IDR Law’s Manchester office now fully operational!
The IDR Law team got together at our new office in Manchester last week, and we’re thrilled to confirm the office is now fully operational!
New team members Kirsty McNulty (Associate) and Georgina Coates (Solicitor) from Forbes and Myerson respectfully will work out of the Manchester Hub office – at Spaces, 125 Deansgate – and will be joined by more team members soon. It’s an exciting time to be at IDR Law and it’s only going to get better!
In this article, Georgina (GC), who started with IDR Law last Monday and Kirsty (KM), who joins us on 11th October, share some of their background, reasons for joining IDR and why they’re looking forward to the future with IDR Law.
What’s your background in law?
GC: Having completed my Law degree at the University of Manchester, I took a little time off to really think about which area of Law I wanted to specialise in. It was during this time I started working as a paralegal in the business crime department at JMW. I carried on working 3 days a week as a paralegal while studying my LPC at the University of Law in Manchester. I completed this in June/July 2019 and started my training contract at Myersons where I gained experience in construction and property litigation, contentious probate, commercial litigation, and private client work.
KM: I did my law degree at the University of Central Lancashire and stayed on to study my LPC, after which I got a job as a paralegal in a small high street firm where I completed my training contract. I started at Forbes as a newly qualified solicitor in the Wills and Probate department. This was interested work but I felt I’d gone as far as I could with wills and probate after five years and had an opportunity to join the contentious probate team in Forbes and get trained up, so I took it!
Why Contentious Probate?
GC: I found early on that I preferred litigation over the more transactional areas of law and after only a few days in contentious probate seat at Myerson’s I felt it was the area of law for me. Contentious probate is the only area I felt I could combine litigation with the human element. The situations people find themselves in are really interesting and you work to unpick each one and help the client – this can really improve their lives.
Contentious probate is an area of law that can affect everyone but can be incredibly confusing for people, for example when trying to understand intestacy. I enjoy being able to support people and help them understand how things work so they know we’re taking the right steps forward for them to reach a resolution.
KM: No two cases are ever the same, the circumstances are always different, and more and more people are finding themselves in a difficult situation when people pass away. It’s an area of law where I can really help someone – when you’ve finished your case your client has been able to get some closure, that feels good. I really care about my cases and it’s nice to be able to explain things to people in a way they understand. I like to try and reach a resolution for my clients without aggressive litigation as I don’t find that’s productive for any party.
What drew you to IDR Law?
GC: I’d already decided that I wanted to specialise in contentious probate, then IDR Law came up in a few conversations I was having, and it seemed really interesting. It was the level of support offered that really drew me in along with the firm’s ethos. I had an initial interview with Martin [Holdsworth]and Richard [Thomas] and felt like it was the right place for me. It was their attitudes and the fact that everyone can define their own success. We take our job seriously, we work hard, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
KM: Having worked for two years in contentious probate I’d covered all areas of disputes and my performance was outstanding. I thought, this is what I like, I’m good at and I want to specialise in. I’d been recommended to Martin who sent me some material about the firm which caught my interest.
I had an interview with Martin – he went through the model of the business, and I couldn’t believe how well it performed. He reassured me there would always be support and I’d not be left on my own. By the end of the interview, I knew I wanted to join IDR Law. It was a complete no-brainer for me! To be honest I did think, this looks amazing but what’s the catch? Turns out there isn’t one, the team are all lovely and the firm is futuristic, progressive and Martin is very open about where the firm is going and transparent about how it works.
How do you feel about the future?
GC: I am excited about the future and feel really positive. I’m looking forward to increasing my knowledge and becoming a true specialist in contentious probate and a trusted advisor. I was in the office in Harrogate last week. Everyone was super helpful and really nice. I’ll be working from Manchester and from my home and the whole team has let me know I can pick up the phone at any time, wherever I’m working, and they’ll support me.
KM: Contentious probate is an area of law that’s continuing to grow and evolve. With my new position as Associate at IDR Law I feel I’ll become a total specialist in this niche area. I’m enrolled in the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) course, which I’ll be starting later in the autumn. I’m looking forward to being even more technically knowledgeable and being able to stand up in a room and say I’m one of the best contentious probate specialists out there – I know I’m joining a firm with this calibre of people and the only firm in the country who are total specialists in this sector.
Martin Holdsworth comments: “Our vision of IDR Law includes the desire to have a team that is happy, healthy and successful in their own definition. Our new Manchester office is an extension of that philosophy – it provides a fantastic work/gathering place for a new group of talent based in and around Manchester who will still work from home as IDR Law always has, but also now have a great space to meet up with peers (and the occasional referrer and client!). There is no doubt that Kirsty and Georgina will be great additions to IDR Law – they have great careers ahead of them!”
IDR Law is an approachable, boutique firm of contentious probate specialists. If you’re a law firm, or an individual who feels they would benefit from our expertise, get in touch here, email us at [email protected] or call on 01423 637050.