Howes Percival LLP

Howes Percival LLP

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East Midlands

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Lewis Addison

Lewis Addison

Lewis is a knowledgeable contentious trusts and probate solicitor based in Leicester, Lewis specialises in resolving property, trusts and probate disputes calmly and quickly, through persuasive negotiation or decisive court action. Lewis’ recent work includes: \tchallenges to wills, and other lifetime transactions. \tInheritance Act claims for financial provision from estates. \tdisputes in the administration of estates and trusts; and \tclaims in relation to the beneficial ownership of property. Lewis is a member of ACTAPS, regularly gives seminars to other local lawyers on contentious trusts and probate and is recommended by the Legal 500 who say he "has a pragmatic approach to cases. He is keen to help... a strong individual in this sector" and "enjoys a strong track record in ADR and mediation". His clients have said “his approach was calm, methodical and measured”, “responses were articulate, precise and sensitive”, and he was “realistic, highly knowledgeable, efficient and made the process as easy as could be expected”.
Sobia Ahmad

Sobia Ahmad

Sobia advises clients on a wide range of employment law matters – both contentious and non-contentious – and adopts a clear, commercial and practical approach. She has acted for employers and employees within a range of sectors and has experience of handling employment tribunal claims, advising on day-to-day employment issues and drafting and negotiating settlement agreements and contracts of employment. Sobia joined the employment team as a newly qualified solicitor in September 2019. She works across our Northampton and Milton Keynes offices.
Paula Bailey

Paula Bailey

Paula is Head of the Employment Law team at Howes Percival, having started work with Howes Percival in 1997. Paula has extensive experience on the full range of employment law matters, both contentious and non-contentious. She has developed particular expertise in relation to advising clients in relation to TUPE matters on outsourcing arrangements, corporate transactions and business restructuring, together with advice on complex redundancy and restructuring programmes. As well as acting on non-contentious matters, Paula regularly advises clients on dealing with Employment Tribunal matters, dealing with disciplinary and grievance issues and exiting senior managers and directors. Paula has a can do attitude and provides commercial and practical advice focussed on the client’s business objectives. Paula enjoys getting to know the client and working as an extension of their in house team. She regularly provides employment law training and speaks at employment law seminars and events. Paula acts for a range of clients, including those in the automotive, media, technology, manufacturing and retail sectors.
Hannah Ball

Hannah Ball

Hannah specialises in all aspects of Employment law and advises on both contentious and non contentious matters. Hannah has defended a range of Employment Tribunal claims including unfair dismissal and discrimination. Hannah regularly advises clients on non-contentious matters, such as contracts of employment. In addition, Hannah provides advice on disciplinary and performance issues, as well as assisting employers with grievances. Hannah has acted for a range of businesses including those operating in the healthcare sector and provides practical commercial advice to all clients.
Miles Barnes

Miles Barnes

Miles is a Partner in the Commercial team at Howes Percival. He advises businesses on a range of commercial matters from day to day trading agreements through to complex procurement and outsourcing projects. Miles has a particular interest in the Food & Beverage sector, regularly advising clients on manufacturing, logistics and distribution agreements as well as promotional campaigns and ESG compliance. He also has a broad range of experience on wider strategic transactions having also supported clients on acquisitions, joint ventures, brand extensions and reorganisations. Prior to joining the team, Miles spent time in-house for two multinational companies and now uses this experience in providing our clients with additional in-house resource, including day to day overflow support for busy in-house teams, advice on complex projects or in acting as a fractional in-house counsel to SME clients. Miles has been recognised as a Rising Star in the Legal 500, with clients praising his “knowledge, output and communication” as “stand-out qualities”.
Nick Benton

Nick Benton

Nick has experience in all aspects of employment law including both contentious and non-contentious matters. Nick regularly advises employer clients in respect of all HR issues as well as assisting clients with all employment tribunal claims. Nick has a particular interest in employment status and matters which arise for employers in respect of this issue. He also advises and assists clients with employment-related health and safety issues. Nick has acted for a range of businesses including those operating in the financial services and healthcare sectors. He is focused on providing commercial advice and business solutions to all clients.
Jenna Bruce

