Meet Your Local Legal Team in Stamford | Hegarty’s 2024 Highlights and 2025 Aspirations

Andrea Beesley-Hewitt

Hi, I’m Andrea and I work as a Partner at Hegarty in the Wills, Trusts and Probate department. I came back to work in April following a period of maternity leave to a very busy Hegarty! The 50 planned events were well underway, and I got myself pencilled in to partake in a number of them.

I volunteered with Mindspace here in Stamford, as well as working with charity Mutts Nutts to deliver a talk on wills, legacies and making provisions for your pet. My favourite charity event was the charity meal at Sarpech in Oakham. Through selling tickets to the meal and hosting a tombola at the event, we raised a great amount of around £350 and had a good time doing so!

Our 50th anniversary celebration evening was also a lovely event where we celebrated our history with friends, clients and companies. I initially joined Hegarty in December 2007 and so have been with the firm for a number of those 50 years and it has been incredible to see the growth and development of the firm over the years.

I enjoyed all of the 50 for 50 local initiatives in 2024, in particular getting out and about and meeting people that I wouldn’t ordinarily come into contact with. I hope that this and the success of Hegarty continue in 2025 and beyond.

Hi, I’m Jackie and I have been working at Hegarty since 1983 back when we had electric typewriters in the office. I was interviewed by Richard Hegarty himself and started my role as a secretary in the February. At that time, the solicitors all did a mixture of work and didn’t specialise in any one aspect of the law as they do today.

Over the years I have worked in conveyancing, family law, the crime department, commercial law, and now back to conveyancing again!

I can honestly say that I have enjoyed all of my time working at Hegarty. It was a small firm when I started and I recall myself and a colleague push biking into the office from Walton everyday keeping me fit and healthy. I still immensely enjoy my work and look forward to coming in every day.

Jackie Wright

Pavinder Khela

Hello, I’m Pavinder and I work as an associate solicitor in the family department at Hegarty. I joined the Hegarty team back in June of 2016, and have been practicing as a solicitor since 2003.

My favourite part of my job is advising and supporting clients to achieve a clear and precise divorce, ensuring all elements like financial aspects and any children are sorted.

Last year, during Hegarty’s 50th anniversary, my best and worst moment was definitely taking part in the big Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge! It was the best as it felt great to achieve and complete the hike and I got to spend time with some of my colleagues, but it was very challenging!

It was a 24-mile hike with 1600 meters of ascent scaling the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough. From the hunger, the freezing cold wind in the evening as we descended the last peak, and our aching legs, it was definitely a difficult challenge, however, I did actually develop a deep mutual respect for my work colleagues who were wonderful. Plus, we did it all in the name of 4 amazing local charities!

Looking forward to 2025, I am feeling positive about what the year may hold. I would really like to reconnect with people and businesses in the communities of Stamford and Oakham, expanding on my existing networks. I am hoping to get involved in more charity fun with the Hegarty team this year and hopefully have a happy and healthy year.

I’m Sarah and I have worked at Hegarty since I left school at the age of 16. I work at the Stamford office as a receptionist and legal secretary. At the age of 51, and still at Hegarty, I got the chance to achieve one of my lifelong dreams and go backpacking around Asia.

It was a huge leap out of my comfort zone but the sights, experience, memories and so many photos will stay with me forever.

I started with a one-way ticket to Thailand and the first 4 nights’ accommodation and basically just booked as I went, mainly staying in hostels and homestays. There is so much to see in each country so I just dipped into as many as I could and tried to do all the main highlights in each.

I explored parts of Malaysia, Borneo, Bali, Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. It was tough at times, both mentally and physically, but the lovely people I met along the way (locals and other travellers) certainly helped.

There are so many lovely things to see in each country it’s hard to pick a favourite, but I think Japan and Bali stand out the most to me. Japan is probably because of the time of year I went as everywhere looked so pretty with the beautiful autumn colours which were so vibrant, they almost didn’t look real. And Bali was where I swam alongside turtles for the first time which was an incredible experience.

I’m enjoying being back with the Hegarty team at Stamford and will keep my new memories of a trip of a lifetime with me forever. I wonder what memories Hegarty will bring me in 2025!

Sarah Phillips

Emily Kavanagh

Hello, I’m Emily and since qualifying in November 2023, I’ve been working as a case handler in the residential conveyancing department here in Stamford.

Last year I really enjoyed taking part in some of the 50 charity and community initiatives Hegarty did in celebration of our 50th anniversary.

In June, Hegarty teamed up with the Pride of Stamford litter pickers and we spent one morning with them clearing litter from various areas around town. I enjoyed this a lot actually because not only did I feel good about helping my community and keeping it clean, but I also felt the gratitude from members of the public as they spotted us on the streets which was really pleasing.

Another highlight was volunteering at MindSpace’s garden open day. I took some homemade cakes with me and helped to man the tea, coffee, and cake stand throughout the day. It was lovely to see a local space being used in such a positive way.

I’m hoping that this year brings more opportunities for me to get involved with and support Hegarty’s 2025 charity.

Abbie Cunnington

Hi I’m Abbie. I started working at Hegarty last year as a Business Administration Apprentice in the Stamford office. I’ve really enjoyed my time at Hegarty so far and have learnt a whole variety of skills that will benefit me in my college course and future career.

I’m pleased I saw the apprenticeship role Hegarty had advertised online as I had been struggling to find a role in this area that I could get without specific qualifications. I have always been drawn to admin roles because of the variety it entails and the challenges you have to overcome, and the role I have at Hegarty has been great for that!