Twin Partner Appointment Boosts Thrings’ Private Client Team

Leading regional law firm Thrings has strengthened its private client offering with the appointment of two new partners.

Awen Mellick and Stuart Crippin have joined Thrings’ fast-growing Private Client team which works across the firm’s five main UK offices in Bristol, Bath, Swindon, London and Southampton.

Awen was formerly an associate and succession and tax team manager at regional law practice, Blake Morgan. She specialises in the administration of high-value and complex estates through probate and intestacy, as well as advising on estate and succession planning matters.

Ranked as a ‘Leading Individual’ in the field of personal tax, trusts and probate by renowned independent legal directory Legal 500, Awen – a first language Welsh speaker - also has experience of implementing protective trusts for clients who have received compensation as a result of personal injury.

Awen said: “Increasingly, clients are seeking genuine, transparent and trusting organisations to help them deal with their private legal affairs. Thrings is a firm that truly recognises the importance of long-term relationships, and I am looking forward to working with like-minded people who advise their clients in a supportive, compassionate and sensitive way.”

Stuart, who worked as a private client solicitor at Thrings between 2009 and 2011, returns from City firm Mischon de Reya, where he was a managing associate in the private tax group.

An expert in personal taxation and wealth planning, Stuart’s work has also been recognised by the Legal 500. His practice encompasses UK and offshore tax, trust and estate planning, and he has a particular interest in contentious probate work and the UK tax aspects of resolving estate and trust disputes. Stuart is also a full member of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), the worldwide body for trust and estate professional profession.

Stuart said: “Thrings is a dynamic and ambitious firm which has experienced rapid growth over the last few years. I am tremendously excited about the wealth of opportunities here, and to have the chance to engineer the expansion of Thrings’ private client offering while building on the firm’s strong reputation for giving clients the very best service.”

The two appointments mark the latest stage in the ongoing expansion of Thrings’ Private Client team, and follow the recent arrivals of agriculture, landed estates and tax planning partner, Rachel Brooks, from Blake Morgan, tax planning and trusts partner, Michael Westbrook, from Burges Salmon, and experienced legal and tax professional, Stephen Horton, from Kings Court Trust.

Fiona Kellow, head of Private Client at Thrings, added: “We are very pleased to welcome Awen and Stuart and see them strengthen our burgeoning Private Client team. In addition to their vast experience and extensive referrer groups in the south of England and Wales, both will continue to nurture and grow their respective networks while working closely with Thrings’ commercial teams to offer tax and planning advice to private clients.

“As a result of ongoing investment in clients, our Private Client teams continue to prosper, anticipating and responding to the ever-changing legal needs of landed families, agricultural clients, entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals and other private individuals across the country.”