Jenna Bruce

Jenna is a Director in our Intellectual Property and IT team. With over 15 years’ post-qualification experience in the field, Jenna’s practice encompasses both commercial and contentious Intellectual Property and IT matters. She has a particular interest in the following: \tDrafting and negotiating Intellectual Property and IT agreements (e.g. IP licences and assignments, software licences (including SaaS provision), software development and maintenance agreements, end user licence agreements, acceptable use policies, and reseller agreements); \tEnforcement of rights in software; \tAdvertising standards/compliance matters; \tTrade mark portfolio management and enforcement; \tSupporting the firm’s corporate teams in respect of IP, IT and data protection aspects of transactional matters. Jenna is also a member of the firm’s Data Protection Team, advising clients in relation to all aspects of data protection compliance and related matters. Jenna joined Howes Percival’s Intellectual Property and IT team in October 2008, having worked (and qualified) in-house at ITV Plc which equipped her with a sound understanding of commercial clients. Jenna acts for clients in a variety of sectors, including food and beverage, IT and e-commerce, fashion, media and creative, and education.  She is recognised in the Legal 500 for her experience in Intellectual Property, IT and Telecoms, and Media and Entertainment.
Stuart Burns

Stuart Burns

Stuart has wide experience of all aspects of commercial property, including freehold and leasehold acquisitions and disposals, commercial, mixed use and residential development, property finance and pension related matters, acting for both seller and buyer and landlord and tenant. He also has experience in dealing with the property elements of commercial transactions, both on company and asset sales and purchases. Stuart acts for a variety of clients, from landowners and individuals to property development companies, investors, national retail companies and funds. Stuart’s recent deal highlights include the £62m sale of a 70 unit industrial estate, subject to occupational tenancies; an 11 lease regear (totalling c.£1m per annum in rent) on industrial premises alongside separate landlord’s works obligations to refurbish the premises alongside the tenant’s occupation; the purchase of mixed freehold and long leasehold industrial premises for a purchase price of £4.25m, with multiple covenant issues to overcome; the multi occupancy letting of a newly constructed Grade A city centre office building for a total annual rent in excess of £600k; the disposal of 62 individual occupational leases as part of a portfolio wind down, alongside a separate asset sale agreement; the acquisition and pre-let of a development site of student accommodation for an annual rent in excess of £850k; and assisting as part of a larger team on the forward funding of a city centre office development with a total funding commitment of c.£25m.
Katherine Cereghino

Katherine Cereghino

Katherine is a Partner in the Corporate, Commercial and Banking team. She is based in Leicester. Katherine advises on company disposals and acquisitions, share arrangements, company restructuring and reorganisations and company finance documentation. She also drafts and advises on a variety of commercial arrangements and documents for companies, from NDAs, terms and conditions of business and outsourcing arrangements through to collaboration and joint venture agreements and framework agreements for longer term projects. Katherine has considerable experience advising companies on compliance with consumer protection legislation, including consumer rights and consumer credit and hire legislation. Katherine studied her undergraduate degree at the University of Leicester and went on to study for her post-graduate diploma in legal practice at De Montfort University, Leicester for which she came top of her class and was awarded the Law Society prize for excellence. Katherine qualified in February 2007 after successfully completing her training contract with a Leicester firm.
Satnam Chayra

Satnam Chayra

Satnam is a leading litigator based in Leicester with vast experience in both property litigation and commercial litigation. Her expertise in commercial litigation includes dealing with: breach of contract claims, misrepresentation, issues relating to the sale of goods and supply of services, consumer credit claims, unpaid invoices, agency claims, director issues, minority shareholder claims, and partnership disputes. Satnam also deals with property related disputes, with a focus on issues concerning land (e.g. trespass, title disputes, nuisance, restrictive covenants, overage disputes, adverse possession, disputes relating to option agreements, interference with rights of way and building disputes). Her landlord and tenant experience includes dilapidations claims, break notice disputes, contested and uncontested lease renewal proceedings, repossessions, landlord’s consents and rent arrears. Based in the Leicester office, Satnam regularly advises a range of high profile clients including national retailers and household names. She has a formidable reputation for her no-nonsense, direct and commercial approach, with the Legal 500 directory describing her as “very bright” and “able to think outside the box”. Her clients describe her as a “knowledgeable and approachable lawyer who achieves good results” and “always has her client’s best interests at heart”. Clients and contacts especially enjoy the seminars and in-house training sessions provided by Satnam throughout the year.
Gerald Couldrake

