Howard Kennedy LLP

Adam Walford advises household name restaurants and retailers on their real estate occupancy needs, growth strategies and asset management needs. He leads the Investment, Landlord and Tenant team and is head of the Retail & Leisure group. He is a solicitor specialising in commercial real estate, particularly in acquisition and disposal work for the restaurant and retail sectors. Adam has an extensive and varied client base, including restaurant owners, occupiers, investors, and developers. He acts for global brands and quoted companies, as well as, household names like Carluccio’s, Pizza Hut, Patty&Bun, and Tortilla. He also supports some of the most exciting new brands in the sector. This breadth of experience is unusual. He lives and breathes the restaurant business, working closely with the wider sector team to benefit shared clients with a wealth of insight. Whether a client is buying a chain of 200 outlets, developing a brand new concept, branching out from a first success, or simply reviewing their staff contracts, he aims to be their first port of call.

Alex Watt

Alex Watt is an experienced intellectual property lawyer who specialises in commercial transactions that have intellectual property, often brands and their growth, at their heart. Alex is a Partner whose practice tends to involve commercial legal work in IP-centric businesses, such as licensing, gaming, egaming, franchising and publishing. He is also known for his work within the art world, within which he advises galleries, auction houses and the artists themselves. He has a deep knowledge of advertising and marketing and he leads the firm's advertising & marketing practice, providing advice to both agencies and brands directly. Recently such work has included increasing amounts of affiliate marketing and work a lot of work with influencers, and influencer agencies – as well as promotional advice, drafting ISBA compliant agency agreements, production agreements, sponsorship agreements, and advice more generally on ASA complaints and compliance. His work is often international and until recently he was the National Representative for the United Kingdom within AIJA, an international network of lawyers with over 4000 members from 90 jurisdictions. Alex has worked on secondment in-house a number of times, working closely with Universal Pictures, the Telegraph Media Group and the BBC, so he has a good understanding of what in-house lawyers expect and how they prefer to work. Alex has won significant acclaim for his expertise in legal rankings. He is “recommended for transactional trade mark work and advertising and marketing deals” by Legal 500 2021. He was recently praised by clients within World Trademark Review's WTR 1000 for 2024, who say “He understands the full picture in relation to any issue that arises and can identify the optimum solution for his client. His depth of experience of commercial law issues, regulatory issues such as advertising, and his ability to handle early-stage disputes make him the perfect person to work with.”

Amanda McNeil

Amanda McNeil specialises in contentious issues relating to commercial and residential property. She focuses on enabling clients to find the best outcome for their unique circumstances. She heads our Real Estate Dispute Resolution team. Amanda has a diverse client base. As a solicitor she advises landlords, retailers and other commercial occupiers with their asset management needs. She works with commercial developers on site clearances, restrictive covenant issues, boundary and other disputes. She acts for high-net-worth individuals on disputes relating to their personal property portfolios and their homes in the UK. Amanda’s expertise in commercial property disputes includes acting on Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 lease renewals (including opposed renewals), forfeiture actions, rent recovery, service charge disputes, dilapidations claims, enforcement of covenants, rent reviews and withholding of consent to assign/sublet/carry out alterations. She additionally guides clients through original tenant liability and liability of guarantors issues, disputes over rent deposits and property insolvency issues. Meanwhile, her residential property experience includes advising on exercising the right to manage, service charge disputes, enforcement of covenants, and possession proceedings (both Rent Act tenancies and Assured Shorthold tenancies). Amanda acts for both landlords and tenants advising on all aspects of leasehold enfranchisement including lease extensions of flats, collective enfranchisement (whereby the leaseholders in a building join together and buy the freehold), freehold purchase and lease extension of leasehold houses. She prides herself on listening to her clients, understanding their objectives and provides first class strategically and commercially driven advice in an unstuffy way to achieve the best possible outcome in line with their unique needs. Her alternative dispute resolution experience includes mediation, arbitration and advocacy. She represents clients in the Privy Council, Court of Appeal, High Court, County Court and increasingly in the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Chamber. Amanda is a member of the Property Litigation Association and the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners.

Amy Cunliffe-Rowe

Amy Cunliffe-Rowe is a solicitor specialising in data protection and commercial contracts across a range of sectors. Amy is an Associate in the IP & Commercial team. She advises clients on data protection and commercial contracts across various sectors including retail, tech and media. Her data protection work regularly includes advising on complex data protection matters, the use of novel technology, privacy notices, data protection breaches, data security, data agreements, data sharing arrangements, and data subject access requests. On the commercial side, Amy advises on commercial contracts such as franchise agreements, software agreements, and IT contracts. Amy takes time to understand clients and their commercial aims so that she can provide commercially focused advice.

Anthony Hunt

Anthony Hunt heads the Corporate Real Estate team, which focuses on the real estate sector, acting for domestic and international investors and developers, in particular in the hotel, retail, restaurant and leisure sectors. As Head of Corporate Real Estate, Anthony plays a lead role in the operation and development of the firm’s fast growing corporate real estate practice and especially its recognised expertise in the hotels and leisure sector. He is also one of the lead corporate partner contacts for M&A, as well as the firm’s international practice and its two referral networks and sits on the Exco of Lawyers Associated Worldwide. Anthony acts for private and listed companies and entrepreneurs and he works closely with several international high net worth clients. He advises clients on all aspects of corporate finance, domestic and international listings, takeovers, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, MBOs and MBIs. He also supports clients with turnaround and pre-pack, public and private fund raising, secured lending, acquisition finance, tax-related products and collective investments schemes advice and guidance. He works on all types of corporate transactions including domestic and cross-border M&A, private equity and venture capital, corporate finance, including AIM, domestic and international wealth protection and private and corporate banking.

Antonia Frangakis

Antonia Frangakis is a commercial property solicitor specialising in the retail, restaurant and leisure sectors. She helps operator-occupiers in the retail and leisure sector on all aspects of commercial property and regularly handles leasehold acquisitions and disposals for national brands and independents. She also advises overseas clients entering the UK market. Antonia deals with wider general estate management, advising on and dealing with legal and practical issues relating to landlord and tenant matters. Antonia sits on the committee of the LPFXtra and is an active member of the Leisure Property Forum.

Arish Bharucha

Arish Bharucha is a leading Solicitor-Advocate who focuses on international arbitration, commercial litigation and civil fraud disputes. He chairs the firm’s India group and has strong personal and professional links with the country. Arish advises international and domestic clients on a range of high value and complex contentious matters. He acts on a wide array of commercial disputes in English seated arbitrations (under the LCIA, ICC, SIAC and UNCITRAL rules) and in the English Courts, including cases involving civil fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, complex contractual claims, negligence claims, economic torts, shareholder, joint venture and partnership disputes, and jurisdictional battles (amongst others). Arish advises on cases across many industry sectors including commodities, technology, energy, banking and financial services, engineering and pharmaceuticals. Arish advises clients (both corporates and individuals) from all over the world and most of his cases have an international dimension. He has a particular interest in, and focus on, India-related disputes and spearheads the firm’s India group. He visits India regularly to develop and maintain the firm’s connections there. Arish is also dual qualified as a lawyer in Delhi. Prior to joining Howard Kennedy, Arish trained at, and was an Associate in the Litigation & Arbitration Division of, a large international firm and subsequently practised at a specialist dispute resolution firm. Arish read Law and History at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was awarded the Lizette Bentwich prize for law. Arish also has an LLM in Law from University College London, where he was awarded the Chief Justice Scholarship.

Ashley Reeback

Ashley Reeback acts on corporate transactions in both the public and private arenas, including M&A, IPOs, MBOs and MBIs. He is Head of the Corporate department at Howard Kennedy. Ashley assists clients on the full spectrum of corporate and capital markets transactions. He is a solicitor with a particular focus on mid-market M&A, as well as, public company transactions. He advises on both the purchase and sale of private companies including by way of Management Buy Outs and Management Buy-Ins. On the capital markets side of his practice, Ashley acts for clients on Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and has advised on over 40 AIM IPOs (some by way of reverse takeover), acting for both issuers and Nomad/brokers. Ashley also advises on public takeovers, as well as, early stage and pre-IPO funding rounds.

Astrid Stanley

Astrid Stanley is a partner specialising in commercial real estate and is a co-lead of the student accommodation group. Astrid has established herself as a go-to solicitor in the practice and advises developers, investors and HNW individuals across real estate development and investment transactions. Her strength is her deep understanding of the real estate market and provides her clients with strong commercial and strategic advice throughout a transaction. Her practice covers student accommodation, living, mixed-use, office, industrial and logistics, hotels & leisure, sectors. Astrid's expertise is in development and finance and she has an ability to advise on large scale and complex transactions, with a strength in client relationships management. Astrid has broadened her experience in the development team, advising investors, landlords and occupiers on commercial acquisitions for lease and development acquisitions for sale and forward funding.

Ayesha Salim

Ayesha Salim specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration, acting for and advising clients ranging from private individuals to multinational companies. She is a solicitor acting for clients involved in contractual, company, shareholder, partnership, and joint venture disputes. Ayesha also assists clients with professional negligence and agents' commission claims, as well as, contentious trust and estate, and commercial agency disputes. Ayesha has extensive experience of alternative dispute resolution including mediation.

Benjamin Filmer

Ben Filmer is an experienced corporate solicitor advising individuals and businesses on a broad range of transactional and non-transactional matters. Ben undertakes a wide variety of corporate work, including share and asset acquisitions and sales, corporate re-organisations, joint ventures and corporate governance. He acts for a varied client base including large corporate entities, individual shareholders, and management teams. He has worked across a broad range of sectors including technology, manufacturing and retail. Ben takes a pragmatic solutions-based approach; seeking to find the best commercial solutions for his clients and helping them to achieve their aims. He has twice been ranked as a Rising Star in the Legal 500 Guide.

Beth Myers

Beth Myers is a partner with over 15 years' experience in the commercial real estate sector acting for (among others) landed estates, charities, investors, offshore companies and tenants in complex real estate matters. Beth is a partner in the Commercial Real Estate team with a particular focus on commercial landlord and tenant, real estate investment acquisitions and disposals and corporate real estate for a variety of clients. Beth acts for a wide range of clients, including landed estates, property companies, offshore companies, charities, education providers, private high net worth investors and retail and occupier clients. Beth’s work leads her to regularly liaise with the Development team and Planning and Construction team on cases. Beth is a strong technical solicitor with broad experience and a commercial and efficient approach to transactions. She understands a client's needs and helps to deliver and achieve successful outcomes. She provides a proactive client-focused service.

Bhavini Patel

Bhavini Patel is a real estate dispute resolution solicitor with a practice spanning both commercial and residential property matters. She acts for investors/landlords, developers and tenants. Bhavini is also Co-Head of the Building Safety Group. Bhavini regularly acts on contentious issues involving retail property and developer clients. She advises on business lease renewals, breach of covenant claims, break notices, possession claims, site clearance, forfeiture claims, contractual disputes and trespass actions. As Co-Head of the Building Safety Group, Bhavini is an advisor on building safety matters including landlord and leaseholder certificates, accountable person and principal accountable person's responsibilities, registration of higher-risk buildings and recoverability of service charges incurred in remediating buildings. Bhavini works closely with the firm's construction team in relation to these issues. She provides strategic building safety advice to clients at all stages of the life cycle of a property, from planning, development and occupation and property management through to disposal. Bhavini focuses on ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements whilst also protecting the value of the asset. Her practice spans County Court and First Tier Tribunal proceedings. She tailors her straightforward advice focusing on a non-contentious resolution. With litigious issues, Bhavini has the experience to resolve matters through negotiated settlements and has attended numerous settlement meetings and successful mediations.

