Browne Jacobson LLP

Amy joined our Birmingham office as a solicitor in early 2015. Previously, Amy has advised on contentious and non-contentious restructuring and insolvency matters on behalf of corporates and individuals. She has also worked with practitioners, creditors, individuals, institutional lenders and major corporates on their cases. Amy was promoted to Senior Associate in 2018 (less than 18 months after being promoted to an Associate) as the firm acknowledged the level of her skills, expertise and relationships, in particular with key Asset Based Lenders, including Close Brothers Ltd., Shawbrook Bank Ltd. and ABN AMRO Commercial Finance Holdings B. V. Amy is well known and highly regarded by those that provide alternative funding through asset based lending, a market which has grown rapidly over the past 10 years. Amy has advanced quickly in her career and is ‘one to watch’ for the future – she's listed as a Next Generation Partner in Legal 500. Amy has since been promoted to Partner in 2021.

Bonita joined Browne Jacobson LLP in 2014 and was promoted to Legal Director in 2018. She has specialised in IP for over 20 years with a focus on brands and designs disputes. Chambers currently ranks her as an “Associate to watch”. World Trademark Review 2019 attests that “Bonita has excellent legal knowledge and produces top-class written work. You can’t catch her out because she thinks everything through carefully.” Bonita is also described as “top class” by Legal 500 (West Midlands Intellectual Property) and as a “name to note” for Brand Management.

Bridget is an EL/PL defence specialist with expertise in the management of bullying and stress at work claims. She is Head of the Birmingham casualty team, responsible for the management and development of our casualty offer, advising our local authority and commercial insurance clients on motor, public and employers’ liability, from policy coverage through to claims and risk. Bridget is responsible for the strategic direction of the firm’s public sector insurance division, working to set strategy for growth drawing on our strength in the public sector. In that capacity, Bridget heads Foil’s Public Sector Focus Team (“SFT”), and in the last 12 months has successfully reframed the scope of the SFT to reflect core services in the sector. Her “Claims Club” is the envy of rival firms and is now run out of our key offices, bringing law to life for local authority claims managers and risk and insurance officers. Bridget has been able to build a growing adult social care practice, dealing with claims from residential and nursing care home providers. She has a particular interest in dementia care.   These claims have significant reputational impact on the provider particularly where it is alleged the negligent treatment has resulted in the death of a resident. Bridget is also a key member of our commercial insurance strategic team and leads our cross-practice team dealing with the Inquiry, prosecution and compensation issues. Bridget is a Nominated Partner for the NHS Resolution Risk Pooling tranche of business.

Christine is an Associate Solicitor in IPR defending personal injury claims.

Claire is an associate in the Birmingham team, having trained at Browne Jacobson in 2011-2013 and qualified as a solicitor in 2013. Claire is an experienced litigator, having a background in defending clinical negligence claims which included defending numerous cases to trial and pursuing a case to the Court of Appeal. More recently, Claire specialises in Court of Protection and Inquest work. She has extensive experience in the latter, and regularly appears in Coroner’s Court providing advocacy for clients and supporting witnesses through the process. Claire also regularly advises on a broad range of advisory matters including DOLS, Mental Capacity and responsible commissioner issues. Claire frequently provides training to NHS Trusts and Clinical Commissioning Groups on a variety of topics including Coronial Law and Process, Court skills, Consent and the Mental Capacity Act.

Clare is head of the Commercial Health Team and leads the Independent Health and Social Care practice across the firm. Clare is also a member of the Board.  She is a proven corporate/commercial solicitor and executive with over 15 years’ in-house experience managing legal functions, eight at board level. She has over 15 years healthcare experience. Clare has direct provider experience from being on the Board of a mental health provider a private acute hospital. She understands the numerous challenges faced by providers. Clare has a breadth of legal knowledge including core commercial and corporate law to employment, pensions, risk and governance. Clare specialises in health and social care transactions, service transfers, commercial contracts and healthtech.

Cynthia has over 25 years’ experience defending public bodies, initially within the health sector. She specialises in the defence of civil claims brought against local authorities and the police, inquests and other advisory work. Civil claims work includes personal injury, Human Rights Act, Equality Act, abuse, claims against social services departments, misfeasance, wrongful arrest or detention and malicious prosecution.

David specialises in complex and high value defendant clinical negligence claims representing both general practitioners and consultants.    

