Howes Percival LLP

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.

Alex Payton

Alex is a Director and 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. 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.

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).

Andrew Harris

Partner

Anna Spriggs

Partner

Bilal Ehsan

Bilal is an experienced lawyer with expertise in supporting start-ups, SME’s and major multi-national organisations on all aspects of business immigration. He routinely supports businesses with sponsor licence applications, work related visa sponsorship, permanent residence and right to work considerations. He takes a particular interest in providing operational and strategic advice to companies on the multifaceted immigration landscape, immigration policy design & implementation, sponsorship compliance and considerations arising from a corporate restructure. Having previously worked for some of the world’s largest professional services firms, Bilal has expertise in developing and managing complex immigration programs for organisations. He is also skilled in supporting the immigration needs of organisations seeking to set up a presence in the UK.

Bill Trow

Bill is a specialist property litigation solicitor who advises on a wide range of contentious property issues relating to residential, commercial and agricultural land, with a particular focus on insolvency related property litigation. He has detailed experience in commercial landlord and tenant disputes including contentious and non-contentious lease renewals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, dilapidations and breaches of covenant. Bill is frequently instructed by residential tenants to assist with complex leasehold enfranchisement claims. He also deals with real property issues such as possession claims, boundary disputes and issues relating to rights of way and restrictive covenants. Bill acts for a broad range of clients including institutional and social landlords, commercial tenants, developers, landowners, individuals and insolvency practitioners.

Carl Mifflin

Carl specialises in all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency, in particular advising businesses and business owners on their duties, options and responsibilities when facing financial difficulties and acting for Insolvency Practitioners on insolvency appointments, business sales, investigations and asset recovery. Carl is recognised for commercial and pragmatic advice to insolvency practitioners and business owners. At his previous firm, the Legal 500 recognised Carl as “one of the best insolvency lawyers in Nottingham”.

Chris May

Chris advises on all aspects of town planning and development law. He has extensive experience in the coordination of development proposals, including student accommodation, motorway service areas and residential development at regeneration sites and greenfield sites, and in the preparation and negotiation of Planning Obligations. Chris also regularly advises on CPO, CIL, enforcement and EIA development. He is a legal associate of the RTPI. Chris has acted for national housebuilders, leading regional developers, landowners, local authorities and interested parties. As a partner in the Leicester Office, he seeks to build on the strong commercial property base to provide an excellent planning service.

Chris White

Chris is a very experienced commercial and technology lawyer advising on a wide variety of trading arrangements, including complex manufacturing and distribution arrangements, procurement, service provision and supply and licensing arrangements. Chris’s technology and e-commerce advice includes hardware procurement, software development, licensing and support, including SaaS/PaaS agreements and data protection issues. Chris is recognised as a key lawyer in the Legal 500 for both commercial and technology work. Prior to joining, Chris worked for major international and city law firms advising businesses from small owner-managed businesses to major multi-national conglomerates. Chris has considerable experience in advising on logistics and warehousing issues having spent 6 months working on secondment with one of the UK’s major retailers and advising some of the UK’s major supermarket chains. Chris also has specific expertise in sports related work, having advised the UK’s premier motorsport venue, a premiership rugby team and one of the world cup organising bodies on a variety of contracts including licensing, sponsorship, hospitality, merchandising and outside broadcast agreements.

Christopher Cubitt

Partner

Deborah Nigh

Deborah qualified as a solicitor in March 1999 and has specialised, since then, in all aspects of personal and corporate insolvency. Deborah deals mainly with office holder claims identifying recoveries to be made for the benefit of the insolvent estate. Deborah returns to Howes Percival where her legal career started, as a trainee solicitor in 1997, via the merger of niche insolvency practice, summers nigh law, with Howes Percival in June 2017.

