The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 36: April/May 2018 | Page 10

LEGAL LEGAL TEAM EXPANDS AT SWINDON PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRM Solicitor Alison Griffiths has joined the growing legal team at Swindon’s Optimum Professional Services to head up the wills and probate division. The team at the Windmill Hill-based company is now six-strong, with plans to expand further. Alison will be supported with wills and probate by Sue Williams. The legal team also specialise in property law, with Vivienne Hayward heading up this division, assisted by Karen Gleed. Dean Webb supports both divisions with accountancy. Mary Hoffman, Director of Legal Services at Optimum, said Alison was a great addition to the team, strengthening the wills and probate offering, which also includes lasting powers of attorney, inheritance tax planning, elderly client law, trusts and court of protection work. “This is a very fast growing area of our business and we are delighted to take on Alison to head up the service,” said Mary. 10 THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2018 “She has extensive experience in wills and probate and is a great asset to the Optimum team.” Alison qualified as a solicitor and early on in her career gravitated towards wills and probate, an area she has specialised in for 14 years. She worked at a number of firms as a locum before joining the Optimum team. Alison is joining Solicitors for the Elderly, which is an independent, national organisation of lawyers who provide specialist legal advice for older and vulnerable people, their families and carers. She is also training to be a dementia friend with the Alzheimer’s Society. She said: “I am very excited to have joined the team at Optimum. We are looking to expand the wills and probate work we do, and there is clearly a need in the region. I particularly enjoy working with elderly people and their families, so we hope to develop this area of our work.” With two specialist areas – wills and probate, and property law – Optimum is distinct from generalist legal practices. Together, the team have decades of experience, and support many business clients with commercial property law, including landlord and tenant, contract, land and conveyancing. The legal team make up just one half of Optimum Professional Services. The accountancy side, offering accounting services to people, businesses and families, is also growing. Headed up by CEO Richard Mathews, the team are overseen by accounts directors Jon Lacey and Michael Blaken. A new payroll department is also being introduced. 01793 538198 [email protected] For more info: www.optps.co.uk