Trethowans LLP

Adam Scott

Adam is a Partner and private client Solicitor with over 10 years experience in the profession. He heads up Trethowans’ private client practice in Dorset. Adam regularly provides complex personal tax planning advice to high net worth individuals, including entrepreneurs. His work often involves input from the firm’s trust and tax, commercial, company and employment teams. He provides planning advice to business owners and agricultural clients to ensure a smooth transition of their businesses and estates to future generations.

Amanda Inch

Amanda qualified as a solicitor in 1992 having previously qualified as a legal executive. She specialises in agricultural and commercial property matters and particularly enjoys involved and complicated transactions. Amanda’s past experience includes the sale and purchase of farms and estates, solar farm leases, option agreements and promotion agreements in respect of potential development land, and acting for farming partnerships on dissolution transferring the landholding into separate ownerships.

Andrew Mercer

Andrew is a Partner and Head of the Family Team at Trethowans. His main areas of expertise is a focus on the negotiation of the financial settlements arising from , Separation, Divorce, the dissolution of Civil Partnerships and other related issues. Andrew is particularly adept at handling complex, high net worth settlements which involve family partnerships, businesses, farms, foreign property or trusts. He also advises clients on Nuptial or Living Together Agreements and can assist with issues relating to children. Andrew strongly advocates the benefits of a no-Court, non-confrontational approach to family law – especially with the of issues which involving finance and/or children. A long standing member of Resolution and an experienced Collaborative Lawyer.

Bethany Blamire

Bethany is a Partner in the Insurance and Regulatory team. She deals with all aspects of personal injury law, acting for UK and European insurers, businesses and individuals, including high value and complex cases. Bethany’s work predominantly involves defending motor claims, however, she also handles employers’ liability and public liability claims for domestic insurers. She has been appointed to the Law Society’s Personal Injury Panel.

Chris Whiteley

Chris is a Senior Partner in the Accidents & Injuries team at Trethowans. Chris undertakes work specialising in catastrophic head and spinal injury cases, as well as birth related injuries of maximum severity. He has been accredited by the Law Society as a member of their specialist personal injury and clinical negligence panels. Chris has also been appointed by the Court of Protection to act as a professional deputy to manage the property and financial affairs of vulnerable adults, and also sits as a Deputy District Judge in London. Chris was Managing Partner of Trethowans from April 2015 to March 2021.

Clare Carter

Clare specialises in clinical negligence and complex personal injury claims on behalf of Claimants injured as the result of medical negligence or accidents. Clare undertakes a wide variety of high-value, complex clinical negligence work, including birth injury, orthopaedic, delayed diagnosis and treatment of injuries and diseases (including cancer), gynaecological, surgical, vascular, cardiac, ophthalmological, radiological, pharmaceutical, amputation and brain injury cases. She acts for both adults and children. Clare has acted for clients who have been injured by negligent hospitals, doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals.

Elizabeth Ryall

Partner

Emma Wilders-Pratt

Emma is well known in the field of family law having been in practice for over 20 years. Emma specialises in all aspects of family law and relationship breakdown, including divorce, financial relief, private law children cases and pre and post nuptial settlements. Emma’s client base are usually individuals from net worth families. She has particular expertise in dealing with cases involving substantial and complex business assets, inherited wealth, farming assets, Trusts and Armed Forces pensions. Emma also has a wealth of experience acting for clients involved in issues relating to children, including applications for removal from the jurisdiction, the future living arrangements for the children and acting for grandparents. Emma’s approach is bespoke for each client based on their needs and objectives. As a member of Resolution and a trained collaborative family lawyer, Emma seeks to provide an alternative to litigation for her clients if appropriate and steers her clients towards workable solutions. Emma is described in the Legal 500 as, “a tough litigator and does all she can to achieve the best outcomes for clients.’ And “ highly knowledgeable but also pragmatic” and “stands out above the rest in Hampshire and Wiltshire.’ Emma works hard to help her clients leave the marriage with their dignity intact and feeling that they have retained control of the process and developed a positive post separation parenting relationship with their former spouse.

