Shoosmiths LLP

Amy Bars

Amy is a Senior Conveyancing Manager working in the Conveyancing Department. Amy joined Shoosmiths in March 2006 as an Assistant Case Handler in the Conveyancing department. Amy works on a wide range of diverse cases across Conveyancing, including sale, purchase, remortgage and transfer of equity transactions which include freehold, leasehold and shared ownership dealings. Amy has helped thousands of clients move home, taking responsibility for the progression of transactions on behalf of our clients through to completion.

Amy Barrs

    Amy is a Senior Associate working in the Conveyancing Department. Amy joined Shoosmiths in March 2006 as an Assistant Case Handler in the Conveyancing department. Amy works on a wide range of diverse cases across Conveyancing, including sale, purchase, remortgage and transfer of equity transactions which include freehold, leasehold and shared ownership dealings. Amy has helped thousands of clients move home, taking responsibility for the progression of transactions on behalf of our clients through to completion.

Andrea Rusbridge

Andrea is head of the clinical negligence team in Northampton consisting of six legal advisors and two PAs. In 1998 Andrea was accepted onto the AvMA panel of specialist solicitors and has retained that accreditation ever since. Andrea sat on the legal aid assessment panel for dealing with appeals against decisions by the legal aid agency and continued to volunteer for this for four years. Andrea is now a CEDR accredited mediator having completed the 5 day CEDR mediation course in October 2019. Andrea has experience of many types of medical negligence case, including cerebral palsy/birth injury, obstetrics, gynaecology, vascular, amputation, cardiology, and delayed diagnosis of cancer, wrongful birth, neurological injury and cauda equina. She regards her legal expertise primarily as the means to help rebuild the lives of people and their families who have been injured as a result of negligent medical treatment and maintains that it is important to provide support and understanding throughout the process as well as achieving the best outcome that she can for her client. Work highlights • Mrs Chaudhry deceased - this was a claim against Northampton General Hospital for delayed diagnosis of breast cancer which led to the early death of Mrs Chaudhry. The claim was for the pain and suffering of Mrs Chaudhry before she died and a claim for financial losses for her and her husband and children. • Mrs Quadling - a claim was brought against Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation trust for the negligent insertion of a placebo contraceptive device which led to the birth of twins. Mrs Quadling recovered compensation for loss of earnings and pain and suffering. • Mrs Meehan - recovered compensation for delay in diagnosing and treating necrotising fasciitis against Heart of England Foundation Trust. She was compensated for loss of earnings, changes to her home, childcare and for pain and suffering now and in the future. • Mrs N - cauda equina injury caused during spinal surgery, colostomy required and stroke injury following surgery due to failure to treat atrial fibrillation. Client lost capacity to provide instructions and a litigation friend had to be appointed. Compensation included pain and suffering as well as a claim for care for herself and care she could not provide to her husband who was diagnosed with Parkinson's during the lifetime of the claim, the additional cost of holidays and activities were also included. • Mrs Parkin - surgical injury to iliac vein which prevented her return to previous number of hours as a pharmacist and caused swelling and pain reducing her mobility significantly. Claim included provisional damages for the risk of ulcer development and potential loss of her leg. She claimed loss of earnings, care and additional costs of holidays to accommodate her mobility. • Mr C- compartment syndrome injury to both legs causing foot drop and constant pain. The client could not play with his children and so his whole family were introduced to wheelchair basketball. The client claimed for care, the cost of adapted accommodation, a salt pod, case manager, loss of earnings and additional cost of holidays to see his family who live abroad in homes that do not accommodate disability. • SXC - a child who suffered from cerebral palsy birth injury, judgment has been obtained as well as substantial interim payments to provide care, therapy and assistance to age 13 when he can be assessed for the rest of his life. • Mr D - claim for failure to diagnose cancer leading to partial collapse of spine. Claim included care, loss of earnings and compensation for additional pain and suffering. • Ms W and Mr B- claim for the loss of their child to Kawasaki disease as a result of the failure of the hospital to treat the disease when it was diagnosed. The claim settled at a mediation which allowed the trust to provide an oral apology and an explanation about what steps have been taken to prevent this happening again. Testimonials from clients Paul Cockerton - “Very impressive service, as much in the manner with which it was handled, as getting the best result for us.” Mrs Meehan – “I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and all your team from myself and my family you have made a massive difference to our lives.” Mr Chaudhry – “As I got the best possible service, I have no idea how you can improve your service. I am 100% behind the service I received. From the start to finish I/we were updated on what was going to happen.” Mrs Coles – “Genuine empathy and interest in the case and in my daughter as a "real" person and not just a source of income.” Andrea has been ranked in Chambers and the Legal 500 both individually and for her team for many years.

Ania Vernon

I am a Legal Director corporate lawyer, and joined Shoosmiths in 2017 from a global firm. As a member of Shoosmiths’ private equity group, the focus of my practice is delivering advice on private-equity sponsored buyouts and sales processes. I am also an experienced private M&A practitioner, with notable sector expertise in tech, retail, asset-manager M&A, and indirect real estate (both offshore and domestic). Recent work includes: acting for a US-based real estate investment fund on its £110m acquisition of a large portfolio of onshore asset-holding vehicles; the merger of two of Europe's most prominent on-demand laundry operators effected via a complex cashless consideration structure, and a subsequent equity fundraising; acting for a national, US fund-backed care home operator in their £148 million acquisition of a competitor; advising the sellers (including BGF) and management team on the sale and reinvestment streams relating to the secondary buyout of Solid Solutions Management Limited by LDC; the secondary buyout of FFX Group Limited, acting for the sellers (including Foresight) on the sale to H2 and rollover and for management in their rollover; acting in the sale of, and rollover relating to, the August Equity-backed secondary buyout of Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging Limited; and acting for a global management consultancy firm in its acquisition of a Polish LLC and LP (for an undisclosed sum).

