Solicitors' Profiles

Conveyancing Department

Partner - Alison Peel
Alison joined Arnold Greenwood in 2000 and became a partner in the firm in 2008. Alison specialises in private client work including buying and selling property and land and wills, trusts and probate. She is also a committee member of the South Lakes Alzheimer's Society.
Alison enjoys fell walking, cinema, socialising and travel. She took a 6 month sabbatical in 2007 to fulfil an ambition to do a Round the World trip, travelling to 14 countries from South Africa to South America.

Fee Earner - Sylvia Boyce
Sylvia Boyce joined the firm in 2005 as an assistant solicitor in the Residential Conveyancing Department, having qualified in 1993. Law was a second career after a career as musician and teacher, and before joining Arnold Greenwood she worked as a solicitor in the West Country.
Sylvia's current interests include her role as a public governor in the Cumbria Partnership Mental Health Trust, many and varied musical activities in South Lakes, and her now grown up family.

Support Staff - Michelle Schwarzer (Legal Secretary)
Support Staff - Celia Clarke (Legal Secretary)

Family Department

Partner - Barbara Richardson
Barbara trained in Carlisle and relocated to Lancaster in 1997. She joined Arnold Greenwood in 2005 as Head of the Family Law Department and became a Partner in January 2007.
Barbara is a Family Law specialist accredited by the Law Society Family Law Panel, and the Specialist Family Lawyers Association Resolution. She has considerable experience in cases involving financial disputes following the breakdown of a marriage including high net worth cases.
Barbara lives with her partner Jeremy in Skelsmergh near Kendal. As a former member of Lakes Riding Club she now enjoys supporting her friends at events and riding other people's horses.

Fee Earner - Lucy Ann Gorst
Lucy qualified as a solicitor in 2005 having completed her training contract at a firm specialising in family law based in Yorkshire. She and her husband moved from Leeds to South Lakes the same year with their daughter and Lucy began working with Arnold Greenwood at the start of 2006. She and her husband have now added to their family with the birth of their son. Being a working mum she doesn't get much time to herself but when she does she likes to read, play the piano and do yoga, although her favourite pastime is spending time with her family.

Fee Earner - Jennifer Ward
Jennifer joined Arnold Greenwood as a trainee solicitor in November 2007. She attended Lancaster Girl's Grammar School, studied law at Keele University and completed the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in Chester. After completing her degree in 2006 Jennifer worked in a solicitors office in Kendal dealing with residential property. Since joining the firm Jennifer has been working in the family law department and looks forward to continuing her training in the other departments at Arnold Greenwood. In her spare time Jennifer enjoys swimming, reading, going to the theatre and socialising with friends.

Support Staff - Sarah Francis (Legal Secretary)

Wills, Trust & Probate Department

Department Head - Richard Scrimshaw
Richard is the firm's most recent recruit having joined in May 2008, bringing with him over 15 years of experience in dealing with all aspects of Wills, Estates and Trusts and the associated issues of income, inheritance and capital gains taxes. Having begun his career with the Inland Revenue in the early 1990s he then joined a firm of solicitors in Northumberland in 1997, moving to Kendal in 2005. Outside of office hours you will probably find Richard on the fells being walked by Holly (his dog) or else watching some sporting event or other. Richard has a good sense of humour which, as a Newcastle United fan, is just as well.

Support Staff - Linda Wells (Legal Secretary)

Motoring & Criminal Department

Fee Earner - Peter Sharp
Peter has worked in Kendal since 1977 and his previous firm merged with Arnold Greenwood in 1989. He is on the Duty Solicitor Panel which involves him in police station attendances. He also regularly appears at the Magistrates Court defending clients on criminal matters and road traffic matters.
His main interest out of the office is rugby which he played many years ago (very badly!) and he is a dedicated follower of Kendal Rugby Club.

Support Staff - Liz Laverack (Legal Secretary)

Administration Department

Practice Manager - Brian Barnes
Brian joined Arnold Greenwood in 2001 after working 21 years for National Westminster Bank. He is the firm's Practice Manager dealing with administrative matters. He is married with two children. His interests include playing golf, watching football, growing vegetables and helping to look after his wife's chickens.

Accounts Department

Joan Bland
Born in Windermere, she was educated at Kelsick Grammar School, Ambleside and Allen Technical College, Kendal. She joined Arnold Greenwood in 1990 after working for solicitors in Ambleside and Windermere, first as a secretary and then as a legal cashier. After living for some years in Ambleside she returned to Windermere. Joan has one son who is a Personal Trainer based in Lancaster. She is Secretary of the Parochial Church Council of Jesus Church, Troutbeck and President of Troutbeck Women's Institute. Joan thinks that housework is definitely a chore but gardening is beginning to grow on her!

Support Staff - Gill Anderson (Receptionist)
Support Staff - Ruth Phillips (Receptionist)