Tozers Solicitors LLP > Exeter, England > Firm Profile
Tozers Solicitors LLP Offices
BROADWALK HOUSE
SOUTHERNHAY WEST
EXETER
EX1 1UA
England
Tozers Solicitors LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Insurance > Clinical negligence: claimant Tier 1
Tozers Solicitors LLP has a primary focus on birth injury claims, specifically in regard to Erb’s Palsy. Under the joint leadership of Endurance Arthur and Stuart Bramley, the team has experience representing adult clients who have suffered severe injuries due to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. Clair Hemming is a key port of call for claimants with catastrophic neurological injuries, while Simon Mansfield is praised as ‘intelligent and experienced’.Practice head(s):
Endurance Arthur; Stuart Bramley
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘One of the strongest and most experienced clinical negligence teams in the South West of England.’
‘Simon Mansfield – a natural leader, intelligent and experienced. Ideal solicitor for running substantial claims.’
‘Stuart Bramley – highly articulate with great litigation sense and intuition. A first class mind.’
‘Since dealing with Tozers it has been noted on many occasions, that they go above and beyond, in order to gets things done.’
‘Clair Hemming has just been amazing, she has often come up against hurdles in our case, but has always managed to source a solution.’
‘They work extremely well together as a team and give their clients confidence in their capabilities. They are all approachable, efficient and very professional.’
‘Simon Mansfield was always very professional, empathetic to my case and always answered my questions in a timely manner.’
‘Stuart Bramley – Very passionate about his job, extremely knowledgeable, very caring and considerate. Just an all round fantastic solicitor and great guy.’
Work highlights
- Representing a vulnerable claimant who suffered an ischaemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhage and who has suffered significant brain damage.
- Representing a female client aged 58 who suffered a delay in diagnosis and treatment of a spinal fracture following a fall from a horse, who then developed cauda equina syndrome.
- Representing a 68-year-old woman in a claim arising from total knee replacements undertaken by an NHS trust in 2009 and then revised by a private surgeon in 2015.
Employment > Employment: Dorset, Devon and Cornwall Tier 2
Tozers Solicitors LLP primarily acts for employers in the commercial, public, housing, hotel and charitable sectors. According to one client, the team’s ‘skill and knowledge is exceptional‘. The practice is led by Stephen Jennings, who has over 20 years’ employment law experience; he handles the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious mandates for local and national clients.Practice head(s):
Stephen Jennings
Testimonials
‘The team are always very helpful and respond to requests quickly and efficiently with robust advice.’
‘The individuals I deal with have been knowledgeable, efficient and able to provide timely advice when needed on a range of matters.’
‘The Tozers team are excellent. The communication and support is outstanding, they respond swiftly and professionally to all communication relating to employment law. Their skill and knowledge is exceptional. They provide outstanding value for money by introducing an easy agreement where we benefit from ongoing advice and access to them for a really great price.’
‘Stephen Jennings is exceptional. He conveys very technical legal advice in terms that me and my team can understand.’
‘Tozer’s are an approachable firm with strong knowledge of the housing sector, with an ability to provide swift, pragmatic and cost effective advice on our legal needs.’
‘Stephen Jennings is accessible and extremely knowledgeable, he will frequently think of nuances of cases that allow and enable us to navigate the legal minefield with the minimum of fuss.’
‘Very helpful and knowledgeable firm who are quick to respond accurately and helpfully.’
‘Stephen Jennings is just superb. Incredibly knowledgeable, adaptable, helpful and always available or gets back to you extremely quickly.’
Private client > Charities and not-for-profit Tier 2
Working with a varied mix of clients that includes both grassroots groups and large national charities, the team at Tozers Solicitors LLP is well placed to handle all manner of issues concerning charity law compliance, data protection, legacies and contested probate, and commercial contracts. James Evans - who heads the team - has over 25 years of experience advising on third sector matters; key workflows include charity start-ups and resignation processes, as well as governance and constitutional issues.Practice head(s):
James Evans
Other key lawyers:
Vernon Clarke; Stephen Jennings; Amy Laver; Martin Laver
Testimonials
‘Working with James Evans, partner and solicitor, has always been a positive experience. He can explain matters in a non-technical way and is very thorough and responsive.’Â
‘The team has a real focus in the charity sector, supporting myriad charities with all forms of legal advice. Personally, I think it is the go-to team for most forms of charity legal advice.’
‘James Evans is always willing to reach out.’
