King Prior MacDonald Bridge Solicitors

Partner

Ron Prior began his legal career by the traditional route of a university degree, then thereafter by distance-learning study via the College of Law for his finals. After two years articles, Ron qualified as a solicitor in 1980.

He worked as an assistant solicitor locally in Gravesend for two years after qualifying, and specialised in litigation, then undertaking predominantly criminal and family work.

In 1982 Ron went into partnership with Simon King, together founding King Prior & Co. Ron then built up the non-contentious side of the practice. He also continued to work in crime, licensing, civil litigation and family law for a further ten years.

As other qualified staff have joined the practice of King Prior & Co over the years, Ron’s role has developed into a more managerial and forward-planning one, as well as continuing to service the non-contentious business needs of the more long established clients of the practice.

On a personal level for charity, and in order to keep fit, Ron periodically engages in charity fund-raising trips for the National Deaf Children’s Society. In 2001 he cycled 600 km around the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and in 2002 trekked and canoed part of the Amazon Basin through the rivers and rainforests of Ecuador. His most recent trip for NDCS was to cycle 600km in Vietnam in early 2004. Altogether he has raised some £7,000 for this charity.

Ron says:

“My approach to the conduct of my practice is aimed at maximising current technological developments which facilitate speed accuracy and efficiency, whilst at the same time employing first-class experienced personnel whose remit is to provide a user-friendly service at affordable prices.”

Specialising in: Conveyancing services

---

Partner

Richard McD. Bridge (the “McD” has been almost a trademark at times) qualified in 1976.  As the proverb has it, “seek a young doctor and an old lawyer”.  He studied at Nottingham University under well-known names – including the legendary Professor J. C. Smith, and Geoff Morse who is one of the foremost authors today on partnership and company law.  His two degrees, the first in engineering and the second in Law, indicate his flexible and adaptable mind. He teaches at two universities, London South Bank University (postgraduate contract law) and Christ Church University (business law).   

Since 1976 Richard has been notable in copyright, performers’ rights, the film and entertainment businesses, and involved in the legalities of the new media and technologies as each came along.  This has of course involved a wide range of general commercial and litigious experience, and so-called “soft” intellectual property. His first ever serious case, while he was still a trainee, is still cited as an authority on confidential information matters (Potters Ballotini –v- Weston-Baker). 

Richard has published widely within his field.  He has also campaigned for law reform and lobbied on proposed laws.  For almost 10 years he was the lead lawyer for the campaign for the introduction of a “format right” for unscripted TV programming and similar things. He was the lead lawyer of the “Performer-Lawyer-Group”, formed to lobby about what became the Licensing Act 2004.  He was also for many years the honorary legal adviser to a major rights of way pressure group.   

Richard has been a partner in several London law-firms:  Crawley & de Reya (which acted for a range of household names in film and entertainment matters, and in turn led to Mishcon de Reya where his then partner Anthony Julius subsequently acted for Princess Diana), Bridge Wolsey, Tarlo Lyons (who acted in certain matters for one of the major London clearing banks) and Charles Russell (where, amongst other things, he advised a major mobile telephony provider on promotional schemes).

He was one of the very first “name” lawyers to pioneer the “zero-overhead” route, using modern technology to replace ALL staff – secretaries, receptionists, assistants so as to reduce costs to clients, but he now looks forward to the synergies that a combination with another innovative force, with strengths in different fields, but a pragmatic and commercial approach, can yield.

Specialising in: Intellectual Property Law, Litigation, commercial law

---

Consultant

Richard began his legal career by the traditional route of a university degree and then studying at the College of Law for his finals. After two years articles, Richard qualified as a solicitor in 1976.

He worked as an assistant solicitor for five years after qualifying, and specialised in litigation, undertaking predominantly criminal and family work.
In 1979 Richard went into partnership, and as a partner built up the non-contentious side of the practice. He also continued to work in crime, licensing, civil litigation and family law.

Richard also ran his own solicitors practice for 15 years, where he continued licensing as well as some of his commercial litigation, in the area of debt collection, judicial review and building contract disputes. At the same time he advanced his non-contentious experience by developing his commercial department, specialising in buying and selling licensed premises including hotels and restaurants, buying and selling companies, structuring commercial loans, buying and selling businesses such as shops and warehouses, both freehold and leasehold. He also acted for small developers.

His clients included not only private and public companies, but also parish councils, government agencies, charities and schools.

Richard joined King Prior & co in 1998 to undertake our more complicated residential conveyancing transactions, leasehold sales and purchases, and probate work. Richard’s aim was to build up our commercial department, and he succeeded to such an extent that our commercial work is now dealt with in its own separate department, headed by Richard and his support staff.

Richard says:

“ I enjoy the challenge of commercial work, assisting and seeing clients achieve their goals in business.”

Specialising in: Commercial Services, Probate

---

Assisting Solicitor

Neana began working in law in 1989 at TG Baynes Solicitors as a trainee legal executive working in litigation. She headed the firm’s debt collection department and undertook a large amount of civil advocacy in the firm’s agency department.

After she qualified as a Legal Executive in 1995, Neana continued with her studies at Hertfordshire University to fulfil her ultimate goal of becoming a solicitor.

Neana was admitted to the roll as a solicitor in 1998.

Neana left TG Baynes in 1999 to join Church Bruce Solicitors to specialise in wills and probate and older client matters, having become interested in the topic during her studies at university.

Neana began working for King Prior & co in July 2004. She is developing the firm’s wills and probate department, bringing to clients a specific service to meet their needs.

Neana is a member of the Probate Section of the Law Society, and a member of Solicitors for the Elderly.

Neana says:

“ I find working in wills and probate very fulfilling. It is important to me to that my clients receive a friendly, patient, sympathetic service and feel relaxed at their appointment.”

Specialising in: Wills & Probate services, Enduring powers of attorney, elderly client services

---

Legal Executive

Sandy joined Dakers Green Brett Solicitors in 1972 as a secretary, and soon became interested in a career in law.

Sandy decided to qualify as a Legal Executive while working at Dakers. She was interested in land law, so conveyancing was the obvious choice. Sandy has continued to develop her career in land law ever since.

Sandy qualified as a Legal Executive in 1989 having successfully passed all of the Ilex exams. She furthered her knowledge by also passing the Ilex exams in contract and tort.

Sandy joined King Prior & co in 2004 and was fundamental in the development of our recently opened Ashford office. Sandy managed all the conveyancing for leasehold and freehold properties, leases and the new homes from the Ashford branch.

Since the closure of our Ashford offices, Sandy has pioneered our remote worker programme.

Sandy says:

“I enjoy working in conveyancing because I have always been interested in land law. It is always satisfying to see clients successfully moved and settled in their new home.”

Specialising in: new homes conveyancing

---