PROFESSIONAL services firm Optimum has appointed a new head of its legal team.

Solicitor Iain Mason has taken over from Director of Legal Services, Mary Hoffman, who is retiring after a long and successful career in conveyancing, wills and probate.

Experienced commercial property lawyer Iain joins the Swindon team from Thrings.

He will oversee the legal team at Optimum, which deals in all areas of property law, wills and probate.

Iain said:“There are so many businesses in Swindon and the wider area which are owner managed and SMEs.

“We can offer them a really great service, where our expertise is all in one place – the business advice, the accountancy, the commercial property legal advice. And businesses are based on people, so we can help with personal property and personal tax."

“It’s a real change from the traditional way of offering professional services, and is much more suited to the increasingly competitive business world, with greater costs certainty for SMEs.”

Iain began his legal career in 1999. Specialising in property law since then, he has worked with a range of clients across the South West and the UK, from large corporates to individuals and renewable energy providers. He was also part of the legal team working with the Homes and Communities Agency, helping with the regeneration of Swindon’s town centre.

Optimum chief executive Richard Mathews said: “We extend a warm welcome to Iain who has a wealth of experience as a commercial property solicitor and we know he will be a big asset to the team.

“But of course, we’re sad to be losing Mary who has done a brilliant job in guiding our legal division and we wish her all the best in her very well deserved retirement.”

Optimum, based in West Swindon, was the first in the region to combine legal services including property law, wills and probate with a range of accountancy and business services, as well as bookkeeping and payroll.

It was created in September 2017, following the merger of Regulatory Accounting with Mary’s practice Hoffman Briggs.

For more information, visit https://www.optps.co.uk/, email info@optps.co.uk or call 01793 538 198.