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John Vernor-Miles
John Vernor-Miles is our senior partner and works in the fields of family trusts, estates, international law and tax planning.
John joined Vernor-Miles & Noble in 1961 as an Articled Clerk following National Service and attendance at Oxford University where he read law. He was articled to Hilary Noble and qualified as a solicitor in 1963. He won the Herbert Ruse prize awarded by the Law Society in 1965. He originally worked closely with his father Ernest Vernor-Miles for many years. John has been a Partner in the firm for over 40 years.
He has a number of UK and overseas clients and is concerned with the administration of charitable trusts established both in the United Kingdom and overseas.
John enjoys hill-walking and travels regularly outside the United Kingdom - particularly to the United States of America.
James Vernor-Miles
James Vernor-Miles is a Partner and head of the property department. He was educated at Worth School, Bristol University and the College of Law in London. He trained at Vernor-Miles & Noble in 1995 and qualified as a solicitor in 1997.
James acts for both UK and overseas private clients, corporations and charities and advises on all aspects of their residential and commercial property matters. James handles all types of residential sales and purchases for private clients. He has a particular interest in development work, Landlord and Tenant law, enfranchisement and lease extension.
His spare time is almost entirely occupied by his family; supplemented by regular bouts of 5 a side football, reading and the cinema.
Wilfrid Vernor-Miles
Wilfrid Vernor-Miles is the Lexcel Managing Partner. He practices in the fields of private tax, family trusts, estate administration, tax planning and will drafting. Wilfrid joined the firm in 1997 having graduated from the College of Law, London with commendation. He qualified as a solicitor in 1999.
Wilfrid's work covers a broad range of private client matters. He advises individuals on all aspects of their personal taxation and family estate planning and on the creation and administration of private trust structures and the drafting of wills. Much of his time is also spent in dealing with complex probate and estate administration matters and in this field he is regularly consulted by, and acts for, other firms of solicitors. Wilfrid also acts for a large number of charities and charitable foundations in connection with charity registration, administration and accounting.
Married with two children, Wilfrid enjoys travel to anywhere he and his wife can scuba dive.
Paul Williams
Paul Williams qualified as a solicitor in April 1958 following five years Articles at Lovell White & King (now Lovells). He came to work for Ernest Vernor-Miles and after two years was admitted as a partner. Paul is now semi-retired and acts as a consultant to Vernor-Miles & Noble.
Over the course of his career he has been involved in a number of high profile cases including, most recently, a decision in favour of a client before the European Court of Human Rights.
At the present time Paul is concentrating his activities on a number of religious orders and other trusts. He makes himself available for consultation with the partners and fee earners but his attendance at Raymond Buildings is now on a part-time basis, leaving him free to visit some of our elderly clients.
Wendy Burgess
Wendy Burgess is a partner specialising in residential property law.
After achieving First Class Honours in her Solicitor’s Finals examinations at the College of Law, she qualified as a solicitor in 1995.
Having trained and practised law in the City and West End of London for over 10 years, Wendy joined Vernor-Miles & Noble in 2004 and has practical experience of dealing with residential property matters of every description, ranging from sales and purchases of freehold and leasehold properties, to leasehold enfranchisement and residential Landlord and Tenant matters. Wendy has particular experience in high value, development and leasehold property and regularly acts on large scale relocation schemes.
Wendy is a keen dancer of Modern Jive and Lindy Hop, both socially and in competition.
Gloria Taviner
Gloria Taviner is a paralegal dealing with personal tax returns, probate matters and trust administration including the preparation of annual accounts.
Gloria has worked with John Vernor-Miles on matters of family trusts, estates and charities for over 30 years. She is responsible for the administration and compliance of a number of resident and non-resident trusts and charitable foundations.
She enjoys visiting the theatre and ballet and spending time with her grandchildren.
David Rickman - Practice Manager
David has twenty-four years experience in the retail sector; the last five of which were spent running a chain of twenty-five shops with approximately 350 employees and a multi-million pound purchasing budget.
When the Company was sold in 1986, David joined forces with his brother, the senior partner in his city based law practice. Using his extensive management experience, David was able to greatly improve working practices and overall profitability.
In 1992, David started his own firm, "Legal Practice Consultancy", offering a comprehensive range of services to law firms. David works for Vernor-Miles & Noble on a part-time basis providing payroll and the setting up of accounts packages, practice management, forward planning including the preparation of budgets and cashflows, and general troubleshooting.
David is also a member of the Institute of Legal Cashiers and Administrators.
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