Seddons

seddons.co.uk

Adam heads up Seddons Real Estate Finance Team, advising on all aspects of short term and development property funding. Well known in the short term lending industry, Adam is respected for his pragmatic and commercial advice and understanding of the needs and demands of his clients’ businesses. With over 20 years’ experience, Adam has built up strong relationships with and represents many of the industry’s leading lenders. His team advises a number of institutional lenders and specialist property lending syndicates. Recent experience: Acting for a receiver appointed by an investment bank in relation to the sale of commercial real estate portfolio; securitisation of £4m commercial property development facility, including taking security from parties in several jurisdictions; restructuring UK investment bank’s real estate lending group; acquisition of £8.Sm property in W1 for developer client proposing to implement existing permission for conversion into residential flats.

Ben Gillespie

Ben is a partner in Seddons’ Corporate Department and specialises in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, share/equity investments in private companies, group reorganisations and general company and corporate governance advice. Ben has worked on numerous multi-jurisdictional transactions and has assisted many clients with their overseas expansion, investments, legal due diligence and restructuring plans, often working alongside and project managing overseas lawyers. Ben is very hands on and is often viewed by clients as an extension to their in-house legal team, supporting in-house counsel with corporate transactions and specialist projects when additional trusted senior legal advice and input is necessary to get a deal over the line in an efficient and timely manner. Ben has been a corporate transactional lawyer for over 23 years and completed transactions in most sectors including hospitality, real estate development, healthcare, education, retail and industrial / oil and gas services. Typical deal values range from £5 million to £250 million but Ben has also assisted clients on significantly larger transactions. Before moving to Seddons, Ben spent a number of years at international law firms in Dubai. In his last role he was head of corporate for the Middle East practice of a well known international law firm, managing a team of over 20 lawyers across 8 offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. Ben is ranked for Corporate/M&A in Chambers and Partners legal directory, Global Guide 2021.

Ben Menahem

Ben is an Associate in our Residential Real Estate department and acts for property investors, private clients, high net worth individuals, developers, and lenders on all types of residential transactions including sales, purchases, refinances of leasehold and freehold properties, lease extensions, and enfranchisement. Ben has built enduring relationships with his contacts, many of which were made when he was a trainee solicitor and who are now well-established clients. Ben likes to drive the deal through utilising his communication skills and his personalised service to engage directly with his clients and all parties to help secure the clients ultimate goal.

Chris Theodosiou

Chris is a Partner in our Residential Property Department. With over 15 years’ experience, Chris represents a broad range of clients, from first-time buyers to high net worth individuals, property developers, investors and commercial lenders on all aspects of residential transactions. Chris has considerable knowledge of the Central London property market with particular expertise in high-value residential sales and purchase, lease extensions, and development work. He also has extensive experience in dealing with new-build properties including Contract reassignments and sub-sales, which often involve working to tight deadlines.

Christian Smith

Christian is the firm’s Head of Dispute Resolution and oversees the commercial litigation department’s busy and varied practice. He has over 20 years’ experience representing individual and corporate clients across a broad range of sectors. Christian has considerable experience advising and acting in shareholder disputes and insolvency proceedings and is regularly instructed by clients seeking or defending injunctions. His steadfast and hands-on approach in fast-paced, highly contentious litigation brings many of his cases to an early resolution. Clients value Christian’s ability to get to grips with disputes quickly and find practical solutions to complex problems. He has been recognised as "The steadiest of hands; superb with clients" - Legal 500, 2020. Christian also enjoys working relationships with many of the UK’s leading insolvency practitioners. He is regularly instructed to consider claims by liquidators against directors, claims of misfeasance, preferences, transactions at an undervalue and breach of director’s duties. Christian and his team provide a full-service commercial dispute offering; working closely with lawyers from across the firm’s other practice areas to review existing commercial contracts and advise on corporate governance and risk management generally. The team design and implement proficient litigation and enforcement strategies to protect, defend and enforce their client’s interests.

Christian Taylor

Christian has more than twenty years of experience in advising clients in relation to a broad range of commercial real estate matters. He acts for investors in commercial and high end residential real estate and for developers of residential, commercial and mixed use schemes. Christian also has particular experience in acting for businesses in the transport (including aviation and shipping), logistics and distribution sector in regard to their real estate requirements. This includes giving advice on landlord and tenant matters.