Charley Hemming

Charley is an principal associate Real Estate solicitor, based in the firm's Nottingham office and has a broad range of experience in all areas of non-contentious property work, with a particular emphasis on landlord and tenant work. Her current role at Shoosmiths is as the team leader for the Client Services Team, a specialist team dealing with the submission of Stamp Duty Land Tax Returns and Land Registry applications.  

Chris Garnett

Chris advises public and private companies on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, capital fundraisings and restructurings and corporate governance.  He now works closely with the Corporate Divisional Head on strategic projects, including the significant level of partner recruitment being undertaken to drive the growth of our wider corporate practice. Chris also leads our corporate team in the North. His transactional experience includes advising: British Gas the acquisition of JK Environmental (UK) Limited, a company providing environmental, sewer cleansing and tankering services, and ECL Contracts, which provides cladding and insulation services to a range of commercial and industrial clients; the family shareholders and management team on the management buyout of leading UK packaging business Benson Box, backed by LDC – voted 'Deal of the Year' at the Midlands Insider Deal Awards 2012; and the management team on their £41m takeover of AIM listed Workplace Systems International plc. Under Chris' leadership the Corporate Practice Group enjoyed a period of significant growth. They were voted ‘Law Firm of the Year’ at the UK M&A Deal Awards in 2015 and in 2016 were ranked No 1 in the Experian Corpfin deal league table, handling more M&A deals in the UK than any other law firm.

Chris McKinney

Chris is a Partner and leads the Personal Injury team at Shoosmiths. He qualified as a solicitor in 1984. Ranked as a notable practitioner by Chambers, and a recommended lawyer by the Legal 500 Chris has been undertaking personal injury claims for more than 30 years and only act for the victims of accidents. He acts for individuals who have suffered life changing injuries. Chris provides support to his clients and their families from his first instruction to the end of their claim making sure he is available and accessible to them. Most of his instructions come from personal referrals from existing and former clients and other professionals. Brain injury Chris has a particular interest and specialism in brain injury claims and has won numerous £ million compensation claims for the victims of such accidents, and several multi-million pound claims. He is currently instructed in more than a dozen such claims. He is a member of the Headway Panel and a trustee and company secretary of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Headway. Spinal injury Chris has an expertise in spinal injury cases and has acted for clients who have suffered both quadriplegic and paraplegic injuries, and has negotiated settlement of claims both on a lump sum and annual payments basis. He is currently instructed in a number of spinal cord injury claims of the utmost severity. Amputation injuries Chris has undertaken many claims for inured people who have suffered amputation injuries and catastrophic injuries that have resulted in surgical amputations. Advocacy Chris carries out much of his own advocacy, and regularly appear as an advocate in inquests and in the county and High Court. Testimonials "My Solicitor has been brilliant from the beginning through to the end.  He helped and guided me through the many ups and downs of a 5 1/2 year compensation claim which was extremely stressful.  Nothing ever seemed too difficult, no question was ever deemed to be too trivial, deadlines were always met well in advance, and every stage, however complicated and confusing, was handled professionally but also compassionately." (Sally Francis) “The situation I have been involved in has been overwhelming and having such good support from Mr McKinney was the stability I needed and guidance” (Michelle Aveyard) “Exceptional service, knowledge, approachability. Professionalism of the highest order” (Wayne Smith). “From the initial meeting to discuss my case I felt that I was being dealt with as a person rather than a reference number. All queries I had were answered promptly and thoroughly I would have no hesitation in recommending Shoosmiths” (Will Stephens) “Thank you for everything you have done for me over the last few years. You made a stressful time feel easy to understand” (John Quinn). "Thank you! Chris and his team at Shoosmiths have both been an amazing comfort and asset to have on our side. It’s been a pleasure working with you." (Chris Hadley) “..would like to say thank you for all the work you have done and the result you got for me, I am so pleased its done with and now we can get on” (Paul Kavanagh). “I wanted to send a personal email of thanks for all your hard work during the case.  From start to finish nothing was too much trouble and you demonstrated your wealth of knowledge and experience.  I think the service your team led by yourself provided was second to none.  I am most grateful for how you dealt with the case” (RH). "From the very outset I had 100% confidence that I was in the best possible care with regards to my case. Chris's“I wanted to send a personal email of thanks for all your hard work during the case.  From start to finish nothing was too much trouble and you demonstrated your wealth of knowledge and experience.  I think the service your team led by yourself provided was second to none.  I am most grateful for how you dealt with the case”. empathy, clear communication and professionalism were all excellent and I know I had the best possible outcome" (Cathryn Hancock). ‘Chris McKinney has always been excellent. He provides comprehensive and clear advice and is obviously very knowledgeable. He is also very pleasant to deal with, both by email and telephone’. Legal 500 2022. "His advice is always relevant, timely and personal. He clearly knows his area of expertise inside out” Chambers 2022." ‘Chris McKinney has been leading my case and he is exceptional. His communications are professional and clear, but also easy to understand from a lay person’s perspective. It is clear that he brings with him a huge amount of experience in this area and in discussions we have had during the course of my claim, he has explained all options available to me in a very open and understandable way’. Legal 500 2023. Chris McKinney is one of the best claimant PI solicitors out there. He never fails to get results for his clients, who universally adore him. He's very reassuring and technically able." Chambers 2023. My case was headed up by Chris McKinney, his depth of knowledge in personal injury claims and rehabilitation was extremely vast. From start to finish I felt comforted that Chris Mckinney and his team had my best interests in hand. Anytime I wanted to speak to Chris I had his personal mobile phone number’. Legal 500 2024 Chris McKinney is one of the finest serious injury lawyers in the country. Highly experienced and someone who will never stop fighting for his clients – he cannot be recommended highly enough Legal 500 2024 "He's one of the best lawyers in the country for claimant work." Chambers 2024

