Crane & Staples LLP > Welwyn Garden City, England > Firm Profile
Crane & Staples LLP Offices
LONGCROFT HOUSE
FRETHERNE ROAD
WELWYN GARDEN CITY
HERTFORDSHIRE
AL8 6TU
England
Crane & Staples LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Private client > Family: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 2
In Welwyn Garden City, the team at Crane & Staples LLP ‘leaves no stone unturned‘ when advising on the non-disclosure of assets, deprivation of liberty issues, and nuptial agreements. Danielle Peters is ‘experienced, knowledgeable and very hardworking‘, and leads the team alongside ‘hardworking and committed‘ senior associate Sian Churchill. Peters is particularly knowledgeable in financial arrangements concerning businesses and pension arrangements post-divorce, while Churchill primarily acts in non-accidental injury and chronic neglect cases. Sharon Montgomery is a ‘credit to her profession‘, often advising high-net-worth individuals and same-sex couples on child arrangements and maintenance issues.Practice head(s):
Danielle Peters; Sian Churchill
Other key lawyers:
Sharon Montgomery; Janet Martland; Natasha Khakhar
Testimonials
‘The team are friendly, professional and will go the extra mile for their clients. Simply put, nothing is too much trouble. The chemistry of the team pulling together is unique and is a joy to behold.’
‘Danielle Peters is experienced, knowledgeable and very hardworking. She takes a practical and proportionate approach to her cases and they are always prepared impeccably.’
‘Sharon Montgomery is a true professional with a wealth of knowledge and experience. A credit to her profession.’
‘Natasha Khakhar is a real credit to herself, and the firm are so lucky to have her. She is warm, engaging, an effective listener, and empathetic. She always goes above and beyond. Natasha is an excellent solicitor. She represents her clients with empathy, compassion and understanding, whilst providing meticulous and considered legal advice.’
‘Sian Churchill is a stand out member of the firm, she is exceptional at what she does and takes such amazing care and humility in her work. She pushes for the best possible results in every way.’
‘Under Sharon Montgomery’s leadership, the team at Crane & Staples leaves no stone unturned in the seeking to secure the best possible outcome for their clients.’
‘Sian Churchill goes out of her way to assist her clients. She is hard working, committed, and provides sound advice. Sian stands out. She is friendly, approachable, and a true asset to that team. She is always professional and respectful to all.’
‘Janet Martland is proactive, astute, and fantastic with clients and does her own advocacy and always serves her clients well. She is an absolute asset and does it all.’
Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 2
The team at Crane & Staples LLP exhibits an ‘unsurpassed depth of knowledge‘ when acting in matters concerning gift applications, trust management, statutory wills and agricultural estates. The ‘tremendously knowledgeable‘ David Bird heads up the Welwyn Garden City practice, with his longstanding expertise in the creation and administration of trusts and estates, in addition to the preparation of lasting powers of attorney. Samantha Webb is ‘willing to help in every way she can‘ when advising on declarations of trust and Court of Protection applications, while associate Georgina Christou has broad knowledge of inheritance tax planning and is ‘extremely efficient‘ when assisting with applications for deputyship orders. Tahir Nisar departed the practice to join Whiskers in April 2023.Practice head(s):
David Bird
Other key lawyers:
Samantha Webb; Georgina Christou; Katie Smits
Testimonials
‘They are very attentive and have looked after my legal affairs with compassion, support and understanding. Their ability to communicate with clarity is excellent. Their staff are always courteous and always get back to me.’
‘All individuals stand out. They have their own areas of expertise, and are extremely patient wherever necessary. Samantha Webb is an absolute delight, and willing to help in every way she can.’
‘Samantha Webb is very professional with a friendly disposition. Someone you feel that you can trust. Samantha is very approachable and makes sure every eventuality was covered, discussed and agreed.’
‘I found David Bird to be excellent. David exhibits thoroughness, speed of response, and care, and has been tremendously knowledgeable and helpful in his explanations.’
‘Katie Smits is bright, knowledgeable, and very smart. She has a wonderful way with people and is a fabulous communicator which is so important when important issues are being discussed. I would strongly recommend Katie .’
‘Georgina Christou, I only have praise for her and her team. They have been extremely efficient and helpful while looking after me and my affairs, showing a great duty of care.’
