Jackamans Solicitors

Jackamans Solicitors, a long-established East Anglia practice

Jackamans Solicitors presents itself as one of the longest-established law firms in East Anglia, combining that history with what it describes as a modern approach. The firm states that it speaks to clients in plain and clear language and guarantees personal attention. Its work is split between services for businesses and services for individuals, and it maintains four offices across Suffolk and Norfolk.

The practice is authorised and regulated by The Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 00052886. Paul McGrath is the Managing Partner, James Laband is Senior Partner and Jonathan McGrath heads the Private Client Department.

Commercial work for business clients

The business side of the practice covers commercial agreements, commercial property, dispute resolution, employment law and mergers, acquisitions and disposals. The firm frames this area as support through business highs and lows, with lawyers it describes as highly respected and experienced.

Private client services

For individuals, Jackamans lists clinical negligence, dispute resolution, personal injury, residential conveyancing, family law and wills, trusts and probate. The family law offering is broken down into pre-nuptial agreements, cohabitation advice and disputes, divorce and separation, domestic violence and children matters. The wills, trusts and probate side covers wills, powers of attorney and probate. The firm also publishes its fees for these services.

The lawyers and their specialisms

• James Laband, Senior Partner: qualified as a solicitor in 1984, joined Jackamans in 1988 at the Felixstowe office specialising in residential property, moved to Diss in 1997 as Partner in charge after the firm merged with Rollin & Co, and has been Senior Partner since May 2005.
• Paul McGrath, Managing Partner: leads the firm and emphasises the relationships behind its work, noting that most instructions come from satisfied clients who recommend the firm to family and friends.
• Timothy Owers, Partner: qualified as a solicitor in 1991 and became a Partner in 1995; he leads the Family Law Department from the Felixstowe office, specialises in matrimonial finances and proceedings relating to children, and has been a member of the Law Society's Family Panel since 1999.
• Jonathan McGrath, Partner: qualified solicitor and head of the Private Client Department; studied Law at the University of East Anglia, then completed the Legal Practice Course and the Professional Skills Course with BPP.

Offices across Suffolk and Norfolk

The firm operates from four locations. The Ipswich office is at Oak House, 7 Northgate Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3BX, telephone 01473 255 591. In Felixstowe it is at 167/171 Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 7DR, telephone 01394 279 636. The Diss office is Park House, Mere Street, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4JY, telephone 01379 643 555. The Harleston office is Ancient House, The Thoroughfare, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9AS, telephone 01379 854 455.

Jackamans notes that its offices occupy historic buildings not originally designed for commercial use, which can make disabled access difficult, and states that it makes every effort to accommodate clients.

News and community involvement

The firm publishes news and community items on its site. Recent entries at the time of writing included a piece on the role of an executor, a community item about trees at the Tower at St Mary le Tower Church, and an article on leasehold reform and extending a lease.