With over 25 years of experience, I specialise in advising families and vulnerable individuals on complex legal matters. As the Managing Partner and a founding member of Giles Wilson Solicitors, I have built a team dedicated to providing holistic, compassionate legal advice in matters ranging from mental incapacity and financial abuse to care funding and Court of Protection applications for both property and welfare. I also advise in relation to Wills, Estate Planning and Trusts.
Specialisations:
• Court of Protection: Managing both property and welfare applications.
• Financial Abuse: A key area of my LLM in Mental Health Law, for which I was awarded a distinction.
• Mental Capacity and Welfare: As an Accredited Practitioner and expert in Lasting Powers of Attorney, I provide clear and accessible guidance to families and professionals alike.
My expertise has been recognised in the Legal 500, where I have been cited for my pragmatic and compassionate approach. I am known for my knowledge, responsiveness, and my ability to work collaboratively in my clients’ best interests, which has helped build a reputation of trust and reliability.
Media Presence and Public Speaking:
I am a confident speaker, regularly contributing across TV, radio, and podcasts. I’ve appeared on BBC Breakfast, Sky News, The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, and Money Box, sharing my decades of insight on key private client issues, including wills, inheritance tax, and contentious probate.
These appearances have helped position me as a go-to authority for broadcasters and journalists seeking expert opinions on legal matters affecting the elderly and vulnerable.
Key Roles and Industry Influence:
I am proud to hold influential roles within the legal community, including:
As an Accredited Member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers, previously known as Solicitors for the Elderly, I am a trusted voice on private client law, regularly speaking at legal conferences and events. I am also passionate about mentoring the next generation of legal professionals, with a particular focus on championing women in law.
Awards and Recognition:
A Trusted Voice in the Legal Community:
As an experienced Panel Deputy and Mental Health Tribunal Solicitor, my legal background allows me to view situations holistically and ensure that my clients’ needs always come first. Whether advising on the Court of Protection, mental health matters, or financial abuse, I am committed to protecting the rights and dignity of the most vulnerable in society.
#TVLawyer Podcast Host:
I also host the #TVLawyer podcast series, where I interview fellow lawyers and specialists on key legal issues affecting the elderly and vulnerable. Series 1 is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.
Services: Wills, Trusts, Probate, Court of Protection, Later Life Care
Hourly rate: £350p/h
Our Managing Partner Melinda Giles helps younger listeners understand the law around someone passing away in her appearance on the Kids Law podcast.
The Giles Wilson Moot As a leading local law firm, we seek to encourage and nurture legal potential in the region from a young age. Therefore, we are delighted to announce that Giles Wilson will be holding a Mooting competition this year. What is the Giles Wilson Moot? The Giles Wilson Moot is a competition structured as a series of mock legal hearings, leading to a grand final. Students are invited to act as legal counsel, preparing and delivering compelling arguments based on various legal scenarios to a panel of esteemed solicitors, barristers and judges. Additionally, each team of students must respond to a series of questions posed to them by the panel and be prepared to think on their feet. A unique opportunity for an insight into legal practice Recognised by the Law Society, our Moot offers a rare opportunity for local students to experience the law in practice; something that is not commonly found outside of university level study. We are very proud of the fact that is it the only competition of its kind in the Southeast. We believe that our Moot enables the participants to develop key skills that will set them in good stead for any future career, such as; confidence in public speaking, critical thinking and analytical ability. The winners will receive prizes, including the prestigious Giles Wilson Moot cup, work experience with Giles Wilson and barristers’ chambers. Getting involved We have contacted schools within a 5-mile radius of our head office in Leigh-on-Sea to be involved. The schools that participate will have the opportunity to attend ‘Moot evenings’ whereby students will receive further information on the competition, be able to ask questions and network with legal professionals within Giles Wilson. The Moot competition itself will start with the quarterfinals, taking place in October 2024, with semi-finals planned for November, and the final in December. The Moot competition is part of our calendar of events for 2024 and will be in support of our 2024 chosen charities. Therefore, anyone is welcome to come along to watch the Moot rounds and support the students and charities if they wish to. If you require any further information, please send an email to: [email protected], with the subject “Giles Wilson Moot 2024”.
When communicating with someone new, it is always a good idea to make sure you are using inclusive language. Terms such as they/them to avoid an incorrect assumption being made. Pronouns are not a suggestion; they are fundamental and vital to someone’s identity and should be respected.
This year International Women’s Day 2024 is centred around the theme of inclusivity. When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world.
Let’s change the narrative. Let’s talk to each other about the end of life we want for ourselves and for each other.
If you want to control the gift, then it really is not a gift. It is a contribution to the property and you need to protect it in a declaration of trust. This may restrict the level of mortgage that can be obtained. However, it is best to be fully advised and really understand the outcomes.
We hope that you do not have cause to complain about us but we do take any complaints very seriously and urge you to speak to a partner initially and if you are not satisfied then to follow our Complaints Procedure.
When to report a solicitor to the SRA
If you have complained to your solicitor about breaching the SRA Code of Conduct and are not satisfied with their response, you can report them to the SRA. Examples of a breach include:
When to contact the Legal Ombudsman
If you have complained to your solicitor about poor service and you are not satisfied with their response, you can contact the Legal Ombudsman who deal with poor service, such as:
