The Team

Amanda Woodrow

Having worked for several years in a local firm as a general secretary, Amanda joined JE Bennett Law in December 2018 looking for a change of direction and to gain experience as a secretary in the legal sector.

In her spare time, Amanda enjoys reading and walking, being involved with her local church and spending time with her family.

Lily Scheller

Wanting to combine academic interests with her passion to help others, Lily joined JE Bennett Law in 2017 after graduating from University with a degree in Law. Currently completing the LPC whilst working, she hopes to train as a Solicitor and continue helping vulnerable clients. Lily believes the Law should be accessible to all people and aims to help as many clients as possible throughout her career.

Outside of work, Lily enjoys writing, spending time with family and caring for her various pets!

Rachael Vinall

Rachael re-joined the team at JE Bennett Law in November 2017 after taking some time off to go travelling and raise a family. Rachael is a Legal PA with 6 years’ experience and has first hand knowledge of supporting a family member with a brain injury.

In her spare time Rachael enjoys spending time with family and friends and countryside walks.

Richard Shearing

Richard has over 10 years’ experience working with Private Clients and over the last 6 years, has specialised in supporting vulnerable clients. Prior to qualifying as a lawyer Richard worked in the care sector with clients with learning disabilities, acquired brain injury and psychiatric illnesses. This gives him a unique insight and empathy in relation to the issues and challenges faced by many of our clients.

He was a partner in Sussex law firms for several years prior to joining JE Bennett Law and has extensive experience in handling financial and care / welfare matters under the Court of Protection. Richard acts for a significant number of disabled and/or vulnerable clients for whom he acts as financial deputy and professional trustee. Richard also advises lay deputies and trustees. Richard also deals with estate administration and preparing Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney for clients.

Richard is ranked as a Next Generation Partner and a Recommended Lawyer in the prestigious 2020 Legal 500 ratings. Here are some quotes from the Legal 500 editorial:

‘Richard Shearing takes enormous care when dealing with his clients, ensuring that the small details which make their lives better are attended to, and often goes above and beyond’

‘Richard Shearing is hugely experienced’

Amy Paxton

Amy has practiced private client law since graduating in 2000, encompassing estate administration, Wills, and work for the vulnerable client. She qualified as a lawyer in 2008 and is a full accredited member of Solicitors for the Elderly.

Prior to joining JE Bennett Law in 2017, Amy spent over 15 years at other firms in both East Sussex and Kent and spent some time working at Age UK in London as a probate and legacy officer. She has a particular interest in elderly client work and powers of attorney.

Amy is a Recommended Lawyer in the 2019 Legal 500, being described as “having extensive knowledge… and can explain things in a way that is understandable, despite having to cover complicated subjects” in the Legal 500.

Outside of work Amy enjoys spending time with family and in the pursuit of various hobbies.

Mike Oxlee

In a wide-ranging career in marketing and business management, Mike has acquired significant experience across a broad range of industries (primarily the service sector) from both business-to-business and business-to-client perspectives.

Mike has worked both clientside and agencyside and has managed £multi-million budgets; handled above and below the line campaigns of varying sizes and complexities using traditional and digital media; set-up and managed a multitude of partnership marketing campaigns; and overseen the development and redevelopment of numerous websites. Mike has an MBA specialising in marketing management.

Mike brings all this experience to JE Bennett to help drive sustainable business growth through marketing strategies that deliver business directly from both end-users and trade and business referral routes. JE Bennett is a great business providing a fantastic and worthy service for those in need. Mike’s job is simply to make sure the right people know about us and know how we can help them.

Philip Pilgrim

Philip Pilgrim MCIPS, is an experienced executive with extensive commercial experience culminating in leading the boards of a number of companies where he had direct responsibility for acquisitions and sales, business strategy and development, business turnarounds and leadership of a number of senior management teams.

Philip is a dynamic leader and is experienced in dealing with complex issues. With a commercial mind, his analytical approach and attention to detail delivers real growth through strategic planning, clear leadership, teamwork, communication and motivation.

He firmly believes success is measured by the overall improvement he helps deliver to a business and the benefits this will bring.

Sahar Zaidi-Shirazee

Sahar qualified as a Solicitor (2011) in England and Wales. She has worked with law firms in New York and London and with an in-house legal team before joining JE Bennett Law.

Sahar’s first degree is in Economics and Political Science, which helped with the commercial legal work she has been involved with in her legal career. Sahar enjoys working with people to find practical solutions to problems and believes strongly in the value of team work. She uses her legal and commercial experience to shape her role as Business Manager at JE Bennett Law.

Any free time is spent working with Peace Through Prosperity (a charity that uses education and training to empower the most marginalised in society) and Making Moments (a charity for children).

