CHESTERFIELD CHAMPION: '˜The Northern Gateway will be a fantastic development'

I relocated from Nottingham to Chesterfield in April 2015 and I now manage the Chesterfield office of VHS Fletchers Crime and Regulatory Solicitors.

Although my firm is relatively new to Chesterfield, we are only the most recent incarnation of a department offering criminal advice and have solicitors who have provided advice and representation in criminal cases for many years.

Our premises are on Marsden Street in Chesterfield.

We employ five solicitors, an accredited police station representative and a senior crown court litigator from that office, as well as Nicola Newman – the glue that keeps the office together and running smoothly.

1. What’s your best memory of the town?

Personally, I was pleased to win my first trial at Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court. I’d been warned that the Magistrates here were rather formidable, so I was pleased I was able to persuade them to see my client’s point of view.

I’ve managed to repeat the feat more than once too!

2. What development do you think will make the biggest difference to the town?

The Northern Gateway will be fantastic for the development of the town, it will create more jobs and continue to develop the town.

3. How would you describe Chesterfield to someone who has never visited?

It has a good food and drink scene and passion to develop that further.

We have seen how keen local restaurateurs are to work with us, developing skills that they will need to expand their businesses and develop new and exciting places for residents and visitors to go.

4. What are the positives of running a business here?

While being large enough to provide us with access to a large potential client base, it is small enough to allow you to have a personal relationship with individuals and businesses.

You have the opportunity to make a good impression through the work that you do, and generate word of mouth referrals.

5. Who or what do you turn to in Chesterfield for business advice?

I will turn to my colleague Kevin Tomlinson who has provided legal advice in Chesterfield for many years. He knows the clients, court staff and local agencies, we haven’t put a foot wrong so far.

6. Why did you choose to base your business in Chesterfield?

We opened an office in Chesterfield as a response to a government intention to restrict the number of firms that could provide advice under criminal legal aid. Our intention was to show that, as a firm, we could easily provide countywide coverage for clients.

7. Who do you admire in the community?

I admire those who provide similar services but as volunteers, for example the CAB, Law Centre, The Trussell Trust and Chesterfield Food Banks, Pathways and the Samaritans.