Elizabeth Thomas

Elizabeth is a commercial property specialist with a focus on working with property investors, corporate occupiers, charities and clients in the public sector. She has in-depth experience across a range of commercial property matters, including conditional sales and purchases, option agreements, agreements for lease and property management matters. She has over eight years of experience in advising education bodies (including Universities, Cambridge colleges, FE institutions and private providers) in respect of their portfolios and is used to working to tight timescales in order to achieve the desired result by the necessary deadline. Elizabeth’s practice also includes buying and selling student accommodation and she has acted for a number of overseas property investors in this sector, steering them through the complexities of the UK market. Following one such acquisition, Elizabeth was described by the client as “responsive, focussed, hardworking, punctual, cool as a cucumber and just an all-round pleasure to deal with”.

Erica Gradus

Based in the Northampton office servicing clients around the country, Erica is a knowledgeable and experienced commercial property solicitor with a strong commercial perspective, who is able to provide sound and practical advice to clients. Erica deals with all aspects of commercial property, including corporate support on business acquisitions, freehold and leasehold acquisitions and disposals, banking and finance, property finance and pension related matters, acting for both seller and buyer and landlord and tenant.

Estelle Corner

Partner

Faye Meredith

Having previously trained with the firm, Faye re-joined Howes Percival in March 2023 as a Director in our Banking and Finance team. Faye has a wealth of experience of advising both lenders (including banks, funds, alternative lenders and private capital) and borrowers on all aspects of banking and finance transactions including general corporate banking and acquisition, leveraged and real-estate finance. Faye’s experience spans both domestic and cross-border banking transactions. Faye joined Howes Percival in March 2023.

Geraint Davies

Geraint is a partner and heads up the litigation team at Howes Percival and has over 20 years' experience in dealing with high-value commercial and property litigation disputes. Geraint moved from a London firm to join Howes Percival in 1996 and acts on behalf of a wide range of commercial clients, ranging from major PLC's to owner managed businesses. He regularly deals with complex High Court litigation as well as alternative dispute resolution, including mediation.

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.

Gordon Simpson

Gordon has over 20 years experience of handling contentious disputes. He has the technical expertise to handle complicated and high value commercial claims through to trial, but combines this with a flexible approach to look for practical and cost effective solutions. After several years working in Manchester, Gordon was head of a litigation team in Norfolk before joining our commercial litigation team in Norwich. Gordon likes to develop strong business relationships with clients, to help them through the litigation process and identify ways to avoid litigation in the future.

Graham Irons

Graham is a partner and provides advice to clients in both the private and public sectors. He is a regular speaker at a range of events and has a reputation for delivering fun and practical seminars and training.

Guy Houldsworth

Guy qualified into the Commercial Property team in March 2013 having previously spent six months in the department during his training contract. His case-load includes a wide variety of commercial property work acting for landlords, tenants and lenders on acquisitions and disposals of freehold and leasehold land. Guy also assists senior fee earners on large or complex transactions.

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.

Hannah Steggles

Partner

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.

Haydon Simmonds

Haydon is a Banking & Finance lawyer with a breadth of experience across a wide range of domestic and cross-border corporate banking and real-estate finance transactions. Haydon advises lenders (including banks, funds, alternative lenders and private capital) and borrowers (both corporates and sponsors) on leveraged and acquisition financings, general corporate banking, real-estate investment and development transactions. Haydon joined Howes Percival in January 2019. 2019 - Present: Howes Percival LLP, Partner 2018: Spearing Waite, Partner 2016: Addleshaw Goddard, Associate 2012 - 2015: Gateley, Associate 2006 - 2012: Shoosmiths, Trainee & Solicitor

Jahid Ali

Partner

James Howarth

James helps clients with intellectual property law and media issues. With a particular focus on contentious matters, he has extensive experience of disputes involving trade marks, passing off, copyright (whether artistic, literary or software), database rights, design rights, patents and domain names. His practice also regularly features work involving defamation, privacy and data protection issues (including interim injunction applications and the ‘right to be forgotten’). James has acted for major corporations, SMEs and private individuals in various forums including the High Court, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, the UK Intellectual Property Office and WIPO.Having trained as a lawyer after a career in publishing, James joined the IP/IT team at Howes Percival as a partner in October 2015. He is primarily based in the firm’s Milton Keynes office, but looks after clients in locations across the UK.