‘Amy Laver has a growing reputation in the sector, especially within academies.’
‘James Evans has been exceptional in the support he has offered us.’
‘Responsive and proactive.’
‘Practical, logical response.’
Key clients
South West Lakes Trust
Devon Wildlife Trust
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Rowcroft Hospice
Dame Hannah Rogers Charity
Hospiscare
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Buckfast Abbey
Devon County Agricultural Association
Wessex Museums Trust
Work highlights
- Provided legal support to the Wessex Museums Trust on constitution, governance arrangements and asset transfer.
- Acted for the South West Lakes Trust on a wide range of charity law, governance, property, commercial and employment matters.
- Provided a full range of legal support to the Devon Wildlife Trust including on charity law, property, commercial and employment matters.
Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Dorset, Devon and Cornwall Tier 3
Tozers Solicitors LLP is known for its focus on corporate reorganisations and local M&A deals on behalf of SMEs and owner-managed companies. Practice head James Orpin supports clients in corporate transactions, and provides advice on commercial and shareholder agreements, as well as private equity investments and business restructurings. Transactional matters also form part of Amy Laver‘s portfolio, who further has expertise in charity law and governance issues. Rebecca Roberts was promoted to partner in January 2023.Practice head(s):
James Orpin
Other key lawyers:
Amy Laver; Rebecca Roberts; Oliver Kent
Testimonials
‘Tozers are a fantastic practice.’
‘Rebecca Roberts is very approachable and has great commercial awareness.’
‘Client service and technical ability. The understanding and commitment to deadlines.’
‘Small but focused team. Gives excellent client service, and robust clear advice.’
‘Amy Laver is direct and robust in dealing with often demanding clients.’
Key clients
Kensa Group Limited
The British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA)
Private client > Family Tier 3
The team at Tozers Solicitors LLP assists clients on both private and public family law matters pertaining to divorce and separation, finances, pensions and children matters. The practice notably boasts its own dedicated care team, focused on representing vulnerable children and victims of domestic abuse. Both Caroline Ryan and Tony Wood head up the team; Ryan has considerable experience advising on pensions, while Wood - a family lawyer for more than 30 years - heads up the specialist care team at the firm. Aimee Aspinall is also recommended. ÂPractice head(s):
Caroline Ryan; Tony Wood
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The Tozers team are very capable and highly communicative with clients and professional collaborators.’
‘Aimee Aspinall and Caroline Ryan are both very compassionate and always looking to ensure that their clients achieve the best outcome.’
‘The team at Tozers takes a client focused approach providing clear advice and guidance. They are a safe pair of hands and go above and beyond to assist clients. They take a collaborative approach when instructing counsel ensuring that clients have support when meeting and working with counsel.’
‘Very professional and helpful and great communication.’
‘The staff I work worked with were always superb and very kind and helpful!’
‘Caroline Ryan was extremely supportive and very knowledgeable about procedures. She advised me confidently and all communications were efficient, effective and appropriate. Ms Kirstie Mackenzie acted efficiently and always dealt with my queries promptly.’
Work highlights
Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate Tier 3
Drawing praise from various clients, Tozers Solicitors LLP is noted for its niche expertise in succession planning and tax relief claims for park owners, as well as its capabilities in the administration of complex and high-value estates. Grainne Staunton, who leads the team, frequently advises holiday and home park owners on succession planning and inheritance tax issues. Other key figures include the 'wholly exceptional' Rachael Morley, and Sue Halfyard, who was promoted to partner in July 2022.Practice head(s):
Gráinne Staunton
Other key lawyers:
Rachael Morley; Sue Halfyard; Naomi Hoare; Sarah Phillips
Testimonials
‘Tozers are clearly very well-organised and understand the importance of good teamwork. I always feel that they have my interests at heart, and they use clear, simple language.’
‘I have found the team to be approachable and reliable. Happy to deal with any problems and questions that we may have. Very quick response to issues. Great communication.’
‘Sarah Phillips is a true confidant. Very knowledgeable and asks the right questions when dealing with other professionals. Quick to action and organise responses.’
‘Tozers is one of the few law firms I know and work with who have a very dedicated bedside manner with clients. They act as trustee, deputy and attorney for many of their clients, whom they truly care about and look after.’
‘Rachael Morley is wholly exceptional.’
