Porter Dodson is pleased to welcome Paul Watkins, who joins us as a Partner in the Bridport office and brings with him a wealth of experience in the private client sector, along with a fantastic reputation and familiarity with the local area. 

Paul has taken the time to answer some questions about himself and give an insight to what he hopes to bring to the firm:  

Paul, welcome to Porter Dodson! Could you give us a brief rundown of your experience in the legal profession?  

Of course, I have been working in law since starting my training in 2004- in the very room I am sitting in now in fact- and have been practicing in Bridport and East Devon since then. I qualified as a solicitor in 2006 and have been appointed executor, trustee and attorney for a number of clients, and continue to specialise in Private Client work. 

Was it work that brought you to the Southwest? 

I was brought up in the New Forest and moved to West Dorset where I completed my training to become a solicitor and have lived in or near Bridport ever since. 

And what will you be doing here at Porter Dodson? 

I will continue to specialise in Private Client work, but whereas previously I have been a fairly general practitioner, working in administration of estates, trusts, tax planning, Lasting Power of Attorney and so on, here I expect I will be more focused on the tax planning and estate administration.  

I am going to be based in Bridport although there is already much crossover with the Poundbury offices, and of course the teams across the Dorset and Somerset offices, and I will continue to drive the growth of those offices and the PTT department, and I’ve already been pleased to introduce some of my longest standing clients to my new teams.  

What is your style of working when it comes to dealing with clients? 

I am a good listener, which is essential in my area of work. I pride myself on the empathy that I can give to clients often during difficult circumstances. I enjoy problem solving and a logical thought process helps with succession and tax planning to achieve the best possible outcome for clients.  

And what keeps you busy outside of work? 

Living on the Dorset coast, I of course love to be near the water. I really enjoy sea swimming at West Bay which I do throughout the year.  

I also recently completed the 100km walk along the Jurassic Coast, starting at Corfe Castle, then on to Swanage, Weymouth and finishing in Bridport. I did it in 22 hours and raised £600 for Parkinsons UK. It was actually the second time I’ve done it, and previously raised £1,200 for Juvenile Diabetes Charity JDRF. 

It’s such a great challenge and an opportunity to do some good for charity; I am always taken back by the generosity of those around and it makes it a really fulfilling way to spend my free time.  

I also play football for West Dorset Veterans having previous played Saturday football in the Perry Street league for a number of seasons. I enjoy coaching with the Bridport Youth Football Club too (now currently trying to convince Porter Dodson to get involved in some sponsorship there!)   

Finally…. 

Dorchester Literary Festival is coming up and Porter Dodson are supporting the event. Can you think of any books that you have read which have changed the way you work/ your perception of the world/ your life?! 

The Way of the Ice Man by Wim Hoff is such an interesting book- I am a firm believer in the health benefits of being in the water- especially if it’s cold- and his story is remarkable. I’m sure you can gather from my earlier answers why I value it so much! 

Get in Touch 

Paul is based in Bridport and specialises in Private Client work. To get in touch with him about what he can do for you, click here.