Child & Child

Consultant

Managing Partner

Partner I specialise in the Prime London Real Estate market, dealing with all aspects of UK residential property and secured lending. I have built up a diverse client base during my career ranging from high-net-worth individuals, property developers, domestic and overseas investors and companies and private banks. I regularly work with the other departments at Child & Child including Private Wealth, Corporate and Enfranchisement, proactively referring clients where necessary to ensure all their needs are met. I also work closely with the Italian Desk, advising on all matters pertaining to UK property for our expansive network of Italian clients and contacts. My notable recent instructions involved acting for a Luxembourg based Private Bank in relation to their secured lending over three London properties with values ranging between £4m - £7m. I have also acted on the purchase and lending of a complex country estate in Berkshire for a combined value of £5m. I take a dynamic approach to all of my client matters and pride myself on the personal service I offer, providing clear and concise legal advice in a timely and cost-efficient manner. I love the variety of clients and contacts I come across on a day to day basis in the Real Estate Team, the pace of the work and camaraderie with my colleagues and contacts, many of whom I have worked with in excess of 10 years.

Consultant I qualified as a solicitor in Victoria, Australia in 1996, and in England in 2000, and I have been a consultant solicitor with Child & Child since May 2021. I have extensive experience in finance, corporate, and restructuring matters. I regularly advise on acquisitions, joint ventures, financings, and special situations including distressed lending, structured finance, funds and private equity. Prior to joining Child & Child, I was General Counsel of Scipion Capital, an asset manager focussed on commodity trade finance across Africa, and, before that, Group General Counsel of global trade merchant Gerald Metals and the private mining group Zamin. I also spent several years as a partner of Australian law firm, Chambers & Company, operating out of Melbourne, Perth and Beijing where I negotiated and documented many of the recent major mining and resources projects in Australia.  I also worked as a finance lawyer with law firms Mayer Brown and Clifford Chance in London, Hong Kong and Amsterdam. I am co-founder of a green metals merchant, recycler and investor based in Zug, Switzerland and a partner of a specialist commodities law firm (Mercatis). I am commercial and pro-active.

Consultant Anna is a respected authority on the law relating to construction and engineering. Acting for a broad range of clients – developers, contractors, sub-contractors, consultants, purchasers, tenants and funds – she advises on all aspects of the documentation used in construction projects, including building contracts, professional appointments, collateral warranties, bank and surety bonds, insurance issues and on the construction aspects of development, lease and funding agreements. Anna's expertise and opinion in her specialist areas have frequently been sought by the professional press and by leading publishers. She has written for construction, engineering and legal journals and is a key contributor to the 2004 reissue of Volume 5 (Building and Engineering Contracts) of the Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents and to the 2006 reissue of Volume 38(1) and the 2007 reissue of Volume 38(3) (Sale of Land) of the same publication (LexisNexis Butterworths). Anna was a principal contributor to the textbook “Delay Clauses in International Construction Contracts” (2010: Kluwer publishing). In 2018 Anna was appointed as Consultant Editor for Halsbury’s Laws of England reissue of volume 6 Building and Building Contracts (LexisNexis Butterworths). Anna has also taught construction law to junior lawyers at the College of Law. Since 2016 Anna has won various awards including Construction Lawyer of 2016 and 2017 in the Women in Law Awards and won the category of Legal Services for the Best Business Women Awards in 2018, with a Silver award in the same category in 2021. Anna was also a finalist in the Women In Construction & Engineering Awards Europe – Best Woman in Construction Law 2022.

Partner

Associate

Solicitor I focus on high-end conveyancing in the prime central London market for successful English and Italian clients, investors, developers and banks. I am recognised for being able to lead complicated and quick transactions and I take pride in providing approachable service offering a clear and concise legal advice. I work and manage the Italian Desk at Child & Child and often work on both property purchases and sales, for high and ultra-high net worth clients (both national and international). I act as the primary point of contact between agents, clients, and the opposite side. I manage multiple transactions simultaneously while ensuring deadlines and expectations are managed properly. As I am fluent in both English and Italian, I always make sure that all my Italian clients understand the two different legal systems, Italian and English, when buying or selling a property in the UK. Most recent clients` reviews: “Professionalism, care and, kindness. The best possible synergy. Thank you, Benny Bonanno.” “We engaged child & child for the legal part of buying a new house. We faced a high level of professionalism and efficiency. We have been followed by Benny Bonanno. It has been a very good experience with a high legal support in line with our expectations”.

