Richard is the senior administrative partner; he founded the firm in 1974 and initially worked across a range of legal disciplines. As the firm expanded Richard’s focus became commercial property. With considerable experience in this area of law, Richard’s time is spent mainly on deals with large and medium commercial conveyancing transactions. The vast majority of Richard’s clients constitute repeat business or existing client referrals – testament to the solid relationships he has built with his clients over the years.

Richard is generally regarded as a legal authority locally as is evidenced by the following:

1. He has written a number of articles on property law, some of which have been published by independent media e.g. Eastern Director. He published a book in 1999 entitled ‘Conveyancing – Recent Developments’. This dealt with a number of contemporaneous property Acts of Parliament.
2. He was elected to the Council of the Law Society in 1989 to represent solicitors in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire and spent a total of 16 years on the Council during which time he held a number of senior posts, including Chair of the Law Society’s Property and Commercial Services Committee 1994 – 1997 and Chair of the Compliance Board from 2003 to 2005.
3. In the early 1990’s he lectured extensively in practice development and was instrumental in a number of projects at the Law Society which were designed to improve the quality of legal services provided by solicitors.  The most notable of these were the creation of the “practice management standards” which Richard helped to write in the early 1990’s. Richard saw the importance of improving the quality of legal services that solicitors provided and how important the use of systems was going to be in the 1990’s and beyond. These practice management standards developed into the accreditation mark Lexcel which is now the accepted standard for quality law firms in England and Wales.
4. Richard also specialises in Solicitors’ Regulation and was a member of the Law Society’s adjudication panel for 12 years until August 2009.
5. In November 2009 Richard was appointed as a solicitor member of the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal which adjudicates upon alleged misconduct of solicitors. He also acts as an expert witness for a number of prosecuting authorities and advises them in relation to property related fraud and money laundering.

Tel: 01733 295600  E-mail: richard.hegarty@hegarty.co.uk

Follow this link to see his latest article(s):
Richard Hegarty; Property Code is No Substitute for Expert Advice
Richard Hegarty explains the new Govt. Planning Gain Supplement Proposal
Richard Hegarty gives an insight into the Reform of the Planning System
Richard Hegarty explains what the new Energy Performance Certificates will mean for your building

Tim Thompson
Tim joined the firm in 1977 and was the second partner at Hegarty LLP. He covers a wide range of legal disciplines but now focuses on employment law. Tim advises a wide range of individuals and businesses on all aspects of this fast changing area of the law, his work ranges from advising employees and employers on their legal position, to representation at Employment Tribunals.

In addition, he undertakes a number of presentations throughout the year including in-house training seminars, industry conferences and breakfast updates.

He also acts on large-scale commercial property transactions, which gives him a good broad-based business knowledge with which to advise clients.

Tel: 01733 295606  E-mail: tim.thompson@hegarty.co.uk

Martin Bloom
Martin is a Partner of Hegarty LLP, and Head of the Employment Law department. He advises a very wide range of businesses and individuals on all matters relating to employment law. His clients range from individuals to large multinational organisations and 'high street' names employing thousands of people in the UK and beyond.

The work he undertakes varies from drafting employment contracts and consultancy agreements to representation at Employment Tribunals across the country.

He is an accomplished presenter and undertakes a large number of seminars and courses each year, including national conferences, in-house training and breakfast updates.

For a number of days a year, Martin sits as a Part Time Employment Tribunal Judge in the London North Region. He is a member of the Industrial Law Society and the Employment Lawyers Association.

Tel: 01733 295632  E-mail: martin.bloom@hegarty.co.uk

Matthew Sidebottom
Matthew joined Hegarty LLP in 1986, and became a partner in 1990. He now heads the firm's Family and Civil Litigation Departments.

His work primarily involves Personal Injury case including Road Traffic Accidents and Accidents at Work. In addition, he is gaining a reputation for his Contentious Probate and Inheritance Act Claims work. He is also the firms contact for professional negligence related matters.

He is a founder member of the Law Society's specialist Personal Injury Panel.

Tel: 01733 295634  E-mail: matthew.sidebottom@hegarty.co.uk

Hugh Nicholls
Hugh Nicholls, a construction law specialist, joined Hegarty LLP in March 2003. Hugh has come to the firm after 17 years at Berwin Leighton Paisner, a major City of London practice. His depth of knowledge on construction and related matters are a formidable asset to Hegarty LLP.

Hugh has represented both landowners and developers on engineering, building and construction projects. He has assisted in negotiating construction contracts and has advised on construction disputes and the necessary dispute procedures.

He has an MSc in Construction Law and Arbitration, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators & Society of Construction Law.

Tel: 01733 295687  E-mail: hugh.nicholls@hegarty.co.uk

Greg Baker is Head of the Trusts & Probate Department and became a partner of the firm in June 2006.

He specialises in the field of Probate, Wills, Trusts, Inheritance Tax planning, Powers of Attorney and related residential conveyancing matters.   He has twenty-five years experience gained through employment with the Private Client Departments of both a major UK Bank and an offshore Bank as well as within the legal profession.

Greg qualified as a solicitor in 1998 and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Law Society's Probate Section and a member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Tel: 01733 295616  E-mail: greg.baker@hegarty.co.uk

Graham Peebles has been with the firm for over 10 years; he was appointed a partner in 2008 and manages the Stamford office. He has over 20 years’ experience of all residential property matters including sales, purchase, leasehold property matters, land acquisition and development.

Graham has worked in the area since 1987 which means he has excellent knowledge of the local property market as well as having strong working relationships with local agents and associated professionals.

Graham’s clients come from Stamford, Rutland and the South Lincolnshire area and many return time and again because they value his high level of service, approachability and common-sense approach.

Tel: 01780 750950   E-mail: graham.peebles@hegarty.co.uk