Sydney Mitchell LLP > Birmingham, England > Firm Profile
Sydney Mitchell LLP Offices
![Sydney Mitchell LLP company logo](https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2022/05/3216.jpg?v=1653336698)
Cavendish House
39 Waterloo Street
Birmingham
B2 5PP
England
Sydney Mitchell LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Employment > Immigration Tier 1
Andre Minnaar has recently been promoted to the partnership. Minnaar and Melissa Southall are part of a ‘great’ team of ‘fantastic communicators‘ at Sydney Mitchell LLP. The group specialises in private fee-paying immigration matters of a personal and human rights-based nature. It has also recently been expanding its offering to include corporate immigration matters. The team receives plaudits for its work on all types of entry clearance applications, renewal applications and appeals. Minnaar is a skilled tribunal advocate with a strong LGBTQI following. Southall has extensive personal immigration experience and frequently advises clients on spouse visas, applications for children, asylum issues in addition to European applications to citizenship.Practice head(s):
Andre Minnaar
Other key lawyers:
Melissa Southall
Testimonials
‘A very professional and approachable team that provides high quality advice. Andre Minnar is spectacular. He is attentive and creates a trusting relationship’.
‘Andre Minnaar took care of my case. He is clearly an expert in his field and is very reassuring. I would highly recommend him to anyone requiring immigration services’.
‘The team is really special – they go above and beyond to give clients the best possible outcome. They’re super knowledgeable about immigration law and can explain it in a way that anyone can understand’.
‘I���ve worked closely with Melissa Southall, who has been instrumental in achieving successful outcomes in my case. Her attention to detail, strategic thinking, and dedication to her clients are truly unparalleled’.
‘Melissa is an exceptional Solicitor – excellent in every respect. She is clear thinking, knowledgeable, well organised, proactive, a good listener, understanding, a great communicator, and tenacious’.
‘Melissa Southall – this lady knows what the job she does is all about. She makes sure you’re the centre of the process. She is always open to talk to you and discuss every iota of what we need to know. She is diligent, professional, knowledgeable, patient oriented, cheerful and so on and so on’.
‘Melissa Southhall was very transparent, she understood my needs, listened always made time when I had any issues or worries she was dedicated in helping me achieve my desired goal’.
‘What has really stood out about Andre is that I have felt totally comfortable that he is a very skilled, knowledgeable solicitor, who knows exactly how to achieve results. He is very professional and business like but at the same time very personable. I always know he is totally committed to achieving the outcome I need’.
Work highlights
- Andre Minnaar made a successful application for entry clearance of a pre-flight spouse and 2 children one who was over 18 years of age to join a recognised refugee and sponsor from Iran.
- Andre Minnaar successfully made an application for settlement of a spouse having completed 60 months leave to remain, although the couple had separated a few months before he became eligible to apply.
- Melissa assisted a young adult with refugee status who was in Foster Care, with an application to be reunited with his three minor sisters who fled Afghanistan and are currently alone, vulnerable and sheltering in Iran. The case involved many hurdles but applications were eventually submitted and the results are awaited.
Dispute resolution > Debt recovery Tier 2
Sydney Mitchell LLP’s key areas of work include the collection of monies owed, return of goods claims and acting for landlords in obtaining the possession of properties, to name a few. Leanne Schneider-Rose heads the practice with broad experience in areas such as insolvency and restructuring, often undertaking contentious insolvency work as well as advising bridging lenders on their recovery options. Associate Heleena Gandham joined the firm from Star Legal in August 2022, bringing expertise in high-value debt claims and the insolvency process in general.Practice head(s):
Leanne Schneider-Rose
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team work very well together, they are quick to respond to any query I have and are happy to explain their advice further if I don’t fully understand everything.’
‘The knowledge that the solicitors at Sydney Mitchell have is second to none.’
‘Leanne Schneider-Rose deals with all of my queries in a timely and professional manner.
‘Leanne Schneider-Rose is thorough, informative and knowledgeable and is at the top of her field. Leanne��s ability to see any potential risk and shield her clients from it is unmatched in the industry.’
‘I highly recommend Leanne, her professional service and support sets her apart from other solicitors.’
‘We have worked with Sydney Mitchell over a number of years and have found them to offer an excellent service.’
