Meet the partners- Philip Hoddell

Can you explain a little about your role at Birkett Long?

I am one of Birkett Long’s twenty one Partners.  I sit on the strategic management board and have overall responsibility for the firm’s private client services.  Five professional service teams report to me covering financial planning, investments, pensions, wills, trusts, tax, probate, divorce, separation, children’s issues and road traffic offence work.  Our three offices at Colchester, Chelmsford and Basildon all cover these types of work.

What do you mean by ‘private client services’? 

By ‘private client services’ we mean all of those legal services that an individual might need.  Our lawyers work in teams that specialise in most of the legal issues that might affect people in a personal capacity, such as family problems, wealth management, tax planning or dealing with bereavement.  Of course, we also act for individuals who are buying or selling property, setting up, running or selling businesses, and even those who have had the misfortune to suffer accidents or injuries.

If I use Birkett Long for my business, can I also use the firm for legal issues affecting me and my family?

For many of our clients Birkett Long acts both for them and for their companies or businesses.  There is a myth that many people prefer to keep the two issues separate; in fact where we act in both capacities it makes us more effective, because we’re able to provide solutions on the basis of knowledge about your entire circumstances.  We also work closely with other teams in the firm, so we avoid duplication of effort and can spot legal issues early before they become problems.

In what instances would a person need legal services in a private client and business capacity?

There are numerous examples where business clients have a need for private client services.  For most family owned and small to medium size businesses tax and succession planning is an issue.  They also need to consider key man insurance and the management of personal or corporate pension schemes (for employer and employee alike). 

Company directors and business owners may well have built up substantial assets during their lifetime.  They should have proper wills in place and may need to consider pre marital agreements in the event of second marriages.  Along with business exit strategies comes the need for proper retirement planning which is where our independent financial services team comes in. 

All businesses and companies are owned by and run by people.  We never lose sight of that and always aim to maintain our position as a leading full service legal firm.