and set high standards of service but it is very satisfying to firstly be nominated for an award and then to get this approval from the judging panel that we are doing a good job.”

“Private Client Award criteria”

• For those who do legal work for private clients in private practices
• Demonstrable achievement in your area of practice and the capacity in which you were involved
• Demonstrable dedication to your clients
• Stand out from colleagues as a lawyer who has made a significant impact, taking into account notable obstacles that you have overcome
• Demonstrable appreciation/recognition of your work by clients/colleagues
• Non-fee earning, but work related activities – such as marketing, establishing new initiatives and broader contribution to the profession
• Contribution to the community including pro-bono work

For more information on the Awards see www.yorkshirelawyerawards.co.uk

For more information contact Mary Butler at Bell & Buxton, Telegraph House, High Street, Sheffield, S1 2GA. Tel: 0114 2495969

email m.butler@bellbuxton.co.uk