An Accrington solicitor has joined an elite body of lawyers specialising in family inheritance and estate planning after securing a prestigious industry qualification.
Patrick Swanney, who is based at Cannon Street-based WHN Solicitors, has obtained the Diploma in Trusts and Estates from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
The internationally recognised qualification means the 33-year-old is now fully STEP accredited as a registered trust and estate practitioner, and is able to deliver expert advice on all areas of the administration, taxation and accounting of trusts and estates.
To gain the qualification, Patrick, who lives in Accrington, completed a rigorous 18-month assessment process comprising distance learning and assignments.
Patrick, who joined WHN as a solicitor in 2018, is also a member of Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Burnley Dementia Action Alliance, as well as being a Dementia Friends Champion, and volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Society. In addition, Patrick is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) which enables him to give expert advice to older clients in relation to issues such as long-term care funding.
His success significantly strengthens WHN’s estate planning expertise, as he joins the firm’s other full STEP members, Stephen Parr and Helen Law. Meanwhile, WHN’s Holly Gethin has also recently started the programme.
Patrick said: “STEP promotes the highest professional standards among its international members and obtaining full accreditation represents the pinnacle of achievement in this specialist field of law.
“Completing the programme has allowed me to hone and broaden my knowledge of the technically complex area of estates and trusts, including tax planning, inheritance, capital gains tax and trust planning.”
Stephen Parr, a director who leads the asset planning team at WHN Solicitors, commented: “Patrick’s achievement is a significant boost for WHN’s service offer, as his full STEP membership further strengthens our knowledge and expertise in this challenging area of legal practice.
“At WHN we are continually developing our people, both professionally and as individuals, and Patrick is a great example of how we are always enhancing the quality of our services to give the very best advice possible to our clients.”