‘We mainly work with Leanne Schneider-Rose, who offers great advice and is very commercial.’
Sydney Mitchell are knowledgable and responsive when debt recovery is required.’
Key clients
Greenfield Mortgages III Limited
Sky Bridge Lending Ltd
Work highlights
- Advised a bridging lend client on its recovery options against three borrowers where there was no security in place over assets.
- Advised a fit-out company in respect of monies due to it from a customer leading to the service of a statutory demand and a threatened winding up petition.
- Acts for various bridging lend clients in the enforcement of its legal charges in respect of non-regulated lending.
Private client > Family: Birmingham Tier 2
The 'very efficient' team at Sydney Mitchell LLP is co-led by Karen Moores and Mauro Vinti - the 'friendly and approachable' group covers a broad spectrum of issues from divorce and civil partnership dissolution to child arrangements and protective injunctions. The firm also has a well-regarded collaborative law practice with two fully-qualified collaborative lawyers . Teresa Mannion is also an Advanced Family Law Panel member. Senior associate, Gemma Whitchurch, has considerable experience in cases where domestic violence is an issue.
Practice head(s):
Karen Moores; Mauro Vinti
Other key lawyers:
Teresa Mannion; Gemma Whitchurch; Judi Wood
Testimonials
‘Judi Wood – as soon as I spoke to her and met Judi face to face the whole divorce experience became less traumatic, due to Judi’s calm, empathic, caring and truly knowledgeable and professional ability to guide and communicate with me from beginning to completion’.
‘Teresa Mannion -outstanding advice and service with the knowledge and experience and care for me as a client that supported me in a difficult time in my life’.
‘A gold standard firm, worthy of National renown. First rate lawyers who go ‘above and beyond’ for all of their clients’.
‘The two stand outs are Karen Moores and Mauro Vinti. I have nothing but undiluted praise for their excellent standard of work. They are both first rate lawyers, empathetic and insightful’.
‘Karen Moores. An exceptional partner. She is hands on, and goes over and above for each and every client. She knows the case inside out and takes a no-nonsense attitude which assists enormously in private children cases’.
‘Gemma Whitchurch – is exceptionally talented, and will go far in the future. Her paperwork is exceptionally prepared and her strategic thinking makes and breaks cases’.
‘Teresa Mannion is an exceptional lawyer. Focused on getting the best outcome for her clients. She is thorough, well-organised and always aims to ensure early resolution is achieved if possible’.
‘Karen Moores is a real straight talker, no matter who she is dealing with; her clients are assured both frank advice and forceful representation, both of which are, of course, invaluable. Mauro Vinti is also a very good operator and he too is highly recommended’.
Work highlights
- Acting for wife who had been a homemaker during the course of a long marriage where the assets amounted to approximately £2.5m plus pension and where the case was signified by the husband’s litigation conduct and significant non-disclosure.
- Acting for the father in respect of a proposed relocation of the child from Cornwall to Birmingham that also necessitated a transfer of care from mother to father.
- Acting for the father in an application for a child arrangements order and parental responsibility in relation to a new born child with significant health issues.
Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate Tier 2
Wealth preservation and elderly care matters are at the cornerstone of the ‘friendly and efficient’ practice at Sydney Mitchell LLP. Led by Tracy Creed , it has also been busy advising on a variety of complex administration matters and on applications to the Court of Protection. In addition, the department offers specialist advice in relation to NHS Continuing Health Care (advising on and appearing at assessments and appeals). Shelley Collingbourne is another key figure who advises on a wide range of private client matters.Practice head(s):
Tracy Creed
Other key lawyers:
Shelley Collingbourne; Lorna Payne
Testimonials
‘Tracy Creed – a natural leader, who is approachable and never dismissive of you – a lovely warm and engaging approach with the clients, giving me and the client time… never hurrying you and always pleasant‘.
‘Tracy has a calm approach where her professionalism is clear to see and fills you with confidence. There is nothing she does not know’.
‘The team are friendly, understanding when dealing with emotional situations, very knowledgeable with great communication’.
‘Highly professional, great at communication regarding progress and timelines’.
‘Lorna Payne -has impressed me with her knowledge, professionalism and the brilliant way she has reassured me on all aspects of the processes, taking away a lot of the stress and pressure of a highly emotional situation‘.
