Senior residential conveyancer Fiona has joined the business to provide training to staff in the large and growing conveyancing team.
She will also work on ‘out of the ordinary’ conveyancing deals, working mainly from the Chorley office, but with some time spent in Preston.
She said: “I’m really enjoying my role so far because everyone has been really friendly and welcoming. I’m looking forward to passing on my knowledge through lectures and other forms of training that will help provide my colleagues with a strong understanding of conveyancing that will benefit them throughout their careers.”
Moving from England to Hong Kong aged three months, where she spent the first 12 years of her life, Fiona is an open-heart surgery survivor. She qualified as a fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in 1995.
Her first job after finishing school had been working as a nanny in the US but, upon returning to her family home in Southampton, her mother took her down to the YTS office to find employment in 1980.
“There were two choices – a job in a butcher’s shop or working in a solicitors’ office – so I chose the second option,” she said. Fiona worked for a law firm in Southampton until moving up north in October 1991.
Her most recent role was as a locum conveyancer and her position at Marsden Rawsthorn was created for her as the firm invests in its workforce. She will spend part of her working week on more unusual conveyancing cases, such as adverse possessions and lease extensions.
Fiona said: “I’ve come across conveyancing departments within other firms where training has been forgotten because nobody is giving less experienced staff the time to learn. It’s great that Marsden Rawsthorn are making training a priority and I want staff to not be afraid to ask questions.”
In her spare time, the mum-of-two, who became a grandma during the pandemic, enjoys walking and doing car boot sales. As well as planning her wedding, which should have taken place in 2021, she is looking forward to visiting her son and his family in Vietnam when the borders are reopened.
Nicola Fairhurst, associate director at Marsden Rawsthorn, said: “We are delighted to welcome Fiona to the team. She has already made a great impact during her first few weeks and we know she will become a valuable member of the Marsden Rawsthorn family.”