Gerald Couldrake

Gerald has primarily been a corporate and commercial lawyer and advisor to privately owned businesses in and around Northamptonshire. His practice has included advising on: corporate finance transactions of buying and selling and reorganising businesses, joint ventures, commercial contracts, strategy and shareholder/boardroom disputes. He has become the trusted advisor to many substantial family and owner managed businesses. He also has extensive experience of advising members’ clubs, being the company secretary to The British Racing Drivers’ Club and to Guards Polo Club. Gerald qualified in the City in 1985 and has been a corporate and commercial solicitor at Howes Percival in Northampton since 1986. He joined the partnership in 1989, and in his career has been head of the Northampton office, head of the corporate and commercial team across the firm, a member of the firm’s management board and was latterly the senior partner until he retired from the partnership in April 2022. He now practices part time as a Consultant within the firm’s corporate, commercial and banking team, still based in Northampton.
Geraint Davies

Geraint Davies

Geraint heads up Howes Percival’s Litigation and Insolvency practice group and has over twenty years' experience in dealing with high-value commercial and property litigation disputes. He acts on behalf of a wide range of commercial clients, ranging from major PLCs to owner managed businesses. He regularly deals with complex High Court and cross border litigation as well as helping clients to resolve problems by alternative dispute resolution including mediation. His caseload includes helping clients to bring and defend contractual and tortious claims and advising in relation to corporate and partnership disputes. He is also experienced in dealing with property disputes and has acted for HMRC in relation to complex civil fraud claims. Geraint moved from a London firm to join Howes Percival in 1996. Since then, he has helped to develop a large and experienced litigation team across the firm, becoming the litigation practice group leader in 2012. He has been a member of Howes Percival’s board since 2014 and became the firm’s Chairperson in 2020. Geraint is recognised by the Legal 500 as a leading individual in commercial litigation.
Tanya Dobson

Tanya Dobson

Tanya is experienced in advising companies, shareholders and directors on a range of corporate transactional and advisory work, including corporate mergers and acquisitions, management buyouts, share sales and transfers, business and asset acquisitions, solvent corporate reorganisations. In addition, she advises on general corporate law matters including drafting bespoke shareholders’ agreements and articles of association and general corporate governance. Tanya supports a wide range of clients ranging from owner managed SMEs to large national and international corporates.
Paula Dumbill

Paula Dumbill

Paula is the Head of our Commercial Services team and an experienced commercial contracts specialist with particular expertise in advising on complex service and technology projects. Paula also has a leading role in our Technology and Innovation sector group. She has a wealth of experience of commercial trading arrangements across a broad range of sectors. Paula’s experience includes: advising manufacturers of goods and suppliers of services in industries from manufacturing to high tech; advising on major government contracts for the procurement of technology solutions, including in particular the health care sector; and advising supply chain businesses on a wide range of commercial trading arrangements as well as contractual joint ventures. Paula is recognised as a ‘leading individual’ in Legal 500 (2021) and is noted to be ‘calm and considerate with a brilliant eye for drafting’.
Justine Flack

Justine Flack

Justine has a breadth of experience in all issues relevant to relationship breakdown but particularly with regard to the financial aspects. She regularly advises clients with complex financial arrangements. She has two reported cases, both resulting from successful appeals in higher courts. Justine is a Collaborative Lawyer and has a thriving practice in this area of dispute resolution. Justine represents a wide range of clients. Advice is pragmatic and tailored to their circumstances based upon individual needs. Representation is robust and she has an eye for detail. As a Partner who has been with the team since it began, she is deeply committed to its development. Justine is ranked as Band 1 for Family/Matrimonial legal services in Leicester and surrounds by Chambers and Partners – a leading guide to the UK’s top law firms – and is described in her review as “detailed and realistic in her advice”.
Ben Hancox

Ben Hancox

Ben focuses on high value and complex M&A transactions for larger corporate clients and SME owner-managed businesses. During his time at Howes Percival he has advised on a number of significant investments and exits across a wide range of sectors and is able to advise clients on a wide range of matters, including considerable experience in restructuring. During the past year Ben has acted for a variety of large corporate clients and has led on a number of M&A transactions and investment on their behalf.  Ben also had a leading role and advised management teams on first and second rounds of investment.
Alexandra Hornsby

Alexandra Hornsby

For over 14 years Alexandra has been advising wealthy individuals and business owners on estate planning and succession matters, including complex inheritance tax and capital gains tax issues. Alexandra is also experienced in advising trustees, drafting and administering trusts, and dealing with estate administration. She is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Alexandra qualified as a solicitor in 2004 and subsequently worked for almost ten years in a specialist private client practice, gaining a wealth of experience in complex estate planning and trust matters.
Emily Hugo

