The Mediators

A group of experienced solicitors from across eight different law firms have banded together to form the York Solicitor Mediators. Their aim is to offer families and couples who may be going through a difficult divorce or separation an alternative to the court process which can often be extremely stressful and expensive. Chris Myles, a member of the new group and himself a family solicitor in York, commented that, "Not only do we understand the law but we are all qualified Family Mediators who recognise that there are better ways than the court system to make those all-important arrangements. Whether it is finances, divorce, or child custody issues, we can open the door to communication between parties to avoid court and unnecessary costs". York Solicitor Mediators cover all of North Yorkshire as well as the…

Promotion Of Gill Wilkinson

Gillian Wilkinson Ware & Kay has promoted Gillian Wilkinson to Head of Employment. Gillian advises on all aspects of employment law for both employees and employers with a particular expertise in handling discrimination cases. Gillian will play a key role in the firm's growth plans for the Employment Department. Contact details   Published: September 2013 Last updated: 30 June 2014

Solicitors Say Farewell To Peter Joslin

YORK'S legal profession has bid farewell to a popular solicitor who is retiring after more than four decades. More than 80 people gathered to celebrate the retirement of Peter Joslin, from Ware & Kay incorporating Sykes Lee & Brydson. Mr Joslin joined the profession in 1972 when he was appointed as an articled clerk at Sykes, Lee & Brydson, going on to qualify in 1974. He then remained at Sykes Lee & Brydson for the whole of his working life and was based at Judges Court during that time. Mr Joslin became a partner in 1978 and was the senior partner at Sykes Lee & Brydson before it merged with Ware & Kay in July. Mr Joslin, 65, celebrated an evening with friends, colleagues and clients at Ware & Kay's York offices at Sentinel…

Solicitor Peter Joslin Retires After 41 Years

A well respected and hugely knowledgeable solicitor of the North Yorkshire legal community has retired after 41 years. Peter Joslin, third from left, with Partners at Solicitors Ware & Kay, from left: David Hyams, Peter Kay, David Liddell and Michael Peach, at his retirement party   Peter Joslin, a solicitor for Ware & Kay incorporating Sykes Lee & Brydson in York was today marking his retirement after 41 years. Mr Joslin joined Sykes, Lee & Brydson as an Articled Clerk in 1972 and qualified in 1974 and remained at Sykes Lee & Brydson for the whole of his working life being based at Judges Court during that time. Mr Joslin became a Partner in 1978 and was the Senior Partner of Sykes Lee & Brydson before it merged with Ware & Kay in July 2013 whose…

Yorkshire Law Society Council

Michael Peach has been elected as Vice President of The Yorkshire Law Society this year and President from April 2014. Michael has been a member of The Yorkshire Law Society for 26 years. Michael Peach said "I am very much looking forward to representing the Society and solicitors in the York area locally and nationally. I am also looking forward to making new contacts and develop existing relationships both for the profession generally and for Ware & Kay. I am expecting a very busy, interesting and challenging time, particularly during my Presidential year. There will be many new and rewarding events and activities to get involved with." Gillian Reid who attended her first Council meeting on 12th June 2013 is also delighted to be elected as a Council member of The Yorkshire Law Society and will…

Coast To Coast Bike Ride Challenge

Cycling enthusiasts Peter Kay (Senior Partner), David Hyams (Partner), David Kershaw (Solicitor), Andrew Daffern (Practice Manager) and Richard Daffern (Fireman from North Yorkshire Fire Brigade) succeeded in cycling 192 miles from coast to coast in only two and half days. They set off on the gruelling 192 mile bike ride from Barrow in Furness on Friday 7th June and completed 76 miles on the first leg of their journey before stopping at Kirkby Stephen.  On the second day they cycled another 74 miles to Osmotherly before completing the rest of the journey on the 9th June in Whitby with a fish and chip lunch. Peter Kay said "Nothing can beat the massive sense of achievement you feel having done the coast to coast.  It was a stunning ride through Cumbria then the Yorkshire Dales, across…

Ware & Kay Runner On Track

The family of Gillian Reid, Head of Employment at Ware & Kay, her husband Les Wilkinson, David Wilkinson (son aged 18) and Rebecca Wilkinson (daughter aged 16) have all set themselves a challenge and are getting set to run in the Jane Tomlinson York 10k on Sunday 4th August 2013 at 9:30am in support of the Missing People charity. It will be the first 10k race (6.2 miles) David and Rebecca have run.  They see this as a big challenge and no mean feat but are confident about reaching the finishing line in under one hour. Gill said "It is a challenging course starting at York Knavesmire Racecourse and winding through the ancient streets of York city centre, passing Clifford's Tower and York Minster and finishing again on the Racecourse. The teenagers came up with the…

Merger With Sykes Lee Brydson

Ware & Kay are pleased to announce the merger with Sykes Lee & Brydson.   The combined practices will operate under the name Ware & Kay headed by Peter Kay as Senior Partner.   Two Historic Names One Great Firm Ware & Kay identified that Sykes Lee & Brydson share a similar ethos and approach to its own and welcomed the additional staff and most importantly its clients as part of a planned expansion strategy. Peter Kay said: "The primary driving force behind the merger was a shared desire to increase the legal services from which both sets of clients could benefit.  As a larger firm our business clients benefit from a much broader range of expertise, including corporate, commercial and employment teams, an extensive litigation and dispute resolution capability and the addition of niche know-how…

The Natural Step Forward

TWO long-established Yorkshire legal firms have merged, it was announced yesterday. Ware & Kay, which has offices in York and Wetherby, said that it has joined forces with Sykes Lee & Brydson. The combined practices will operate under the name Ware & Kay, headed by Peter Kay as senior partner. Ware & Kay said that it identified that Sykes Lee & Brydson shares "a similar ethos and approach to its own", adding that as a result of the merger annual turnover will rise by 25 per cent from £2m. The firm said that it welcomed the additional staff and its clients as part of a planned expansion strategy. The financial details of the merger were not disclosed. Ware & Kay has been operating for 200 years, while the history of Sykes Lee & Brydson goes back to at least 1830 and…

City Law Firms Merge

TWO historic York law firms have merged Ware & Kay and Sykes Lee & Brydson each has more than 200 years of history in York, and will create an enlarged Ware & Kay, employing 66 staff and five partners, at the firm's Peasholme Green premises. Ware & Kay has taken on 13 additional staff from Sykes Lee & Brydson, which was based in two sites in Acomb and Judges' Court, Coney Street, York, where it has been based since at least 1850. Peter Kay, senior partner at Ware & Kay, said: "As a larger firm our business clients benefit from a much broader range of expertise, including corporate, commercial and employment teams, an extensive litigation and dispute resolution capability and the addition of niche know-how in fields such as mediation. "The families and individuals we serve…