Our team comprises experienced and skilled professionals, many of whom have built strong regional reputations. We provide professional advice and deliver this in a friendly, clear way.
Within our team we boast extremely high levels of expertise and we deliver this knowledge in an efficient, friendly and professional manner.
At CooperBurnett, you can be sure of the same level of service and delivery that you’d expect from a City law firm. You’ll also be supported by the same lawyer throughout, which helps to build exceptional trust and a long-term relationship.
We support the business community in West Kent and East Sussex. Partner Joseph Oates recently joined the board of Royal Tunbridge Wells Together Business Improvement District (RTW Together BID), a role he shares with Partner Victoria Sampson.
Victoria Sampson, Katie Gillam and John Spence have all held the role of President of Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge & District Law Society, while Victoria was President of West Kent Chamber of Commerce and Industry on two occasions.
After the demise of the Chamber in 2020, Victoria joined with two other Tunbridge Wells-based business owners, Lynne Gadsden and Pam Loch, to launch enTWine, a new business forum for the town. Initially hosted on Zoom, this has now moved over to successful in-person events, held across the town.
We take pride in sharing our knowledge with the community at large – with our partners often submitting articles and papers, speaking at conferences and seminars, and appearing in the media. For instance, Partner Thomas Lumsden, provides a regular column in The Care Home Environment magazine and our team regularly contributes to the Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine.
Over the last ten years, we have raised more than £60,000 for our charities of choice. Every two years, our team at CooperBurnett selects a charity to support and our charity committee – Katie Hilsdon, Ayla Clissold and Lisa Connolly – drives the fundraising.
Our current charity of choice is Jigsaw (South East), which supports children and young people before, during and after bereavement in Surrey, Mid Sussex, Crawley, West Kent and surrounding areas. They are a small charity, with a big heart, and a vision to ensure that no child or young person faces bereavement alone. The unique service they provide is tailored to meet the needs of the families they support, whether in person, on the phone or online. Jigsaw helps families cope with their grief and rebuild their lives, one piece at a time.
“We are absolutely delighted that CooperBurnett has chosen to support Jigsaw (South East),”
Says Charity Director, Catherine Hodgson. “Their help will enable us to continue providing vital services to bereaved children and young people, and those facing the death of a loved one, right across our local communities.”
A number of our team support local initiatives through volunteering. Partner Gemma Gillespie volunteers for Citizens Advice Tunbridge Wells & District, while she and Associate Solicitor Melissa Gire support DAVSS (Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Service). In both cases, they offer free guidance sessions on family matters.
Natasha Smith, Senior Associate in our Employment team, is a trustee for the children’s hospice charity, Demelza, our most recent charity of choice.
CooperBurnett is officially recognised by Kent County Council as a Dementia Friendly Business, the first in Tunbridge Wells to achieve this status. Associate Solicitor Katie Hancock is a Dementia Friends Ambassador and, as a firm, we are committed to making our business more dementia aware and dementia friendly wherever possible.
We have supported the Walk Tonbridge Festival since its inception in 2021, which encourages the community to get outside to enjoy Tonbridge and its surroundings. In 2024, the event raised nearly £37,000 for charity, with close to £15,000 heading to Sustain, the community food and fuel bank in Tonbridge. The flagship event, the Walk Tonbridge Marathon, welcomed 220 participants.
