New Lawyer Joins Gainsborough Team!

The Gainsborough team at Sills & Betteridge has recently been strengthened with the appointment of specialist Wills, Trusts & Probate solicitor Fiona McSmailes.

Originally from Oxfordshire, Fiona moved to Lincoln to attend University. She then went on to train and qualify as a solicitor in 2020, whilst employed by another large Lincolnshire legal practice.

Her expertise extends to the preparation of Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, obtaining Grants of Probate, Letters of Administration and the administration of estates, as well as advising clients on mitigating the impact of care home fees and Care Fee Assessments.

Department Head, Andrew Durkan is delighted to welcome Fiona to the firm “Fiona is a highly personable, pragmatic lawyer, trusted by her clients and popular with her colleagues. She has already settled in very well and I look forward to watching her career develop with Sills & Betteridge LLP.”

Shan Jaehrig, Gainsborough Branch Manager, said "We are delighted to welcome Fiona to Gainsborough. Our Team works hard to provide the best possible service to its clients and enjoys being part of the local community. Fiona will be a great addition and we look forward to involving her in Gainsborough life."

Fiona wanted to work for a leading Legal 500 law firm which had experienced partners behind it, from whom she could learn and grow as a lawyer. She said “S&B has a great reputation for being such a firm, with a strong sense of community within the firm and the areas it serves.“

Gainsborough was the firm’s first office to open in North Lincolnshire and marked the start of its expansion campaign to move further into the north of the county and into South Yorkshire. Sills & Betteridge have since opened offices in Scunthorpe and Grimsby, and through merger, acquired offices in Sheffield, Doncaster, Bawtry, Thorne and Wath Upon Dearne. It is opening another office in Howden at the end of February.

Pictured L - R Shan Jaehrig and Fiona McSmailes