PERSONAL PROFILE
Personal Profile
I am a goal orientated business and legal strategist. I have been a qualified Solicitor since 1995 and a CeMAP-qualified mortgage broker and protections advisor with the London Institute of Banking & Finance since 2020, and I have recently qualified in Equity Release and have the CeRER qualification since 2023.
That makes me one of the very few people in the country that can give you legal advice AND financial advice on mortgages and protections - both highly regulated fields. One by SRA and the other by FCA.
I thrive on challenges and sheer hard work to get jobs done.
I am proud to say that I served as a Reservist (Territorial Army) for many years, some of which I served as an All Arms Commando.
I am a fully qualified Solicitor and with Penn Chambers, I provide expert advice in family litigation (divorces, children, finances and injunctions) and in Wills, Trusts & Probate law.
I am also a CeMAP and CeRER-qualified mortgage broker and protections advisor and with Penn Financial we provide professional mortgage broking, life, protections and insurance services. Fully independently, in an unbiased manner and with having access across the market.
"We are continually faced by a series of fantastic opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems"
John W Gardner
CEMAP PROFESSIONAL
2024
Issued by The London Institute of Banking & Finance
The Certificate in Mortgage Advice & Practice, CeMAP is the benchmark qualification for mortgage advisers in the UK. CeMAP Professionals have held the qualification for more than 12 months and work beyond the personal development requirements of the industry regulator.
QUALIFIED SOLICITOR
Member of the Law Society since 1995
Authorised and regulated by the SRA, admitted on 01/12/1995.
SUPPORTING THE ARMED FORCES
Pledge signed in 2020
All of the Penn Group of Companies are proudly supporting those who serve. Penn Chambers Solicitors has been awarded a Bronze award within Employer Recognition Scheme since September 2021.
MEMBER OF THE LONDON INSTITUTE OF BANKING & FINANCE
September 2022
Earners of this badge are a Member of The London Institute of Banking & Finance. We provide lifelong learning opportunities for professionals developing their careers in financial services.
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
What I Do & How I Do It
MY MISSION
My mission is to provide exceptional professional services in my areas of expertise in an efficient and friendly manner.
Building relationships that last, by providing you a truly besoke personal service without delay.
Uniquely, I am a fully qualified Solicitor and with Penn Chambers, I provide expert advice in family litigation (divorces, children, finances and injunctions) and in Wills, Trusts & Probate law.
I am also a fully CeMAP and CeRER-qualified mortgage broker and protections advisor and with Penn Financial I can provide professional mortgage broking, life insurance, protections and general insurance advice and Equity Release.
Being qualified in these two disparate areas allows me to create fine-tuned solutions to your individual circumstances.
PENN CHAMBERS
DIVORCE LAWYER
FAMILY LAW SOLICITOR
I am an expert in Family Law.
With more than 25 years of experience in all aspects of divorce and family law. I apply a strategic approach when dealing with divorces, same-sex civil partnership dissolution - swiftly and effectively; making sure your position is well protected at all times.
I approach children disputes such as "custody" and "access" with sensitivity, yet firmness to ensure that child-focused arrangements are made with the child at the heart of all negotiations.
I apply a more robust approach to resolving financial disputes of separating couples. A tenacious Solicitor in your corner makes all the difference; protecting you and your hard earned wealth.
PENN CHAMBERS
PROFESSIONAL WILLS, TRUSTS AND
PROBATE SOLICITOR
Dealing with a Will can be an unpleasant experience. It need not be. Protecting your family after you pass away is a very responsible thing to do. Making sure that is done properly is not something you want to leave to chance.
Preparing a Will through a fully qualified Solicitor is the ONLY way to make sure you provide properly for your loved ones.
The administration of a person's estate can be a complex, time consuming and often emotional time. As a specialist probate solicitor, I ensure that it is done properly, with options to mitigate any tax liability and undertaken sensitively. It is something that needs expert knowledge and a good bedside manner.
What I can add further, uniquely, is to look at Will in conjunction with your life and protections policies because I am also a qualified mortgage and protections advisor and then either alter the Will or the policy recommendations or both so that you have a truly bespoke legal and financial solution created for you.
PENN FINANCIAL
MORTGAGE BROKER
INSURANCE ADVISOR
A mortgage is a special type of loan, usually from a bank or building society that is secured against your property until you have paid it off in full. This means the lender could repossess your home if you fail to repay it.
