Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

The team at Redkite Solicitors has chalked up a Magnificent Ten in the busy world of Family Law with the firm’s Family Team being awarded an impressive ten accreditations from various organisations. “We strive for continual professional development at Redkite as we always want to be in the position of offering our customers dedicated, expert advice,” said Neil Walker, Chief Executive of Redkite. “Many members of Redkite Solicitors are recognised in Wales as leaders in their specialist fields. Family Law is a very complicated and sensitive field and it is good to know that we have people who can deal with issues professionally and sympathetically and help resolve issues quickly for all concerned.” The accreditations are held by:- · Catrin Griffiths, Solicitor, Partner and Head of Redkite’s Family Law Team who is accredited by the Law Society’s Advanced Family Law Panel and is one of a select few local Resolution Approved Collaborative Lawyers; · Simon Goddard, Solicitor based in Redkite...

This the latest Employment Law update from Hannah Dahill, Head of Employment Law at Red Kite solicitors -  Shared parental leave The shared parental leave (SPL) regulations means that anyone who is due to give birth or adopt from 5 April is entitled to split their “maternity leave” with their partner. Except for the immediate 2 weeks that a mother has to take off, the remaining 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of paid statutory leave can be shared between the parents. Unfortunately, the new regulations are infuriatingly complex and there are question marks of the likely take up for fathers. Click here to read more.   Dismissal for offensive, non-work-related personal tweets The Employment Appeal Tribunal has recently decided that an employment judge failed to take full account of the public nature of Twitter when finding that an employee's dismissal for posting offensive tweets was unfair. The judge did not properly consider whether the employee's alleged private use ...

Red Kite Law is going from strength to strength as the partners implement the new strategy announced earlier this year. As the leading local firm in West Wales, the partners aimed to invest in improved management and are delighted to announce two significant new recruits: Neil Walker and Simon Campbell-Davies. Neil has joined from Cooperative Legal Services – one of the big brands tipped to revolutionise the way that people buy legal advice. He is now Red Kite Law’s chief operating officer and finance director. Simon is the new head of marketing and business development and joins the firm from Hugh James in Cardiff. Red Kite Law partner David Sangster said he was delighted to welcome Neil and Simon to the firm. “We are a go-ahead legal firm operating in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and now further afield in Chepstow, Monmouthshire. “We have a strong local brand, a fantastic team of solicitors and long-lasting relationships with our clients who like us because we are local, ...

The Red Kite name will once again be flying high in Welsh legal circles “Quality is still the watchword here at Red Kite,” said partner David Sangster,“as our recent Lexcel reaccreditation shows. “And from February 6, we will be trading again as Red Kite Law - a strong, local, Welsh brand and one that resonates in the communities we live and work in. Our research shows that our clients value great service from a local firm rather than a national brand.” "We have a fantastic team of solicitors and long-lasting relationships with our clients who like us because we are local, we are good lawyers and we do a great job for them.” Mr Sangster added: “So far the feedback from clients has been very positive. But the name of the firm just isn’t the most important thing for them. It’s what we do for our clients here in Wales that matters. “Our plans for this year will build on what we already have: a forward-thinking Welsh firm that delivers good quality legal advice to local people ...

The leading law firm in West Wales, QualitySolicitors Redkite, has received a whole host of recommendations in the Legal 500 guide to experts. Redkite partner David Sangster (pictured) said: “Legal 500 is THE guidebook and internet site when it comes to checking benchmarks for quality legal services. “The team at Redkite is delighted to see the names of our legal experts scattered so liberally throughout the guide. It is a real feather in the cap for the quality of services we provide here at the biggest law firm in West Wales.” In the Legal 500 Wales overview, the publication says, ‘Redkite . . . continues its expansion in West Wales . . . and has had notable success in winning work from major energy clients.’ There are recommendations for Redkite team members in a number of legal sectors – Human resources, Employment – ‘Donna Purchase heads the strongest employment team in West Wales. Its excellent client base includes Milford Haven Port Authority and Murco Oil Refinery, along...