Claire Ward

  Claire is a senior associate in the Residential Conveyancing department at The Lakes in Northampton. She runs a large case-load of matters, dealing with a wide range of Conveyancing cases, including freehold and leasehold matters, new-build properties, deeds of variation, lease extensions, right to buy and shared-ownership. Claire has the overall responsibility for managing the conveyancing transactions from inception through to successful completion, focusing on the technical requirements of the matter.  

Crispin Bridges Webb

With 30 years’ experience of corporate and M&A work, Crispin is a partner in the Corporate Group and a leader in his field. Crispin not only works across the UK (working between the London and Midlands offices of Shoosmiths) but also manages transactions outside the UK. He has a wide breadth of experience in terms of clients (whether UK or international private or public corporates, institutions, private equity houses, growth companies and start ups and individuals) across most sectors. Work includes M&A, divestments, equity capital markets, private equity transactions, corporate governance and general corporate matters. Crispin also jointly heads Shoosmiths International managing and co-ordinating Shoosmiths�� relationships with law firms around the globe, including through its’ membership of the World Services Group (WSG), a global network of law firms, as well as its participation in the International Bar Association (IBA). He was awarded UK M&A Lawyer of the Year 2020 by Lawyer Monthly. Legal directory quotes include: ‘cutting-edge advice’, ‘fantastic client-focused service’, 'good commercial sense with a view to getting deals done quickly’, ‘pragmatic approach to complex multi-party negotiations’.

David Parton

David Parton heads Shoosmiths’ Personal Advisory Division of Shoosmiths responsible for the management and direction of the range of legal services Shoosmiths provides for its private clients, individuals and families. These services include Wealth Protection, Serious Injury, Family, Education and Conveyancing, comprising 280 legal advisers and personnel. David was previously head of the firm's Conveyancing Department for over twenty years to 2021 building that to become a nationally renowned business for its scale capability and probably the largest business accredited with the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme. David continues to serve a discreet client following with their often complex and high net worth property needs as part of the firm's Private Wealth team. He also served as head of the Northampton Office for eight years to 2021 where he was responsible for the firm's profile in Northampton and surrounding area and the well being of its 550 personnel located there.

Deborah Gordon Brown

Deborah has substantial experience in advising on complex transactions and portfolio acquisitions and disposals, regularly acting for major UK property funds, landlords, portfolio holders and occupiers. She also advises on the property aspects of large corporate transactions. Listed in the Legal 500’s Hall of Fame, which highlights individuals who have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence, her experience includes the sale and transfer of major property portfolios, refinances, development agreements across the UK. Deborah serves on Shoosmiths’ strategic body, the partnership council as well as its inclusion group and community investment committee. Additionally, she is head of the firm’s Nottingham office and responsible for its contribution to, and profile within, the local business community.

Denise Stephens

Partner

Elaine Seamark

Elaine is the Team Manager of the largest conveyancing team located in the Northampton office, handling approximately 5000 house moves every year. Elaine’s team deal with all types of residential conveyancing including sales and purchases of houses, flats, new build properties, shared ownership properties, transfer of equities and remortgages. Her team also act for Companies in property transactions and for mortgage lenders. Elaine's team focus on delivering an excellent customer service to all clients which is evident from the Trustpilot reviews her team receives. Elaine started working in Conveyancing in 1998.

Ellis Gardner-Browne

Ellis is an investment, retail, leisure and petroleum specialist with vast experience. He undertakes complex transactions, investment and occupier aqcuisitions and disposals, and, project work. He has worked with many household names in the retail and leisure sector including Arcadia Group, Sears Group properties, WHS, ETAM, Waterstones, Bodyshop, Swarowski, Mountain Warehouse, Pizza Hut,  Karen Jones CBE, Fulham Shore Plc, Wallgreens Boots Alliance, Estee Lauder Cosmetics, Hugo Boss, Tesco, Value Retail ( Bicester Village) and others. In the petroleum sector he worked for many years with the largest independent petroleum retailer in the UK, MRH Group until sale of the group in 2017. He continues to work with Starbridge Limited and SGN. Ellis is client partner at Shoosmiths for Wallgreens Boots Alliance, Pizza Hut, Estee Lauder, SGN, Starbridge,, Mountain Warehouse, Leftfield Capital, Fulham Shore Plc,  amongst others

