Crane & Staples

Partners: David Bird, Sharon Montgomery, Danielle Peters, Bonnie Twiggs, Christopher Brewis, Michael Scutt, Samantha Webb, Manish Patel

Number of partners: 8

Number of other fee-earners: 21

Firm Overview

Crane & Staples Solicitors in Welwyn Garden City was founded in 1938, with the aim to provide expert legal advice to members of the community. The firm operates around four core values: Excellence, Empathy, Integrity and Community.

Crane & Staples is well-known for assisting individuals, families, and businesses with their legal matters, ensuring a quality, reliable service, and lifelong client relationships. They act for many well-established local, regional and national companies, including property developers, professional landlords, local authorities and franchises. Frequently, clients choose to instruct the firm for both their personal and business needs, as they value the expertise, consistency, and care that they receive from every member of the team.

The legal advice that Crane & Staples provides is bespoke. The lawyers have the foresight and skill to ensure that clients’ professional and personal goals are achieved in the most practical, clear and cost-effective way. With care, empathy and consideration, the lawyers at Crane & Staples take an individualised approach to each case, understanding the importance of protecting clients’ personal and business interests and ensuring their family legacies.

Awards and Accreditations

Crane & Staples' commitment to excellence is shown by the many awards and professional accreditations the firm has earned.

Recent award wins include Best Legal, Financial and Accountancy Services Provider at the 2022 Hertfordshire biz4Biz awards and Service Excellence Winner at the 2021 National SME Awards.

Crane & Staples has maintained its Lexcel accreditation since 2004. This is a rigorous annual assessment that is The Law Society’s quality mark for client care, compliance and practice management.

Other firm accreditations include the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS), Resolution Family Law, and Cyber Essentials.

Lawyers at Crane & Staples are encouraged to pursue additional specialist qualifications including STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly) and ALEP (Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners).

These independent bodies recognise and verify the firm's commitment to excellence, providing clients with confidence when instructing them.

Main Areas of Practice

Wills, Trusts and Probate 

Advising on a wide range of Private Client matters including: probate and estate administration, estate planning, ,making/updating wills, Inheritance Tax advice (IHT), Capital Gains Tax Advice (CGT), lifetime gifts, creating and administering trusts, asset protection, elderly care and advice regarding care fees, Court of Protection applications and Lasting Powers of Attorney. Offering clear, understandable and thorough legal advice to give clients and their families ongoing peace of mind.

Partners: David Bird, Samantha Webb

Telephone: 01707 387074

Email:[email protected]

Family Law 

Acting for individuals in the full spectrum of family matters, including divorces involving complex financial matters, distribution of pensions, non-disclosure of assets, child arrangements cases, pre and post nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, unmarried couples finance and civil partnership dissolution. Handling matters with sensitivity and taking a firm approach when required, to provide the best outcome for the client and any children. Committed to helping parties reach agreement constructively, without the need for contested hearings, where possible.

Partners: Danielle Peters, Sharon Montgomery

Telephone: 01707 387073

Email:[email protected]

Residential Property 

Acting for private individuals, developers and investors in residential sales, purchases, transfers of equity and re-mortgages. Acting in sales and purchases of high-value real estate, such as listed buildings, large developments, and agricultural estates in prime locations across Hertfordshire, London and the Home Counties.

Partners: Christopher Brewis, Manish Patel

Telephone: 01707 387071

Email:[email protected]

Commercial Property 

Acting for businesses and high net worth individuals upon acquisitions, disposals, financing, and lettings of commercial premises. Also acting for developers and/or investors in connection with the option to purchase, acquisition, development, and disposal of various sites across the Home Counties and beyond.

Partners: Bonnie Twiggs, Christopher Brewis, Manish Patel

Telephone: 01707 387072

Email:[email protected]

Corporate & Commercial 

Assisting sole traders, partnerships, and limited companies across a wide range of general commercial matters including start up and incorporation documentation, shareholders agreements and business structuring. Advising clients in relation to acquisitions and disposals and financing.

Partner: Bonnie Twiggs

Telephone: 01707 387072

Email:[email protected]

Employment  

Acting for senior executives (up to and including board level) to negotiate discreet timely exits from their employers, includingsettlement agreements involving transfer of shares and directors’ resignations. Advising owner-managed businesses on all aspects of employment law, including HR support, disciplinary and grievance processes, drafting documents, tribunal and court representation.

Partner: Michael Scutt

Telephone: 01707 387073

Email:[email protected]

Dispute Resolution 

Resolving disputes between company directors and shareholders; contentious probate disputes (including disputes over testamentary capacity, validity of wills and Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependents) Act 1975. Acting for landlords in residential property possession cases, and landlords or tenants in commercial property disputes, including under the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954. Dealing with all aspects of property litigation, including disputes over rights of way, easements and vesting orders. Assisting with Debt recovery matters.

Partner: Michael Scutt

Telephone: 01707 387073

Email:[email protected]