Clarke Willmott LLP

Alex is a Partner in our Commercial Property team with a broad range of experience including acquisitions & disposals, leases & licences, estate management, corporate support and development. He acts for a variety of clients including OMBs, individual investors, banks, charities, pension funds and SMEs and startups.

Alex Jakubowski

Alex is a Partner in the Commercial Litigation team and has particular experience with contractual disputes, financial services disputes, professional negligence, commercial agency disputes and IT disputes.

Amanda French

Amanda specialises in portfolio management and store development programmes for multi-national retail businesses. She is also experienced in managing investment portfolios. Amanda is a Commercial Property expert with 16 years’ post qualification experience (PQE). Amanda specialises in portfolio management and store development programmes for multi-national retail businesses. Amanda has gained extensive retail experience from working in both law firm and in house settings. As Head of Property Legal for two multinational retailers (River Island and Farrow & Ball) she provided commercial strategic advice on the global property portfolio issues and transactions, whilst reducing risk, providing business cost savings and managing the internal and external legal teams. Uniquely Amanda has also held commercial roles within business and has extensive client side commercial and project management experience driving dynamic change, and has experience of sitting on a number of executive boards. Amanda sits on various sports club committees, and has just resigned as Vice-Chair and Trustee on Dartmoor Multi-Academy Trust providing strategic guidance to the Management Team delivering education to over 4,500 pupils across three senior schools and 16 primary schools. Until 2021 she was also a Trustee for a new primary school in Okehampton and a Governor at her daughter’s primary school. How Amanda can help you Having been client side, and had Board roles, Amanda really understands what drives the clients. She understands their challenges, but also how important direct and pragmatic advice is to them. Experience Management of a large mixed asset property portfolio valued in excess of £100million – Amanda led the management of a large retail property portfolio, managing a team of lawyers, developing the precedent databases and work flow processes. She worked closely with asset managers and retail agents, meeting tight deadlines, dealing with title issues, a complex redevelopment of part of the portfolio, and bank funding. Estate Management of one of the UK’s largest rail hubs – Amanda led on the general estate management issues but also the estate management during the redevelopment of the hub. With tenants simultaneously entering into agreements to surrender, completing temporary occupational arrangements and agreements for lease (with development obligations). Retailer Expansion Programme for UK’s largest Trade DIY store – Amanda advised on the store expansion programme of a national DIY retailer. She completed numerous transactions simultaneously meeting tight deadlines, handling all standard issues with Agreement for Leases with development and planning issues and collateral warranties. Fashion Brand store expansion programme – Amanda has managed the estate for numerous high street fashion brands from Reiss to New Look, Oasis to Whistles. This included pre-let agreements in shopping centres from Exeter Princesshay to the Trafford Centre and Westfield, high street locations such as Crown Estate’s properties on Regent Street, and large out of town industrial estates. Head of Property Legal at River Island – Amanda’s remit was to deliver commercial strategic advice on the global property portfolio issues and transactions, whilst reducing risk, providing business cost savings and managing the internal and external legal teams. She was simultaneously advising on pre-let Agreements for Lease, contentious and non-contentious portfolio issues, whilst managing legal advisors globally on the store expansion programme and estate management issues. By undertaking a huge amount of the transactional work in-house, implementing standardisation, reporting processes and developing internal processes Amanda halved the property legal budget in 12 months. Head of Legal at Folk2Folk – Amanda demonstrated her ability to manage numerous projects, tight timescales and adapt to new issues with a commercial strategic outlook. She was responsible for the appointment and management of a 30-strong legal panel nationally; providing operation advice and legal support to the Credit & Applications team, Company Secretary, advising on the branch rollout and negotiated branch leases, reviewing commercial contracts, and assisting with corporate governance. In addition she supported the CEO through regulatory approval process, a capital raise and acquisition proposals.