Dominic Swift is a partner in the Real Estate team and is also the chair of The Evolve Multi Academy Trust. Dominic has 30 years’ experience working within the commercial property field and specialises in complex projects, appreciated by his clients for bringing not only legal expertise but also strong project management skills.  His clients welcome his “hands on and can do attitude”. Dominic has project managed many academy conversions and advised a number of free schools focusing particularly on strategic site assembly. He has also played a major role in developing and delivering new services to help academy trusts in their strategic planning for the rapidly changing world they face.

Emma heads up the Birmingham team and is well known in the West Midlands market for delivering an excellent, efficient and straight-talking service to her clients – and as a result she has a loyal following. She has worked hard to use her style of delivery to expand her exclusive Midlands Santander Growth Capital relationship to a number of directors in the London GC team which has created a new workflow for the team. In addition to Santander she counts HSBC Birmingham, Natwest Birmingham TMT team and numerous CYB Birmingham teams as her key repeat funder-clients. This year Emma has built new relationships with Shawbrook and Metro (as a result of the firm’s recent panel appointment to both funders), Northedge, Oaknorth (a referral as a result of a very positive borrower experience on a transaction) and Thincats, all of which will expand and diversify the team’s workload in the future. Emma works on all types of financing transactions, has a keen interest in health as a sector and is very committed to the local West Midlands market.

Emma is a Defendant Clinical Negligence Specialist with over 25 years' experience of acting for NHS Resolution and NHS Trusts in the defence of NHS hospitals and staff. She specialises in high value catastrophic injury claims particularly those relating to complex birth injury; complex neurological injury and acquired brain and spinal injury in both children and adults. She is experienced in the resolution of liability and quantum issues both in the course of litigation and by mediation and ADR. This year notable cases she has managed include: a. A complex cauda equina case where breach of duty was admitted but causation was denied. There were factual disputes as to symptoms present at the time of the presentation and as to the likely treatment timelines even with the management contended for. The parties agreed to adjourn a CCMC and to proceed to early mediation where the case was resolved and where the Claimant was provided with an opportunity to raise queries as to the care received. b. An adult neurological injury claim relating to an alleged delay in diagnosis and treatment of a collapse of thoracic vertebrae which was alleged to have caused spinal cord compression. Causation was complex due to pre-existing comorbidities. The case was resolved by ADR. c. A child neurological disability claim relating to the management of their mother during labour and delivery. Full pre-action admissions were made. A collaborative approach was adopted between the parties with judgment entered and a stay agreed in order to await a more definitive prognosis.

Emma is a Senior Associate in the Construction team, based in Birmingham. Emma has experience in advising a range of clients including employers and developers, main contractors, consultants and local authorities on a variety of issues, focusing primarily on dispute resolution. Her experience includes litigation, adjudication, mediation and other forms of ADR.

Gareth leads our Private Equity practice in the West Midlands from our Birmingham office as part of our wider Corporate team. Gareth is part of an award winning and industry recognised team (Real Deals 2021). He is recognised by Private Equity Sponsors and Management Teams as commercial, always available and able to get deals done. In addition to his Private Equity practice, Gareth acts for corporate clients ranging from global corporations (Europe and the US in particular) to UK based PE portfolio assets, SME’s and OMB’s. Gareth has advised on multiple transactions across many different sectors, including technology, construction and real estate, education, energy and infrastructure, healthcare and manufacturing. Gareth is a member of our Financial Services and Insurance FMG focussing on Private Equity Sponsors. Clients of Gareth’s include Palatine Private Equity, NorthEdge, LDC, Apiary Capital, BGF, Altia, PBE Group, Sodexo, Equable Partners, Manor Adventure, MSQ Partners, LearnPro/XVR, Access2Music and Radiant Financial Services.

Senior Associate, Hannah, specialises in personal injury law; supporting solicitor handling large loss cases relating to road traffic accidents, employers’ and public liability claims.

Hannah specialises in clinical negligence claims for NHS Resolution, within the Health and Advisory Litigation team.

