Q&A with Adele Bebbington-Plant

Adele Bebbington-Plant is Business Development Director and Head of Private Client at Cullimore Dutton. Here she talks about her passion for making a difference to the lives of clients, colleagues and the community.

Q: Why did you become a solicitor?

A: It was something I was interested in from schooldays and even before law college I knew that I wanted to specialise in Wills & Probate. It brings together lots of things I’m passionate about.

I have been very fortunate to have great people in my life. My parents ran a corner shop in Northwich, working long hours, so I spent a lot of time with my grandparents growing up.  I also spent lots of time around older customers.  Those positive relationships led to a real interest in elderly care and looking after the next generation. I love helping clients who have worked hard all their lives and want to pass an inheritance down to their loved ones.

I went to do two weeks’ secretarial cover at Birch Cullimore – now Cullimore Dutton – while I was at law college and as soon as I walked through the door I knew this was where I wanted to work. I was fortunate to be awarded a training contract with the firm, initially qualifying into the property team, but the business supported my desire to work in Wills & Probate and that’s where I’ve been ever since.

I feel very privileged to have been able to achieve everything I have done at Cullimore Dutton, culminating in my becoming a director and Head of Private Client. I take great pride in being part of the team setting the strategic direction as we embark on the next chapter of our story.

Q: You were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. What impact did this have on you as a person?

A: I was incredibly well supported by colleagues at Cullimore Dutton during the nine months I was away from work. It was a tough time with three surgeries, six months of chemotherapy and a month of radiotherapy.

My career had always been extremely important to me, but I came back a changed person. My illness made me realise just how precious time is and the need to make the most of it whether that is at work or in our personal lives.

I had clearer focus and now have the approach that if I want something to happen then I can be a real driving force and make it happen.  I have a genuine desire to grab opportunities with both hands and push boundaries in a way I wasn’t compelled to before – I want to live my best life and challenge and support others to do the same.

Q: Tell us about your current role as Head of Private Client?

A: My role as Head of Private Client, alongside responsibility as Business Development Director, gives me the opportunity to bring together everything I am passionate about at Cullimore Dutton.  Over the last 20 years, our colleagues, clients and business have become part of my DNA and I want to be instrumental in propelling them to thrive - from developing colleagues, to delivering service to clients that is relationship focused and goes above and beyond, to driving and growing our business.  I want to ensure that we provide clients with a complete service, from Wills & Probate to Family and Financial Services. It also enables me collaborate with Sarah Davies, our Managing Director and Head of Property and Brenda Spain, our Client Relationship Director and Head of Family Law to align our client care.

Being able to offer clients the expertise of our financial services team alongside the experience of our solicitors is something that is unique and something I have had experience of for almost 20 years.  Ensuring that we deliver the best possible advice to our clients under one roof, by having our lawyers act in collaboration with financial services is something I am truly committed to.

I was fortunate that while I was off work, my colleague Louise Holmes joined the Wills & Probate team. I am a big believer in enabling people to be the best version of themselves and I supported Louise in becoming Head of Wills & Probate.

This allowed me to become Head of Private Client giving me the opportunity to play more of a strategic role in the business, recruiting great people, working on business development and getting out and about to champion the Cullimore Dutton brand alongside continuing to advise clients.

When I took up my current role, we already had many of the pieces of the jigsaw in place, but I wanted to elevate the service we provide even further.

A big part of this for me is getting the right people on board and we now have a fantastic team. I am very precise when I’m recruiting. It’s a given that people need to be technically good and hardworking, but I am also looking for people who are passionate and who care about our clients and our team – being a great team player not only enables us to deliver excellent client service but is also instrumental in supporting our colleagues.  Uniting the Private Client team requires collaboration.

Working in teams rather than as individuals is a big differentiator, ensuring the right skill sets for every stage of a client matter.  It helps ensure that the work is done at the right level, in terms of skill and cost, but always with a lead point of contact for the client.  It not only benefits clients – for colleagues it ensures that support is available.

Q: What are some of the benefits of a one-stop Private Client service?

A: Having our Wills & Probate and Family solicitors working closely with our Financial Services team can provide massive added value to our clients, looking at issues such as inheritance tax, business property relief and pension sharing orders.

Some of my own client relationships go back 20 years and others in the firm go back even further. In several cases, I am now advising the second or third generation of families.

Knowing our clients as well as we do means that we aren’t just waiting for them to raise issues with us; instead, we are seeking to be proactive and identify areas in which we can add value.

I want everyone who works in the Private Client team to genuinely care about our clients and the difference we can make to their lives and other members of their family.

Our Financial Services team regularly receives five-star reviews for their client care, so I have no hesitation in introducing them to our Wills & Probate and Family clients because I know that they will provide the same level of service.  In the Wills and Probate sector, we often deal with vulnerable clients and I have complete trust in our Financial Services team.

Q: Community is clearly something that’s important to you. Tell us a little bit about your work in this area.

A: Most people go into the law to help others and we are fortunate that we have skills that can change people’s lives.

I am particularly proud to have been invited to be part of the social committee for the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity. Lots of our clients and colleagues have a personal connection with the charity and I was delighted to be part of the team that raised over £188,000 from the annual ball last October. It was particularly fitting that that particular fundraising was for prevention of the spread of breast cancer to the brain (brain metastasis).

My colleague Sarah Gill has also been tireless in her support of Cancer Research UK and Louise Holmes and the Wills and Probate team regularly hold Will and Power of Attorney clinics for Age UK service users.

I was delighted to be able to give a talk recently to staff at Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service about my own experiences with breast cancer and highlighting the point that it can happen to anyone.

At no stage did I ever think ‘why me’ after I was diagnosed and I feel honoured to be able to help others by sharing my personal and professional experience.  It is crucial for people to be informed about their health and to be advised around the importance of wills, powers of attorney and life insurance / critical illness cover.  A combination of having been a cancer patient and my area of legal expertise means I will never stop banging the drum about the importance of being prepared.

I’m also very proud that Cullimore Dutton is continuing its long-standing support for Chester charity KidsBank and got behind their Christmas ‘One More Gift Appeal’ again which makes such a difference to the lives of children who might not otherwise receive a present.

Thanks to the amazing support of donors, including many Cullimore Dutton clients, over 1,100 children received a gift in 2023.  I don’t have the figures for 2024 yet, but know that the need was even greater.

Another passion of mine is our Inspire Brand and our luncheon clubs, which bring together local professionals and businesses.  It’s a privilege to be able to give back to our local community.

Q: How do you want Cullimore Dutton Private Client to be seen a year or two from now?

A: I want us to be the standout Private Client firm in Chester, known not just for our technical expertise, but also for the level of client care we provide. For some firms, it is just a job, but for my team at Cullimore Dutton it is a passion.

I also want us to continue shouting from the rooftops about how we change the lives of our clients, colleagues and community – not just something we pay lip service to, but something we live and breathe.