TGt Meets… Rosemary Sharp of Frettens Solicitors

In this edition of TGt Meets, learn from Rosemary Sharp, a Partner in the family team at Frettens Solicitors.

1. What exactly made you join Frettens? Is there anything in particular that stands out or drew you to them?

It was a combination of local reputation, branding and feedback from people I knew that either worked at Frettens or who were clients of the firm.

2. How has your experience at other firms helped prepare you for your role at Frettens?

Having worked at other firms, I knew what I did and didn’t want from a firm in terms of culture, marketing, growth opportunities.  

3. In your first few weeks, what has been the most rewarding part of working at Frettens?

Being made to feel so welcome, from the very first day when our receptionists knew who I was and were so warm and welcoming.  It has made it so easy to settle in. My clients have also been really well looked after and the transition has been seamless.   

4. What do you think is key to building strong, long-lasting relationships with clients?

Clients expect, quite rightly, for us to know the law and advise them correctly. It is often the non-legal element of our dealings with clients which makes the difference and enables us to build those long lasting relationships. 

The client care side of things and having a genuine interest in their situation and helping them.  In my particular legal area, family, treating clients as human beings, being empathetic and responsive is crucial.  That doesn’t mean automatically telling a client what they want to hear but guiding them through a process to achieve the best outcome for them and their family.

5. Can you share an example of how you’ve been able to support a client with a particularly challenging legal issue or situation?

A lot of my clients find themselves in challenging situations when they are going through a separation or have disagreements about the arrangements for their children. Situations can usually be resolved when there is dialogue, but when one person refuses to engage, it can make a situation particularly challenging. 

I recently helped a client secure a financial settlement where the other person wasn’t engaging in the process and wouldn’t provide any information about their finances.  We were able to obtain a court order for my client to retain the family home (amongst other assets) which provided her with security which was very important for her and the children.  

6. What strategies do you use to stay up to date with changes in the law and best practices in your area of expertise?

We hold regular team meetings and have great communication within the team for sharing updates and best practice.  We also have Lexis Nexis at Frettens which means it’s easy to stay up to speed with regular email updates.  Dorset Resolution (I am treasurer of this regional branch) also provide training events through the year to enable local practitioners to keep up to date.

7. Is Frettens a collaborative place to work? Do they foster team work between departments?

Yes, there is lots of collaboration at Frettens.  There is very much a door open policy and lots of opportunity to collaborate both on client matters and internal matters/business development opportunities.    

Click here to visit the Frettens website.