Andrew Cooper

Andrew Cooper is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Southampton commercial property team with expertise in working for national house builders

Anna Youngs

Anna is a Partner in the firm’s Employment and HR team. Anna supports employers with all aspects of employee relations and employment law issues, including contractual matters, disciplinaries and grievances, strategic exits, restructuring, Employment Tribunal litigation, and employment issues arising in corporate transactions. Anna is an expert on TUPE and outsourcing and has worked on matters such as the largest outsourcing from the public sector to the private sector.

Anne Minihane

Anne Minihane is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors’ Bristol Private Capital team and a panel Deputy for the Court of Protection.

Anthony Fairweather

Anthony Fairweather is a Partner and Managing Director in the Private Client team specialising in Court of Protection and elderly care advice.

Benn Richards

Benn is a partner in the Restructuring & Insolvency team specialising in both contentious and non-contentious insolvency. Benn is a solicitor-advocate (all higher courts, civil and criminal) in both England & Wales and is admitted to practice as a solicitor-advocate in the Eastern Caribbean Circuit. Benn’s work includes acting for insolvency practitioners, creditors, debtors, companies, directors and other stakeholders.

Beverley Pike

Beverley Pike is a solicitor in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Commercial Property team specialising in development work and property portfolio management.

Bonita Walters

Bonita is a Partner with 20 years of litigation experience and heads our contentious trust and probate team. She specialises in contested wills, inheritance and trust disputes, and in disputes involving mental capacity, including contested Court of Protection applications, Judicial Reviews, disputes with local authorities, and investigation of financial abuse. Her clients include private individuals, personal representatives and beneficiaries, attorneys/deputies, health professionals and care providers. She also acts for private clients in property disputes and professional negligence claims arising from wills drafting, estate administration and property transactions.

Bridget Sanger

Bridget defends, represents and advises companies and individuals investigated and/or prosecuted in the criminal courts, with particular specialism in regulatory work surrounding agriculture and care homes Bridget specialises in criminal litigation and her background is in general crime. In addition to several years as a duty solicitor advising on all aspects of criminal law, ranging from motoring to murder, Bridget is experienced in regulatory work. She has a particular interest in health, safety and environment work as well as advising and representing regulated care and social housing providers in respect of safeguarding, CQC and inquest matters. She acts for companies, charitable organisations and individuals. Bridget also advises agricultural clients on regulatory matters including health and safety, environmental prosecutions, road traffic, and matters relating to the Hunting Act. Bridget is an experienced advocate in the Magistrates’ and Coroners’ Courts, representing clients at criminal hearings and inquests. In the Chambers UK Guide 2024, for the South West, Bridget was also recognised as a Band 1 lawyer for her crime and regulatory work. How Bridget can help you General Crime Traffic and motoring Agricultural regulatory matters including Environment Agency investigations Health and Safety Regulatory investigations, enforcement and prosecutions by Local Authorities Planning law breaches and enforcement Inquests CQC investigations and prosecutions.

Caroline Waller

Caroline Waller is a Partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Taunton Planning and Environmental team specialising in all aspects of Town and Country Planning and Highway law.

Chidem Aliss

Chidem Aliss is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Southampton Commercial & IT team specialising in technology.

Chris Taylor

Chris Taylor is a Partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Bristol Property Litigation team specialising in acting for national housebuilder clients.

Chris Charlton

Chris Charlton is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors Bristol Planning team specialising in all aspects of Planning and Compulsory Purchase.

Clare Webb

As a family law specialist, Clare understands that relationship breakdown is one of the most challenging and emotional times in a person’s life. The way in which separation and divorce is dealt with can have a significant impact on not only the individual client but also the children of the family. Clare has built her practice with a commitment to helping her clients resolve their issues in a constructive and conciliatory way. In doing so, she will always have regard to the longterm hopes and aspirations for the family as a whole, whilst of course protecting her client’s interest.