Emma Woodyet

Fraser Shuba

  I am a Senior Associate with over 20 years experience of residential property conveyancing, covering all areas including technical areas involving development sales and purchases, options, overage and also some agricultural and commercial property work. I am currently helping to create a new case management system for the Firm which includes assisting with an overhaul of our drafted precedent documents and designing case management caseflows to be used in the new system. I am also involved in business development for the whole department and create marketing and training materials for our estate agents. Until recently I dealt with my own caseload of live files and was also responsible for a team of 8 lawyers and assistants (myself included) with a remit of ensuring that legal work is carried out correctly and that proper service and care is provided to our clients, and that estate agents' service level agreements and exchange targets were met. I deal with a small caseload of both freehold and leasehold transactions, including shared ownership and those within the Help To Buy schemes.  I also assist colleagues with any technical queries on their transactions.

Helen Parrott

Helen is a Legal Director real estate lawyer with experience of a wide range of property work including investment acquisitions and disposals, portfolio management, leasehold transactions (acting for both landlords and tenants) development and project work. Her main clients include investment funds, retailers and leisure operators. Her recent experience includes: the disposal of a portfolio of multi million pound investment properties for a large investment fund client; assisting in advising a household name retailer in relation to a long running planning and development dispute in Birmingham, achieving exchange of the related disposal within two weeks; the acquisition of a multi-million pound portfolio of six investment properties for a household name retailer; and advising a national retailer on the development and subsequent leasehold acquisition of new build pharmacy premises in various locations around the country.  

Ian Lawton

Ian is a Senior Associate in our corporate department advising on all aspects of corporate law, including venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, joint ventures, shareholders' agreements, investments and general corporate advisory mandates. Ian works with a variety of clients including private companies based in the UK and overseas and venture capital investors. Ian read law at Durham University completing his degree in 2012 and he completed the LPC with distinction at Nottingham Law School in 2013. Ian joined Shoosmiths in September 2021 following 3 years as a corporate solicitor at a national law firm.

James Bryce

James is a Senior Associate within the Real Estate practice group with over 4 years' experience acting for clients in respect of their real estate transactions.  James represents a number of household name national clients, assisting them on a variety of real estate matters including landlord and tenant transactions (acting for both landlords and occupiers), acquisitions and disposals and offers other, miscellaneous real estate management support. Specifically, this includes: assisting on a number of huge, team-wide projects, most recently a £40million portfolio acquisition for a property investment client and a nationwide renewal of over 300 leases for a national retail client; acting for numerous investment landlords in respect of their asset management portfolios; acting for a variety of retail clients in relation to their leasehold management portfolio, including lease renewals and various licences and miscellaneous deeds for a number of household names; advising on and negotiating the terms of advertisement agreements for a national storage company; the preparation of a wide variety of transactional documents for both disposals and acquisitions; and investigating and subsequently reporting to clients on a wide variety of title issues and document terms.  

Janine Sutherland

Janine is a Senior Associate in the Conveyancing New Business Team and has worked at Shoosmiths in this role for 20 years. Under her management the team focus on servicing all the initial needs of new customers preparing them for the legal aspects of the home move process. The team also look after and maintain relationships with Estate Agents, Mortgage Brokers and Mortgage Lenders and their clients.

Jessika Thumpston

Joel Murphie

Joel is a senior associate who supports clients on a range of commercial contracts matters, including in connection with the  supply and purchase of goods and services, distribution agreements and various sector specific contractual arrangements. As part of his role in the national Consumer team, Joel also provides in-depth advice on consumer contracts and consumer protection law, including supporting various household names in the retail and hospitality sectors. He also advises on public procurement matters as part of the national Public Procurement team. Recent work highlights include: Advising a global hospitality business on an extended consumer compliance project, including their launch of a new e-commerce offering; Supporting a high street retailer with an updated e-commerce approach and advising on cross-border cancellation rights; Advising a high street retailer on key contracts to facilitate the launch of an online marketplace offering; Working with two of the largest pension trustees in the UK to develop a consolidated approach to contracting following their merger Providing ongoing support to a boutique life sciences research business across their key contractual matters, including development of a suite of bespoke template contracts Advising a national funeral director on a number of contracts with funeral plan providers under which the client will be appointed to provide funeral services to all customers purchasing funeral plans Advising a leading automotive business on a complex transitional services agreement as part of a strategic acquisition Providing detailed commercial advice on key contractual relationships with customers and suppliers as part of the acquisition of a premium catering business for a global food service and facilities brand. Joel spent the first half of 2022 on secondment with a leading telecoms business, supporting their business and wholesale division. During this secondment, Joel provided advice to the business in relation to the full contractual lifecycle from initial negotiation through to termination or renewal, with a particular focus on fibre optic infrastructure deals and large-scale contract amendments affecting the client's whole customer base. Praise from members of the client team included reference to Joel's "ego-free and collaborative approach to negotiations" and for providing practical, commercial advice on key contractual decisions.

Julian Menzies

Julian is a Senior Associate working in the Northampton Plot Sales Team. Working with major developers, he specialises in the set up of new home development sites and the conveyancing of new build plots.

