Ingrid McCleave
Consultant
Power of Attorney, Wills, Trusts & Estate
Wellers Wealth Tax and Law
020 3909 8576 Email IngridIngrid is a Consultant working with our Wellers Wealth team and a partner with DMH Stallard, providing private client and tax advisory advice. She brings with her extensive experience and knowledge of taxation and trust law. Wellers Wealth provides an invaluable service to business owners/directors and high net worth individuals and their advisers.
After completing her LLB (Hons) in Business Law at Guildhall University where she studied company law, taxation and related subjects, Ingrid studied at the Inns of Court School of Law and was called to the Bar in 1995, specialising in European Competition Law and International Trade.
Ingrid’s first position was at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Edinburgh where she worked as a corporate tax senior in the Corporate Tax and Life Insurance Tax Department of the Financial Services Division as a tax advisor for large banks and insurance companies. This involved working as part of a team of three looking at tax planning strategies for multi-national insurance companies, leading often to international corporate restructuring for tax purposes. Ingrid was initially recruited to prepare a report to be disclosed during a tax investigation by the Revenue involving the tax treatment under the pre anti avoidance legislation of a box option, which was the underlying investment for the insurance companies guaranteed income bond.
Ingrid was then asked to join Arthur Andersen (the 4th largest accountancy firm worldwide at the time) where she managed the tax compliance for a portfolio of clients which included a number of investment companies and a Japanese bank with branches in England.
During her period at Arthur Andersen she co-wrote the Tax Guide to Europe, an internal publication that was sent to Andersen’s clients. This involved writing a chapter on each European country, summarising the corporate tax, income tax, indirect tax and capital taxes of each country.
Ingrid then transferred to Treasury within Andersen’s (due to her prior experience of derivative instruments) where she worked as part of a team designing derivative products which banks and insurance companies used as the underlying investments for the products they sold their clients.
Ingrid then moved to Numerica (the 15th largest UK accountancy firm at the time) as a Tax Manager focusing on owner managed businesses. There she was Head of Corporate Tax Planning and Stamp Duty. She also continued working in International Tax drafting reports for overseas clients with business interest in the UK. This involved proactive tax planning on behalf of the individual and the company, often involving international relocation and restructuring.
In 2004 Ingrid converted to become a solicitor and has worked predominantly in law firms after a short spell lecturing Law at Brighton University. During her career as a solicitor Ingrid has worked as a Senior Associate and Head of Tax and Private Client in a Legal 500 firm in Central London.
Ingrid regularly lectures on Trust and Taxation and Business Succession courses for the Society of Will Writers and The Association of Accountants as well as to a number of group of financial advisers.
Ingrid initially studied piano and composition at Trinity College of Music in London and then went on to teach piano and woodwind at Eastbourne College and until recently, whilst living in Edinburgh, Ingrid gave regular piano recitals at the Edinburgh Society for Musicians.
Tegen Whitford
Trainee Solicitor
Corporate Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Personal Litigation & Dispute Resolution
01732 457575 Email TegenTegen is a Trainee Solicitor currently undertaking her first seat within the Private Client department under the supervision of Ingrid McCleave. Tegen started at Wellers Law Group in October 2021 as a Paralegal within the Litigation department but has since progressed to a Trainee Solicitor in November 2022 and will qualify in May 2023.
Tegen assists Ingrid with the day-to-day running of files, drafting Inheritance Tax Forms, Wills, Lasting Power of Attorney’s, Deeds of Variation and regularly attends Ingrid at client meetings. She is continuously learning in this seat and enjoys complex matters. She is focused on understanding the client’s wants and needs to be able to progress matters in a timely manner.
Tegen studied at The University of Brighton and graduated in 2017 achieving a 2:1 in Law with Criminology, she then started studying her LPC and Masters at the University of Law Guildford whilst working full time as a Paralegal. She graduated in 2020 with a High Commendation.
