The Woodcocks Haworth and Nuttall Solicitors (WHN) team toasted the career of Martin Heyes at a farewell lunch on May 4, as he retires from his role as consultant solicitor following nearly 40 years with the firm.
Martin graduated from Sheffield University in 1980 and qualified in 1983. He joined Whitaker Pratt and Hudson in 1985 before becoming a partner in 1986. The firm merged with Haworth & Nuttall in 1999 which then merged to become Woodcock, Haworth & Nuttall (WHN) in 2012.
Having worked predominantly in the firm’s Accrington office, Martin relocated to our Blackburn office in 2019, and has served the firm’s clients across East Lancashire for over 20 years with a range of legal services, predominantly as a specialist in wills and estate planning, litigation, and more recently dealing with residential property conveyancing and other property matters.
Reflecting on reaching retirement, Martin said: “The greatest pleasure in working within the legal sector has been helping people. The interaction with clients and having the satisfaction that you have made a difference for them is very fulfilling and certainly something I will miss.
“The legal profession has changed fundamentally since I started, computerisation has greatly affected the management of communication and documentation. Major changes in legislation have increased administration when working on client matters – but at the end of the day it is to try and forge a fairer legal system with better outcomes for our clients.”
In the past 12 months Martin has been working part-time managing a seamless handover to associate solicitor Jennifer Moorhouse, who has taken over his client portfolio.
Jennifer is a specialist in inheritance and succession planning and is also experienced in dealing with Court of Protection matters and the preparation and registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney. She works closely with our clients to help resolve complex trust and estate matters.
Martin, an avid follower of cricket, plans to spend his retirement continuing to umpire cricket matches at the weekends for the Lancashire League and enjoying short breaks during the week with his wife.
Pictured above left to right: Martin Heyes with associate director Jennifer Prysiaznyj and director Daniel Long at the farewell lunch.
