rhw partner Gillian Cockburn has contributed to the latest edition of the Probate Practitioner's handbook published in Spring 2011.

The guide is designed for use by solicitors in England and Wales and its contributors are all leading experts in their field.

Gillian has written two chapters in the guide. One chapter is on the Appointment of Guardians and the other is on Time Limits.

The Appointment of Guardians is often a difficult decision for couples with children under 18. Our solicitors at rhw can often help in the decision-making process by talking issues over with you and suggesting ways of including your particular wishes in your Will.

Understanding Time Limits is crucial in dealing with deceased's estates effectively and are also important in lifetime estate planning and tax saving measures.

Gillian Cockburn qualified as a solicitor in 1979. She has worked for some of the top London law firms and also worked for London accountants Touche Ross.

In 1992 she established her own niche practice, Cockburns solicitors, specialising in trusts and the taxation of UK trusts as well as inheritance and capital gains tax planning, estates, wills, and charity law. Gillian ran and expanded the practice for 18 years before deciding to bolt her practice onto rhw in September 2010.

In addition to Gillian having a law degree from Southampton University she also has a Masters Degree in Tax from Kings College, London. She writes for a number of publications including the Law Society's Probate Practitioners' Handbook and Kelly's Draftsman and has been quoted in the quality National Press. She has contributed articles to the Law Society's Gazette and Taxation. She is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Probate Section of the Law Society and the Charity Law Association. She is also a member of the Lawyers Christian Fellowship. She has lectured on legal issues including presenting a report on English succession law at the Palais de l'Europe in Strasbourg.

Outside of work Gillian enjoys listening to a wide range of music, going to concerts/gigs, plays the flute and is a member of a local choir. She also volunteers at a wildlife rescue charity which involves feeding, weighing and generally cleaning up after injured or orphaned birds, foxes, hedgehogs and the like. Gillian also enjoys foreign travel and her aim is to see more than the 33 foreign countries/territories she has visited to date.