Emily Hugo

Emily has worked in family law since May 2017. She started her journey as a paralegal before qualifying in March 2019. Over the years she has gained extensive experience in handling high net worth financial matters in relation to finances on divorce as well as provision for children under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. Emily also deals with child arrangement issues between parents. Emily’s approach is always client-focused, with a particular interest in Non-Court Dispute Resolution. Emily is passionate about finding the most efficient and effective resolution for clients and strives to offer practical solutions that align with their best interests. Client care is at the heart of everything for Emily. She ensures that her clients are regularly updated on the progress of their case and is transparent in relation to costs. Emily will advise clients when a commercial decision is needed, taking into account both legal and financial considerations. Emily is a strong team player who always prioritises what is best for the client and the team. Her goal is to provide excellent service and ensure that clients feel supported throughout the legal process. If you are looking for a family law solicitor with a client-focused approach and a commitment to achieving the best outcomes, feel free to get in touch. She looks forward to assisting you with your legal needs.
Louise Hunt

Louise Hunt

Louise has specialised in family law since 2014, having trained at a National Firm in Birmingham. Her work includes advising clients in relation to divorce and finances, as well as cohabitation issues. Louise has also been instructed in respect of enforcement proceedings and applications to set aside financial agreements. Louise regularly advises clients in relation to private children matters – including child arrangements orders, prohibited steps/specific issue orders and advising on international relocation cases as well as internal relocation cases within the UK. Louise is a member of Resolution and is committed to assisting clients to resolve matters in a non-confrontational and constructive manner.
Neena Jakhu

Neena Jakhu

Neena is a Director and Solicitor-Advocate in the Insolvency & Corporate Recovery department in our Northampton and Milton Keynes offices. Neena specialises in contentious insolvency and acts for Insolvency Practitioners and Office Holders in pursuing Insolvency Act claims for the benefit of insolvent estates. Neena also acts for local authorities in recovering outstanding debts through bankruptcy and winding up proceedings. Neena has a broad range of litigation experience advising clients in the commercial and insolvency sectors from small businesses to large and international organisations. Neena is a Solicitor-Advocate, having acquired the Higher Rights of Audience Qualification (Civil) in 2019.
Nicholas James

Nicholas James

Nick has over 30 years of experience in real estate law and is a noted specialist in residential development. Since joining Howes Percival in 2009, he has assumed the dual role of leading the firm’s Leicester Real Estate Team in the East Midlands and serving as Head of the Development Sector across all regions. He has a broad range of commercial property and development knowledge, with extensive experience in strategic land work including planning promotion, option, collaboration and equalisation agreements. Nick manages relationships with a number of developer and investor/landowner clients across the country, advising on a wide range of matters including site assembly, strategic land acquisitions and disposals, funding agreements, conditional contracts and a full range of asset management work supported by Howes Percival’s large Planning and Development Sector Teams. He is highly regarded by both businesses and individuals for his practical and commercial approach to technical and complex transactions. Nick’s Real Estate Team is ranked Tier 1 in The Legal 500 (2024 Edition).
Helen Jones

Helen Jones

Helen is an experienced commercial contracts and transactional intellectual property specialist with extensive in-house experience, most recently in the defence sector. Helen’s experience spans a wide range of legal, contractual, and compliance matters through all stages of the contract lifecycle.  Helen has particular experience in the sale and supply of complex goods and services, international contracts, research and grant funding contracts and technology and licensing.  Specifically, Helen has sector experience in defence, health and life sciences. She is known for her curiosity and attention to detail which is balanced with commercial pragmatism and which is what makes her a trusted advisor to the businesses with which she works.
Alexandra Kirkwood

Alexandra Kirkwood

Alexandra’s practice encompasses a wide range of real estate transactional work including residential & commercial development, freehold and leasehold disposals and acquisitions, landlord & tenant matters (including high value portfolio work) and property finance. She also regularly assists the firm’s corporate and banking teams with property support work. Alexandra acts for a wide range of clients and is carving out particular experience in the Development sector, acting for a well-known regional house builder, the Food & Beverage sector, acting for several food and beverage manufacturers and retailers, and the Education sector, having extensive experience of advising schools on the property aspects of converting to an academy. Based in the Northampton office, Alexandra qualified into the commercial property department at Howes Percival in September 2012 after successfully completing her training contract with the firm. Alexandra is recognised in the Legal 500 for her experience in commercial property transactional work.
Rebecca Littlewood

