The 17-year-old, who is a member of Whitstable Yacht Club, is hoping to make the grade for the Games either in 2012 in London or the 2016 event, which has yet to have a host city announced. To help with his training and progression, Vertex Law has agreed to sponsor Jack and have provided him with a cheque towards his competition expenses.

The Queen Elizabeth Grammar School pupil has been sailing for most of his life and was first introduced to the waves by his father.

He said: “Sailing is something I have done since I can remember and it’s a bit of a family affair for us as my two younger brothers are also involved - although my mother isn’t too keen on getting wet. I am hopeful that I can continue my progression to date and end up eventually representing Great Britain at an Olympic Games - which would be an amazing experience.”

Jack currently competes in the Laser Class and is hopeful of achieving a top five finish at the forthcoming National Youth Trials, which take place in Wales.

From there Jack, who is hoping to attend Southampton or Loughborough University following the completion of A-Levels, aims to progress through to the national squads and on to Olympic standard. He has just returned from a trip to Florida where he took part in a training camp with the British Paralympics team.

He added: “Sailing is something I just love and I feel utterly at home on the water. I would love to make sailing my career and am focusing on going as far as I possibly can. Eventually I would love to take part in the Americas Cup as a tactician as to me that is the ultimate challenge on the water.”

Vertex Law’s Robert Dodgson said: “We are delighted to be able to provide Jack with some financial assistance towards his chosen sport. He obviously possesses a natural talent for sailing and just talking to him you get a real sense of the enthusiasm, dedication and passion he has for the water and those are qualities we recognise, value and hold dear in our own line of work.”

Top City lawyer Geoffrey Pickerill brings with him more than 35 years of Mergers and Acquisitions expertise as well as experience of various private company directorships and chairmanships. Formerly a partner at both Ashurst and Lawrence Graham, he has a wealth of experience in providing corporate and wholesale business advice to a range of companies and institutions.

Geoffrey said: “Vertex Law appealed to me greatly because its fresh and to the point approach to the delivery of legal and business advisory services reflects how I manage any deal or relationship I become involved in”.

“The depth and scope of Vertex Law’s work clearly demonstrates that quality legal services delivered to large companies and institutions are not the sole preserve of City law firms.”

Meanwhile Lee May and Matthew Grogan have joined the Property and Environmental Team.

Lee, former Principal Solicitor at Dover District Council, strengthens Vertex Law’s planning and local authority expertise with his experience of regeneration, planning law and public sector work.

He said: “I’m looking forward to developing Vertex’s contacts and business with public sector authorities.”

Matthew comes to Vertex Law from Buss Murton, which he joined as a trainee. The Tunbridge Wells resident acts for a variety of clients in relation to acquisitions and disposals, lettings (on behalf of both Landlord and Tenant) as well as secured lending work. He also provides property support to the Mergers and Acquisitions Team.

Richard Blackman, Vertex Law CEO, said: “We are delighted to welcome Geoffrey, Lee and Matthew to the Vertex team. Their recruitment clearly demonstrates that we are proving an attractive proposition to good quality lawyers at all stages of their careers and from widely differing professional backgrounds.”

Demonstrating the fact that good corporate lawyers never really lose the passion for a challenge or a deal, Geoffrey’s wealth of experience in providing corporate and wholesale business advice to a range of companies and institutions that have become the hallmark of the success of Vertex Law, will greatly assist Vertex Law’s meteoric growth to date.

Geoffrey also brings with him the experience of various directorships and chairmanships held in private companies further demonstrating his trusted adviser status and approach, again mirroring Vertex Law’s own reputation.

Geoffrey said “Vertex Law appealed to me greatly because its fresh and to the point approach to the delivery of legal and business advisory services reflects how I manage any deal or relationship I become involved in.  The added advantage of finding this level and quality of work and client contacts in my home county of Kent cannot be ignored”.

Richard Blackman, Vertex Law CEO said “Geoffrey’s decision to join us is real recognition of how far we have come in such a short time.  Our core tenents of responsiveness, team participation and price commitment struck a common chord with Geoffrey. Quality legal services delivered to large companies and institutions is not the bastion of City law firms.”

The 33-year-old becomes part of Vertex’s property team bringing his experience of regeneration, planning law and public sector work.

Lee, who lives in Folkestone, said: “I am really excited about the prospect of working at Vertex. I hope my contacts and experience operating within a Kent local authority will be a useful addition to Vertex. I’m look forward to developing Vertex’s contacts and business with public sector authorities.”

