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 experience in Private Client work, specialising in Wills and Probate. Aileen has helped many families and individuals.
Aileen qualified as a Solicitor in 1994 training at the College of Law, Chancery Lane. Aileen completed her training contract in Tunbridge Wells at Buss Murton Solicitors and worked at several different firms before moving on to join our firm in 2001 and she became a partner in 2008.
Aileen has also completed several professional development courses in Probate and Estate Administration. As well as being a qualified solicitor Aileen is Trusts and Estate Practitioner 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. The ACTAPS code promotes the resolution of trust and probate disputes without the need for bitter and expensive Court proceedings.
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
Victoria Doyle
CHARTERED LEGAL EXECUTIVE – CILEX
Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives specialising in Residential Conveyancing.
Victoria has been working in residential conveyancing for over 7 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
Melissa Sear
CHARTERED LEGAL EXECUTIVE / 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
Jessica Brown
CHARTERED LEGAL EXECUTIVE
Jessica has gained over 7 years’ experience working in our Wills and Probate Department, and qualified in August 2022 as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Legal Executives specialising in Probate.
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.