Daniel Robin

Daniel is a Partner in our Litigation Department. He acts in commercial disputes and real estate disputes for both corporate clients and individuals. He conducts matters of particular complexity in the Court of Appeal, High Court, County Court, First tier Tribunal, and Upper Tribunal and also acts in arbitration proceedings in the ICC. He is a specialist in matters concerning cross border jurisdiction, landlord and tenant law and real estate law.Recent experience includes:Representing a shareholder in a company owning and running a chain of nightclubs in a dispute with other shareholders; Obtaining and enforcing an High Court injunction against a Landlord who restricted access to leaseholders in a residential development; Successfully challenging jurisdiction of the English Courts in a claim concerning Saudi Arabian assets; Advising on complex rights of first refusal issues under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987.

David Wheeler

David has over 20 years experience of civil dispute resolution. He has acted for clients both corporate and individual, domestic and international, and generally in matters which require a sensitive approach to the issues; an appreciation of detail; and a forensic analysis of the facts and application of the law. He is known for his dogged approach to complicated matters and his commitment to his clients and their interests. David has always tried to obtain the desired results through negotiation and mediation where possible.

David Wright

David has a broad range of commercial litigation experience acting for claimants and defendants in a wide range of matters. David has particular experience of contractual disputes, commercial disputes, company and shareholder disputes and also professional negligence. Alongside this, David has also developed a specialism in financial services litigation and has acted in many Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’) regulated disputes on a range of investments, pensions and mortgages through the courts, Financial Ombudsman Service (‘FOS’) and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (‘FSCS’). David seeks early resolution of matters wherever possible and understands the need for clear, concise advice in a timely manner.

Ed Zneimer Zneimer

Ed specialises in Real Estate Finance and Secured Lending, advising a range of banks, lenders, and alternative loan providers in bridging, development, and other finance deals. Ed has previously acted for a variety of clients in both commercial and residential property deals and this experience underpins his current practice. In addition, Ed has a passion for business development and networking and is able to facilitate introductions to specialists in many sectors including finance, banking, bridging, venture capital / private equity, human resources, staffing and recruitment, people development, wealth management, accountancy and sport.

Emily Lui

Emily is Co-Head of our Residential Property Team, acting for homeowners, buy to let onshore and overseas investors, developers and investment companies, high net worth individuals, and private banking institutions. With wide experience in all aspects of residential property, Emily is an expert in the high pressure Central London property market dealing with purchases, sales, refinancing and development, as well as matters relating to landlord and tenant. She deals with everything from the straightforward to the most complicated cases, and enjoys training members of her team in balancing commerciality and legal practice. Over the years Emily has developed strong and enduring relationships with clients and contacts. She has acted for some of her clients since she was a newly qualified solicitor. Emily likes to work closely with her clients giving practical and technical advice to help achieve their ultimate goal. Emily likes to approach a deal as if she is the client to understand how best to achieve the objectives. Emily works closely with our Private Client team which enables her to ensure that her clients have considered the appropriate tax implications. Emily prides herself on her commitment to completing the deal and her fast and responsive communication skills.

Farhana Khanom

Farhana is an Associate in our Dispute Resolution team. She joined Seddons in July 2018, having worked previously in a national firm in the South Coast. Farhana practices in a broad spectrum of commercial litigation, including contractual disputes, shareholder and company disputes and breach of warranty claims. Farhana provides her clients with clear and concise advice, focusing on the commercial objectives of her clients and any potential risks that may arise. Farhana is recommended in the Legal 500 Guide 2017.

Ffion Greenfield

Ffion is a Senior Associate in the Family team at Seddons. Ffion joined the team from a well known London law firm where she had specialised in family law since qualifying in 2014. Ffion advises on a range of matters stemming from relationship and familial breakdown. This includes divorce, dissolution and resolution of the associated financial matters, as well as a wide range of children law cases including; child arrangement orders and temporary and permanent leave to remove applications.

Helen Crossland

Helen is Head of our Employment department. She has extensive experience in all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law including Employment Tribunal and High Court claims, exiting employees, complex TUPE issues, enforcing post-termination and confidentiality restrictions, and drafting bespoke employment documentation. Helen acts for businesses of all sizes, including start-ups, SME’s, charities and not for profits, and international organisations. She has an impressive track record of successfully defending claims and securing costs for her clients and her advice commonly results in claims being averted or withdrawn.