Ferhat Choudri

Ferhat is the Partner who established the highly successful Defendant Personal InjuryDepartment at Pitmans. He is known amongst his clients for his tenacious approachto cases and for being exceptionally proactive in representing his clients’ interests. Hehas over 20 years experience in insurance, advising on all aspects of insuranceincluding road traffic, catastrophic claims, as well as employers liability and publicliability claim. Ferhat is also known for advising insurers in relation to claims arising in numerous foreign jurisdictions. Specialist interests include: defendantinsurance, automotive sector. Noted reportables cases include: Arnesen v Heffey CA[2002] (liability apportionment successfully appealed); Jimaale v London Buses Ltd[2000] (defendent's right to fair trial under European Convention of Humans Rights(Article 6)).

Gavin Lane

Since qualifying as a Solicitor in 1991, Gavin has specialised in personal injury and clinical negligence cases and brings experience, knowledge and enthusiasm to his work. Having first joined Trethowans in 1997 and rejoined (after a brief spell away) in 2003, he became a Partner in 2007. Gavin specialises in a wide variety of complex employers’ liability cases and clinical negligence claims, but particularly catastrophic injury cases including brain injury, spinal injury, amputee cases and Claimants suffering multiple fractures. He has a reputation as somebody who will go the extra mile and fight the hard fight on behalf of his clients. A large proportion of Gavin's cases are referred to him by solicitors from other firms, which is testament to his knowledge and expertise. Gavin is committed to ensuring maximum compensation and the best rehabilitation possible for his clients, to ensure a good quality of life. Gavin has been appointed by the Court of Protection to act as a Professional Deputy to manage the property and financial affairs of vulnerable adults.

Grant Cameron

As a Partner in the Family team based in Southampton, Grant has over 30 years' experience dealing with all aspects of family law. This includes divorce and dissolution, private law children matters (to include complex children proceedings and removal from jurisdiction cases), financial cases (to include advising medium to high network clients, cases with trust and taxation elements, business and farming interests, police and armed forces cases, pensions and foreign assets), pre-nuptial and pre-civil partnership agreements, separation agreements, co-habitation agreements and disputes. Grant qualified as a collaborative lawyer in 2007 and as an all issues family mediator in 2010. Grant actively promotes alternate forms of dispute resolution, though he is a capable advocate with wide experience in conducting children and financial remedy proceedings. Grant is an active member of Resolution, a national body of family law professionals committed to dealing with matters in a sensitive, constructive and cost effective way, sitting on the national committee as Vice Chair and is due to become Chair in 2023 and Hampshire's regional committee. Grant also is an active member of the Hampshire Family Legal Solutions Group.

James Braund

James is a Partner in Trethowans’ Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence team, leading the team in the Poole and Bournemouth offices. James specialises in complex and catastrophic cases. James often acts for clients who have suffered life changing injuries, including brain injuries and severe spinal injuries. He uses his knowledge and experience to ensure that clients get the best possible outcome from their claim, often with a rehabilitation focus. James also specialises in clinical negligence claims and has experience dealing with birth injury cases, instances of delay in diagnosis, claims involving incorrect / sub standard treatment and issues involving consent. In addition, he has experience in pursuing personal injury claims involving cross border and jurisdictional issues, bringing claims to the English courts for injuries suffered other countries. James has obtained successful outcomes in a wide variety of cases including claims and compensation for accidents at work, road traffic accidents, product liability incidents, public liability accidents and medical negligence cases, often on a no win no fee basis.

James Kidner

James is a Partner and head of the Dorset Commercial Property team at Trethowans, based within the Bournemouth office. James has been described as a highly engaged, motivated, and pragmatic lawyer James has extensive experience of helping a wide variety of clients in relation to their commercial property work, including pension funds, regional SME property developers, HNW individuals, Landlords, and Investors. His work ranges from advising on straight forward property work through to drafting, negotiating, and advising on complex sale and purchase agreements and funding arrangements.