Helen specialises in employment law and acts largely for public sector clients including the NHS and the education sector. Helen has represented clients in complex Tribunal claims and has particular experience in defending whistleblowing claims against the NHS. She also has expertise in handling difficult employee relations cases often involving multiple allegations of discrimination, whistleblowing, breakdowns in relationships, mental health issues and fitness to practise. Helen regularly advises clients on non-contentious matters including TUPE, workforce reorganisation and interpretation of terms and conditions of employment and has been a key member of the team advising on NHS trust mergers. A recent example of Helen’s expertise includes advising an NHS Trust on a complex and potentially high profile unfair dismissal and whistleblowing claim by a doctor. The claim had significant reputational and financial risks for the client given the intense publicity around whistleblowers in the NHS. The Claimant was supported by a number of high profile NHS whistleblowers who have campaigned vociferously in relation to the plight of NHS whistleblowers. Their involvement meant that the pending proceedings were likely to have attracted national and regional press interest which was a significant reputational risk for the client at a time when it had very recently merged with another organisation and was under increased scrutiny. Through challenging negotiations with the Claimant’s representative and sensitive discussion with the NHS regulator who was required to approve settlement, Helen secured agreement of all parties to enter into a mediation. A two day mediation resulted in a settlement of the claim for a sum which was around 10% of the Claimant’s valuation of his claim and approximately 25% of the sum the Claimant was willing to settle for at the start of mediation. The case client’s comments included “Helen has engaged in hours of discussion with the Claimant’s legal team to narrow the issues and the massive gap between the parties on quantum. Helen has attended meetings at Board level to ensure the Board were fully sighted during this period and was also pivotal in the Trust securing Treasury approval to settle (which in itself is exceptional). Her dogged determination to get to a settlement at mediation and her skill and expertise in doing so secured a settlement that will enable all parties to move on, avoid the need for an ET Hearing and deliver best value for money to the taxpayer. Helen is an asset to the team at Browne Jacobson and I wanted to write formally to ensure the Trust’s thanks are on record”.

Jacqui joined us as our national Head of Employment Healthcare in June 2018. She joined the firm having previously spent 10 years establishing and heading up the Capsticks employment team in Birmingham. Jacqui has 20 years’ experience in advising Trust Boards and senior NHS managers on employment issues in the health and care sector. Her appointment also bolsters the firm’s healthcare practice. She is a member of the Browne Jacobson Health Sector Board. The expanding employment healthcare practice comprises a client base which ranges from CCGs, Provider organisations, care homes, dental and GP practices and independent healthcare hospitals. This enables us to provide employment expertise, policy advice and thought leadership reflecting our thorough understanding of the whole healthcare system. Jacqui has built up a strong reputation for her strategic advice, tactics and expertise in advising Trusts on managing Doctors performance, conduct and capability issues. She has led multi-disciplinary lawyer teams supporting clients facing serious investigations involving the Police, GMC, NMC and the Coroner. She has also advised NHS Trusts on regulatory issues such as fitness to practice and duty of candour.Her wider employment practice includes advising on whistleblowing, cultural reviews, complex disciplinary/grievance cases, discrimination, TUPE, redundancy, organisational change and mergers. She is a highly experienced litigator and regularly advises clients on the strategy and management of defending ET claims. She is also a robust litigator. She was the lawyer who successfully led at all stages from ET to the Court of Appeal on the age discrimination case of Woodcock v Cumbria PCT. She also plays a major role in client training and development across the healthcare sector.

Jade is a senior associate in the Birmingham Health, Advisory and Litigation team. Jade acts on behalf of NHS Resolution and various NHS Trusts dealing with clinical negligence claims.

James is head of our Birmingham employment practice and a partner in the team dealing predominantly with private sector work. He has 19 years’ experience of all aspects of employment law dealing with both contentious and non-contentious issues. He deals with the firm’s tech, retail and manufacturing clients. He has been involved in a number of high profile reported cases in the EAT, High Court and Court of Appeal. He has particular experience of advising on: cross border transactions, advising on TUPE compliance including warranties and indemnities protecting confidentiality/trade secrets and enforcing restrictive covenants for the purposes of business protection discrimination and whistleblowing claims. James regularly trains the department’s clients with other members of our team and speaks at local and national conferences on employment law. He has provided multi-day training to a number of the firm’s international clients. He has published many articles for the local and industry press. James also undertakes international employment work and is a member of the firm’s Pangea Employment group, which is a group of international lawyers, and sits on the firm’s international desk. James is also a board member of the British American Business Council in the Midlands which is an organisation aimed at promoting transatlantic trade and business. He is also a trustee of Performances Birmingham Limited which manages the world renowned Town and Symphony Halls in Birmingham.

James  leads our social care and safeguarding practice, which advises on childrens and adult services issues, and deals with safeguarding and abuse related claims arising in health and care settings. James has broad experience of advising clients tackling complex problems and incidents,  drawing together a team with key expertise to address every facet. These include advice on statutory duuties and guidance,  provider failure, inquiries,  allegations against staff and the disclosvery of large scale safeguarding failures or abuse. He is passionate about working with clients to achieve outcomes that matter to them.