‘The solicitor who is handling this estate, Shelley Collingbourne has acted very professionally and kept me informed (I am the administrator) at all times‘.
‘The team is always polite, caring and kind. Polite and professional and go the extra mile to help you out’.
‘Sydney Mitchell are a Team I can trust and would recommend. One of the strengths is their transparent approach. They are keen to involve communities and make people who use them, whoever you are, feel most comfortable. They have a broad range of services and appear strong as a team, with excellent leadership skills‘.
Work highlights
- Advising on a complex Continuing Health Care matter for Client X. Client X has severe learning disabilities, autism and ADHD with complex care needs.
- Instructed to obtain a grant of probate in respect of an estate. Once instructed, the firm discovered issues including the fact that the valuation of a piece of land was incorrect which affected the inheritance tax due.
- Client Z was not advised regarding the tax implications on creation of a trust. Issues arose because of the trust being created, including intentional deprivation of assets, claims against the deceased’s estate and the trust. Complex case involving collaboration across multiple department specialists. Value £ 540,000+
Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Birmingham Tier 3
‘Personable and unflappable’ Dean Parnell leads the team at Sydney Mitchell LLP, which provides ‘honest, reliable, well-informed, unbeatable customer service' to its clients. The practice acts across a range of sectors, routinely advising clients on disputes related to insurance, insolvency, healthcare, and property. The team continues to grow, with the arrival of associate Ian Sheppard in March 2022 from RLK and Heleena Gandham from Thomas Horton LLP in August 2022.Practice head(s):
Dean Parnell
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Honest, reliable, well-informed, unbeatable customer service. I would always use Sydney Mitchell, I’ve never had bad service. The company is down-to-earth, and always ready to help in all circumstances. I can’t fault them.’
‘Dean Parnell is great to work with; an excellent tactician, personable and unflappable when the going gets tough.’
‘Close involvement of partners and practicality of approach.’
‘Dean Parnell is very well-known in the market. He is very commercial and gets great deals for his clients.’
Work highlights
- Representing SWAP claim for a client against an international bank valued at £4m.
- Representing two parties in a breach of contract and fiduciary duty.
- Representing a client in a multi-million pound dispute involving allegations of fraud in connection with restructuring following the sale of a business
Finance > Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 3
‘Competence coupled with commerciality’, Sydney Mitchell LLP‘s practice routinely acts for borrowers, insolvency practitioners and litigation funders, among others, and is led by Leanne Schneider-Rose, who often handles contentious insolvency claims, with particular expertise regarding transactions at an undervalue, preference claims, transactions defrauding creditors and director’s misfeasance claims. Associate Heleena Gandham is also capable of addressing contentious issues, as well as advising on recovery options for a variety of clients.Practice head(s):
Leanne Schneider-Rose
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Competence coupled with commerciality, an effective and reassuring combination in tackling often non-linear issues, typically encountered in this particular practice area.’
‘Attention to detail is a hallmark of this firm, and they are very good in their work with insolvency practitioners.’
‘Leanne Schneider-Rose is a joy to work with. Her knowledge and approach allow for a constructive work environment between counsel and solicitor, and it is always a good team effort when working with Leanne – the sum is greater than the parts.’
‘The team work very well together, they are quick to respond to any query I have and are happy to explain their advice further if I don’t fully understand everything. The knowledge that the solicitors at Sydney Mitchell have is second to none.’
‘Leanne Schneider-Rose deals with all of my queries in a timely and professional manner. She is thorough, informative and knowledgeable and is at the top of her field. Leanne’s ability to see any potential risk and shield her clients from it is unmatched in the industry.’
‘We have worked with the Sydney Mitchell team over a number of years, and they are one of the first names that we think of when we require legal advice. They are fair and reasonable and understand that costs are a key point that we have to consider.’
‘The team is always on hand to assist with straightforward advice with a no-nonsense approach. Corners are never cut, and every aspect is always explored. Everyone is approachable and accountable.’
‘Leanne Schneider-Rose goes the extra mile and always tries to translate the complex legal insolvency framework into practical and useful solutions, no matter what the outcome for herself or her firm.’