Darren Kidd

Darren is an experienced litigator specialising in high value and complex disputes. He has experience across a broad range of domestic and international matters, including in banking / financial services, fraud, insolvency, professional negligence and tax. He has particular experience of structuring and progressing group litigation and litigation funding. Darren has acted for a variety of clients, including high net worth individuals, airlines, banks, financial authorities, hedge funds, insolvency practitioners, insurance companies, law firms, telecommunications companies and trustees. Darren’s experience includes working internationally and in-house. During his time at Herbert Smith Freehills, Darren completed a one-year secondment to the firm’s Melbourne office and a nine-month secondment to one of the ‘Big Four’ accountancy firms. How Darren can help you Financial services litigation Commercial litigation and disputes Professional negligence Experience At his previous firm, Stewarts, Darren’s caseload included advising over 350 individuals, a number of whom are well-known personalities, in group litigation involving claims in fraudulent misrepresentation, conspiracy and negligence against various parties including a number of large banks. The claims arose from investments in various tax-efficient investment vehicles focused on films and video games. The case was listed in The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2018 and 2022. Darren has also acted for the liquidators of two BVI companies in relation to €500 million claims against Deutsche Bank AG and others concerning complex financial derivatives linked to the Icelandic bank, Kaupthing hf.

David Maddock

David Maddock is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Taunton Private Capital team specialising in Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax planning.

Ed Foulkes

Ed Foulkes is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Manchester Corporate team specialising in include mergers & acquisitions and corporate finance.

Elizabeth Smithers

Elizabeth Smithers is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Bristol Private Client team specialising in Wills, Trusts and Estate planning.

Emma Pope

Emma Pope is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Taunton Private Client team specialising in high value estates and inheritance tax

Esther Woolford

Esther Woolford is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Taunton commercial and private client litigation team specialising in agriculture and property.

Fiona Rendell

Fiona is a Partner in the Commercial Property team and deals with a mixture of commercial property work. She acts for buyer, sellers, landlords and tenants in relation to commercial leases, licences, easements and covenants, due diligence investigations and various different landlord and tenant matters.

Gareth Schofield

Gareth Schofield is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Bristol Family team specialising in divorce settlements and cohabitation disputes.

Graham McIntyre

Graham is a Partner and Managing Director in our Property Litigation team and specialises in property portfolio management.

Greg Hughes

Greg is a partner in the commercial & private client litigation team specialising primarily in commercial and corporate disputes.

Greg Goodman

Greg is a Partner in Clarke Willmott’s Southampton Commercial Property team. He deals with a wide range of commercial property matters including the acquisition and sale of freehold and leasehold properties, securitisation work with experience acting for both lending institutions and borrowers and also deals with property aspects of corporate mergers and acquisitions. Greg has particular expertise in the acquisition of freehold and leasehold ground rent reversion investments and has worked with various investment funds on such acquisitions. Greg re-joined Clarke Willmott from Blake Morgan.

Hayley Steel

Hayley is a Partner within the construction team, with a focus on non-contentious construction, development and infrastructure/energy projects. She has a breadth of experience in acting on construction and engineering projects for a range of clients, acting on behalf of owners, developers, funders, investment vehicles, government bodies, contractors and commercial end users.

Helen Wittram

Helen is a Partner in the property team specialising in all aspects of the acquisition, development and disposal of residential and commercial property.

Iain Harrison

Iain Harrison is a partner in Clarke Willmott's Commercial Property team specialising in the retail sector, and acts for several high street names.

Jade Lyus

Jade is a Senior Associate in the Planning and Environmental team. Jade has experience in acting for a wide range of clients, including developers, farmers, major house builders and private land owners. Amongst other matters, Jade deals with Section 106 Agreements, planning appeals, objections, enforcement proceedings and defending Town and Village Greens applications. Jade is approachable and down to earth and has a wealth of knowledge and experience of all aspects of planning law. Experience Section 106 Agreements – representing a variety of clients from individual developers and local authorities to major house builders in negotiating and completing Section 106 Agreements. Enforcement and Development Control – providing advice in respect of breaches of planning control including appealing enforcement notices and writing legal opinions to prevent the issue of enforcement action. Defending Town and Village Greens Applications- representing landowners on the defence of Town and Village Green Applications and advising landowners on how to prevent applications in the future. Certificate of Lawfulness – Obtaining certificates in respect of a wide range of unauthorised development, breaches of condition and lawful and permitted development. Objections- advising clients on the merits of objecting to a range of developments, particularly including traveller sites. Permitted Development Rights and Prior Approval Applications- advising clients on the scope of their permitted development rights and submitting prior approval applications when required

