Vincents makes senior private client appointment

Vincents Solicitors has appointed Oliver Banks as head of Court of Protection and trusts within its private client department.

Oliver joins from Fletchers Solicitors prior to which he has worked at Slater and Gordon, Clyde & Co, and Serious Law. He takes over the head of department position from Lisa Lodge, who was promoted to head of the private client department earlier in the year.

The work involves overseeing the financial affairs of clients who have lost capacity through injury or illness. The role is appointed either by the client as their named professional attorney or professional trustee, or the Court of Protection as their professional deputy.

Oliver will then be personally responsible for managing and paying for care needs, investing compensation pay outs, and protecting funds from misuse or fraud.

He said: "It is my responsibility to provide the highest quality care and support to clients; the buck stops with me.

"This highly personal service is my preferred approach and I’m delighted that Vincents takes the same view. It benefits clients much more than a trust corporation which many other companies use, where anyone in the firm can work on that client’s case. Court of Protection clients are extremely vulnerable and deserve nothing less than one-to-one support and continuity, and it’s crucial to develop genuine trusted relationships."

Oliver will also take on trustee work for clients of Vincents’ successful personal injury department, helping victims for whom the firm is fighting for compensation.

Lisa Lodge, who also heads up the Garstang Branch and is a director of the firm, said: “It’s an enormously important decision for clients and their families to appoint a professional to support them at an often difficult time. It’s crucial that is someone they can trust and get on with, alongside being professional and experienced.

"Oliver has that unique combination of knowledge and compassion which will make him an exceptional advisor for his clients. While I will continue to support my existing clients, I am delighted to have appointed Oliver to take the department forward.”