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 Partner 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. 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.

Alexandra Hornsby

Alexandra is a partner and has been advising wealthy individuals and business owners on estate planning and succession matters, including complex inheritance tax and capital gains tax issues for 20 years. 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.

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.

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.

Andrew Harris

Andy is a Consultant in the Milton Keynes Corporate Team, having re-joined the firm in 2020 after 12 years as a partner at international law firm Dentons. He has deep experience in transactional M&A, private equity, and reorganisations for businesses across a variety of sectors, and several client relationships that go back 10-20 years. Ranked in Legal 500 2025’s “Hall of Fame”, he also “has a great depth of experience in M & A transactions and private equity investments and a client endorses him as “a very pragmatic individual who gets to the point and ensures commercial solutions are reached without elongated legal negotiations” (Chambers 2019). Andy was for 5 years the Group Legal Director with a fully-listed public company manufacturer with an international footprint, leading the group's acquisition and disposal programmes. This broadened his experience and taught him valuable lessons in how to look at things practically from the client's perspective, and also to consider issues in the context of the wider business. Andy has been a trustee of local charity, MK SNAP, which helps adults with learning difficulties to live as independently as possible, since 2013.

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 acted as lead lawyer for the Peterborough Diocesan Board of Finance since 1990 and 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.

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.

Cathleen Blackburn

Cathleen Blackburn joined Howes Percival in January 2024 after 12 years at Maier Blackburn where she was a co-founder. Cathleen specialises in intellectual property law, with particular emphasis on copyright, publishing and trade mark licensing. She acts for publishers, authors, libraries, museums and other cultural and heritage organisations. She also advises on commercial agreements and transactions generally. She is a member of the Association of Learned Professional and Society Publishers.

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

Chris is a commercial property Partner leading the Development team in our Norwich office. He has extensive experience of acting for developers, promoters and landowners on high value strategic land transactions such as options and conditional contracts, promotion agreements and collaborations. On commercial developments he also advises on disposals and investment management of subsequent lettings. Chris enjoys working closely with clients so as to understand their aims and objectives and to deliver practical, commercial advice.

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, focused, 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

Estelle Corner is a Partner in the Social Housing team based at our Norwich office.

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.

Gareth John

Gareth has over 25 years experience of advising clients on many different corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, disposals, group reorganisations and joint ventures. His clients have ranged from individual owner managers and management teams through to mid-market private equity houses and FTSE listed companies. He has also been recognised as a leading individual and member of the Hall of Fame in the Legal 500 directory.

Gary Smith

City trained, Gary is a highly experienced corporate lawyer. He acts for a variety of clients from listed companies, private companies, PE backed entities and partnerships. His expertise covers the full range of corporate and commercial law including mergers & acquisitions, JVs, shareholder advice and MBOs/MBIs. Gary has strong sector experience in holiday parks and logistics and is regularly asked to advise on M&A that has a cross border element.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

James Stephen

James is a senior corporate lawyer who takes a pragmatic and solutions-focussed approach when advising clients. He has over 25 years’ experience of advising on corporate legal matters including domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, fundraisings, corporate reorganisations and general corporate advisory issues James acts for clients of all sizes including public and private limited companies, LLPs, partnerships and entrepreneurs. His clients operate across a range of sectors. James has completed the Power MBA course which has given him an excellent insight into the commercial challenges his clients might face.

James Howarth

James helps clients with media issues and disputes regarding intellectual property. With a particular focus on contentious matters, he has extensive experience of matters 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 and privacy issues. James is a member of the firm’s Data Protection Team, advising clients on compliance, subject access requests and handling data breaches. 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 Oxford office, but looks after clients in locations across the UK.

James Henderson

James is a specialist commercial property solicitor and Partner in our Development team. He has a high level of experience from over 20 years advising landowners, investors (including institutional funds) and funders on all aspects of land acquisition, development and disposal. He regularly gives specialist advice on option agreements, conditional contracts and overage arrangements. He has advised funders on numerous forward funding and other development projects relating to commercial and residential BTR schemes. He has advised on complex mixed-use sites promoted and developed through joint venture vehicles and other partnering arrangements. James is very experienced at working either within or as an extension of client teams, in collaboration with other advisors, to understand the important underlying commercial needs and drivers behind projects. He enjoys partnering in this way to help clients find commercial solutions by advising on legal issues in the wider business context, to achieve the best outcome.