Julie Scott

Julie Scott is a Senior Associate working in the Conveyancing department. She joined Shoosmiths as an Assistant Case Handler in the Conveyancing department. Julie works on a wide range of diverse cases within Conveyancing, including freehold, leasehold, unregistered, shared ownership and new build properties. Julie has a particular interest in helping clients move as quickly as possible causing minimum stress. Work highlights: helping clients move successfully; providing good customer service; and ensuring the work is completed to a good technical standard.    

Kirsty Day

Kirsty is a Principal Associate manages a team of conveyancers and conveyancing assistants from the Northampton office whilst also carrying out various commercial and residential development disposal work and being allocated various client relationship responsibilities. As well as working as part of a wider team to draft template documentation, produce sales packs and scope out development site set ups, Kirsty also negotiates sales of affordable housing to Registered Providers, deals with management agreements and reports on infrastructure agreements for the provisions of services to developments. Kirsty also deals with small commercial freehold and leasehold disposals and also coordinates disposals of reversionary interests in leasehold developments (large scale developments or apartment blocks). Kirsty has also been a key adviser on several major student accommodation schemes and, as a solicitor, is jointly responsible for training and knowledge-share for Shoosmiths' plot sales teams across all offices.

Marie Mann

Marie is a senior associate in the Tax team based in Nottingham. Marie advises on all areas provided by Shoosmiths' national Tax team, namely employee share schemes, real estate tax, corporate tax, employment tax and EIS/VCT relief. Marie has recently been involved in: various due diligence tasks, involving the review of a large number of share options to ensure compliance with the relevant share scheme legislation; analysing and assessing the availability of stamp duty group relief for corporate clients; dealing with complex SDLT, LTT and LBTT queries; and advising on the tax elements of termination payments, specifically in regard to PILONs and PENP, and recently advised a PLC of the tax implications of a settlement involving shares provided under a US share scheme. Marie joined Shoosmiths in 2007 and, prior to commencing her training contract in 2018, worked as a Post Completion Clerk dealing with post completion real estate requirements for major retail and investment clients.

Matthew Kenwood

Matthew is a real estate lawyer with experience in advising on a wide variety of commercial real estate transactions. He acts for prominent occupiers and investors and is particularly experienced in matters relating to the retail and leisure industries (including retail units in travel locations). Matthew’s commercial approach to complex documentation and transactions is focused on ensuring that his clients’ aims and deadlines are achieved. His recent experience includes advising: The Safestore Group in relation to their property portfolio including acquisitions of development and trading sites; Various national UK retailers on acquisitions of and matters relating to properties within UK and non-UK airports; A major UK and European investor acquiring and managing a portfolio of high value commercial and residential properties across southern England. A major independent Co-op on matters relating to their programme of acquisitions including new build and trading convenience stores and funeral homes;

Matthew Kemp

Matthew is a Partner who specialises in real estate. He advises funds, lenders, landlords, and corporates on a variety of real estate transactions across all sectors, with a particular focus on investment. Matthew's experience includes acquisitions and disposals, funding work, asset management and occupier leasehold matters, large scale projects and as real estate lead on cross-discipline/jurisdiction transactions. Recent transactions include: funding, refinancing and disposal projects; investment acquisitions and disposals across all sectors; asset management for UK and offshore fund managers and investors; advising corporate occupiers and retailers on leasehold matters; and non-core asset transactions eg marinas, football stadiums.

Melanie Chell

Mel is the Director of Client Experience and Culture at Equivo and also represents Shoosmiths interests on the board of this subsidiary. Mel provides advice to the finance industry in relation to recovery of assets and monies and is also responsible for Equivo’s "end to end" motor and asset finance recoveries service. Mel is well known within the Finance and Leasing Association and other trade bodies and supports with training course and conferences.  Mel is also a fellow of the Leasing Foundation sitting on its diversity and inclusion committee. Mel has more than 20 years experience in the finance industry and is known for being robust and commercial. Mel regularly advises clients in relation to best practice in collections and recoveries as well as assisting clients with technical asset finance disputes and complaints. Mel has particular expertise in dealing with fraud and injunctive relief in relation to motor vehicles and other high-value assets to include cross border and out of jurisdiction recoveries. Melanie also specialises in title disputes, innocent purchaser claims, satisfactory quality disputes, liens and consumer credit issues.  

Melissa Barker

Partner and Head of Plot Sales  

Michael Briggs

Michael is an experienced, emotionally intelligent and strategic Partner. He provides pragmatic, commercial and results-driven advice to a wide range of local and national clients on the whole spectrum of human resources and employment law. At all times Michael works in absolute partnership with his HR and senior management client teams. He is a 'go-to' trusted adviser and gets the job done. He has significant experience in respect of complex and sensitive senior and/or group exits, redundancies and restructures; difficult absence and performance issues; whistleblowing matters; the gig economy, and  also in relation to HR related data protection (including extensive data subject access requests). He also sites with the National Employment Team's IR35, Data Protection and Financial Services sub-groups. Michael also has a particular interest in defending Employment Tribunal claims of all types and managing client relationships for varying size employers. He has received continued instruction from a client within the tyre and vehicle service industry for in excess of 15 years. Work of note includes: • the successful defence in the Employment Tribunal to a complaint of unfair dismissal brought against a client in the service industry (Michael conducts his own advocacy in the Employment Tribunal and has successfully represented a number of clients at Preliminary Hearings and full Tribunal Hearings); • the beneficial conclusion to lengthy settlement negotiations on behalf of a client who was defending claims of automatic unfair dismissal, whistleblowing and breach of contract; • the successful conclusion and defence to claims of race discrimination and breaches of the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 following a multi-day hearing; and • dealing with litigation within both the Employment Tribunal and the High Court in response to claims of constructive unfair dismissal and breaches of post termination restrictions.

