MEET OUR TEAM
Aileen Francis
SOLICITOR / TEP / ACTAPS / SENIOR PARTNER IN FIRM
Aileen Francis
SOLICITOR / TEP / ACTAPS / SENIOR PARTNER IN FIRM
Aileen is the head of our team and has over 25 years of experience in Private Client work, specialising in Wills and Probate. Aileen has handled the administration of many estates which are complex and taxable to Inheritance Tax and in doing so helped many families and individuals.
Aileen qualified as a Solicitor in 1994 training at the College of Law, Chancery Lane and completed her training contract and worked at several different firms before moving on to join our firm in 2001 and she became a partner in 2008.
During her career Aileen has completed several professional development courses in Probate and Estate Administration. As a result of these courses as well as being a qualified solicitor Aileen is a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) being a full member of STEP (Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners, the professional body for the trust and estate profession worldwide) having passed the STEP Diploma (degree level) course.
Also, Aileen is a full member of ACTAPS (the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Solicitors) having passed their entrance requirements and can use the letters CTAPS which stands for Contentious Trust and Probate Solicitor. The ACTAPS code promotes the resolution of trust and probate disputes without the need for bitter and expensive Court proceedings.
Aileen lives locally and has interests and hobbies that include being secretary of East Sussex Astronomical Society as well as being a qualified gemmologist (FGA) and a member of Ramblers. Prior to becoming a solicitor she obtained a B.Sc. (Hons) in ‘Genetics and Microbiology’ from Queen Mary College, University of London. Aileen likes to spend her leisure time stargazing, when we have clear nights, and walking and being with her family and friends.
Debbie Bellini
SOLICITOR / STEP AFFILIATE
Debbie Bellini
SOLICITOR / STEP AFFILIATE
Debbie has been working as a solicitor at Percy Walker since March 2020. She specialises in probate and estate administration, including intestate estates and is gaining experience in estates that are taxable to Inheritance Tax. She has advised beneficiaries and executors, in all aspects of estate administration, including post-death variations. Debbie regularly assists clients in preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney, and the registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney and assisting Attorneys in the management of their client’s financial affairs and is gaining experience in Will preparation. Debbie is an Affiliate member of STEP and has obtained her STEP Certificate in Trusts and Estates Planning, and is working towards her STEP Diploma, having successfully completed the Advanced Certificate in Administration of Trusts (England and Wales) and the Advanced Certificate in Will Preparation. She is currently studying for the Advanced Certificate in the Taxation of Trusts and Estates. Debbie originally qualified as a solicitor in 1994 having trained in a litigation practice in central London and subsequently worked as a commercial property lawyer at Clifford Chance. She then took a career break to spend time with her then young family before working in a specialist family law practice in Tunbridge Wells..
Victoria Doyle
CHARTERED LEGAL EXECUTIVE – FCILEx
Victoria Doyle
CHARTERED LEGAL EXECUTIVE – FCILEx
Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives specialising in Residential Conveyancing.
Victoria has been working in residential conveyancing for over 12 years. She has lived in the Hastings area for many years and has a lot of local knowledge. Victoria has a keen interest in all matters relating to property.
Melissa Sear
CHARTERED LEGAL EXECUTIVE / PARTNER IN FIRM – FCILEx
Melissa Sear
CHARTERED LEGAL EXECUTIVE – FCILEx / PARTNER IN FIRM
Melissa qualified as a Graduate Legal Executive in 2018. Melissa attended the University of Southampton and qualified as a nurse before joining CILEx.
Melissa has been working in our Probate team since before she qualified and is particularly skilled at dealing with the elderly and complex cases. She has quickly gained experience in this area, successfully advising on over 100 Probate and Estate matters since qualifying.
Jessica Brown
CHARTERED LEGAL EXECUTIVE – FCILEx
Jessica Brown
CHARTERED LEGAL EXECUTIVE – FCILEx
Jessica has been part of the Percy Walker team since 2015, and she qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in August 2022. She is currently in the process of completing the STEP Diploma (the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners, which is the professional body for the trust and estate profession worldwide) and hopes to become a full STEP member in 2025.
Jessica specialises in Estate Administration, Trusts and Court of Protection matters. She has handled the administration of a wide variety of estates, including complex estates and estates taxable to Inheritance Tax.
Amy Millard
LICENSED CONVEYANCER
Amy Millard
LICENSED CONVEYANCER
Amy joined our firm at the start of 2020 and has 5 years’ experience of working in Conveyancing Departments. Amy was previously a qualified Level 4 Conveyancing Technician and at the end of 2021 qualified under the Council for Licensed Conveyancers as a Level 6 Licensed Conveyancer.
