SFE is an independent, national organisation of over 1,500 professionals, including solicitors, barristers, and chartered legal executives, committed to providing the highest quality legal advice on specialist areas, such as wills, powers of attorney and elder abuse.
The professional body welcomes existing Solicitors for the Elderly’s member Ruth Pyatt to its board of directors, bringing the total number to nine. All new directors are fully accredited members, having completed SFE’s Older Client Law in Practice award within the last three years.
The increase in board members responds to the growing need for specialist skills when dealing with older, more vulnerable consumers in the field of Private Client law.
This year alone, SFE has championed for the rights of older clients and members, including issues relating to Lasting Powers of Attorney, and the digitisation of legal documents such as wills. Most significantly, SFE lead the campaign against the proposal to change the probate fee structure, which could have seen bereaved families paying up to £20,000 to access their loved one’s estates after their death, and resulted in a successful overturn in Government policy.
Ruth Pyatt has over 10 years’ worth of professional experience in elderly client law in both Scotland and England. She is a Senior Associate in the Wills and Advisory Team within the Private Client Department of Birketts.
Lakshmi Turner, Chief Executive of SFE, said: “It is with great pleasure that we welcome Ruth Pyatt to our board of directors. It’s an exciting time for Solicitors for the Elderly as the organisation continues to grow and set the bar as the gold standard for experts practicing older client law. We will continue to tackle key issues impacting the sector, putting our members and consumers first.”
Ruth Pyatt, Director at Solicitors for the Elderly, said: “Matters relating to older client law are sensitive and delicate, and must be treated with the upmost care. SFE continues to campaign for older clients’ rights, and I am thrilled to be a part of the board of directors.”
Image: Ruth Pyatt (Birketts) / Carl Middleditch (Bushfire Photography)