Jamie Kidd

Jamie 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 Leasehold Valuation Tribunal, the Land Registry Adjudicator, the First Tier and Upper Tribunal, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 has consistently recognised Jamie as a leader in his field since 2004. Clients comment that he is "strategic", “efficient and sensible” and “always produces advice which is spot on”.

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.

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.

Jay Mehta

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.

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 Administrator or 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”

Jeremy Hyde

Jeremy provides advice on a broad range of corporate matters including private company asset and share disposals and acquisitions, employee ownership trusts and restructuring and reorganisations. He also advises directors and shareholders on all company related matters including drafting and preparing shareholder agreements and new articles of association.

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.

Jonathan Parker

Jonathan is a specialist social housing solicitor who works with housing associations, local authorities and private house-builders on all aspects of non-contentious social housing. Jonathan is a key player in the sector, particularly within East Anglia, and is known for his clear, jargon-free legal advice. Jonathan has a keen interest in the development of new social housing and advises clients on affordable housing planning obligations including negotiating and varying section 106 affordable housing provisions. He also has extensive experience purchasing and selling section 106 allocated affordable housing, and negotiating options, conditional contracts and development agreements. Originally from Lincolnshire, Jonathan moved to Norfolk in 2011 to study law and is firmly rooted in the county having now worked for two of its largest law firms.

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”.

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

Katharine is a Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association which recognises her detailed knowledge of various aspects of agricultural and rural issues including trusts, taxation, land law, agricultural holdings, Town and Country Planning and the Common Agricultural Policy. Katharine has experience in acting for landowners, landlords, tenants and lenders in respect of agricultural property matters including agricultural holdings act advice, farm business tenancies, acquisitions and disposals (including overage, options and other strategic land agreements) and secured lending on agricultural land and entitlements. Katharine leads complex matters for agricultural clients involving agricultural and rural property, farming partnerships, tax and trusts issues. Katharine trained at Eversheds LLP and qualified into the Real Estate Development team in 2006. Post-qualification Katharine gained over three years’ experience at Eversheds dealing with a range of property matters, from complex promotion and option agreements to deeds of easement and reports on title. Katharine joined Howes Percival LLP in January 2014.

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

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

Laura is a Director in our employment law team and joined the firm in 2021. Laura advises a variety of clients (ranging from international groups to smaller start-ups) within various industries including technology, education, energy and renewables, motor, manufacturing and food sectors. Laura works closely with HR Professionals, managers and owners of businesses to: • ensure that employment documentation is fit for purpose; • guide businesses through complex employment law processes; • support clients with major changes which will impact on staff, such as restructure and redundancy; • deal with issues on termination of employment including confidentiality and restrictive covenants; • assist on transactional matters including mergers and acquisitions and in/outsourcing (TUPE) Laura also has extensive experience in contentious matters including tribunal litigation, settlement agreements, bonus disputes, discrimination and equality, complex grievances and restrictive covenants. Laura is regularly hosting and presenting at events and has been praised for her training she offers to clients on employment law topics such as equality and diversity, management, investigating and modern slavery). Clients refer to Laura as being “professional” and “approachable” who “blends legislation, best practice and commerciality”. Laura is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Lauren Abbs

Lauren is a Director in the Estates team based in our Norwich office. She provides specialist advice in connection with wills, estate administration, lasting powers of attorney, trust administration and estate planning. Lauren is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Lauren is named in the Legal 500 as a “Next Generation Partner” for Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate in Norwich. Lauren graduated from the University of East Anglia with a First-Class Honours degree in Law in 2011 - she was awarded the Prize for the best performance in the final assessment for the Degree of Bachelor of Laws. Upon completion of the Legal Practice Course in 2013, Lauren was awarded the Cambridge and District Law Society Prize for the best overall performance in the compulsory subjects.

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 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.

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.