Jamie Kidd

Jamie is a partner and advises on contentious property issues encompassing residential, commercial and agricultural land. He has detailed experience in relation to asset management concerns such as rent review and dilapidations, development and joint venture disputes, and the impact of insolvency. Jamie has a particular interest in overage, rights of light, rights of way, adverse possession and enfranchisement. Jamie has enjoyed success before the LVT, the HMLR Adjudicator, the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Jamie contributes to the Property Law Journal and is a member of the Property Litigation Association.

Jamie Childs

Jamie is a specialist planning solicitor at Howes Percival, with a particular focus on securing legally robust and deliverable planning permissions for clients. Described as a “rising star” in the Legal 500 (2022), Jamie’s experience includes advising on a number of significant, high profile and contentious residential development projects. Jamie also regularly advises on a wide range of commercial, energy and retail projects. Jamie is regularly instructed by national and regional housebuilders, land promoters, investors, landowners and local planning authorities. Jamie has a proven track record of negotiating complex planning agreements on some of the largest development projects in the region. Jamie also has substantial experience in judicial review matters and in providing specialist advice on Environmental Impact Assessment, permitted development rights, highways matters, rights of way, assets of community value and town and village greens. Jamie’s experience also covers advising on a range of licensing law matters. Jamie has particular experience in advising clients on applications for new or varied premises licenses. Jamie’s combined expertise in both planning and licensing matters means he often provides valuable practical and strategic advice to developers, owners and operators of licensed premises.

Jay Mehta

Partner Jay is a specialist planning solicitor at Howes Percival. He is experienced in all areas of planning law and supports his clients with the delivery of strategic residential development including large urban extensions and allocations, in addition to commercial, agricultural and renewable energy projects. Recommended in the Legal 500, Jay’s clients include national house builders, promoters and local planning authorities who describe him as having “excellent judgement and very good attention to detail”. Over the years, Jay has accrued significant experience in judicial review and planning appeals. He has defended countless developers and local planning authorities against challenges to planning permissions, with continued success in the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Many of these cases are now considered to be leading authorities on matters such as Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment. Jay is therefore relied on by many applicants and local planning authorities to guide them through the application process to ensure planning permissions may be secured robustly and the development may proceed without delay. Jay also has considerable experience in drafting complex section 106 agreements and highways agreements for schemes across the country, and provides regular advice on other matters such as enforcement, certificates of lawfulness, compulsory purchase, town and village greens, listed buildings consent and permitted development rights.

Jenna Bruce

With over 13 years’ experience in Intellectual Property, Jenna’s practice encompasses both commercial and contentious Intellectual Property and IT matters. Whilst Jenna advises clients on all aspects of Intellectual Property law, she has a particular interest in the enforcement of rights in software, drafting and negotiating commercial Intellectual Property and IT agreements, trade mark portfolio management, and in supporting the firm’s Corporate teams with transactional matters. Jenna is also a member of the firm’s Data Protection Team, advising clients in relation to GDPR compliance and other data protection matters. Jenna joined Howes Percival’s Intellectual Property 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 drink, fashion, media and creative, IT and education. Jenna is recognised in the Legal 500 for her experience in Intellectual Property, IT and Telecoms, and Media and Entertainment.

Jennie Loynes

Jennie has extensive experience in acting on sales and purchases of farms and estates, including equestrian properties, overages, and tenanted land. Jennie also deals with secured lending on agricultural land, auctions, entitlements and rural land generally. Jennie has a particular interest in dealing with charity property and compulsory purchases, particularly relating to HS2. Jennie qualified as a solicitor in 2005 and joined Howes Percival in April 2023.

Jennifer Laskey

Jennifer is an experienced contentious probate and trusts specialist. She is ACTAPS (The Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists) qualified and has over 20 years’ experience in advising clients in Will disputes, claims against Estates, challenges to Will validity and issues arising from the administration of Trusts. Jennifer has also represented clients in a rare Presumption of Death application. As well as acting for Executors or Trustees and beneficiaries in Wills and Trusts disputes, Jennifer has been appointed as Trustee on a number of multi-million pound Trusts and can act as an Independent Trustee. Jennifer works with her clients to achieve realistic and pragmatic results, ensuring that disputes are dealt with as cost-effectively as possible. She has a wealth of experience advising clients in complex Wills and Estate disputes and has dealt with claims taken all the way to trial as well as those settled following successful mediation. Clients say she is “very clear, focused and helpful” and that her advice is “invaluable”.