Key clients
Dains Business Recovery Ltd
Poppleton & Appleby
FRP Advisory LLP
Smart Business Recovery Ltd
Skybridge Lending Ltd
Work highlights
- Advised FRP and the lender in respect of their options following the appointment of a receiver over a building site which for a number of reasons had no value.
- Advising Martin Smith of Dains Business Recovery in respect of an application made by a former director to rescind the winding up order and dealing with a remuneration application in respect of the Liquidators costs and expenses following the rescission order being made.
- Advising a bridging lender in respect of its enforcement options against a borrower or borrowers unknown where a fraud had been committed against the lender to secure the lending.
Private client > Contentious trusts and probate Tier 3
Sydney Mitchell LLP has a solid reputation for its work on contentious probate matters and works closely with its private client team. Under the joint leadership of Tracy Creed and Dean Parnell , it regularly advises on diverse issues such as claims under the Inheritance Act, disputes about the validity of wills and issues relating to the distribution of trust assets. The former head of department, Pam Deol, is now at Painters.Practice head(s):
Dean Parnell; Tracy Creed
Other key lawyers:
Ian Sheppard; Katie Maxwell-Stewart
Testimonials
‘ Sydney Mitchell have been immensely professional in all areas relating to my present situation. Katie Maxwell- Stewart has been quite unique with her findings and picking out the other parties inconsistencies in regards to the case’.
‘Excellent rapport with their clients‘.
‘This is a wonderful firm going through a state of flux. The junior team and private client lawyers are exceptional. Value for money at this firm is excellent’.
‘In depth team, able to deal with all areas of disputes relating to wills and trusts. Tracy Creed- well experienced and good with clients. Good knowledge of the law and clients find them easy to talk to and discuss their cases‘.
‘They are specialists in this area rather than dabblers and have lots of experience. Almost unique in having a real specialism in a relatively small firm and provide excellent value for money‘.
‘Katie Maxwell – Stewart is a specialist with lots of experience in this area’.
‘The team now provides a broad range of expertise in overlapping fields, such as real estate and professional negligence work. This combines with the experience of longer standing members. There is, in consequence, a cohesiveness of provision for clients’.
‘Ian Sheppard: a careful, considered and experienced solicitor. He thinks things through and, just as importantly, thinks ahead. As a result, he has really strong strategic insight‘.
Work highlights
- Acting for two executors and trustees relating to three estates, six trusts and four companies all of which are interlinked and disputes spanning 20 years.
- Acting for A in a complex contentious probate partnership dispute culminating in an 8 day trial. The client was successful in his defence and counterclaim.
- Acting for B in successfully defending a court of appeal application.
Employment Tier 4
Headed by Emma-Louise Hewitt , the team at Sydney Mitchell LLP has 'excellent legal expertise and a common-sense approach’. The group provides ‘pragmatic advice’ to both employers and employees on a range of contentious issues. It also advises on other issues such as TUPE and is skilled at drafting handbooks. Dean Parnell is another key figure who primarily advises companies and very senior employees.
Practice head(s):
Emma-Louise Hewitt
Other key lawyers:
Dean Parnell
Testimonials
‘Emma-Louise Hewitt is easily one of the finest legal partners in-house at Sydney Mitchells LLP, specialising in Employment Law. Her humility and honesty symbolises her work, resulting in successful outcomes in all kinds of cases. She is approachable and delivers to the highest scale’.
‘Emma-Louise Hewitt was excellent. She explained things to me in simple terms that I could understand (not all legal speak). She went above and beyond to help me at every turn with my case and I was lucky to have her fighting my corner’.
‘Emma Louise Hewitt always provides clear and concise advice taking circumstances into account and taking a balanced view. Emma always does what she promises she will do, and comes back to you in a timely manner’.
‘During the cases Emma was supportive, extremely knowledgable,straight talking, engaged and passionate. I knew exactly what to expect and how realistic my expectations were. I would recommend her to anyone. She is a credit to her profession’.
‘Emma has enormous expertise and experience, which enables her to provide a brilliant service for her clients. She is technically excellent, incredibly supportive and always looks to achieve the very best outcome. Emma gets to grips with complex detail in a case from the outset‘.
