Birkett Long Reviews 5

The most expensive solicitors unfortunately my family chose to use. Always get written quotes before instructing.

An 80 year old man, Michael, (a respected Freeburgess of Colchester) with no family, never married, no children, appointed Birkett Long as Executors for his Will, which they also prepared, in 2020. He was also a client of their Financial Advice sister company. Michael prepaid his funeral with Colchester Co-Op at about the same time, hoping that he'd die with some peace of mind that he'd not be disposed of as a pauper or with no one to tidy his affairs. When he died aged 84 (Sept 2024), from heart and kidney failure, suffering also the early effects of dementia, he would have been hopeful that his passing was in good hands. Not so. Birkett Long, after many days of his body laying at Colchester General Hospital, renounced their responsibilities as Executors. And handed a fait accompli to a total stranger (me) who had never met Michael and who had been called to a meeting with them , with the incentive that the charity for which he is the sole UK volunteer was a beneficiary. What they didn't reveal was that the estate was worth next to nothing, which they would have known from their IFA services. Sadly, I discovered after several days, Michael died with no money, on the verge of bankruptcy through his dementia. I had no alternative, at least not in humanitarian respects given there was no one else to turn to, but to see that his funeral took place and to clear his home in Wivenhoe over a period of 3 weeks before another month's rent became due. I Iive over 2 hours away from Colchester, it took me six days to empty his home, travelling 4-5 hours each time and spending 10-12 hours on site. And even today (March 2025) Iam still working through the tasks associated with this. Meanwhile Birkett Long washed their hands.

Now I know why Birkett Long decided to abandon their client in his last moment of need in this life. There was no money in the estate to pay their fee. But neither was there money to benefit the charity. I am a volunteer and give my time and expenses for free. If Birkett Long had some sense they'd have made an advance charge in 2020 to cover their costs in fulfilling their duties as executors - or at least cover a good part of it. But they chose to simply walk away with a one page statement given to me, not by a solicitor, but an assistant, along with a large envelope of papers to 'pick the bones out of'.

My feelings are not important here, I'm not looking for plaudits - I did what I did (over 100 people came to the funeral, which the Colchester Co-Op managed magnificently, such was Mike's reputation in the community) because it was the right thing to do. What matters is that this Birkett Long just abandoned someone who had trusted in them for his last needs on earth. Since then I've written twice to the Lead Partner and called and left voice mails, asking him to consider 'doing the right thing' and making a contribution to a Just Giving page set up in Michael's memory, to the benefit of the charity (for terribly badly burned children in Africa), given that had they not 'fooled me' into doing what I did, the cost to them in time and administration to do what I had to do, would have been huge. Sadly, in further demonstration of their indifference, not to mention rudeness, I received no response.

Their website today reads 'Birkett Long is focused on people – our clients, our employees, our business partners and those in our local communities.' And 'We recognise the importance of corporate social responsibility for our clients, communities, business partners and each other.' Well, it seems that they don't 'walk the talk'.

But they certainly live up to the Home Page claim of 'Redefining the legal experience' - Well, if that's the kind of legal experience you want, good luck.
If you think it's shameful, well you know what to do.

My son approached Birkett Long Colchester for advice on a personal injury claim. Their advice was he had no chance of success. We approached another firm who won a substantial settlement on my sons behalf. I will not use this very expensive firm ever again.

Would not recommend

My daughter was taken from me during lockdown - I received a letter from this firm giving me 72 hours notice. The mother chose to leave, we know the reasons why, and it will be a matter of public record in due course. However, this firm thinks it's okay for the mother not to pay her share of joint mortgage on basis I have 'benefited' from sole occupancy.
Nothing could be further from the truth - I would happily live in a one bedroom flat if it meant I had my daughter with me. Not seeing her every day for the last 8 months has been the worst time of my life. I have thought and continue to think about ending it, and constantly fight that battle. To suggest I have benefitted is cold, callous, crass and unprofessional. When I complained they saw nothing wrong with it and actually applauded the partner, saying she was both professional and appropriate.
This is a firm practising in Family Law, and here they are applauding themselves for causing pain and misery to a father, living on his own, during lockdown, desperately missing his daughter.
Clearly they're only concerned in the monies they receive; as partners in the firm they reap the profit. Personally I wish them the same misery they imposed on me with their bullying tactics, like trying to buy me out of my house with an offer over £100k less than the market value and without obtaining 3 independent quotes.
I'd say don't touch them with a barge pole, but they'd probably try and charge you for you having the benefit of a barge pole!