Jamie Earley

Jamie is a partner in the Corporate team at Trethowans, specialising in acquisitions and disposals, with particular experience in the builders and timber merchants sector. He also acts for companies and individuals in relation to shareholder, LLP and partnership agreements. Jamie has been an integral member of the corporate team since he joined the firm in 2015, dealing with complex large-scale transactions, often with international elements involved. Notable work highlights Advising on the English law aspects of a $1.4bn international deal, linked to a listing on NYSE, the largest transaction the firm has been involved in in February 2022. Advising on the English law aspects of the $265m sale of Nutrawise Health & Beauty Corporation to Canadian listed entity Jamieson Wellness in May 2022. Advising on the sale of Wantage Builders Merchants to Grant and Stone in May 2022; Advising on the sale of Exall Jones Timber and Builders’ Merchants to Huws Gray Group in September 2021. Advising on the sale Skylark Golf & Country Club to Time GB Group in May 2021. Acting for Mark Allen Group on its acquisition of a portfolio from Elsevier Limited, the fifth acquisition for MAG. Advising on the sale of Milford Building Supplies to Huws Gray Group in September 2020.

Jason Riley

Associate

Jenni Wicheard

Jenni is a Partner and head of the Commercial Property team in Salisbury. She is a highly experienced lawyer with a particular specialism in SIPP and SSAS pension property work, having acted as panel solicitor for a large number of national pension providers over the past 12 years. Jenni’s work includes advising professional trustees and pension scheme members on investment acquisitions and disposals, in-specie transfers and connected party transactions. She also regularly deals with Landlord and Tenant matters, including leases, licences and other property management work.

John Hall

John is a partner and the Head of Personal Injury . He qualified as a solicitor in 1994, and has spent his entire career working for claimants in personal injury compensation claims. He joined Trethowans LLP from a large trade union law firm in February 2014, where he was a Southampton-based partner, specialising in complex asbestos disease and other occupational disease cases. John has extensive experiences in running cases involving mesothelioma, asbestos-lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening. He uses all his skill and experience to investigate these cases as a matter of urgency and strives to recover compensation for his clients within their lifetime if they have a fatal condition. John works hard for each and every one of his clients and has a reputation for providing excellent customer care. Specialist areas: asbestos related claims, occupational asthma, other occupational respiratory disease, hand arm vibration syndrome and vibration white finger, allergic contact/skin disease, chemical exposure.

Jon Stickland

Jon is a Partner and head of the Commercial Contracts team at Trethowans, based within the Southampton office. Jon has extensive experience of helping a wide variety of clients in relation to their commercial contracts, from FTSE 100 companies to SMEs. His work ranges from advising on simple terms and conditions through to drafting and negotiating complex, business critical supply and outsourcing agreements. He has particular experience of contracts relating to supply chain and procurement, manufacturing, warehousing and logistics, advertising and marketing, outsourcing of services and the appointment of agents, distributors, franchisees and concessionaires.

Julian Hamblin

Julian is a highly skilled technology lawyer, having been involved with technology law since 1998. He was the UK technology sector head at an international law firm until January 2020 when he joined Trethowans. Julian’s main areas of practice are in information technology and e-commerce, including the development and licensing of software, outsourcing, online and cloud services. Julian also advises on data protection issues, usually relating to the use and transfer of customer data in IT implementations, and on intellectual property rights, particularly in the context of open source software and website/software development.

Karl Cameron

Karl is Partner and Head of Trethowans' Commercial Litigation department. Dealing primarily with complex matters, Karl's own practice focusses on disputes arising from property, construction projects and financial services, with particular emphasis on professional negligence. As a litigator, Karl has extensive experience of High Court and County Court litigation, together with various Alternative Dispute Resolution forums.