Senor Associate, Joanne, specialises in personal injury, defendant litigation, employers liability, public liability and has a wide range of experience working with insurers.

Jonathan is client partner for a number of our CCG and NHS provider clients and leads many of our healthcare contracting projects. Examples of recent work include being one of the partner leads on the merger of Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He has co-ordinated our recent roundtable session across our health and care contacts considering the national consultation on the proposed Integrated Care Provider contract.

Jonathan is an experienced Defendant clinical negligence specialist and a Nominated Partner for NHS Resolution and is based in our Birmingham office. He specialises in high end claims especially around neurological, obstetric and gynaecological matters. He has a particular interest in quantum and alternative forms of dispute resolution, working closely with a number of claimant firms to achieve earlier resolution on NHS cases.

Senior associate Jonathan’s confidence and commercial approach to complex transactions has seen him build work for an impressive client list in a relatively short space of time. Clients include names such as Inland Homes Plc and Bournville Village Trust. Jonathan’s focus is on property development, advising in relation to site assembly and acquisitions, disposals and general development work, for both private and public sector clients. He also covers investment sales and acquisitions and landlord and tenant work. His recent work includes advising on acquisitions of 500 unit and 580 unit residential led development schemes in Greater London for £21.5M and £28M respectively (and particularly complex dual disposals of the latter scheme to two purchasers for a total in excess of £50M), a £13.8M acquisition of a 325 unit residential led development site from Aviva and sub-sale to Clarion, the disposal of land for Homes England to Birmingham City Council for the development of the Athletes’ Village for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, an acquisition of land within a sustainable urban extension and subsequent multi-party negotiations relating to collaboration arrangements for the delivery of in excess of £250M of scheme infrastructure. Jonathan’s versatility has proven invaluable to his clients and his hard work and pragmatism are particularly valued by clients who frequently require work to be delivered within tight timescales.

Judith is an Associate in the Construction team, based in Birmingham. Judith has experience working for a range of clients including: employers, main contractors and consultants. Judith primarily focuses on dispute resolution and her experience includes litigation, adjudication and expert determination.

Senior Associate

Kevin advises upon complex and catastrophic injury claims across EL, PL and motor with an emphasis on high value claims. He has numerous claims valued between £5-£10m. He has particular expertise in the areas of sport, equine and leisure having advised governing bodies and individuals in areas of motorsport, archery, golf, tennis, judo, triathlon, horse riding, climbing and karting. Kevin’s support is often requested within days of a major incident occurring, working alongside insurers and their customers to proactively resolve a claim in a collaborative and cost effective way, whilst reducing settlement times and indemnity costs. Brand and reputation are key areas he pays particular attention to. Kevin has particular expertise in rehabilitation support for those seriously injured. He has advised over 40 case managers on rehabilitation excellence this year. Kevin also provides a wider advisory role to clients, encompassing provision of risk management advice to avoid incidents. Beyond direct claims management, Kevin leads the commercial insurance casualty strategy for the firm, and is deputy head of the Insurance Sector. This includes delivery of client facing training, advice on operational change to streamline efficiency, market intelligence and product innovation. Kevin’s key clients include Hiscox, The LTA, The PGA and Marble Arch.

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Louise Jeffers is a Senior Associate in the Health and Advisory Litigation Team. She is Team Leader of the Adult Neurological injuries team. She previously worked for 6 years in Claimant clinical negligence and in 2016 joined Browne Jacobson's Defendant clinical negligence team. She specialises in defending high value adult neurological injury claims for NHS Resolution. Louise is known for the high quality of her work and tenacious approach, winning the confidence of her clients who have described her as a 'strong litigator' and remarked on her 'excellent witness engagement'. She builds admirable relationships with the opposing party and has been praised by Claimant's solicitors for her 'empathetic approach' and the 'pleasant and professional' way in which she conducts claims on behalf of Defendants. Louise has represents the Defendant in notable claims including Lesley Elder v George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, a fundamental dishonesty claim where the Claimant was successfully prosecuted for contempt of Court, and in Bayley v George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, an important informed consent claim. Louise has secured numerous Trial wins on behalf of the NHS. Louise has been instrumental in the development of Resolution Days, carried out on behalf of NHS Resolution with Claimant law firms, negotiatingdozens of settlements in one day.She has recently undertaken a large-scale analysis of key trends and themes emerging from claims in order to identify learning opportunities and additional support required by specific Trusts. Louise continues to ensure the development of others through supervision and the creation and delivery of training modules, including CRU and Fatal Accidents Act claims.

