Law firm Watkins & Gunn has strengthened its legal team with two new appointments.
The award-winning law firm, which has offices in Pontypool, Newport and Cardiff, has appointed Janine Edwards as head of the property team and Linda Dack as a private client solicitor.
Mrs Edwards, 36, from Pontypool, will join the Pontypool office and will head up the property team which specialises in residential and commercial conveyancing across Wales and England.
She will advise clients on all aspects of residential conveyancing, including sale purchases, re-mortgages and also provide commercial property advice on acquisitions and disposals.
Having worked for Newport City Council for nine years where she advised on a number of commercial property transactions, Mrs Edwards brings with her a wealth of experience in the commercial market. She also has vast experience with residential transactions having worked for several private practices and is a Chartered Fellow of Institute of Legal Executives.
Linda Dack, 31, from Newport joins the firm as a private client solicitor dealing with wills, probate, tax and trusts and recovering wrongly paid care home fees. Ms Dack returns to Watkins & Gunn after beginning her career at the firm as a paralegal where she was offered a training contract after demonstrating her skills and knowledge.
After taking a two year career change where she taught Law and Business in secondary schools, Ms Dack returns to the law firm where she hopes to continue to grow the private client department in Cardiff.
Both departments at Watkins & Gunn have secured prestigious accolades with the private client department becoming one of the first firms in Wales to acquire the Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme mark and the property department being recognised in the Law Firm Services’ annual Conveyancing Awards in 2013.
Janine Edwards, said: “I have truly always wanted to work for Watkins & Gunn ever since carrying out a work experience placement when studying for my A Levels. When you think of law and needing legal advice locally – you immediately think of Watkins & Gunn.
“It has a fantastic reputation from within the profession itself to the people who are clients of the firm. It’s retains the traditional values of a legal firm but has a huge ambition to consistently thrive and progress with the times. My aim is to provide a well-managed department where we will offer the best possible service to our clients within our market base.”
Linda Dack, said: “For me, Watkins & Gunn has the perfect balance of being a local firm with a real personal touch and connection with its clients but has forward thinking and proactive partners driving the business forward.
“Watkins & Gunn has an excellent reputation locally and a growing reputation in Cardiff and I feel like a valued member of staff which is important to me. I hope to make a valuable contribution to the private client department and ensure that all clients have a service which not only meets but exceeds their expectations.”
Clive Thomas, managing partner at Watkins & Gunn, said: “We’re delighted that Janine and Linda are part of the Watkins & Gunn team. Their enthusiasm, passion and drive fits perfectly with our business ethos. At Watkins & Gunn, we always aim to ‘exceed expectations’ and we know that Janine and Linda will certainly help us to do this. They are fantastic appointments for the firm as they both have unique skill-sets and are excellent with clients.
“Having launched our new ecommerce website Gateway2Law last year, which provides personalised solutions to a variety of legal matters, it’s a really important and exciting time to be part of the team and we’re looking forward to watching them grow and develop.”
Watkins & Gunn Solicitors is an award-winning law firm and was the only firm in Wales to be selected in the category of “Law Firm of the Year” at the prestigious Halsbury Legal Awards 2014. Most recently, it was chosen for the 360 Legal Group Member Firm of the Year 2014.
The firm offers a wide range of legal services including Accident Claims, Medical Negligence, Wills and Probate, Employment Law, Educations Law, Public Law, Business Law, Divorce and Family Law, Childcare Law, Criminal Law, Road Traffic Law and Property.