Bob Sadler

Bob Sadler is a senior solicitor with extensive experience in all aspects of planning and highways. He is highly experienced with complex section 106 agreements, planning appeals, highways issues (including all forms of agreement), large mixed-use developments, hotels, residential development and Assets of Community Value. He also drafts complex contracts conditional on planning, analyses planning decision documents for judicial review risk and is adept at tying together complex documents in development deals. Bob is dedicated to finding elegant commercial solutions to knotty legal issues.

Charles Maxwell

Charles Maxwell is a partner and Head of Commercial Development. He is a real estate solicitor specialising in residential development, commercial real estate and residential real estate transactions. He is fluent in Hebrew and is Head of the Israel Desk. Charles acts for real estate companies, public funds, high-net-worth individuals and international investors on a wide spectrum of non-contentious property matters, including sales, acquisitions, refinancing, management and bulk purchases of both residential and commercial properties. On residential development matters, Charles typically works with his clients through the entire property cycle from site acquisition to individual plot sales, and provides clients with a round-the-clock service to ensure transactions are completed efficiently and in a timely manner. He acts for a wide variety of Israeli real estate investors actively investing in the UK real estate market. Charles also has experience in the leisure sector advising restaurateurs, hoteliers, and nightclub and bar operators.

Charlotte Whitworth

Charlotte Whitworth is a solicitor and co-head of corporate real estate team advising on a range of corporate matters with specialisms in corporate real estate and student accommodation. She is also co-lead of the student accommodation group. She acts on a wide variety of transactional and non-transactional corporate work including mergers and acquisitions, corporate real estate matters and general company law matters. She focuses on corporate real estate and has deep sector knowledge of the real estate market which is used to her clients' advantage when completing transactions. Much of her work has a strong international focus. Charlotte acts for developers, landowners and investors in documenting their joint venture arrangements (including shareholders, LLP, and contractual profit share arrangements). Charlotte also deals with all aspects of corporate wrapper acquisitions and disposals. She takes a commercial and pragmatic approach when assisting clients and delivers commercial and strategic advice to her clients. Charlotte is one (of three) of the firm's appointed representatives for the international network Meritas and is a member of the Meritas Young Lawyer Advisory Board. Charlotte has been appointed Chair-Elect of the Meritas Emerging Leaders Advisory Board. This is the first time Meritas has elected a chair from outside North America.

Chloe-Jane Belton

Chloe-Jane is a white-collar and investigations lawyer with experience both at the independent Bar and in private practice. Her practice focuses on complex multi-agency and cross-border investigations involving fraud, corruption, money laundering and sanctions breaches. Chloe-Jane has extensive experience in advising individuals, governments and multinational organisations under investigation by authorities including the SFO, FCA, NCA and overseas government authorities including DOJ, SEC and CFTC. She is well-placed to advise clients on all aspects of financial crime cases including bribery, corruption, market manipulation and fraud. In addition to her white-collar crime and investigations practice, Chloe-Jane gained extensive experience as a barrister whilst practising at the criminal bar, where she established a reputation for defending and prosecuting clients facing complex criminal and regulatory proceedings. Of note, she was junior prosecution counsel in Operation Bronze, what was then the largest local authority prosecution of its kind, involving charges of misconduct in a public office, fraud and money laundering. Her clients benefit from her practical experience when seeking advice on how to respond to criminal or regulatory prosecution. Chloe-Jane regularly acts in pro bono matters with a particular focus on defending human rights and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. She advised an international human rights charity seeking to decriminalise homosexuality across the world and provided advice to a charity working to free those believed to have been wrongly convicted and preventing future wrongful convictions. She is a member of the Fraud Lawyers Association, Private Prosecutors' Association, Criminal Bar Association and the Female Fraud Forum. Prior to joining Howard Kennedy, Chloe-Jane was a senior associate at a global law firm based in London. She was called to the Bar in 2008.

Colin Sawdy

Colin Sawdy is an intellectual property solicitor specialising in trade marks, copyright and designs. He is a partner and heads Howard Kennedy's Trade Marks practice. Colin's practice focuses on international trade mark and design clearance, prosecution and portfolio management. He manages the filing and defence of opposition, revocation and invalidity actions, as well as, negotiates settlements and coexistence agreements. Colin regularly enforces clients' rights by way of dispute resolution and coordinating litigation in the UK and abroad. He is experienced in anti-counterfeiting matters and advises on, as well as, drafts intellectual property commercial agreements. Colin assists clients with copyright and domain name matters, ranging from securing the protection of such rights through to their commercialisation and enforcement against infringing third parties. He routinely advises clients in both written and spoken Japanese on a wide range of intellectual property matters, and regularly gives presentations in Japanese at industry events. He speaks, reads and writes Japanese fluently, having majored in Japanese language and culture as an undergraduate at university. He lived in Japan for over four years. As a dual-qualified UK solicitor and US attorney at law, Colin provides strategic advice to clients seeking to protect intellectual property rights internationally. He is licensed to practise in the state of Illinois, having worked in the IP departments of international law firms in Chicago for a number of years. Colin advises clients across a wide range of industries including computer games, financial services, technology, entertainment, media, character merchandising, cosmetics, fashion, art, sport, consumer electronics, household products, online retail, leisure and pharmaceuticals.

Craig Emden

Craig Emden is the Managing Partner of Howard Kennedy. He is also a commercial litigator with over 30 years' experience acting for clients across a number of industries and sectors. Craig was reappointed Managing Partner in 2021 for a second four-year term, having previously been joint Managing Partner. Building on the progress achieved in that time, with his reappointment Craig set out an ambitious three-year growth plan for the firm. He prioritises building a culture where people thrive and the firm's values prevail: alongside ensuring top quality support to clients whatever their needs. As Howard Kennedy continues to grow, Craig is intent on ensuring that the firm only recruits people that will fit in with the firm's ethos and values. Craig is a solicitor providing clients with commercial and straightforward advice on all aspects of commercial and real estate litigation, both domestic and international. His areas of expertise include sports-related litigation, corporate and partnership disputes (particularly shareholder disputes), professional negligence, insolvency, and general commercial litigation. His clients range from individual entrepreneurs and partnerships to major PLCs. On the sports side, Craig acts for football managers and other coaching staff, players, and agents. Craig's aim is always to ensure that he takes as much pressure as possible off the shoulders of his clients and to fully understand what the client wants to achieve and to do that as painlessly as possible.

Crispin Daly

Crispin is a contentious insolvency specialist with extensive experience of complex domestic and cross border restructuring situations, enforcements and formal insolvency processes with a particular focus on insolvency litigation, litigation funding and recovery. He provides advice to a broad range of clients in all aspects of contentious insolvency and restructuring, both in and out of court. Typical mandates include: • contingency planning for companies and directors in the zone of insolvency, contesting insolvency proceedings and defence of misconduct and antecedent transaction claims; • acting for insolvency office holders to plan and execute restructuring strategies across any relevant jurisdictions, including conducting or defending any related claims, recognition and relief applications and support for ongoing trading; • acting for creditors and creditor groups to maximise recoveries through strategic participation in an enforcement/restructuring process or contesting/ disrupting such process; • acting for third parties interested in acquiring assets or claims from distressed or insolvency situations. A significant part of Crispin's practice has included sourcing and obtaining funding / AE insurance for claims on behalf of insolvency office holders and acting for both dedicated and one-off litigation funders. Having represented such a varied client base (rather than focusing on e.g. creditors/ debtors) in respect of a such a wide range of insolvent or near insolvent situations he has valuable insight into the options available to any client as well as the likely courses of action of any opponent.

Daniel McClean

Daniel McClean specialises in art and cultural property law working with leading artists, estates, advisers, collectors, dealers, galleries, foundations, and museums. Daniel is actively involved in the art world as an independent curator and writer and has commercial gallery experience. Enthusiastic and approachable, he offers bespoke advice tailored to the needs of art world clients, including: artists, collectors, dealers, galleries and museums. He advises clients on a range of contentious and non-contentious issues from disputes involving the ownership, export and authenticity of artworks and antiques to the drafting of agency, consignment, commissioning, and sale agreements. His clients include Artangel (where he is a board member), Tate, La Colección Jumex (Mexico City), Gagosian Gallery, Pilar Corrias Gallery and the Keith Arnatt Estate. He also specialises in intellectual property law and regularly advises artists and photographers on intellectual property agreements and disputes. Daniel is the commissioning editor of ‘Dear Images: Art, Copyright and Culture’ (2002) and ‘The Trials of Art’ (2007). He co-wrote ‘Commissioning Contemporary Art: A Handbook for Curators, Collectors and Artists’, with Louisa Buck and published by Thames & Hudson (Autumn 2012). He writes a regular column for Art Review on art legal issues and teaches Art Law at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art (London). He is a regular writer for the international contemporary art magazines, Art Review and Frieze. Daniel is a member of the Art Law Committee of the International Bar Association.

Danielle Coglin

Danielle Coglin is a solicitor specialising in a wide range of planning and environmental matters. Danielle advises on s.106 agreements, planning applications and planning appeals, listed buildings and conservation areas, the Community Infrastructure Levy regulations and highway agreements. She also advises on planning and environmental aspects of property and corporate transactions.

David Hamilton

David Hamilton is a partner at Howard Kennedy. He is a white-collar and regulatory lawyer with significant experience advising on bribery, fraud, money laundering, and market manipulation matters. He has a particular specialism in financial services enforcement and compliance. David has nearly 15 years' experience representing individuals and corporates in the context of internal investigations and actions brought by domestic and international regulatory and law enforcement bodies including the FCA, SFO, HMRC, the police, the European Commission, and US Department of Justice. Notably, he has acted on the FCA's high-profile investigations into LIBOR and FX manipulation, representing individuals suspected of market misconduct and senior managers investigated for governance and oversight failings. David has advised in the context of regulatory enforcement actions involving insider dealing in debt and equity markets, anti-competitive behaviour in relation to IPOs and share placings, and consumer redress schemes following the mis-selling of financial products to over two million customers. He has also acted for individuals and companies investigated by HMRC for tax offences, in particular securing the discontinuance of a four-year multinational VAT fraud investigation into an ultra-high-net-worth individual. Alongside his investigations practice, David has significant experience advising clients on financial crime and regulatory compliance systems and controls. He has worked across a broad range of sectors, including financial services, real estate, energy, infrastructure and retail to implement appropriate risk-based preventive procedures. These include risk assessments, third party due diligence and screening, governance and oversight frameworks. David has particular expertise in the application of the Money Laundering Regulations, having advised a substantial number of clients on their compliance programmes, registration and ongoing engagement with supervisory authorities. David also supports clients with remediation exercises where breaches are identified, advising on regulatory reporting obligations and internal and external stakeholder management. David is a former officer of the International Bar Association's Anti-Corruption Committee.

David Philips

David Philips specialises in the purchase of development sites. He advises clients on residential and mixed-use development schemes guiding them along the way to avoid falling foul of any pitfalls during each transaction. David is a solicitor in the firm's Real Estate department. He advises on all types of commercial property transactions, including the purchasing, structuring and financing of sites, lettings, and sales. His main area of expertise is the purchase of development sites, advising on the development process and then disposal of the finished product. Clients include public limited development companies and investment companies. He has acted for a wide variety of clients including Galliard Homes, Ballymore Properties and Heron PLC. One of his roles is to oversee large-scale sites going down to the plot sales team. He works hard to ensure that title documents, sales contracts and leases are thoroughly drafted and easy to follow, while always giving clients the space to achieve their ambitions.

