News

Congratulations to our hamper winner!

22nd October 2021

We are very pleased to announce that Alex has been selected as our winner of the Hamper Draw which we held at Sidmouth Classic Car Show. Alex and her son Oscar are pictured here receiving the hamper from Managing Partner Terry Bastyan. We hope you enjoy tucking in to all the delicious treats!

Exeter Property Circle Finalists for Exeter Property Awards

21st October 2021

We are delighted to see Exeter Property Circle, which has close connections to Gilbert Stephens being co-founders of the EPC with Northcott Beaton, are finalists in the Exeter Property Awards. Exeter Property Circle has been shortlisted for the Suppliers and Services awards, alongside other fantastic Exeter-based companies.

This award recognises their hard work and dedication for delivering high quality networking events helping keep those within the Exeter property community connected and informed, all of which contributes towards Exeter’s flourishing property market.

The awards ceremony takes place on Friday 19th November at Sandy Park, we wish them  the best of luck for the day!

For more information about this fantastic awards ceremony please visit their website here

Gilbert Stephens Solicitors Raise Money for Farming Community Network at Okehampton Golf Course

20th October 2021

The Farming Community Network (FCN), a charity which helps farming families in need, were supported by the team at Gilbert Stephens solicitors when they played in the Mayor of West Devon Charity Match recently.   The match was held at Okehampton Golf Course and the team from Gilbert Stephens raised money for the FCN.

The Mayor of West Devon Charity Match is a regular fundraising event and every year it raises much needed funding to help support the FCN.

The  (FCN) is a voluntary organisation and charity that supports farmers and families within the farming community through difficult times.  In addition to local groups of volunteers, FCN runs a confidential national helpline (03000 111 999) and e-helpline () which is open every day of the year from 7am-11pm.

Their website states:

“We have helped thousands of people deal with a variety of issues, including financial difficulties, animal disease, mental health and family disputes.

Farming is not just a job – it’s a way of life. It is a wonderful industry to work in, but it can also be inherently risky and volatile. Farmers are regularly forced to deal with issues on the farm that are beyond their control, such as animal disease, fluctuating market prices and the weather. Farming can also be a very isolating and lonely occupation, with farmers often spending long hours out in the field with little or no form of social interaction.”

Find out more about their work here

Our team Marcus Quick, Martin Justice, Simon Cornwell and Malcolm Buckland enjoyed the day and good weather around the course. Malcolm was particularly delighted to win the amazing hamper in the raffle!

Exeter Legal Walk

20th October 2021

It was great to take part in the Exeter Legal Walk last week.   We were exceptionally lucky with the weather, no rain and even rather balmy in places!

We met at Exeter Court just after 5:30pm alongside other members of the profession.  Kids and dogs joined us along the way before finishing around 7.45pm at the Amory Hub.

The walk helps to raise awareness and funds for much needed free legal advice centres.  The need for these has grown in the past few years as recession increased poverty and reduced support services. Meanwhile funding for the advice centres themselves has reduced.  These services are vital to ensure everyone is able to access the law.

The organisations supported through this walk help to:

  • Prevent families being made homeless
  • Prevent destitution
  • Help older people gain the support to which they are entitled
  • Help women and children who have been trafficked for domestic servitude or prostitution.

There’s still time to donate if you’d like to support our efforts here

Thank you to everyone who took part and donated their time, energy and funds to make this event happen!

@SouthWestLST #legalwalk #Exeterlegalwalk

 

 

 

Exeter Dementia Action Alliance Calendar

18th October 2021

October sees our sponsored page in the fantastic Exeter Dementia Action Alliance Calendar.  Thank you to EDAA for all the continued valuable work you do within our local community.

We are proud to be Alliance Members and endeavour to ensure our firm is dementia friendly for all clients, staff and visitors to our premises.

You can find more information about the EDAA on their website here

#ShiningALightOnDementia

Ottery St Mary Pixie Day

28th September 2021

On Saturday 25th September Pixie Day was once again celebrated in Ottery St Mary!  This year’s Pixie Day had a great turnout with the town full of people and pixies!

Pixie Day is well known for its various sideshows around the town and this year was no exception with plenty going on to keep everyone entertained.

Lisa, Tasha, Karen and Dana from our office were there to join in the fun and hand out plenty of balloons and flags to everyone.   The event was as busy and noisy as ever which meant for an amazing atmosphere.

Pixie Day normally takes place on the Saturday nearest to Midsummer’s Day, due to Covid it had to be postponed, and it was worth the wait!

The Ottery St Mary website explains the story behind Pixie Day as follows:

“While the current event dates back to the mid twentieth century, its origins are believed to go way back to the fifteenth century. The legend goes that pixies once lived in Ottery, but were driven out by human occupation and in particular the building of the church and the ringing of its bells, as a pixie death occurred every time the bells were rung and they couldn’t abide the noise. Eventually the pixies took the bellringers prisoner and kept them in a cave; luckily they escaped and Pixie Day was founded so that the events were not forgotten.”