Naomi Forder

Having worked in retail for 6 years whilst raising a young family, Naomi joined J E Bennett Law in September 2016 as a legal secretary in order to pursue her legal career. She looks forward to furthering her knowledge and progressing in this particular area of law.

Naomi has applied to be a Court of Protection Deputy for a family member. In her spare time she enjoys reading, baking and spending time with her family.

Diane Mitchell

Diane joined the team in September 2016 having previously worked for a charity in Surrey. Diane has 10 years experience of assisting elderly/vulnerable clients with benefit claims, Powers of Attorney, Deputyships and Probate.

Diane is a lay Deputy and also has experience of the effects of a spinal cord injury on another family member. In her spare time Diane enjoys spending time gardening and relaxing with her family and dogs.

Ben Anker

Ben heads up the Costs Assessment team, preparing Bills of Costs in deputyship cases. The team also deal with deputy report forms, account analysis, investments, budgeting/forecasting and tax returns.

Prior to joining, Ben qualified as a Costs Lawyer and is also a freelance photographer.

Heather Wilkes

Heather joined JE Bennett Law in January 2016 having previously worked part-time from home providing admin support to a Development Consultant for seven years, after having children. Heather is a legal secretary with six years’ legal experience in the City.

In her spare time Heather enjoys walking with her dogs, reading and spending time with her family.

Melanie Foster

Melanie joined JE Bennett Law Solicitors in 2013 having taken a career break to have children. Melanie is a Legal Cashier with commercial banking and legal accounts experience spanning 18 years. She has a diploma with the Institute of Legal Cashiers.

Melanie chose to work for JE Bennett Law because: “they care for their clients and have a great team ethic”.

Lorna Halfpenny-Beeby

Lorna qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 2004. She has worked in both the public law and private client sectors.

Prior to her admittance to the roll she obtained a BSc (Hons) in Psychology. Having spent several years working with the elderly she then proceeded to gain first hand experience of the issues faced by those with catastrophic brain injuries, spending 4 years working in a transitional living unit and then as part of a community rehabilitation team. Having joined JE Bennett Law, Lorna’s experience and knowledge leaves her well placed to assist vulnerable clients with the management and supervision of their property and affairs. Lorna has first hand experience of the effects of a spinal cord injury on a family member.

In her free time she has involvement with a registered charity R.E.A.D.Y (Recreation and Easy Access for Disabled Youth).

Lorna is ranked as a Rising Star and Recommended Lawyer in the prestigious 2020 Legal 500 ratings. Here are some quotes from the Legal 500 editorial:

Lorna Halfpenny-Beeby has a very gentle and personable manner’

‘Lorna Halfpenny-Beeby is always willing to talk and/or meet to discuss matters and offers very helpful advice’

‘Jane Bennett and Lorna Halfpenny-Beeby are highly efficient, compassionate and caring as well as very positive’

Tom Beaufoy

A co-founder of JE Bennett Law, Tom is Jane’s co-Director and joins JE Bennett Law to focus on the management of the business from a financial and regulatory aspect.Tom has been a successful Business Consultant and Company Director, with a primary focus in Healthcare, for the last 12 Years.

Specialising in mobilisation, management controls, IM&T, compliance and governance, Tom has a wide range of skills required to run an effective business. Dealing with NHS authorities and having a good understanding of patient pathways lends an added perspective when dealing with NHS funding matters.

Jane Bennett

Jane is 1 (of just 70) of the Office of the Public Guardian appointed Panel Depuites. A Court of Protection specialist, Jane has over 17 years’ experience working with Private Clients and over the last 10 years, has built a practice which supports vulnerable clients to identify and meet their legal needs.

She was a partner in London City/Westminster law firms for several years prior to setting up her own business in Sevenoaks in 2012.

Being very experienced in handling financial and care / welfare matters under the Court of Protection, Jane has a significant number of disabled and/or vulnerable clients for whom she acts as financial deputy and professional trustee. She also advises lay deputies and trustees.

Jane acts as an expert witness in catastrophic injury and high value claims in relation to professional deputy and trustee matters and regularly trains fellow professionals in this field.

Jane has a good eye for the details, and always insists on accuracy. She ensures the team maintains a client-centred and empathetic approach at all times.

Jane has been recognised in 2019 and 2020 as a Noted Practitioner by in the renowned Chambers ratings. She is on the elite list of Leading Individuals and is also a Recommended Lawyer in the prestigious 2020 Legal 500 rankings. Here are some quotes from the Legal 500 editorial:

‘Jane Bennett provides an exceptional level of service’

‘Jane Bennett is very able and balanced in her approach. She makes swift and sensible decisions based on the claimant’s best interests’