Denise Condon

Denise Condon has acted for developers for the past 24 years. She is a partner and Head of the Residential Development Sales team. Denise specialises in acting on large residential developments for some of the UK's leading property developers in the sale of off-plan property. She advises on all aspects of the plot sale transaction and has extensive experience in both the UK market and overseas sales at exhibitions in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. She deals with developments from the initial instruction stage through to completion and post-completion formalities. Her clients range from large-scale developers to investment companies.

Dominic Offord

Dominic Offord is a partner and heads Howard Kennedy's Commercial Disputes Resolution team and represents clients on high-profile and multi-jurisdictional insolvency/ fraud cases. Dominic advises local and foreign Insolvency Practitioners, as well as, creditors and directors in a wide range of insolvency claims ranging from misfeasance to antecedent transactions and enforcing security. He also works closely with Howard Kennedy's experts in criminal and regulatory investigations and, where cases are high profile, his reputational management colleagues. Dominic regularly speaks at domestic and international conferences on issues in insolvency and civil fraud. He has helped shape the law on cross-border insolvency by representing clients in the appellant courts. During his career Dominic has successfully assisted clients recover billions of dollars. Dominic is a member of R3 Association of Business Recovery professionals, the Fraud Lawyers Association and the Insolvency Lawyers Association.

Duncan Bagshaw

Duncan Bagshaw is a partner at Howard Kennedy, specialising in international arbitration and litigation, with particular focus on the energy sector and Africa-related disputes. He often advises on issues arising from joint ventures and commercial contracts. Duncan is a highly experienced lawyer who advises on large international disputes in arbitration and litigation proceedings. He acts for clients on matters relating to the upstream oil and gas industry, electricity generation and supply, and renewable energy projects. He also has particular experience dealing with disputes arising from joint ventures in the property development, hospitality and tourism industries. Duncan handles cases from all over the world, and has particular experience in Africa, having lived and worked in the region and handled many disputes arising from African projects. He has worked on many cases involving African law and African seats of arbitration, and where there are simultaneous proceedings in multiple jurisdictions. He acts for clients in arbitration tribunals under the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), DIFC-LCIA and other rules, and before all courts of England and Wales, including the Supreme Court. Duncan believes in a creative and aggressive strategy, whilst maintaining a strong cost-benefit awareness. He is a barrister and often acts as advocate in hearings, as well as, providing wider strategic advice to ensure the commercially favourable resolution of disputes.

Edward Corbett

Edward Corbett is acknowledged as one of the world’s most experienced international construction lawyers with an unsurpassed reputation as a FIDIC expert. Edward has worked exclusively in construction law since 1984 and his experience includes contract drafting and procurement strategy as well as Dispute Boards, ICC arbitration, litigation and ADR. He has worked for contractors as well as for employers, funders and consultants. He regularly advises some of the world’s major employers and contractors and his current caseload involves projects in Europe, Africa, South Asia and the Middle East. He has experience as an arbitrator and adjudicator on both UK and international disputes and is an accredited mediator. He was a FIDIC Certified Adjudicator (2021-2024). Edward is the author of FIDIC 4th – A Practical Legal Guide and a contributor to FIDIC 2017 – A Practical Legal Guide. He has written many articles and papers dealing with aspects of international construction contracts. He was a founder of Construction Law International (CLInt). He has lectured extensively on construction law and in particular on FIDIC’s standard forms of contract. He was a FIDIC Certified Trainer (2022-2024). Edward was named a Global Elite Thought Leader by Who’s Who Legal 2019 and described as “a heavyweight in the international construction field and the top name in Europe according to our research this year”. Sources say he is “the star player in the UK market”, with “knowledge that is next to none”. Edward has been recommended in the Legal 500 since 2006. Edward runs and posts on the Cornerstone FIDIC Group on LinkedIn.

Edward Cooper

Edward Cooper is a partner at Howard Kennedy. He advises on a wide variety of contentious real estate matters at all levels of the court hierarchy. His aim is to provide clear strategic advice, founded on good commercial sense. Edward's clients have included large corporates and pension funds, together with wealthy individuals, whether based within the UK or internationally. He regularly advises on matters including: • Development advice, including neighbourly matters and rights to light • Business tenancy renewals • Lease enforcement, including rent arrears and forfeiture • Dilapidations claims • Rent review • Service charge disputes • Insolvency matters impacting real estate interests • Boundary disputes Edward's approach is to be clear and to the point, even when dealing with the most complex matters. He has recently acted on several major development matters, drawing in several fields of his expertise and requiring a sound strategic approach. Edward has strong relationships with professionals across the real estate sector, and has spoken at seminars and major events including the annual RICS UK Building Surveying Conference. Edward is recommended in Legal 500 and is also a member of the Property Litigation Association.

Elizabeth Morley

Elizabeth Morley is a dispute resolution solicitor with a broad practice spanning international, commercial, media and human rights matters. Liz advises clients across a wide range of commercial litigation and cross-border disputes, with a particular focus on the media sector. She regularly acts for clients on all aspects of media law, including high profile defamation and privacy actions. Her practice also covers reputation and brand-related issues, including contentious intellectual property matters, as well as, data protection and regulatory matters. Liz often takes on complex matters for clients, which include freedom of expression and human rights issues. She has worked on cases before various domestic and international courts and tribunals, including the European Court of Human Rights and the UN Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. She also acts for clients in cases on appeal before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

Elizabeth Smith

Elizabeth Smith specialises in personal injury and clinical negligence, with particular experience in the field of employers' liability injuries. Elizabeth is a solicitor advising on all types of work-related injury, however, she has particular expertise in work-related upper limb disorders, manual handling claims and stress at work cases. She acts for trade union members and professional associations, with extensive expertise supporting employees of the NHS, radiographers, nurses, health visitors, and actors, dancers and stunt performers in films. Recently her list of clients has diversified and includes an A-List film actor, a high-rated personal assistant to a multi-millionaire, an undercover reporter, a commodities broker, a veterinary specialist, and a paediatrician all of whom have suffered work-related stress injury. These are demanding, high profile cases. Elizabeth undertakes much of her own advocacy work in the Lower Courts and works closely with a team of experienced barristers who understand the nature of her work when representing clients through the litigation process. Any injury in the workplace causes emotional stress, as well as, physical disability. Elizabeth supports her clients by recognising this and always making herself available. She looks to avoid full-blown litigation by finding creative ways to resolve a situation and reaching settlement.

Ellis Gardner-Browne

Ellis is a partner in the Real Estate team with extensive expertise across the investment, retail, leisure, and petroleum sectors. He is developing a specialism in Off-Shore investment fund investment in UK renewables assets. Ellis specializes in investment and occupier acquisitions and disposals. He is experienced in handling multi-jurisdictional transactions and large projects (to £950M) related to Motorway Service and petrol forecourt portfolios, large sheds, logistic facilities and retail parks for UK and offshore private funds, institutional investors, and industry-leading clients. He also specializes in Head Office acquisitions and disposals.

Eloise Crompton

Eloise Crompton is a solicitor specialising in commercial dispute resolution and investigations. Eloise provides expert practical advice on all aspects of procedure and case management, including procedural rules, interlocutory matters, interim relief and the conduct of hearings. Her practice includes cross-border work and in particular, international arbitration. Eloise qualified as a solicitor in Australia, practising in commercial and public law in both the public and private sectors. She worked as Associate to the Honourable Justice Hinton of the Supreme Court of South Australia and as Counsel-Assisting the Solicitor-General of South Australia.

Emily Mailer

Emily Mailer is a trust and estates disputes specialist, resolving both domestic and international cases. Emily acts for individuals, families, executors, trustees, beneficiaries, trust companies, protectors and family offices. She has a wealth of experience dealing with disputes which often have an international element. This includes conducting cases concerning the validity of wills, breach of trust claims, construction proceedings and rectification applications, and applications to remove executors and trustees. Emily also handles Court of Protection applications (both contested and uncontested) for the appointment of deputies and the approval of statutory wills or lifetime gifts. Along with the Trusts and Estates Disputes practice, Emily provides robust representation of clients in court but equally helps clients reach a settlement away from the risk and publicity of litigation where possible. She is experienced in various forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution, such as mediation. Emily's experience means that she also advises settlors who are establishing trusts on risk management issues, such as the treatment of a trust's assets on the divorce or bankruptcy of a beneficiary. She is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars, and also contributes to national publications on issues surrounding disputes relating to inheritance. Emily is a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and also a member of STEP, the global professional body that help families plan for their future.

Eve Gallagher

Eve Gallagher is an experienced solicitor who provides advice on a wide variety of international and domestic corporate transactions. Eve has a range of corporate experience providing strategic legal advice to private and public corporations on all aspects of commercial and corporate law with multi-disciplinary teams. She advises clients on high value, complex M&A acquisitions and disposals, investments, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, general corporate advisory matters and post acquisition integrations. Eve has worked as a legal secondee in Ireland and also in private practice in each of Ireland, Australia and the UK across a variety of industries including renewable energy, technology, retail and construction. Eve works with a solutions-focused attitude to provide commercially astute and pragmatic advice to her clients in a manner that helps and supports them achieve to their goals, their way.

Fran Garvey

Fran Garvey is a solicitor specialising in criminal law. She has experience representing both individuals and corporates across multiple jurisdictions on matters involving bribery and corruption, fraud, market abuse, cartels, sanctions, and general crime issues. Fran advises clients on a range of criminal, regulatory and internal investigations. She has experience dealing with the Serious Fraud Office, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Reporting Council, Crown Prosecution Service, and the police, as well as various other regulatory bodies in the UK and overseas. She represents high-net-worth individuals in general crime matters including allegations of sexual assault. She has particular experience advising clients on international sanctions and export control, particularly in relation to specific transactions and regulatory compliance. Fran is a member of the Young Fraud Lawyers Association and the Female Fraud Forum.

Gillian White

Gillian White is a partner and head of the M&A team. She is an experienced corporate solicitor who is committed to her clients and their commercial success. She is Head of the M&A team and takes the lead on corporate governance services at Howard Kennedy. Gillian acts for entrepreneurial clients, larger companies and institutions looking to acquire or invest in entrepreneurial businesses. She approaches investments, mergers, joint ventures, company sales and purchases with common sense, risk awareness and creativity. Gillian provides clients with more than just corporate advice as she also understands intellectual property (IP) and commercial law. She works closely with Howard Kennedy's IP and Commercial team to offer innovative solutions and opportunities to clients. She additionally collaborates with Howard Kennedy's Private Wealth team on helping clients with succession planning and family investment companies and dealing with valuable corporate assets that form part of marital assets or an estate. Gillian provides corporate governance advice for large companies and significant family businesses. Her transactional experience means that she is adept at managing complex projects and drawing advice from multiple professional advisers and clients' commercial teams. Her corporate governance experience means that she is adept at uncovering and understanding competing stakeholder needs and providing pragmatic advice.

Graham Kaye

Graham advises property developers and investors. He handles all aspects of commercial property transactions with particular expertise in residential development and the build to rent sector including student accommodation and co-living. He is a partner in our commercial development team and his clients include private property companies, property funds, offshore private trusts, retailers and residential developers. Graham advises on site acquisition and disposal and his practical hands on approach has resulted in him effectively becoming an in-house legal advisor to clients he has represented for over 30 years. Graham’s first instinct is to look for ways to achieve his clients’ objectives, rather than to look for problems which could scupper them – he finds reasons to do the deals for his clients, not issues which might prevent them from completing.

