Our Staff
Frances Woollaston – Solicitor / Proprietor
Frances is the sole proprietor of the firm, she qualified as a Solicitor in 1992, prior to having qualified she had worked in the legal profession for over 20 years and has lived and worked in the Sutton Coldfield area for in excess of 25 years.
Appointments can be made with her at either the Boldmere or Four Oaks office.
The main areas of law undertaken by the firm are: Divorce to include matters relating to children and matrimonial finance. Residential Conveyancing, Probate, Wills, Court of Protection/Office of the Public Guardian and Lasting Power of Attorneys , further information can be obtained from our services section.
Frances is a member of the Law Society, Birmingham Law Society, Resolution (Solicitors Family Law Association) and the Sole Practitioners Group
Lisa Friel – Solicitor
With 25 years experience in conveyancing, Lisa qualified as a Solicitor in January 2000 and currently heads the Conveyancing Department.
A local to Sutton Coldfield herself, Lisa has a good working knowledge of the area and specialises in residential conveyancing to include sales, purchases, remortgages, transfers of equity, right to buy, lease extensions and equity releases.
Lisa is available for appointments at both the Boldmere and Four Oaks offices.
Lisa is a member of the Law Society and Birmingham Law Society.
Elizabeth Vernon – Legal Executive F.Inst.L.ex
Liz joined the firm in January 2007 and is a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and has been practicing in Family Law for over 20 years and is also a member of Resolution (Solicitors Family Law Association).
Liz deals specifically with divorce and separation matters, matrimonial finance, children’s matters to include residence/contact etc, and regularly represents client’s interest at Court in Birmingham and other local Courts.
Laura Woollaston – Legal Executive- F.Inst.L.ex
Laura joined the firm in 1998 in a junior capacity assisting in all departments thus gaining an overview of each area of law within which we deal with at Woollastons.
Laura now divides her time between our Boldmere and Four Oaks offices specialising in the area of law relating to Probate, Wills, Elderly client advice and Court of Protection/Office of the Public Guardian to include Lasting Power of Attorneys and registering Enduring Power of Attorneys. Laura chose to specialise in this area for her ILEX membership exams. She also now deals with our Four Oaks office conveyancing matters.
Over the last few years Laura has joined forces with a number of local Solicitors and charities such as Alzheimer’s, Wills Aid, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Cancer Research UK and many others to raise funds through various Will schemes. Laura finds this work very enjoyable and rewarding.
In addition to the above Laura also assists Frances with the general day to day running of both offices.
Laura qualified as a Member of the Institutes of Legal Executives in 2007 and became a Fellow of the Institute in the summer of 2009, she is furthering her qualifications to become a Solicitor and is undertaking the final step to complete her LPC at the Birmingham College of Law.
Jean Rice (nee Pirnie) – Conveyancing Executive
Jean is based at the Boldmere Office and has been with the firm since 1997, she is a senior Conveyancing Executive who has in excess of 32 years experience in domestic conveyancing.
Jean has worked in the Sutton Coldfield area for the past 14 years having previously worked in the Aldridge/Walsall area. She therefore has considerable experience of conveyancing transactions within these areas and beyond.
Lucy Rochester – Family Assistant
Lucy joined the firm in October 2003 and is based at our Boldmere Office and for a number of years has assisted Jean Pirnie and Lisa Friel in the Conveyancing Department by dealing with clients, Solicitors and Estate Agents on a day to day basis.
In addition Lucy now also assists in our other departments particularly family whereby she is building upon her knowledge and experience.
Lucy is in the early stages of undertaking the ILEX course in the hope to qualify as a Legal Executive.
Daniella Hassell – Office Assistant
Daniella divides her time between our Boldmere and Four Oaks Office as an office assistant. She supports all members of staff with general office duties and in addition assists on reception.
Lately Daniella has become more involved in our Wills, Probate and the Conveyancing Department and is showing great promise in these areas and is proving to be a very capable member of staff.