Unclaimed Premium Bond Prizes: Katie de Swarte Speaks to Channel 5 News
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Katie de Swarte
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Our Head of Private Client Disputes Katie de Swarte, recently spoke to Channel 5 News about an issue affecting savers across the UK: unclaimed premium bonds prizes.
Premium Bonds are savings accounts, run by National Savings and Investments (NS&I), where instead of earning interest, bondholders are entered into a monthly prize draw. These bonds have existed since before the digital age, and many were gifted or left behind by family members who have since passed away. In this case, if you don’t have the original paper certificate with the bond number, tracing them can be extremely difficult.
Katie highlighted that the process of reclaiming old Premium Bonds is often slow and frustrating, resulting in families missing out on money that could make a real difference. She believes that if someone can reasonably prove they are the rightful heir or estate’s executor, the system should be easier and quicker to navigate so the funds can be released without any unnecessary delay.
Watch the Channel 5 news report featuring Katie de Swarte
How can we help?
At Osbornes Law, our dedicated Private Client Disputes Team is lead by the experienced Katie de Swarte. Whether you’re dealing with estate disputes, or complex legal claims, our award-winning team is here to guide you. Contact us by:
- completing our online enquiry form;
- or calling us on 020 7485 8811
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“Big enough to take on substantial cases and small enough to retain a personal touch’. It acts for a wide range of high-net-worth individuals, families, and trust companies in complex estate and trust litigation.”
“Osbornes has good clients and an extremely capable team of private client litigators. All of the partners are excellent and the trainees are also very helpful.”
Katie has a good balance of being technically good but also emotionally intelligent. She has a really good understanding of the emotional side of these disputes while being pragmatic.
Katie de Swarte has a real passion for the work she does. She is not afraid to fight her corner and her tenacity means she can pull off miracles.
Katie is very easy to get on with, personable and pragmatic.
Osbornes has a young and dynamic team that is really going places. They have a real passion for private client work with the ability to deliver great results.
They have a personable, sensible but commercial approach.
Osbornes has good clients and an extremely capable team of private client litigators. All of the partners are excellent and the trainees are also very helpful.
We'd like to thank all of you for your professionalism in helping us deal with everything for the past 17 months. Even though our choice of law firm at the beginning was random, we're glad we came to you. We're very grateful that you're on our side and fighting for what's rightfully belongs to us! We couldn't have had a better lawyer representing us and we appreciate you more than you can imagine.
A full service team which punches above its weight, dealing with a range of UK and international clients.
Very high standards of client care, efficient and very good collaboratively when working for clients in common with our firm.
Jenny Walsh is a full member of STEP and a key figure who specialises in non-contentious private client matters, often with a cross-border dimension.
The nimble team at Osbornes acts for trustees, executors, personal representatives, and other high-net-worth individuals.
Katie de Swarte is a first-rate lawyer.
Katie is professional, capable and I know and trust her to look after clients I refer to her.
I would recommend Katie de Swarte, who is easy to deal with and a knowledgeable, formidable opponent.
Excellent team doing high-end work. Would always consider for referral and conflict work.
Katie de Swarte is very good with clients and committed to helping them achieve their objectives.
Katie de Swarte is a hard working and ambitious lawyer.
Jan Atkinson heads up the team and is a respected senior lawyer.
A well-established contentious trusts and probate team.
An ambitious team who work hard for their clients.
The calm and experienced Jan Atkinson is at the helm of the team.
Osbornes acts for a wide range of high-net-worth individuals, families, and trust companies in complex estate and trust litigation.
Osbornes has a practice which is big enough to take on substantial cases and small enough to retain a personal touch.
"Katie has a good rapport with clients and genuinely wants to help them. She's extremely committed to helping clients."
"Katie has great knowledge of the law and superb people skills, with a drive to get the best result possible."
With a deep sense of gratitude, I want to thank you all for your diligent and comprehensive contributions and assistance in my legal travails.
I am sure you know how stressful legal proceedings can be for everyday laypersons like myself. Thankfully, you have been a bastion of support and reassurance during these trying months, and I struggle to find the right words to express my sincere gratitude.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Katie De Swarte – she is very client-focused and attuned to their needs without being fearful of setting out where she perceives there may be weaknesses in their position.
Katie develops a good rapport with clients and is a good specialist estates litigator.
Katie develops a good rapport with clients and is a good specialist estates litigator.
The right blend of experience from a leading partner who’s spent a career in this field to enthusiastic specialist nqs. I work most often with Katie de Swarte.
A private client team offering a range of services to assist with private client matters including trust and probate services. A friendly approach with a keen eye for detail.
I have been a client of this firm for a number of years and been impressed by particular individuals, the care and thoughtfulness with which they have worked.
An efficient firm which provides an excellent service at highly competitive charging rates.
The team receives a steady flow of instructions from high-net-worth individuals and families on an array of tax planning, wealth preservation, estate and succession planning issues
I think this firm has excellent strength and depth in this area, for both contentious and non-contentious work, and they can hold their own against any other firm.
