Member Article

Talbots trusts in high profile appointment

One of the UK’s leading specialists in private client work has been appointed by Talbots Law, as part of ambitious expansion plans to reach £12m in fees in 2017.

Black Country-born Richard Stone has joined the firm’s rapidly growing trusts and estates team and will be responsible for providing legal advice on wills and wealth planning, administration of estates and post death matters and the creation and administration of trusts.

The Associate, who is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) and the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners (STEP), brings with him significant experience of working in the West Midlands and supporting a range of individuals and high-net-worth clients.

He joins Talbots at a time when instructions in this specialist field are up nearly 20%, as more people are seeking a personal approach and high quality advice without having to pay City Centre prices.

“This is a major coup for us to get someone of Richard’s calibre to join and drive forward our growth in this area,” explained Ian Bond, Director and Head of Trusts and Estates.

“We recently relocated to the new head office in Stourbridge and this gave us the opportunity to invest in the team and we now have twelve specialists working across our network of offices.”

He continued: “I have worked with Richard in the past and love his drive and ability to engage with people. He’s also got a lot of experience and is at the forefront of new developments in trusts and estates.”

Richard started his professional career as a sound and lighting technician in the music industry before returning to the Midlands in 2006 and qualifying as a solicitor in April 2010.

From there, his love of mathematics has seen him focus on developing his career in trusts and estates and he has worked at a number of law firms in the Black Country and Shropshire.

“This is a fantastic move for me and I’m really excited about joining Talbots at a time when it is expanding and delivering innovative, best practice legal advice,” explained Richard, who lives in Stourbridge with his wife and two children.

“There are a lot of new developments taking place in the area of trusts and estates. One of my roles will be ensuring our clients are kept up to date on issues, such as the recent introduction of the residence nil rate band for inheritance tax, the potential increase in probate court fees and the growing requirements to report on the structure and beneficiaries of trusts.”

Outside of work, Richard is a keen cyclist, who is involved with Stourbridge Cycling Club and recently completed the 100 mile Birmingham Velo.

Talbots, which employs more than 200 people, has seven offices in Codsall, Dudley, Halesowen, Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Stourport and on Waterloo Road in Wolverhampton.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Russ Cockburn .