James Driver

James specialises in resolving construction and engineering disputes. The team advises on all stages from procurement to the completion of projects, with a unique offering combining an English and Spanish specialism in construction and engineering law. We have a particular focus on energy and infrastructure projects.

James Williams

James is an experienced construction solicitor. He qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales in 1999. After working for a leading firm in Birmingham, he emigrated to Australia and qualified as a solicitor in Queensland in 2003, working in both Brisbane and Sydney. In 2008, James relocated to the Middle East and worked at a major law firm in the United Arab Emirates and at one of the region’s Government backed master developers. He returned to his native Wales in 2014 and was a partner at Acuity Law in Cardiff. James joined Clarke Willmott in October 2024 and has been ranked both in Chambers and in the Legal 500. How James can help you James specialises in non contentious construction matters, largely related to city regeneration, and has worked on various developments comprising, office blocks, apartments, hotels and sports stadia. James has experience of working with standard form building contracts such as the JCT and NEC suites and, through his time in the Middle East, has extensive experience of working with the FIDIC contracts. James also has significant experience of acting for banks and funds providing development finance and has also acted on numerous residential development projects. James has extensive experience of drafting and negotiating development agreements, building contracts, consultant appointments, collateral warranties and other related documents including, for example, letters of intent and letters of reliance. James also has extensive experience of acting for banks providing finance for construction projects and has worked on numerous funded developments in Wales and further afield. Experience James’s recent reported cases: Acting on behalf of a developer in respect of the development of a new Welsh headquarters for a national broadcaster comprising new offices, television and radio studios and a roof garden. The project had a construction cost of circa £60 million. Acting on behalf of the developer of a new mixed use transport interchange in Cardiff containing various sections comprising an office block, a residential apartment tower, a bus station with an external turning and parking apron and commercial space with a value of circa £100,000,000. Acting on behalf of a Cardiff based developer in respect of the refurbishment of the old Post Office in Cardiff and its reconfiguration, extension and conversion into the city’s newest 4 star hotel. The value of the project was circa £40,000,000. Acting on behalf of a Cardiff based developer in respect of the design and construction of Wales’ largest office block with a build value of circa £60,000,000. Acting on behalf of a Welsh Housing Association in the design and construction of a new build residential apartment block in Swansea with a value of circa £30,000,000. Acting for a sub-contractor and advising on the sub-contract terms and conditions in relation to a sub-contract package for the construction of the new national stadium for the English Football Association in Wembley, North London; Drafting and negotiating a design and build contract based on the 1999 FIDIC Yellow Book for the design and construction of a marina to be built by one of Dubai’s master property developers. Acting on behalf of one of Wales’s largest funding institutions in respect of a circa £75,000,00 development facility in respect of the construction of approximately 800 new homes in Cardiff.

Jane Halton

Jane Halton is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Bristol Private Client team specialising in wills, trusts and powers of attorney.

Jin Takhar

Jin is a Partner in the Commercial Property team specialising in retail, portfolio management and property finance. Jin has extensive experience in acquisition and disposal of freehold and leasehold commercial property, landlord and tenant matters and secured lending.

John Irving

John is a Partner in the Commercial Team specialising in commercial contracts particularly between trading companies and the shareholders of companies.

John Flint

John Flint is a Partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Commercial & Private Litigation team specialising in Director, Shareholder and Partnership disputes.