‘Sydney Mitchell’s team is consistent in its ‘no stone unturned’ approach to getting the best outcome for clients. Friendly and approachable, they instil confidence with their practical advice‘.
‘Emma-Louise Hewitt is knowledgeable and always on top of a client’s case. Dean Parnell infuses the team with his ‘extra mile’ attitude to client’s cases, coupled with a good dose of commercial realism‘.
‘Quick response, understanding the client’s expectations and providing the service at reasonable cost’.
Work highlights
- Advised a global automotive on a complex TUPE transfer.
- Advised and assisted a client in obtaining a substantial settlement following the employers attempt to exit them from the business owing to spurious allegations of poor performance.
- Assisted and negotiated a sizeable exit package for a client who had a potential claim for disability discrimination against their employer.
Insurance > Clinical negligence: claimant Tier 4
Mike Stutton heads the personal injury and the clinical negligence offerings at Sydney Mitchell LLP. Sutton advises on all types of clinical negligence cases but is increasingly instructed in cases involving a delay in diagnosis of cancer. David Lydon has left the firm and is now at MFG Solicitors LLP.Practice head(s):
Mike Sutton
Testimonials
‘Mike Sutton – focussed, able, excellent relations with clients, able to win difficult cases’.
‘A very strong team with a good reputation locally in the field of clinical negligence’.
‘Mike Sutton is an excellent lawyer / Head of Department and ticks all boxes; very experienced, highly knowledgeable, exceptional with clients‘.
Work highlights
- Advising Client A, an elderly patient, who was admitted to hospital and despite being confused and wandering around during the night, the NHS Trust failed to carry out proper assessments with regard to the risk of falling. This resulted in an unwitnessed fall during the night and Client A suffered a fractured hip. The claim is likely to include significant amounts in relation to future care provision.
- Advised Client B in relation to a claim relating to a failure to diagnose and treat liver cancer in her late husband.
- Advised Client C in relation to claim for damages following an admission to hospital in October 2018. She had a background history of Alzheimer’s disease/dementia. Although a past history of falls was noted the falls risk assessment only assessed her as at “medium” risk of falling.
Insurance > Professional negligence Tier 4
Dean Parnell and Ian Sheppard co-head the department at Sydney Mitchell LLP, which continues to be busy acting on a number of professional negligence cases for individuals against solicitors. The group is also experienced at bringing claims against a wide range of professionals such as architects and financial advisors.Practice head(s):
Dean Parnell; Ian Sheppard
Work highlights
- Advising client on a potential £3,000,000 professional negligence claim.
- Acting for client in a claim in excess of £400,000 against a firm of solicitors who provided negligent advice in relation to the preparation and execution of a will.
- Acting for a client who failed to register an equitable charge for a client which has resulted in a loss of at least £140,000.
Insurance > Personal injury: claimant Tier 5
Mike Sutton heads the department at Sydney Mitchell LLP that handles all types of personal injury claims. The group receives a steady flow of instructions on serious work accident claims and accidents which involve significant injuries. Sutton continues to be instructed by bereaved families in cases involving fatal injuries.Practice head(s):
Mike Sutton
Testimonials
‘I feel that Mike Sutton carefully assessed my case, and explained each step of the procedure clearly to me, and the reasons why specific actions were being taken. All significant steps taken were confirmed by letter, but I also received regular emails from Mike updating me on every step’.
‘I do feel that Mike is particularly empathetic and supportive – that has been my experience. He takes on board the feelings of his client, and does his best to achieve the best outcome possible. Mike advised carefully throughout’.
‘Mike Sutton – Hardworking, bright, good understanding of medically complex cases, good rapport with clients, able to challenge expert opinion where appropriate to get to the ‘real’ issues’.
‘A local, friendly firm with exceptionally talented lawyers’.
‘Mike Sutton stands out and is a strong Head of Department. Very talented lawyer who achieves excellent results for his clients‘.
Work highlights
- Advised Client A, a Crane Operator on PI Claim for damage to leg from falling glass. Negotiated a settlement of this claim in the sum of £750K, which is likely to provide for the Claimant’s prosthesis and future care needs.
- The client was injured following a car incident, causing client B to be dragged along for some distance on the car before falling and suffering a serious head injury. The case was listed for a 5 day Trail at Court but settled for £300,000.