Michael Lam

Michael is a senior associate commercial lawyer advising clients on a wide range of commercial matters including supply and purchase terms, franchise agreements, IT software agreements, agency agreements and manufacturing agreements. He works with a variety of clients, ranging from start-up businesses to multinational companies across a broad range of sectors including automotive, retail, manufacturing and technology. Recent experience includes advising: a telecommunications provider on its IT infrastructure framework agreements; an automotive manufacturer on IT software agreements for its ongoing projects; a supermarket chain on an agreement with a rapid grocery delivery service; an international retail and intellectual property group on its international supply and licensing arrangements; a supermarket chain in relation to a pilot supply of goods and services arrangement; an international retailer in relation to its framework retail concession agreement with a UK airport; a start-up company on its mobile delivery app service and various legal requirements; a national food manufacturer on a licensing and reselling agreement; an international appliance manufacturer on its vehicle leasing agreements; and a property technology company on a suite of agreements for its new digital platforms. Since joining Shoosmiths, Michael has completed a secondment with an international Fortune 500 logistics company assisting the in-house legal team with its daily commercial contracting arrangements, gaining valuable insights into the type of legal assistance required by in-house legal teams and the necessity to provide pragmatic and focused legal advice. Michael studied Law at the University of Manchester before completing his Legal Practice Course with Distinction at the University of Law Birmingham. Before joining Shoosmiths in January 2022, he trained and qualified at a leading Legal 500-ranked firm and was a Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer in 2020. 

Michelle Craven-Faulkner

Michelle is a well-respected commercial contracts lawyer with a strong background having worked in-house for many years prior to joining private practice. Michelle has a real ability to understand her Clients’ requirements in order to document them in a way that is clear, concise and user friendly. With a particular expertise in cross border arrangements and often for Clients who are highly innovative both in terms of products (goods and or services) and contracting structure, Michelle works closely with Clients in all sectors to achieve solutions which work for them rather than attempting to mould Clients into. Providing advice on all aspects of the supply and purchase of assets, goods and services with a particular interest in engineering and major projects. Her background in industry brings a strong connection to the rail sector which is a particular specialism as is her work with renewable energy companies. Michelle joined the rail industry in 1999 working in-house for Alstom Transport and in her time there worked on projects across the world including spending time as the contract manager for the Northern and Jubilee lines. With a wealth of contracting experience in the rail industry whilst acting for OEMs and various members of the industry supply chain Michelle continues to focus on both rolling stock and infrastructure. Experience covers all aspects of contract work relating to rolling stock, light rail projects and underground projects within the UK, ranging from manufacturing and renovation, freight, service and parts supply functions. She also provides advice on regulatory matters including management of Depot Licenses, Track Access Agreements, Depot Access Agreements, Depot Leases, Connection Agreements, Depot Access Conditions and Annexes and general liaison with the ORR and DFT. Michelle has been the Vice-Chair of Rail Forum Midlands for a number of years now having joined the Board in 1999. She also sits on the East Midlands HS2 Strategic Board, the HS2 Business Advisory Board and the Steering Group in relation to the Midlands Pilot of the Rail Sector deal. A regular speaker at rail industry events, in particular on regulatory matters and points affecting SMEs in the supply chain, Michelle also supports the rail industry in regular liaison with members of BEIS and DFT, something which has been most welcome since the commencement of the pandemic. In addition to rail, Michelle has also significant experience in a wide range of renewable energy projects having worked on district heating schemes, projects involving coal mine methane extraction, heat source pumps, drain water heat recovery solutions, large scale and rooftop solar, battery storage, wind and hydrogen fuel powered vehicles. Michelle holds a position as the Vice-Chair of Governors at the UTC Derby Pride Park, a school specially designed for 14-19 year olds who have a real interest in science, technology and maths with a focus on encouraging more young people into roles in engineering.

Natalie Aldread

Principal Associate Natalie is a property litigation lawyer who deals with a wide range of contentious property issues including; lease renewals acting for both landlord and tenant, break notices, dilapidations disputes, arrears of rent and forfeiture proceedings; actions against trespassers, service charge disputes, rent reviews and enforcement of lease covenants. Natalie acts for a range of clients with a particular focus on the retail sector. Her recent experience includes: successfully defeating a landlord’s opposition to the granting of a new lease on redevelopment grounds resulting in the grant of a new lease for a large national retailer; managing a substantial case load of unopposed lease renewals for a number of national retailers; and recovering possession of land from trespassers on multiple sites for an investment client.

