TWO of Dorset’s most experienced specialist solicitors have teamed up again to continue a working relationship spanning more than three decades.

Sandra Graham and Lionel Fynn are heading up the planning department at law firm Trethowans. Both are leading planning and licensing specialists and began their working relationship at Penningtons in 1984 and later at Fynn and Partners in Bournemouth and other practices.

They have worked together for a total of 33 of the last 36 years. Sandra, head of planning and a consultant solicitor in the licensing department, joined Trethowans in 2017 and Lionel has also now added his experience, joining the team as a consultant in both planning and licensing.

Sandra, who is also a Notary Public, has just been elected president of Bournemouth Law Society. She said: “I am delighted at Lionel’s appointment and the opportunities this gives us for major development in our planning services across Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and beyond. We have worked together for almost our entire careers so we make a good team.”

The planning department covers a wide range of services including enforcement, noise, pollution, tree and conservation issues, judicial reviews and the planning dimension of proceeds of crime.

Sandra is also vice chair and of the South West Region of the Institute of Licensing, Affiliate Member of the Institute of Acoustics and a member of the National Association of Planning Enforcement. Lionel has extensive experience in local planning inquiries, compulsory purchase and First Tier Tribunal cases.