News Archives

Tees maintains six Tier 1 teams in Legal 500 rankings

Posted on 2 October 202429 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees Law is pleased to announce success in this year’s Legal 500 directory, with six practice areas ranked as ‘Tier 1’.

The Top Tier ranking has been awarded to:

Private client > Agriculture and estates
Real estate > Commercial property: Essex
Insurance > Personal injury and clinical negligence: claimant
Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx
Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate: Essex
In total, Tees have been ranked in 21 practice areas in the world’s leading directory of law firms.

The firm is delighted to see nine leading partners, five next-generation partners, and eight leading associates recognised in the 2025 list.

Next generation partners

Baljeet Kaur
Daniel Fairs
Ian Johnston
Nicola Havers
Sarah Walker

Leading associates

Sara Stabler
Alex Waples
Ana James-Pittau
Chris Claxton-Shirley
Katherine Jameson
Lucy Beck
Polly Kerr
Sarah White

Senior Partner Catherine Mowat has once again been recognised in the Hall of Fame and commented: “This year’s results highlight the commitment and hard work of our teams at Tees. I am honoured to be named in the Hall of Fame again this year. Thank you to our wonderful clients and referrers for the great feedback provided.”

Group Managing Director Ashton Hunt said: “I am pleased to see Tees recognised in the Legal 500 rankings in another successful year. It’s brilliant to see so many of our practice areas receiving Tier 1 status, along with many Associates being named as leading in their field. Everyone at Tees always works hard to provide the best quality service and I’m truly delighted to see the results.”

Tees Law is a major regional law firm with offices in Bishop’s Stortford, Cambridge, Royston, Saffron Walden, Brentwood and Chelmsford. As part of the local community for over 100 years, Tees continues to support clients from generation to generation.

Tees Wealth Academy celebrates first graduates

Posted on 18 September 202429 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees Financial is thrilled to announce the successful graduation of the first cohort of its innovative Wealth Academy.

Guy Pearson and Percy Sam have distinguished themselves as the first graduates of the Tees Wealth Academy. They successfully completed the rigorous two-year programme and earned the title of qualified Wealth Advisers. Their dedication, hard work, and commitment have made them invaluable additions to the Tees Financial team.

Launched in 2022, this initiative aims to develop the next generation of financial advisers. Through training and mentorship, the Academy provides the knowledge, skills, and framework necessary to progress in the financial services industry.

Throughout their time in the Academy, Guy and Percy demonstrated a deep understanding of financial planning principles and a passion for helping clients achieve their financial goals. Their ability to analyse complex financial situations and provide tailored advice has earned them the respect of their peers and clients.

Percy and Guy were drawn to the Academy’s structured approach, which offers a clear pathway to becoming a qualified financial adviser. They appreciate the support and resources provided by Tees Financial and the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals.

Meet the Pair

Guy Pearson, a former personal trainer, has a passion for helping others and can see a lot of similarities between fitness and wealth, commenting, “both are about assessing someone’s current situation, finding out where they want to be and planning how they will get there.”

Percy Sam, one of the Academy’s inaugural participants, brings a fresh perspective from his background in industrial design. Self-proclaimed “people person” Percy prides himself on his strong interpersonal skills, believing making the effort to get to know your clients is important in securing outcomes.

Tees Financial is proud to have Guy and Percy as part of its team of talented Wealth Advisers. Their expertise and commitment to excellence will undoubtedly contribute to the continued success of the firm.

To learn more about Guy and Percy, please visit their profiles:

James Appleby, Managing Director of Tees Financial, expressed his pride and excitement, stating, “Guy and Percy’s dedication and hard work throughout the Academy have been exemplary. The Tees Wealth Academy was established to nurture the next generation of financial advisers, and these graduates perfectly embody the qualities we seek. We are confident in their ability to provide exceptional financial guidance to our clients and look forward to watching their careers flourish.”

Additional benefits of joining the Academy include:

Competitive compensation and benefits
Opportunities for career advancement within Tees Financial
A supportive and inclusive work environment
The chance to make a positive impact on people’s lives

If you are passionate about financial planning and interested in a rewarding career, the Academy at Tees Financial Limited offers an exceptional opportunity.

To learn more call us on 0800 013 1165

Tees Law welcomes new Non-Executive Chair

Posted on 12 September 202429 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Today, Tees Law announces the appointment of Nicola Downing as Non-Executive Chair of the Trust Tees Ltd Board, effective October 2024.

