JE Bennett Law

FIRM OVERVIEW

Founded in 2012, JE Bennett Law provides support for clients in vulnerable circumstances nationwide from its base in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The firm’s core business is focused on helping private clients on matters regarding the Court of Protection; trusts for the vulnerable; the law regarding the elderly client; and the provision of expert witness services. The firm works directly with clients as professional deputy or advising lay deputies and also works extensively with a network of public, business and professional referrers, often working collaboratively with other law firms. After experiencing significant growth, the firm has experienced increased demand in related services and recently restructured to provide a sound platform for further development in all its key practice areas. The firm now has:

·      a COP Personal Injury and Expert Witness division led by Managing Partner Jane Bennett.

·      A COP Public and Panel Deputy division, led by Senior Partner Ian Macara.

·      A Private Client division, led by Senior Partner Richard Shearing

Founder and managing partner, Jane Bennett, is a highly experienced private client lawyer, with over 20 years specialising in Court of Protection law. She set up JE Bennett Law to create a firm dedicated to empowering and supporting clients in vulnerable circumstances and built a team of like-minded individuals. Today, with a staff of around 40, including 8 partners, the firm has a hardworking team of specialists who share a passion for helping those in vulnerable circumstances and provide a caring, excellent and efficient personal service.

In addition to being ranked in The Legal 500,  JE Bennett Law as a firm and Jane Bennett as an individual, are ranked in Chambers.

CORE PRACTICE AREAS

Court of Protection: the firm acts primarily for those who, due to events in their lives/personal trauma, are limited in their ability to manage their own financial and health/care needs. This can arise through brain/spinal cord injuries or mental health issues, and can involve personal injury or medical negligence. The firm also advises the client’s family members, who are often going through an extremely stressful time as a result of trying to fight for their loved one’s rights.

The firm advises on deprivation of liberty and health and welfare matters, and frequently works with family members and/or the local authority to safeguard vulnerable people from financial abuse, neglect/physical or other forms of abuse, including investigating and advising regarding allegations against attorneys under Enduring/General/Lasting Powers of Attorney.

The firm acts as professional deputy for over 300 clients in vulnerable circumstances and as health and welfare deputy in complex cases involving family disputes and/or arising out of contentious court proceedings. The firm also advises a significant number of lay deputies,  and is frequently instructed by local authorities.

Expert Witness: Led by Managing Partner, Jane Bennett the Expert Witness team acts as expert witnesses in high-value and catastrophic personal injury litigation claims (regarding the role and costs associated with a professional deputy and related issues) and, also, in criminal injuries compensation authority claims. We act for claimants and defendants including a significant number of large loss insurers.

Personal injury compensation trusts: The team sets up many personal injury trusts and also acts as professional trustee for compensation protection trusts for the mentally and/or physically vulnerable beneficiary and, in particular, regarding trusts for spinally injured clients.

Elderly client law: the practice also offers a full range of services for the elderly, including the following:

Lasting and ordinary Powers of Attorney and professional attorneyships.

Wills and Probate: the firm offers a full range of Will-writing services including statutory will applications in the Court of Protection, and discretionary/disabled Will trusts. In addition to advice to family members on the death of a loved one, the firm offers professional executor/administrator and trusteeship services to families/beneficiaries at this difficult time.

HEAD OFFICE

Tunbridge Wells

Eridge House

1 Linden Close

Tunbridge Wells

Kent

TN4 8HH

T: 01892 487746

DX:3930 Tunbridge Wells

E: [email protected]

www.jebennettlaw.co.uk