Howard Freeman

Howard is Co-Head of our Residential Real Estate team. With nearly 30 years’ experience, he represents private clients, property developers, investors and commercial lenders on residential transactions including conversions, mixed-use developments and land acquisitions. Howard has considerable expertise advising on all types of transactions from freehold and leasehold properties to commercial property, including real estate finance. Howard is highly experienced in developing strong and enduring relationships with his clients through his proactive and responsive approach. His down-to-earth, pragmatic attitude ensures transactions are completed in line with clients’ tight deadlines and expectations.

Ilan Kotkis

Ilan is the Head of our Corporate Department. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions and works with a wide range of clients on a variety of domestic and cross-border M&A and corporate finance transactions. Working with entrepreneurs, private equity firms and companies across a range of industries, Ilan advises clients in corporate finance transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, public takeovers, equity capital markets and joint ventures. He also provides clients with advice on general corporate legal issues.

Jenny Chan

Jenny is part of the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence team. Jenny has acted on various personal injury and clinical negligence claims. Her personal injury experience spans a number of areas including injuries suffered following accidents on private premises such as trips and slips, workplace claims including occupational disease, noise induced hearing claims and all aspects of injuries suffered in Road Traffic Accidents. In respect of her clinical negligence experience, Jenny has acted on complex clinical negligence cases involving inappropriate medical treatment, of which have included pneumothorax, negligent operations, negligent laser treatment and delayed diagnosis. As well as taking a professional approach to her work, Jenny's aim is also to provide a friendly and personal service where her clients are kept fully informed on all matters at all times.

John Midgley

John is a Partner in the Property Disputes team and heads up the specialist Leasehold Enfranchisement team at Seddons. His clients include residential and commercial landlords, tenants and managing agents. John is a leading practitioner in the field of collective enfranchisement, lease extensions and right to manage claims, having been involved in numerous highly contentious cases. His work also includes possession/forfeiture proceedings, service charge/rent disputes, dilapidations claims, contentious business lease renewals and breach of covenant actions. John is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners. He writes regularly for the “UK Landlord” magazine and other publications on a variety of enfranchisement and landlord and tenant issues. John was instrumental in pioneering the Leasehold Reform Amendment Act 2014 and continues to work with parliamentarians on issues within the leasehold sector.

John Melville-Smith

John is a Partner in our Dispute Resolution team, with over 20 years’ experience, particularly in challenges to wills, contested probate and inheritance disputes, commercial partnership and contract disputes, professional negligence, insolvency and debt recovery. John has a reputation for giving his clients candid and clear advice both on the prospects of success in law and on the commercial realities of the situation. He is experienced in negotiating settlements from positions of both strength and weakness and always advises his clients to seek a negotiated or mediated settlement in preference to incurring the costs and uncertainties of trial. Wherever possible, he conducts his own advocacy, in both the County and High Courts, and has conducted many trials himself, mainly of fast track contract disputes in the County Court. John is a member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (‘ACTAPS’).

Juliet Baboolal

Juliet is a Partner in the Real Estate Finance team. She is a dual-qualified English Solicitor, having qualified as a Lawyer in the Caribbean island of Trinidad in 2003 and then re-qualified as a Solicitor of England and Wales in 2005. Juliet has practised as a Commercial Property lawyer and Litigator in England since 2005 and is also a qualified mediator. Her approach is proactive and practical. Juliet’s experience in Property Litigation with an emphasis on Mortgage and Banking Law has proven invaluable to the real estate finance work which she undertakes at Seddons. She is a strategic thinker who is heavy on execution and delivery of results and is knowledgeable on all aspects of the issues and requirements of her clients.

Katherine Burrell

Katherine is a Partner in our Real Estate Finance team and acts for bridging, development and specialist lenders in relation to short term and development property funding. Katherine joined Seddons in November 2007 and since that time has built strong relationships with her lending clients. She has considerable experience advising on complex property lending transactions. Her clients appreciate her collaborative approach with borrower’s solicitors and her ability to get transactions over the line. Recent experience: acted for a bridging lender taking security over £2m property portfolio in Surrey, including retail space, offices and residential units; acted for a bridging lender taking security over an exhibition centre in East London, perfecting lender’s security where borrower based off-shore; acted for a lender providing development finance for a substantial new build development comprising commercial and residential units in North West London; advised property fund on world’s largest peer to peer loan (at the date of completion), taking security over a mixed use office and retail building in Croydon which had development potential for over 100 residential units. GDV estimated at £20m.