Rebecca Littlewood

Rebecca is a Director and specialises in assisting individuals with their succession planning, to include the preparation of Wills, the creation and administration of trusts, probate and the administration of estates, the creation, registration and revocation of powers of attorney and inheritance tax advice. Rebecca is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a fully accredited member of Association of Lifetime Lawyers. Rebecca prides herself on being able to guide her clients through the process with clarity and ease with her empathetic approach. Rebecca qualified as a solicitor into the discipline in 2009 and has gained valuable experienced at regional and national law firms. Rebecca returns to Howes Percival having worked with the firm upon qualification.
Lucy Lord

Lucy Lord

Lucy has wide experience in real estate transactions including residential and commercial development work, acting for national and regional developers. She regularly deals with: all aspects of acquisition and disposal work including options and conditional contracts; freehold and leasehold portfolio acquisitions and disposals; landlord and tenant work; and property finance. Lucy also has extensive experience of corporate transactional support work. Lucy acts for a wide range of clients including national and regional property developers, investors, financial institutions and banks. She joined Howes Percival in 2011.
Sundip Mapara

Sundip Mapara

Sundip advises clients in the insolvency and commercial sectors from small local businesses to large national and international organisations. Experienced in contentious and non-contentious transactional matters, as well as restructuring and turnaround advice, Sundip has the breadth of insolvency and corporate restructuring experience to help with all aspect of insolvency related issues Recent relevant experience: - Acting for the Trustee in Bankruptcy of members of the music band UB40 in the sale of the band’s music rights. - Acting for the Joint Administrators in the sale of a glass house spanning over 8 hectares. - Acting for the successful creditors in a reported misfeasance case against the Liquidator of a company in Top Brands v Sharma [2014] EWCA Civ 1140 - Acting for the Joint Administrators in defeating an application for their removal on the basis of conflict of interest in Re TPS Investments (UK) Ltd [2018]  EWHC 360 (Ch) - Acting for the Joint Liquidators of company operating a Ponzi scheme with a property portfolio valued at £5m. - Settled a tax avoidance claim for in excess of £9m acting on behalf of the Liquidators of a company. - Being instructed by the Polish arm of the world’s largest courier company in claim for unpaid duty and VAT in excess of £0.5m.
Alishia Marrocco

Alishia Marrocco

Alishia’s experience as a family solicitor deems her to be an expert in separation, divorce, dissolution of civil partnership, financial proceedings, matters relating to children, domestic violence and cohabitation disputes. As a member of Resolution Alishia’s approach to family matters is conciliatory rather than litigious. However Alishia is also a keen advocate and represents clients in the local family courts if required. Alishia trained and qualified at a niche family law firm in Milton Keynes. Alishia moved to Howes Percival from Franklin’s Solicitors where she specialised in all family law matters. Alishia is predominantly based in the Northampton office.
Jasmine Mason

Jasmine Mason

Jasmine is highly regarded as a specialist in residential development and acts for a number of regional and national housebuilders and landowners. Jasmine’s clients value her proactive and commercial approach to all transactions, her collaborative nature and her sharp eye for detail. She embraces the challenges that come with complex land transactions and is dedicated to finding practical solutions to achieve the desired outcome for her clients. Jasmine enjoys all aspects of development projects, providing sound and invaluable advice from the infancy of those projects to the end. Jasmine manages the Firm’s Leicester office plot sales offering for our developer clients, and prides herself and her team on applying their commercial approach and making the disposal process seamless for the client. Jasmine’s extensive experience includes option, promotion and hybrid option/promotion agreements, pre-emptions, overage deeds, site acquisitions and disposals (whether unconditional or conditional, or with or without the benefit of a planning permission), collaboration and joint venture agreements, build and development agreements and social housing disposals. Jasmine also acts of number of large landowner clients, advising them on a wide array of matters from development, estate leases and other landlord and tenant matters, renewable energy option agreements and leases and disposals.
Marco Mauro

Marco Mauro

Marco has over 17 years' experience gained in all areas of planning, acting for developers, landowners, housing associations, investors, financial institutions, occupiers and high net worth individuals. At his previous firm, Marco was Head of Planning for many years. His experience includes dealing with complicated planning obligations and infrastructure agreements, providing due diligence on property and corporate transactions, advising on and dealing with judicial review for both claimants and respondents. Marco is praised by his clients for his 'can do' approach and proactive manner, always looking for and finding solutions to problems, which makes him a recognised expert in his field.
Alan Millband