Jo Nicholls

Joanna has significant experience of all types of commercial property work, specialising mainly in real estate development, but also dealing with acquisitions and disposals; landlord and tenant matters for clients’ property portfolios; and acting for investors in high value commercial properties. Joanna has significant commercial property experience and has progressed her career with the firm since qualifying as a solicitor, establishing a strong loyalty with both her clients and the business.

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.

Karyn Coburn

Karyn has experience in contentious and non-contentious corporate and personal insolvency. She currently specialises in contentious insolvency, acting predominantly for insolvency practitioners in relation to claims such as misfeasance, wrongful and fraudulent trading, transactions at an undervalue and preference claims and transactions defrauding creditors. She also has extensive experience acting for Government Departments including the Insolvency Service where she advises in relation to director disqualification applications and public interest winding up petitions. Karyn gained her degree in Australia where she worked as a commercial litigation solicitor before moving to the UK. Following her qualification in the UK, Karyn spent some time working internally with the Insolvency Service as well as working in private practice as an insolvency solicitor before joining Howes Percival in 2010. Karyn is based in Howes Percival’s Manchester office.

Katharine Danks

Partner

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.

Laura Brown

Director

Leanne Davis

Leanne advises on a wide range of contentious property issues, involving residential, commercial and agricultural land. Leanne advises on commercial landlord and tenant disputes including dilapidations, 1954 Act claims, forfeiture and other breaches of covenant claims. She also advises on land issues such as adverse possession, trespass and rights of way. Leanne is a member of the Property Litigation Association.

Lucy Lord

Lucy is a partner and 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.

Marcus Carter

Partner Marcus has recently joined our Milton Keynes office from local firm EMW where he headed up the Occupiers and Investment Team. Marcus’ specialism is acting for corporate occupiers of commercial property and dealing with investment acquisitions and disposals. He has significant experience in working with clients on expanding their portfolios or managing their existing portfolio and enjoys working with clients as part of their team to achieve his client’s goals. Marcus has worked with a number of household names during his career to date but also enjoys working with local business either starting out or moving premises. Marcus’ advice and approach to any transaction will be driven by the client’s aims and wishes and he prides himself on offering not only sound legal advice (which is probably a given) but advice which is commercial and practical. Based in our Milton Keynes office Marcus acts for clients based both locally to MK but also nationally.

Matthew Potter

Matthew has a wealth of experience in all areas of employment law both litigation and advisory. Matthew provides commercial solutions for employers with particular experience of large scale TUPE transfers in both the private and public sectors; restructures; employment tribunal litigation and High Court injunctions. Matthew writes and presents frequently on employment law issues providing updates and training to clients. He recognised by both Chambers and Legal 500 as a leader in his field. Matthew joined Howes Percival in 2017 as a Partner having previous headed teams in the Eastern Region. In addition to his employment practice, he is also a school governor and trustee of an independent school and a member of the advisory board to a regional theatre company.

Matthew Talbot

Matthew is a partner and 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. Matthew 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 Thompson

Partner Matthew is a Partner in our Corporate, Commercial and Banking team. Matthew provides advice on a broad range of corporate matters (including corporate deals of various sizes and restructurings), commercial matters (including commercial contracts, standard terms and conditions and franchising), loan agreements, and refinancing transactions. Matthew qualified into the Corporate and Commercial department at Howes Percival in September 2014 after successfully completing his training contract with the firm. Matthew is based in the Northampton office.

Michael Green

Michael specialises in large complex commercial disputes with a particular emphasis on company/shareholder disputes, partnership advice, restraint of trade, technology disputes, professional negligence claims, contract disputes, agency disputes, contentious trusts & probate and insolvency. His clients include BDO, Mazars, RSM, Bens Cookies, many in the automotive industry and Cambridge tech companies. Michael is a Member of the Association for British Recovery Professionals (R3) and the Association of Contentious Probate Specialists (ACTAPS). He has extensive experience of litigating in the higher courts and is ranked Tier One in legal directories (Chambers & Partners and Legal 500) being described as “commercially minded, astute and a leading individual in litigation and insolvency”. Michael is a Solicitor-Advocate and is dual qualified as a barrister.