Hannah Place

Hannah Place is a partner at Howard Kennedy. She is a commercially focussed and practical finance lawyer with experience in real estate finance, creditor enforcement, restructuring and insolvency. Hannah's practice concentrates on advising lenders and borrowers on a variety of real estate finance and banking transactions. She acts for banks, institutional lenders, alternative lenders and bridging lenders, as well as borrowers, on syndicated and bilateral facilities (both domestic and cross-border), including development finance transactions. Hannah also advises clients on security enforcement strategy, restructuring options and delivers restructuring and insolvency solutions. She initially qualified as a restructuring and insolvency solicitor before broadening her skill set to include banking and real estate finance transactional work. Hannah's broad range of experience and commercial approach has been deepened through various industry roles, including in-house positions at a private bank, an alternative lender and an institutional lender.

Hannah Hooper

Hannah Hooper is a commercial litigator, who focuses her practice on financial services litigation, civil fraud and insolvency disputes. She is an effective solicitor who applies creative solutions to complex problems. Hannah provides pragmatic advice in a straightforward manner, with an emphasis on achieving her clients' commercial objectives as efficiently as possible. Hannah's cases often involve multi-jurisdictional elements. She has a particular interest in matters involving allegations of money laundering and regulatory compliance issues. She also regularly advises clients in the art and cultural property arenas.

Heidi Walsh

Heidi is an international arbitration partner who specialises in European clients and arbitration seats. Heidi focuses on providing legal counsel and representation in arbitrations across major forums including International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), London Court of Arbitration (LCIA), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC), and ad hoc arbitrations. She has a diverse experience spanning the oil and gas sector, shareholder complexities, telecommunications, and commercial disputes. Heidi has been recognised as Future Leader in the 2024 edition of Who's Who Legal: Arbitration and named as a Rising Star in Legal 500 2024.

Hollie Wright

Hollie Jordan-Wright is a real estate dispute resolution solicitor specialising in neighbourly rights, residential and commercial landlord and tenant, and real property matters. Hollie acts for clients - typically in the real estate, retail, leisure sectors or private individuals - on commercial and residential property matters. For landlords and tenants of commercial premises, she acts on business lease renewals (both opposed and unopposed), breaches of covenant, break notices, service charges, dilapidations, and forfeiture. On residential property matters, she acts for landlords and tenants on breaches of lease covenants such as repair obligations and unauthorised alterations or subletting, rent arrears and service charge issues including major works consultations. Meanwhile, she acts for landlords of residential premises in the private rented sector, obtaining possession by serving notices of possession, issuing court possession claims and instructing County Court bailiffs and High Court Enforcement Officers. Hollie regularly acts for clients making applications to the Land Registry for registration of easements and adverse possession claims, as well as applications for light obstruction notices and referrals for determination by the First Tier and Upper Tribunal. In addition, Hollie acts for guardian companies, advising on contractual arrangements, claims by and against guardians and in possession claims.

Huseyin Huseyin

Huseyin Huseyin is a partner at Howard Kennedy. He is a solicitor with over 20 years’ experience representing national housebuilders, developers and land promoters on high-value mixed-use schemes across the UK. Huseyin advises on the acquisition, financing and disposal of residential and mixed-use developments, with development values regularly exceeding £100m. He specialises in advising groups of developers collaborating on long-term strategic land acquisitions. This involves complex options, pre-emptions, and planning promotion agreements, including disposal strategy. Huseyin offers expert ongoing advice through each development stage. His developer clients value his ability to structure deals and solve complex site-specific problems in a straightforward way.

Ian Ryan

Ian Ryan is a Partner and Head of the Business Crime and Regulatory team. He is a white-collar crime lawyer specialising in serious fraud and acting in serious and high-profile matters both domestically and internationally. Ian heads the firm's well regarded Business Crime team. Ian has over 25 years' experience dealing with a full range of business crime and serious fraud investigations. This includes investigations by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Competition Markets Authority (CMA), the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). He advises on investigations from the early stages through to and including contested jury trials. His primary focus is acting for clients in SFO investigations. He is representing senior individuals in SFO investigations into Euribor, Patisserie Valerie, Amec Foster Wheeler, and ENRC (Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation). Ian successfully represented Achim Kraemer, the only defendant acquitted in the first Euribor trial in June 2018. He has previously acted on the SFO investigations into Rolls Royce, GSK, Tesco, Harlequin and represented Vincent Tchenguiz on his arrest by the SFO and subsequent search of his business premises. Ian also acts for corporates on production orders, dawn raids, confiscation proceedings, warrants and the extent of legal professional privilege. He has represented both multi-nationals and individuals in numerous internal investigations. Ian has specialist experience in solicitors' disciplinary work and SRA investigations and is skilled at representing General Counsel caught up in SFO investigations. Ian has a niche specialism in money laundering and was previously a member of the Law Society's Money Laundering Taskforce. He is a member of the Law Society's AML directory providing advice to solicitors. Ian continues to represent high-net-worth individuals (celebrities, politicians and sports people) in general criminal matters.

Iona Nicolson

Iona Nicolson is a solicitor in the Family team. She works with high-profile and high-net-worth clients, advising on financial matters related to the breakdown of a relationship as well as matters relating to children. Iona works on cases dealing with a wide range of family law issues, and in particular those relating to divorce and the financial issues that arise thereafter. She also advises on the full range of private children matters and pre- and post-nuptial agreements. She She has expertise in cases involving jurisdictional disputes or where substantial assets are located abroad. Iona has worked with clients with complex business interests and/or businesses with a dynastic nature. A number of her cases have involved cryptocurrency, and this is an area in which Iona is particularly interested. Iona's children practice encompasses both domestic and international matters. She has experience in cases with complex child arrangements, relocation and child abduction. Iona completed her training contract with a leading family law firm in London in October 2022, and joined Howard Kennedy in August 2023. She is a member of Resolution, an organisation of family lawyers committed to resolving family matters in a constructive manner. She has been recognised as a 'Key Lawyer' by Legal 500. Iona is also fluent in Dutch.

Jade Chalmers

Jade Chalmers is a partner at Howard Kennedy. She is a solicitor specialising in all planning matters for a wide range of residential and commercial property developers, leading house builders, property companies, investment funds, and high-net-worth individuals. Jade Chalmers heads up the Planning Team and is co-head of the Living Sector, focusing on bespoke advice for clients within student accommodation, build to rent, co-living and later living. She specialises in all planning matters for a wide range of residential and commercial property developers, leading house builders, property companies, investment funds, and high-net-worth individuals. Jade advises on complex s.106 agreements, planning applications, the Community Infrastructure Levy regulations, highway agreements, planning appeals, listed buildings and conservation areas. She also advises on the planning and environmental aspects of major property and corporate transactions.

James Wingfield

James Wingfield specialises in resolving commercial disputes, often international, whether through litigation or international arbitration. James acts extensively in cross-border contract claims, including those in the energy, international trade, financial services and art and cultural property sectors. He advises on shareholder disputes and on claims against directors for breach of duty. His fraud and asset tracing practice includes significant disputes over allegedly fraudulent conduct and advising on freezing orders and other interim relief. James' art and cultural property practice includes acting for art dealers and artists. He recently successfully defended a London art dealer against high-profile allegations of negligence in the sale of a Chardin and Studio painting. He acts on claims concerning title to artworks and those arising from forgeries. He has expertise in financial services disputes, having acted in leading cases against banks and for FCA regulated payment providers. James is a higher courts advocate. He has extensive experience of mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

James Meakin

James Meakin is a Partner and is the head of the firm’s Tax practice. He has a broad practice and advises a variety of clients in relation to the tax issues facing their business and transactions. James advises on all aspects of UK and international tax and focuses on the tax aspects of corporate and real estate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, group reorganisations, joint ventures, financing, venture capital and private equity from both a UK and cross-border perspective. His corporate tax practice includes advising multinational and private companies and their owners and managers on tax issues arising in relation to acquisitions and disposals, reorganisations, demergers and tax planning. His real estate tax practice includes advising companies, their shareholders and funds on the tax issues relevant to structuring, financing or developing land and also advising on the transactional tax issues which can arise, including VAT and SDLT. James’s clients include private companies, owner managers, private equity houses, financial institutions, funds and multinational enterprises. James also advises and has a particular interest in tax efficient investment including in relation to the tax advantaged venture capital schemes. James is a member of the Chartered Institute of Tax.

James Stewart

James Stewart deals with a mix of contentious and non-contentious development work for clients. He is a partner and Head of Real Estate, a full service department of seven teams and 160 people. James is a solicitor focusing on development and development finance work in residential, commercial, and mixed-use schemes including drafting, negotiating and finalising contracts and appointments and supporting documentation. He is also involved in dispute avoidance advisory work and adjudications. He acts for a mix of developer and funder clients, along with professional consultants and specialist sub-contractors. James advises from project commencement through to completion, including outstanding defects and account issues. He specifically advises on the original set up of projects (whether engineering, commercial or residential) including professional appointments, bonds, warranties and construction contracts, any funding issues related to the project, and on the construction aspects of development agreements and related documentation. He works closely with clients throughout the design and construction phases and on all matters relating to completion, disposal and settlement of accounts. On the contentious side, James undertakes mediation, adjudication and arbitration and including on professional negligence, loss and expense claims, delay and disruption, bond claims, defects and final account claims as well as issues arising out of contract determination and insolvency.

Jane Amphlett

Jane Amphlett is a partner at Howard Kennedy. She provides strategic and pragmatic advice in all areas of employment law and partnership disputes. She is Head of Howard Kennedy's Employment and Immigration team. Working closely with business leaders, including HR directors and senior executives, she provides commercial legal input into business critical issues. These include strategic, boardroom and partner appointments and terminations. She advises on discrimination prevention and litigation, as well as, investigations including into harassment allegations and complex grievance complaints. Jane regularly advises on team moves and other restrictive covenant and garden leave enforcement, confidentiality breaches and data protection issues. She helps businesses to facilitate local and international redundancies and restructuring. She advises many clients in the financial services and other regulated sectors and professional practices. Jane is a member of the Employment Lawyers' Association Standing Committee on Sexual Harassment.

Jason Tann

Jason Tann is a partner at Howard Kennedy. He has over 20 years of experience as a solicitor in the London real estate market. He helps investors, developers, funders and occupiers with strategic decision making as well as dealing with all aspects of real estate. Jason provides advice to public and private companies, landed estates, funds, charities, families and individuals on how to navigate the property world. He has a deep understanding of the London real estate market but also supports clients with assets and projects throughout the country. Advising on assets in all commercial sectors and mixed-use investments and developments, Jason covers the full range of real estate investment, development, funding and asset management matters. His experience as seconded in-house counsel to a listed property company has given him a vital insight as to the value that lawyers can, but don't always, bring to clients. Jason also helps corporate clients with their occupational requirements and covers a broad range of ancillary property issues, such as management agreements and corporate real estate matters.

