Regional law firm Gardner Leader has announced its latest round of promotions with two new partners, Lucy Savage and Marie Verney, and four new Senior Associates.
Lucy and Marie are part of the firm’s Inheritance Protection team, based out of the Newbury office.
Lucy, who has over 18 years of experience in practising law, specialises in Trusts, Estate Planning Inheritance Tax, Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) and Enduring Powers, and complex Wills. She first joined Gardner Leader in 2005 as a Member of the Institute of Legal Executives. Lucy became a Chartered Legal Executive in 2007 before becoming an Associate in 2017. In 2012 she moved from the Family team to the Inheritance Planning team, where she has been practising for the last decade.
A solicitor for over 20 years, Marie Verney qualified in 2002 and is a member of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP) and Solicitors for the Elderly. Marie specialises in estate planning, Wills and asset protection, the administration of both taxable and non-taxable estates, Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection applications.
The four new Senior Associates include Stephanie Newton and Ashleigh Wong, who are also based in the firm’s Newbury office, practising in the Family and Dispute Resolution teams, respectively. Ellie Clifford is a Dispute Resolution solicitor in the London team, and Gail Vallis is a Corporate Solicitor in Gardner Leader’s Swindon office.
Speaking on becoming a partner, Lucy Savage said: “Having spent close to two decades at Gardner Leader, this is a proud moment for me personally. I’m looking forward to helping the other partners and the Senior Leadership Team in guiding Gardner Leader into the future.”
Marie Verney, Partner in the Inheritance Protection team, added: “I very much enjoy working for an esteemed law firm such as Gardner Leader. I am thrilled to be bringing my experience and knowledge to the Partner team and further helping in supporting and advising our clients with their legal matters.”
Gardner Leader has been at the heart of the Thames Valley community for over 120 years. Its highly experienced team of legal professionals now exceeds more than 180 employees, working across 12 specialist teams, each dedicated to providing specific services to businesses and to individuals. The firm has offices throughout the South-East, South-West and London, including Newbury, Thatcham, Maidenhead, Swindon, Windsor, London and Oxford, where it has a newly established specialist Commercial Law team.
Derek Rodgers, Managing Partner at Gardner Leader, said: “It has been fantastic to see both Lucy and Marie grow into the trusted and hugely knowledgeable legal professionals they are today. They will both bring an invaluable blend of insight and expertise to the Partner team and help us to further strengthen the support, advice, and peace of mind we offer to our business and private clients.
“Congratulations must also go to Stephanie, Ashleigh, Ellie and Gail, who have also taken an important step in their legal careers in becoming Senior Associates. They will all no doubt contribute to the continued success of Gardner Leader.”
