Star Legal

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Adam is a Trainee Solicitor based in the Aldridge branch of Star Legal, dealing with Residential Conveyancing, Dispute Resolution, Employment and Private Client Matters.

Alice is a Solicitor in the corporate and commercial law team at Star Legal. She assists with commercial transactions including; business sales, acquisitions, share buybacks and general corporate and commercial advice.

Alison Whittingham

Alison is a Corporate and Commercial Solicitor with many years’ experience of mergers and acquisitions, reorganisations, and general company and commercial advice across a wide number of business sectors. Her wide range of legal experience includes: Merger of leading regional IFA business with global wealth management firm Negotiating the 1st supplier agreement with EDF on behalf of a local group of food and drink producers Sale of independent day schools Merger of 2 regional environmental consultancy companies Merger of educational charities Sale of leading supplier of EPOS software for visitor attractions Advising on new franchise business purchases Management buyouts and share buybacks, allowing current owners to retire Advice on lending and security agreements IP advice, including copyright, trademarks and confidentiality issues.

Amy has experience in advising and supporting parents in Court proceedings in both disputes relating to contact arrangements and also where Social Services have concerns about their children. Amy has dealt with complicated proceedings which involve Fabricated Induced Illness, Inflicted Injury and neglect cases. Amy has experience not only dealing with parents in the above applications but also with grandparents and other extended family members. Amy's role as a Family Lawyer is to ensure that whatever the difficulties you are experiencing in relation to the above matters, that these issues are dealt with sensitivity.

Andy is an accredited member of the Law Society's mental health panel. He has represented clients detained under the Mental Health Act for over 16 years

Andrew is a highly experienced commercial and commercial property lawyer. He brings a depth and breadth of expertise and experience to all aspects of his work. He acts for landowners, developers, lenders, investors, businesses and individuals. Andrew brings dedication and enthusiasm to every matter, whether a shop lease, large scale development or corporate acquisition or disposal, yet is approachable and an excellent communicator. His aim is to work quickly and cost effectively to deliver the successful outcome his client wants.

Andrew is one of Star Legal’s Consultant Solicitors who is known for his wealth and breadth of experience in all areas of property, particularly commercial and residential. His advice is informed by a knowledge of and experience in other areas of the law, including probate, administration of estates, inheritance tax planning and general problem solving.

Angela is responsible for the Westbury on Trym office. She specialises in all aspects of residential property and can advise clients on purchases, sales, shared ownerships, re-mortgages, transfers of equity and leaseholds. Having worked in residential conveyancing for her whole legal career Angela is well known by both solicitors and estate agents in Bristol’s property market.

Ashley is experienced in both residential and commercial property transactions, with knowledge on landlord and tenant transactions and leases. Ashley is part of the Commercial Property team at Star Legal Clevedon.

Ben is Graduate Legal Executive who advises a wide range of regional and national clients, from first time buyers stepping onto the property ladder, to those involved with high profile property sales, purchases and property investments. Ben has particular expertise in working with clients who are purchasing new-build residential homes.

Caroline Harrington

Caroline is a Licensed Conveyancer, head of the Bradley Stoke branch of Star Legal. She has over 20 years experience in all aspects of residential conveyancing with a wide and varied caseload.

Catherine Nelligan

Catherine is one of Star Legal's Consultant Solicitors, known for her considerable experience of general practice to include Wills, Probate, Residential Conveyancing, Divorce, Land Registry Issues and Contentious Matters.

Caughlin Crosby

Caughlin specialises in residential conveyancing. Her wide experience of all sorts of residential property transactions means that she is well equipped to ensure the smooth running to a successful conclusion.

Charles manages the Wokingham office. His main areas of expertise are residential and commercial property matters.

Charlotte Squire-Davies

Charlotte is head of the Star Legal Chepstow office and specialises in Private Family Matters - divorce, financial settlement and child arrangements. She is noted for working closely with clients and giving practical, down to earth advice in order to reach a swift and fair conclusion.