Jeffrey Brown

Jeffrey Brown is a construction and engineering dispute resolution expert, with a specialty in liability insurance and in resolving coverage issues for policyholders with their insurers. He is a partner and Head of the Construction team. Jeffrey is a solicitor practising exclusively in the field of construction and engineering law and liability insurance. Where possible, he provides clients with timely advice allowing the avoidance of disputes, as well as, their subsequent resolution, if this does not prove possible. Adjudication is now the often preferred means of resolving a construction dispute, at least in the first instance. He acts for suppliers, in addition to purchasers within the construction sector, allowing him to deliver a more holistic and comprehensive analysis of any given dispute. Jeffrey also drafts bespoke contracts and produces amendments to standard forms of building and engineering contracts. His knowledge and experience provides clients with confidence and reassurance. He resolves insurance disputes where the insurers deny they have a liability to indemnify for claims made, mostly within the construction sector. Instructions are provided by the policyholders, usually at the recommendation of their insurance brokers. Jeffrey is an expert in the New Engineering Contract (NEC) suite of contracts – usually the preferred choice in large infrastructure projects, especially where they are publicly funded. He additionally specialises in JCT standard forms. The energy sector is an increasing source of new work. He is a regular contributor to Building Magazine. He is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute and a Chartered Insurance Practitioner.

Jennifer Harper

Jennifer Harper is an experienced criminal lawyer, specialising in financial crime and regulatory investigations, including those conducted by the Serious Fraud Office, Crown Prosecution Service, Trading Standards, and local authorities. Jennifer defends clients in fraud and other white-collar crime investigations. She advises clients at all stages of the investigation, providing straightforward, strategic advice for both corporate and individual clients. She has experience of advising clients in responding to production orders, Section 2 Notices issued by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the submission of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to the National Crime Agency (NCA), and cash forfeiture proceedings. Jennifer has experience of advising corporate clients in relation to private prosecutions, having both defended and prosecuted complex, multi-jurisdictional, frauds and other offences. She also advises corporate clients on regulatory investigations involving local authorities, Trading Standards, the Advertising Standards Agency, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, and the Food Standards Agency. Jennifer undertakes defence work on behalf of solicitors' firms and individual solicitors facing investigation by the SRA. She represents high-net-worth individuals in general crime matters concerning serious allegations of sexual and physical assault. Jennifer is a member of the Private Prosecutors' Association, Young Fraud Lawyers Association and Female Fraud Forum.

Joanne Clarke

Joanne Clarke is a partner who focuses on international construction and engineering disputes. She has particular expertise in complex international arbitration and FIDIC contracts. Joanne is a contentious construction and engineering lawyer with over 25 years of experience in dispute resolution, spanning a broad range of international projects such as power and energy (including hydro and wind), civil engineering (including road, rail, tunnels and dams), mechanical and electrical engineering, process plant, complex buildings and infrastructure, and hotel development. She has acted for employers, developers, lenders, contractors, subcontractors, construction professionals and insurers across different jurisdictions in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Jo has particular experience of and expertise in the FIDIC forms of contract and often advises clients on issues and disputes arising out of contracts based on the FIDIC conditions. She is co-author of the book 'FIDIC 2017 – A Practical Legal Guide'. Jo's primary focus is international arbitration but she also provides advice before formal proceedings are commenced and acts for clients involved in other forms of dispute resolution, including dispute boards and mediation. She holds an LLB, LLM and a Diploma in International Arbitration. She is a solicitor advocate and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. A French speaker, she has also worked in Paris and Brussels.

Joel Leigh

Joel Leigh is a partner at Howard Kennedy specialising in complex commercial disputes spanning civil fraud, directors and officers, insurance, professional negligence and sports law. These frequently include an international element. He also undertakes high-value clinical negligence and fatal accident claims. Joel is a solicitor with over 30 years' experience handling disputes across a number of core industry sectors. He is also a partner. His caseload encompasses banking, construction, disciplinary, fiduciary duties, financial services, insurance, mining, misfeasance in public office, pharmaceuticals, partnership, property and trade finance. Joel's work in the professional negligence sector is principally claimant based, focusing on faulty accountancy, finance advisory, architecture, insurance, surveying and legal advice. Conversely, his work in the disciplinary field is defendant focused, having represented barristers, solicitors and other professionals. Within the sports sector, Joel acts for a diverse range of high-profile clients including individual athletes and their agents, clubs, associated brands and commercial partners, as well as esports. Joel is an experienced trial solicitor undertaking work across a wide range of legal forums, from a variety of tribunals through to the Administrative, Appeal and Supreme Courts. Finally, he helps numerous clients and their dependants win multi-million pound settlements, as a result of falling victim to serious clinical negligence and other catastrophic injuries, including fatal accidents both in and out of the workplace. Joel always aims to achieve his client's objective, whether through litigation or a form of alternative dispute resolution. Whilst he tries to resolve disputes quickly for clients, where this isn't possible, Joel works efficiently and economically to achieve the best possible outcome. He was an early adopter of conditional and alternative fee agreements. As a result he has a thorough understanding of third party funding and litigation insurance, working with clients to make the legal process as easy and seamless as possible.

John Kiely

As Head of Howard Kennedy’s Immigration team, John Kiely provides strategic advice in all areas of UK immigration law. John is a partner and Head of Immigration, leading the firm’s corporate and private client immigration offering. With over a decade’s worth of experience in immigration law, John is an expert in all immigration application types. He assists individuals and families on issues relating to settlement, nationality, as well as applications under the Appendix FM, Tier 1 (Investor), Global Talent, Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, International Sportsperson, Start-up and Innovator routes. John has developed a particular focus on high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs – and works closely with third party advisors in the private wealth and tax space. He is considered an industry leader in Tech Nation visa applications and has developed an expertise in the International Sportsperson visa – and his opinion has been sought by national publications on football player transfers and the Government Body Endorsement criteria.

John Annetts

John Annetts specialises in acting for UK HNW and UHNW individuals and families in relation to their tax and succession planning, and the administration of high-value and complex estates. John is partner and Head of Wealth and Succession at Howard Kennedy. John advises a broad client base that includes entrepreneurs, business owners, property investors, entertainers, and artists, with focus on estate and succession planning, inheritance tax and capital gains tax planning, asset protection and wealth structuring. This often involves preparing complex wills and creating trusts or corporate structures, including family investment companies, to fully utilise tax exemptions and reliefs, protecting and structuring family assets for future generations. John guides executors through the practical complexities of the administration of estates process. Many of the estates that John deals with contain business assets and offshore elements. As part of his estate administration work, John advises on post-death planning and tax mitigation opportunities using deeds of variation and the restructuring of assets, for example, private company shareholdings. John advises UK trustees and beneficiaries on both trust law and taxation issues related to the general administration of trusts and the exercise of the trustees' powers. He also deals with matters involving the Office of the Public Guardian, including preparing and registering lasting powers of attorney. John is a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, the Association of Tax Technicians, and the Private Client Section of the Law Society.

Jon Sharples

Jon Sharples is a commercial IP and art lawyer who specialises in helping clients leverage and protect their intellectual property. Jon is a Senior Associate in the Intellectual Property & Commercial team. He advises clients across the creative industries on intellectual property, commercial contracts and disputes. As a solicitor, Jon is known for his expertise in the art world. He advises on litigation and dispute resolution involving art and the art market, as well as on agreements and collaborations involving artists and their estates, galleries, collectors, auction houses, art professionals, new platforms and institutions. Jon's advice is highly sought after and helps create the conditions in which experimental art practices can thrive, from challenging media such as performance and installation, to new technologies including NFTs, VR, AR and AI.

Jonathan Huth

Jonathan Huth is an accomplished trial lawyer. His practice focuses on cross-border investigations, disputes, judgment enforcement, asset recovery, and regulatory compliance and enforcement matters for clients based in the UK, Europe, the US, and Africa. Jonathan has held a variety of government, in-house and corporate counsel roles. His experience includes securities and financial fraud market manipulation, financial crime, and futures and derivatives. Jonathan is a financial services specialist and was previously Associate General Counsel at HSBC in London and a senior trial attorney in the Division of Enforcement at the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Jonathan acts as a solicitor for clients involved in both criminal and civil disputes. He has led cross-border investigations and served as defence counsel around allegations of financial crime, and around business disputes, including shareholder disputes. He has also advised on enforcement actions related to benchmark and market manipulation, fraudulent on-exchange futures and off-exchange forex, and Ponzi schemes. Jonathan has investigated market manipulation matters including Libor and Forex and overseen aspects of the resolution by several global financial institutions. He regularly advises on regulatory compliance for the financial services sector. He has worked with various regulators throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and the Americas, including the UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Japan’s Financial Services Agency. Jonathan has a particular interest in ESG and advises on a range of issues including compliance, potential ESG green investments, related funds, and risk mitigation of 'greenwashing' claims.

Jonathan Pawlowski

Jonathan Pawlowski is a partner at Howard Kennedy. He specialises in disputes which arise in the construction, engineering and infrastructure industries. He acts as a solicitor on multiparty litigation cases, arbitrations and mediations. Jonathan's range of disputes include traditional construction claims, such as extensions of time, loss and expense, structural defects and ground works, below ground subsistence and movement. He also often advises on professional negligence claims concerning construction industry specialists, insurance cover where insurance companies decline to provide an indemnity, and construction noise and nuisance claims. He has conducted multiparty disputes in the Technology and Construction Court, as well as the Court of Appeal, and acted as the party representative in several arbitrations and mediations. He also has vast experience of adjudications, including drafting Notices of Adjudication, Referrals and Responses. He has appeared as the advocate in numerous hearings before adjudicators which have involved cross-examination of witnesses and making opening and closing submissions. Jonathan has many reported cases, including the series of judgments in the Technology and Construction Court and the Court of Appeal regarding the design and construction of the M6 toll road, which is the only toll road motorway in England. Jonathan is a Solicitor-Advocate and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is a member of the RICS Panel of Construction Adjudicators and regularly accepts appointments to sit as an adjudicator. This allows Jonathan to view construction disputes from both sides of the coin. He was previously Chair of the Society of Construction Law. Jonathan is also a member of the Technology and Construction Solicitors Association, the Adjudication Society, the Society of Construction Arbitrators, Arbrix, and the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators. Jonathan sat on the steering committee organising the celebrations for the Technology and Construction Court's 150th anniversary. He is also a Deputy on the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Jonathan Achampong

Jonathan Achampong is a partner at Howard Kennedy. He is a solicitor specialised in all aspects of private residential conveyancing in the prime and super prime residential property market. He regularly acts for domestic and non-domestic high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families in matters related to the purchase and sale of high-value freehold and leasehold properties in central London and the Home Counties. Jonathan also advises landlords and tenants on statutory and voluntary lease extension claims as well as individual and collective enfranchisement claims, right to manage claims and disposals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987.

Jonathan Cohen

Jonathan Cohen is an industry recognised energy solicitor specialising in renewables and low carbon energy transactions. He is a partner and Head of the Energy team at Howard Kennedy. Jonathan advises utilities, project developers, large industrial consumers, property developers, funders, sponsors and energy services companies (ESCOs) on energy-related transactions both in the UK and internationally. He works with clients across all technologies including energy storage, offshore and onshore wind, solar photovoltaics, combined heat and power, district heating and cooling, electric vehicles, geothermal, tidal, as well as, traditional power generation.

Jonathan Polin

Jonathan Polin is an experienced corporate solicitor. His expertise covers M&A, particularly in the restructuring and insolvent/distressed arena both in the UK and internationally. Jonathan is a partner and Head of International. Jonathan's strong track record in complex and international corporate transactions includes advising on M&A and disposals of both private and public companies, and investments and joint ventures along with listings on AIM and the London Stock Exchange. He is additionally a UK restructuring specialist, advising on the corporate aspects of restructuring and distressed sales. Jonathan acts for clients in most industries including retail. Jonathan acts for corporations, partnerships and individuals in many industry sectors, including retail, real estate, technology, financial services, gaming and support services. He advises start-ups, entrepreneurs and owner-managed business. He leads the International group and has a strong focus on North America where he worked earlier in his career. He is a director of Meritas, the premier global legal network, heads the European Leadership group and co-heads the Meritas Global M&A Community.

