Laceys announces record number of promotions in the history of the firm!

Laceys has rewarded nine solicitors with new positions in its latest wave of promotions. This is the highest number of promotions that have been made by Laceys in one time,…

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Sam Burnand

Marketing Manager — Marketing

Direct dial: 01202 377882

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“I’ve been working with Sam for a couple of years on a very wide range of marketing communications. Sam has a natural attention to detail and a refreshing attitude to the work we’ve collaborated on. The launch of the new Laceys site is now the benchmark for the brand and business offering. Sam has been at the heart this journey and has been a key driver for the consistency any strong brand should have. It’s exciting to be working with a solicitor’s firm that really understands their vast audience.”

Jamie Shanks, Green Tambourine

Sam joined Laceys back in 2015 to help look after the marketing for the firm. Her role includes managing branding, website content, events, advertising and social media for Laceys.

Before joining Laceys Sam worked for over 10 years in several marketing agencies in London, managing client projects across different sectors, ranging from Coca Cola to the Department of Health. Having grown up in Poole herself, Sam and her family took the decision to move back to the South Coast a few years ago to bring up their young children.

Outside of work, Sam is a keen racquetball and tennis player and getting out on her bike to the Purbecks when time allows. She is also partial to a good glass of wine and dance when the opportunity arises!

“Rob Kelly has been absolutely exceptional in resolving this litigation and so thorough in everything and basically gave the opposition a masterclass of his work that he is so good at.”

Paul Jeffcoate - Contentious Probate Client
“I have had the pleasure of working with several members of the team at Laceys regularly over a period of years. I found Rob Kelly in particular, who worked on a successful litigation case for me over a period of several years to be outstanding in all aspects of the work he undertook, and the manner in which he did it. I now consider him a friend. I would not - and have not - hesitated to recommend Laceys to my family and friends, and continue to use them for all legal matters.”

Dan Collins
“ I just wanted to thank you for your great work on the professional negligence case and other cases you have represented Indian Ocean and Tiien through the last few years.”

Mehdi Vahdati, Director and Proprietor - Indian Ocean (Bournemouth) Limited
“A case that was initially very straightforward became difficult and, for me, very frustrating. Rob Kelly's calm, lucid and very professional advice and planning were invaluable and led to a good outcome.”

Don Young
“Their Fee Management was exemplary and the expertise provided by Rob was exactly what we required.”

Sunseeker London Limited
“I've worked with a fair few lawyers over the years and Rob Kelly is the most on the ball and efficient lawyers I've ever come across. I'm looking forward to working together for many years to come.”

Roger Woodall CEO - Diamond Sporting Group

Rob practices in two main, complimentary areas of work – contentious wills, probate and trust disputes, and property disputes.

Contentious wills, probate and trusts

More than half of Rob’s time is spent dealing with the contentious aspects of wills, probate and trusts, an area in which he has practiced continuously for over 20 years. He advises and acts in disputes relating to wills and inheritance, trusts, the duties of trustees and personal representatives, and the administration of estate.

Rob’s practice embraces:

Personal representative and trustee disputes (including personal representative and trustee disagreements, removals / substitutions and alleged misconduct)
Disappointed beneficiary claims
Will disputes (where the validity of a will is challenged on the grounds of undue influence, lack of testamentary capacity, lack of knowledge and approval of the contents of a will, and fraudulent calumny)
Financial provision claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
Proprietary estoppel claims
Disputes about the proper construction, and rectification, of wills
Caveats
Professional liability claims arising from the preparation of wills and trusts and the administration of estates

He has mediated (either as appointed mediator or as a representative) dozens of disputes involving contentious wills and probate issues.

Property disputes

The other side of Rob’s practice is contentious property work. This embraces:

Residential and commercial landlord and tenant disputes
Disrepairs
Repairing covenants
Possession claims
Lease termination and lease forfeiture
Dilapidations
Service charge disputes
Interpretation and enforcement of leasehold covenants

Rob’s style is a mix of listening, asking (tough) questions, diplomacy and reality testing. He’s interested, flexible, and pragmatic. He offers a common sense, realistic approach to assist his clients in searching for solutions to their disputes and brings straight talking and integrity to his work.

Rob is a Solicitor. He successfully completed training as a mediator under the ADR Chambers / Harvard Law Project Scheme in June 2006 and is a member of the Civil Mediation Council.