TV star Kate Garraway hands top awards to Taplow law firm

The young founder of an award-winning law firm in Taplow has opened up on the secrets to its success.

Circe Law, founded by Jade Gani, opened in 2023 but has already been recognised as one of the country’s best specialist law firms.

At the Probate Industry Awards last month, presented by Good Morning Britian star Kate Garraway, Circe scooped best boutique probate law firm and an award for best paralegal.

Jade, 33, said: “It’s pretty incredible and it has been a really hard road – definitely the best - but also the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Circe specialises in probate law – a type of law dealing with people’s money and belongings after they die.

It is an area in the industry seeing growth, said Jade, as more people – including young people - look to plan for their death.

More than 200 people have sought its services since Circe Law was founded, both nationally and around Maidenhead.

One of the services Jade’s firm provides is free wills to patients and staff at Thames Hospice.

“Since the pandemic, we haven’t really stopped,” she said.

“I think it’s made people think about the fact that we just don’t know what’s around the corner and it doesn’t help anyone to bury their heads in the sand.

“People are looking to plan ahead and get their wills in order rather than putting it off.”

Jade, who is mixed race and from a low-income family, also discussed how her own experiences had shaped how she wanted her firm to be run.

“it’s not your typical kind of cocktail for a career in law – in the old boy’s club,” she said.  

 “I’ve experienced a lot of sexism, some racism and even sexual harassment in the workplace.

“It’s something you would think lawyers are a lot better at than most because we’re supposed to be – sort of - the example of good behaviour.

“But for some reason it seems to be the opposite, so that was kind of what spurred me on to start Circe in the first place to create a healthier more inclusive environment to work in.”

 On receiving the award for best small law firm, Jade said: “Getting the award and going up on stage it kind of just solidified that we’re doing a good job.

“There’s a reason why we started and people are receptive to that - they want to see some change in the industry.”

Among the other award winners at the Probate Industry Awards included Eléonore Delabre for her work returning art work stolen by the Nazi’s in World War Two - to its owners.