Julian Hindmarsh

Advising commercial occupiers, with a focus on retail and leisure, Julian Hindmarsh is a partner, Chair of the Real Estate Department and Head of the Real Estate Sector. Julian is a solicitor specialising in commercial real estate, particularly in acquisition (i.e. roll-out programmes), asset management and disposal work, including both freehold and leasehold particularly in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. His wider experience includes investment, development and distressed property work. Julian's clients range from high-profile well established national and international brands, as well as, up and coming fashion, restaurant, hospitality, and health and fitness brands to luxury labels including jewellery, eyewear and fashion retailers. Many of his clients have operations worldwide, with stores, concessions, distributors and warehouses found across all of the key markets.

Kate Woodgate

Kate Woodgate is a real estate development expert advising on substantial transactions. She is a partner and Head of the Development team. Kate deals with site acquisitions/assembly, forward funding arrangements, forward sale agreements, overages, options, sub-sales, as well as, proposing structures for clients. Often complex in nature, Kate works as part of a team with her clients always giving straightforward advice on each transaction.

Katherine Res Pritchard

Katherine Res Pritchard is a Partner in Howard Kennedy’s Family team, who practices children law exclusively, and has a wealth of experience in matters concerning children, both domestic and international. Katherine is also an FMA trained Family Mediator, practising all-issues mediation. She has specialised exclusively in children matters since qualifying as a solicitor in 2013. She advises on all aspects of children law, both international and domestic, with a particular emphasis on international relocation. Katherine’s international children practice spans all aspects of cross-border disputes as well as international relocation, such as child abduction, both applications under the Hague Conventions 1980 and 1996, and non-Hague applications, inherent jurisdiction, international contact and international adoption. Katherine has a great deal of specialist experience in all domestic children matters, such as child arrangements, applications for specific issue and prohibited steps orders, and cases involving domestic abuse allegations, often with concurrent criminal proceedings. She also advises on issues relating to fertility and surrogacy. Katherine works closely with both industry experts, foreign lawyers and the wider Howard Kennedy network of lawyers to achieve the best possible outcomes for her clients and their children. She has established a reputation for achieving the best outcome for her clients in the most difficult circumstances. She regularly represents international clients involved in complex High Court proceedings and regularly works with clients based across the globe in jurisdictions such as Switzerland, Spain, Greece, the US, the UAE, India and Australia to name a few. Her clients are often high net worth individuals with international aspects to their case. Katherine is a regular contributor to legal journals and has co-authored several articles on a variety of Children law topics. She is a Resolution member, and a member of CALA (Child Abduction Lawyers Association), and a native Greek speaker.

Katie Turner

Katie Turner is a partner at Howard Kennedy. She is a banking and real estate finance solicitor focussing primarily on secured lending transactions. She advises lenders on acquisition financing, refinancing and development finance. Katie acts for a range of institutional lenders, commercial lenders, challenger banks and alternative lenders on all aspects of secured lending, with a particular focus on development finance. Katie advises clients on pertinent matters from loan formation to completion, she acts as a trusted advisor to structure, explore and close loans in a pragmatic and efficient manner. Katie is an experienced adviser on complex and time sensitive matters, using straightforward communication. She focuses on the real estate aspects of secured lending transactions involving complex and high value property developments, acquisitions and refinances, with a wide array of property structures and occupational interests. Her practice includes fast paced portfolio deals, complex phased developments and high value investments, with well-established and up-and-coming lenders. Katie has a keen interest in AI, technology advancements in the property and legal sectors and is keenly involved in ESG considerations during a loan and property life cycle. Katie also sits in the internal Legaltech team at Howard Kennedy.

Keith Lassman

Keith Lassman is a corporate finance lawyer specialising in capital markets, listed funds and tax efficient financial products. He is a partner and Head of the firm's Capital Markets team. Keith acts for investment banks, companies, fund managers, promoters and entrepreneurs. He is a highly experienced solicitor with a thorough understanding of corporate finance and works with clients closely when they look to raise funds. He is additionally an expert on AIM and main market flotations, venture capital trusts and tax efficient funds. He acts for domestic, as well as, international clients with a particular focus on Israel and India. Keith takes a proactive approach to helping his clients meet their needs, no matter the size or complexity of the transaction, and prides himself in being a pragmatic lawyer who gets things done. He is deputy chairman of the EIS Association, chairman of an AIM listed company and sits on the VCT Technical Committee of the AIC. Keith also heads the Firm's FCA regulated arm which is a London Stock Exchange registered Sponsor –the only English law firm with this accolade.

Kyle Phillips

Kyle Phillips is a specialist financial crime and regulatory solicitor with particular expertise advising companies and individuals on fraud, bribery, corruption and money laundering matters. Kyle has over 10 years' experience representing clients in some of the most high-profile financial crime and regulatory investigations. This includes both domestic and international investigations. Notably, he has been instructed on several high-profile financial crime investigations including Wirecard, Euribor, G4S, Serco, Amec Foster Wheeler, Harlequin and Forex. Kyle conducts internal investigations on behalf of corporates who suspect criminal wrongdoing. He provides strategic advice to clients seeking to report criminal misconduct to the authorities, and is experienced at bringing private prosecutions. He provides expert assistance to clients to take preventative financial crime measures, including implementing compliance programmes and undertaking audits of financial crime controls. Kyle is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and together with his vast experience in financial crime investigation, he is particularly skilled at providing anti-money laundering advice and assistance. He is experienced at advising clients at all stages of a criminal investigation, and continues to advise clients subject to investigation for general crime matters including drugs, assault and sexual offences. Kyle also advises individuals subject to sports regulatory investigations, including e-sports. He sits as an Anti-Discrimination Disciplinary Chair for the Football Association. He is also a committee member for the Private Prosecutors' Association and is a former chair of the Young Fraud Lawyers Association.

Liz Palmer

Liz Palmer provides clients with comprehensive, commercial, and tax-driven private wealth planning advice to achieve succession without dispute. She is a partner and leads the Private Wealth sector and Private Client and Family teams. Liz advises wealthy families, entrepreneurs, and property investors on inheritance tax mitigation and the effective devolution of family wealth. She has particular expertise acting for non-UK resident/domiciled individuals and specialises in the creation of off shore trusts and complex asset structuring for high-net-worth individuals. Her practice regularly involves cross-border succession planning for international clients who have personal and business assets all over the world. Her expertise extends to dealing with complexities of digital estates. Liz deals with all forms of inheritance tax and capital gains tax planning and also advises on wills and estate planning particularly for clients with interests and connections with the US. She has significant experience advising clients about succession, protection of family businesses and devising family governance. Liz is a solicitor and chartered tax adviser (member of Chartered Institute of Taxation).

Lois Langton

Lois Langton is a family law specialist assisting clients with all aspects of family work. She is a partner and Head of Family Law at Howard Kennedy. Acting for a number of high-profile and high-net-worth individuals, Lois has a particular expertise in dealing with complex financial remedy work involving multi-million pound matrimonial settlements. Her work regularly involves tax, trust, off-shore, and corporate structures, with high-end divorce and financial remedy cases and pre- and post-nuptial agreements being the work Lois most frequently undertakes. She also advises on cohabitation, separation, and children matters (including adoption and surrogacy). Lois jointly heads the firm’s Sport sector team and acts for and advises a number of individuals associated with the sports industry. In addition, Lois is part of the Private Wealth sector team. There is a frequent overlap between her roles across the Family, Sport, and Private Wealth teams. Lois is a member of Resolution, Women In Football, the China Britain Business Council, and the 48 Group.

Lydia Christie

Lydia Christie heads the Retail and Leisure group. She is a Legal Director advising on the full range of employment law issues, both contentious and non-contentious, from recruitment through to termination of employment. Lydia is an experienced, expert employment lawyer who is adept at advising businesses and senior individuals on all aspects of employment law. She assists clients with bringing and defending claims in the Employment Tribunal, particularly high value and complex claims. She drafts and advises on senior level service agreements, contracts of employment, consultancy agreements, staff handbooks, policies, and procedures. She works closely with clients on on disciplinary, grievance and redundancy procedures, while also advising on termination issues, including settlement agreements and post-termination restrictive covenants. Lydia has a particular interest and expertise in whistleblowing and has contributed to various formal consultation responses on whistleblowing. Part of the firm's Retail and Leisure sector group, Lydia regularly advises luxury retail brands, restaurants, and hotels on their employment law issues. Her work with large international retailers includes advice on strategic HR issues such as GDPR compliance and gender pay gap and modern slavery reporting. Lydia represents the firm's Employment team within LAW, the international lawyer's network, working closely with its European Employment Group.

Marc Proudfoot

Marc Proudfoot is a corporate finance solicitor specialising in investment trusts, real estate investment trusts and venture capital trusts. He is a partner and heads the Investment Trusts practice. Marc advises clients on all corporate matters including new launches, secondary fundraisings and consolidations. He acts for a wide range of asset managers on the successful launches of investment trusts and real estate investment trusts, including some of the leading asset management houses in the UK. He also advises the boards of investment trusts, real estate investment trusts and venture capital trusts on corporate transactions including secondary fundraisings, mergers and tender offers. Marc provides clients with sponsorship advice through the firm's FCA regulated arm, which is a London Stock Exchange registered sponsor. In this role Marc liaises with the FCA on new launches and Listing Rule transactions such as changes to investment policies, the approval of circulars and prospectuses and related party transactions. Marc provides clients with straightforward advice tailored for their individual needs. He applies his knowledge and experience to provide clients with practical solutions to complex issues.

Marc Naidoo

Marc is a partner at Howard Kennedy. He is an international finance lawyer operating within Africa, Asia and other emerging market jurisdictions. Market specialism in developmental finance and environmental, social and governance (ESG) transactions and policy advice. Marc has been operating within emerging markets for over 15 years and has been actively involved in developmental finance as it has transitioned into what is now referred to as ESG. Marc's practice can be described as a sector agnostic general finance practice, with an increased focuss on ESG and emerging markets. His general skillset allows him to operate within most forms of debt finance, which includes, but is not limited to: syndicated loans, developmental loans, credit mitigation structures, bank to bank lending, public sector loans and credit enhancement structures. In addition to transactional advice, Marc provides internal ESG overlay on transactions, on both the sponsor and lender side. This includes assisting clients in navigating the sustainable finance spectrum and narrative; assisting with internal taxonomies which track the UN SDGs and the EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance; and dealing with third party providers with carbon capturing and measurement methodologies. Marc also worked at the African Development Bank in Abidjan, and was a also a founding member of the Standard Chartered Sustainable Finance Team. He has been extensively published on matters relating to emerging markets and ESG, as has spoken at numerous conferences on both these subjects.

Mark Pritchard

Mark Pritchard is a partner at Howard Kennedy. He is a construction litigation specialist with over 15 years' experience in high profile and complex dispute resolution. Mark is a solicitor in the construction department. He provides practical and cost-effective advice to members of the construction industry on risk during the lifespan of a project, from initial procurement to the settlement of disputes during the project and after completion. In addition to his experience in real time dispute resolution, Mark has conducted complex litigation in the Technology and Construction Court, Administrative Court, and Court of Appeal and is familiar with both the enforcement of adjudication decisions and the use of injunctive relief. He is equally at home in court or alternative dispute resolution. More recently, Mark has been engaged by one of the country's leading house-builders to provide advice in the context of fire safety reviews of over 800 developments comprising over 2000 buildings. This has given him substantial, in-depth experience of dealing with the full gamut of external wall issues and resulting litigation; advising Plc Board members on risk at asset class level, as well as on a building by building basis. In addition to his dispute avoidance and resolution practice, Mark assists clients with their construction documentation and is familiar with all of the standard forms. Through 2020 and 2021, during the pandemic, he also delivered CPD training via Zoom to the architects' profession.