Michaela Henson

Michaela’s specialisms are land development and promotion, commercial development and site assembly, property investment, landlord and tenant negotiations and advising on commercial property issues for investors, operational businesses, technology companies and charities nationwide. Michaela started her career at a West End law firm before returning to Cambridge in 1998

Miles Barnes

Miles is a Director in the Corporate, Commercial and Banking team at Howes Percival. He advises businesses on a range of commercial contracts (including terms & conditions, supply, distribution, manufacturing and franchising agreements) as well as advising on corporate transactions (including acquisitions, disposals, reorganisations and joint ventures). Miles has a particular interest in the food and drink sector, advising businesses on manufacturing, purchasing, marketing and distribution agreements for a range of household names and he also has expertise in e-commerce; including advising a specialist cyber-security firm on the roll out of its Software as a Service platform; and advising on the legal terms for e-commerce marketplaces. Prior to joining the Corporate, Commercial and Banking team Miles completed two in-house secondments with major multinationals and also spent time working for a local authority Legal team, giving him considerable first-hand experience in Commercial, Intellectual Property and Public law issues.

Morris Peacock

Morris Peacock is a partner and is an experienced litigation solicitor with expertise in insolvency and directors disqualification. Morris joined Howes Percival in 1999 after having previously acted for directors in respect of directors disqualification matters and for insolvency practitioners on recovery actions. He has acted for the Insolvency Service for over 12 years, has been the partner responsible for investigation matters since 2004 and the client partner for all Insolvency Service matters since 2008, which also includes public interest winding up work and costs recovery work and conducts advocacy in the County Courts. He is an advisory editor to ‘Mithani on Disqualification’ and a member of the R3 Eastern Region Committee. He has dealt with a number of high profile and reported cases including Crystal Palace FC (1986) Limited, SOSTI v Aaron & others, Wrapit and UKLI.

Nicholas James

Nick is a partner who specialises in commercial property law with particular expertise in advising developer clients on the acquisition and disposal of residential development and commercial land, landowner consortium agreements for the acquisition or disposal of land, option and promotional agreements. In addition to development work, Nick also acts on the acquisition and disposal of large investment portfolios. Numbering national and regional companies amongst his clients, Nick enjoys the challenge that the work brings, and the close involvement with the individuals at his client companies.

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.

Oliver Brookshaw

Partner

Oliver Pritchard

Partner

Patrick Manning

A former City solicitor, Patrick is a member of Howes Percival's Insolvency Service team. Having joined the firm in 2005, he advises on and is responsible for the conduct of directors disqualification proceedings on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS). He has trial experience both in the High Court and county courts as well as wide experience of negotiated settlements in defended claims. Patrick also undertakes investigations on behalf of BIS in relation to directors misconduct. Patrick trained and qualified with City of London firms, working for a number of years post-qualification in litigated insurance claims for UK and international insurers and reinsurers.

Paul Hunt

Partner

Paula Bailey

Paula is a Partner and Head of the Employment Law Team at Howes Percival.  She has extensive experience in all aspects of employment law, both contentious and non-contentious. She provides commercial and practical advice to a wide range of businesses and adopts a can do approach to ensuring that clients achieve their strategic aims.  Paula has developed particular expertise in outsourcing, TUPE and redundancies and restructuring projects. Paula regularly presents seminars and provides in-house training on employment law issues. Paula is a member of the Employers Lawyers Association.

Paula Dumbill

Partner Paula is an experienced commercial contracts and information technology specialist with particular expertise in advising on complex projects. She has a wealth of experience of commercial trading arrangements across a broad range of sectors and has a keen interest in innovation and technology. 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’. Before joining Howes Percival, Paula was a partner at Browne Jacobson solicitors where she was head of the commercial team in the East Midlands and lead health tech partner.

