THE JUDGES

Aleks is the Co-Founder and MD at Exizent. Exizent is a business on a mission to improve the experience of bereavement for everyone involved. This includes providing highly usable browser-based software for practitioners to manage estate administration from end-to-end.

Aleks is an experienced and energetic business executive with a strong track record of successful business innovation through technology in several sectors.

Prior to Exizent, Aleks was an independent consultant advising on growth and technology. Before this he was Founder and CEO at Arum, a specialist technology advisory and transformation business with a software development arm.

Aleks is a member of the LawScotTech Advisory Board, FinTech Scotland Cluster Management Board and, as a business angel, an investor in early-stage businesses with growth potential.

He lives in Edinburgh with his wife, three children and crazy springer spaniel.

Anthony, the current Director General and Marketing Director at The Society of Will Writers (SWW), brings 7 years and 8 months of dedicated service to this non-profit, self-regulatory organization. Graduating with a first-class degree in Audio Production from the University of Lincoln in 2016, Anthony initially joined SWW as a graphic designer, showcasing his versatility. His commitment and expertise led to his appointment to the board of directors in 2019.

Established in 1994 by former Director General Brian McMillan and four other business owners, The Society of Will Writers has flourished under Anthony’s leadership, becoming the largest and foremost self-regulatory body for Will Writers and Estate Planners. With over 1,700 members spanning the UK, Central Europe, and beyond to Asia and Africa, Anthony ensures the Society continues its mission to safeguard the public and advance the interests of industry professionals.

With many years of experience in heir hunting and bringing empty properties back to use, I have seen first-hand the true costs of not having a valid will and the problems of probate disputes from DIY or missing wills. I enjoy meeting generations of the same family knowing we have protected what people have worked hard for.

We established Southeast Legacies after Pete was diagnosed with cancer at a very early age and it made us realise how important it is to protect those you care about. We are pleased to say he has made a full recovery and continues to drive Southeast Legacies forward.

As fathers to young children and with parents enjoying their retirement, we appreciate the different stages of life and the importance of putting the right legal documents in place.

Heledd Wyn is a Partner specialising in private client services and long-term care,
based in Bristol but with national reach. With extensive experience in future planning,
private wealth, and Court of Protection matters, Heledd provides expert guidance on
Wills, Powers of Attorney, long-term care, and asset protection for both individuals
and business owners. She is also a trusted advisor on inheritance tax planning and
trusts.
Heledd is particularly well-regarded for her expertise in long-term and elderly care
issues. Her in-depth knowledge of care system funding, especially in navigating local
authority assessments and challenging their decisions, makes her invaluable to
clients planning for their own or loved ones’ care. She has significant experience with
NHS Continuing Healthcare funding and contested applications to the Court of
Protection.

Ian Bond, is a member of the Law Society’s Wills & Equity Committee as well as a member of STEP and the Association of Lifetime Lawyers, He is a specialist in the non-contentious realm of estate administration, probate, and intestacy work for England and Wales. His expertise extends to estates with foreign assets and foreign estates with UK assets, particularly in dealing with complex taxable estates. Ian collaborates closely with the wills, trusts, and estates disputes team for contentious matters and has previously been appointed by the Courts as an independent administrator of contested estates.

In the broader spectrum of Private Client work, Ian handles trust formation and administration, wealth succession, and estate planning, including the drafting of wills and powers of attorney. He is a significant contributor to the legal field, having authored five chapters for the Law Society publication ‘The Probate Practitioners Handbook,’ covering client care, complaint handling, costs, and the management of digital assets on death. Ian’s insightful articles have been featured in both legal and non-legal publications, showcasing his broad legal knowledge.

Jade is a founder and CEO of Circe Law. Having spent most of her career managing Private Client teams across the home counties, she brings a wealth of experience to the team. Jade shows a real passion for supporting older and vulnerable clients within the community and is heavily involved with various local charities and initiatives. She is a fully accredited member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (“STEP), a fully accredited member and Director for the Association of Lifetime Lawyers (“ALL”) and a member of the Law Society’s Wills & Equity Committee. Jade is also passionate about creating a supportive and inclusive environment for the team to flourish here at Circe Law.

A graduate from King’s College, University of London, Lakshmi is a marketing specialist with over 30  years’ experience in all aspects of business strategy and marketing in the commercial, public and not for profit sectors. She worked her way up to director level, taking time out to do a full time MBA in 1990 – 91.

A specialist in marketing strategy creation, strategic branding, proposition development, new product and service development and service delivery as well as marketing communications and PR, she has also had many years’ experience working with creative agencies to help them develop powerful creative work and compelling copy. Clear communication is at the heart of all aspects of her business and marketing approach.

She spent several years working as a consultant in the legal profession and in 2004, she joined The Association of Lifetime Lawyers as its development officer and in 2010, became its chief operating officer. In January 2014, she was appointed as chief executive officer.

Nimesh is the Head of Risk and Compliance at Legal Eye, who provide risk and compliance services across the legal sector. Nimesh’s specialisms include, complaint handling, supporting law firms to achieve and maintain IS9001 and Lexcel, as well as auditing against those standards.

Prior to working at Legal Eye, Nimesh built up his compliance knowledge whilst working as an investigator at the Legal Ombudsman. Nimesh has also worked in house in a National Law firm’s compliance team. Nimesh also brings a wealth of experience from working in conveyancing, as a Team Leader within the Lender Services department also at a National Law firm.

A keen traveller, Nimesh’s passion aside from Compliance is to journey far and wide, having recently completed a solo expedition across China.

Paige Gouldthorpe is the Head of the Court of Protection and Vulnerable Persons Team at Fosters Solicitors, focusing on providing legal support to some of the most vulnerable people in society. Her work has earned her three national awards, recognising her dedication to her clients and her professional excellence in this challenging field. Paige was also named one of the Top 100 Inspiring Women of Norfolk, highlighting her positive influence within the local community. Beyond her role at Fosters Solicitors, Paige contributes her expertise as a Director for both the Big C Cancer Charity and the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. Her professional work is centred on ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive appropriate support and representation, balancing empathy with strong advocacy.