Leading Essex Law firm Thompson Smith and Puxon (TSP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Aileen Hirst Ltd and Robert Ashworth Ltd as new partners in the firm from 1 January 2020. Aileen Hirst and Robert Ashworth are both solicitors in the Wills and Estates team and the appointment of their companies as partners in TSP brings the total number to 13.
Aileen and Robert advise clients on their Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Trusts, and Estate Administrations (Probate). In particular, as a qualified member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Aileen has a special interest and expertise in Trusts and, along with team leader, Fiona Ashworth, is the team’s Trust specialist. In 2020, as a director in the team, Aileen will focus on developing and expanding the Trust work that the team undertake. Robert meanwhile has a particular specialism in advising farming and agri-business clients on their succession and estate planning. Robert and Fiona both have strong agricultural family ties and will work together to continue to develop the team’s expertise in this area. In addition Robert will spend part of his working week at our Clacton office and will assist Fiona in growing and developing the Clacton-based team.
TSP Senior Partner, Mary Anne Fedeyko, adds “Since joining us both Aileen and Robert have assisted Wills and Estates team leader, Fiona Ashworth, developing and building the team into the extremely well-regarded and experienced team of 15 that it is today. We have ambitious plans to develop the team further and Aileen and Robert will play a key part in this. They both thoroughly deserve their appointments and, on behalf of the Directors and staff at TSP, I am delighted to welcome Aileen Hirst Ltd and Robert Ashworth Ltd to the partnership. Their collective experience and expertise as Wills and Estates Associate Solicitors has already proved to be a great asset to the firm and I am sure that under the stewardship of Fiona and her newly appointed fellow directors the Wills and Estates team will continue to flourish.”
Aileen added “I am really pleased to become, through my company, a partner in Thompson Smith and Puxon. I am keen to support Fiona and to help her continue to grow the team particularly with the firm’s Trust matters, however, I’m also looking forward to assisting with the on-going development of the firm as whole.”
Robert continues “I echo everything that Aileen has said. In particular, I’m looking forward to helping to promote and expand on the good work that we currently already do in our Clacton office.”
The TSP Wills and Estates team is recommended by the Legal 500 in Essex, and, in the results which were published in September 2019, team leader Fiona Ashworth was highlighted as a Leading Individual and both Aileen and Robert identified as Rising Stars; future leaders of the firm. It is no coincidence therefore that their hard work and commitment has been rewarded with directorships at TSP.
