Nockolds

Business Details

Trusted Legal & Financial Advice in Bishop's Stortford & London

Nockolds is an award-winning legal services and independent financial advice firm with offices in Bishop's Stortford, London, and Estepona, Spain. Established in 1831, we have supported clients for nearly two centuries with quality advice across personal and business life stages. Our teams are consistently recognised in prestigious directories like Legal 500 and Chambers UK, placing us among the UK's elite firms. We combine a strong heritage with a dynamic approach, ensuring we remain up-to-date with the latest legal developments to deliver effective, modern services.

Our culture prioritises professionalism, approachability, and integrity, fostering strong client relationships and a supportive workplace. We are committed to community engagement and client-centric service, driven by the expertise and ambition of our 170+ staff members.

Services

Commercial Litigation Family Law Wills & Probate Property Transactions Employment Law Medical Negligence Alternative Dispute Resolution Corporate & Commercial Construction Law Spanish Legal Services

Highlights and features

We offer over 190 years of legal expertise and heritage.
Our teams are consistently ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers UK directories.
We provide tailored services across commercial, family, and property law.
We combine traditional values with modern, dynamic legal solutions.
Our client-centric approach prioritises transparency and approachable communication.

Associations and certifications

Solicitors Regulation Authority
Legal 500
Chambers UK
Chartered Trading Standards Institute

What people say

Expert legal guidance Long-standing reputation Client-focused approach Award-winning team Tailored solutions

Website

Update Listing

Services

Commercial Litigation

Our Commercial Litigation team advises businesses and individuals on contractual disputes, common law issues, and commercial conflicts. With decades of combined experience, we prioritise cost-effective resolutions while maintaining readiness for court proceedings when necessary. We focus on understanding client objectives to deliver targeted legal strategies that protect business interests and minimise disruption.

Family Law

Specialising in divorce, child arrangements, and financial settlements, our Family Law team provides sensitive, resolution-focused advice. Members are Resolution-accredited mediators who help clients avoid court through constructive negotiations. We handle complex international family law cases and surrogacy matters, combining legal expertise with compassionate support during challenging personal situations.

Wills & Probate

We offer comprehensive will drafting, probate administration, and inheritance tax planning services. Our Will Subscription Package includes secure document storage and annual consultations to ensure estates remain up-to-date. Specialised services cover lasting powers of attorney, trust management, and contentious probate disputes, providing holistic solutions for personal asset protection.

Employment Law

Advising employers and employees on employment law matters, we cover tribunal representation, HR training, and workplace policy development. Recognised as leading practitioners, we handle high-net-worth client cases and complex employment disputes. Our services include mental health support strategies and compliance guidance to maintain legally sound workplace practices.

Medical Negligence

Ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers UK, our medical negligence team pursues compensation for catastrophic injuries caused by clinical errors. We specialise in brain/spinal injuries, birth trauma, and misdiagnosis claims. With a focus on rehabilitation, we secure early payments for care needs while building robust cases against healthcare providers through expert medical evidence.

People

Darren Hayward

Managing Partner

Leading Nockolds' Employment Law team, Darren is a renowned UK employment lawyer with expertise in advising high-net-worth clients and major PLCs. He frequently contributes to financial media outlets and has appeared on CNBC discussing employment law developments.

Jennie Jones

Partner

Head of the Medical Negligence team, Jennie has decades of experience in complex clinical claims. She specialises in catastrophic injury cases and has secured transformative settlements for clients through strategic use of expert evidence and rehabilitation funding.

Lynn Cowley

Partner

Family Law specialist with Resolution accreditation, Lynn focuses on divorce settlements and international family law cases. She combines legal expertise with mediation skills to resolve disputes constructively while protecting client interests in complex financial arrangements.

Charlotte Barker

Head of Construction

Construction law expert Charlotte provides practical legal solutions for developers, contractors, and consultants. She specialises in drafting construction contracts and resolving disputes through collaborative approaches that minimise project disruptions.

Sarah Lockyer

Partner

Wills and Probate specialist Sarah advises on estate planning, inheritance tax mitigation, and contentious probate matters. She manages the Will Subscription Package service, ensuring clients' assets are protected through comprehensive succession planning strategies.

Questions

What areas of law does Nockolds specialise in?

We specialise in commercial litigation, family law, wills & probate, employment law, medical negligence, and construction law across the UK and Spain.

Are Nockolds Solicitors regulated by official bodies?

Yes, we are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA ID 567738 & 605527) and hold Financial Conduct Authority authorisation through Nockolds Wealth Limited.

Can I get legal advice for international matters?

Our Estepona office provides English legal advice for Spanish clients, including property transactions, family law, and official translations between English and Spanish.

What accreditations does Nockolds hold?

We are listed in Legal 500 and Chambers UK directories, hold Investors in People accreditation, and maintain approved ADR status with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute.

Do you offer flexible payment options for legal services?

We provide bespoke pricing solutions, including fixed fees and conditional fee agreements where appropriate, to ensure accessible legal representation for all clients.

Videos

Reviews (5)

Write a Review

Haldun Kayali

Dec 04, 2021 Report

I have used Nockolds for multiple property transactions over the past year and would not hesitate in recommending Mahza Pari to friends and family and will continue to use her services in future. I found Mahza to be professional, highly knowledgable, attentive and efficient. She always kept me abreast of progress and answered my questions clearly and succinctly. For what can be a stressful experience for many, despite her own heavy workload during the hectic stamp duty holiday period, Mahza always showed great patience, diligence and empathy. Overall a first class service - thank you Nockolds and Mahza Pari.

Piotr Dec Official

Oct 24, 2019 Report

A very helpful and professional service. Always welcoming and ready to help. Thank you once again for your support.

Michael Perry

Mar 02, 2018 Report

Had a case that I thought I may have had the book thrown at me for, Nockolds did everything they could and I received Outstanding service. Both my solicitor (Peter Dodd) and Barrister were amazing and helped to see my charge minimize to an unexpected extent. Brilliant Service and worth every penny.

Steve Morley

May 25, 2017 Report

This was the first time I have purchased a property so I had very limited knowledge of the whole process. The Solicitor dealing with my purchase was James Gostling and he was extremely helpful with answering all of my questions (believe me there was a lot). He made it all very simple and as stress free as possible throughout the entire process and broke down the steps in detail so I knew exactly what was happening at all times. He was very efficient and would definitely recommend! Thanks!

Teri Murphy

May 19, 2017 Report

I used Nockolds in order to give Power of Attorney to my friend in Portugal in order for her to sell my house. I can honestly say that I have rarely received better service in any walk of life. They were efficient, knowledgable and extremely nice to deal with. Nothing was a problem for them, including telling them that we wanted the documentation signed off by the Portuguese Embassy and delivered to Portugal in 48 hours from the time of our affidavit in their office.

They fast tracked the paperwork and everything arrived as promised on time. On top of all that they completed the work for a fraction of the cost I was expecting. I cannot recommend them highly enough!