The team of dedicated solicitors at Cartmell Shepherd who ‘go beyond the extra mile’ for their clients is flying the flag for Cumbria as finalists in the prestigious Northern Law Awards.

The Cartmell Shepherd private client department is now in the running to be named 2019 private client team of the year at a ceremony in Newcastle in June.

Deborah Flynn, director and head of department, said being shortlisted was fitting recognition of the extraordinary care every member of staff had shown to clients without prompt or expectation, “I am immensely proud that the team has been announced as a finalist in the Northern Law Awards,” she added. “I already know this is a special team with fantastic technical skills who are able to handle the most complex of cases. “But to see them also recognised for the care and compassion they show to their clients is wonderful. “They go beyond the extra mile for people. They do it quite spontaneously and they are making a real difference.”

The Cartmell Shepherd private client team is the largest in Cumbria. It acts on behalf of families and individuals in matters of wills, probate, estates and the court of protection. It includes experts in a number of fields such as complex agricultural and property law.  But the additional help and support the team provides to clients, often during difficult or

emotive periods in their lives, was pivotal in the company being selected as a Northern Law Awards finalist. Examples provided to the judges included one of Cartmells solicitors who collected fresh flowers from a client’s beloved garden after advancing frailty necessitated a move to a nursing home. And a colleague visited an elderly client on Christmas day because they had no family of their own. A number of the team have undertaken Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friends training to ensure they can give the best service possible to anyone living with the condition.

Deborah added: “This is a side of our role that not many people will be aware of. Law is not always transactional or something carried out within the confines of an office. “The team are out doing their very best for their clients and I’m delighted they have made it to the finals as this reflects that.”

The Northern Law Awards recognises the top talent within legal firms across the North of England. Cartmells is the only Cumbrian firm to progress to the finals and the team now faces a tough panel interview ahead of the finals, as judges assess shortlisted companies to select a winner.

Scott Garson, Practice manager, secured a coveted win for the firm in the practice management category two years ago. Peter Stafford, Managing director is delighted at news of the latest awards shortlist success. “Every member of staff involved has done exceptionally well to be shortlisted for private client team of the year. “Not only do they carry depth in the level of expertise they offer, they are genuinely affecting positive change throughout the communities they work in, something that is at the heart of everything we do at Cartmell Shepherd.”