Christopher Jenkins

Christopher is a seasoned probate practitioner who brings many years of experience to his work for his clients. Christopher deals with a wide range of probate matters, from modest estates to large and complex estates.

Claire is responsible for the Portishead branch of Star Legal. She specialises in all aspects of residential property transactions, both freehold and leasehold.

Daniel specialises in property and site development. He can advise clients on a variety of aspects in this area of law which include site acquisitions, planning applications, construction and disposals of residential plots and commercial units. Daniel works closely with developers, lenders and landowners who develop sites. Daniel is also able to advise on a variety of residential property transactions, both freehold and leasehold.

Darren Burleigh

Darren is a Solicitor who specialises in criminal defence work and regulatory matters. His criminal practice is wide-ranging – he specialises in complex defence work. He has higher rights of audience in the criminal courts and represents clients in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal. Darren represents clients involved in regulatory cases, complex financial investigations (including HMRC investigations and FCA investigations) complex cases involving fatalities (including murder and corporate manslaughter investigations) and road traffic specialist cases. For those entitled to public funding, he is authorised to represent clients in very high value criminal cases.

David is a Solicitor who has a wealth of experience in property law, advising clients on all aspects of development, regeneration, investment, purchases and lettings.David is able to advise on a wide range of property matters, including option/promotion agreements, joint ventures and development agreements as well as sales, purchases and lettings of both commercial and mixed use properties.

David has substantial commercial property experience. He acts for various commercial landlords in various parts of the country with large portfolios of investment property. He also frequently acts for commercial tenants with offices, industrial and retail premises, in addition to acting for new businesses. David has recently acted on the purchase of a commercial investment freehold development with over 20 let units in the Midlands. David is currently acting for a government charity and a local town council on their respective commercial property affairs and is acting on premises as far afield as London, the South coast, North Wales, the Midlands as well as Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. David frequently acts on residential and commercial freehold sales and acquisitions, development land, building plots and flat partitions.

David is one of Star Legal Fishpond’s Solicitors, specialising in residential property transactions and has a very wide and varied caseload.

Dean is a Solicitor for Star Legal’s Nailsea branch. Dean is a strong all-round litigator with an interest in Employment Law, specialising in divorce and relationship breakdowns with particular emphasis on financial, property and child issues. Dean is also a trained Collaborative Lawyer.

Elizabeth is a Solicitor specialising in dispute resolution, with a particular interest in disputes concerning Wills, Trusts and intestate estates. Elizabeth's main areas of expertise include: Inheritance and trust disputes Trust of land claims Partnership and Shareholder Disputes Property Litigation acting for both landlords and tenants in contested commercial lease renewals and dilapidations claims, Possession proceedings Civil and commercial contract disputes including building and commercial and consumer disputes and Professional negligence

Liz specialises in commercial property. She acts for a range of clients and has extensive experience of advising clients in relation to industrial units, offices, and retail units, both in high street locations and in out of town retail parks. She acts for both landlords and tenants.

Hannah is head of the Clevedon office of Star Legal. She specialises in property work, predominantly residential. She is very familiar with the property market in North Somerset.

Helen is a Solicitor and Head of the Commercial Property department for Star Legal Clevedon. Helen advises on all aspects of commercial property transactions, and has considerable experience of advising investors and of dealing with real estate finance. She also advises occupiers and developers of all types of commercial property.

Hilary is Head of Star Legal’s Malvern office. She has practised in Malvern since 1980, specialising in Conveyancing, Wills and Probate and Trusts and advising elderly clients. She divides her time equally between these areas.

Ian is the joint managing director of Star Legal, which he founded with Philip Hands, and is also responsible for corporate and commercial work. Ian is also fluent in Japanese and has a good knowledge of, and extensive contacts in, the Japanese market.Ian is a corporate and commercial lawyer with wide experience of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, joint ventures and collaborations, reorganisations, and general company and commercial work in a number of different sectors.