‘Unsurpassed depth of knowledge. A real attention to detail and all round professional, dedicated approach that makes them a joy to work with. Very personable and easy to deal with.’
‘I have dealt with Crane & Staples for a number of years and I am confident potential clients will be provided with an experienced and professional service.’
Real estate > Commercial property: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 4
The Welwyn Garden City team at Crane & Staples LLP is ‘second to none‘ at assisting a diverse client base, consisting of franchises, professional landlords, and local authorities. The ‘outstanding‘ Bonnie Twiggs leads the practice alongside Chris Brewis. Twiggs is an ‘exceptional solicitor‘ who is particularly adept at advising on leasehold and enfranchisement issues, while Brewis, who is rated by clients as ‘a cut above most solicitors‘, regularly represents developers and healthcare entities in lease and land acquisitions. The ‘highly sought after and proactive‘ Manish Patel has broad experience spanning care home provider sales and the refinancing of freehold properties.Practice head(s):
Bonnie Twiggs; Chris Brewis
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Bonnie Twiggs is by far the best solicitor we have ever worked with. Bonnie is outstanding because of her vast knowledge and confidence, but also her personable and approachable nature, we feel she has our best interests at heart.’
‘I wouldn’t use any other law firm. Their knowledge, advice, service and support has been second to none.’
‘Chris Brewis supplies a very efficient service, providing sound advice in most areas, we would rate Chris a cut above most solicitors.’
‘Bonnie Twiggs is an exceptional solicitor with years of experience in various commercial matters, she has helped us numerous times with difficult property issues including leases, purchases and help securing finance. Her number one priority is us the client, she’s straight talking and always gives honest opinions and advice.’
‘The team has great knowledge in depth and presents helpful advice calmly to clients.’
‘Manish Patel is a highly sought after and proactive solicitor, who brings his whole heart to work and demonstrates passion for exceptional client service on a daily basis. He is consistent, driven and always takes the initiative in moving things forward towards a successful outcome as a trusted adviser.’
Work highlights
- Acting for a client in the £8m sale of a nursery and day-care business.
Crane & Staples LLP > Firm Profile
Crane & Staples was established in 1938 in the heart of Welwyn Garden City. We position ourselves as: ‘Professional solicitors delivering a specialist service to the local community’.
Our eight partners are passionate about their business. They are dynamic and forward thinking, embrace challenge and change and make significant investment in both their team and technology to drive the business. The total team numbers 45 and includes 23 lawyers.
We pride ourselves on both our legal expertise and understanding our clients’ needs across a diverse and complicated range of areas such as commercial, employment and property law, significant lifetime events such as divorce and family law, and sensitive areas of later life planning and bereavement.
Nearly 98% of our work comes from happy clients who return to us, from their recommendations to family and friends, or from professional referrals. We pay no introducer fees.
As a firm, Crane & Staples is extremely well established and connected in Welwyn Hatfield having an excellent reputation with individuals, families and businesses. We have always been a proactive firm within the local and business community and the last 12 months have been no exception.
We aim to provide our clients with legal expertise in a professional way at every point of contact; to deliver an outstanding level of client care, advise, guide and reassure our clients through the times that matter and exceed their expectations.