Alan Millband

Alan is a leading regulatory and business defence lawyer with considerable experience across the regulatory spectrum, particularly in health safety and environmental matters. He advises on all kinds of regulatory compliance issues, and represents clients who are subject to action by enforcing authorities (such as HSE, Local Authorities, Environment Agency, Police, and CQC). He is an extremely effective magistrates’ and coroners’ court advocate as well as an entertaining and engaging public speaker. Alan acts for clients ranging from small businesses to national and multi-national organisations. In the health and safety field he is the editor of a leading sector text book and a guest lecturer at the University of Derby.
Stephanie Millerchip

Stephanie Millerchip

Stephanie joined Howes Percival in 2022 as an Associate in the Regulatory Team. Stephanie represents clients facing a variety of regulatory compliance issues, including representing clients under investigation or subject to prosecution by enforcing authorities (including HSE, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, CQC, police and local authorities (including Trading Standards)). She appears before the Coroners Court, representing clients during inquest proceedings. Stephanie also provides proactive regulatory advice on a variety of issues, ranging from contractual provisions to the applicability of legislation and regulations. With a background in criminal defence and having taught criminal law to undergraduate and postgraduate university students, Stephanie has a solid understanding of criminal law, practice and procedure and has experience in supporting clients through the most sensitive of cases.
Aimee Newton

Aimee Newton

Aimee joined Howes Percival in January 2023 as an Associate in the Dispute Resolution team, specialising in Commercial and Property Litigation. Aimee has experience in a wide variety of disputes, including claims involving shareholder disputes, professional negligence, breach of contract, landlord and tenant disputes, debt recovery and enforcement. Based in the Leicester office, Aimee works with clients to provide straightforward advice and sensible solutions, be that through alternative dispute resolution or litigation.
Helen Parrott

Helen Parrott

Helen has over twenty years of experience in a wide range of transactional commercial property work. She enjoys building long term commercial relationships with her clients to enable her to really understand their businesses and deliver legal solutions in an efficient, timely and practical manner. Helen’s recent deal highlights include: \tActing for a household name retailer on all aspects of its varied property portfolio across the country including disposals, acquisitions and lettings \tLeading on the acquisition and subsequent letting of a significant office building in Bristol for an international fund \tLeading on the property aspects of a funding deal with a value of £170m for an international fund \tActing for a household name retailer in its leasehold acquisition of part of a development site in the Home Counties for use as a local centre \tActing for the landlord on a new letting of an office unit on major new development in the north of England with an annual rent in excess of £900k
Stephen Patch

Stephen Patch

Stephen is an experienced Private Client lawyer specialising in estate planning for high net worth individuals, business owners, farmers and more recently professional sportspeople. Stephen is able to navigate clients through complex matters in simple English, with his friendly and approachable manner putting clients at ease. Stephen is able to offer both practical and commercial advice to his clients often becoming the ‘trusted adviser’ and first point of contact. Expertise includes: \tComplex wills incorporating trusts \tTrusts \tTax and succession planning for individuals, business owners, farmers and professional sportspeople \tPowers of attorney for both individuals and business owners \tEstate administration Stephen is able to take on appointments as an Independent Administrator in Estates that are otherwise facing an impasse or are without an administrator who can be appointed. Stephen is top ranked in Chambers High Net Worth 2022 and a source notes: "Stephen provides very clear advice on complex matters. He is approachable and friendly, yet professional and thorough." Another interviewee explains: "His easy manner puts clients at ease in what can be rather a daunting situation, while his simple explanations mean they feel confident in their decision-making." The Legal 500 notes that Stephen is known for providing advice within private client practice as a lawyer who is ‘very approachable and amenable.’ Stephen is a full member of STEP.
Alex Payton

Alex Payton

Alex advises on all types of tribunal dispute, with particular emphasis on those matters that are complex or multi-jurisdictional. Alex has a particular interest in restrictive covenant enforcement issues and defending claims of high value. Alex also advises on outsourcing issues and TUPE, redundancies and restructuring. Alex is very pragmatic, commercial and solution-focused in the advice he provides. Alex advises on all areas of employment law. His specialisms include: - Defending complex multi-claim and discrimination disputes; - Restrictive covenant enforcement and protection of confidential information; - Advising on restructuring and redundancies; - Managing and negotiating senior executive exits and - Data Protection, including advising clients as they prepare for the introduction of the GDPR in May 2018. He regularly conducts his own tribunal cases, including undertaking his own advocacy at full hearings. Alex is results-driven in his approach and clients praise his commercial, responsive and pragmatic style. Alex regularly delivers training and seminars for clients or business contacts. Alex is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.
Gary Pitt