Work highlights
Real estate > Social housing Tier 3
Acting primarily for registered providers and housing associations, the ‘very good social housing team’ at Tozers Solicitors LLP assists with development and regeneration work, and has an increasing focus on housing disrepair claims. Practice head Stephen Burtchaell counts cross-subsidy and golden brick schemes among his areas of expertise, while site infrastructure agreements are a key strength for Amanda Bonnick. Social housing management specialists Jennifer Lloyd and Sarah Schooling are further key contacts at the Exeter practice.Practice head(s):
Stephen Burtchaell
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Tozers are a legal firm who knows Social Housing, the staff are very good.’
‘Tozers have a very good Social Housing Team overseen by a very good manager in Stephen Burtchaell.’
‘Our staff feel very comfortable talking to Tozers’ legal team which is not always the case.’
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Key clients
North Devon Homes Limited
Plymouth Community Homes
Brunelcare
Bromford Housing Group
South Western Housing Society
Abri
Westward Housing Group Limited
Cirencester Housing Association
Bridgwater YMCA
Exeter YMCA
Elim Housing Association
White Horse Housing Association
South Devon Rural Housing Association
Cornerstone Housing Limited
Shepherds Bush Housing Association Limited
Ocean Housing Limited
Stonewater
Real estate > Planning Tier 4
Tozers Solicitors LLP‘s traditional twin strengths - planning for the residential and caravan park sector and local government practice - have been broadened by a burgeoning focus on residential development matters and work for wildlife trusts and industrial businesses. Amy Cater, described as ‘the UK’s leading expert in Leisure and Caravan Park planning’, heads the practice from the firm’s Exeter office. Kelly Burns frequently advises local authorities on s106 agreements, while Alex McKerron has a strong focus on residential development.Practice head(s):
Amy Cater
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Considerable knowledge of the tourism sector.’
‘Amy Cater’s knowledge and written submissions are far beyond those of any other barrister or solicitor instructed by us.’
‘Amy Cater is very approachable and is quick to respond with well-informed advice. She explains her advice in a focused, knowledgeable manner.’
‘Expertise in the park home space that covers all aspects from legislation and litigation through to planning. Their knowledge is immense and is superior to any other practice I have encountered.’
‘I have built a long and professional relationship with Amy Cater, whose knowledge on planning matters is enviable. Nothing is too much trouble for her, and her commitment is second to none.’
‘We have used their services over more than four decades, which I think says it all.’
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Key clients
South Somerset District Council
Warfield Homes Limited
Devon Wildlife Trust
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Burry and Knight Limited
British Holiday and Home Parks Association Limited
Away Resorts Limited
Andrew Hicks Engineering Limited
Hoburne Limited
Shorefield Holidays Limited
Berkeley Leisure Group Limited
Habitat Park Homes Limited
Work highlights
- Advising South Somerset District Council on the negotiation of two section 106 agreements for sustainable urban extensions approximately 1500 houses.
- Providing regular strategic advice to Warfield Homes Limited which has a significant and complex planning history.
Tozers Solicitors LLP > Firm Profile
Established in 1785, Tozers LLP is a leading law firm with offices in Exeter, Teignmouth and Newton Abbot. We work closely with our commercial and private clients enabling us to provide a comprehensive legal service.
Commercial Property
We advise on all aspects of commercial property, working closely with wide-ranging regional and international clients including investment landlords, charities, local authorities, holiday park owners and social housing providers.
Dispute Resolution
Our team are experienced in all types of court action from the High Court and District Registries to the Local County Courts and Tribunals. Court action is no longer the only alternative and we can advise on the best option for you.
Family Law
Here at Tozers, our specialist family law solicitors are committed to supporting you every step of the way. We will take the time to understand your personal situation, provide you with practical advice and help you make the right decisions for you and your family. We can help with divorce & separation, children, finances and domestic violence.
Company & Commercial
Our clients want to achieve their commercial goals as quickly, easily and cost-effectively as possible. We help them to do so by overcoming any problems with the minimum delay and cost. We act for a wide range of businesses, from sole traders, partnerships and small private companies to large corporates and financial institutions.
Employment Law
We give practical advice from a fast-response, partner-led team. We specialise in advising businesses. We act for all sorts of employers, from very small start-ups to major housing associations, charities, hotel chains and other commercial entities. Much of our work is with experienced HR teams, advising on the knottiest issues they come across, both at a strategic and a day-to-day level. We take a pride in getting to know our clients, which helps us tailor our advice to your needs.