Nicola joins Tees Law as Chair of the Trust Tees Ltd Board to offer leadership and strategic guidance, aiding the firm’s future growth goals. Nicola will continue her role as the CEO of Ricoh Europe, overseeing the digital services firm’s operations in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), with a revenue of around €3.5bn and 15,000 employees.

Nicola has occupied several key commercial roles at Ricoh, including CFO, COO, and is presently CEO. Her career began as a solicitor at a London firm, followed by positions at Tesco, ultimately advancing to the role of General Counsel at Ricoh Europe. With her extensive experience and a proven track record of success in service industries, Nicola will play an invaluable role in driving Tees’ growth and ensuring exceptional client service.

Nicola replaces Catherine Spitzer, who will be stepping down from the role after two years as Chair of Trust Tees Ltd Board to take on a new role as CEO of The Environment Bank. Catherine has been the first Non-Executive Chair of the Trust Tees Ltd Board and has played a key role in shaping the 2028 strategy and overseeing the early stages of implementing its growth plans. Catherine will continue to be an important referrer of work into Tees.

Managing Director Ashton Hunt, said: “On behalf of everyone, I would firstly like to thank Catherine for her contribution and energy and the fresh ideas that she has brought to the business over the past two years.

We are thrilled to welcome Nicola to Tees. Nicola was attracted to Tees because of our reputation and track record of delivering on our strategic goals. Ricoh has been on a transformation journey to diversify and grow for many years and Nicola is well placed to help us do the same. With our ambitious strategy for 2028, she is excited to be joining Tees at such an important time in the development of the business.”

Nicola Downing commented: “Tees has a strong reputation for delivering exceptional client service and I look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued success. I am excited to continue Catherine’s work to drive sustainable growth, ensuring we continue to meet the evolving needs of clients.”

Nicola is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 5 Live’s flagship ‘Wake Up to Money’ programme where she discusses a diverse range of business news and topics including, workplace regulations and employee wellbeing.

Celebrating Excellence: Tees’ Women in Finance Shortlisted for Top Awards

Posted on 29 July 202429 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Three out of six leading ladies in our Wealth team who were nominated for awards have been shortlisted in the final of the Women In Financial Advice 2024 Awards.

This year, Tees Financial Limited had six women from our Wealth team nominated for the prestigious awards.

The nominees were as follows:

Cailin Lehmann, Financial Services Manager

Cara Lambert, Senior Wealth Planner

Emma Fisk, Senior Financial Planning Administrator

Laura Blyth, Wealth Planner

Megan Johns, Trainee Financial Adviser

Toni Chalmers-Smith, Wealth Specialist

Cailin, Laura and Toni have now been announced as being shortlisted to the finals.

This is the second time in a row that Laura Blyth has reached the final stages, whilst Toni Chalmers-Smith has been a finalist for four years in a row. Previously, Cara Lambert was shortlisted as a finalist for two years.

Additionally, Toni Chalmers-Smith has reached the finals for Later Life Adviser of the Year in The Women’s Recognition Awards 2024.

Toni Chalmers-Smith, said: “This is a great achievement for me to reach the finals of two separate awards, but more importantly, this is a big achievement for the team.

I think the nominated and shortlisted candidates are all brilliant. It really shows the high level of work the ladies in our team undertake and the high quality of that work, too.

I’m proud of us all, and fingers crossed for the win!”

The Later Life Adviser award will announce its winner on Tuesday, 22 October, whilst the award ceremony for the Women In Financial Advice will be held on Wednesday, 6 November, both in London.

These awards are not about men versus womenor whether a particular gender is more suited to a career or role in financial services – they are simply about celebrating and recognising the achievements of women in a sector where they continue to be under-represented.

Good luck to our wonderful women in finance!

Tees hands out Responsible Employer of the Year award

Posted on 1 July 202429 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees sponsored a brand-new award for 2024 at the Eastern Echo Awards in Cambridge last week. Now in the third year, the awards took place on Wednesday 26 June to celebrate the East of England’s property industry.

The beautiful weather on the night meant the open space at Homerton College before the awards ceremony was fully utilised, with many people able to network and enjoy a drink. The black-tie event was attended by leaders from across the property sector and country, with our Commercial Property team coming together to present their award.

Partner and head of Commercial Property in Cambridge, Sarah Coates, said:

“It was a hugely enjoyable evening in a beautiful setting. The strength and depth of the projects and people nominated let alone the winners highlights the prowess of the Eastern region.”