Lorraine Toal
Head of Department
Partner
Divorce
Family
Immigration
Personal Litigation & Dispute Resolution
+44 (0)208 290 7956 (DDI) Please email mePartner, senior solicitor, head of family and litigation, collaborative lawyer, family law accredited specialist
Family Law
Lorraine is Head of the Family Law and Immigration Law Departments at Wellers Law Group. She has many years’ experience in Family law having qualified in 2004 and previously been responsible for developing the Family department of a well-known firm in Surrey where she was made a Partner and assisted in the opening of a second office in West Sussex.
In search of a “new challenge” and wishing to work closer to home, Lorraine joined Wellers as Head of Department. She has much experience of the following: cohabitation; separation; divorce; civil partnerships; children; finances (ancillary relief) and consent orders and is a member of Resolution, which aims to aid the constructive resolution of matrimonial disputes. Lorraine is also a trained collaborative lawyer where couples prefer to resolve matrimonial issues among themselves with the help of trained professionals without going to court. She is also a Law Society accredited Specialist in Family Law.
Immigration Law
Lorraine’s role as head of the Immigration Law department she covers all the key areas for both personal and corporate immigration advice, covering all types of visas (including those for Skilled Workers, Healthcare Workers, Students and family members), Indefinite Leave to Remain, naturalisation, passport applications and Home Office appeals.
In her spare time, Lorraine is a keen supporter of Crystal Palace Football Club and she says that as a result she “has a very good sense of humour”!
Reported Cases
Lorraine represented the son who was an intervenor in his father and step-mother’s divorce where the step-mother accused the father of dissipating assets prior to their divorce. The title/reference to the case is:
Lorraine represented the wife in a much talked about case before Mr Justice Moor whereby the wife argued that she should be entitled to more than 50% of the matrimonial asset pot due to the Husband’s alleged wanton dissipation of assets. The title/reference to the case is:
MAP v MFP [2015] EWHC 627 (Fam)
“You have been a big part of my life over the last year and you have kept me going! Again, grateful thanks…”.––Julie
“Family Law Solicitor Lorraine Toal helped me through a difficult divorce, she kept me informed at all times and was a comfort during a time of stress. Her advice on all matters was accurate and I felt I was in good hands”
Testimonial
I really appreciate all of your advice and that I could speak with you so candidly without pretence. Your support has been invaluable to me over the past two years.
The service that we received from Family Law Solicitor Lorraine Toal, was exceptional. She kept us informed at all times, contacted us promptly in all instances, her advice and recommendations to the various circumstances was helpful and reliable. She conducted the matter efficiently and swiftly
I have had the pleasure of being represented by Wellers Family law and particularly Lorraine and Quang… I have always found them only interested in acting on my behalf and know the law inside out which has resulted yet again in achieving the desired result.
Divorces and child cases are often very emotional and the games that get played are often more a distraction than fact but these guys wade through the smoke and mirrors to present facts of the case. Believe in how they approach things and you will get the desired results.
––Delroy Robinson & Maureen Braithwaite
Craig Batko
Senior Solicitor
Corporate Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Personal Litigation & Dispute Resolution
01372 750 102 Email CraigPlease be aware that Craig's name has recently been used on a fax phishing exercise, primarily targeting firms in the USA. If you have received a fax purporting to be from Craig, please ignore it. It is not from Wellers Law Group.
Craig qualified as a solicitor in 2001 and was a partner at his previous firm. He joined the litigation department at Wellers Hedleys at their Butler House offices in Great Bookham in September 2018.
Craig largely specialises in property related disputes and property litigation, particularly commercial and residential landlord and tenant disputes, business tenancy renewals and oppositions under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, dilapidation claims, possession claims, the acquisition and protection of rights over land such as prescriptive easements, other disputes relating to easements, the enforcement and discharge of freehold covenants, adverse possession, disputes over boundaries, trespass and nuisance. Craig appears in the County Court for possession claims and other chambers advocacy.
Craig’s other practice areas include trusts of land and co-ownership disputes under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, contractual disputes, consumer law, licensing, debt recovery, judgment enforcement proceedings and some insolvency work.
Chiamaka is a property solicitor working for the residential property team in Sevenoaks.
Legal Executive - Family Law
Laura has specialised in Family Law for over 14 years and qualified in 2011 obtaining a distinction in that discipline. Laura is also a member of Resolution.