Natasha Sladen

  Natasha is a senior associate in the real estate team in Nottingham.  She has experience across multiple areas of non-contentious property work including freehold and leasehold acquistions and disposals asset management work and refinancing.  Natasha works on transactions across  a range of sectors including retail and hospitality, investment and petroleum. Her work includes: - acting on a multi million portfolio swap project for a large petroleum client; - working with a household national health and beauty retailer in respect of its retail portfolio; - assisting in the acquisition of a multi let retail and leisure park; and - acting for a lender in relation to the funding of the development of student accommodation across multiple sites. Natasha joined the firm in 2021 after having previously worked at Freeths LLP and Geldards LLP.

Peter Duff

Peter Duff is the chairman of Shoosmiths. His role is to lead the firm’s partnership in the delivery of its strategic vision, to be the UK’s leading law firm, famous for its client experience. In addition, he has overall responsibility for the firm’s quality and compliance standards.Before being elected to the role in 2015, Peter was head of the firm’s commercial division and, prior to that, head of the employment & pensions department. Throughout his career, Peter has dealt with clients at board level and advising directors on the best tactics to achieve their strategic aims. As a result, he has developed a keen insight into, and understanding of, people, business culture and motivation which make him ideally placed to chair Shoosmiths’ partnership.What clients want from their law firms is changing and Peter’s role is to ensure that this is mirrored precisely in the way that the firm’s legal teams are developed and supported, whilst sustaining its strong and distinctive culture, which is an authentic point of difference for Shoosmiths in a competitive legal market.Peter remains a practising employment lawyer, advising predominantly corporate clients where he can use his extensive experience advising on boardroom disputes, large-scale business restructuring, collective issues and other strategic advice.

Rachel Harvey

Senior Associate

Rebecca Cross

Rebecca joined us in 2001 and has progressed from Assistant Case Handler to Senior Associate during her time here.Rebecca works on a wide range of Sale and Purchase Conveyancing transactions including freehold, leasehold, new build and shared ownerhsip properties. She has helped thousands of clients move home taking responsibility for the progression of transactions on behalf of our clients through to completion. Rebecca is assisted by Adam Mayer, Connor O'Dell and Hannah Drage.

Ross Bird

  Ross is a Senior Associate working in the Residential Conveyancing department. Ross runs a large case-load of matters, dealing with a wide range of diverse Conveyancing cases, including freehold and leasehold matters, new-build properties, deeds of variation, lease extensions, right to buy and shared-ownership. Ross is responsible for the overall management of transactions from inception through to successful completion, focusing on the technical requirements of the matter.Ross joined Shoosmiths in May 2002 after graduating from the University of Leicester and has since helped thousands of clients move home. Ross became a Conveyancer for the firm in 2006 and a Senior Conveyancer in 2010. Ross has been accredited to the Conveyancing Quality Scheme as part of the firm’s wider accreditation to this industry-standard scheme.Outside of work, Ross takes a keen interest in travel, reading, sport and the cinema. He is husband to Karen and Daddy to Ethan

Sarah Cunliffe

Sarah qualified in September 2001 and joined Shoosmiths in 2003. Sarah is a Senior Associate serious injury lawyer who deals with a variety of Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence claims. Sarah specialises in cases involving elder abuse/neglect and is passionate about achieving justice for vulnerable victims in these cases. More often than not, Sarah acts for the families of those elderly or vulnerable people who have been abused/neglected as they themselves may suffer from conditions such as dementia and thus are considered to lack capacity under the Mental Health Act 2005. Some of the individuals she helps get to the truth about what happened to their loved ones are widows or other family members who wish to bring claims on behalf of their relatives for the sub-standard treatment they received whilst in a care/nursing home (https://seriousinjury.shoosmiths.co.uk/vulnerable-adults/care-nursing-homes). These claims can be very emotionally charged, protracted and upsetting for Sarah's clients and she offers support at all stages including representation at an inquest. Sarah strives to make the litigation process as simple and stress free as possible for her clients. It is important to Sarah that they feel they can contact her with any queries they may have and that they feel Sarah is there to support them even at the most difficult times.

Sarah Harper

Sarah is a a Legal Director (FCILEx), working in the Medical Negligence department at The Lakes, Northampton. Sarah joined Shoosmiths in 1995, initially specialising in personal injury and then solely in medical negligence since 2006, acting for patients and their families. Sarah is committed to providing a bespoke service to her clients, responding to their needs and requirements with a flexible approach to achieve the best outcomes. Sarah supports and advises clients on a wide variety of medical negligence matters and has been successful in obtaining excellent settlements in the following areas: still birth; stroke mismanagement; surgical injury; oncology mismanagement; orthopaedic errors; and amputations.

Sean Burke

Sean is an experienced real estate lawyer with wide knowledge of development, leasing and portfolio transactional work, as well as substantial project management expertise, spanning both private and public sectors. His approach is typified by focusing early on the practical outputs of what a client is aiming to achieve and then instilling a pro-active approach to the advice given by him and his team. Recent project experience includes advising: an international investment company and leading the cross-discipline team in relation to the first strategic acquisition of a shopping centre and car park in west London for this client; a national UK retailer on all matters connected with the management of their English/Welsh real estate portfolio, including a mixture of new lease acquisitions, both high street and edge of town, lease renewals and regears; on a portfolio disposal involving eight properties, transacted within a four week timetable; and the JV partners in a major UK Enterprise Zone project. He also serves on the Board of The Renewal Trust, a charitable trust which aims to stimulate enterprise and develop communities to relieve poverty in economically and socially deprived inner city areas of Nottingham.