Jonathan Morton

Jonathan Morton is a partner in Clarke Willlmott solicitors' Birmingham Commercial Property team specialising in development.

Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell is a Partner in the Commercial Property team specialising in commercial Landlord and Tenant, commercial freehold and leasehold acquisitions and disposal and secured lending.

Karl Brown

Karl is a Partner in the Commercial Property team specialising in the acquisition and disposal of development land. Karl also has extensive experience in acting for developers on sales to housing associations.

Kary Withers

Kary heads Clarke Willmott's Social Housing team and is a Partner in our Property Litigation team dealing with a wide variety of property related disputes, both residential and commercial.

Kat Quinton

Kat Quinton is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Taunton Debt Recovery team specialising in local authorities, government bodies & utility companies.

Kate Silverman

Kate is a Partner in Clarke Willmott’s London Social Housing team.

Kate Saunders

Kate is a Partner and is Head of the Home Sales team. The Home Sales team is based in our Taunton and Bristol offices.

Kelvin Balmont

Kelvin Balmont is a partner in Clarke Willmott's Southampton Corporate team specialising in acquisitions, disposals, refinancing & real estate finance.

Ken MacLennan

Ken MacLennan is a partner in Clarke Willmott's Bristol Insolvency & Restructuring team and has a wide range of experience in corporate restructuring.

Kerry Fifield

Kerry Fifield is a partner in Clarke Willmott's Bristol Clinical Negligence team specialising in birth injury claims for Claimants with cerebral palsy.

Kirill Bingham

Kirill is a Partner in the Corporate team and advises on all stages of the business cycle, with extensive experience in dealing with business disposals and acquisitions (by way of shares or assets)

Laura Robinson

Laura is a Partner in the Financial Services Litigation team specialising in claims and complaints relating to financial and tax products and planning. Her expertise includes managing claims and complaints regarding negligent advice given in respect of investments, pensions and tax mitigation schemes, primarily for claimants. Laura is a member of the Personal Finance Society and Chartered Insurance Institute and holds the CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. Laura joined Clarke Willmott in 2009 after graduating from the University of the West of England with a Distinction in Legal Practice.

Laura Mackain-Bremner

Laura advises individuals and businesses on commercial disputes, contentious Wills, trusts and probate and agricultural property litigation. Laura is a Partner in the Commercial and Private Client Litigation Team specialising in commercial disputes, with a particular focus on agri-business, agri-tech and disputes which involve agricultural equipment and contracts. Laura advises both individuals and businesses in this regard. Laura’s commercial litigation practice is broad and includes advising individuals and businesses in all sectors on any number of contentious matters ranging from professional negligence to farming finance. The subject matter of these disputes is also wide, including anything from artificial insemination and genetics to disputed debts. Laura was the fee earner with conduct of a heavy-weight multi-party litigation matter involving 17 Claimants and 4 Defendants. Her determination has seen a successful settlement in this matter some 5 years after its issue. This was a major contributing factor in the firm winning NFU panel firm of the year and has been reported in the farming press. Laura is the main fee earner on numerous commercial matters and is training junior members of the team as this area expands for the team. Laura trained at Lester Aldridge, qualifying into its litigation team in London in 2013. Before moving back to Somerset to join Clarke Willmott she worked for a boutique litigation firm in London, joining Clarke Willmott in 2017. She is Vice President of the Executive Committee of Taunton Chamber of Commerce and also a member of the Agricultural Law Association. How Laura can help you Laura advises clients in all sectors on a wide range of contentious commercial issues including: Breach of contract or contractual disputes; Debt claims; Professional negligence; Defamation; Shareholder/partner disputes; Fraud; and Judicial review As a member of the Agriculture sector group, Laura is regularly instructed by agri-businesses in relation to any number of issues relating to matters such as food and drink or agri-tech. Laura also advises on a wide range of contentious agricultural property matters such as: Easements – including rights of way; Land drainage and flooding; Boundaries; Adverse possession; Trespass; Nuisance; Agricultural tenancies; Farming partnerships; Proprietary estoppel; and Co-owner property disputes including declarations as to ownership and/or claims for occupation rent. Laura also defends and brings claims: under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975; contesting the validity of Wills (due to lack of testamentary capacity and/or want of knowledge and approval); against executors and trustees for breach of trust/maladministration; and against solicitors in relation to Will drafting and the construction of Wills or mistakes in Wills. Experience Acting for a group of milk producers and successfully defeating an application for an interim injunction brought against them by the processor who wanted to stop them from ceasing supply following termination of notice –Watson’s Dairies Ltd v AG Lambert [2020] 10 WLUK 45 Successfully defending a client’s use of a right of way in relation to a Court Claim brought against him. The claim sought an injunction preventing the client from using the right of way except for within certain parameters and/or damages in relation to the same. Assisting in successfully reclaiming property lost during a Group Company restructure. The client sought to recover property passed to the Crown (Bona Vacantia) on the dissolution of one of the companies within the Group. The Court held another company within the Group was beneficially entitled to the property.