Mark Stephens

Specialising in international, appellate and complex litigation, Mark Stephens has undertaken some of the highest profile cases in the country and abroad. Mark is a partner at Howard Kennedy. He is a solicitor with an expertise in constitutional, human rights, IP, media and regulatory work, defamation, privacy, media, art and cultural property, data protection and freedom of information, trusts litigation, intellectual property and international arbitration disputes. Mark has created a niche in international comparative media law and regulation. He acts in judicial reviews, Privy Council cases- Ultimate Appeal Court for parts of the Commonwealth, as well as, regulatory cases and inquiries. Mark practices before every level of court in England and Wales and also abroad before international tribunals and courts. He is also a Privy Council agent regularly working with a range of overseas lawyers. Mark is a qualified mediator. He can also assist clients in jurisdictions outside of the UK and has been retained by a number of governments to advise and to represent their interests including, Republic of Cyprus, Jamaica, Libya, Mauritius, and the Russian Republic. He has been appointed by the Foreign Secretary to the FCO Free Expression advisory board and the Lord Chancellor to be a Champion for the Community Legal Service. Mark became board chair of Internews Europe, an international charity dedicated to freedom of expression and trusted media in 2018. Mark chairs a number of bodies including, Internews, the Management Committee of the Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy Wolfson College, Oxford Centre for Socio Legal Studies and the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation. He is former chair of the Contemporary Art Society, Global Network Initiative, Global Witness the University of East London the Design Artists Copyright Society. And former President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. Mark is responsible for innovating the Business & Human Rights portfolio of Cygnet Healthcare in his role as Non-Executive Director. Cygnet is the UK arm of UHS, the largest and most respected healthcare provider in the USA, and provides a wide range of services for individuals with mental health needs, autism and learning disabilities within the UK. He additionally sits on the board as a Trustee of Index of Censorship, the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation, Commonwealth Lawyers Association and Council of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute and Human Dignity Trust. Mark regularly appears in print, on radio and television. Mark also lectures at Universities and Higher Education Institutions around the world. Mark has contributed to seven books, Miscarriages of Justice: a review of justice in error (1999), International Libel and Privacy Handbook all four editions (2005), (2009), (2013), (2016) published by Bloomberg Press, La Presunción de Inocenicia Y Los Juicios Paralelos (2013) published by Wolters Kluwer (Spain) for the Fundación Fernando Pombo/Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo., Media Law & Ethics in the 21st Century (2014) published by Palgrave MacMillan, This is not a book about Gavin Turk (2014) published by Trolley Books, Media Law and Policy in the Internet Age (2016) published by Hart an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing, Media Law International (3rd Edition) - Specialist Guide for Global Leaders in Media Law Practice (2016) published by Media Law International. He is also on the editorial boards of Communications Lawyer, Copyright World and European Intellectual Property Review.

Monika Byrska

Monika Byrska a partner at Howard Kennedy. She is a bilingual solicitor specialising in trust, will and estate disputes. Monika advises in all types of private client disputes. This includes: will challenges, Inheritance Act claims, disputes relating to the administration of estates, actions against trustees and personal representatives, promissory estoppel claims, trust disputes between co-owners of a property, and application for directions in administration of trusts and estates. As a STEP-qualified practitioner, she is uniquely qualified to assist with both contentious and non-contentious aspects of trust and estate administration. She therefore also represents personal representatives and trustees advising on the administration of trusts and estates, which are complex or entangled in disputes. As Monika often meets clients when they are going through their most difficult times, she aims to put them at ease with her straightforward and compassionate approach. She has passion and years of experience in resolving what may seem to be the most impossible disputes over wealth. She is bilingual and able to service clients in Polish. With a background in linguistics and interpretation, Monika also has a working knowledge of a couple other European languages. She is a full member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and an associate member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). She holds a STEP Advanced Certificate in Administration of Estates, Advanced Certificate in Cross Border Estates and Advanced Certificate in Trust Disputes. She is also a member of the STEP Contentious Trusts and Estates Special Interest Group and ConTrA, a network for Contentious Trusts Associates.

Naomi O'Higgins

Naomi O'Higgins is an expert in trusts and estates disputes, as well as, Court of Protection work. Much of her caseload has an international element. Naomi is a partner and Head of our Trusts and Estates Disputes practice. She supports clients across a range of trusts disputes including breach of trust claims and trustee/beneficiary disputes. She has particular experience of litigation with cross-border elements working with lawyers in offshore jurisdictions. She additionally advises on non-contentious trusts related applications. She acts for clients on inheritance disputes including challenges to the validity of wills, removal of executors and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Naomi works with clients on Court of Protection matters such as statutory wills, disputes regarding the appointments or actions of attorneys, as well as, other cases concerning people lacking capacity to manage their own affairs. She is a private client solicitor who specialises in litigation. This means that she takes a practical and empathetic approach to advising clients facing difficult, often emotional, challenges. Naomi works alongside colleagues in the firm's Private Client and Family teams on complex multi-jurisdictional issues. She has litigated in a number of foreign/offshore jurisdictions including, the Channel Islands, the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and Switzerland and has excellent relationships with firms in those and the other major offshore jurisdictions. Naomi is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS). She is dual qualified having been admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Ireland in 2017.

Nikki Edwards

Nikki Edwards is a partner in the Commercial Dispute Resolution team. She is a seasoned trial solicitor and a practising mediator, focused on achieving commercial and cost-effective results for her clients worldwide. Nikki has over 15 years’ experience resolving disputes across various sectors both within the UK and internationally. She has particular experience of dealing with shareholder and company disputes, fraud and dishonesty, complex contractual disputes, negligence and enforcing foreign judgments. She has obtained victories for her clients at trials in the Commercial Court and Chancery Division of the High Court as well as the Court of Appeal. Nikki also has wide-ranging experience of dealing with injunctions and other interlocutory orders. However, her primary focus is on achieving successful results for her clients, often acting as a trusted advisor with a view to resolving matters at an early stage. Her experience as a mediator is valuable in this regard. As Vice President of the London Solicitors Litigation Association (the LSLA), which has over 3500 members, Nikki helps to shape civil justice reform and promote best practice in litigation in England and Wales. Nikki is available to act as a Supervising Solicitor.

Nina Lake

Nina Lake is a Partner in Howard Kennedy’s Family Team with extensive expertise in all areas of family law. Her main practice focuses on matrimonial and child related disputes, the drafting of pre and post nuptial agreements and issues concerning cohabitation. Her clients are often high net worth individuals with international elements to their case and Nina has particular experience acting for clients who often have complex multi-jurisdictional issues that need close consideration. Nina’s clients consist of individuals such as lawyers, doctors, bankers, business owners and entrepreneurs or those who benefit from generational family wealth. She has also advised and acted for a number of high profile celebrities and media personalities. Nina works closely with industry experts both at Howard Kennedy and externally, to ensure that clients are provided with a full service and holistic approach to meet any needs or issues which arise. Nina’s clients often comment on the supportive and sensitive attitude which she provides to them during what is often one of the most difficult times in their lives, whilst continuously striving to achieve the best possible outcome for them. She is a member of Resolution and where possible works towards reaching a constructive conclusion for family disputes whilst having her clients best interests always at the forefront of her focus.

Patrick Keown

Patrick is partner at Howard Kennedy and Head of Banking and Real Estate Finance. He is a banking and finance lawyer advising on high value and complex debt finance transactions. He focuses on corporate finance, leveraged finance, real estate finance, asset-based lending, receivables finance, debt restructuring and corporate reorganisations. Patrick has acted for a wide range of clients including the main UK clearing banks, investment banks, international banks, specialist lenders, institutional investors, asset-based lenders, and corporate borrowers. His sector experience includes general corporate M&A, natural resources, charities/social enterprise, sporting organisations, social housing, education, development finance, and trade finance. Patrick's considerable deal experience, commercial aptitude and versatility ensure clients receive effective practical solutions.

Paul Glassberg

Paul Glassberg is a partner at Howard Kennedy. He is a commercially focussed specialist in Mergers & Acquisitions (including accelerated and distressed M&A transactions) as well as private equity and corporate real estate deals, joint ventures and general corporate advisory matters. Paul is a contributing editor of the Corporate Real Estate section of LexisPSL precedents. He has clients in a wide range of sectors including real estate, retail, restaurant and tech/fintech sectors.

Rachel Brown

Rachel Brown is an experienced commercial litigator specialising in insolvency litigation and disputes involving distressed businesses. Rachel is a pragmatic solicitor who enjoys building strong client relationships. She is committed to achieving the best outcome for her clients. She regularly advises officeholders, directors, creditors (secured or unsecured) and banks on formal insolvency procedures. She also regularly advises lenders on enforcement procedures including the appointment of LPA receivers and the appointment of administrators. Rachel provides strategic advice to individuals and businesses in times of financial distress. She is able to assist with domestic and international insolvency issues, including complex cross-border cases, and regularly deals with cross-border recoveries (including cases involving offshore jurisdictions). Rachel also regularly advises on issues relating to directors' duties and liabilities (including claims assigned to third parties), including claims for misfeasance, wrongful trading and fraudulent trading under the Insolvency Act, for breach of duty under the Companies Act and director disqualification claims and claims for repayment of overdrawn loan accounts. She can also assist with any issues relating to the service of a statutory demand, a bankruptcy petition or a winding up petition.

Rebecca Davison

Rebecca Davison is a partner at Howard Kennedy. She is a solicitor focussing on all aspects of non-contentious commercial property transactions. Rebecca advises on acquisitions and disposals of freehold and leasehold properties, on the real estate aspects of portfolio management, insolvency and all other landlord and tenant matters. She also acts for retail and corporate occupier clients on the acquisition, re-gearing and disposal of their occupational property interests. Rebecca advises foreign investors in UK commercial real estate and with commercial occupiers on HQ relocation. She is a member of the firm's Investment Funds and Real Estate sector groups. She is a UK Board member and founding member of the US-led Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) network.

Rebecca Hume

Rebecca Hume is a partner at Howard Kennedy. She represents clients on complex commercial disputes and multi-jurisdictional insolvency cases. She is particularly skilled at cross-border debtor disputes, international fraud, asset tracing and recovery, and international judgement and award enforcement. Rebecca's assignments often involve complex hedge funds and private equity structures. She is a solicitor often called upon to help clients realise value in distressed situations where there is large-scale fraud or wrongdoing. Rebecca strategises to find creative solutions to trace and recover assets and monetise claims. Her clientele includes insolvency practitioners and foreign office holders of bankrupt estates, directors and officers, fund managers and administrators, investors and HNWIs located in onshore and offshore jurisdictions. Rebecca spent over 12 years working offshore and was admitted to practice in the Cayman Islands and the BVI. As well as being involved in complex assignments in these jurisdictions, she frequently co-counsels with other law firms, particularly in the US and Europe. She has pursued cases in many jurisdictions including the US, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Hong Kong and the PRC, successfully assisting her clients in the recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars. Rebecca regularly speaks at domestic and international conferences. She is on the Advisory Board of the ThoughtLeaders4 FIRE International Conference on fraud and asset recovery, and on the steering committee of Cambridge Forum's International Enforcement of Judgements and Awards Forum. Rebecca is Europe Networks Director of IWIRC (International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation). She also sits on the IWIRC UNCITRAL Committee and is a member of the Europe Network. She is a member of R3 Association of Business Recovery professionals, INSOL and 100WF.

