Clarke Willmott services

Planning is at the forefront of economic growth and recent years have seen a stream of radical changes not witnessed since the modern planning system was introduced after World War II.  In such a rapidly changing environment, being able to rely on your legal adviser is critical, especially as these areas of the law can be a minefield.  What sets us apart and continues to bring clients back to us time and time again is our consistent ability to deliver timely commercial advice and to solve, rather than create, planning problems.  We aim to provide experienced practitioners to sit alongside clients and to guide them through the complexities of the planning system.

We provide advice on health and safety matters and representation in formal proceedings. The team`s work is very often in connection with health and safety policies, risk assessments and the documentation required to demonstrate safe systems of work. The representation that we provide in proceedings can be in criminal proceedings either in the Magistrates Court or the Crown Court, or in Inquests in the case of fatal accidents.

Our Restructuring and Insolvency department, with teams based in Birmingham, Bristol and Southampton, is led by three partners with a combined total of over 70 years experience  advising on restructurings and insolvencies.

Disputes concerning financial services can be unavoidable. We help our clients resolve these disputes and positively improve the outcomes. Our work in this area involves assisting clients authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in dealing with customer complaints, defending any formal complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) or litigation in the courts, and any supervisory and enforcement action by the FCA itself. We also act for pension scheme trustees in disputes with members and others, and in dealings with the Pensions Regulator. We also assist businesses harmed by financial services – the Interest Rate Swap mis-selling scandal being a good example.

The role of Notary is an ancient one being able to trace its historic roots back to Republican Rome and its more “modern” roots to the 13th century. Notaries are a distinct (and the oldest) branch of the legal profession and in modern times our principle role is in authenticating and certifying facts and documents for use abroad as well as being key to the workings of the international Bills of Exchange regime and shipping.