Pixie Day is one of the year’s highlights for those at our Ottery St Mary office, it’s such a vibrant event in the calendar.  Ottery St Mary are well known for their extraordinary events, the Tar Barrels are now not too far away…!

A big thank you to all the organisers and those who took part to make it a magical pixie filled day for all, we were delighted to be able to continue our support of the event.

A Classic Success at the Sidmouth Classic Car Show

27th September 2021

The sun was shining, the children were playing and adults enjoyed themselves too at this year’s Sidmouth Classic Car Show. We had an amazing day, it was wonderful to see so many people out and about enjoying the sunshine and entertainment the show had to offer.

Both children and adults tried their hands at our  “Beat the Buzzer” and “Duck Range Target Game” with some more successful than others!    Any adult who managed to complete the buzzer or knock 3 ducks down won a bag of sweets.

We also gave away a beautiful hamper full of delicious goodies which  people were invited to enter for free.

A big thank you to the organisers for such an entertaining and joyful event, these events are much needed after the last 18 months and it was lovely to see so many smiles walking around!

 

 

 

Well done to our team, some excellent client feedback this month!

24th September 2021

We are delighted to have received some excellent feedback from happy clients recently.  Our dedicated team is always eager to provide the best service possible to our clients.  Here’s just a few examples of the kind words that our team has heard this month!

“Having now paid your account I wanted to write and say how much both Sheila and I appreciated your services.  Your office staff were most helpful, appointments were made quickly with no long waits. The advice you gave us regarding taxation upon death and how to mitigate it was extremely comprehensive but laid out in a way that a simple man like me could understand. You not only gave us options but also guided us towards what we should consider as a currently good course of action.

The advice on keeping our wills simple I think in retrospect was very good advice because as our assets may change in the future, we can adjust our wills as and when considered necessary.

Lastly, I wanted to say that I thought, considering the time taken and the quality of the advice given, your bills were modest.

More importantly than anything both Sheila and I fell that the conduct of our affairs will be in safe hands as and when we are under the turf as they say in Cornwall. This just means that you can not retire for a long time.

Many Thanks John.”

“David thank you, we would just like to say you`ve been the very best solicitor that we have ever dealt with ( & there`s been a few as we`ve moved many times ) I don`t know if the opportunity will ever arise but we would both thoroughly recommend you to any prospective clients, once again thank you for exceeding our expectations.”

Kind regards Mr & Mrs P”

“I have used Gilbert Stephens Solicitors for several years for various matters. Most recently, Conall Ryan has assisted me with probate and will matters. I am exceptionally happy with the service I have received and it is unlikely you will find anyone more efficient than Conall. He deals with matters extremely expeditiously. He is very approachable and has made a difficult time for me dealing with my Mother’s death considerably easier. I cannot recommend Conall Ryan highly enough.

Mrs T “

 

Gilbert Stephens merge with Veitch Penny

20th September 2021

We are delighted to announce that Gilbert Stephens LLP and Veitch Penny LLP are to merge on 1st October 2021. Gilbert Stephens currently has offices in Exeter, Crediton, Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Ottery St Mary and Okehampton. Veitch Penny has offices in Exeter and Crediton.

 

The merged firm will retain the name of Gilbert Stephens LLP and Veitch Penny will continue to be known as Veitch Penny but as part of Gilbert Stephens LLP. The combined firms will have 8 offices and in excess of 130 members of staff.

 

Both firms have been established for many years and are committed to provide practical and effective legal services to the locations in which they have offices as well as further afield. Both firms can now offer a full range of legal advice including buying and selling property (residential and commercial), agricultural, private client work including wills, estate planning and administration of estates, dispute resolution, family and personal injury work. Independent Financial advice is available through the associated business Gilbert Stephens Financial Services Ltd.

 

If you would like to get in touch with us you can find our contact details here

 

Paddleboard Yoga Session to Get the Young Professionals Network Back in Action

20th September 2021

Gilbert Stephens Young Professionals Network were excited to finally get together again for the first time since the lockdowns began. The event, which felt a long time coming, was a Paddleboard Yoga Session on Exeter Quay where members were able to socialise while enjoying the outdoors. Sarah Heath said:

“After the stresses caused by the Covid Pandemic, we thought what better way to get back together but with a yoga session! Chloe Sikiniotis of Magdalen Health led the session, on boards provided by the Kayak Hub.  Despite initial fears of falling into the Canal everyone had a great time and finished the session dry, which is always a plus!”

The YPN is different to other formal networking groups as the atmosphere is relaxed and informal. What makes the events extremely popular with younger professionals is the alternative option to building professional and personal relationships outside of the more traditional business networks – like on a Paddleboard!

If you would like to join you can contact the YPN by email at Membership is free and confirmation of acceptance of membership will be emailed to you. Once you have received confirmation, you will be emailed invitations to our events.