Ian is a Conveyancing Executive at Star Legal Fishponds, who has considerable experience in all aspects of residential conveyancing.

Jean has over 35 years of experience of family law in the West Midlands, and as a Higher Rights Advocate represents her clients personally in court as often as she can. She believes that when there are problems within a family everyone involved deserves a consistent approach, and the best informed advice to achieve a realistic outcome.

Jenny deals with wills, probate and general private client work, agricultural land and commercial leases. She is a member of the Law Society Probate Section, and brings a wealth of experience and depth of legal knowledge to her aim of supporting families and businesses when organising their affairs and administering their assets.

Jim is a Consultant Solicitor for Star Legal Fishponds. Peter specialises in Commercial Property work, in particular acting for a number of residential property developers on well known housing developments in Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset.

Jo has specialised in Commercial Property ever since qualifying as a Solicitor. Jo has acted for Landlords and Tenants in both the public (NHS) and private sectors advising on a diverse range of property issues; property development, leasehold transactions, statutory easements, high value sales and purchases and overage agreements.

Joel is a Chartered Legal Executive and Head of Star Legal’s Aldridge and Walsall Conveyancing Departments. With over 15 years experience in Residential Conveyancing, Joel’s key aim is to remove the stress of moving house and make it a smooth and hassle free experience.

Jon runs the Thornbury High Street office. Jon has specialised in property work and conveyancing for over twenty years, and is extremely familiar with the property market in South Gloucestershire. Jon’s approach to property transactions is to provide expert advice coupled with a practical and jargon-free approach, keeping clients informed and working with them to meet their needs and concerns. He aims to provide a friendly, high quality service and value for money.

Julie is a Solicitor who provides high level employment law services including TUPE and due diligence support during M&A and insolvency exercises, boardroom change & director removals as well as strategic workforce planning and union negotiations.

Karen is Chartered Legal Executive who specialises in residential conveyancing. She uses her considerable experience to make the process of moving home as smooth and stress free as possible.

Kirstine McFarlane

Kirstine is an accredited member if the Law Society's mental health panel. She specialises in advising clients with learning difficulties and autism, and tackling the particular problems faced by this vulnerable client group. Kirstine also has significant experience of the Mental Capacity Act in particular assisting clients who wish to appeal against a Deprivation of Liberty authorisation and representation within the Court of protection for welfare matters. Legal aid is available for Court of Protection and nearest relative displacement proceedings too, depending on the circumstances.

Lucy has specialised in Dispute Resolution since qualifying as a Solicitor in January 2010. Lucy’s particular expertise is in financial services disputes, including mis-selling claims, acting primarily for claimants but also for defendants where there are insurance coverage issues. Lucy also has experience in professional negligence claims, having acted in a number of high value cases against accountants and solicitors. She can also assist with a range of property related matters, including residential and commercial landlord and tenant cases (repossession, eviction, forfeiture, dilapidations) as well as some non-contentious matters including drafting and advising on tenancy agreements.

Mark specialises in a wide range of property related work with a particular emphasis on commercial property and development. During his career as a Solicitor, he has worked with major banks, national charities, international companies, local authorities, and developers and investors both in the UK and overseas. Mark is an acknowledged expert in business landlord and tenant law and has written a number of articles and booklets on the subject.

Mark is head of and manages the Private and Commercial Client department in Star Legal Aldridge, alongside supervising both Residential Conveyancing and Wills and Probate departments. Mark is an experienced Solicitor, specialising in commercial work for businesses including civil and commercial disputes, property and other transactions.

Martin deals with matrimonial matters and litigation. He is a member of the Law Society Family Law Accreditation Scheme (meaning that he has shown to the satisfaction of the Law Society that he has and maintains a high level of knowledge, skills, experience and practice in the area of family law). Martin aims to help clients find cost-effective solutions that meet their needs and wishes. He brings a wealth of experience and attention to detail to all matters.

