Pictured: Lisa Whitehouse (right) has joined the Halesowen
office of law firm Challinors working alongside Richard Price
(left) who has been practising in the town for forty years
Specialist Wills, Trust and Probate solicitor Lisa Whitehouse,
has moved to the Halesowen practice of Midlands law firm
Challinors, to enhance the specialist service on offer in the
town.
Lisa moves to Challinors White & Billingham - created when
Challinors acquired White & Billingham, Halesowen's largest
single site law practice, in August 2009 - from Challinors'
Birmingham office.
Her move sees Halesowen become not only her professional base
but also her new home, as Lisa has recently bought a house in the
area.
A member of the Wills, Trust and Probate team of Challinors,
headed by Partner Fiona Debney, Lisa joins the practice to enhance
the specialist services provided by Consultant Richard Price, who
has been practising in Halesowen for forty years, as well as bring
her area of legal expertise to the local community. She
explains:
"My specialism lies in working with clients on matters including
Wills, Trusts, Probate, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of
Protection cases. In the short term I will draw on Richard's
extensive experience and local knowledge, as well as deliver
additional legal support to the Halesowen community and its
surrounding areas."
Richard Price adds: "Lisa represents a very strong addition to
the firm's Halesowen practice, strengthening the team with her
specialist knowledge and expertise of wills, trusts and probate
matters in particular. This legal excellence is combined with
excellent client service skills and an understanding of the needs
and activities of the local community."
Lisa adds: "As finances become increasingly tight for the
majority of households in the current economic climate, the
importance of the creation of vital documentation such as a Will
and Lasting Powers of Attorney are overlooked. However, it is
important to understand the implications of not having them in
place and in the long run it could cost a family far more. For
example to die without a Will so often leads to uncertainty and a
trail of misery, potential conflict and avoidable tax bills. If you
are unmarried and cohabiting without a Will, the other person has
no automatic right in law to inherit what you own.
"Similarly, the recent case of former ballet dancer Elaine
McDonald and her request for overnight care assistance triggered a
mix of highly charged reactions amongst lawyers and charities for
the old and infirm, but in particular underlined the importance of
foresight and planning for old age or illness, which can be
addressed through the creation of a Lasting Power of Attorney.
"By being based locally and at the heart of Halesowen's
community and town centre, Challinors White & Billingham is
well placed to offer the type of legal advice and support that the
area needs for all these highly personal but very important
issues."
As well as Challinors White & Billingham in Halesowen,
Challinors has offices in Birmingham, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton,
and Nottingham. It has17 partners and over 100 fee earners, and is
ranked as one of the top legal firms in the West Midlands. The
firm's Crime and Family Law teams received top tier, Band 1 ranking
in the 2010 and 2011 editions of the Legal 500 Directory and is
ranked in Band 2 of the Chambers UK Directory. The firm is Number 1
in the Chambers UK Directory in Crime and Clinical Negligence
categories.