A Yorkshire-based advice firm has hired a Chartered Financial Planner with expertise in law.

Kate Davenport, a Paraplanner with a law degree, has joined Robertson Baxter, taking its finance team to 12.

Ms Davenport, who is also training to become STEP qualified, has moved from Leeds-based firm The Private Office.

Robertson Baxter, in its ninth year of trading, has on its books 200 high net worth individuals, trustees and charities.

Ms Davenport’s experience in dealing with portfolios of this type, as well as her qualifications, appealed to the firm according to founding director Stephen Baxter.

He said: “Kate’s appointment is a key one for us and her experience of dealing with the type of clients we have is of huge benefit.

“She is a key member of the technical team and will research the background of a client’s existing arrangements and the new arrangements that our IFAs propose.

“She looks at all round charges, taxation and level of risk. It’s about the detail, making sure the client gets the right advice in the report that she writes and then the adviser delivers.”

He said the legal element of her STEP qualification provides a crossover in the understanding of the advice that a lawyer would give.

He said: “We can work better having that knowledge in house. Simply, it gives us added credibility when dealing with them.”

Ms Davenport said: “The quality and ambition is on a higher level to anything I have experienced before - and I’ve been working in financial services for 30 years.

“My role is very similar to the one I’ve been doing my whole career. I’m a Paraplanner, which means I deal with queries from the advisers on technical issues. I prepare recommendations and Financial Planning reports.

“I’ve done a law degree and I’m doing my STEP exams, so I’ll be able to utilise those skills as well as my other financial skills and I’m looking forward to using them to the full in this new role.”