Kate Marsh

Partner

Kathryn Evans

Kathryn is a Partner and Head of Employment Law at Trethowans. Kathryn offers a length and breadth of experience that makes her a formidable opponent. She has strong technical capability in all areas of employment law including tribunal strategy, TUPE and discrimination. Kathryn acts predominantly for corporates to provide strategic management of difficult employees. From grievances to misconduct and ill-health to performance issues, Kathryn helps her clients get where they want to be. Kathryn is direct and down-to-earth. Kathryn describes herself as a practical troubleshooter. She helps her clients identify key issues and then prepares a workable strategy to address them. Kathryn is hard working, intelligent and relentless. Her clients regularly comment on the overwhelming feeling of support they received from Kathryn during tricky times. Kathryn also has experience at the sharp end, having represented her clients in the county court, the magistrates court and the Employment Tribunal. This gives Kathryn an edge over most employment lawyers in dealing with Tribunal matters.

Kelvin Farmaner

Kelvin is an experienced litigation lawyer, an Advocate (Higher Courts Civil Proceedings) and he has a niche expertise and understanding of the insurance sector. Kelvin acts for Domestic and European insurance companies as well as self-insuring businesses. He deals with defending mainly high value personal injury cases. He represented insurers in the reported case of Marshall v MIB (1), Pickard (2) and Generali (3) 2017 concerning how Rome ii is applied in multi-tort cases. As well as motor claims cases Kelvin has also established a niche practice in relation to claims involving animals, having acted for the successful party in the leading case of Mirvahedy v Henley, which was decided in the House of Lords (the case in which the court defined the responsibilities of keepers of animals under Section 2 of the Animals Act 1971). He has published various articles in national and regional publications and trade journals such as The New Law Journal, The Post Magazine, The Solicitors Journal, Expert Witness Journal and PI Brief Update Law Journal as well as appearing in a lawyer training DVD for the College of Law, London.

Kimberley Davies

Kimberley is a Partner working in the Family Team, she specialises in all aspects of family law. Kimberley helps clients with all aspects of family law, including divorce and dissolution, children law matters (including complex contact disputes and allegations of harm), financial cases (including cases where there are family businesses, substantial pension assets and inherited wealth), pre-nuptial agreements, separation agreements and cohabitation agreements. Kimberley is always keen to explore non-Court routes to resolving any dispute to try and achieve a fair outcome for her clients in the most efficient and dignified way. But, if Court proceedings are necessary, she is known for fighting her client’s case with passion and tenacity.

Kirsteen Hook

Partner

Laura Trapnell

Laura is a partner in our corporate team. She is a highly experienced Intellectual Property and Information Technology lawyer. She has worked in specialist law firms in this sector for over 25 years and has been leading commercial IP and technology teams locally for the last ten years. She brings particular expertise in trademark law and leads our in-house trademark filing practice. Laura is highly regarded for her extensive expertise in a broad range of IP matters, including IP disputes, trademark portfolios, and brand protection. She is cited as a “fearsome litigator and no-nonsense negotiator

Louise Thompson

Partner at Trethowans

Lucy Gleisner

Lucy is a Partner and head of the firm’s Corporate team. She is a highly experienced corporate finance lawyer advising buyers, sellers and funders on mergers, acquisitions and disposals, management buy-outs and buy-ins and joint ventures. Lucy also acts for companies or individuals in relation to associated corporate matters such as shareholder, partnership and LLP agreements, share options and other constitutional matters. Her clients range from SMEs and owner managed businesses to international group companies.

Marcus Thorpe

Marcus is the head of Trethowans' Agricultural & Rural Property team, specialising in the sale and purchase of farms, estates and country houses. With approaching 20 years’ experience, his professional service is recognised industry-wide. Marcus also advises clients on a wide range of issues affecting rural property, including tenancies, secured lending, sporting interests, equestrian property and renewable energy. Marcus acts for farmers and other rural property owners, pension trustees, banks and overseas clients. He is on the Lexis Nexis steering group for agriculture, which is charged with guiding Lexis Nexis on the provision of legal advice to practitioners.

Mark Nixon

Mark is a Partner and leads Trethowans’ Corporate team in Dorset. Mark has a wide range of corporate experience, including high value complicated M&A transactions, shareholders’ arrangements and investments, corporate reorganisations and share option schemes.

