Bennett Griffin Shortlisted for STEP Private Client Awards 2016/17

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8 September 2016 sees the 11th annual STEP Private Client Awards (2016/17) . These prestigious awards highlight excellence amongst not only the legal profession but also private client accountants, bankers, trust managers and financial advisors.  STEP Finalist Logo

We are extremely proud to announce that Bennett Griffin LLP has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Vulnerable Client Advisory Team of the Year in recognition of the commitment of Ian Macara, Jo Edwards and Elin Dukes in this field.

The Vulnerable Client Advisory Team of the Year award is for firms which specialise in navigating the often complex issues presented to vulnerable clients and their families, and is presented to teams who have proven expertise in this area.

Our team here at Bennett Griffin LLP deal with such matters as Powers of Attorney, Court of Protection applications, management of finances as Attorney or Deputy, applying for and challenging Local Authority and NHS funding decisions, assisting with the review of care plans and care service providers, as well as advising lay Attorneys and Deputies in relation to such matters. In 2015 head of department, Ian Macara, was appointed as an Office of the Public Guardian approved Panel Deputy; one of just 71 across the country. As a result the team acts on behalf of many Court of Protection patients who simply have no-one else available, or where financial or other abuse has occurred previously.

Ian regularly talks at events across the county. Last year Ian gave a talk at Sussex County Cricket Club’s Planning to Remove the Stress seminar entitled ‘Choice not Chance’, sharing his experiences of assisting vulnerable clients and highlighting the importance of not leaving things to chance but instead empowering people to make informed choices about their future. Ian is also immediate past president of the Worthing Law Society, a full STEP member, a member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE), and a Dementia Friends Champion.

Jo is a member of SFE and a qualified Notary Public. Elin is a technician STEP member, a member of SFE and a Dementia Friends Champion. Elin was previously a trustee of local charity Autism Sussex and currently sits on both the Steering Committee of the STEP Mental Capacity Special Interest Group and the European Young Bar Association (EYBA); she has also recently completed a course in British Sign Language at level two.

Ian and Elin also run monthly Dementia Friends Information Sessions for those interested in increasing their understanding of dementia –

The STEP awards will be held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London and are hosted by German comedian Henning When. Winners from each category will be announced at the award ceremony following review from an industry leading panel of judges. Being a finalist is a huge honour and we are extremely proud of the team for this achievement.

If you require assistance for yourself or a loved one, please contact either Ian Macara on 01903 706956, Elin Dukes or Jo Edwards on 01903 706981.