Eddie works with Toni and Siobhan, and Michael and Andrew.

Eddie read anthropology and law at the London School of Economics. He qualified as a solicitor in January 2016 at a high street practice in Northamptonshire.

Before his life in the law, Eddie worked as a parliamentary researcher in Brussels, Strasbourg and Westminster. He also worked as a political assistant to the leader of Northampton Borough Council. Eddie also served for three years as a councillor on Daventry District Council, taking an interest in finance and corporate governance issues. He is now the county councillor for Banbury Calthorpe. In September 2018, he was appointed cabinet member for transformation at Oxfordshire County Council. He oversees its commercial property portfolio, and ICT and procurement policy.

Eddie assists Michael Barlow and Toni Peppard with all aspects of the firm’s private client work. This includes wills, probate, powers of attorney and Court of Protection applications.

In addition to his private client practice, Eddie supports Toni and Siobhan Sibley with the firm’s conveyancing caseload, including freehold and leasehold work, registered and unregistered land, and declarations of trust, transfers of equity and property refinancing. He also supports Siobhan and Andrew Hardcastle with its commercial and agricultural property and with the firm’s litigation work.

Eddie is married to Ayesha and they live in Banbury. Outside of work, Eddie is a lover of languages (he speaks French and Spanish) and sports. He is a fair-weather golfer, any-weather skier and, generally, a less fortunate football fan than he is rugby supporter.

Charlotte Skehan is Eddie’s secretary.

Toni heads our conveyancing team and is highly acclaimed for her approach to elderly and vulnerable clients.

Toni is Head of Conveyancing and a full member of Solicitors for the Elderly. Toni and her secretary do much of the conveyancing work, assisted by completions manager Dawn Whittle. She also gets involved with Lasting Powers of Attorney and Deputyship work.

Toni read law at the University of Central England and joined Hancocks when she qualified, in October 1998. She obtained a Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners diploma in 2013. Toni became a partner in May 2018.

Toni gets rave reviews from clients both for her use of Plain English and for her “bedside manner” with vulnerable clients.

She specialises in all kinds of residential conveyancing; for example, freehold, leasehold (including lease extensions), re-mortgages, equity release schemes and declarations of trust.

She also specialises in elderly client and mental capacity work; for example, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Deputyships, Court of Protection/Office of the Public Guardian work, and occasional Living Wills (e.g. Advance Decisions and Statements), which complement the residential conveyancing.

Toni is also a Parent Governor at The Warriner School, Bloxham. She lives with her husband and two daughters. In her spare time she is a keen apiarist, with her own beehive at the bottom of her garden.

Michelle Grieveson is Toni’s secretary.

Laura has 10 years’ post-qualification experience. She offers a welcoming friendly face to clients.

Laura read forensic science and criminology at the University of Lincoln. She then went on to complete the law conversion course at the College of Law, York. Laura qualified as a solicitor in September 2008 and, before her life in family law, she worked as a criminal duty solicitor in Oxfordshire.

In January 2013, having decided to pursue a previously held interest in family law, Laura joined Hine Solicitors. While she was at Hine, she retrained with Ian Davies. Laura joined Ian, at Hancocks, in August 2016. Laura became an associate in January 2018.

Her previous experience affords Laura a good understanding of client expectations and how to meet them, together with a strong advocacy base.

As a member of Resolution, she believes a non-confrontational, constructive approach is in the best interests of her clients. When she is negotiating with ex-partners and their solicitors, which has proven very successful for her clients.

Laura deals with all aspects of Cotswold Family Law’s work, including divorce/dissolution, separation, financial settlements, pre-nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements and child arrangements.

Laura grew up in West Oxfordshire and now lives with her husband, and dog, near Chipping Norton. She enjoys long dog walks with a pub lunch as the destination.

Zoe Nairn is Laura’s secretary.

Andrew is a highly experienced commercial property specialist once described by a corporate client’s surveyor as the best lawyer he had ever dealt with for speed of response.

Andrew read history at the University of York and qualified as a solicitor in 1991 with one of the then big four Birmingham firms. He eventually moved to a large commercial firm in Northampton where he was an associate and subsequently set up his own practice in Cropredy near Banbury in 2000.

In 2008, his practice amalgamated with a “boutique” corporate firm in Marlow, Buckinghamshire where he was the commercial property partner. However, returning to “Banburyshire”, he joined Hancocks on 1 November 2013.

Andrew does freehold and leasehold commercial and agricultural property work, including property finance, investment and development. He also does non-contentious corporate and personal insolvency work, and very high value residential property work.

In addition to the usual commercial leases and related licences (many in London and the Thames Valley), he also does a certain amount of contentious landlord and tenant work, statutory notices, break options, dilapidations claims, and overriding leases.

And, in addition to the usual institutional lending work, he has also done a certain amount of personal, secured lending.

