David Bird

I specialise in wills and probate, trusts, tax planning and general advice for the elderly, including powers of attorney and Court of Protection matters.

I have been working in this field since I qualified, and deal with a variety of matters including more complex Estates and inheritance tax planning.

I am the Head of the Wills and Probate (Private Client) Department at Crane & Staples. For many years, I have been an active member of the Hertfordshire Law Society Probate and Trust Committee, which I now chair.

I am a full member of both Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

I was Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the Hertfordshire Law Society from January 2002 until January 2008, when I became Vice-President. I served as the Hertfordshire Law Society President in 2009, and remained on its governing Council until 31 December 2022. I previously sat on a Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) sub-Committee looking into Alternative Business Structures.

Academic Activities

• I qualified as a solicitor in 1995 and joined Crane & Staples in April 2000, becoming a Partner with the firm in April 2003. I am currently the Firm’s finance partner and COFA.