Philip Cooksey
Job Title: Partner and Head of Banbury Office
Location: Banbury
Having spent my teenage years hooked on courtroom dramas, I decided a career in the law was for me. So having completed my law degree and the Law Society final examinations, in 1994 I started my first job as an eager solicitor in a tiny firm near to my roots in Nottinghamshire. However, within a couple of weeks I was approached by a firm from far away Oxfordshire to come and work as a property lawyer in their Banbury office. It felt like the “right place for me” as soon as I walked through the door, so I jumped at the opportunity.
Once I joined I realised there was gap in the range of service we offered our clients in wills and probate. I was encouraged to take on this area of work in addition to my role as a property lawyer. I have never regretted that decision and now have a thriving private client practice dealing with Wills and estate planning and probate, as well as residential property. Having joined the firm in 1994 I was made partner in 1998 and now manage the Banbury office. As the workload expanded we had to recruit more lawyers and now have a busy, vibrant office.
I now deal with a broad range of clients from the first time house buyer to the property tycoon, or from a conscientious client worried about nursing home fees making their first Will, to dealing with a complicated estate with a potentially crippling tax burden. Variety keeps things fresh and challenging.
We have a terrific team at Bower Bailey, many of whom have been here throughout their working lives. It feels like a family; we don’t tend to lose people (unless of course they retire), so we must be doing something right. Equally clients tend to stay with us, appreciating our ability, knowledge and the professional but friendly way we deal with them.
Banbury is a great place to work and indeed live. Everywhere is within easy reach. The Cotswolds are on your doorstep, and it is well positioned for Oxford, Birmingham and London. Crucially for me it is also easy to get back to Nottingham to check up on the Midlands’ greatest football team, Forest. Perhaps fortunately for me too, Bower Bailey saved me from my aspirational career as a courtroom litigator. With hindsight I don’t think that would have been anywhere near as satisfying.
Favourite place: Nottingham – or Barcelona! A toss up.
Favourite book: any Brian Clough biography!
Favourite film: Robin Hood!