Michele heads up the Family Law Department in Wokingham dealing with all aspects of divorce and family work with particular emphasis on financial matters. Michele is particularly familiar with cases involving clients with high net worth and those with family run companies. Michele has a wide range of experience, including pre-marital and separation agreements and disputes concerning contact or residence arrangements for children. She is a member of Resolution, formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association, and as such seeks to deal with cases in a constructive and conciliatory manner, by negotiation, wherever possible.Michele offers an initial 1 hour free consultation to all new family law clients.

Nailah is a Solicitor in the Family Department with experience in a wide range of matters including divorce/finances, contact and residence disputes, care proceedings and injunctions. A keen advocate, she has represented clients in finding of fact/final contested hearings in the Family Court. In addition to legal practice, Nailah has also worked as a Constituency Caseworker for a local MP. Nailah is a member of the Law Society Council and hears school appeals for Bristol City Council as a lay panel member. She is fluent in Mirpuri and Urdu

Neesha is a solicitor in the family department with experience in representing and supporting parents in the court arena where social services are involved and have concerns regarding the children of the family as well as parental disputes over contact or living arrangements.

Nick Hutchinson

Nick is a Consultant Solicitor who specialises in residential and commercial property transactions.

Peter is a Consultant Solicitor, with particular experience in commercial property litigation, acting for both landlords and tenants and undertaking claimant and defendant work in contested commercial lease renewals, dilapidations claims, planning/ development related disputes, rights of way and restrictive covenant disputes. As well as being a solicitor, Peter is a trained mediator. He also sits as a Deputy District Judge on the Western Circuit.

Peter is the head of the Nailsea office and specialises in commercial law, dealing with the sale and acquisitions of businesses and investment Property. He also acts in numerous Commercial Landlord and Tenant matters as well as dealing with wills, probate and inheritance matters.

Peter is Head of Star Legal Fishponds, and specialises in accident compensation cases and clinical negligence matters, having practised as a litigator ever since he qualified in 1984. He has considerable experience in the following practice areas: Employers and Public liability Professional Negligence Insurance Law Personal Injury Litigation (Peter has been a member of the Law Society specialist Personal Injury Panel for 10 years) Commercial and breach of contract disputes Building and construction disputes Property disputes Peter is familiar with all forums for resolving disputes including the courts, arbitration and mediation.

Philip Hands is Joint Managing Director and Solicitor of Star Legal. Philip has wide experience of commercial litigation. He has dealt with many hard fought cases including contractual disputes, professional negligence claims, construction disputes, shareholder disputes and civil fraud. He has also dealt with defamation cases and numerous cases involving property – including rent reviews, lease renewals and dilapidation claims. As a litigator, Philip’s opponents view him as “tough and experienced”, while his clients identify him as “a creative thinker… prepared to explore new areas of law”.

Philip Bellshaw

Phil manages the firms’ mental health department and has over 30 years’ experience of mental health work. The department has one of the largest specialist legal teams advising people subject to the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983 in the West Midlands area. Phil is a member of the Law Society’s panel of accredited solicitors specialising in this type of work. He assists clients at Mental Health Tribunals and hospital managers’ review meetings and also by arranging attendance at formal meetings which involve planning future treatment and aftercare. Phil also advises families as to their rights, particularly where the powers of the nearest relative need to be considered and explained and has experience of advising relatives separately at hearings where they have made their own application for a patient to be discharged. Occasionally Phil writes articles and gives lectures on the subject of mental health law. He has been involved in appeals in the Upper Tribunal and High Court, challenging decisions made by tribunals and hospital managers.

Pieter Cornelius

After an extensive career in HR Management, the business world and working in the financial services industry, Pieter decided to make a career change to the legal profession and completed a Graduate Diploma in Law and a Masters in Law at the University of Wolverhampton in 2013. Pieter then completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC) at BPP Law School in 2014.As paralegal in our firm’s Mental Health and Court of Protection department, Pieter acts for people detained in hospital who seek to challenge their detention. Pieter also advises those who are subject to Community Treatment Orders and Guardianship.

