Biography
I joined the firm in November 2021 as an Associate Solicitor having worked in other highly regarded firms in Newcastle upon Tyne for over a decade.
My role involves advising clients on wealth protection/ estate/ succession planning (including advising business owners and high-net-worth individuals). I also advise on management/ protection of funds in cases involving congenital defects at birth.
I also deal with estate administration of complex estates (including estates with cross-border elements, foreign assets and missing beneficiaries to high value estates). I help clients create lifetime settlements as well as dealing with Trust administration and advising Trustees and Executors.
I also specialise in advising on capacity issues, including Powers of Attorney and making applications to the Court of Protection. I'm a full member of STEP. I'm also a member of the STEP Special Interest Group for Business Families.
I am also a committee member of the Law Society’s private client solicitors section advisory committee.
Our role on the committee is to assist the Law Society to design and deliver the outputs of the private client solicitors’ section.
I work closely with local charities and I often volunteer. I'm a founding member of Cancer Research UK’s Business Beats Cancer Board in Newcastle upon Tyne and I help to raise money and awareness for the charity locally.
What inspired you to get into law?
Having gone through a personal experience as a child of the legal system (which was a really positive one!) at that point I realised I wanted to be a change-maker and to follow in the footsteps of the solicitor helping us.
I later was lucky enough to meet some of my idols, Baroness Corston, Baroness Hale and Baroness Kennedy, during my time studying my first degree. I was greatly inspired by their journeys, not just because they were lawyers, but with the campaigns they led, literature they produced and change-for-the-better they started.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?
There are lots... I love offering clients solutions they hadn’t thought of with succession planning, giving them peace of mind in getting their affairs in order. It’s also rewarding that I can be there for clients during difficult times such as following a bereavement. I find putting clients at ease generally most rewarding.
What do you like about working at Irwin Mitchell?
I really value the vast network of colleagues we have who are exceptional at what they do and how well we all work together. I love the fact that as a firm we’re respectful, pioneering and tenacious and we are focussed hugely on giving back to our local and national community, celebrating equality and diversity.
What do you do away from the office?
I adore hanging out with my 5 year old son who is indomitable and hilarious in equal measure. I love spending time with people more widely, and others always comment on how fast-paced I live my life as I try to fit everything/ every one in.
My passion really is in meeting people, and in forming and maintaining connections. I am obsessed with sharks and my wonderful husband and I have been known to travel the world. From the Great Barrier Reef to the Gulf of Mexico and places in between, I love to be in the water with sharks. My dream is to swim with Great White Sharks some day!
Testimonials
"I am very grateful to Elizabeth for her support. Particularly the clarity in the way everything was explained to me." - 5* Trustpilot review
"Solicitor (dealing) was very helpful and efficient." - 5* Trustpilot review
"Elizabeth Gibbison of Irwin Mitchell has dealt with the drawing up of my will efficiently and with professionalism while still maintaining a friendly and compassionate manner. She has given me sound advice and guidance all through the process and I highly commend her." - 5* Trustpilot review
"Very helpful and efficient." - Client review with full marks on Client Satisfaction Questionnaire
"I am very happy with the service I received." - Client review with full marks on Client Satisfaction Questionnaire
"Elizabeth is fantastic. Amiable, friendly, relaxed but very intelligent and knowledgeable. Clients love her. She can adapt perfectly well to the situation and the client and she always conducts herself in a manner appropriate to the situation, but never forgetting to put the client at the centre of the meeting."
"Ellie has excellent service and knowledge with a smile and an ease with clients that you do not often see in the legal profession. Ellie manages to make complex areas of the law easy for clients to understand and delivers these with such care that clients love her."
"Elizabeth is an expert in her field. I know her to go above and beyond for her clients. She is a star associate and I would not hesitate to recommend her to clients." - Chambers High Net Worth 2023
Associate to Watch - Chambers High Net Worth 2023
"The knowledge and skill of the legal representative. She made time to listen to our needs before advising us accordingly." - 5* Trustpilot review
"Her professionalism and experience were clearly apparent, and the information and knowledge imparted was pertinent to my requirements. Our discussion was conducted in a friendly and relaxed manner which enabled me to discuss matters openly and freely." - 5* Trustpilot review
“Elizabeth was extremely polite, professional, friendly, punctual for our meetings and made us feel very at ease throughout our Will writing and LPA process. We had many sensitive questions, which were answered with compassion and always in a clear understanding manner, reaffirming details and clarifying points raised. On our very first meeting, she actively listened to all our circumstances and took note of all the details, quickly and effectively. All communications we received were timely, on point with information queried and nothing was a bother. She was always happy to help and always followed up at times agreed. She is clearly a very caring person and her attention to detail was impressive. We would have no issue in highly recommending Elizabeth's work and Irwin Mitchell.” - 5* Trustpilot review
"We have received excellent service from Elizabeth Gibbison regarding our new Wills and Power of Attorney. From first meeting her at Maggie's, Newcastle, she has conducted herself in a highly professional manner and has proven to be extremely knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and thorough in taking her time to explain everything to us, which has been greatly appreciated. We have both been very impressed with the quality of service we have received so far and would have no hesitation in recommending Irwin Mitchell to friends and family. Thank you so much!" - 5* Trustpilot review
"We have had several meetings with Elizabeth and found her very professional explaining everything in detail making us feel confident and relaxed with a friendly atmosphere,we both agree Elizabeth is a big asset to Irwin Michell." - 5* Trustpilot review
"Having to write out a will after being diagnosed with my medical condition was not very much fun. I was very impressed with the help and friendly guidance from Irwin Mitchell in explaining the various legal aspects of the will writing process and explaining things in a simple clear format." - 5* Trustpilot review
“I would like to thank you so much for your courtesy and your professionalism to me at all times, it made, what could have been a stressful thing to organise, quite simple.” - Client
"We found Ellie Gibbison, your Associate Solicitor who was dealing with us, very polite, friendly, and caring. We welcomed her into our home and she dealt with our application for L.P.A. very professionally." - Client
