Happenings in Hampshire

Biscoes Solicitors Expands with New Office in Tavistock

Biscoes Solicitors, a highly regarded law firm with a 170-year legacy, has expanded its presence in the South of England with the opening of a new office in Tavistock.

Situated within the Tavistock Enterprise Hub at Pearl Assurance House, the new office offers a convenient location for clients seeking specialist legal services. This latest expansion follows Biscoes’ recent relocation of its head office and a merger with KJ Cox Solicitors in Bordon, reinforcing its continued growth.

Initially, the Tavistock office will provide expert legal services in Mental Health and Capacity, Court of Protection and Care and Social Services matters, with plans to further develop its team in this area. Operating by appointment only, the office ensures a personalised approach to client support.

Managing Director Alison Lee stated: “Expanding into Tavistock reflects our ongoing commitment to making expert legal services more accessible across the region. We are excited to support individuals and businesses in the local community.” 

Biscoes Solicitors Named Finalist at Portsmouth Business Awards 2025

Biscoes Solicitors has been announced as a finalist at the prestigious Portsmouth Business Awards 2025, recognising its excellence in the legal sector and contribution to the local business community.

With a proud history spanning over 170 years, Biscoes has built a reputation for delivering expert legal services across Hampshire and beyond. The firm’s dedication to client care, community engagement, and innovation in legal practice has earned it a place among the top contenders in this year’s awards.

Managing Director Alison Lee expressed her pride in the achievement: “Being named a finalist at the Portsmouth Business Awards is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our entire team. We are dedicated to providing exceptional legal services while supporting the communities we serve.”

The awards ceremony, set to take place later this year, will celebrate businesses that have demonstrated outstanding performance, resilience, and leadership. Biscoes is honoured to be recognised and looks forward to the results. 

Success in Biscoes’ Family Department

Katie Hall, a family solicitor at Biscoes who joined the firm in September 2021 was appointed as Associate Solicitor in March 2025 by the Board who were impressed with Katie’s continued great service to the firm’s clients, her teamwork ethic and her ability to grow the firm’s services to clients and contacts far and wide. She then had double success when she was also promoted to Practice Development Associate Solicitor from 01.04.25 to work alongside the family team’s Head of Department and internal business development team to promote the firm’s services to their existing and new clients.

Gail Strange, a senior family solicitor at Biscoes who joined the firm in August 2018 has been promoted to Deputy Head of the family department alongside the current Head Stephanie Bellchambers. The team is soon to expand to 16 specialist lawyers, paralegals and support to offer the full range of family services to clients in Portsmouth, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and surrounding areas. As part of that, Gail will be assisting in maintaining the department’s service levels, growing the team’s ethos and expanding their niche areas in fertility law, one solicitor cases, collaborative law, and pre-post nuptial agreements. 

Clarke & Son –Improving Client’s Experience with Digital Transformation

Clarke & Son are pleased to announce the launch of their new website. The firm are committed to creating the best possible experience for their clients, and the new site is one part of the larger investment in technology that allows them to do just that.

Not only has the website been refreshed and optimised but the firm has also rebranded, taking their core values of client centricity and service excellence to the heart of the refreshed look.

Significant improvements have been made to the digital user experience, platform optimisation and information provided meaning clients can easily find what they need, get in contact and access some services online.

Will Anderson, Director and Head of Corporate & Commercial services said “Our new website and refreshed brand reflect the energy and passion we have for supporting our clients. We are proud to be making the investments needed to ensure our clients can interact with us more easily and transparently.” 

Enable Law boosts its education team with new specialist appointment

Enable Law, the specialist mental capacity, personal injury, and medical negligence law firm, has ended 2024 by strengthening its team with the appointment of education law expert Mrs Rukhsana Koser as a Legal Director.

Rukhsana joins Enable Law from Langley Wellington Solicitors where, as a partner, she successfully headed up Education Lawyers. She specialises in Special Educational Needs (SEN) law and has a distinguished and successful record in SEND Tribunal proceedings. Her expertise includes advising on Education, Health, and Care Plans, as well as handling complex appeals to the SEND Tribunal involving education, health and social care needs and provision for children and young people with significant needs, disability discrimination in school and safeguarding within the education sector.

Recognised by Chambers and Partners as a Band 3 solicitor in Education: Individuals, clients commend Rukhsana as “a powerhouse – she is kind, caring and passionate about disabled children and is a fantastic solicitor who gets results.” Another client notes, “We have very much valued her expertise, combined with her compassion and understanding of how challenging this whole process is.”