Lucy is a Senior Associate working in the Birmingham office.  She works in the Medical Protection Society team handling claims brought against the society’s private members.  Lucy specialises in clinical negligence and has experience of working at both Claimant and Defendant practices handling a wide variety of cases including birth injuries, orthopaedics, spinal injuries, plastic surgery and fatal accident claims, to name a few.

Lydia specialises in clinical negligence defendant litigation for the Medical Protection Society.

Martin is a Partner with over 30 years of experience of advising clients in the construction industry having started within the legal department of one of the UK’s largest contractors. Martin’s practice has three main areas: PFI Disputes in Health, Education, and Local Government Services Claims for major contractors Acting as an adjudicator Martin is known for advising on large complex disputes seeking to provide the clarity necessary to allow settlement to be achieved. This skill is recognised as he speaks as the lawyer representative at the Department of Health’s Private Finance Unit and in the quality of work he undertakes. Main Clients: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust BAM Construction Limited North Midland Construction Limited Blackpool Borough Council University College Birmingham (UCB)

Matthew leads our EU and competition team where he advises on both behavioural competition law and UK and multi-jurisdictional merger control. His behavioural work includes advising national and multi-national companies and trade bodies on compliance issues as well as extensively advising on sales and distribution strategies. He and the team have defended numerous clients in investigations and dawn raids by the CMA and the European Commission, as well as making leniency and immunity applications (including appeals to the Competition Appeal Tribunal). He also advises clients on developing and implementing tailored competition compliance programmes, including running training and workshop sessions for employees and putting in place internet based training modules. Examples include implementing compliance programmes for national retailers, automotive manufacturers and numerous national trade bodies/associations.

Matthew was promoted to partner from 1st May 2019 and has over 19 years' experience defending employers' and public liability claims and disease claims for a wide range of local authorities/commercial clients throughout the country. He is very highly regarded by his clients and regularly obtains trial wins, discontinuances and favourable results at JSM for them. He has secured a number of findings of fundamental dishonesty at trial for his clients. Matthew’s technical ability is matched by his understanding of his clients and their philosophy towards fighting claims. His notable reported cases include: McDaid v Walsall MBC (2018) Ryan v Hackney London Borough Council (2016) Millard v Walsall MBC (2014) Yew v Gloucestershire County Council (2013) Robson v Gloucestershire County Council (2013) Thorley v Vicarage Residential Care Home (2010) Matthew is described in: Legal 500 2017 as ‘knowledgeable on the law and gets to the heart of issues in a case; he has excellent perception as to which cases to fight’; Legal 500 2018 as ‘experienced in public and employer’s liability claims’; Legal 500 2019 as a ‘key figure’; and Legal 500 2020 as ‘well regarded’. Matthew regularly delivers training to his clients and has led on Browne Jacobson's highly regarded Highways Symposium attracting keynote speakers from the DfT and Road Liaison committee  

Associate

Mike is a Legal Director who brings a wealth of experience to the team and leads on the department's quality and risk piece. He has extensive experience of all aspects of commercial property, including disposals and acquisitions, options, lettings, licences, both residential and commercial development and funding. Mike advises a number of the firm's leading retail sector clients, including: Boots, Pure Gym, Halfords and Wilko. He also plays an important role in the team working for Homes England as well as having an appreciative and longstanding private client base.

Associate, Nicola, has experience in dealing with a range of personal injury claims, including EL, PL and RTA claims. She works on complex injury claims and in particular deals with brain injury, chronic pain cases, fatal claims and life changing injury claims generally. She has assisted on claims concerning chronic pain, brain injuries and spinal injuries where medical causation has been disputed and in investigations relating to liability, causation and quantum.

Pamela heads up the national property disputes team at Browne Jacobson. She has specialised in property litigation since qualification in 1992 joining the Birmingham office of Browne Jacobson as a partner in 2012. She is well known in the West Midlands - particularly for her technical expertise and commercial competence.Pamela’s work continues to have a commercial landlord and tenant bias acting in equal measure for both landlords and tenants, but also acting for landowners and public sector clients.Her focus in the last few years has been, and remains, on team growth, excellence through quality and knowledge, and profile building having, as an example, now established a solid lecturing background with the RICS, including speaking at their National Landlord and Tenant Roadshow in both 2018 and 2019. Pamela spoke at the Property Managers Association in Nottingham this year for the 7th year running.As part and parcel of this concentration on team growth, the national team goes from strength to strength with continued development throughout the West and East Midlands