Richard Turner

Richard specialises in advising on corporate transactions and has been involved in numerous acquisitions, mergers, MBO's and disposals acting for vendors, buyers and other institutions. Richard also regularly works on a wide variety of other complex corporate matters, including shareholder arrangements, joint ventures, reorganisations and partnerships. Richard is also well experienced in guiding clients through complex contractual matters and assists clients in finding practical commercial solutions to their requirements. Richard has deep experience in drafting and negotiating a spectrum of contractual arrangements including: - Business-to-business supply contracts; - Sponsorship agreements; - Reseller, manufacturing and distribution agreements; and - General terms and conditions of sale.

Robert Starr

Partner 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.

Sarah Dacre

Sarah is a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney with extensive experience both in-house and private practice. Her experience covers all aspects of trade mark protection and enforcement including managing national and international trade mark portfolios. Sarah has a valuable understanding of the commercial pressures different business sectors face.

Sarah Lee

Sarah specialises in corporate recovery and insolvency - both contentious and non-contentious. She is an experienced insolvency litigator, acting primarily for insolvency office-holders and creditors in corporate and personal insolvency cases, including complex debt recovery, claims for misfeasance/breach of fiduciary duty, antecedent transactions and transactions defrauding creditors, as well as actions to recover property into insolvent estates, and applications for injunctive relief such freezing and proprietary injunctions. Sarah is also experienced in corporate and non-contentious insolvency work, in particular assisting insolvency office-holders’ investigations under sections 234 to 236 Insolvency Act 1986, bankruptcy and winding up petitions, administration applications and other procedural and ad hoc non-contentious court work, advising office-holders and creditors on procedural aspects of insolvency, and negotiating and drafting sale and purchase agreements

Satnam Chayra

Satnam is a partner and an experienced property litigator, advising clients in relation to all aspects of property-related disputes. Satnam deals predominantly with landlord and tenant disputes (including dilapidations, lease renewals, repossessions, rent arrears, landlord’s consent, break notices and insolvency) and also undertakes general property litigation such as trespass, boundary disputes and professional negligence. Satnam regularly presents seminars to clients and contacts. Based in the Leicester office, Satnam is recognised as a leading property litigator in the East Midlands. She acts for a range of high-profile clients, including national retailers and other household names. She has gained a formidable reputation for her no-nonsense, commercial approach.

Simon Murphy

Simon advises on contentious property issues encompassing residential, commercial and agricultural land. Simon spends most of his time advising on asset management issues including possession claims, the forfeiture of leases, dilapidations, service charge disputes and lease interpretation. He also advises on trespass, overage, rights of light, rights of way, adverse possession and enfranchisement. Simon is based in the Cambridge office. Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 have consistently recognised Simon as a leader in his field commenting he ” is best known for commercial landlord/tenant work for retailers, leisure clients and landed estates”. Simon is a member of the Property Litigation Association.

Simon deMaid

Simon is a partner and advises on all types of tribunal claims, with a particular interest in disability discrimination. He takes a pro-active role in case management, including advocacy at hearings. Simon also advises on redundancy/restructuring, TUPE transfers and corporate transactions, and he provides bespoke advice to commercial clients from the public and private sector. His approach is creative, commercial and pragmatic. Simon regularly delivers training seminars and workshops for clients and also in conjunction with other professionals, such as recruitment specialists, outplacement providers and the Northampton CIPD. Simon is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Simon Franklin

Simon specialises in all aspects of non-contentious construction law from strategic procurement advice to dispute avoidance. The backbone of Simon’s practice is the preparation and negotiation of construction documentation, including building contracts, professional appointments, collateral warranties as well as security documents such as bonds and guarantees. Having previously worked in both London and Manchester Simon has considerable experience of working with a number of developers and housebuilders on a wide variety of projects (student accommodation, hospitals, mixed use commercial/retail developments, boutique hotels, urban regeneration schemes and residential refurbishments). Simon also spent a number of years advising national housing associations on the procurement, delivery and maintenance of their affordable housing stock.