Quality in all aspects of the business is fundamental to our philosophy. We were the second law firm in Hertfordshire to achieve the Lexcel legal quality mark, whose standards we will have consistently achieved over the past 17 years, including this year.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family | Sharon Montgomery | s.montgomery@crane-staples.co.uk | 01707 329333 |
| Family | Danielle Peters | d.peters@crane-staples.co.uk | 01707 329333 |
| Private Client | David Bird | d.bird@crane-staples.co.uk | 01707 329333 |
| Private Client | Samantha Webb | s.webb@crane-staples.co.uk | 01707 329333 |
| Property | Bonnie Twiggs | b.twiggs@crane-staples.co.uk | 01707 329333 |
| Property | Christopher Brewis | c.brewis@crane-staples.co.uk | 01707 329333 |
| Property | Manish Patel | m.patel@crane-staples.co.uk | 01707 329333 |
| Employment and Dispute Resolution | Michael Scutt | m.scutt@crane-staples.co.uk | 01707 329333 |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mr David Bird | Partner and Head of Private Client Department, specialising in Tax planning, estate… | View Profile |
|
Mr Adrian Boulter | Dispute Resolution Executive, specialising in : Property and Contract Dispute Resolution Contentious… | View Profile |
|
Mr Christopher Brewis | Partner and Head of Residential Property, specialising in all aspects of residential… | View Profile |
|
Mrs Heather Charles-Wall | Residential Conveyancer specialising in all aspects of residential conveyancing, plot sales and purchases. | View Profile |
|
Mrs Georgina Christou | Associate Solicitor specialising in Wills, Trusts, Probate, Inheritance Tax and Estate Planning,… | View Profile |
|
|
Mrs Georgina Christou | Associate Solicitor specialising in Wills, Trusts, Probate, Inheritance Tax and Estate Planning,… | View Profile |
|
Mrs Sian Churchill | Senior Associate Solicitor, specialising in Children Law and Domestic Abuse, passionate about… | View Profile |
|
Mr Albert Green | Wills, Trusts and Probate Solicitor | View Profile |
|
Mr Malcolm Hemmings-Portas | Associate with broad experience dealing with a range of aspects of Commercial… | View Profile |
|
Mr David Hughes | Consultant Solicitor specialising in helping business owners with: Shareholder agreements Selling and… | View Profile |
|
Mrs Lilas Kayani | Associate Solicitor specialising in Children Law. | View Profile |
|
Mrs Natasha Khakhar | Senior Associate Family Solicitor, specialising in all aspects of family law including… | View Profile |
|
Mrs Katie Lane | Solicitor specialising in Wills, Trusts and Probate. | View Profile |
|
Mrs Janet Martland | Associate Solicitor specialising in Family and Children Law, in particular representing parents… | View Profile |
|
Miss Mischa McKevitt | Wills, Trusts and Probate Solicitor | View Profile |
|
Mrs Sharon Montgomery | Partner, dealing with problems or issues that result from the breakdown of… | View Profile |
|
Mr Manish Patel | Partner specialising in all aspects of residential and commercial conveyancing, including Freehold… | View Profile |
|
Mrs Danielle Peters | Head of Family Department and Partner, specialising in all issues of relationship… | View Profile |
|
Miss Kerry Reynolds | View Profile | |
|
Mr Michael Scutt | Partner and Head of Department specialising in employment law for both small… | View Profile |
|
Mrs Bonnie Twiggs | Partner and Head of Commercial Department, specialising in all aspects of residential… | View Profile |
|
Mrs Samantha Webb | Partner with a breadth of experience in Private Client work, including Court… | View Profile |
Languages
English Punjabi Urdu KashmiriMemberships
Resolution Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP) Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) Law SocietyClient Testimonials
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: Crane & Staples helped me with completing a lease extension and mortgage completion which was quite complex. They came highly recommended and I’m so glad that I chose them. Extremely professional and polite team that were a pleasure to deal with. They helped me through every step of the way and the whole team showed me courtesy throughout the difficult process. I would recommend them without hesitation.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: Crane and Staples are truly professional in their services. I really appreciate you all.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: Efficient and professional, gave useful information, and acted quickly on our instructions. I would thoroughly recommend Crane and Staples.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: Excellent service. Effective and prompt communication. Friendly, approachable and personable.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: Excellent Service. Have been using Crane & Staples since the late 1980’s, as have all my family and we have never been let down. We moved to Hampshire with the help of Crane & Staples in 2011 but still use the company and would travel back to Hertfordshire, when needed, to continue any business if necessary. Our query was answered within the day with no waiting for days on end for a call back. We were given precise and clear answers, enabling us to move forward. Excellent service as always.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: Extremely efficient, easy to contact and responded promptly to any queries. Very professional. Would highly recommend.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: From initial contact to conclusion the C&S team have been nothing but first class. All questions / queries were responded to promptly and always felt I knew exactly where we were on the process. Having worked with C&S previously I was sure they would provide a great service yet they managed to exceed even my expectations.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: Highly professional and knowledgeable – outstanding service, I contacted Crane & Staples Solicitors to gain advice and help regarding a claim under the Inheritance Act 1975. Together with young children, I have found myself in extremely difficult and very stressful situation. I received OUTSTANDING service. I felt extremely supported throughout the time. I would always use Crane & Staples Solicitors for any legal work and highly recommend this law firm to anyone! Thank you so much.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: I first had dealings with Crane & Staples in 2007. Over the past two years I have used their excellent services and advice in dealing with a commercial property dispute/litigation, as well as seeking their help in safeguarding a friend with Dementia who needed Will-writing and Power of Attorney assistance. In every respect I have found Crane & Staples to be reliable, professional, thorough and effective, prompt and very helpful. I have no hesitation in recommending them very highly.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: I have worked with Crane & Staples for over 15 years and have always excellent to deal with, otherwise I would not continue to do so. The Solicitor and the entire Conveyancing team that helped in the house team were very helpful and lovely to deal with and I hope to continue to work with them in the future.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: I just wanted to say thank you again for helping us with our flat purchase, you really helped me understand each step and took away a lot of the stress and I am very grateful so thank you again!