Katy Berkley

Katy is a Senior Associate in our Real Estate Finance Team and acts for bridging, development and specialist lenders in relation to short term and development property funding. Katy takes a pragmatic and commercial approach to achieve her clients’ objectives within tight deadlines. Katy is also experienced in leasehold enfranchisement and all types of residential transactions including sales, purchases and refinances of leasehold and freehold properties and working with developers preparing sales packs for new build residential developments.

Kyle Irvine

Kyle handles corporate transactional work, including company acquisitions and disposals, MBOs, and business and asset transfers. He advises on corporate structures and investor protection, including subscription arrangements and agreements between members. He also acts for investors and businesses in relation to corporate funding. Kyle has experience across many sectors including real estate, retail, sports and entertainment. Recent experience includes: Restructuring of major UK medical group; £30m private company acquisition, property sector; £47m company purchase, commercial property sector; disposal of UK manufacturing company £13.5m; sale of business and assets of major UK on-line gambling company (in administration); re-financing of £30m secured corporate loan stock.

Lara Nyman

Lara is a Partner with the Dispute Resolution team specialising in property disputes, including landlord and tenant (both residential and commercial) rent and service charge recovery, forfeiture and possession claims, contested (and unopposed) lease renewals, enfranchisement and a variety of breaches of leasehold covenants including dilapidations and service charge disputes, applications for consent and other issues arising out of the terms of a lease. Lara’s specialism includes defective premises, boundary disputes, rights of way, right of light, party wall awards as well as real estate related professional negligence, rectification and misrepresentation claims, specific performance and real estate related insolvency. Lara’s clients include landlords, tenants, developers, hoteliers, property owners, investors, management agents and professionals. Lara has considerable experience in ADR including mediation and adjudication and advises on non-litigious ways of resolving potential disputes as well as conducting cases in the Court of Appeal, High Court, County Courts across the country, the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal and the Property Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal. Lara is a member of the Property Litigation Association and a committee member of the Education and Training committee of the PLA.

Leon Golstein

Leon is Head of our Property Disputes Team and a senior member of our Risk and Compliance Management Team. His expertise covers all aspects of property law, landlord and tenant law (both residential and commercial), contentious enfranchisement, contentious planning and construction, and regulatory compliance in the rented sector. He is a mediator and an experienced advocate with trial experience. In addition to having conducted actions in the Court, First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, he also defends clients who have been prosecuted for landlord and tenant and environmental law infringements, unlawful eviction, harassment and HMO legislation. Leon’s clients include landlords and tenants, PLCs, developers, secured lenders, and international companies and trusts with property in the UK. He has also worked on the training team for the National Centre for Applied Learning Technologies on critical decision making in policing.

Lili Davarzani

Lili is a Partner in the Real Estate team and a highly experienced solicitor handling UK commercial, residential and investment property acquisition and disposal. She advises on all aspects of the residential property including enfranchisement work. In the commercial sector, she specialises in dealing with offices and retail leases, hotels and other leisure properties representing owners, landlords and tenants. Lili has a reputation for her practical and commercial approach to transactions. She delivers a quick and efficient service and often deals with time critical transactions. Her clients are a mix of trusts, private and public property companies as well as domestic and international high net worth individuals and their businesses. Lili ensures that her clients are kept informed throughout the transaction whilst providing clear legal advice.

Lucy Green

Lucy is an Associate in the Real Estate Team. She represents private clients, companies, specialist lenders, and property developers in residential and commercial transactions. Lucy joined Seddons in 2012 and has experience and knowledge across a broad range of property matters. She advises on residential sales and purchases, residential and commercial developments, commercial sales and acquisitions, and real estate finance.

Marvin Simons

Marvin is a senior member of our Dispute Resolution Team. He has wide experience in many areas of civil litigation including professional negligence, partnership disputes, insurance and banking litigation, high-value personal injury, clinical negligence and inquests, defamation and cross border litigation. Marvin has achieved a phenomenal success record for his clients. Wherever possible, he always seeks an early resolution to a dispute and many of his cases have been resolved successfully at mediations.