The Eastern Echo Awards is targeted at projects, people, and places across the East of England and was judged by a panel with extensive experience and knowledge. The panel covered a range of property sectors, including office, industrial, retail, life science, and residential.

New for 2024, the award for Responsible Employer of the Year was sponsored by Tees, and organisers were asked to hear from a company, consultant, or project team that could demonstrate how successful it has been in delivering a responsible business strategy. Measurables were to include how businesses incorporated innovation, adoption of social responsibility, engagement in the local community, approach to the environment and governance or feedback from clients or a supply chain on the approach taken to do responsible business.

Tees was very pleased to hand the Responsible Employer of the Year award to Saunders Boston Architects.

Tees to sponsor new award at Eastern Echo Awards

Posted on 13 May 202429 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees Law is set to sponsor a brand-new award for Responsible Employer of the Year at the Eastern Echo Awards. Now in their third year, the awards will take place on the evening of Wednesday, 26 June, in Cambridge to celebrate the best of the East of England’s property industry.

The black-tie event will be attended by leaders from across the property sector and country, with our very own Commercial Property team due to attend to present the new award.

Tees is a top-tier Legal 500 commercial property firm. Our clients include national and international investors, trusts and pension funds, national retailers, trading companies, local authorities, private and public healthcare providers, schools, and colleges. Tees is also a national panel member of the NFU (covering Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk) – one of only 16 law firms on the panel. This is a recognition of the outstanding quality of our service and expert knowledge of both agricultural law and a broad range of legal services for families and businesses.

Partner and head of Commercial Property in Cambridge, Sarah Coates, said: “Responsible business strategy is at the heart of Tees Law and in one of the most unequal cities in the UK, where there is still so much focus on the need for growth and development, it is essential that this remains the case. Tees Law is proud to be sponsoring this award and give others a platform to showcase their efforts to ensure “good growth” in the city.”

New for 2024, the award for Responsible Employer of the Year is being sponsored by Tees and organisers asked to hear from a company/consultant/project team that can demonstrate how successful it has been in delivering a responsible business strategy. Measurables were to include how businesses incorporated innovation, adoption of social responsibility, engagement in the local community, approach to the environment and governance or feedback from clients or a supply chain on the approach taken to do responsible business.

Excitingly, the shortlisted teams and individuals have now been announced following submissions from leading professionals.

(Responsible) Employer of the Year (sponsored by Tees)

Gen Two Real Estate
KMC Transport Planning
Lanpro Services
RG Carter
Saunders Boston Architects

The Eastern Echo Awards is targeted at projects, people, and places across the East of England and will be judged by a panel with extensive experience and knowledge. The panel covers a range of property sectors, including office, industrial, retail, life science, and residential.

The design of the awards itself is responsible, considering the need to reduce carbon footprint. The event’s location is deliberately near public transport, and digital ticketing is implemented to limit the use of paper.

Managing Director Matthew Battle at the UK Property Forums, who is organising this event, said: “The quality and range of projects submitted this year have been truly impressive, and we have easily exceeded last year’s total of entrants. This has ensured that the judges had their work cut out.

“The competition is very strong. Entries have come from all corners of the East for the 12 awards which will be up for grabs at a black-tie awards night dinner on 26 June at Homerton College, Cambridge.

“One notable feature of this year’s submissions is the wide-ranging geographical locations many have come from, including Stevenage, Welwyn, Norwich, Peterborough and Cambridge.”

All shortlisted businesses and projects can be viewed online: https://ukpropertyforums.com/shortlist-unveiled-for-eastern-echo-awards/

The judges have been busy looking at submissions that cover the 12 months of 2023 and have organised site visits to assess progress. We look forward to attending Homerton College in Cambridge in June to see who is awarded on the night and network with fellow commercial property professionals.

Tees Better Future Fund Grants £5,000 to New Meaning Foundation’s Transformative Work

Posted on 27 March 202429 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

The Tees Better Future Fund proudly announces its recent grant of £5,000 to the New Meaning Foundation (NMF), based in Cambridgeshire. This grant marks the second funding round, and NMF is among the four community projects selected to receive support.

Founded in 2012, the New Meaning Foundation focuses on ‘building strengths, building futures, and building lives.’ NMF provides patient, person-centred vocational and educational training for individuals aged 14 and above. What sets them apart is their commitment to working with those who may not fit into traditional educational structures due to neurodivergence, learning disabilities, mental health issues, or other adversities.