I have found them to be incredibly knowledgeable and pragmatic in settling claims for their clients.
The contested estates team is strong with talented young solicitors doing good quality work
The nimble team acts for a broad range of high-net-worth individuals and families on a variety of complex estate and trust litigation.
Osbornes has a ‘strong private client department’ and ‘the firm seems to be going from strength to strength’.
Katie is a very capable solicitor who can be relied on to do a great job in all kinds of disputes in this area.
Katie has a wealth of knowledge of her subject area and brings a robust but pragmatic approach to the resolution of private client disputes.
Thank you for managing my case, following a complete fiasco before I contacted Osbornes Law. I know that the work involved was rather complicated, possibly frustrating and often time consuming. I was impressed with your current knowledge of the case when we had the first meeting at your office. I regard a face-to-face meeting as imperative in developing positive relationships. Members of your team, such as Alex and Ella were impressive too, with their efficient, friendly manner of working.
I am grateful for your patience, advice and excellent support at a difficult time. Hopefully it won't be necessary to contact you again regarding this matter! I will definitely use Osbornes Law in the future."Katie de Swarte is extremely client focused and caring and supportive to her clients."
"Elspeth Neilson and Katie de Swarte are very competent private client lawyers, with good instincts for the merits of the case and a good manner with sometimes difficult clients."
"I’ve worked with Elspeth Neilson and Katie de Swarte on various pieces of private client litigation – two in the Court of Protection and one probate dispute. I’ve found them, and the firm, very efficient and capable and dealing successfully with some
difficult clients.""A capable contested probate team that seems to care. Katie de Swarte is an up and coming star."
“I very much appreciate all your help and support on this. I hope to never have to go through anything so dark again, but you made a huge difference… You're great at what you do and, with my new knowledge of solicitors, I wish there were more with the integrity that you have.”
"I wanted to say a huge thank you for your tremendous help and advice throughout and I am incredibly grateful for your knowledge, support and striving to get us the best outcome possible in this situation. I very much appreciate it. Thank you again for working patiently with us and for your sensitive approach throughout. "
I would highly recommend Katie de Swarte. Her attention to the details of my case, combined with her sensitivity and support, to what was an emotionally challenging and complex legal matter, was much appreciated and excellent. I felt she always listened to what I was saying and never rushed me. She was happy to work with me collaboratively where appropriate, as well as guiding my decisions with solid, legal advice at all times.
Jan Atkinson is an impressive lawyer who knows her way around private wealth dispute matters. She is very experienced in lengthy and fraught disputes and knows how to achieve good solutions for all parties involved. She is very on the ball and works very efficiently.
"Jan Atkinson, with her steely, steady, calming presence, instils confidence in the most highly-strung of us clients. With her masterful knowledge of the law, old and new, and its application, Jan can navigate through the most complex of cases to a successful end."
"I find Osbornes’ client-friendly approach welcoming and refreshing"
"A medium-sized London firm dealing with big litigation and doing it extremely well because of a depth of expertise and experience."
My family had the pleasure of Jan Atkinson working with us on the will and probate issues of [my mother's] estate in Camden and Ireland after she passed on last year. Jan and her assistant(s) offered us a fantastic service at a sad time.
"Jan Atkinson stands out for her wide-ranging knowledge and experience of estates; whatever problem you throw at her, she has seen it all before and is able to find a creative and sustainable solution. She has exceptional commitment to her clients and explores every avenue to find the best solution for them"
The team is very caring, experienced and detailed and was clear about the next steps and offered very helpful advice and suggestions
Jan Atkinson has extensive experience in private client matters, which underpins her excellent skills in the contentious probate area. Plus she is strong on international matters
A small but formidable team, punching above its weight. Jan Atkinson is a seasoned pro. Approachable but no push-over
"They are an outstanding firm to work with. They are consistently impressive in their work."
"Elspeth Neilson is very reliable and practical."
"The team frequently deals with cross-border estates for high–net-worth individuals."
"The team were extremely professional in putting my needs first. There was a joined-up approach to catering for the client, and all lawyers involved were briefed and constructive."
"Service prompt and effective. I have absolute confidence in Maggie."
I am happy with the service that I got and would recommend you to other potential clients.
I found Osbornes always very helpful and efficient.
We are very pleased with the services of Osbornes. Highly professional and through with close attention to detail.
I would highly recommend Jan Atkinson in any probate matter and Osbornes Solicitors in any other legal matters.
Jan Atkinson is a very proficient lady whom I would highly recommend to anyone involved in probates.
Thanks for all your work and explaining everything so clearly. For any legal matters in the future I would not hesitate in instructing Osbornes.
We have found your service to date as the most informative we have come across.
Jan Atkinson is confident with a straightforward approach. Her practice covers both contentious and non-contentious matters, including wealth planning and estate administration.
I would like to thank everyone in my case for the excellent job!
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