Griffin Law was founded in 2008 and moved to Highgate, Hawkhurst in 2009. Named after the founder’s late Irish grandfather, the broadcaster and soldier Patrick Griffin, the firm is proud to serve Hawkhurst and the villages of the High Weald.

Offering friendly, professional and cost-effective legal services, Griffin Law has as its goal the simple desire to add value to the lives of its clients.

Donal Blaney, Senior Partner

Donal Blaney, Senior Partner in Griffin Law, is admitted to practice in England & Wales (1998) and the British Virgin Islands (2004).

After training and commencing practice with Trowers & Hamlins in the City of London , Donal has worked as a partner in the West End, head of litigation for a regional firm and as deputy head of litigation for a leading international firm in its British Virgin Islands offices. Donal has also worked as in-house counsel for an internet-based television production company and as a foreign law consultant for a Bahamas-based law firm.

Donal is an experienced commercial litigator with his particular expertise in the fields of international disputes, trust claims, insolvency disputes and contractual disputes.

Donal has homes in Hawkhurst, Kent and Tampa, Florida. He is married to Marci, a former US Army reserve soldier who served in Iraq. He was educated at Tonbridge School and the University of Southampton.

Peter Burfoot, Managing Partner

Peter Burfoot is the Managing Partner of Griffin Law. Having qualified in 1977, Peter has over 32 years of experience as a litigator, specialising in property litigation and professional negligence claims.

A keen runner, Peter is also a member of the Property Litigation Association and the Professional Negligence Law Association.

Peter lives with his wife and three children in Ticehurst, East Sussex.

Mark Edmonds, Trainee Solicitor

Mark is a Trainee Solicitor at Griffin Law. He graduated from the University of Surrey in 2007 with a degree in Law.

Mark has always had a keen interest in law and politics and is now providing support to solicitors on a number of cases. In his spare time he is a keen writer and is currently working on a historical novel to add to his already published poems.

He is a keen sportsman, playing both local football and cricket.

Jonathan Manser, Paralegal

Jonathan has recently joined Griffin Law as a paralegal, where he works closely with the Firm’s partners on Consumer Credit Act litigation.

He graduated from the University of Portsmouth in 2009 with a degree in Law with Business. He is a local to the area, having lived in Kent all of his life.

In his spare time Jonathan enjoys spending time at the gym, socialising with friends and regularly going to gigs and concerts.

Patrick Griffin

Sergeant Patrick Griffin, of Aillebrack, Clifden, Co Galway, was a prominent Army athlete in the early 1930s. A native of Waterford, he joined the Army in 1922, serving at Dun Ui Mhaoiliosa, Galway, as well as Cork and Limerick, before coming to Clifden to organise the FCA during the Emergency.

He was a member of the first Galway football team to play in the Aran Islands and he won several Army honours with the First Battalion, Galway, where he spent most of his early career. He was All-Ireland Army Triple Jump titleholder in 1932-33 and was also a first-class javelin thrower.

Paddy Griffin died in 1974 and was survived by his wife, Mary, and nine children.