Family Trusts & Tax Planning
Whether you are looking for ways to protect your own assets for the next generation or to make arrangements for how your finances are to be looked after if you could not deal with them yourself, our expert team can advise you on the options available for you and your family.
Intellectual Property (IP) and Internet Law
The law of the internet is complex and failure to comply can mean unenforceable contracts. There are steps you can and should take to ensure brand protection and legal compliance, many of them simple and inexpensive. We advise on: trade mark registration, design right registration, copyright protection, website legal compliance and IP Disputes.
Medical Negligence
Our medical negligence solicitors are classed as amongst the best in the UK, not least because they specialise in recovering maximum compensation from medical negligence claims and clinical negligence claims.
Planning & Licensing
Our experienced licensing team deals with liquor, public entertainment and gaming machines licensing for a wide range of clients both locally and nationally. With our particular experience in the leisure industry these include cafes, pubs, clubs, hotels, holiday parks and attractions.
Residential Property
We offer a bespoke conveyancing service across England and Wales tailored to meet your needs. Whether you are selling a manor house, making an investment purchase or buying your first flat, we have a large team of skilled and respected property lawyers who will guide you safely through the pitfalls of moving.
Residential Landlord & Tenant
We act for all types of landlords; from large, national social landlords with over 30,000 homes to private landlords with both large and small portfolios. We deal with all types of tenure: tenants; long leaseholders; lodgers; licences; caravan and mobile home park occupiers; shared ownership; trespassers.
Wills & Probate
Making a Will is a task which most of us put off yet it is one of the simplest steps you can take to ensure your family is provided for on your death. A carefully-drafted Will can also help to mitigate the Inheritance Tax which may be due on a person’s death. Whether or not a person has left a valid Will, their estate will need to be administered in accordance with the law and certain steps taken to ensure that their affairs are finalised and their assets distributed in the correct way.
We also have several specialist sectors, including:
Academies & Schools
Our team of experienced lawyers can assist and advise you on all aspects of forming partnerships with other schools, from informal collaborations to multi academy trusts (MATs). We can help ensure schools maximise their opportunities when it comes to the increased autonomy and responsibility on offer. We offer a wide range of services and advice, not just on the mechanics of academy conversion but also support in delivering your vision and dealing with day to day matters post conversion.
Charities
We have a very long association with regional and national charities of all kinds. For existing charities we provide a review service to ensure that their activities are not out of step with their constitutions, advise on possible changes and negotiate with the Charity Commission. And we advise on compliance and property issues, trading, VAT and a whole host of problems that charities encounter.
Farms & Rural Estates
We have a long established relationship with landowners, farmers and landed estates having acted for several generations of farming families since 1785 and we are members of the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) and the Agricultural Law Association (ALA).
Holiday & Residential Parks
We are the leading firm of lawyers in providing a specialist service throughout England and Wales for caravan and leisure parks and mobile home parks, acting exclusively for and on behalf of park owners. We represent the British Holiday and Home Parks Association and are therefore at the cutting edge of legal developments affecting these businesses. Our clients range from the very smallest parks to large owners with a number of parks and our dedicated team will give prompt advice based on experience and at realistic fees.
Social Housing
We wholly identify with the aims and ethos of the social housing movement. We provide in-depth employment advice and housing advice. We advise on property issues from site acquisition and assembly, conditional contracts, planning gain retention and Section 106 Agreements through to straightforward right to buy and Shared Equity sales. We can also advise on strategic aspects of housing association activities such as governance and tendering (i.e. for supporting people contracts).