Reshmi Manekporia

Reshmi Manekporia is a partner at Howard Kennedy. She provides UK and international individuals and their businesses with advice on the structuring of assets for succession and tax purposes. She has built upon her tax and private client expertise by developing Sharia wealth planning Solutions. Reshmi is a Partner in the Private Client team who has significant experience advising clients on tax, estate planning and related matters. She advises international clients, their businesses and structures along with intermediary advisers, including banks and trust companies. She specialises in planning involving multiple jurisdictions and where family succession and governance planning is important, whether for business or other assets. She ensures that structures holding investments or businesses remain tax-efficient and continue to meet the family’s long-term objectives, especially with respect to succession to wealth and succession to control. Reshmi has considerable experience advising on taxation in a broad range of circumstances. This includes advising on investment assets such as real estate, trading and investment businesses, for individuals, companies or trusts. Reshmi is recognised for her expertise in Sharia-based wealth planning, which is becoming increasingly important as common law succession tools are applied in Sharia jurisdictions and solutions are generally being sought for wealth preservation. She ensures effective succession planning structures are in place where the Sharia is relevant, and works with local authorities, Sharia scholars and judges in the relevant regions to develop wealth planning solutions. She is experienced in dealing with Sharia in various jurisdictions from the GCC through to South East Asia. Reshmi provides practical and incisive advice, coming up with solutions to suit her individual clients' needs. She seeks to explain complex matters to clients in a straightforward, user-friendly way.

Robert Craig

Robert Craig is a solicitor specialising in wills, trusts, estate planning, probate, charities, estate litigation and partnership. He regularly advises private individuals, business people, and well-known authors, artists and actors on estate planning. Alongside his estate planning practice, Robert advises clients on partnerships and co-ownership disputes, and a wide range of charity law matters, including the formation and operation of charities and non-profit bodies (cultural, religious, welfare and philanthropic charities). Robert gives sound and pragmatic advice to clients without a lot of legal jargon. Robert is a qualified and experienced mediator. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Charity Law Association, and the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists.

Robert Lands

Robert Lands is an intellectual property, data protection, and commercial contracts specialist with over 20 years of experience. He is a partner and Head of the IP & Commercial team. Robert is a Partner advising a number of brands, technology, art, entertainment, fashion and retail clients. He works closely with creative industries in particular on intellectual property matters, including copyright, trade marks, design rights, database rights, and domain names. Through his thorough understanding of GDPR, he supports clients to navigate data protection laws. Clients additionally call on Robert to assist with commercial contracts such as franchise agreements and IT contracts, and with related commercial work including advising on advertising and sales promotions. Robert is a voting member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. He is also Worldwide Chair of the Intellectual Property Section of Meritas, the global alliance of independent law firms.

Sam Murray-Hinde

Sam Murray-Hinde is a partner at Howard Kennedy. She advises employers on workplace issues and litigation, with particular specialisms in industrial relations, sport, investigations, employment issues in insolvency, and state and diplomatic immunity. Listed in the Legal 500 as a Key Lawyer for both Employers and Partnership, Sam is a solicitor with broad experience across all areas of employment law and is recognised by her peers as an expert in employment tribunal litigation. Her practice involves advising on a number of specialist areas of law and also has a strong focus on the sport and transport sectors. In the field of sport, she routinely advises clubs, governing bodies, sport organisations, sportspersons and agents on a variety of issues, acting in high-profile matters. As a trusted adviser, Sam works hard to achieve the best outcome for clients by providing creative commercially focused, industry-specific advice, with an increasingly international focus. Working with a variety of executives, businesses, HR professionals, boards and Insolvency Practitioners, Sam advises on legal strategy to minimise litigation. She is well-versed in advising on business protections and related litigation, handling complex grievance and disciplinary matters involving discrimination and whistleblowing allegations, and works closely with our other teams to provide seamless cross-practice advice and 'crisis management'. Sam is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and the German-British Chamber of Commerce. She speaks German.

Simon Malkiel

Simon Malkiel advises UK and international high-net-worth individuals, families and trustees on tax and succession planning, wealth structuring and asset protection. He is a partner and heads up the Trust, Tax and Estate Planning team. Simon acts for a growing and diverse client base of high-net-worth clients including entrepreneurs, business owners, real estate investors, and individuals in the sports, entertainment, and art sectors. He advises both domestic UK clients and those with an international dimension to their affairs such as UK resident non-domiciled taxpayers, foreign clients with UK assets (particularly UK homes or other real estate holdings), or those coming to or leaving the UK. His practice focuses primarily on estate and succession planning, inheritance tax and capital gains tax planning and mitigation, residence and domicile advice and related UK tax issues, asset protection and wealth structuring advice, and UK and offshore trusts and other structures. Simon guides clients through the preparation of wills, typically incorporating trusts for tax/succession planning purposes, as well as to cater for complex family situations, and lasting powers of attorney. Simon is dual-qualified, being both a solicitor and a Chartered Tax Adviser.

Simon Taylor

Simon Taylor is a partner at Howard Kennedy. He is a litigator focussing on commercial dispute resolution and in real estate, for investment and development companies, asset managers, marketing groups and private individuals. As Head of Dispute Resolution he leads the firm's litigation and disputes offering. Simon is a tenacious and tactical commercial disputes solicitor. He acts for a broad range of high-profile UK and international companies, real estate investment funds, and high net-worth individuals. He has extensive experience in the High Court and the higher Courts of Appeal. He has been involved in actions across Europe as well as in a number of countries and jurisdictions around the world.

Stephanie Brigg

Stephanie Brigg is a Legal Director in Howard Kennedy's Corporate Real Estate team and advises UK and international clients on a range of private and public corporate transactions. Stephanie is a solicitor with a broad sector experience covering mainstream corporate transactions including public and private mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, private equity investments and joint ventures. She additionally acts on hotel and commercial property special purpose vehicle acquisitions and disposals. Stephanie advises a range of clients including entrepreneurs, owner managers, developers, publicly quoted companies, property funds and private investors.

Stephen Scott

Stephen Scott is a partner at Howard Kennedy. He is an expert in commercial property disputes, providing strategic and pragmatic advice to landlords, tenants, developers and investors. His clients include retailers, property companies, developers and pension funds. Stephen is a solicitor with over 30 years’ of experience in advising on commercial property disputes. He has a wealth of asset management experience dealing with business lease renewals, rent reviews, dilapidations and rent and service charge disputes, as well as property-related insolvencies. Stephen has had a number of reported cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords on issues ranging from leasehold enfranchisement to business lease renewals to break notices. Stephen also has a lot of experience in property development, regularly advising on vacant possession strategies as well as squatters and protestors. He has particular expertise in the retail and consumer sector, acting for tenants and landlords. Stephen also has a passion for mental health and wellbeing and sits on the wellbeing committee of the Property Litigation Association. Stephen is a member of Revo's Regeneration and Repurposing Committee.

Stephen Heinemann

Stephen Heinemann specialises in both legal and sponsor services to venture capital trusts. He is a partner in the firm's Capital Markets team. Stephen is a solicitor advising on a range of company and commercial matters including sale and purchase agreements, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance. Howard Kennedy is the only English law firm authorised to provide both legal and sponsor services to its clients and since 2005 Stephen has specialised in acting for the firm's venture capital trust clients in both of these capacities.

Tim Bignell

Tim Bignell is a partner at Howard Kennedy. He is an accomplished litigator with over 35 years' experience in dispute resolution acting on complex and high-value commercial and insolvency disputes. He is a successful and experienced solicitor who takes a pragmatic, focused and strategic approach which delivers results quickly and cost effectively. His practice embraces the full range of commercial dispute resolution, with particular expertise in company, partnership and shareholder disputes. He additionally is an expert in contentious insolvency litigation where he represents administrators and/or liquidators of companies and trustees in the bankruptcy of individuals. Tim has also developed a niche practice in art, sport and entertainment where he acts for an eclectic mix of clients. These include internationally acclaimed recording artists, Middle Eastern art galleries, American art dealers and a very high world ranked professional tennis player. Tim delivers pragmatic commercial solutions to his clients ensuring their requirements formulate and drive the strategy to achieve those ends. He always keeps sight of the big picture to ensure optimum outcomes for clients achieved for the minimum exposure to risk. This approach coupled with his inclusive and collaborative client management skills assists in reaching solutions to problems as serenely and seamlessly as possible.

Vanessa Laundon

Vanessa is a partner at Howard Kennedy. She is a solicitor who advises retail and leisure operators and property investors on commercial property transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, refinances, and all aspects of portfolio management. Vanessa has over 20 years' retail and leisure sector experience, advising a wide range of domestic and international retail and leisure clients on the full life cycle of their occupation, including site acquisition, disposals and general portfolio management. Vanessa also advises new entrants to the UK retail market, with experience ranging from national portfolio acquisitions and roll-out programmes to high-value single-store acquisitions in London’s West End. She has extensive experience advising private investment funds on the acquisition, disposal and management of commercial property interests including offices, retail and mixed-use residential/commercial properties.

Vernon Dennis

A highly experienced specialist in business transformation, Vernon Dennis is a partner and Head of Business Advisory and leads the firms Restructuring and Insolvency group. Vernon is a solicitor with over 25 years’ experience designing and implementing financial recovery and restructuring plans for business clients. Leading our specialist group of experts, he utilises the full resources available from within the firm, whether tax, employment, banking or real estate to provide pragmatic and commercially driven solutions for clients. And where applicable, he works in collaboration with leading industry experts. Known for his technical expertise, and for making the complex simple, Vernon advises insolvency practitioners, creditors and debtors on a wide range of corporate recovery, reconstruction and business rescue issues, both domestically and cross-border. He specialises in strategic and advisory support for company boards when planning programmes of business turnaround, restructuring or transformation. Vernon's expertise is of universal application in any business sector but following economic and structural industry change, recent work has seen a real focus in the last 12 months in the retail and leisure sectors. He has extensive experience in retail and restaurant distress, property portfolio restructuring and cases known for their technical complexity. Vernon is a Fellow of R3 (The Association of Business Recovery Professionals) and is an accredited member of the Institute for Turnaround network. A regular lecturer and commentator on insolvency, he is author of the Law Society's Insolvency Law Handbook now in its 4th Edition (published April 2021). He is also co-author of New Law of Insolvency (2003) and sole author of the Law Society's Insolvency Law series; Administration (2010), Liquidation (2011), and Bankruptcy (2012).

Victoria Tyson

Victoria Tyson is a partner at Howard Kennedy. She is an award-winning contentious construction lawyer with over 25 years’ experience in large, complex international construction and engineering disputes. She has particular expertise in the FIDIC forms of construction contract and international arbitration. Victoria represents employers (including governments and ministries), international contractors, and consultants. She has had exposure to many high-profile and often politically sensitive international construction and engineering projects. She has been involved in a number of important FIDIC cases including Obrascon Huarte Lain SA v Her Majesty’s Attorney General for Gibraltar [2014] EWHC 1028 (TCC) and [2015] EWCA Civ 712. Victoria is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and is in the Executive Group of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) UK. She is co-author of 'FIDIC 2017: A Practical Legal Guide'.

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