Paul Hill is a partner in the Banking and Finance team principally based in Birmingham and he also serves as the sector head for Energy and Infrastructure at Browne Jacobson. Since joining Browne Jacobson in 2019 Paul has made a real impact in the West Midlands market, not only through integration into the commercial community but also through building and developing client relationships. He has also been able to leverage strong interconnections between the West Midlands and London. He has advised on a number of high profile deals including: (1) Rcapital Partners in connection with their portfolio of debt/equity investments in new and existing businesses; (2) Blazehill Capital (and certain founder investors) on the set up of a new alternative lender; (3) Quilam Capital in connection with their portfolio debt/equity investments in new and existing businesses; (4) IB Group in connection with their corporate refinancing and subsequently the raising of CLBILS finance; (5) PBE Group on a multi-jurisdictional holdco corporate financing; (6) NatWest in connection with the provision of a revolving credit facility to a UK university; and (7) LDC in connection with their successful exit of Addo Food Group to European private equity firm PAI Partners. Within the energy and infrastructure sector, Paul has utilised his strong connections, reputation and capability to bring together the breadth of experience across the wider firm to provide a strong fully packaged offering in this area. This has culminated in a stream of high profile work, including advising on some of the highest profile recent infrastructure acquisitions in the UK market and has secured a number of collaboration opportunities in the sphere with large UK City and US white-chip firms. Selected highlights in this sector include advising: (1) First Sentier Investors in connection with their successful c £1 billion acquisition of energy-from-waste assets from SSE plc and  their subsequent acquisition of the entirety of the Wheelabrator UK EfW business from Macquarie; (2) a global asset manager in respect of their proposed purchase of Suez’s UK recycling and recovery business; (3) PBE Group on a multi-jurisdictional holdco corporate financing; (4) AFC Wimbledon on the debt/equity financing and construction of their new football stadium; (5) Manchester County Council in connection with a District Heating Project; (6) Oxford University Trust in connection with a hospital PFI; (7) Performances Birmingham on the financing and redevelopment of Symphony Hall; (8) Homes England on a variety of and (9) Derby County Council on the termination of the Derbyshire EfW Waste Project. Paul has also secured a UK panel appointment for Hydromine Inc, a sustainable energy company focussed on the power plant origination and investment, on-boarded Sculptor Capital, a global alternative asset manager, as a client of the firm and has been involved in a number of panel tenders for large FTSE companies.

Paul is the head of the team and is a highly regarded and very experienced banking lawyer based across Browne Jacobson’s Birmingham, Nottingham and Manchester offices. He advises UK and international corporate borrowers, banks and other lenders on bilateral and syndicated finance transactions, refinancings, restructures/turnarounds, acquisition and development finance, investment finance, debt purchase, asset based lending and general matters. Paul is recognised as a leading individual in the current Chambers Directory and Legal 500 Directory and advises on funding transactions in the private and public sector. He leads the Browne Jacobson Homes England Investments team (a panel appointment acting for the lending division of the Homes & Communities Agency funding residential housing developments which has led to a strong stream of income for the Browne Jacobson banking & finance, property and construction teams).

Paul is head of Counterfraud and intelligence at Browne Jacobson and jointly heads up the Fraud and Financial Crime practice across the firm’s national offices. Paul is responsible for civil fraud and financial related regulatory matters, in terms of litigation investigation and prosecution. He specialises in financial recoveries for losses due to fraud, counter fraud strategy, and has a focus on financial risk management advice and compliance within regulated sectors. Primarily managing litigation in complex fraud cross sector, Paul’s practice involves management and c-ordination of intelligence and fraud investigations, asset tracing and recovery, as well as defending suspected fraudulent claims, for corporate, public sector and insurer clients and has had notable successes with prosecution strategies. He has extensive experience of insurance claims fraud, including policy and indemnity interpretation for dishonesty and fidelity claims. In addition Paul advises on anti-fraud, bribery and corruption policies, client and supplier due diligence, and conducts investigations and recoveries of losses attributable to fraudulent enterprise including cyber-enabled crime. Paul is a member of the special advisory panel for the Fraud Advisory Board and has spoken at industry events on matters including fraud, financial crime and cyber-enabled fraud. Paul has recently been awarded a Masters (MSc) in Counterfraud and Counter Corruption at the University of Portsmouth.