I work with you to identify and protect you from foreseeable harm and risk where ever possible, taking into account your unique set of financial circumstances.
I all too often find that clients have under-insured or incorrectly insured their homes and the prized assets contained within the home.
It is truly heartbreaking when a serious incident occurs in the home and the insured finds out that they were not properly covered. For often a few pounds more, such devasting consequences can be easily avoided. I look at all your circumstances and only recommend policies that are suitable for your actual needs.
PENN FINANCIAL
PROTECTIONS ADVISOR
LIFE INSURANCE ADVISOR
Critical Illness Cover is an insurance policy that pays out a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with a condition that is listed on your policy.
The illnesses covered are most often serious illnesses, such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke.
A life insurance policy is a contract with an insurance company that pays out a lump sum to your loved ones (or whomever else you may choose) when you pass away.
I take the time to understand your family circumstance and completely understand - as should you - that not all policies are the same. Far from it.
Then and only then, do I search through the masses of policies available on the market extensively to ensure that the recommended policy specifically fits your needs and family dynamics.
What I can add further, uniquely, is to look at the policies in the context of your Will because I am a qualified Solicitor and either alter the policy recommendations or the Will or both so that you have a truly bespoke legal and financial solution created for you.
NEWS AND ARTICLES
MY EXPERIENCE
Background & Expertise
MORTGAGE, LIFE, PROTECTIONS AND INSURANCE ADVISOR AT
PENN FINANCIAL
2020 - to date
CeMAP qualified mortgage advisor, offering premium quality service to save my clients time and money. Determined to find the best solutions to fit my clients' needs while protecting and growing their wealth. Advising on Mortgages, Life, Protections & Insurance at Penn Financial. Fully independent, Penn Financial, is authorised by the FCA, enabling our clients to access to products across the market.
PRINCIPAL
PENN CHAMBERS
2009 - to date
Principal Senior Solicitor at Penn Chambers Solicitors (formerly known as Caliskan Carter Solicitors) and previously Consultant Solicitor at that firm and Wisdom Solicitors. At both locations undertaking high net worth divorces and Wills preparation coupled with tax planning advisory services.
PARTNER
PENN LEGAL
2002 - 2009
Sole practitioner building up a multi-faceted legal practice over a number of years undertaking commercial and private client work employing 17 Solicitors and 35 staff in total.
I still undertook high net worth divorces and Wills preparation coupled with tax planning advisory services to our own clients.
SENIOR SOLICITOR
IBB
2000 - 2002
Senior Solicitor undertaking high net worth divorces and Wills preparation coupled with tax planning advisory services to our clients.
ASSOCIATE
RICHMONDS
1997 - 2000
Associate Solicitor and eventually head of Family Team undertaking high net worth divorces and Wills preparation coupled with tax planning advisory services to our clients.
TRAINEE/SOLICITOR
HOWELLS
1995 - 1997
Final part of the process to qualify as a Solicitor undertaking a training contract (formerly Articles of Clerkship) for two years and thereafter remained as an Assistant Solicitor until I moved to Richmonds Solicitors above mentioned.
EDUCATION
What I’ve Learned
CERTIFICATE IN REGULATED EQUITY RELEASE (CERER)
February 2023
Completed my CeRER and am now fully qualified to support my clients to release value in their homes with the appropriate equity release schemes.
THE LONDON INSTITUTE OF BANKING & FINANCE
CEMAP - MODULES
1, 2 & 3
December 2020
Completed my CeMAP courses including all 3 Modules required to earn my official qualification to work as a licenced Mortgage Advisor, to provide mortgages, life, protection and insurance advice to clients.
TRAINING CONTRACT
HOWELLS SOLICITORS
1993 - 1995
Final part of the process to qualify as a Solicitor undertaking a training contract (formerly Articles of Clerkship) for two years and thereafter remained as an Assistant Solicitor until I moved to Richmonds Solicitors above mentioned.
LAW SCHOOL
LEEDS UNIVERSITY
1990 - 1991
Part II professional examinations required to qualify as a Solicitor. Then known as the Law Society Finals and now as the Legal Practice Course.
UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON
1987 - 1990
LLB Honours bachelors degree which incorporated the Part I professional examinations necessary to qualify as a Solicitor.