The go-ahead firm of QualitySolicitors Redkite has recruited two new members of staff to the firm’s Carmarthen office. Simon Goddard and Natalie Morgans have joined QS Redkite from Andrew Markham solicitors. QS Redkite Managing Partner Luke Smith said: “Both Simon and Natalie have extensive experience in family work in the legal sector and we welcome them on board.” Simon Goddard, 56, is originally from Sussex but now lives in Llanwrda in the Tywi Valley. Married with two children, Simon studied at The College of Law in London and qualified as a solicitor in 1998. Simon is on the Law Society’s Children Panel and specialises in acting for parents and guardians in care proceedings. He is also an Accredited Specialist of Resolution and an Advanced Member of the Law Society Family Law Panel. Natalie Morgans has joined QS Redkite as a legal assistant. Originally from London, she moved to Brynamman as a child. She is married and continues to live in Brynamman. Natalie, 35, was educated ...

The welcome mat will be out for West Wales solicitors attending a seminar at Clay Shaw Butler on Thursday (October 18). The continued professional development seminar for solicitors will take place in the boardroom at Clay Shaw Butler's HQ in Lammas Street, Carmarthen. Paul Jones, Senior Associate Adviser with CPM21, will be in the chair for the event, which will focus on compliance issues following recent Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) changes. CPM21 specialise in 21st century professional management for lawyers -  http://www.cpm21.co.uk/ There's more info on the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) on their website -  http://www.sra.org.uk/home/home.page

Lowri Davies, a legal assistant at the Cleddau Bridge offices of QualitySolicitors Redkite, has successfully completed her Level 6 CILEx Certificate in the Practice of Employment Law.  QS Redkite Managing Partner Luke Smith congratulated Lowri on her achievement and added: “We work very hard here to make sure all our staff are given every chance to fulfil their potential. “Qualification successes such as Lowri’s show that we are constantly working to improve the quality of service we are able to offer our customers.” Lowri is a legal assistant supporting the employment and HR department at QualitySolicitors Redkite. She assists in preparing contracts, handbooks and compromise agreements. She graduated with an honours degree from the University of the West of England, Bristol and has also achieved her ILEX Level 3 Certificate in Employment Law and Practice. CILEx is the professional association for Chartered Legal Executive lawyers and other members of CILEx. It regulat...

Staff at West Wales solicitors Hains and Lewis are getting on their bikes in aid of three charities. The solicitors, based at Haverfordwest, Carmarthen and Narberth, will be organising a charity bike ride on Sunday, September 30. The event is being organised by Angela Killa, senior assistant solicitor at Carmarthen. It will raise funds for Women’s Aid, Ty Hapus and Brain Tumour UK. To register your interest in the bike ride, or to find out more, you can contact Angela Killa on 0845 4080125 or email – angela.killa@hainsandlewis.co.uk The three causes: Women’s Aid Women’s Aid inWest Wales assists victims of domestic violence. They undertake a great deal of work in the Carmarthenshire area and the money raised will help the Carmarthen, Ammanford and Llanelli offices. Ty Hapus Carmarthen-based organisation that provides support and practical assistance to single fathers. Brain Tumour UK This is a national charity providing support to families affected by the dignosis of a brain tumour. Th...

QualitySolicitors Redkite, the biggest law firm in West Wales, has announced two new promotions.  Solicitors Lucy Morris and Dymphna Powell have both been made ‘Associates’ with the firm. Managing Partner Luke Smith said he was delighted to announce the promotions. “We are a growing West Wales business keen to encourage and develop all our staff to fulfil their potential. The promotions to ‘Associate’ level are well deserved for Lucy and Dymphna.” About Lucy Morris  Lucy is a solicitor specialising in all aspects of commercial property transactions, including leases, sales and purchases of business premises, agricultural matters, mortgages and guarantees. She also has broad experience in commercial and business affairs and in employment law. She acts on behalf of a wide variety of clients, including sole traders, partnerships, limited liability partnerships and limited companies. She joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in 2006 after studying at Cardiff University an...

Staff at West Wales solicitors Hains and Lewis are getting on their bikes in aid of three charities. The solicitors, based at Haverfordwest, Carmarthen and Narberth, will be organising a charity bike ride on Sunday, September 16. The event is being organised by Angela Killa, senior assistant solicitor at Carmarthen. It will raise funds for Women’s Aid, Ty Hapus and Brain Tumour UK. Angela said: “We are in the early stages of organising the ride, but the intention is to raise money for three very worthwhile charities. “In addition, in the build-up to the event, we are hoping to organise a competition for local schoolchildren to get involved with designing a poster, a logo and a webpage for the ride. “The ride will be open to the public and we’d like as many people as possible to get involved. “As a local firm of solicitors, we recognise the importance of supporting good causes, so, hopefully, we can do a lot of good with the money raised. “The bike ride route and the distance inolved is...