Community / News

Local Legal Houses Come Together
Two local firms of solicitors are merging on 1 February 2010. MB Allen & Co. of Gainsford House, West Wickham, are to merge with Barfields of Woolwich House, Croydon. The new practice will trade under the name of Allen Barfields.
 
The combined business will total 31 people, including four partners, nine fee-earners and 18 admin staff. The Partners of Allen Barfields will be the same as those of MB Allen & Co.
 
Senior Partner, Nigel Leonard, confirms: “From the clients’ point of view, nothing will change. All existing staff remain, all services are the same, and it’s business as usual. Nigel Addington-Smith and Alan Kirby, the partners of Barfields, and their staff, will continue to act for their clients, servicing them as well as they always have.”
 
Nigel Addington-Smith adds: “The changeover will be seamless and we are looking forward to providing a continued high standard of legal services to all our clients.”
 
The two firms have known each other for many years. “We’ve always found the Barfields team to be pleasant to deal with and practical about problem-solving for clients,” says Nigel Leonard. “Both firms have the same attitude to meeting clients’ requirements and believe ‘communication’ to be one of the chief link-pins in the solicitor-client relationship.”
 
MB Allen & Co. evolved to service local individuals and businesses, while Barfields also services major and international companies, so the new firm provides legal services to everyone. Nigel Leonard says: “It’s a positive move for both firms with benefits all round. With each firm bringing its own expertise, it strengthens the already good services and experience we offer to our respective clients.”
 
Allen Barfields will continue at Gainsford House and at Woolwich House. Nigel Leonard says: “By bringing our two houses together into a combined practice, clients in West Wickham, Croydon and surrounding areas will have the advantage of a wider range of legal expertise under two roofs but with one strong brand.”
 
You can contact Allen Barfields on 020 8776 1010 or 020 8680 2050 and see their new website at allenbarfields.co.uk.
The Three Peaks Challenge

"best foot forwards"

We are pleased to report that notwithstanding the wet and very windy weather conditions we duly completed the THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE on the weekend of the 21st June in 27 hours and 34 minutes.

This challenge was in aid of River Drama based at the Oast Theatre in Tonbridge and involves children with Downs Syndrome in music, dance and drama workshops - all working with different members of the community of their own age.

We also raised funds for Leukaemia Research and specifically the Emily Lyell Forget Me Not fund - in memory of a Selsdon teenager who died last summer.

As the name suggests the challenge was to climb the UK`s three highest peaks, Ben Nevis at 1,333m is the tallest and was the first to be tackled. Then it was on to the beautiful Lake District and Scafell Pike. The final test was Mount Snowdon in Wales.

We thank everyone for their support and contributions.

 
Michael Skinner and the Race to the Olympics

"running to support"

We sponsored local International athlete Michael Skinner.  We know Michael through his mother, Pauline, who works at our West Wickham office.  We have followed his exploits for years and wanted to be part of his attempt to run for the UK team in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Michael received no national Lottery funding and our £7,500 grant helped pay for things like travel to and from events, his running kit, sports drinks and physiotherapy sessions.

 
Speldhurst Cricket Club Colts

"advice with a straight bat"

We also sponsor the colts section at Speldhurst Cricket Club, Tunbridge Wells.  About 80 boys and girls aged between 6 and 15 are involved.

MB Allen Partner, Peter Colman is one of the founding members and is the Junior Section Chairman.

He said:  "We work hard and the club fields three teams in the competitive Border League at ages 15, 13 and 11 and during the summer the younger ones play in various mini 8s series.

"This year the club has started a development team designed for 16-18 year olds and led by a couple of old hands.  With two training sessions a week there is always a demand for kit and match balls and that's where the sponsorship really helps.

"There is a real satisfaction in having a ground full of children palying sport and in seeing the teenagers pick up cricketing skills.  One must never forget that the sporting success of the country depends on the sporting strength at grass roots level.  Some of the teenagers who are now filtering through to the adult teams are alarmingly good.

"Aside from the action on the pitch the annual MB Allen barbeque at Speldhurst is becoming a regular fixture and is a chance to see village cricket in rural Kent at its best.