Mark Osgood

Mark is a Partner, supporting the Commercial Litigation team and the Restructuring & Insolvency team. He has more than 25 years’ experience advising on a wide range of disputes, acting for major UK and international corporates, private companies, insolvency practitioners and individuals. Mark has significant experience in pursuing claims in professional negligence, and has successfully managed claims against solicitors, surveyors, architects, accountants, insurance brokers and others in the financial sector. Mark has a deep knowledge of all matters covered by insolvency legislation and company law, and he advises companies, individuals, creditors, debtors, lenders, borrowers, and all other insolvency stakeholders and professionals on contentious issues.

Melia Hirst

Partner

Mihiri Gajraj

Mihiri is a Partner and leads the Private Client team at Trethowans. She qualified as a solicitor in 2009 and has been advising clients ever since. Mihiri undertakes all areas of Private Client work, including tax planning, creating trusts, administering trusts, tax calculations, the preparation of Wills and powers of attorney, and probate and estate administration. Mihiri has experience with tax planning and complex Will drafting and often works closely with the Corporate team and Agricultural team to provide the best solution for their clients when it comes to succession planning including tax considerations for Family Investment Companies and Farming Partnerships. Mihiri regularly creates trusts and administers them for her clients to protect family wealth, vulnerable beneficiaries and mitigate tax. She also prepares Lasting Powers of Attorney and Deputyship applications and deals with probates and estate administration, including those involving foreign assets, business assets and agricultural assets.

Mike Watson

Mike was appointed as Managing Partner of Trethowans in April 2021. Prior to becoming Managing Partner, Mike led the firm’s Corporate Team for more than 10 years. Alongside being Managing Partner, Mike continues to specialise in the sale and purchase of companies and businesses and is seen as a leading individual in this field. Mike advises clients on a wide range of related company matters, such as joint venture agreements, shareholders agreements and investment agreements, as well as general advice on compliance with the Companies Act. Mike's clients range from fully listed international companies through to owner-managed businesses.

Nick Gent

Nick is a highly experienced corporate finance lawyer who advises a range of clients, including public companies, SMEs and individuals, on a broad range of transactional matters required during the business lifecycle. His work extends to advising on raising capital (acting for both lenders / investors and companies on both debt and equity fundraising), buying and selling companies and businesses, mergers and joint ventures, shareholders’ agreements, corporate governance and financial services matters.

Richard Cook

Richard is a partner in the Commercial Litigation team in Southampton. He is a highly experienced commercial litigator with over 30 years of experience handling cases of substantial value for a wide variety of clients, from public listed companies to owner managed businesses. Richard's most high profile case was Johnson v Gore Wood, a case which went to the House of Lords and is still the leading authority on abuse of process concerning claims brought by related parties. Richard's other reported cases include Youlton v Charles Russell, a £4 million professional negligence claim which involved a 6 day trial in the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice (and in which judgment was given in our client’s favour) and Kingsway Hall Hotel Limited v Red Sky IT (Hounslow) Limited, a ten day trial over defective software, which again was successfully decided in our client’s favour. He has considerable experience in a wide variety of areas including professional negligence, intellectual property (mainly copyright and trade mark infringement) and defamation.

Robert Bajaj

Robert is a Partner in the Commercial Litigation Department dealing with Commercial Insolvency and Property based disputes.

Sarah Wheadon

Sarah is a partner at Trethowans

Steve Cole

After qualifying in 2002 Steve worked at FieldFisher for seven years in their commercial finance team. In 2009 Steve took up a leading advocacy position for a US Foundation involved in marine conservation. Steve relocated to the South Coast in 2013 and became a partner at Blake Morgan tasked with running their South Coast banking and finance team. He joined Trethowans in 2021 and now heads the banking and finance team. Steve was awarded Lawyer of the Year at the South Coast Deal Awards in 2017 (and has consistently been shortlisted for the award ever since). This is in recognition of his specialist expertise in banking and finance work and the quality of legal advice he has provided on a number of high profile and complex deals in the region.

Steve Cole

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