- Advised client C who was a passenger in a taxi that was involved in a head on collision when another vehicle came on to the wrong side of the road. Claim value circa £1m.
Real estate > Property litigation Tier 5
With broad experience, Sydney Mitchell LLP regularly advises private landlords, tenants, surveyors, lenders and private individuals on a variety of property-related litigation. The practice is led by Leanne Schneider-Rose, who has extensive experience in contentious insolvency proceedings. In significant developments, Sundeep Bilkhu left the firm, and Ian Sheppard joined.
Practice head(s):
Leanne Schneider-Rose
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team work very well together, they are quick to respond to any query I have and are happy to explain their advice further if I don’t fully understand everything. The knowledge that the solicitors at Sydney Mitchell have is second to none.’
‘Leanne Schneider-Rose deals with all of my queries in a timely and professional manner. She is thorough, informative and knowledgeable and is at the top of her field. Leanne’s ability to see any potential risk and shield her clients from it is unmatched in the industry.
‘I highly recommend Leanne, her professional service and support sets her apart from other solicitors.’
Work highlights
- Instructed by a client who had received an equitable registrable interest in a property in her deceased ex-husband’s name which was removed as a result of fraud.
- Instructed by a defendant to respond to a claim by the claimant pursuant to the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 for an order for sale and a declaration as to their beneficial interests in a property which has since been sold.
- Instructed by the owner and landlord of two properties for which there was an oral tenancy agreement in place with a management company, the original of which went into Administration without the client’s knowledge.
Sydney Mitchell LLP > Firm Profile
Sydney Mitchell Solicitors is a leading regional firm providing a comprehensive range of legal services to regional, national and international clients. The firm Won the Birmingham Law Society Regional Law Firm of the Year 2020-21, previously winning the Birmingham Law Society – Law Firm of the Year 5 to 16 partners – in 2018, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011 and 2008. The firm is seen by many as being one of the strongest medium-sized firms within the Greater Birmingham and Midlands region. The firm won Excellence in Professional Services in the Solihull Chamber of Commerce Awards 2023.
The firm: Founded in 1763 by Richard Chattock, Sydney Mitchell Solicitors has been serving the West Midlands community for over 260 years. The firm is identified as a top-tier firm in The Legal 500 and is recognised for most of its practice areas within this publication. It also has both Lexcel and Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation. Understanding clients and their businesses is the cornerstone of the firm’s success and this approach ensures the various teams provide specialist advice and support that is tailored to the needs and objectives of their clients. The firm is able to offer a more personal service to clients regardless of the value or complexity of the instruction and it prides itself on being able to offer a first-class service that is often partner-led.
Types of work undertaken
Corporate and commercial: Sydney Mitchell has built a strong reputation in supplying innovative legal solutions for businesses of every size, from start-ups to listed companies with global brands. In January 2016 the corporate team was identified as one of five finalists in the Birmingham Legal Awards where the other four finalist corporate teams were from national and international law firms. The team has acted on a variety of complex high-profile commercial transactions including a multi-million pound financial agreement involving commercial property and commercial aspects, European data protection processes connected to a listing on NYSE, and a US supply agreement.
Litigation and dispute resolution: the firm is recognised as a top-ten litigation practice within Birmingham. It is able to undertake most areas of commercial disputes and is very experienced in dealing with complicated big ticket disputes. Recently experience includes appearing before the Court of Appeal on three separate matters, securing injunctive relief against one of the main political parties in relation to the suspension of one of its members and has acted in a high profile fraud matter valued in the region of £15m. The team regularly acts for organisations involved in multimillion pound disputes and has built up an expertise in SWAP claims. It is also very experienced in ADR/mediation and has a qualified mediator who has led over 50 commercial mediations. The team is also able to offer a supervising solicitor to oversee the execution of search orders.
Employment: the employment team act for a broad range of companies and businesses in relation to both non contentious and contentious employment work. The team are able to offer flexibility in terms of fee structures which also include an annual retainer product called Employment Armour. This is a fixed fee employment law advice and assistance service which will provide practical support to employers when they have to deal with employment law issues within the work place. The employment team also regularly act for directors and senior employees (of both private and public limited companies) in relation to contentious employment matters such as the negotiation of a termination package as well as employment tribunal claims.