NMF’s innovative approach includes offering on-the-job construction skills training for their learners by building modular homes to rehouse homeless people. NMF offers courses in plumbing and carpentry, creating opportunities for individuals to gain meaningful employment.

The Tees Better Future Fund grant of £5,000 will specifically support the plumbing courses by providing funds for specialist plumbing tools and equipment. This includes blow torches, pressure testing systems, and essential plumbing techniques. The grant ensures that learners receive the best training experience, matching or exceeding that of a traditional college environment.

“The people we work with have a tough time lifting themselves out of hardship. We are delighted to have been awarded this grant. It is going to have a direct impact on supporting four trainees to build their skills and resilience to lift their trajectory and achieve better long-term outcomes.” says John Evans, CEO of New Meaning Foundation.

The grant will facilitate the purchase of sufficient tools and equipment to enable learners to undertake tasks individually or in small groups, promoting effective peer-to-peer learning. This approach is particularly beneficial for young, underconfident, or anxious learners, fostering confidence and self-esteem.

The plumbing course curriculum includes a comprehensive range of topics, from health and safety specific to plumbing work to practical construction skills and personal well-being in construction. The grant-supported carpentry and joinery course covers live build work experience, teamwork, health and safety, sustainability, and the use of portable power tools.

“This grant serves as a transformative key, unlocking access to high-quality training and essential tools for New Meaning Foundation’s resilient learners who have overcome diverse challenges. It propels them towards a future filled with success and achievement,” underscores Sally Powell, Co-Chair of the Tees Better Future Fund.

New Meaning Foundation’s unique offering includes work experience on live modular build and home refurbishment projects. The positive impact of this grant extends beyond skills development. It provides a chance for learners to give back to society through construction, benefiting both the community and the trainees themselves. The routine established through regular attendance and the joy of studying something they enjoy will prepare learners for future employment.

New Meaning Foundation expresses gratitude to the Tees Better Future Fund for their generous support. This grant will not only enhance the learning experience for current trainees but also pave the way for more individuals to embark on a positive path in life.

Empowering excellence: Helen Midgley joins the partnership at Tees

Posted on 23 March 202429 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees is proud to announce the appointment of a new Partner within the Families and Divorce team. Helen Midgley, who becomes a Partner in April, has shown a remarkable talent and commitment to providing exceptional legal services.

Helen began her legal career with Tees in 2013 by completing the week-long summer vacation scheme at Tees and joined the firm later that year as a trainee Solicitor. Her appointment from newly qualified to Partner in less than a decade is a tribute to her dedication and expertise.

Helen is passionate about nurturing the next generation of legal talent: she now manages Tees’ vacation scheme and is actively involved in selecting all new trainee Solicitors. Her legal practice spans a wide range of family cases including divorce proceedings, financial settlements, child arrangements and cohabitation disputes. Her untiring support for clients makes her an invaluable part of the Families and Divorce team and the wider firm.

In addition to her exceptional legal skills and her considerable empathy with clients, Helen is an experienced Family Mediator, shortly to complete accreditation, which brings a unique perspective to the team. Helen also advises couples on a joint basis, adopting the innovative Resolution Together approach (one couple, one lawyer), to reduce unnecessary conflict in separating families.

Helen commented: “Tees’ key values include empathy, collaboration and straightforwardness and I have strongly identified with these ever since I joined the firm. I am very proud to have been invited to join the Partnership in such a short time and I hope that this will encourage enthusiastic individuals to consider a career with Tees.

I look forward to working with my Families and Divorce team colleagues to continue delivering an excellent client experience and, particularly, to develop our Non-Court Dispute Resolution Services, to offer sympathetic and constructive alternatives to court as a way of settling family disputes.”

Senior Partner, Catherine Mowat comments: “I am delighted to see Helen join the Partnership. She has firmly established herself in the Bishop’s Stortford and wider business community and brings a wealth of experience, becoming a trusted adviser to many clients.

We are proud to continually support career progression at Tees and Helen very much deserves her new position. She joins the Partnership at an exciting time as we continue to grow and develop our business whilst keeping the delivery of exceptional service to our clients at the heart of everything we do. I look forward to seeing Helen’s further achievements in the years ahead.”

Helen Midgley’s appointment signifies Tees’ ongoing commitment to recognising and elevating talent within the firm and continuing to deliver the highest standards of legal services to our clients.

Tees has also announced nine senior staff promotions across the firm: six to Senior Associate and three to Associate.