Moshe Moses

Moshe is a Partner in the Seddons Residential Real Estate team who specialises in residential property sales and acquisitions. Having worked at Seddons for over 10 years, Moshe has established a significant and diverse network of business contacts and clients and has strong long standing links to a range of property agents and industry leaders. Moshe represents an extensive client base which include ultra high net worth private clients, both domestic and overseas investors, property companies, banks, trusts and property developers. Moshe prides himself on his availability, the personal service he gives to his clients and the ability to add value to the transaction. His proficiency to solve legal problems with pragmatic negotiation and commercial solutions ensures that our clients have an advantage and that their interests are always fully protected.

Natalie Dowding

Natalie is an Associate in the Property Disputes Team. Natalie’s work covers all aspects of property law, both residential and commercial landlord and tenant law which includes: • Possession and rent recovery for assured, assured shorthold and protected Rent Act tenancies • Forfeiture proceedings • Business lease renewals • HMO prosecutions • Service charge/rent disputes • Deposit disputes • Boundary disputes • Disrepair claims • Construction disputes Natalie’s clients include companies, residential and commercial landlords, tenants and managing agents.

Neil Russell

Neil is a Partner and Head of our Family Department. He advises on all aspects of relationship breakdown, including divorce, children and finances. His clients come from all walks of life, from stay at home parents to captains of industry, high-profile celebrities and owners of family businesses. A career-high was acting for the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, in his divorce (a matter of public record).Neil deals with the most straightforward to the most complicated cases involving Trusts and international issues, and has extensive expertise in advising on Pre-Nuptial Agreements and Cohabitation Agreements.A member of Resolution and pioneer of Divorce Funding, Neil is known for his pragmatic approach and respected for his experience and ability. He advises clients on all aspects of the process and assists with ways to deal with the costs involved - using the law to unlock and protect clients’ financial interests. In this, he endorses the words of Lord Justice Thorpe “…where there is everything to fight for and nothing to fight with”.When dealing with children related matters, Neil regards the children as his invisible clients. His aim is to protect their future through his advice, steering clients towards an outcome that leaves the family best placed to move forward following the breakdown of a relationship.Neil is recognised in Legal 500 as being "one of the 'go to' men in the London matrimonial world". Neil is also a Family Law commentator and regularly appears on LBC Radio on the Family Legal Hour.

Nick Mann

Nick is a Partner in the Residential Real Estate Team, with 12 years’ experience and represents a wide range of clients including first time buyers, high net-worth individuals, property investors, developers, banks and building societies. Nick has considerable expertise in advising on all types of residential transactions, including the sale and purchases of freehold and leasehold properties often involving refinancing through retail and private banks. Nick also specialises in dealing with off plan, new-build properties including Contract reassignments, for both UK and overseas client’s. Nick has developed strong and enduring relationships with his client’s through combining practical advice with commercial awareness, in order to provide his client’s with important strategy considerations alongside his legal advice. Nick prides himself on his down to earth approach, his fast and responsive communication skills and works hard to help his clients achieve their ultimate goal.

Paul Pierides

Paul is a Partner in the Residential Real Estate team and handles transactional work, including the purchase and sale of freehold and leasehold properties. Paul's principal clients are an LSE company, and its property trading and property investment subsidiaries. Experience includes: £20m staged purchase of portfolio 300 freehold and leasehold properties; £4m purchase of portfolio of 15 freehold and leasehold properties.

Rebecca Arnold

Rebecca is a Partner in the Commercial Litigation team, and Head of Risk and Compliance. She advises both individuals and corporate clients. Rebecca’s areas of expertise are bringing and defending claims against financial institutions, and acting for claimants in professional negligence actions. She also has experience of advising companies, partnerships and shareholders on civil recovery following financial misconduct or fraud perpetrated by an employee or director. Recent experience: Acting in a high court claim for damages arising out of the mis-selling of interest rate swaps where the claimant company fell outside the scope of the FSA consumer protection provisions; successfully mediating a fraud claim against the former director of a client, who was claiming unfair dismissal in the employment tribunal; representing the successful appellants to the Privy Council in a Bahamian contentious probate claim.Rebecca is also the firm’s Compliance Officer Legal Practice.