Partner

Senior Associate Solicitor in Real Estate I joined Child and Child in 2021 as a solicitor in the Real Estate department, specialising in real estate acquisition and disposal, refinancing, equity releases, auction purchases and sales, transfers of quity and voluntary lease extensions. I have extensive experience in all aspects of residential property work. I focus on particularly high end residential properties. My diverse range of clients include overseas investors, high net worth individuals, developers and first time buyers. I have established good working relationships with clients and agents alike which assists with each matter proceeding smoothly. My pro-active approach ensures clients are happy with the service being provided and returning to me for future matters.

Partner

Partner and Notary Public

Solicitor – Head of Italian Desk I joined Child & Child in 2014 as Head of the Italian Desk and a solicitor in the property department, specialising in residential conveyancing. Since qualifying as a UK solicitor in 2000, I’ve worked in a number of legal roles in both London and Italy. Consequently, I’m a dual Italian and English qualified lawyer and have experience of acting for a range of clients, advising them on various corporate and commercial matters. From 2004 to 2010, I was General Counsel for Earls Court & Olympia Limited, where I gained extensive experience in negotiating commercial leases, hire agreements, catering concession agreements, tenancy agreements and entertainment contracts. I also dealt with employment, intellectual property, insurance coverage and data protection issues, including in connection with the sale of the venues to Liberty International. In 2010, I established Casa Londra Limited, a property consultancy firm working in partnership with Child & Child to offer bespoke services for Italian clients relocating to London or investing in the UK residential property market. This means when they buy a property in London, they not only receive legal assistance, but also the full range of related property services, from refurbishment to management and letting. I take pride in providing a friendly, approachable service and establishing great relationships with my Italian clients. Offering clear, concise legal advice, I help them to understand the differences between the English and Italian legal systems.

Associate I am a commercial litigator with a specialism in civil fraud and other cases involving allegations of dishonesty or other serious wrongdoing. I also have experience of dealing with investigations by the Serious Fraud Office. My clients tend to be entrepreneurs, directors, financial institutions (including cryptocurrency exchanges) and insolvency practitioners. I have recovered millions of pounds for my clients. I am particularly skilled at managing cases involving large amounts of data and presenting that evidence effectively when seeking or resisting interim relief (such as worldwide freezing orders or orders for disclosure) and at trial.

Partner in the Real Estate Department. I joined the Firm in September 2014 and I have continuously been developing my practice, expanding my contacts and honing relationships with both clients and my colleagues. Some consider me as a ‘hybrid solicitor’ given that I practice in both residential and commercial property transactions. My career began, for the first 5 years, predominately dealing with commercial property transactions and subsequently I developed my practice over the last 13 years to include residential property transactions simply because I thoroughly enjoy having such a varied caseload which is interesting and keeps me on my toes; and I enjoy the challenge of keeping up to date with legal updates and developments in both fields. The skills I have acquired over the years dealing with such a wide variety of work gives me the ability to “think outside the box” and achieve a swift resolution to issues which often arise during the course of any transaction. For my clients with businesses, commercial premises and residential property portfolios, I am considered a ‘one stop shop’ for all their property transaction needs! As a solicitor, I endeavour to pre-empt and anticipate any potential issues that may arise and be raised by the other party’s solicitors during the transaction so as to pave the way for a smooth and speedy exchange of contracts.  Such a pro-active approach on part of a solicitor is certainly not typical practice and, in my opinion, sets me apart from a large number of our competitors. My clients range considerably from first time buyers, investors, secured lenders, small businesses, companies and small-scale property developers converting houses or offices into residential apartments. Whilst I have developed my residential practice to have a specific focus on dealing with ultra and high net worth clients, and high value residential property transactions within Central London, I do not shy away from working with clients selling or purchasing for more modest sums or properties located outside of Central London. All my clients are very valued and receive the same high level of service from me. I do consider that I provide a bespoke legal service tailored to the needs of each client, I enjoy taking the time to speak to my clients and getting to know them in order that I can tailor my service to their specific needs and I am known for providing a “hand-holding” service to some of my clients who require it. A long-standing client of mine emailed me this week to say “I love your enthusiasm my dear Lisa, I feel that I can do anything with you by my side. You are a priceless friend to me.” It is messages like this that give me such satisfaction in my role helping and empowering others to achieve what they desire. Not only do I take satisfaction from helping my clients, I understand that I have become a well-respected role-model within my team, supervising and assisting others with complex issues/transactions and seen as someone with great experience, knowledge and technical expertise, considered a good source for a “second opinion”- it’s great to be part of such a well-rounded team who support one another to achieve great things on a daily basis!

