Partner Article

Teesdale Lawyer called on by Regional Firm

A Teesdale lawyer’s experience is being drawn on by the Tees Valley’s largest full service law firm to lead two of the firm’s divisions.

Partner Brian Farrell, who currently heads Tilly Bailey & Irvine Solicitors’ Conveyancing Department, has now additionally become the firm’s Head of Private Family, taking responsibility for the company’s specialist solicitors who advise on divorce cases and the related financial matters.

Brian, who qualified in 1980, has worked as a solicitor based in Barnard Castle for the 35 years since. He is a member of the Family Law Accreditation Scheme and a Member of Resolution, the professional organisation of Family Lawyers in the UK. He is based at Tilly Bailey & Irvine Solicitors’ Barnard Castle office at 8 Newgate.

Brian commented: “I’m glad to be in a position to use my experience to the benefit of Tilly Bailey & Irvine Solicitors, both in representing clients, and also in developing younger solicitors within the firm. With experience comes the confidence that I can guide and advise clients appropriately, and represent them effectively.

“I’m enjoying the challenge of leading both the Conveyancing and Private Family departments across the firm’s four offices, while continuing to be here for my Teesdale clients, many of whom I’ve represented throughout my career.”

Tilly Bailey & Irvine Solicitors is the Tees Valley’s largest full service law firm with offices in Hartlepool, Wynyard Park, Stockton on Tees and Barnard Castle. Under Mr Farrell, Tilly Bailey & Irvine Solicitors’ Conveyancing Department has grown to incorporate a ‘New Build’ division, and the firm is now on the Recommended Solicitors panel of many of the Tees Valley’s larger home builders.

As Head of Private Family, Brian is keen to support and promote Resolution’s proposal to allow people to divorce without blame. He added: “The current situation is that, unless prepared to live apart for two years, one person needs to apportion some form of blame on the other, either adultery or unreasonable behaviour, in order to divorce. In my experience, I’ve found this increases the conflict around divorce, causing additional stress. Without the need for ‘blame’, I doubt we’d have more divorces, but we could have a less traumatic process, especially where children are involved. In my new role, I will be supporting Resolution in this aim, and working to make it a reality for clients as soon as possible.”

Brian and his wife live in near Barnard Castle, and they have two grown sons.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tilly Bailey and Irvine Solictors .