Gary Pitt

Gary is a Partner in the Commercial Litigation department in Leicester, where he deals with a wide range of commercial matters. His experience includes dealing with contractual disputes in the County Court and High Court, interim applications and urgent injunctions. Gary has a particular interest in restrictive covenant matters, particularly in an employment setting, and can advise on enforcing contracts against employees in breach, or defending ex-employees facing claims. Gary has successfully assisted both applicants and respondents in High Court injunction applications. Gary joined Howes Percival in 2019, having qualified as a solicitor in 2015.
Oliver Pritchard

Oliver Pritchard

Oliver is a senior corporate lawyer with over 20 years’ experience leading teams of lawyers advising on company sale and acquisitions involving trade and PE, management buyouts, joint ventures and group restructurings.  He has acted for a diverse range of clients ranging from large corporates, institutional investors, owner managers, successful entrepreneurs and public bodies. Oliver has particular expertise in advising on transactions in the health and social care sector, where he is recognised as a leading lawyer nationally in the Chambers and Partners Legal Directory (2024 edition). He is head of the firm’s health sector group.
Hannah Pryce

Hannah Pryce

Hannah has considerable experience of providing contentious and non-contentious employment law advice to a broad range of clients. She has particular expertise in tribunal litigation, including complex discrimination and whistleblowing claims. Hannah is experienced in contentious senior exits and gives “good, down to earth advice”. She also delivers in-house training for clients and is responsible for delivering training on Equality & Diversity and Anti-Bullying & Harassment for staff within Howes Percival. Hannah is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.
Victoria Reeves

Victoria Reeves

Victoria is a Senior Associate within Howes Percival’s specialist construction team, specialising in non-contentious matters. Victoria has extensive working knowledge of drafting, amending, negotiation and reporting on industry standard forms of construction contract (JCT 2016 and 2024, NEC3/4) and bespoke forms of contract, appointments, collateral warranties, performance bonds and parent company guarantees, undertaking work for Developers/Employers, Main Contractors and Sub-Contractors. Victoria has a unique in-house perspective and commerciality, having undertaken a 7-month full time secondment at a global consultancy and construction firm, reporting on risk and legal terms in bespoke contracts from various jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, MENA and Europe. Victoria also has experience in assisting with contentious matters, including adjudication proceedings and litigation across the supply chain. Victoria regularly attends legal and industry events across both the West and East Midland regions.
Stephen Ruse

Stephen Ruse

Stephen is a Director in the Intellectual Property and IT team. Stephen advises on both contentious and non-contentious IP and IT matters, including all forms of IP infringement, registering and protecting trade marks, IT and software agreements and commercialising IP. Stephen also advises on Data Protection law. Prior to joining Howes Percival Stephen worked in-house for several years, giving him a beneficial understanding of how commercial businesses operate and the context in which legal advice is required.
Anna Spriggs

Anna Spriggs

Anna has many years of experience in acting for landed estates, charities and agricultural clients in connection with their property portfolios particularly with regard to disposal for land development. Anna is experienced in dealing with complex land law issues and title reconstitution. Anna has a particular specialism in church law and has acted as lead lawyer for the Peterborough Diocesan Board of Finance since 1990. She currently represents a number of dioceses in connection with their land holdings and property management. Anna has been Registrar and Bishop’s Legal Secretary for the diocese of Peterborough since 2014. She is a member of both the Agricultural Law Association and the Ecclesiastical Law Association.
Robert Starr

Robert Starr

Rob is a specialist regulatory lawyer who advises companies and individuals on a wide range of regulatory issues. He has extensive experience of representing clients under investigation by enforcing authorities including the HSE, CQC, Environment Agency, Police and Fire Authorities. He also appears regularly before the Coroners court in relation to fatal accidents. A former prosecutor with the Serious Fraud Office, he not only has an in depth understanding of the approach of regulators, but has managed large complex cases and undertaken numerous internal investigations into fraud, corruption and whistleblowing allegations. Rob has lectured frequently on issues such as health and safety, director’s duties, crisis management and corporate compliance. In 2011 he was invited to speak at Washington University on the impact of the UK Bribery Act as part of an international panel of anti-corruption experts.
Hannah Steggles