Vertex Law’s CEO Richard Blackman, said: “We are very pleased to have secured the services and expertise of Lee. He will play an important role in achieving our aim of becoming the legal business of choice for local authorities in the South East”

In his spare time Lee enjoys playing golf and football. To contact Lee call 0870 084 4039 or e-mail lee.may@vertexlaw.co.uk

Having qualified in 2005, Sonel, 32, worked for South African firm Webber Wentzel Bowens in the commercial and corporate sector. From there she moved to Kent gaining her UK qualifications and continuing to focus on a variety of commercial work.

The mother-of-two has now joined Vertex and said she was relishing the opportunity to gain further experience, adding: “I have reached a certain level in my career and am now looking forward to taking the next step and there isn’t a better place to do that than at Vertex, which is a really progressive, modern and forward-thinking firm. It’s an exciting place to be.”

In her spare time Sonel enjoys reading, running and looking after her two young boys. She said: “Kent is a wonderful place to live and work although my family and I do like to regularly stage barbecues, or as we know them ‘braais’, to remind us of back home in South Africa.”

Head of Vertex’s commercial team Kate Mayor said: “We are very pleased to welcome Sonel into the business.   Her experience and knowledge will be a valuable asset and help ensure we continue to deliver quality work to our clients expanding client base.”

The Kings Hill based company, came out top in a number of categories in Chambers 2008 - the bible of the legal profession which is importantly based on client feedback.

Vertex Law’s corporate finance team achieved a number one ranking for the South East with lawyers Trevor Carney and Stuart Butler-Gallie ranked first across the region.

Chambers states: “Vertex bring a refreshing genuine can-do attitude to its regional work. The corporate team offers a contrasting style that is appreciated by clients. Younger, hungrier and far more proactive than some rivals, this team - headed by five partners - is developing a reputation as a flexible, modern and forward thinking group.”

A busy twelve months has seen Vertex Law acting for the vendors of Keelan Westall on the £19.7 million sale of shares to Hanover Park Commercial; acting for Kent Attractions on transactions totalling £20 million and acting for Fujifilm Sericol on the acquisition of Dutch-based Profisol BV. It also recently acted for the RBS Structured Debt Solutions Team on the management buy outs of Cathedral Works Organisation and Pavilion Securities.

One of the founding members Stuart Butler-Gallie said: “We set out with one aim, which was to reach the top of our profession and to ensure this recognition came from a properly independent source.  Now we have to maintain this position”.  

The guide also highlighted the mergers and acquisitions work of Vertex Law’s James Beatton and the strong reputation of Robert Dodgson in the commercial property market.

Chambers is an independent, annual guide to the UK’s legal profession. Rankings are assessed on criteria that include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness/astuteness, diligence, commitment and other qualities clients consider relevant.

The buildings, which are currently unused, have been purchased for around £2million by property developer and former Gravesend resident Leslie Woollends. The 47-year-old with his company Thamesview Living Ltd, plans to convert the former hotel into a 6,000sq ft restaurant and 20 one and two-bedroom flats.

The Grade II listed building dates back to the mid-17th Century and was originally built as a home for the then Duke of York and High Admiral James Stuart, who was to become the future King James II. The building’s name comes from his marriage to Anne, the daughter of the Earl of Clarendon. It opened as a hotel in around 1845 and is reputed to have been a regular haunt for Royal visitors.

Kings Hill based Vertex Law helped with the purchase of the site and property lawyer Sue Lattin said: “This is a very well-known building in Gravesend and this plan will breathe new life into the site. The buildings already have a fascinating history and this new development will make for an equally interesting future.”

Developer Mr Woollends said the restaurant would provide high-class cuisine with influences from all over the world. He expected the whole project to take about a year to complete.

He added: “As a youngster I was often brought to the Clarendon Royal Hotel for special occasions and have fond memories of it, which is why I am particularly pleased to be playing a part in restoring it. Gravesend as a whole is going through many changes and this project is another important step in the regeneration of the area.”

Brickfield Meadows is a development of 14 properties built by Monro Homes and is situated in the charming hamlet of St Marys Platt. The site has been built on a plot, which used to hold a Shepherd Neame pub called The Brickmakers Arms.

Six of the properties are still available for purchase and the next house to be sold will get the site’s former pub sign included for free.

Monro Homes Sales Manager for the site Valerie Ward said: “We discovered the sign from the old pub while developing the site and thought it would make a lovely souvenir for a house-owner and have decided to add it in with the next property we sell. Hopefully the sign can then be displayed somewhere prominently to maintain the link with the area’s past.”

Brickfield Meadow offers a range of properties with three bedroom properties available from £299,995 and four-bedroom houses start at £475,000.

Kings Hill property experts Vertex Law purchased the land for Monro and will be carrying out all the conveyancing on the sales.