Philip leads the Birmingham Beds Sector team acting for public and private sector clients on residential and mixed use projects across the country.  He works for a number of regional house builders and commercial/mixed use developers specialising in site acquisition and assembly. Philip also advises public sector organisations, including Homes England on site acquisitions and disposals for residential development and also as part of Homes England’s Home Building and Infrastructure Funds, providing development finance to regional house builders and local authorities. His recent work includes a site acquisitions in the North West; Derby city centre; and a number of sites in Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire (which are intended to provide more than 1,000 new homes). He has also recently advised on the disposal of local authority land  in the Midlands for the provision of c.900 new homes and strategic infrastructure. Valued by his clients for his ability to unlock potential deal-breaking issues and being a strong negotiator, his experience of development across the public and private sectors set him apart from many lawyers in the residential development sector.  

Rachael is a partner leading a team specialising in complex neurological injuries affecting children to include claims arising from obstetric and neonatal care. Rachael has acted for several defence organisations and has spent over 16 years at Browne Jacobson in the NHS Resolution team. With 20 years' experience of clinical negligence work and a reputation for her empathetic approach, Rachael provides a reassuring presence to trust clients and witnesses and an in depth understanding of the needs of the families impacted by these claims. Rachael is the client lead for George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust and Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Senior Associate, Rachael, specialises in professional negligence, property damage and insurance coverage disputes; defending professionals in the property, legal and financial services sectors.

Rachel has a wealth of experience advising across a range of regulatory issues covering investigations and enforcement action brought by the Health & Safety Executive, the Police, Food Standards Agency, Environmental Health Officers, the Environment Agency and Fire Authorities. Rachel’s contentious practice means she has gained significant experience in advising clients on a range of issues including: corporate manslaughter, health and safety, environmental offences (water pollution, waste, packaging, and noise, odour and light pollution, food safety including hygiene and labelling), fire safety, trading standards, consumer protection and licensing. She advises across the sectors with particular expertise in advising the: construction and engineering, retail, manufacturing , logistics, education and health.   Rachel has experience of advising at the most senior level within an organisations dealing with the most urgent types of regulatory investigations including fatal accidents and has extensive advocacy experience in both the criminal and coroner courts. As well as advising corporate clients, partnerships and individuals facing investigations and enforcement she also provides non-contentious advice on range of regulatory issues including: post Brexit compliance requirements,  packaging and waste regulations, crisis response protocols and supporting training, compliance requirements for product launches including tech products, medical devices regulations and bespoke training on a range of regulatory issues.  Rachel also has a significant public inquiries practice and is currently instructed to represent Core Participants in the Manchester Arena and Grenfell.

Richard is a partner in the technology group working on large scale technology and digital projects as well as related data issues. He focuses on  technology and outsourcing deals, cloud computing and digital law, together with the data aspects of those deals. Recent advice has been around issues of artificial intelligence and cyber security and the impact of personal data on new technologies. He regularly advises technology businesses as well as their customers on procurement of and adoption of new technologies. This has included advising: • a PLC on the development of an employee tracking app and the related data protection issues in respect of its use • a Digital Marketing/ Influencer business on its compliance with data law and its agreements and development of a “salesforce” software equivalent for online influencers • an international technology business on the supply of CRM technology to several FTSE 100 companies. • One of the world’s leading providers of B2B IT systems on its equipment, software and services agreements Richard regularly speaks on Technology, Data and Digital law issues, including CompTIA (the Computing Trade and Industry Association), Privacy Paths podcasts and  the “Digital Leaders Conference”. He is a regular speaker at technology events including regular sessions for DPOs and IT directors. Richard is also a coach to a number of businesses and has for the last 15 years run a network for in house lawyers across a wide range of sectors.

Roger is an experienced corporate lawyer specialising in mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions for corporates, funders, management teams and sellers.

Sarah is a leading clinical negligence defence specialist. She leads a team of lawyers dealing with work on behalf of NHS Resolution, Medical Protection and Dental Protection. She is responsible for the management, supervision and development and provides the strategic overview and direction of the full portfolio of cases they handle. She is the operational lead for the claims work we undertake for Medical Protection. She has over 25 years’ experience of acting for health law clients. She has an impressive track record in defending complex and high value claims, particularly involving cerebral palsy, acquired brain, spinal and other catastrophic injuries, delayed diagnosis of cancer, meningitis and septicaemia and Fatal Accident Act Claims. She has extensive trial experience including successfully defending two multi-million-pound cerebral palsy claims involving a significant number of healthcare professional witnesses and expert witnesses. She has handled many high value claims involving the assessment of complex quantum and has negotiated settlement for sums in excess of £10m, including periodic payment order settlements. She is very experienced in dealing with claims involving multiple defendants and the strategy and tactics to deploy in negotiations on apportionment of liability whilst also working collaboratively on a joint basis where appropriate to resolve issues cost effectively.