Solicitor I joined Child & Child in 2019 as a residential real estate paralegal, completed my training contract in 2023 and now qualified as a residential real estate and leasehold enfranchisement solicitor. I focus on high-net-worth conveyancing in the prime central London market. I also have extensive experience dealing with other property transactions such as licences, deeds of variation and lease extensions. I am a resilient claim solicitor who is capable of dealing with complexity and situation as and when they may arise. I manage several collective enfranchisement developments ensuring that the transactions have been completed and registered in a timely fashion. I also completed many lease extensions for our client, whether it is statutory or voluntary. Being able to communicate with the client in their native language is essential in providing quality services and as a native Chinese speaker, I act as a bridge between our clients and the English legal system in clarifying the difference between the systems and ensuring that they are duly informed about the process.

Head of Employment; Head of Risk & Compliance; Money Laundering Reporting Officer

Head of Department My spread of work includes commercial litigation and dispute resolution, particularly claims relating to media, intellectual property, reputation management, defamation and image rights.  Contract and professional negligence claims, property disputes - both commercial and residential.  Privacy, discrimination and human rights claims.  (Whilst at Magrath I undertook a not insignificant amount of legal aid work).  Judicial Review, telecommunication, and data protection disputes. I have frequently advised major clients in the music, entertainment and media sectors and I am a reasonably frequent commentator on legal issues in the press where a legal viewpoint is sought for a matter of public interest, and I am not acting for one of the parties involved.  Numerous reporters in multiple news organisations have my direct contact details.

Head of Immigration

Consultant I specialise in corporate law, particularly acquisitions and sales, and re-organisations and reconstructions, for both public and private companies.

Senior Partner Litigation

Partner

Partner The Private Wealth & Tax team at Child & Child is supported by highly established solicitors, chartered accountants, chartered tax advisors and STEP members. The team works closely with the Family department. I have built a strong legal network and I am well placed to advise individuals in the UK and internationally on: Estate Planning; Tax Advice; Residency and Domicile status; Wills and Trusts; Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) and Court of Protection; and Administration for both international and domestic estates. Working in the Private Wealth & Tax team at Child & Child has allowed me to work closely with the Middle East and Italian desk advising high-net-worth clients on both domestic and international elements.

Partner

My clients have included land owners, business owners, entrepreneurs, sportspeople, medics, lawyers, politicians and those in the arts and entertainment industry (actors, singers, producers), both in this country and abroad. My practice incorporates both the financial consequences of separation and divorce – including cross-border issues and complex asset structures - and matters relating to children.  I also assist families with wealth protection structures including pre and postnuptial agreements and co-habitation agreements. My clients appreciate an easy working relationship and value clear, strategic advice that carefully balances commercial realities with the needs of their families.  Divorce lawyers trust me to help their own colleagues, friends and families. I am also Chair of Governors at Northbourne Park Preparatory School in Kent.

Consultant  

Senior Associate I advise on a broad range of commercial disputes for both corporates and individuals and have acted for clients on a range of commercial litigation matters, including contractual claims, partnership and shareholder disputes, breach of warranty claims, professional negligence claims and civil fraud matters. I am also often instructed on contentious and non-contentious insolvency matters and have acted for and against office holders on a range of claims under the Insolvency Act 1986. Although I provide advice to clients to avoid the costs and uncertainty of a trial, where a settlement is not possible, I have experience of successfully representing a number of clients at lengthy trials which have resulted in recovering for my clients significant sums in damages.

Solicitor

Senior Partner