She joined Wellers Law Group in 2014 and prior to that worked for a leading London Law Firm.
Laura has a wealth of experience in advising clients in relation to family law matters ranging from divorce, civil partnership dissolution, children matters, domestic violence and pre and post-nuptial agreements. In particular she has obtained extensive experience in a number of complex high net worth matters.
Laura is approachable, friendly and very sympathetic. Laura is extremely passionate and dedicated in resolving matters amicably and effectively whilst securing the best outcome for her clients.
Outside the office, Laura enjoys spending time with her family and walking.
Manveen is an experienced Family Law solicitor who works in our London City office. Since qualifying in 2004 Manveen has practiced solely in Family Law. She is an accredited specialist in finance and children issues, having conducted many cases of considerable wealth, cross jurisdictional issues and complex financial and children arrangements.
Manveen has dealt with cases involving all levels of wealth (high, medium and low) often achieving favourable outcomes for her clients. This has involved dealing with assets involving either one property or a large property portfolio, pensions, international assets, companies and business assets.
Often these cases involve issues of non-disclosure, non-compliance and attempts to dissipate assets. Manveen will leave no stone unturned and as and when necessary she will advise on the appropriate remedies available to her clients to ensure the most positive outcome. Through her work in Family Law Manveen has filed applications for freezing orders concerning assets and accounts, obtained cost orders for chronic failures by the opponent and issued applications for enforcement remedies to implement orders.
Manveen also has experience of assisting clients with preparing pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements.
In Children matters Manveen has represented parents in Children Arrangement Disputes including contact and residence as well as abduction, relocation and also enforcement remedies for failing to adhere to the terms of court orders with penalties to the opponent to undertake unpaid work.
In addition to the above Manveen will deal with other wider areas of family Law such as cohabitation disputes, Separation and Appeals to a higher court. Manveen has a reported case from the Court of Appeal on cohabitation (Slater v Condappa [2012] EWCA Civ 1506).
Amanda is a Licensed Conveyancer, based in our Bromley office.
Testimonial
I just wanted to say thank you for your work on our sale
And purchase, we couldn’t fault your services and will definitely
use you again and recommend to friends & family
Sally is a Solicitor in the Wills, Trusts and Probate department at Wellers Reece-Jones in Sevenoaks
Helen has been a solicitor specialising in family law for over 18 years. She was a Partner at her previous firm for 11 years before joining Wellers solicitors in July 2019. Helen studied Law with German Law at King's College University of London and Passau University Germany, obtaining both an LLB (Hons) and a Diploma in German Law in 1997. She completed the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law London in 1998 and is a member of Resolution, the Law Society's Family Law Accreditation Scheme and Bromley and District Law Society's Committee.
Helen helps clients with all aspects of family law – divorce and separation, cohabitation, civil partnerships, nuptial agreements, financial matters (e.g. property, pensions, shares, business assets, inherited wealth), domestic violence and children issues. With regard to children, she has covered both public and private children law cases including relocation, child abduction, child arrangement orders and prohibited steps orders.
Helen has a friendly and approachable manner. Whilst sympathetic to a client’s needs, she is always honest and realistic about the likely outcome. Helen will always try through negotiation and mediation to reach a fair settlement but if this fails, she aims to achieve very good results at Court.
Helen’s interests out of work include travel, theatre and cinema.
Testimonial
...You have been a breath of fresh air. Clear, accountable and pragmatic.
Thank you. I honestly feel if you hadn’t have stepped in, I would still be negotiating with my ex-wife.
I want to take this opportunity to say thank you very much for your legal advice, time and efforts. I have been very satisfied with the service I received from you, I really appreciate everything.
First and foremost I would like to thank you for your help through the whole process.
I could not be more happy with the outcome…I will greatly appreciate your understanding of the situation since day one with the most professional and productive approach.
At the end I’m really pleased to ending the process with what I always wanted which is having time back with my daughter and making sure I’m always there for her. I know it all may sound a bit cheesy but I’m truly happy for the outcome. Thank you.
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