Notary Public joins Wards Solicitors – one of the New Year key appointments
Wards Solicitors is marking the New Year by adding to the valuable and cost effective services it provides to clients in Bristol and the surrounding area with the appointment of a highly qualified specialist lawyer with an internationally recognised public qualification.
Michael Gupwell, Vice President of the Association of South Western Law Societies and past president of the Bristol Law Society, joins Wards Solicitors as a Notary Public, one of just 800 or so lawyers in England and Wales to hold this position.
Vastly experienced in private and commercial work, his Notary Public role will involve authenticating documents for use abroad, dealing with sometimes baffling overseas legal systems on clients' behalf, and covering everything from foreign estates and property issues to applications to get married in another country as well as international job applications and visas.
Michael, a solicitor advocate, joins as an Associate, and says: "As a Notary Public, I can help explain the often unusual processes involved with overseas documents and will ensure that my clients receive a swift, efficient and helpful service."
As a specialist in defence work including trading standards, health and safety and road traffic matters, he also brings further expertise to Wards Solicitors as it continues to grow and expand to offer the most efficient, responsive and relevant range of legal skills to its clients.
Reflecting this, other new developments demonstrating the diverse range of legal expertise offered by Wards Solicitors include the promotion of four key staff members:
- Helen Boyd, a personal injury and medical negligence specialist with more than 20 years experience, becomes a partner. She is based in the Yate office;
- Geoff Goulding, a chartered legal executive has also become a Partner. Geoff is based in Bradley Stoke and specialises in new homes;
- Alison Lamont, who focuses on Court of Protection, Deputyship and Mental Capacity law and is based in the Bristol office, is promoted to Associate;
- Luke Hewitt, a Nailsea-based residential conveyancing expert, has also been promoted to Associate.
Another new appointment for 2016 confirms the success of the firm's Keynsham office which has gone from strength to strength since opening its doors one year ago. Duane Roystone joins as a second residential conveyancing solicitor.