Hannah Steggles

Hannah is a Partner in our Intellectual Property and IT team. She has a vast wealth of experience advising on both contentious and non-contentious IP and IT matters as well as complex data protection issues. Hannah advises clients on all aspects of UK and European intellectual property law, including patents, copyright, trade marks, passing off, design rights, domain names and defamation. Her practice encompasses both contentious matters and non-contentious matters including drafting IP licenses, assignments and other agreements as well as handling complex international trade mark portfolios. She is experienced in actions before the Court of Appeal, High Court, Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, UK Intellectual Property Office, OHIM and the World Intellectual Property Office. Hannah has a broad IT practice which includes the preparation and drafting of software development and maintenance agreements, software licence agreements, website development and maintenance agreements, IT outsourcing agreements, end user licence agreements, SaaS subscription agreements and software reseller agreements as well as advising on IP/IT and data protection issues in corporate transactions and assisting in resolution of IT related disputes. Hannah is a leading member of the firms data protection team advising on all aspects of data protection compliance including cross border data transfers for complex organisations and is experienced in advising on advertising compliance.
Katie Summers

Katie Summers

Katie has over 25 years’ experience of dealing with all aspects of both personal and corporate insolvency. In particular, Katie specialises in contentious insolvency, acting predominantly for insolvency practitioner clients in pursuing Insolvency Act claims to achieve maximum recoveries for insolvency estates. Katie returns to Howes Percival, where her legal career started in 1990, as a result of the transfer of the niche insolvency practice, Summers Nigh Law LLP, to Howes Percival in June 2017.
Matthew Talbot

Matthew Talbot

Matthew specialises in all areas of UK and European Intellectual Property law, particularly contentious matters. He advises clients regarding trade marks, copyright, design rights, passing off, patents, European food protection and defamation. He also has substantial experience in IT disputes and has frequently appeared before the English Courts, the European Court of Justice and the UK and European Patent Offices. Matthew is the Head of the IP/IT team at Howes Percival, having joined in November 2006 to set up their IP/IT offering. He acts for clients across the UK and Europe covering all areas of intellectual property and large IT disputes. Matthew is also a member of the firm’s Data Protection Team, advising clients as they prepare for the introduction of the GDPR in May 2018.
Matthew Thompson

Matthew Thompson

Matt is a Partner in our Corporate, Commercial and Banking team. Matt heads the corporate team in Northampton and provides advice on a broad range of corporate finance transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate re-organisations, with a focus in a range of sectors including manufacturing, automotive, healthcare and food and beverage. Matt regularly acts for a range of large corporates, owner managed businesses, start-ups and private equity houses, and acts for those acquiring, selling and investing. Matt also provides corporate governance support and advisory assistance, alongside the transactional work undertaken by his team. Matt has been with Howes Percival for over 10 years and in that time has worked on a variety of deals with a consideration up to and including £125m.
Liz Turner

Liz Turner

Liz has built up a broad Residential Development knowledge-base and commercial grounding, during her time in the Group Legal & Compliance Team at Barratt Redrow PLC where she supported the Divisional Offices and Group Partnerships Team in reviewing, advising and reporting to the Executive on site acquisitions (both strategic and instant land), securities, grant funding agreements, and in the launch of various plot sales schemes, culminating in her ‘Head of Partnerships Legal Support’ role which specialised in Affordable disposals, (collaborating to produce Group standard documentation and transactional risk analysis), Bulk Sales, the First Homes schemes, and public land procurement framework agreements/bids.
Piet van Gelder

Piet van Gelder

Piet is a specialist construction & engineering lawyer who advises clients in the construction, engineering and renewable energy sector, and in respect of compliance with the new regime under the Building Safety Act. Piet has experience over the whole lifecycle of projects, including compliance with building regulations, procurement and resolving commercial issues and project accounts. He has detailed working knowledge of drafting, amending, negotiating and litigating JCT, ICE, NEC3/4, IChemE Red/Green Book, IEE MF/1, FIDIC, GC/Works and PPC 2000 contracts. This expertise also extends to the drafting and negotiation of contracts for wind turbine and anaerobic digester plant installations. Piet has been involved with many engineering projects outside the renewables sector including nuclear waste plants, process engineering plants, sequence batch reactors and waste to energy plants. Piet is a director of Procon Leicestershire and Chair of of the East Midlands Chamber of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He has been involved in substantial disputes in the Technology & Construction Court and in international & domestic arbitration. Piet also has expert knowledge of the Housing Grants and Construction Regeneration Act including recent amendments. He is an experienced practitioner in adjudication and a keen proponent of mediation.