Our advisory panel consists of experienced professionals who have volunteered their time and expertise free of charge in order to help you.
For questions to the panel, please email [email protected] Or call 07753 306885
BRENDAN O’SHEA – MD
Brendan is MD and founder of Just Clear, a multi-award winning and fully licenced clearance service for homes and businesses. As well as providing a service to clear general waste, Just Clear also work with a network of solicitors across the country providing maintenance for vacant properties whilst probate is being sought. Brendan brings a wealth of experience on matters relating to properties, valuations and clearance.
SIMON LYONS – BANKER
Simon has worked for a number of banks and is currently working at Conferma growing their business in bank to bank payments. Simon had 18 years working with Local Government so is uniquely placed to understand the needs and complexities of organisations. Simon will be best known by many local authorities for the work he carried out with the Co-operative Bank when they moved away from the Public Sector. He was tasked with managing the transition to new banks from the Co-op, an arduous task for many local authorities. The transition was managed ensuring it took place as smoothly as possible. Simon is an ardent Manchester City fan, supporting them way back when they weren’t as successful as they are today.
PAUL SMITH – FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT
Paul is an ex Detective Sergeant with Dorset Police, who headed their investigations into vulnerable adults. On retiring from the Police force after 25 years police service Paul transferred his skills into the private sector establishing his own consultancy service working with solicitors and local authorities investigating abuse against adults. Paul also offers specialist training for both public and private sector, highlighting risks, providing solutions and offering advice. Paul attended Canterbury Christ Church University and gained a master’s in forensic accounting from the University of Portsmouth.
MICHAEL ROBINSON – SOLICITOR
Michael is a Solicitor in the Private Client team at Ramsdens based in Halifax. He specialises in Wills, Powers of Attorney and Trust and Estate Administration, including Testate and Intestate Estates. Michael administers Estates across the country and corresponds with a large number of beneficiaries in the UK and all over the world. As Intestate Estates (where an individual has passed away without leaving a Will) are inherited by the entitled heirs under the Intestacy Rules, Michael instructs and liaises with International Probate Genealogists on a regular basis on behalf of Clients. Dependent on the circumstances of the demise of the individual, Michael will liaise with numerous institutions and individuals including, Coroners; Councils; Police; Informants and the Government Legal Department Bona Vacantia Division. Michael is also a Trustee at Community Transport Calderdale (CTC). CTC aim to provide transport for those residents of Calderdale and Kirklees who cannot access existing forms of transport provision for reasons of ill health, isolation, disability, poverty or social exclusion. Michael is a Dementia Friend and encourages others to make a positive difference to people living with dementia in their community. Michael also regularly attends the AGE UK free legal advice clinic in Halifax and Huddersfield.
BARBARA PETERS – MORTUARY AND BEREAVEMENT SERVICES MANAGER
Barbara is the manager of a multi-site NHS trusts bereavement services team, having worked at multiple NHS trusts across the country. She is responsible for all mortuary services, including Post Mortems, care of the Deceased. She has implemented changes to services that have benefitted those receiving end of life care, working with the Police and Funeral Directors to improve understanding and awareness. She works with Worcester and Kent Universities and also acts as a mortuary technical advisor for TV, Film and books.
DANNY CURRAN – MD
Danny is the Managing Director and Founder of Finders International and a well-known expert in the fields of probate genealogy (also known as probate research or heir-hunting). He has nearly 30 years’ experience in tracing missing heirs to estates, property, unclaimed funds, and assets. Danny is a popular keynote speaker at industry events, and he is often interviewed in the media on T.V., radio and in the national, trade, and local press. In the UK he has been on popular shows such as ‘This Morning’, ‘The Money Programme’, ‘Heir Hunters’, Radio 4’s ‘You & Yours’, and interviewed by ‘The Times’, the ‘Daily Mirror’ the Scottish ‘Daily Record’, ‘Irish Times’, and ‘Forbes’ magazine as an entrepreneur of note. He formed Finders International in 1997 having started work in the industry in 1990 and his company is now one of the largest in Europe with offices in London, Edinburgh and Dublin.
KATIE WATSON – SR. CASE MANAGER
Katie is a Senior Case Manager with Finders International based in their London office. She leads the Public Sector team and deals with local authorities and hospitals on a daily basis. Many local authorities will have dealt with her and know that she provides an extremely efficient service. Katie has worked for Finders for six years, and is a highly experienced genealogist and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She has an exceptional work ethic and is able to answer queries on intestacy and genealogy matters.
DAVE LOCKWOOD – PUBLIC SECTOR DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Dave worked in several diverse local authorities undertaking the statutory role of providing funerals under the Public Health Act. He was responsible for registering deaths, making funeral arrangements, liaising with next of kin and all other duties falling into this sphere. Working in social care, Dave was also responsible for acting as deputy under the Mental Capacity Act for people who lacked the capacity to manage their own financial affairs. Having taken redundancy from his last local authority due to an internal restructuring following cost cutting measures, Dave started working with Finders International in May 2017 developing their business with local authorities.