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head of Holiday and Residential Parks; Managing Partner | Paul Kelly | p.kelly@tozers.co.uk | 01392 207020 |
| Head of Property; Partner and Solicitor | Vernon Clarke | v.clarke@tozers.co.uk | 01392 207020 |
| Head of Litigation and Employment; Partner and Solicitor | Jill Headford | j.headford@tozers.co.uk | 01392 207020 |
| Head of Wealth Management; Partner and Solicitor | Gráinne Staunton | g.staunton@tozers.co.uk | 01392 207020 |
| Head of Corporate and Commercial; Partner and Solicitor | James Orpin | j.orpin@tozers.co.uk | 01392 207020 |
| Head of Social Housing; Partner and Solicitor | Stephen Burtchaell | s.burtchaell@tozers.co.uk | 01392 207020 |
| Joint Head of Medical Negligence; Partner and Solicitor | Endurance Arthur | e.arthur@tozers.co.uk | 01392 207020 |
| Head of Charities and Social Enterprise; Partner and Solicitor | James Evans | j.evans@tozers.co.uk | 01392 207020 |
| Partner in Planning; Solicitor | Amy Cater | a.cater@tozers.co.uk | 01392 207020 |
| Partner in Litigation and Employment; Solicitor | Stephen Jennings | s.jennings@tozers.co.uk | 01392 207020 |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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Mrs Endurance Arthur | Joint Head of Medical Negligence. Partner and Solicitor. | View Profile |
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Mr Stephen Burtchaell | Head of Social Housing. Partner and Solicitor. | View Profile |
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Ms Amy Cater | Partner and Solicitor | View Profile |
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Mr Vernon Clarke | Partner and Solicitor. | View Profile |
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Mr James Evans | Head of Charities and Social Enterprise. Partner and Solicitor | View Profile |
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Mrs Jill Headford | Head of Litigation and Employment. Partner and Solicitor. | View Profile |
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Clair Hemming | View Profile | |
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Mr Stephen Jennings | Partner and Solicitor | View Profile |
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Mr Paul Kelly | Head of the parks team and managing partner of the firm, Paul… | View Profile |
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Mrs Amy Laver | View Profile | |
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Simon Mansfield | View Profile | |
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Mr James Orpin | Head of Corporate and Commercial. Partner and Solicitor. | View Profile |
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Caroline Ryan | View Profile | |
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Mrs Grainne Staunton | Head of Wealth Management. Partner and Solicitor. | View Profile |
Staff Figures
:Languages
English (fluent) French Twi GermanDiversity/Community
At Tozers LLP we value the diverse experiences of everyone. We believe that our clients are best served by creative, empathetic and engaged people and to this end we support and encourage differences in our teams.
We want all our staff to reach their full potential, put their talents to best use, have a sense of belonging and enjoy rewarding careers in an environment where they can be true to themselves. To achieve this, we encourage an inclusive and respectful working environment that seeks out from everyone contributions which are driven by their individual and diverse perspectives.
Our commitment to inclusivity is not just about ensuring that policies and procedures are in place; we put our commitment into action. Of our staff, 40% work non-standard hours to accommodate their out of work commitments to things such as family care, education or to facilitate easier journeys to and from work. Our celebration of our generational differences is reflected in the age profile of our staff which spreads from early twenties to mid-seventies.
It is also important that our staff feel supported and we are signatories to the Charter for Employers who are Positive about Mental Health. We have trained some of senior managers in mental health awareness to not only be able to provide support for existing staff who may be having difficulties but also to understand the discrimination that those with mental health issues may previously have experienced in recruitment and selection processes.
Every year we give our staff the opportunity to complete our diversity questionnaire and the statistical information is published on our website. We strive to keep learning from any feedback that we receive so that we can continue to attract and retain the best talent who will deliver the best service to our clients.
Client Testimonials
CLIENT: Cathryn
COMPANY/FIRM:
TESTIMONIAL: Mark Meleady and the team at Tozers have been great at handling two sales and a purchase for us. They are efficient, customer focused, diligent and very thorough. We would highly recommend as the process of buying and selling is never easy but Mark and the team certainly give you confidence and support throughout the process. THANK YOU.
CLIENT: Victoria
COMPANY/FIRM:
TESTIMONIAL: I’ve employed Julie Hill’s services many times over the years, and I have no plans to use any other Conveyancing Solicitor. Even before she started working for Tozers, I used her on previous transactions and she was fantastic. A credit to the industry.
CLIENT: Adrian
COMPANY/FIRM:
TESTIMONIAL: We used Tozers for our house purchase and found them to be very professional, good communication and very helpful in explaining the various steps in the process in clear and simple terms.
CLIENT: Charlotte
COMPANY/FIRM:
TESTIMONIAL: Chloe came recommended from the Exeter branch due to her history of working with clients who have been a victim of domestic abuse. Right from the start Chloe was amazing, she put my mind at ease over some concerns I had and she gave me the courage to pursue my court case. The rest of the team at Newton abbot branch have been amazing and helpful.
CLIENT: Malcolm
COMPANY/FIRM:
TESTIMONIAL: Emma explained in detail all relevant clauses in the power of Attorney documents and we were very happy for her to have a home visit to complete all relevant documents.
- Insurance > Clinical negligence: claimant
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Employment > Employment: Dorset, Devon and Cornwall
- Private client > Charities and not-for-profit