Richard Martin

Richard is a Partner in both the Residential Real Estate and Commercial Property teams. He handles a wide range of residential and commercial transaction work for clients including high net worth individuals, first time buyers, property developers and both landlords and tenants. Richard is also a member of the Leasehold Enfranchisement team dealing with lease extensions and the collective purchase of freeholds by tenants. He liaises closely with the Property Litigation Department in respect of applications to the First Tier Tribunal. Richard has a close relationship with a large number of loyal clients who have instructed him repeatedly over the years and recommended him to friends and family. He offers a personal service using his experience of 30 years to actively work with his clients to achieve their goals.

Rob Brooks

Rob qualified as a solicitor in 2013, joined Seddons in 2016 as an Assistant Solicitor, and became a Partner in the Real Estate Finance team in 2022. His areas of expertise include extensive property, mortgage and banking knowledge. Rob acts for a wide variety of bridging and development lenders, and has a proactive and efficient approach to issues. Experience includes: Acting on a bridging facility of £1m on a transaction involving residential, commercial and mixed-use units, as well as the granting of business leases Acting on a development facility of £1.85m for development of 16 flats

Sangeeta Somchand

Sangeeta is the Head of Commercial Real Estate department and an experienced Property Solicitor, and specialises in development, commercial property real estate and ancillary Landlord and Tenant Act work. She acts for a range of property developers around the South East and has wide experience in industrial site acquisitions, infrastructure plot sale work and landlord and tenant management work including statutory lease renewals. She has developed a reputation in residential development plot sale work with a particular specialism in office to residential conversions and mixed user schemes. She deals with all aspects of the transaction from the initial site acquisition, the set-up of the scheme and the off plan sales during the development process. Sangeeta has a very loyal following of clients in the residential sector and has substantial experience in undertaking domestic conveyancing which very much compliments her vast commercial property and landlord and tenant work.

Savvas Fiaca

Savvas has 30 years’ experience in Real Estate, both commercial and residential, including development and land acquisitions. He represents both private clients and property developers acting for sellers, purchasers, landlords and tenants. Savvas is also highly experienced in commercial lease renewals and in residential lease extensions, and prides himself on being seen by our clients as personable and always there for them.

Simon Ross

Simon is the firm's Managing Partner and a member of the Residential Real Estate team. A proactive, problem-solving safe pair of hands, he commands a loyalty from his clients which is consistently rewarded with fast, unambiguous advice. With over 30 years’ experience in the residential market and long-established relationships with agents, developers and lenders, his insider’s perspective means he understands what it takes to secure successful outcomes for clients. Simon acts for UK investors, property developers and entrepreneurs, and has an extensive overseas client base drawn particularly from Russia and the Middle East.

Simon Jacobs

Simon is a Partner in the Commercial Disputes team who has acted in disputes at all levels, from the county courts to the Supreme Court. He has particular expertise in corporate and individual insolvency and in intellectual property, as well as a strong reputation for banking work. Experience includes: acted for Supervisor of a high value voluntary arrangement defeating various challenges to the arrangement; represented shareholder in a complex company members case regarding a disputed application for an Administration Order and other surrounding litigation between the parties; acted for liquidator of financial services company on issues of trust claimed over client monies and assets, including associated litigation in the USA; represented a record company creditor against the liquidator of an online music retailer, establishing royalties earned and held by liquidator were to be paid to the creditor; advised in trade mark dispute over disputed use of a mark in financial services sector; acted for fixed charge receivers of real estate portfolio concerning contractual issues arising in respect of charged assets; acted for lender in Land Registry adjudication concerning allegations of forged title documents; advised in substantial defamation claim for online media agency resulting in early confidential settlement; acted in Supreme Court in appeal concerning the circumstances in which a transaction at an undervalue would be considered an unauthorised return of capital; acted in Court of Appeal in dispute over construction of a solicitors undertaking; acted in Privy Council appeal (from Bahamas) in construction of will of multi-million dollar estate.

Simon Noonoo

Simon is a Partner in our Real Estate Finance team. He joined the Firm in 2014. Simon acts for secured lenders as well as entrepreneurial individuals, businesses and high net-worth clients. His expertise lies predominantly in commercial property investment. Simon has built a reputation for being commercially minded, pragmatic and diligent. He is an effective communicator who is well connected in London and internationally and regularly facilitates business introductions for his clients.

