Our Partners

Richard is the senior administrative partner having founded the firm in 1974.

Expertise. Initially a range of legal disciplines but now focused on commercial property.

Experience. Richard is highly regarded by clients and fellow practitioners as is evidenced by the following:

• 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 property Acts of Parliament.
• 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.
• In the early 1990s 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 1990s. 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 1990s 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.
• Richard also specialises in Solicitors’ Regulation and was a member of the Law Society’s adjudication panel for 12 years until August 2009.
• In November 2009 Richard was appointed as a solicitor member of the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal which adjudicates upon allegations of misconduct by 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.

Clients. Richard’s time is spent mainly on 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.

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 Richard Hegarty, who then was a sole practitioner, in 1977 and the partnership was formed in 1979.  During his career he has had experience in a variety of commercial areas and has for the last nine years concentrated on employment law.

Expertise. Tim advises on a wide range of employment matters mainly for employers but does act for some employees and normally carries out his own advocacy at Employment Tribunals.

Experience. Tim provides day-to-day advice to clients on all employment law issues, such as implementing redundancies and business reorganisations, TUPE, managing employment terminations and conducting disciplinary and grievance procedures.

He has extensive experience of managing claims within the Employment Tribunal system and negotiating settlements in a practical and, wherever possible, cost effective method.

Clients. Tim acts for a range of SME’s and some private individuals.  Tim’s clients say he provides practical,  commercially sound advice putting their minds at ease with his no-nonsense approach.

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

Martin Bloom

Martin became a Partner at Hegarty LLP in 1983, is Head of the Employment Law department and has been with the firm since 1979.

Expertise. Employment law, from drafting employment contracts and consultancy agreements to representation at employment tribunals across the country.

Experience. Martin has over 30 years’ employment law experience and is an accomplished presenter undertaking a large number of seminars and courses each year, including national conferences, in-house training and breakfast updates. He holds regular employment law updates with the local CIPD group and has published a book addressing the issue of bullying and stress in the workplace. For a number of days a year Martin sits as a Part Time Employment Tribunal Judge in the East Midlands region. He is a member of the Industrial Law Society and the Employment Lawyers Association.

Clients. Martin 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.

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

Matthew Sidebottom

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

Expertise. Contentious probate and Inheritance Act claims, personal injury and professional negligence and commercial litigation particularly complex, high value disputes.  He has a growing specialism in property litigation.

Experience. Matthew has over 24 years’ experience of dealing with litigation matters. He regularly appears in both the High Court and County Court. Matthew is a founder member of the Law Society's specialist Personal Injury Panel.

Clients. Matthew’s clients cover the spectrum of large corporates, small businesses and individuals.

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

Hugh Nicholls

Hugh is partner and head of the Property Department. He joined Hegarty LLP in March 2003 after 17 years at Berwin Leighton Paisner, a top 50 law firm.

Expertise. Commercial property & land, construction and related matters.

Experience. Hugh’s experience in property law is extensive advising commercial clients on the suitability of property that is to be mortgaged, acting and advising on sales and purchases and engineering, building and construction projects. Hugh has assisted in negotiating a great many 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.

With many years’ experience working for national and international clients, Hugh is held in high regard for his impressive range and depth of knowledge on commercial property matters. He is often asked to speak at local and national seminars and has a long-standing agreement to talk at RICS regional meetings about various planning issues.

Clients. Hugh acts for major developers, landowners, retailers, landlords and tenants, investment banks and investment companies.

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

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

Expertise. Probate, wills, the creation and administration of trusts, care home funding issues, powers of attorney and related residential conveyancing matters; wealth management and inheritance tax planning.

Experience. Greg has thirty 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. He qualified as a solicitor in 1998 and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Law Society's Probate Section, a member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a full member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE).

Clients. All types of private client, from people with straightforward matters to people with complex circumstances, for example UK resident and non-UK resident clients with business interests, foreign assets and cross jurisdictional issues.

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

Graham has been with the firm for over 10 years; he was appointed a partner in 2008 and manages the Stamford office.

Expertise. All residential property matters including sales, purchase, leasehold property, land acquisition and development.

Experience. 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.

Clients. 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