Leading law firm announces six new promotions

16th May 2023/Thames Valley & South East: Leading 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’ 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. In 2007 she became Chartered Legal Executive 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 estates both taxable and non-taxable, 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 in to 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.” 

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Editors notes

For media enquiries, please contact: 

Verity Blake/David Ferguson 

T: 07920 792183 

E: verityblake@headonpr.co.uk /davidferguson@headonpr.co.uk  

About Gardner Leader  

@GardnerLeader   

With offices in Newbury, Thatcham, Maidenhead, Windsor, Swindon, Oxford and London, Gardner Leader is a leading law firm in the Thames Valley, South West and South East, offering a wide range of legal services for businesses and individuals. 

In the Legal 500 prestigious guide for 2023 the firm was described as ‘shining above all with their approachable and friendly way of doing things’, and partners Christopher Felton, Alastair Goggins and Michelle Di Gioia were described as ‘elite leading lawyers’. Real Estate Senior Associate, Tim Blackman, was named as a ‘Rising Star’ and private client partner Niamh Minihane was highlighted for a second year as a ‘Next Generation Partner’. 

In 2018 the firm won ‘Best in Business’ and ‘Best in Customer Service’ awards in the Newbury Weekly News award, and in 2016 it also won the LawNet award for Law Firm of the Year, and the Halsbury Legal Award in Business Development. Other awards include the LawNet Excellence in Employee Engagement award (2015), Highly Commended in the Regional Conveyancing Firm of the Year category in the 2015 National Conveyancing Awards and Commended. 

The firm was first founded in 1895. It has over 180 staff. Its team of highly experienced and friendly solicitors are all specialist, specifically dedicated to their areas of expertise. Each team is driven by what matters to the client and committed to delivering results. 

Gardner Leader services to business and services to individuals include: 

• Corporate (e.g., M&As, venture capital & private equity transactions, management buyouts and shareholder agreements) 

• Commercial (including commercial contracts, IP, IT and procurement) 

• Commercial property/real estate 

• Dispute Resolution 

• Employment (for individuals and businesses) 

• Family (such as family breakdowns and divorce and pre-nuptial agreements)) 

• Residential conveyancing 

• Inheritance protection 

• Injury claims 

• Crime