Philip, a Chartered Legal Executive, specialises in advising parents and carers of disabled and vulnerable individuals with planning for the future. He has been practising law for over 25 years in Norfolk, then East Sussex and is ranked as a leading expert by prestigious publication Chambers UK in its High Net Worth Guide.
Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2022 reports: “Philip Warford is “an excellent practitioner and expert within the field of vulnerable persons,” says a source. An interviewee notes that Warford is “highly professional, approachable, and has the ability to focus on what needs to be done rather than noise that might be presented,” adding: “He is able to deal with complex matters.”
Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2021 reports: “Warford is excellent at putting vulnerable people at ease. He is an expert in his field but also has excellent people skills, particularly with those who have a learning disability.” Another interviewee explains: “He is clearly very knowledgeable. He is also an excellent communicator and presents quite complex legal issues in a way that is easy to understand.”
The Legal 500 2023 reports ‘What makes the practice unique is their sector focus. The firm concentrates on providing legal services to assist the disabled and vulnerable and they are good at it. They have a deeper knowledge of their field than other practitioners I have met.’
The Legal 500 2022 reports that Philip is “excellent at putting vulnerable people at ease.”
The Legal 500 2021 reports that Philip is “exceptionally sensitive to the needs and challenges that vulnerable clients and their families“.
The Legal 500 2020 reports: “Philip Warford at Renaissance Legal ‘inspires confidence’ through his combination of expertise and exceptional client care skills.“
Chambers 2019 reports: “Working with Philip is a pleasure,” says an interviewee, adding: “Not only is he experienced and knowledgeable in the field, he is also extremely organised and efficient, and overall a lovely person with first class people skills.”
Chambers 2018 reports: “He is described by an interviewee as “fantastic with clients; you almost have to be like a chameleon in our job and modify your styles depending on who you have sitting in the room, and he’s very good at that.” Another source also praises his client skills, saying: “He’s got a very accessible but charismatic style. He’s got a brilliant sparkle about him and he carries his expertise lightly.”
Chambers 2017 reported:”Philip is renowned for his work with the families and carers of disabled and vulnerable people.” Clients note that “his advice is first-class. He already knows the best course of action before you have even asked him a question. You know you are in safe hands with him.”
Getting to know each and every family he works with, Philip regularly speaks at and holds legal clinics and seminars on behalf of many local and national charities including Mencap, RETT, Age UK and The Carers Centre. Philip was voted The Law Society’s Legal Executive of the Year 2011, Pro Bono Legal Executive of the Year in 2009/10 and is also Chair of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Sussex branch.
Philip has recently passed the STEP Advanced Certificate in Advising Vulnerable Clients, launched in 2014 this respected qualification has only been undertaken by a small group of professionals, making Philip and Katherine the first lawyers in the country to hold this certification. He also holds a number of additional specialist qualifications, including the Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) Older Client Care in Practice Award.
“Philip Warford is “an excellent practitioner and
expert within the field of vulnerable persons,”
If you were not a lawyer what job would you do?
Criminal psychologist. I find studying human behaviour really interesting, particularly in a criminal context when you can profile an offender.
If you were given a day off work where would we find you?
If I could click my fingers and be there, a remote beach with no wifi connection. In the real world, probably at the gym.
What can you do that no one else in the office can do?
Possibly not something that no one else in the office can do, but I’m the only one to have run a marathon. There you go colleagues, that’s the challenge!
If you could go back in history to a specific date or time, what would it be?
I’d go back to the moment when my grandmother saw a moving picture on a TV for the first time. I was told that she used to look around the TV to find out where the voices were coming from.
Where in the world would you most like to visit?
The Great Barrier Reef before we do too much damage to it, and to swim there in a shark tank.