2024 Promotions:

Partner

Helen Midgley, Families and Divorce

Senior Associate

Catherine Banks, Residential Property
Frances Gill, Private Client
Isobel Foenander, Medical Negligence
Rachel Benton, Medical Negligence
Jason Torrance, Dispute Resolution and Litigation
Lisa Honey, Families and Divorce

Associate

Andrew Harrison, Commercial Property
Chantae Clark, Medical Negligence
Sophie Stuart, Medical Negligence

Tees celebrates collaborative initiative Breaking Down Barriers to Law

Posted on 1 March 202429 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

In a groundbreaking move towards fostering social mobility in the legal sector, Tees proudly announces its active participation in the first phase of the Breaking Down Barriers to Law initiative, unveiled at the parliamentary launch in February 2024.

The Breaking Down Barriers to Law: Phase 1 report, is a product of collaborative efforts by the Purpose Coalition and a consortium of leading law firms and signifies the initial stage of a comprehensive action plan to enhance social mobility within the industry. This strategic approach focuses on four critical areas: outreach, access, recruitment, and progression, addressing challenges faced by individuals from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds. Tees, alongside other leading firms, delved into these focus areas during roundtable workshops, exploring challenges and sharing effective measures implemented to overcome them.

Highlighting best practices from around the country, participating law firms, including Tees, have showcased initiatives such as outreach activities to primary and secondary schools and name-blind recruitment practices. These efforts collectively contribute to dismantling barriers and providing a more equitable playing field for all aspiring legal professionals.

The collaborative discussions have resulted in a set of recommendations for both short and long-term actions. Short-term goals include establishing outreach links with educational institutions in social mobility cold spots and implementing data collection mechanisms to ensure fair progression at all levels. Long-term recommendations encompass the development of a collective social media campaign demystifying the legal sector and providing additional support resources for apprentices, trainees, and paralegals.

Hannah Burling, Director of People, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “Being part of Breaking Down Barriers to Law is an incredible opportunity for us to make a tangible impact on social mobility in the legal sector. We are committed to creating pathways for individuals from diverse backgrounds to thrive and succeed in the legal profession.”

Ashton Hunt, Group Managing Director at Tees, added, “This collaborative effort exemplifies our commitment to positive change. We believe that a more inclusive legal sector benefits everyone, and we are eager to contribute to the ongoing success of this initiative.”

The Right Honourable Justine Greening expressed pride in the Breaking Down Barriers to Law Taskforce, emphasising the impactful collaboration among participating firms. Acknowledging the challenges faced by the legal sector in addressing social mobility, she commended the dedication to positive change and highlighted the significance of continued collaboration and partnership.

Chair of the Breaking Down Barriers Commission, Nick Forbes CBE, noted the positive impact of partnership efforts in the Breaking Down Barriers to Law project. Forbes recently highlighted the laser-like focus on essential elements crucial for creating inclusive career pathways, encouraging other legal sector entities to consider similar steps for fostering equality of opportunity.

Tees solicitors celebrate Agricultural Law Association fellowships

Posted on 22 February 202429 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Two of Tees’ Agricultural team Alexander Waples and Chris Claxton-Shirley have recently achieved Fellowship of the Agricultural Law Association (ALA).

The Agricultural Law Association is the UK’s largest inter-professional organisation devoted to the law and business of the countryside.

The course included topics such as property, tax, regulatory issues, and important legal issues that affect farmers and rural business across England and Wales. Gaining Fellowship status is the highest qualification possible.

Alexander Waples in the commercial and agricultural property team, having worked with Tees since 2015. He acts for a wide range of landowning clients, including individuals, partnerships, corporate entities as well as landed estates. Alexander is also a key part of the Tees’ renewable energy team.

Chris Claxton-Shirley, in the Private Client team, advises on a range of issues from succession and tax planning to the administration of estates.

Partner Letty Glaister, who heads up the Agriculture Team, said; “This is great recognition of Tees’ dedication to the agriculture legal sector and ensuring our experts have the in-depth knowledge needed to advise our rural clients.

“The agricultural community is an integral part of our firm and having solicitors with the Fellowship title shows we are constantly investing in learning so that we can provide the high-quality service our clients expect.”

Membership of the ALA is open to anyone training or qualified in the advisory professions and to others with an interest in the subject. The ALA exists to promote the understanding and development of the law and practice in agriculture, environment, food, and related issues and to provide a forum for professionals serving those sectors – lawyers, surveyors, accountants, bankers, farm business consultants and others – to support each other in their specialisms.