Archive for the ‘Community News’ Category

Nigel Leonard (our senior partner/citizen) has decided to enter this year’s London Marathon.

In an interview conducted for this firm we asked him:

• AB- “why?”
• NL- “You know when you say something not thinking it will be taken seriously and then it is! Well, one day I happened to mention in the office that I had a small ambition to run the London Marathon. Now at the time I expressed my small ambition I was seated with a drink in hand. In fact I am not sure that it wasn’t the drink talking!! Any way, as they say the rest is history, thanks to my secretary whose P45 is on its way!!
• AB- “What charity are you running for?”
• NL- “I am running for the Mayor of Southwarks charities a very good cause doing great things for the needy of Southwark and I am pleased to be raising funds for this cause. I hope everyone will feel the same and give generously.”
• AB- “Are you in training?”
• NL- “As for training I did the other day make it to the front door to look out. Well it was cold and raining. So instead I put the time to good use and started planning my run!!”
• AB- “What help and support are you hoping for?”
• NL- “I think it safe to say that I will need all the encouragement I can get so the more I raise the more I will have to do. Therefore if you want to actually see me running on the 22 April please give generously.”
  Donations can be made direct to this firm by cash or cheque made payable to Allen Barfields or please visit www.justgiving.com/nigel-leonard.

Your senior citizen, sorry partner, needs you!!

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.

advice with a straight bat

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 playing 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.

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.

best foot forwards

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.

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.