He has also acted in connection with the sale or purchase of a number of licensed premises and other small businesses (both assets and shares) as going concerns.

His commercial clients include commercial and residential property investment/development companies, trustees of directors’ pension schemes, farmers and hotels, and they vary from SMEs to PLCs.

Agricultural instructions include the dissolution of a farming partnership.

Residential instructions include buying a block of around 20 flats in central London under the collective enfranchisement legislation, then extending the participating members’ leases.  Also, buying and selling numerous flats and houses in London and outside, some for many millions.  And acting for a residential property development company in connection with a dozen plot estate in Cumbria, from start to finish.

Andrew has two daughters, who share his love of skiing, and one boy, a Border Collie.

Ian qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and has been working in the area of Family Law since then. He is a member of Resolution and the Law Society Family Law Scheme and he is committed to helping his clients achieve the best outcomes for themselves and their families.

Ian is a member of Resolution and the Law Society Family Law Scheme. He read law at the University of Teesside and qualified as a solicitor in 2002. His first post-qualification position was with Kidd Rapinet, and he had successful spells at Gorvins in Milton Keynes, IBB in Chesham and Hine in Oxford. Ian moved to Hancocks as a partner in January 2015.

Ian is Head of the Family Law team and is based at our office in Banbury, although he frequently attends the Brailes office for client and other meetings.

“Family” covers a wide range but Ian deals with divorce and financial settlements, pre-nuptial and post-marital agreements, civil partnership dissolution, co-habitation disputes, injunctions, and a wide variety of issues relating to children following relationship breakdown.

He represents not only high net worth individuals with large and complex asset bases, both in the UK and abroad, but also clients with limited assets. Ian has specialist knowledge of Armed Forces/Police and final salary pension schemes.

Ian’s clients often compliment him for his straightforward and thoughtful advice. They also value his ability to think outside the box when it comes to finding and considering solutions.

Ian is a useful “corporate golfer” and a season ticket holder at MK Dons. However, he can occasionally be found at Old Trafford cheering on his beloved Manchester United.

Ian’s secretary is Zoe Nairn.

George Brooks is a talented legal executive who joined Hancocks when we acquired Brooks Law.

George studied law at Staffordshire University before graduating from the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) course, and he is now a member of CILEx. He has worked in law since a young age and began his legal experience by working for two large firms in Warwickshire.

After working for Brooks Law Solicitors, a traditional, high street practice in Shipston-on-Stour, George moved to a larger firm based in Rugby, in 2013, where he practised residential conveyancing. However, in 2014, he returned to the family business in Shipston, in order to set up its probate department.

George has wide experience in private client work, including Will drafting, grant applications, administration of estates and preparation of Lasting Powers of Attorney.

George joined Hancocks in June 2016, following its acquisition of Brooks Law, and growing its “wills and probate” capacity. He enjoys meeting clients face to face and is really passionate about helping people through what can be a difficult and emotional time.

George lives in Shipston with his partner and he enjoys all types of sport, but his passion is football and he is an avid supporter of Brighton & Hove Albion. He also enjoys long country walks with his partner and their dog, and they try to fit in as many weekend trips as they can.

Matt is a trainee solicitor working with Ian Davies, Siobhan Sibley, Toni Peppard and others.

Matt studied law at Oxford Brookes University. He then went on to study the combined Legal Practice Course and Masters in Law at the University of Law.

Matt joined Hancocks in September 2017 following work experience with the firm. Matt is currently a trainee solicitor undertaking his period of recognised training with Hancocks. During this time, Matt is working in the Family, Civil Litigation, Conveyancing and Private Client departments.

Matt has a keen interest in family law and wrote his masters essay on pre-nuptial agreements. He enjoys working with clients and helping them through a difficult time.

Matt lives in Banbury, having moved from Hampshire. Matt enjoys watching football, F1 and rugby. He is a Manchester City supporter but has a soft spot for Oxford United.

Michael has many years’ experience in Wills, Probate, Trusts and Inheritance Tax planning.

Michael is the senior partner. He attended Manchester University where he obtained a law degree. Michael qualified as a solicitor in January 1970. He did his training in Bristol and worked there for two years, subsequently moving to Somerset, and coming to Banbury in May 1974. He became a partner in F B Hancock & Co in April 1975.

He has, apart from his time in Bristol, always worked in a rural environment. In the early years, most of Michael’s work was in the residential and commercial conveyancing fields. In later years, he has concentrated more on wills and probate, trusts and Inheritance Tax planning, but still keeps his hand in at the higher end of the residential market.

He has numerous clients in the Banbury area. Although some have migrated to different parts of the country, he continues to act for them. Michael also works for clients who have moved to Germany, the United States, France, Australia and elsewhere.

On the rare occasions when Michael is not working, he tries to indulge his passion for salmon and trout fishing, and he is a keen follower of Formula 1.

Michael is supported by his secretary Lindsey Reading.