My role in the firm takes me out and about to each of the four offices on a regular basis. If I was asked to choose my favourite office, I really couldn’t, as I enjoy working in them all. It’s the people - everyone in the firm is so friendly. At Bower Bailey you feel as though you are part of a large, supportive family. It is genuinely a ‘nice’ place to work, in the true sense of the word. I think the firm manages to convey this to clients too, offering a very professional, yet personable service.
Jenni Howard
Partner, Solicitor
Witney
I think the fact that a high proportion of our solicitors trained, qualified and subsequently became partners speaks volumes about Bower Bailey. It is a friendly but hardworking firm and there is a genuine team sprit amongst staff at all levels.
No two days are the same and the variety of work is superb.
It is particularly rewarding seeing the trainees grow into confident and competent lawyers which is important for future growth.
Robert Eden
Partner
Oxford
Bower Bailey is a great firm to work for: everyone is extremely friendly and approachable as well as being experts in their respective fields. I am grateful to have completed my training here under the guidance of some excellent lawyers and to now be in a position to pass on that knowledge to my own clients.
Lauren Webb
Solicitor
Swindon
I have recently joined the firm as a family lawyer in Witney and can’t speak highly enough of my experience so far. Everyone was so welcoming and I immediately felt part of a good team. It is very reassuring to work with so many experienced lawyers who have been here for a long time. It is seamless across all the legal teams with fantastic support from IT and finance.
Terri Anson-Dean
Family Law Solicitor
Witney
As a member of the new build property team in Swindon, I act for a lot of first time buyers and people wishing to move up the property ladder. I enjoy the challenge of the variety in my role. It always makes me happy helping people secure the house of their dreams and especially helping nervous first time buyers buy their own home.
Every day is different and although I am very busy and at times the job can be stressful, I get lots of support and feel we all work together as a team for our clients and each other.
Natasha Brooks
New-Build Property Expert – F.CILEx
Swindon
The focus of Bower Bailey is all about our clients and our people.
The focus on our clients is underpinned by a desire to provide a first class legal service whether in their business or personal lives.
The focus on our people is employing in a workforce where we all share the same values, work ethic and vision. This is the bedrock of all our offices and is the Bower Bailey way of being.
Robert Parsonson
Property Solicitor
Oxford
As a private client lawyer, I often see clients at their most vulnerable. Being able to help them through what can be an incredibly difficult, challenging and emotional time is immensely rewarding. I enjoy the scope and variety of work that I have.
Bower Bailey is a very supportive and friendly place to work. Witney is a lovely market town with great links to Oxford and the Cotswolds and has a great range of shops and restaurants, so really has everything you need.
Kirsty Southgate
Senior Associate
Witney
One of the best aspects of Bower Bailey is its straightforward philosophy: the core principle (to my mind) is the commitment to delivering a high-quality service for our clients but, from a personal point of view, there is also a clear commitment to rewarding those who are able to deliver that service.
I think Bower Bailey has struck the right balance between being a modern, forward-thinking law firm and one which retains traditional values of being accessible, approachable and giving sound, pragmatic and practical advice.
Creagh Masterson-Jones
Solicitor
Oxford
I came to the Banbury office more years ago now than I care to remember – but I have never regretted my decision. Banbury is a friendly town, and I never appreciated before I came how well positioned it is, with easy access to Oxford, London, Birmingham and indeed the rest of the Cotswolds. Managing this office for the firm has always been a privilege, as we are blessed here with terrific people. The firm as a whole has always tried to be warm and approachable, and comfortable with clients from all walks of life. It is rewarding to dispel that stuffy traditional image that many clients have about solicitors and solicitor’s firms. We know what we are talking about, and don’t dress it up in legalese.
Phil Cooksey
Partner
Banbury
Management is a key part of my role. My biggest challenge is managing the extensive and diverse caseload. I also enjoy managing expectations, managing the moving parts of a transaction and ensuring deadlines are met and objectives achieved.
I always urge people to seek legal advice at the earliest opportunity. It is useful to talk things through in general terms at the outset, prior to any formal instructions. This helps us identify any potential issues so we can give the client a far better idea of what to expect.
Swindon is definitely a town on the up and is rapidly improving as a place to live, work and play. It also has great access to London – in fact everywhere seems to be closer than you think!
Daniel Hannam
Property Partner
Swindon
As a family lawyer you never know what each day is going to bring. I thrive on this but recognise the importance of having anchoring constants at work, such as great support from colleagues and an open-door atmosphere. This support enables me to focus on my clients, who are going through one of the most stressful times of their lives. I believe my approach of being able to offer empathetic, calm and practical advice can make all the difference to them.
Kathryn Sleight
Family Law Solicitor
Banbury
Disputes, whether in a business or personal context, can be extremely stressful and anxious times.
Understanding a client’s requirements and concerns from the outset to give good, clear, pragmatic and prompt advice are of paramount importance for me personally and this approach is reflected throughout Bower Bailey generally.
I enjoy immensely working with my colleagues and believe this relationship and trust is a significant reason why we have such success in referring clients between teams in order to cater for all of their various legal matters.
James Hulme
Litigation & Dispute Resolution Partner
Oxford
I enjoy finding out about clients from different workplaces. The variety of clients I’ve acted for has been incredible. They include a high street bank, a police force, a white goods manufacturer, a few universities and central government. In employment matters I typically ask a lot of questions before peeling away the complexity to find the “right” outcome for business or individual clients. Immigration law is another way that I help people and businesses reach their objectives. The stakes are higher in many ways and the considerations are much more personal but the sense of accomplishment is great.
Duncan Bain
Partner
Oxford
At Bower Bailey, I work with businesses of all shapes and sizes on a variety of matters, including acquisitions, disposals, mergers and re-organisations. No two deals are ever the same and I enjoy using my experience to help clients achieve their goals and, when the need arises, overcome any bumps in the road. Since joining the firm in 2004 it has been a pleasure to see so many clients grow their businesses and enjoy their well-earned success.
Rob Brookes
Corporate & Commercial Partner
Oxford
I have worked here for over 30 years. Whilst I spend an increasing amount of time managing the office what I enjoy doing most is helping clients pursue their clinical negligence claims.
It is important to build a good relationship with the client from the outset so they can be reassured I will do all I can to help them. I provide straight forward and practical advice. I strive to pursue the cases compassionately but also robustly to try and achieve the best possible outcome.
David Black
Partner
Oxford
I joined Bower Bailey as a trainee in 1997. I deal with a wide variety of both commercial and residential property transactions.
No two days are the same and I enjoy the considerable variety of work, ranging from acting for first time buyers, a large national housing association, through to dealing with commercial property acquisitions.
Witney is a thriving friendly market town, which makes it a great place to work.
Gareth Tucker
Property Partner
Witney
I was attracted to Bower Bailey due to its strong reputation for expertise in property law. Since joining the firm in 2011 I have been able to develop my career as a specialist in this area.
What sets us apart as a firm is that we focus on delivering a friendly, personalised service to our clients, making sure they feel we are with them every step of the way. I enjoy being a part of this.
Conor Ducie
Partner
Oxford
I realise a house move can sometime feel incredibly daunting for clients and I feel good communication is a key element to helping them work through the process. Working in a clear and concise manner and being accessible to clients is something I strive to achieve in an effort to ensure their house move flows smoothly and hopefully keeps their stress levels to a minimum!
Gareth Hayward
Partner
Banbury