Rachel has experience in representing parents and other family members in court proceedings concerning their children. Rachel specialises in Care Proceedings where Social Services are involved. Rachel also has experience in matters concerning surrogacy arrangements and also in relation to step-parent adoptions. In her role as a Family Lawyer Rachel works hard to support clients in difficult circumstances with empathy and sensitivity.

Ralph is a Consultant Solicitor who for the past forty years has acted principally, but not exclusively, for doctors and dentists in times of professional difficulty. This has included defending civil claims for medical negligence and dealing with criminal cases, alongside gaining experience of employment law as it affects the NHS. Ralph has in recent years specialised in regulatory cases, regularly appearing before Fitness to Practice Panels of the General Medical Council and has acted for clinicians in many high profile cases. Ralph has recently been appointed Legal Adviser to the Disciplinary Board of the Institution of Structural Engineers, and also Legal Adviser to the Statutory Committees of the General Pharmaceutical Council.

Renu represents patients who are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. This includes representation at the Mental Health Tribunals, Hospital Managers Reviews and also Care Programme Approach meetings and has extensive experience in representing clients who suffer with learning difficulties, children detained under the Act and clients with forensic backgrounds. She also, advises clients subject to Community Treatment Orders, Guardianship or clients subject to S117 aftercare arrangements. Renu is accredited as a member of the Law Society Mental Health Panel.

Richard Agnew Vos

Richard runs the Tiverton office. Richard’s main area of expertise include: Property transactions (residential sales purchases and re-mortgages) Wills and tax planning Trust work Probate and estate administrations, Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection applications Richard also has experience in general civil litigation and Contentious Probate matters. Richard believes strongly that the role of the solicitor is to act as a problem solver for his client and he concentrates on giving the client sound practical advice and support. He aims to offer his clients positive advice and a common sense approach to tackling legal issues.

Rob is an experienced solicitor who deals with probate, estate administration, will drafting, trusts and tax planning as well as powers of attorney and Court of Protection work.

Sandra specialises in Family Law and Litigation and is also an accredited mediator.

Sara is hugely experienced in all aspects of residential conveyancing, and also deals with commercial property transactions.

Sarah Pilkington

Sarah qualified as a solicitor in 2001. Her current workload is predominantly in the residential field, however has a range of expertise including advising on: Residential conveyancing, including buying and selling properties, large and small, and mortgage funding Letting residential property Businesses on their acquisition of office, retail and industrial space Property developers their acquisition of new sites for residential development Telecommunications installations on land and buildings The renewable energy field, particularly in the wind and solar sectors, on the acquisition / disposal of solar and wind assets and the option and leasing of land for renewable energy purposes from land based wind and solar farms to rooftop schemes.

Sarah is a member of the Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme and a member of the Law Society Mental Health Panel. The firm were proud to announce that Sarah was awarded with a Women in Law Award 2016 for her outstanding contribution.

Sharon is a Chartered Legal Executive at Star Legal Fishponds who specialises in Probate, Wills, Trusts, Court of Protection, Lifetime gifts and Powers of Attorney. Sharon has over thirty years of experience in the law. She thoroughly enjoys acting on behalf of her clients to bring matters to a successful conclusion.

Stephen is the Head of the Wills and Probate team at Star Legal Aldridge and advises in relation to all aspects of Will preparation and Estate planning. Stephen acts for Executors and Personal Representatives in the administration of Estates and is particularly skilled in dealing with complex matters. Stephen also deals with applications for Lasting Powers of Attorney in relation to property, finance, health and care. He has experience acting in the Court of Protection regarding applications for Financial Deputyship.

Stephen is head of Star Legal’s Cheltenham office and has a wealth of experience in Intellectual Property, IT, e-commerce and internet related matters. Stephen advises on a wide range of commercial matters, from starting up in business to protecting the intellectual property your business owns, with particular expertise in the telecommunications sector.

