WHN Solicitors appoints senior wills and estate planning specialist

Woodcocks Haworth and Nuttall (WHN) Solicitors, has recruited Sean Aldridge as a director in its growing wills and probate team, further strengthening the firm’s private client offering across the region.

Sean will be primarily based at WHN’s Haslingden office, where he will support individual and families across the county. He will also work with colleagues across WHN’s additional offices in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

Sean brings with him extensive experience in the private client arena, having spent nearly three decades advising individuals and families on wills, trusts, estate planning and probate.

Prior to joining WHN, he was head of wills and estate planning at Vincents Solicitors in Preston and Lytham. Before this, Sean spent 28 years at Napthens Solicitors, where he progressed to senior associate in the private client team.

In his new role at WHN, Sean will advise clients on a wide range of private client matters, including estate planning, trust work and probate, as well as helping lead the firm’s private client business development strategy.

Michael Shroot, chief executive of WHN, said: “We have supported clients throughout the region on highly complex and important wills and probate matters for over 100 years.

"Individuals and families rely on our experience and technical advice during what can be hugely emotional times, so it’s important that we continue to invest in highly qualified professionals as the demand and team grows. 

“Sean brings decades of experience in this field and it quickly became clear that he would be an excellent fit for WHN and a real asset to our clients.”

Sean is STEP qualified, having achieved full membership in 2012, and is recognised for his practical, client-focussed approach to private client work.

Sean said: “WHN is a progressive firm with a reputation for putting client care at the heart of everything it does, which is what really attracted me to the role.

"We are able to offer a genuinely holistic approach to wills and estate planning, including access to our own in-house financial planning team, something that remains rare within the legal sector.

“This is a firm that is always looking forward. I’m excited to help grow our presence across our regions, expand our client base, attract specialists who share our values, while embracing new technologies that enhances the way we support our clients.”

WHN employs more than 100 staff at offices in Accrington, Bacup, Blackburn, Bury, Clitheroe, Great Harwood, Haslington, Rawtenstall and Salford.