Private client: the firm is particularly strong in this sector. The department continues to grow and has seen a marked increase in the quantity and complexity of new instructions. As part of an ongoing commitment to elderly client services the firm supports private clients with care funding and continuing healthcare assessment processes.
Contentious Probate: Our specialist team has built up a formidable reputation for contentious probate and contentious court of protection work and it is now seen as a leader for this practice area within the Greater Birmingham area. The team handles complex cases involving multimillion pound estates as well as smaller estates which can be equally challenging. The team continues to grow and is highly regarded for its expertise in a broad range of matters which includes disputes relating to wills, inheritance and trusts as well as the mismanagement of estate and trust funds. The team is also committed to raising awareness in respect of financial abuse of the elderly, which remains a growing concern.
Personal injury: the firm operates a specialist PI team that is very experienced in claimant work covering general personal injury, clinical negligence claims and work-related accident claims. A high proportion of work undertaken is multi-track work carried out for local clients who come to the firm on recommendation from former clients.
Family law: the firm has an excellent reputation in family law. Whereas many larger firms have changed focus away from family law, Sydney Mitchell has always seen it as part of its core offering and is now highly regarded in the West Midlands, advising on multi-million pound and international divorces.
Property: residential and commercial property has always been an important part of the firm’s services and despite all the changes in the property market over the years, the team is flourishing and undertaking high-end work.
Insolvency: the insolvency team advises in all aspects of contentions and non-contentious insolvency matters in particular, administrations, liquidations, and bankruptcy; the team also deals with the appointment of Fixed Charge and LPA Receiver and acts for Receivers following appointment. They further act for lenders advising on the restructuring and recovery of loans and act for directors in respect of wrongful trading claims, misfeasance claims and directors disqualification proceedings.
Immigration: Recognised for three consecutive years as a Top Tier department in the legal 500 publication, our immigration team is very experienced in explaining and guiding clients through the increasingly complex immigration process by simplifying the legal procedure and offering clear and honest advice on all types of immigration applications and appeals. As a result of politics and ever-changing world events, immigration rules and laws change frequently, sometimes without notice. Our team’s expert and up to date knowledge ensures that our clients do not go down the wrong path, thereby increasing chances of success and saving clients’ money in the long term.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Senior Partner and Head of Family Law | Karen Moores | ||
Litigation | Dean Parnell | ||
Private client | Tracy Creed | ||
Family and Finance | Mauro Vinti | ||
Conveyancing | Adam Oleskow | ||
Restructuring and Insolvency | Leanne Schneider-Rose | ||
Immigration | Andre Minnaar | ||
Company and Commercial | Roy Colaba | ||
Employment Law | Emma-Louise Hewitt | ||
Commercial Property | Shilpa Unarkat | ||
Contentious Probate | Mitra Mann |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Mr Andre Minnaar | Partner, Head of Immigration | View Profile |
![]() |
Mike Sutton | Senior Associate, Head of Department | View Profile |
Solicitor Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Roy Colaba | Partner, Head of Corporate and Commercial | View Profile |
![]() |
Claire Cooper | Partner Claire covers a broad range of commercial property transactions including sale… | View Profile |
![]() |
Tracy Creed | Tracy is partner and head of the private client team. She has… | View Profile |
![]() |
Heleena Gandham | Associate Solicitor | View Profile |
![]() |
Emma-Louise Hewitt | Head of Department, Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Mrs Mitra Mann | Mitra is a Partner and Head of Contentious Probate. She is an… | View Profile |
![]() |
Dean Parnell | Dean is a Partner and he jointly heads up the Dispute Resolution… | View Profile |
![]() |
Leanne Schneider-Rose | Leanne is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution Team specialising in Restructuring… | View Profile |
![]() |
Mr Ian Sheppard | Senior Associate Solicitor, Sydney Mitchell LLP | View Profile |
![]() |
Melissa Southall | Associate Melissa is an experienced Solicitor and provides extensive personal immigration advice… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 14 Number of other UK fee-earners : 56Languages
English Polish Italian German Gujarati Hindi Urdu Afrikaans French- Employment > Immigration
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > Debt recovery
- Private client > Family: Birmingham
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate