Member Article

Law firm hires former bomb disposal expert

A former bomb disposal expert will now be defusing civil disputes in his role at a leading Yorkshire law firm, which is opening a new office in a busy market town.

Michael (or Mingus as he is better known) Menzies Baird is heading up the new office being opened by Cole Solicitors at 22 Lairgate, Beverley, East Yorkshire.

This will be Cole’s 9th office in Yorkshire and it strengthens the company’s presence in the east of the county, having recently also acquired an office in nearby Market Weighton.

Mingus, who was a bomb disposal technician for most of his 14 years before retraining as a solicitor, says he is delighted to be joining the company.

“When I was asked to become part of the team at Coles and head up their new office I had no hesitation in saying yes because it is such a highly respected company,” he said.

“We will be the only law firm with an office in the centre of Beverley and with the town expanding at a rapid rate it represents a fantastic opportunity for the company.”

Peter Gibson, Managing Director of Cole Solicitors, said: “We are thrilled to be opening a new office in the lovely market town of Beverley.

“The new office, along with another we acquired recently in Market Weighton, is a strategic location for us, enabling us to extend our reach into East Yorkshire.

“Having someone of Mingus’ stature and experience heading up the office will provide invaluable as he is local to the area and has extensive contacts. He is an excellent addition to the staff team at Coles and will play an important part in the ongoing growth of the company.”

From the new office Mingus will provide a full range of legal services, including residential conveyancing, divorce and meditation, personal injury claims, civil litigation and employment matters and wills and probate.

During his career in the Royal Engineer, Mingus travelled the world serving in countries as far flung as the Falklands, Afghanistan, Belize and Kenya.

Ironically, he says most of the bombs he had to defuse were in the UK - those left unexploded from the Second World War.

Mingus said: “90% of the bombs we detonated during my time could be done with the help of plastic explosives because they were in open areas with no risk to anyone.

“There were a couple of times where I had to defuse bombs by hand, one of which was found at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane football ground and another near the tennis courts at Wimbledon.

“Whilst dangerous, it was a very exciting job, but I enjoy being a solicitor just as much, even if I am now defusing disputes, rather than bombs.”

The official opening of the new office will take place on Wednesday 18th March.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Neil Shaefer .