Marcus Carter

Marcus is Head of the Commercial Property team in the Milton Keynes office which he re-established when he joined the firm in June 2021. Since joining, the team has more than doubled in size and made its presence felt in the Milton Keynes' property market. The team’s goal is to offer pragmatic legal advice that is commercial and jargon free. 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 but also enjoys working with local businesses 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. Marcus is recognised as a leading individual in The Legal 500 (2023 Edition).

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.

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 also has a keen interest and experience over many years in the food and beverage sector acting for clients in established businesses in as diverse product lines as meat and poultry to international wine importers. 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 previously 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 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.

Max Windich

Max is a commercial contract lawyer specialising in the IT, technology, life sciences and academic sectors. He supports clients from fast-moving, bootstrapping start-ups to multinationals and Russell Group universities. He frequently works as an extension of his clients’ in-house teams and is adept at tailoring his approach to each client’s specific business objectives and culture. His recent work runs the gamut from multi-£million procurement and outsourcing transactions (IT solutions, catering services, and in one case the complete suite of medical equipment for a new private clinic), to technology and software licensing, to contracts for museum exhibitions, celebrity red carpet appearances and sponsorship. He has specific experience in defence and aerospace contracting, selling to UK, EU and US buyers. Max also advises regularly on data protection and export control issues. Before joining Howes Percival, Max spent half his career in private practice and the other half running his own legal consultancy providing specialist legal services to clients in and around Oxford. He recently spent a year in-house with a longstanding client.

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 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”.

Morris Peacock

Morris joined Howes Percival in 1999 after having previously acted for directors in respect of both civil and criminal proceedings and also for insolvency practitioners on civil recovery actions. Morris has acted for the Insolvency Service for over 20 years and been the client partner since 2008 overseeing disqualification, investigation and public interest winding up work. Morris is an Advisory Editor to Mithani: Directors Disqualification, a member of the R3 Eastern Region Committee and leads a team described by Chambers as “incredibly effective in directors’ disqualification matters”. Cases of note include Re Skyward Builders Plc, Re Crystal Palace FC (1986) Limited, Re Vintage Hallmark Plc, Secretary of State v Aaron & Others, Re Luton Town Football Club, Re Granville Technology Group Limited (Tiny Computers , Time Computers) Re UKLI, Re Wrapit, and Re BHS.

Neena Jakhu

eena 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

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).

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 Pritchard

Oliver is a senior corporate lawyer with particular expertise in advising on transactions in the health and social care sector, where he is recognised as a leading lawyer nationally in the Legal 500 (2020 edition). He has a wealth of experience in leading teams of lawyers on corporate transactions and other large scale projects within the public and private sectors. Prior to joining Howes Percival in January 2020, Oliver worked for over 20 years at Browne Jacobson solicitors and was head of the firm's commercial health team.

Oliver Brookshaw

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

Paul has over 30 years’ experience of both contentious and non-contentious planning work in the public and private sectors. Paul is dual qualified as a solicitor and barrister. He specialises in large residential and mixed use schemes but works for a range of residential developers and commercial organisations. His particular specialism is development agreements but also advises and represents clients in planning promotion, appeals and enforcement as well as high court litigation.

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’.

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 focused 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.

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.

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

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 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 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.

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

With a number of high profile Milton Keynes clients, Simon heads up our Milton Keynes operations. Simon is a well-known and highly respected member of the Milton Keynes professional community. He is a member of the MK Business Leaders Partnership. As an employment law specialist, and Partner, Simon provides local companies with support and assistance with employment related problems. His proactive approach is creative, commercial and pragmatic (and also preventative where possible!). As well as assisting clients with disciplinary matters, grievances, ill health and discrimination issues; Simon also advises businesses on the employment aspects of complex restructures; business acquisitions; outsourcing arrangements; and corporate transactions. With a particular interest in disability discrimination claims, Simon takes a pro-active role in managing Tribunal claims for his clients, including advocacy at Tribunal hearings. Simon regularly delivers training sessions and workshops in the Milton Keynes area and is renowned for his fun and interactive delivery. Simon is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association. Simon 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.

