Philip Wills Joins BHP

17th Dec 2010

Former in-house legal advisor to the Diocese of Durham, Phillip Wills brings new specialism to BHP Law.

A former in-house legal advisor to the Diocese of Durham is bringing a new specialism to a regional law firm.

Philip Wills is an expert in Anglican ecclesiastical law having worked for the Diocese for almost 30 years.

He has joined BHP Law, working across the firm’s five main offices in Durham, Newcastle, Darlington, Teesside and Halifax.

Philip’s focus will be civil litigation, in particular on housing matters acting for landlords and tenants.

But he will also advise parishes and individuals drawing on his expertise in ecclesiastical planning and property issues, marriage and burial law, church trusts, leasing arrangements and charity law.

He recently studied for a Masters of Law degree at Northumbria University where his research and dissertation on chancel repair liability scored the highest mark ever awarded by the university tutor in that discipline.

His expertise in chancel repair liability is particularly timely since parishes have a deadline of 2013 to register land where owners have an obligation under ancient law to pay for the upkeep of a church.

Philip, a father of two from Lynesack, near Bishop Auckland in County Durham, began his career with the Diocesan Registry in 1981. 

Seven years later an office of the Diocesan Registry was established at Auckland Castle and Philip was appointed as senior registry officer. 

He explained: “The kind of matters I dealt with ranged from planning applications to alter church buildings to the consistory court of the Diocese, to advising Bishops, Archdeacons, senior clergy and other officers, the appointments of vicars to parishes and finding a way through family disputes over exhumations.

“I will continue as a member of the Durham Diocesan Safeguarding Management Group in relation to issues of child protection, and am able to grant common marriage licences to couples as an alternative to banns, for example where a foreign national is involved or where couples have not had their banns read.”

He remains a member of the Ecclesiastical Law Society and has retained his commission to grant common marriage licences.

Philip qualified as a solicitor in March with Smith Roddam, the Bishop Auckland practice where he worked previously. In his spare time, he is a coach for Barnard Castle Rugby Club juniors and enjoys walking and climbing.

He said: “I chose to join BHP for a new challenge and because it has an excellent reputation for client care and very high standards. 

“It is an expanding firm which has a great deal of vision and focus for the future.”

John Pratt, managing partner at BHP Law, said: “We are delighted to welcome Philip to the firm. He is well liked, well respected and comes with a great deal of experience and specialist knowledge, which will be of great benefit to our clients both present and future.”