Law firm welcomes two new Paralegals to its national Public Law Division
Law firm Simpson Millar has further cemented its reputation as a leading player within the Court of Protection (CoP) in the North West with the appointments of experienced Paralegals Josie Ryan and Katie Green.
Spearheaded by industry heavyweight and Co-Chair of the Court of Protection Practitioners Association (CoPPA), Melanie Varey, the firm’s national CoP team provides expert advice on matters relating to the management of property and financial affairs, as well as disputes relating to the personal welfare of people who lack mental capacity to make decisions for themselves.
The team is ranked in the prestigious legal directories, the Legal 500 and Chambers, which has also listed Simpson Millar Senior Associate Caroline Hurst as an ‘associate to watch’.
Both Katie and Josie join the business with immediate effect as part of the firm’s ongoing recruitment drive within this specialist area and will be based out of the firm’s Manchester office.
Josie Ryan will support on a wide range of health & welfare cases, which address complex issues such as residence, care, sexual relations, contact, and medical decisions.
She joins Simpson Millar after three years working as a barrister’s clerk (practice manager) at a Clinical negligence and public law set in London, where she managed Court of Protection and medical treatment matters and assisted with urgent and out of hours high court applications.
Working alongside Josie to support the team, Katie Green will also play an active role in liaising with clients and the Court of Protections in relation to applying for deputyships and managing personal injury Trusts.
Having previously worked in the personal injury field to support people who have been injured at work, the road or a public place, Katie brings to the role a wealth of expertise working with Property and Affairs, including setting up and maintaining trusts and deputyships for vulnerable clients.
She is now studying the LLM LPC part time alongside working, with a view to qualifying as a fully qualified solicitor in the future.
Welcoming Josie and Katie to the team Mel Varey, a Partner and Head of Court of Protection at Simpson Millar, said their arrival demonstrated the firm’s ‘continued commitment’ to providing clients with expert Court of Protection advice and guidance.
“It’s a real pleasure to welcome our latest recruits to the team,” Mel said.
“Both Katie and Josie bring a wealth of expertise to their roles, and their passion for the work that we do in the Court of Protection department – and across the Public Law division as a whole – means they are perfectly placed to support our clients, many of whom are vulnerable and have complex needs.
“Our team is made up of some of the leading experts within this specialist practice area, and we are proud to be known for going above and beyond for our own clients, as well as many others through our involvement with various panels.
“I am confident both Katie and Josie will be a real asset to the wider team and will prove invaluable in providing our clients with transparent and forward-thinking legal solutions. It is a real privilege to have them on board.”
Josie added: “I am delighted to be joining Simpson Millar, and to have the opportunity to work alongside such a strong team, with such a strong sense of purpose.
“Mel and the wider team have made both Katie and I feel very welcome, and we are very much looking to working with and on behalf of our clients, many of whom are vulnerable and have complex needs.”
Earlier this year Simpson Millar announced that it had launched a firm-wide transformation programme which includes significant enhancements to its current systems and processes that will enhance the client journey and allow its legal teams to focus on case work and customer care.
As part of this activity, the firm has invested heavily in its call centre and its marketing. It is also introducing automated processes that will reduce the administrative burden of the legal work.
Simpson Millar is recognised in the Legal 500 directory as a ‘hugely well-regarded firm’, withacknowledgment of its legal work. The firm is currently recruiting for a number of roles including within its Court of Protection team.