Steven Porter

Steven has been qualified for over 42 years and having built his own practice which commenced in 1993 has now joined Seddons as a consultant. He has wide experience of property-related matters having started out as a litigator and then subsequently switching to commercial property and bridging finance. He has also developed a specialism in advising on matters related to property fraud. His approach to matters is both pragmatic and cost-effective and over the years has built up long-standing relationships with many clients. Since joining Seddons, its wide range of legal services and resources has enabled Steven to offer to his clients an expanded scope of advice and assistance.

Stuart Crippin

Stuart is head of our Private Client team at Seddons, and has gained a wealth of wide-ranging experience throughout his legal career. Stuart has often worked on high-profile and complex cases. His specialisms are in high-value domestic and international estates, as well as in UK tax and estate planning for both domestic clients and international clients with UK connections. He is also practised in advising on the UK tax implications of settling estate and trust disputes. Having established a strong reputation in the private client world, Stuart is held in high regard by clients and colleagues alike. He is especially known for his thorough and client-friendly approach. Due to the nature of his clients’ circumstances and requirements, Stuart regularly works with fiduciaries and overseas advisers to ensure his clients receive comprehensive and co-ordinated advice. Stuart has written articles and commentaries for the Tax Journal and the STEP Journal, as well as contributing actively to HMRC consultations (in relation to the taxation of damages and Inheritance Tax). Furthermore, he has participated in several HMRC roundtable discussions (such as in relation to the use of Deeds of Variation and the transfer of assets abroad rules).

Thomas White

Thomas is a Partner in the Commercial Real Estate team, and has a broad and varied property experience, acting across a number of different areas. He advises investors and developers on the acquisitions of sites – often with the assistance of finance – together with subsequent disposal or lettings. Equally, he has acted for a number of well-known bridging and institutional lenders and funds; advising in relation to taking security over commercial and residential properties in respect of bridging, longer-term and development finance. Thomas acts for a number of commercial borrowers who are refinancing their portfolios in order to secure better terms or release capital in order to increase their property portfolios. Thomas advises property holding companies in respect of the management of their property portfolios including disposals of whole or part, refinance and lease renewals and extensions. He also acts for both landlords and tenants in respect of industrial estates, retail and office space.

Victoria Sterritt

Victoria is a Partner in the Family department at Seddons. She has practised exclusively in Family law since qualifying in 2009. Victoria advises a wide range of clients in relation to all the legal implications of a relationship breakdown with a focus on resolving the financial implications that flow from a separation and or divorce. Victoria also helps find solutions in a range of ways, not just via the Courts, for clients as regards arrangements for their children with a particular interest in proceedings relating to the relocation of children. Victoria also deals with pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements. Victoria is a Legal 500 “Next Generation Partner” and “Recommended Lawyer,” and is praised for her “impeccable judgement,” and described as being “extremely supportive and thorough.” She is a member of Resolution and YRes and London Irish Lawyers Association. In 2018, Victoria obtained a qualification as a Family Mediator, making her resolution qualified and registered with FMC.

Victoria Spencer

Victoria is an Associate in the Family team at Seddons. She joined Seddons as a newly qualified solicitor, having trained at a specialist family law firm in North London. Victoria assists on cases covering all aspects of private family law, including divorce, financial remedy proceedings, and private law children matters. She also has experience assisting on financial settlements that take place outside of the court process. Victoria has experience acting for clients from all walks of life, including high net worth individuals.

Zoe Pearse TEP

Zoe is an Associate specialising in private client work. She has experience and knowledge across a broad range of private client matters. She acts for a wide variety of clients such as high profile individuals, families, wealthy individuals and charities. She also works with a large network of professional contacts and encourages co-ordination between clients, their financial advisors and accountants in order to achieve the best possible result when considering estate planning and wealth protection. Zoe is highly experienced on elder law issues and works with people who lack capacity, their families and other professionals to achieve the best result for our clients. She regularly advises and drafts Lasting Powers of Attorney to ensure our client’s financial affairs, health and welfare are protected in the event of loss of capacity. Zoe is known for her understanding of the sensitive nature of private client work and our clients find her approachable and compassionate. She appreciates that all clients are different and adapts her knowledge and skills to fit in with each individual client’s needs and objectives. Zoe is a full member of STEP Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and has achieved her STEP Diploma in Trust and Estates.

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