Fenton Marsh & Co

Fenton Marsh & Co was established by Michael Fenton and Chris Marsh, both of whom had themselves been subjected to untenable and unlawful enforcement action by certificated enforcement agents. In the wake of their own experiences, they pursued legitimate complaints, only to encounter systemic obstruction. What appeared to be government-endorsed advice led nowhere, official channels were closed off, and even the police declined to intervene, dismissing their grievances as a mere "civil matter." This moment marked the genesis of Fenton Marsh & Co.

The firm was conceived to fill a void left by a legal profession largely unwilling to serve debtors, particularly those of limited means, and to challenge the entrenched perception that the courts and legal system are predisposed to side with creditors even where the debt itself, or its enforcement, is plainly unlawful. Fenton Marsh & Co sought to dismantle the barriers that had excluded so many from effective legal recourse.

Through the work of one of its senior partners, Jason Bennison, the firm played a pivotal role in shaping policy at the highest levels. It provided detailed guidance to Parliament on reforming the legislative framework governing civil enforcement, as well as contributing to operational guidance for police forces. This guidance, now used in training, ensures that when officers attend the scene of an enforcement action they are equipped to verify compliance with the law, including confirmation that the enforcement power is extant, the certification of the agent is valid, and that all procedural safeguards have been met. Where such checks fail, the guidance requires officers to remove the offending enforcement agent from the premises forthwith.

Fenton Marsh & Co has also been instrumental in legislative development. The firm’s proposals, set out in its policy paper "Driving Fairness – Proposals for Enhancing the Civil Enforcement Framework," pioneered many of the amendments subsequently adopted by Parliament. These reforms reshaped Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, clarified the lawfulness of enforcement action, and informed significant revisions to the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 and the 2014 Fees Regulations. In so doing, the firm has helped to set enduring standards for fairness, compliance, and accountability in civil enforcement.