Blanchards Bailey LLP's Dorset practice maintains close connections with regional farming and entrepreneurial clients, who instruct the team for wide-reaching advice on Inheritance Tax and succession planning, estate administration, and will drafting. Jerome Dodge heads up the practice and is well versed in the administration of agricultural estates, as well as in the drafting of wills and Inheritance Tax planning schemes, while Sophie Lawrence regularly handles Court of Protection work.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team are friendly and personable, always contactable, and genuinely a pleasure to work with. They care for their clients and take pride in their work.’

  • ‘The whole team have been extremely helpful and informative throughout. They are always available if I have any queries or worries. Excellent service all round.’

  • ‘Jerome Dodge and Lucy Mignot have been outstanding. They have kept me informed every step of the way.’
  • ‘Catherine Roberts took time to clearly explain in layman's terms the intricacies of any legal jargon and advised why she thought a certain course of action would be best for our personal situation.’

  • ‘They are very knowledgeable, very thorough, have a great attention to detail, and are very personable.’

  • ‘Meggie Crane is always willing to take the time to help in a compassionate and thoughtful way and is always professional.’

  • ‘The team at Blanchards Bailey are professional and friendly. They are efficient but seem to genuinely care as well. We would consult them with any legal matter.’

  • 'Jerome Dodge is an outstanding private client and trust lawyer who offers sound advice in a timely and clearly understandable manner.'

Work highlights

  • Advised clients on estate planning for a farming operation worth in excess of £20m.
  • Assisted a client with designing an Inheritance Tax planning scheme to save £200,000.
  • Acted as Deputy for a client with complex needs and with assets in excess of £1.3m.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Jerome Dodge

Other key lawyers

Sophie Lawrence, Catherine Roberts, Meggie Crane, Lucy Mignot, Emma Needham