Susan is a Solicitor and TEP (Trusts and Estates Practitioner). Susan advises on and drafts Wills ranging from simple family Wills to more complicated arrangements involving a wide variety of Trusts. Areas of her speciality include: Lasting Powers of Attorney Court of Protection applications and matters arising from loss of mental capacity, including applications for Deputyship appointments Probate and the Administration of Estates.

Tansy handles both commercial and residential property matters and has experience acting for clients which include institutional and private investors, commercial developers, retail tenants and owner-managed businesses. Her particular specialisms include advising in relation to commercial landlord and tenant matters, management work for property investors and the acquisition and disposal of high value commercial and residential property.

Tara has experience in all aspects of residential conveyancing including purchases, sales, shared ownerships, re-mortgages, transfer of equities and leaseholds.

Tracey is a hugely experienced Solicitor, specialising in planning and environmental and who acts for a range of clients. She has worked on a huge range of projects during the course of her career, from major infrastructure projects to prosecutions for breaching listed building conditions to planning agreements for housebuilders and developers of urban regeneration projects and out of town retail and industrial parks. Tracey has represented clients at public enquiries and has acted on matters which have been referred for judicial review. She also has considerable experience of obtaining planning consents for renewable energy schemes and for environmentally sensitive developments such as waste transfer stations.

Tracy Rosewarne

Tracy runs the Residential Conveyancing department in the Clifton office and specialises in sales, purchases, re-mortgages, transfers of part, assents, and shared ownership matters. Having worked within the Bristol market since 1996, Tracy is a familiar figure to other residential property solicitors and estate agents in the city.

Tristan is a Consultant Solicitor who specialises in Wills, Estate and Trusts. Tristan has wide experience and particular expertise in administering estates, including estates involving foreign assets, precious gems, unregulated and unusual investments, common land, manorial titles and families in dispute. Areas of Tristan’s expertise include; Probate and Administration of Estates Lasting Powers of Attorney Court of Protection Applications and matters arising from loss of mental capacity, including applications for Deputyship appointments.

Valerie has over 30 years’ experience with particular interests in cases involving children and families involved with social services. As a Higher Rights Advocate Valerie offers representation at all levels of the Family court and has appeared in in the Court of Appeal. Valerie is a member of the Children Panel.

Vanessa Hammond

Vanessa is a Consultant Solicitor specialising in family and private client law. She has extensive experience in dealing with divorce, financial issues between both married and unmarried couples and is equally at home resolving disputes through negotiation and mediation or, where necessary, via court proceedings. Vanessa is also experienced dealing with Wills, probate, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection matters, including deputyship applications.

Vaughan Fullagar

Vaughan specialises in commercial litigation and employment law. Vaughan has acted for a number of the leading employers in Swindon for many years. He also acts for employees in appropriate cases. Vaughan's down to earth approach to the law is appreciated by his clients. Vaughan also provides general commercial advice to his commercial clients.

Vicki is a Star Legal Solicitor who specialises in Residential Conveyancing, and also advises on Wills, Probate and the Administration of Estates. She divides her time equally between these areas of work.

Victoria Draper

Victoria, a Senior Licensed Conveyancer, has worked in Cheltenham for the majority of her conveyancing career and has a very good knowledge of the area and an excellent working relationship with many estate agents, solicitors and independent financial advisors.

Victoria is a Solicitor experienced in dealing with all aspects of employment law, from the drafting of contracts and policy documents to unfair dismissal and discrimination claims, representing both employers and employees.

Zoë is experienced Solicitor for Star Legal Portishead, specialising in all areas of family law including: Disputes between married and unmarried couples concerning financial and children matters Complicated financial settlements on divorce including those involving companies and complex pensions Assisting couples to regulate their financial affairs during the course of their relationship either through pre or post nuptial agreements or co-habitation agreements Children issues - parental alienation, parental mental health and domestic violence.