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: Complex wills incorporating trusts Trusts Tax and succession planning for individuals, business owners, farmers and professional sportspeople Powers of attorney for both individuals and business owners Estate 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.’

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 Maier

Steven Maier joined Howes Percival in January 2024 after 12 years at Maier Blackburn where he was a co-founder. 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. He is an appointed domain name adjudicator to both the World Intellectual Property Organization and Nominet.UK panels. Ranked in Legal 500 2024’s “Hall of Fame”, he is described as “measured, intellectual and commercial in his approach” and “widely respected for his expertise in commercial, IP and media disputes.“ in Chambers and Partners.

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, 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.

Stuart Maggs

Stuart has spent many years advising his clients on how best to arrange their affairs to keep them simple and understandable, while meeting their requirements and minimising tax implications. This includes strategic advice for families and trusts on their business and personal matters, including preparing wills, estate planning (onshore and offshore), trusts, powers of attorney. He works closely with the property and corporate teams on aspects of business and family succession for corporate and property structures, negotiating with HMRC where required. He regularly presents seminars and workshops on topical tax issues and is a committee member of East Anglia’s Chartered Institute of Taxation. Chambers & Partners note “the quality of his work is exemplary.” Stuart is Head of Tax and is a Partner in the Estates team at Howes Percival, dealing with landed estates, high net worth individuals and business owners. He is a Chartered Tax Advisor and has spent many years devising planning arrangements that are suitable for the needs of his clients, ensuring they provide the right mix of tax efficiency and practicality.

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's specialisms are 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. She 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. Ranked as an ‘Eminent Practitioner’ in the Chambers and Partners (2020 edition)

Tim Bacon

Partner

Tom Lawrence

Tom specialises in advising high net worth families and business owners on their wealth and succession arrangements. The Legal 500 recognises Tom as being ‘vastly experienced’ and a ‘leading individual’ for tax, probate and trusts in Norwich and the surrounds. His expertise include advising on complex Trusts and Will planning together providing associated tax advice; the administration of high-value estates and post-death restructuring; the formation, administration and termination of Settlements and connected asset rearrangement. Tom is a STEP qualified lawyer who can take on appointments as an Independent Administrator in difficult Estates. Tom is the current Chair of the Norwich and Norfolk Branch of STEP and is a keen cyclist racing for Team Strada.

Tom Redman

Tom is a corporate, M&A, private equity and venture capital specialist and also Head of the Firm’s Automotive Sector Group. The winner of the inaugural "Corporate Lawyer of the Year" at the Insider Central and East Dealmakers Awards 2023 and the only lawyer to have been shortlisted “Emerging Dealmaker of the Year” by Insider Central and East Dealmakers Awards 2022, Tom regularly advises 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 significant experience in complex domestic and cross-border corporate transactions, spanning the tech, retail and manufacturing sectors, with notable expertise in buying and selling motor dealerships, regularly acting for several of the UK’s largest automotive retail groups in the AM top 100. As part of his private equity practice, Tom acts for both PE fund investors and also vendors and MBO teams. His venture capital work has seen him act for founders, start-ups, scale-ups and venture capital 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. Recent experience includes: Advising a NYSE-listed international Fortune 500 automotive retail group on its on-going program of UK acquisitions and disposals. Acting for several of the UK’s largest automotive retail groups on the acquisition and disposal of multiple dealerships across the UK. Advising Europe’s leading threat intelligence provider to banks, central banks, financial market infrastructures, governmental and EU agencies, international organisations, and critical national infrastructure operators on its disposal to a Swedish PE backed Danish IT Security Services buyer; Advising a global public opinion and data company on the acquisition of a leading analytics, targeting and personalization software solutions company. Acting for a WealthTech software company specialising in structured data-driven global asset analysis on an inward multimillion-dollar investment from a leading Canadian investment pension fund through a mixture of secured debt and equity. Acting for a fast-growing, award-winning rec-tech client on multiple rounds of multimillion-pound investment from inception through a mixture of UK-based venture capital funds. Noted in Legal 500 as having an 'affable, down to earth style', clients describe Tom as highly competent and pragmatic, with 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.

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

Oliver Pritchard

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