Richard Smithies Bids Farewell after Forty Years

This month we bid a fond farewell to one of our most experienced solicitors, Richard Smithies, who is retiring after four decades of service to the local community. Richard, who has been a familiar face at our Brighouse office, is retiring after 42 years.

Richard began his legal career as a trainee solicitor in 1971, before qualifying and joining Bearders Halifax office in 1973. In 1976 Richard became a partner at Bearders and, one year later, he opened the King Street practice. Richard went on to open further offices in Hebden Bridge, Elland and Horton Street, Halifax in the 1980s and played a key role when Bearders merged with Wilkinson Woodward in 2013. During his 42 year career in the legal profession, Richard has developed a reputation for expertise in a wide range of legal matters including wills, probate, conveyancing, civil, criminal and matrimonial matters. Richard’s cases will now be taken over by colleagues at the Brighouse office - Liza Pickles will take over matrimonial cases, wills and probate will be passed to Bev Mottram and conveyancing matters will be jointly looked after by Lisa Simpson and Christine Hardisty. We wish Richard a long and happy retirement.