Scott is a senior associate in the team with eight years PQE and handles both contentious and non-contentious construction matters. Scott leads on our construction work for education and local authority clients but has experience acting for a range of funders, developers and contractors upon a wide range of issues relating to property transactions, developments and funding arrangements.  Scott is able to advise you on all of the industry standard forms of construction contract, bespoke forms of contract, collateral warranties, appointments, novation agreements, performance bonds, parent company guarantees and letters of intent. Scott has advised clients in relation to a wide range of post-contractual issues ranging from negotiating disputes, engaging in the Pre-Action Protocol for Construction & Engineering Disputes and methods of alternative dispute resolution (without prejudice meetings, mediation and adjudication).

Partner

Thomas has over 20 years’ experience advising public and private sector clients across a range of property work, with particular emphasis in investment and health sector work.  In the last 3 years his team has advised on the acquisition of over £200m of property assets for local authorities.  The team also act for clients in all landlord and tenant matters linked to the management of their assets. Thomas has led teams on many complex investment projects and developed that experience further by completing a CMI recognized Project Management Programme at Nottingham Business School.  This allows Thomas to ensure large and complex projects are delivered efficiently and effectively within a range of project management structures and theories.  Thomas takes a very commercial, and pragmatic, approach to his advice and deliberately maintains a private sector client base.  For over 14 years he has been the lead property adviser to a large pension fund, working on all matters affecting their large property portfolio.  This ensures that he fully understands the needs and concerns of both sectors and particularly enjoys working on large projects involving both sectors.   An advocate of LEAN management, Thomas does no over-lawyer his advice, focusing instead on dealing with the issues that matter and always looking for creative solutions. Thomas puts client relationships at the forefront of his work and prides himself on developing strong relationships with his clients and in delivering them a quality service; he has advised a number of his clients for many years and has several clients introduced through referrals from clients and their agents

Victoria is an associate in our admin law, environment and planning team. She advises public bodies on their statutory duties and powers, constitutional and administrative law, vires, decision making and judicial review. Victoria is a specialist environmental lawyer who advises statutory nature conservation bodies, local planning authorities, other public bodies, registered providers, and developers on their environmental and planning obligations. Having worked in the Civil Service for more than a decade before joining Browne Jacobson, Victoria is deeply committed to and a passionate advocate for the public sector. Her public sector clients benefit from Victoria’s unique insight into the sector’s priorities, ways of working and culture and her ability to provide pragmatic advice that reflects the particular challenges they face. Victoria has a particular specialism in environmental law, including environmental assessment, the Habitats Regulations, and SSSIs. Her clients include statutory nature conservation bodies, local planning authorities, arm’s length bodies and NDPBs as well as developers, registered providers of social housing and corporates. Victoria is a natural litigator, and her broad contentious practice includes judicial review, procurement challenges, public inquiries, and statutory appeals. She has acted for clients in the High Court, County Court, Technology and Construction Court and the Court of Appeal, and she has an appeal pending in the UK Supreme Court. Victoria is recognised as a key planning lawyer in the West Midlands by The Legal 500.

Zo has over 20 years' experience in real estate and projects, working on a full range of commercial property matters. Her specialism is development within the public sector and Zo has acted on several major high profile regeneration projects for local and central government. Clients welcome her collaborative nature, project management skills and sector knowledge. Zo also sits on the firm's International Group with responsibility for APAC & CIS.

Zoe is a partner in the construction team specialising in non-contentious (contracts) advice. She has almost 20 years of experience in advising UK and overseas construction and infrastructure, property, and commercial related projects. Zoe has a particular specialism in energy projects and has advised various stakeholders on a variety of public and private projects. She is highly experienced in creating legal frameworks for complex deals and developments, including construction interfaces with funding, property / leasing issues, corporate restructures, and agreements with interested third parties /stakeholders. She is also well versed in the nuclear sector, having advised on several Tier 1 and Tier 2 supply contracts for Hinkley Point C and now Sizewell C. Zoe’s advice covers a range of Head Contracts, EPC Contracts (including FIDIC, NEC), O&M and Supply Contracts. She also advises on interfaces between project contracts and the pass-through of risks, responsibilities and obligations to best protect the client. Zoe joined Browne Jacobson in 2022 after working for leading international law firms Reed Smith, Baker & McKenzie and Nabarro in London and Singapore, followed by national firm Clarke Willmott on her return to the UK. Zoe has an MSc in Construction Law from King’s College, London and spent over five years in practice in Asia.