Rukhsana qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and has since built a reputation as a trusted adviser in education law. She is passionate about community engagement and enjoys mentoring aspiring legal professionals. Fluent in Urdu and Punjabi, she is committed to making legal services accessible to a diverse clientele. She has also been a speaker at conferences and delivered training sessions and webinars sharing her expertise with parents, educators and other professionals.

Rukhsana’s appointment means the Enable Law education team now boasts five specialist lawyers who concentrate on SEN work and signals the firm’s overall commitment to further investing in growth.

The move represents a significant boost for the firm as it builds one of the South of England’s legal sector’s strongest special education teams.

Commenting on her appointment, Rukhsana said: “I’m really excited to be joining Enable Law because it is committed to stepping up support for children and young people with special education needs.

“Supporting children and young people with special education needs is something that is very close to my heart and it’s great to know my

Enable Law colleagues share my passion and determination to secure the the right outcome for families who turn to us for educational, health and social care support for their children.”

Welcoming Rukhsana to Enable Law, partner Sarah Palmer who leads the firm’s education team, added: “At Enable Law, we are driven on by the overriding goal of supporting families to secure the right education provision to meet the educational potential of their children.

“That is why we are really thrilled to have attracted Rukhsana to Enable Law because she is one of the most high-calibre education specialists in the business and this will maintain our momentum as a law firm.

“ Rukhsana’s talent and experience will strengthen our depth of legal expertise at Enable Law. It’s great news for our clients as we are better equipped than ever to rise to every special education challenge.”

The announcement of Rukhsana’s appointment represents further cause for celebration for Enable Law’s Education team. Recent additions include Dominic Shard, an Education Specialist with previous professional experience in the NHS. 

Tom Alder, elected as Lester Aldridge’s new Managing Partner

Lester Aldridge, a leading law firm with offices in Bournemouth, Southampton and London, is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Alder as the new Managing Partner. Tom, the current Head of LA’s Real Estate Development team, brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong vision for the firm’s future.

Tom has been with Lester Aldridge since 2005, when he joined as a trainee. He has established a reputation as a strong leader and has been instrumental in delivering significant growth within the Real Estate Development team, where LA has established itself as a market leader. He also played a key role in the successful LA Southampton office move to Mountbatten House, Grosvenor Square, in the summer of 2024.

“We are excited to welcome Tom Alder as our new Managing Partner,” said Matthew Barrow, current Managing Partner. “He has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to the firm and our clients and has played a significant role in our firm’s growth. His leadership will undoubtedly drive Lester Aldridge to new heights.”

Tom Alder expressed enthusiasm about the new position, stating, “It is an honour to take on this role alongside such a talented team. I look forward to building upon the firm’s proud legacy and recent sustained success. I am excited to lead the firm through continued sustainable growth, whilst continuing to foster a dynamic, collaborative environment where our people can thrive and best serve our clients.” 

Paris Smith unveils modernised headquarters to support future focused legal practice

Leading Central South law firm Paris Smith has completed a landmark £2.8 million refurbishment of its Southampton headquarters - designed to support hybrid working, boost collaboration and enhance sustainability.

The transformation of 1 London Road modernises the firm’s workspace, blending client-focused innovation with employee wellbeing and operational efficiency.

Managing Partner Huw Miles:

“This £2.8m investment by the partners is a signal of our ongoing commitment to the firm, our staff and our clients. The building is more than just a workspace; it’s an environment that will help us enhance our business practices, improve our collaboration, reduce long-term operational costs and continue to deliver value for clients. It also reflects our enduring commitment to the local community and to the future of Paris Smith.”

Key features include:

• Flexible, open-plan workspaces encouraging collaboration.

• Private, soundproofed meeting rooms for confidential client discussions.

• High-spec presentation suites with advanced AV technology.

• On-site wellbeing facilities, including breakout areas and relaxation spaces.

Paris Smith’s refurbishment secured the coveted Gold SKA Rating, an industry-recognised sustainability benchmark. The project’s 90.9% waste recycling, VOC monitoring and energy-efficient upgrades align with best practice for sustainable law firm operations.

Practice & Business Development Director Sue Murphy added:

“This investment future proofs the firm, reinforcing our commitment to quality, efficiency and sustainability in legal practice.”

As law firms reassess their office spaces in a hybrid-working world, Paris Smith’s transformation stands as a model for modern legal workplaces - balancing exceptional service, employee wellbeing and sustainable innovation.