Thompson Smith and Puxon Appoints New Partner
Leading Essex Law firm Thompson Smith and Puxon (TSP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Fiona M Ashworth Ltd as a new partner in the firm. Fiona Ashworth, the director of Fiona M Ashworth Ltd, has worked at TSP leading the Wills and Estates team since August 2014. This appointment brings the number of partners in this growing firm to ten.
Fiona was born in Colchester and has long-established links with the town. Fiona attended St Mary’s Convent and the Colchester County High School for Girls and more recently, her Father, David Cannon, was Mayor of Colchester in 1998. In 1993 the Cannon family presented two new pairs of wrought iron gates to Colchester Town Hall, made by Fiona’s brother Robert, to thank the town for the opportunities it had given to the Cannon family. Farming is also in her blood as Fiona grew up on a farm and is married to a farmer.
Following her qualification Fiona decided Wills and Estates law was the area in which she wanted to specialise and she has subsequently built up extensive experience in advising clients on their Wills and succession planning, Powers of Attorney (LPAs and the registration of EPAs), the administration of estates, inheritance tax and trust matters. Fiona says “I am a people person. I enjoy dealing with families, helping to sort out their succession planning issues, and often finding a common sense simple way of achieving a balance across the generations. Being able to help people at times which for them are very often upsetting and stressful suits my personality.”
Fiona’s farming background has also helped her to develop an agricultural client base. She is a past Trustee of the Essex Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs and is currently a Council Member of the Essex Agricultural Society.
She is a qualified member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) which provides expert advice on elderly client issues including the provision of Care, and a qualified member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). STEP members help families to plan for their long term financial future, providing expert advice on how to comply with the often complex law and tax rules surrounding trusts, estates and inheritance.
Fiona adds “I am very pleased to be practising in Colchester, a town which is very close to my heart, and am honoured, through my company, to have become a partner in Thompson Smith and Puxon. I look forward to assisting with the future development of the firm which already has an excellent reputation in Colchester and the surrounding areas. Before joining the firm I had aspirations of working for TSP, so becoming a partner in the firm is a great personal achievement and very pleasing.”