Here are the members of our Capacity team.
Stacey is a Partner in the Property Department dealing with predominantly commercial but also residential matters.
Stacey joined Crosse + Crosse in 1994 as a trainee Legal Executive having previously worked for another firm in Torbay for 4 years. In 1996 Stacey was admitted as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives. She subsequently qualified as a Solicitor in 1998 and became a Partner in 2003, one of the youngest female Partners in Exeter at that time. Although Stacey now specialises in commercial and property transactions she has spent many years acting in personal injury matters particularly those involving complex and high value injuries. This background in litigation provides Stacey with invaluable experience when advising clients on those commercial transactions which have the potential to become contentious and hopefully avoiding problems which may lead to future (and expensive) litigation!
Stacey has acted for clients in a wide range of commercial matters including industrial, retail, commercial, investment and licensed/hospitality premises. She is experienced in assisting clients to either buy or sell businesses either through shares or assets, preparing partnership agreements and dealing with partnership disputes or dissolutions. Stacey regularly advises clients in respect of commercial leases to include the negotiation, renewal, assignment or surrender of them and also dealing with licences, rent reviews and rent deposit deeds.
As a Governor of the Ellen Tinkham School in Exeter, a school for children with profound and multiple learning disabilities, Stacey assists where she can with charitable fundraising and has previously undertaken charity challenges to include trekking along the Great Wall of China (not all of it!) and cycling across Jordan (again not all of it!) to raise money for various children's charities.
David Merrick qualified as a solicitor in 1981 after obtaining a B Sc degree in biochemistry from University College London. He trained with Crosse & Crosse and has been with us since 1979.
He is the head of our Probate Department; his specialisms are in probate, trusts and mental health.
In probate matters he is experienced in tax planning, preparation of Wills, administration of estates, and the creation and administration of trusts.
In the realm of mental health matters, he is experienced in representation of nearest relatives and patients before Tribunals, both in deprivation of liberty cases and in other matters, Court of Protection and capacity issues.
Richard is the Head of the Injury Department and joined Crosse + Crosse in 1987. He has undertaken injury and accident related work for the last 20 years.
Richard has been a member of The Law Society's Personal injury panel since 1994 - shortly after its inception. He is a member of the Headway referral panel
Richard has specialist knowledge and expertise in all aspects of personal injury practice. He is regularly instructed on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants. He has wide experience in difficult cases and those involving catastrophic injuries. He provides fast, easy to understand, straightforward advice in high value complex personal injury cases. He also handles clinical negligence claims.
An important part of Richard's work is providing representation to families at Coroner's inquests where he works closely with his colleague Penny Evans. These cases can often last for several weeks and have a high volume of paperwork. Many clients have expressed their appreciation at their sensitive approach combined with their determination to establish the facts of what occurred and to bring those responsible to account.
Richard has considerable experience in handling Coroner's Inquests and some recent notable cases have included:
Re: Jamie Hague and others
Re: Nigel Cotter - Click here for article
Re: Daniel Heard - Click here for article
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1507520/Coroner-ordered-review-after-three-died-in-death-pact.html
Richard joined Crosse + Crosse in April 1996. He is an Associate with the firm and a solicitor in the Probate, Tax and Trusts department.
Richard has a high level of experience in the following fields:
Richard studied at the Manchester Metropolitan University where he gained a LLB Honours degree in Law and French. This included some work on French Law. He has lived and taught in France and is a fluent French speaker.
Richard has a particular interest in retirement planning and the affairs of the elderly. He is a retained lecturer in these subjects at the Met Office.
Richard is Honorary Treasurer of Devon and Somerset Law Society.
Crosse + Crosse Solicitors incorp Charles Hope & Co, 14 Southernhay West, Exeter, EX1 1PL Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority - SRA number 45764 Tel: +44 (0)1392 258451 - Fax: +44 (0)1392 278938 - DX: 8313 EXETER - Email: mail@crosse.co.uk