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: I just wanted to thank you and the team for your support and guidance through this process. I was very happy with the support from Crane and Staples during the process. And it confirmed my trust in choosing your firm. I would have no hesitation to recommending you to others.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: I just wanted to write to thank you for your amazing service and support. I appreciate just how hard you worked on it and can only apologise for the many phone calls you have received from me. At no time did you rush me or make me feel less important than what must be many other clients. I was impressed by your diligence and professionalism throughout. My Father has used Crane and staples for many years and I can now understand why. You are a credit to the company and I wish you nothing but success in your future.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: I know you will always be there for me no matter what happens and I’ll always be grateful for you.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the excellent job you have done. You have been very clear and concise throughout and dealt with all matters in a respectful manner and provided me with excellent advice. A divorce is not an easy thing to go through but on the practical side of things you certainly made life easier.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: I would just like to say thank you. It’s not been easy but we got there! I was shocked (in a good way) at how quickly everything came to a close. The outcome is expensive but I’m confident it was the right decision. I can sleep at night without worrying about divorce proceedings and make concrete plans.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: Just to say all, thank you very much for all your efforts in completing today. Everyone has been great in driving this deal. It’s much appreciated.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: May I take this opportunity to thank you again for all your help and advice both prior and throughout the administration of the estate. The service you have given us has been outstanding. Your responses to our enquiries have always been extremely prompt and helpful, giving us straightforward and practical advice to enable us to deal with complex affairs. Your calm, efficient, meticulous and friendly approach to all matters has been a great support and comfort, and we are most grateful for everything that you have done for us.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: May I take this opportunity to thank you for all your guidance and assistance throughout this process. You’ve dealt all the matters so professionally and promptly.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: Stressful family case handled with such care !!! Amazing firm. I was very nervous about my case and unsure how to approach. The advice I received was very clear and realistic. I was always Informed of the next steps and what was needed from me. I felt heard and understood. My case was a child matter, which was very emotional. Having clear, friendly guidance made the process a lot easier. Very effective and compassionate. I am happy to say the case result was positive and was finalised a lot quicker than originally expected. Honestly I cannot recommend enough everybody who helped with my case. I really felt like I had a whole team.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: We approached them to write our wills following a recommendation from a couple of friends who had received good service. We cannot fault the service we received, extremely professional, polite and knowledgeable. Explained everything in easy to understand language and wills now written and signed.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: The service you have given us has been outstanding. Your responses to any enquiries from both us and our buyers have always been extremely prompt and helpful, and we have valued your very practical advice when dealing with some of the trickier issues that have arisen over the last year. With your considerable support we have at last completed both sales which is a great relief, and we are most grateful for everything that you have done for us.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: Thanks for your confirmation, and again, for all your help and support on this. Your service has been exemplary. Look forward to working with you again!
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: Thank you very much for your work on this one. It’s great to get it completed. What a pleasure it is to work with you. We really appreciate all the wonderful work you are doing.
CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: : Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: We have dealt with Crane and Staples many times over the years and they always provide an excellent professional service for Conveyancing, Wills and for dealing with Estates. Their Conveyancing department always handle any problems which can arise with house sales and house purchasing quickly and efficiently and I highly recommend their services.