Sharine Burgess

Sharine is an award-winning lawyer in the serious injury department, acting on behalf of claimants and their families through a wide range of cases including stress at work, workplace accidents, illness and disease claims, asbestos related claims, psychiatric illness/PTSD,  military claims and clinical negligence. Undertaking pro bono work through good working relationships with many organisations and charities, Sharine co-ordinated the award winning Northampton and District Citizens Advice Bureau Pro Bono Clinic from its inception in 2011. This achievement was recognised when Shoosmiths won the category for Best Contribution by a Regional Firm at the LawWorks Pro Bono Awards in 2012. Sharine continues to support the clinic as a supervisor. Sharine won Solicitor of the Year at the Northamptonshire Law Society Awards in 2017 and is ranked by both Chambers and Legal 500. Sharine was promoted to Partner in 2020 and was appointed joint Head of Office in 2021.

Simon Towler

Simon, a Senior Associate, has been dealing with personal injury and clinical negligence claims since 1992, and qualified as a Legal Executive in 1997. Since 2008 Simon has concentrated on clinical negligence claims. Simon joined Shoosmiths in May 2014 and has a wide ranging practice with a special interest in fatal claims, claims involving laparoscopic surgery, orthopaedic claims and delays in diagnosing cancer. Currently, Simon is also dealing with claims involving failures in diagnosing metabolic disorders, wrongful birth claims and medical products liability claims. He knows that bringing a claim for clinical negligence can be a stressful experience not just for the injured person, but also their families and how important it is to ensure his clients understand the process of attempting to rebuild lives. Cases that Simon has dealt with include: Mr O - against a background of incurable cancer, negligent treatment leading to a below knee amputation and the urgent need to obtain an interim payment for a custom fitted prosthetic; Mrs H - delay in diagnosis of lung cancer losing the chance for curable treatment. The claim involved helping the claimant and her young family move to suitable accommodation in time to build memories in the new family home; Mrs F - a delay in diagnosis leading to the inability to have children, and exploring the costs of surrogacy; and Miss T - a claim on behalf of her family to investigate her death after several months in hospital following a bowel perforation.

Su Kemp

Susan is a senior associate in the real estate team. She has broad experience across all areas of non-contentious property work including complex sale agreements, refinancing, and landlord and tenant work. Susan has a particular speciality in advising tenants in the retail sector. Clients appreciate her straight forward and commercial approach to transactions. Her most recent experience includes: Acting as a key client contact for a national health and beauty retailer in respect of its real estate portfolio, including acquisitions, disposals, a high volume of lease renewals and the property aspects of franchising arrangements; Managing the day to day relationship for a national outdoor pursuits and clothing retailer as it grows its presence in the UK and international markets; Acting for a national petroleum retailer in respect of all aspects of its property portfolio, including financing, site disposals and acquisitions of multiple sites. Assisting in the refinance of a national property portfolio.  

Suman Dally

Partner  

Tim White-Robinson

  Tim is a Principal Associate in the Real Estate practice group with wide experience of acting for some of the UK’s largest housebuilders in connection with their new housing developments and also advising smaller housebuilders on more bespoke development sites. His key skills are: preparing plot sale contracts, leases, transfers and supporting documents; handling the sale of plots and the acquisition and sale of part-exchange properties; reviewing, amending and advising clients on the contents of section 38, 278 and 104 agreements; His recent project experience includes advising a national developer on the disposal of apartments on a prestigious site in Canary Wharf Tim is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and has worked in real estate since 1991.  He joined Shoosmiths in 2006 having previously worked in a number of smaller regional firms.

Tracey Russell

Tracey Russell is a Senior Associate (CILEX) working in the Conveyancing department.  Tracey joined Shoosmiths in October 2005 as a Assistant Casehandler in the Conveyancing department.  Tracey specialises in dealing with all types of residential conveyancing matters including the sale and purchase of houses, leaseholds, new build homes, shared ownership property, transfers of equity and remortgages.  Tracey also specialises in company purchases. Tracey studied with the Institute of Legal Executives through distance learning, and qualified as a Legal Executive in 2012.

Will Thomas

  Will is a Principal Associate and has experience acting for a variety of clients in the private and public sector. He provides general strategic and site specific planning advice. Will has also handled a number of planning appeals and High Court challenges and is known for his calm, considered and client-centric approach. Recent experience includes: Drafting and negotiating complex Section 106/infrastructure agreements, including a recent agreement in respect of a large urban extension scheme comprising of over 4000 dwellings. Acting for a landowner appealing a planning enforcement notice in respect of a site used for temporary stadium parking. Defending a judicial review challenge brought against a local planning authority which alleged, amongst other things, that the authority had failed to take into account information required by the environmental impact assessment regulations. Advising a landowner in respect of an appeal against a s.215 Notice. Advising applicants and local authorities in respect of applications for certificates of lawful use and development. Advising a community group in relation to the listing of a building as an asset of community value (ACV). Advising developers and landowners in relation to permitted development rights. Advising developers and landowners in relation to the application of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) regulations on new development. Drafting and negotiating Section 38/278 Agreements, Section 104 Agreements and Section 111 Agreements. Will is the secretary of the East Midlands group of the UK Environmental Lawyers Association and is a regular attendee at local planning and environmental sector events. Will also contributes legal articles to various publications.