Gorvins Solicitors prides itself on providing the highest quality legal services to our clients. We’re only able to achieve that by having the very best colleagues on hand to support you through your legal matter.
In our Meet the team series, we’re pulling back the curtain on some of the fantastic people we have here at Gorvins. This month, we’re talking to Danielle Clements, Partner in our Dispute Resolution team.
What’s your role at Gorvins?
I’m a Partner in the Dispute Resolution team and, while I work across general commercial litigation, I specialise in contentious probate, which makes up the majority of my work.
For the uninitiated, contentious probate covers disputes that arise following someone’s death, whether they left a will or died without one. It’s quite a broad area and can include disputes over property or finances, as well as issues with the way a will has been written that need to be rectified.
Every case is different, but a lot of my day-to-day work involves meeting clients, taking instructions, advising them on their position and, where necessary, working with barristers to get specialist advice.
These cases can be very emotive because we’re dealing with individuals who have often recently lost somebody close to them. As well as looking at the legal position, we have to consider the bigger picture and find a practical solution that doesn’t place unnecessary emotional or financial strain on the client.
What led you to a career in law?
As long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a solicitor. It’s what I worked for throughout my education from my A-levels through to my degree in law. Initially, I thought I wanted to go into family law, but once I had some hands-on experience, dispute resolution became the area I was most interested in.
After my degree, I enrolled at law school before completing my training contract. That led me into litigation, where I’ve been learning and growing in house here at Gorvins over the last nineteen years.
How did you end up specialising in contentious probate?
When I first joined Gorvins, I worked with a Partner who handled a lot of contentious probate matters. When he left a few years later, I picked up more of that work and found it was an area that really interested me.
My specialism in this area of law has evolved quite organically over my career, all of which I’ve spent at Gorvins bar two years doing my training contract at another firm. After almost twenty years working in the specialism, my clients get peace of mind that I’ve got the skills and experience to navigate a difficult matter.
Contentious probate is an area that requires a lot of empathy. Emotions can be very raw when you’re dealing with relatives or close friends of somebody who has died, and you have to understand what clients are going through while also remaining realistic about their situation.
Family relationships may already have broken down and there can be a lot of resentment and emotion involved, particularly when siblings are disputing their parents’ assets. You need to be able to take a step back, look at the bigger picture and provide pragmatic, practical advice. In particular, you have to consider the emotional side of a dispute as well as the legal issues.
It’s this very human aspect that drew me to this area of law. Working with clients at a difficult time and empowering them to get the best results possible and move on with their life is very rewarding.
Why Gorvins?
Gorvins is a very nurturing firm where people genuinely look out for one another. Senior members of the team are committed to helping younger professionals develop their careers and reach their potential, and I’ve been given plenty of opportunities to progress during my time here.
There’s also a real family feel, particularly within our Dispute Resolution team. Whatever stage of your career you’re at, you know there’s always somebody you can turn to for help and support.
What advice would you give to clients facing probate issues?
Give yourself some time. There are certain claims where steps need to be taken within six months, so it’s always important to seek legal advice early, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to rush into legal action.
Take stock of the situation and consider what is right for you emotionally as well as legally. As with any litigation, there can often be better ways of resolving a dispute than going straight to court. Mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution can provide more options and create an opportunity to reach an agreement.
Try not to become too entrenched in your position and give yourself the time and space to reflect before deciding what to do next.