Steven Maier

Steven specialises in both IP and commercial litigation, with particular expertise in publishing and media law, including copyright and trade mark infringement, libel and privacy, confidential information and internet domain name cases. He also handles a wide range of commercial disputes including breach of commercial agreements, warranty claims and negligence. Steven is an appointed domain name adjudicator to both the World Intellectual Property Organization and Nominet.UK panels.

Steven Beach

Steven has over 30 years experience in dealing with a wide range of commercial property transactions. He particularly specialises in acting on commercial investment property transactions and also in the main acting for landowners in relation to potential commercial and residential development schemes including substantial experience in dealing with Collaboration Agreements, Promotion Agreements and Options.

Stuart Burns

Stuart has wide experience of all aspects of commercial property, including freehold and leasehold acquisitions and disposals, commercial 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 local landowners and individuals to property development companies, investors, national retail companies and funds.

Stuart Maggs

Stuart is a partner in the property and estates team at Howes Percival, dealing with landed estates, high-net-worth individuals and business owners. After training as a barrister he spent many years providing tax advice via accountancy firms before returning to the law once more. Stuart has 15 years’ experience in devising bespoke taxation solutions for his clients. He presents lectures and seminars regularly on topical tax issues and is CTA qualified. Stuart has particular expertise in estate planning and minimising inheritance and capital gains tax, both onshore and offshore.

Sundip Mapara

Experts you can trust EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND 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.

Susanne Hinde

Susanne specialises in investment property, and commercial landlord and tenant matters covering the leisure, retail, office and life sciences sectors. Susanne has extensive experience in working with a variety of clients including businesses on the Cambridge Business Weekly “Killer 50” List, Cambridge colleges, pension funds, charities, not for profit organisations as well as family-owned businesses. Clients say that Susanne is pragmatic and approachable, and is good at understanding their business needs. Susanne started her career in Nottingham where she qualified as a solicitor in commercial property.

Tessa Haskey

Tessa is a partner and her specialisms include landlord and tenant, sales and purchases of commercial property and banking work. She negotiates leases, mainly for owners of commercial property portfolios, and advises on landlord and tenant legislation. Tessa acts for banks and private lenders in relation to their property work. She deals with sales and purchases of commercial land and buildings; including advising on overage and clawback and Stamp Duty Land Tax issues. Having worked in industry herself, Tessa has a good understanding of how businesses operate, and is aware of the commercial pressures on business clients.

Tom Lawrence

Partner

Tom Redman

Tom is a Director in our Milton Keynes office and is a corporate, automotive retail M&A and venture capital specialist. The only lawyer to have been shortlisted “Emerging Dealmaker of the Year” by Insider Central and East Midlands Dealmakers Awards 2022, Tom has advised on some of the firm’s highest profile transactions. He has experience of advising all types of businesses, from owner-managed through to large, listed multinational groups having spent more than 5 years at international law firm, Dentons. He has considerable experience in complex domestic and cross-border corporate transactions, with notable expertise in buying and selling motor dealerships, regularly acting for several of the UK’s largest automotive retail groups in the top 100. His practice spans a wide range of corporate transactions, including; acquisitions and disposals, private equity transactions, joint ventures, group reorganisations, restructurings and corporate governance matters. Tom’s venture capital work has seen him act for founders, start-ups, scale-ups and venture funds both in the UK and internationally across a myriad of sectors and at all stages of an emerging growth company's development life cycle.

Victoria Sandell

Victoria is a Director in the Dispute Resolution team, based in our Cambridge office. Victoria was listed under 'Rising stars’ by the Legal 500 2021. She has a wide range of experience advising on all aspects of complex commercial disputes including contractual disputes, company/shareholder disputes, negligence claims against professionals, fraud (including cyber fraud), judicial review claims and insolvency matters and proceedings. In addition she is also experienced in advising on contentious trusts and probate matters. Victoria takes a keen interest in her clients’ businesses and strives to find a practical solution for them. She works closely with her clients to factor in commercial and other external pressures that impact on decision making. As well as County Court and High Court litigation, Victoria also has considerable experience effectively using Alternative Dispute Resolution procedures. Victoria has close attention to detail and is able to provide legal advice on complex matters in a pragmatic way.

William Shirley

Partner