Laurence Lacey

Laurence is a Partner in the Commercial Property team specialising in development, regeneration and renewable energy. Laurence’s expertise includes working with national developers and public authorities in relation to complex site acquisitions and disposals including negotiation of multi-conditional contracts, development agreements as well as landowner and collaboration agreements. On the regeneration side, Laurence acts for a number of public authorities in relation to the redevelopment of their property portfolios and has extensive experience of issues that run alongside that such as procurement and grant funding. Renewables is also a key area for Laurence where he acts for both landowners and developers in the negotiation of options, project agreements and leases for wind, solar and biomass projects. His clients include Homes & Communities Agency, Bath & North East Somerset Council, The Crown Estate, Urbis Developments and Emotion Energy. Laurence joined Clarke Willmott in 2007 after training and qualifying (in 2003) at Watson Farley & Williams. He regularly speaks at renewables-focused events to landowners, developers and public authorities. Experience Working with a developer on the acquisition and phased redevelopment of a multi-tenanted shopping centre for a mixture of commercial, residential and leisure uses including the negotiation of the sale agreement and associated finance documentation. Acting for the Homes and Communities Agency in relation to all ongoing advice relating to the development and management of the Bristol & Bath Science Park and including advising on the flagship National Composite Centre development, a leading aerospace research and development facility located on the Park and backed by very substantial public funding. Acting for a solar developer in relation to a project to install solar panels on 600 units of local authority housing stock including advising on and negotiating the form of rooftop lease, direct agreement, finance lease and associated finance documentation. Acting for a number of private landowners in relation to solar panel projects on their (usually agricultural land). Acting for a private landowner in relation to the negotiation of an option and lease for a large scale wind farm project in Wales.

Laurence Lacey

Laurence Lacey is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Bristol Commercial Property team specialising in development, regeneration and renewable energy.

Lee Hart

Lee Hart is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Taunton Personal Injury team specialising in high value catastrophic injury and fatal accident claims.

Lindsay Felstead

Lindsay Felstead is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Manchester Property Litigation team specialising in ASBOs, injunctions for access and repairs

Marc Long

Marc is a Partner in the Employment team specialising in all aspects of both contentious and non-contentious employment, with particular emphasis on TUPE and outsourcing.

Marguarita Tyne

Marguarita is a Partner in the Personal Injury team specialising in Clinical Negligence. Since joining Clarke Willmott she has continued to investigate brain injury cases, including those arising as a result of meningitis in childhood.

Mark Buckerfield

Mark is a Partner in the Private and Agricultural Property team specialising in non contentious agricultural and residential property matters such as farm sales and purchases, house sales and purchases, auctions, agricultural landlord and tenant matters, remortgages, the single farm payment scheme, easements and covenants.

Martin Askew

Martin is a Partner in the Restructuring and Insolvency team and he specialises in contentious insolvency.

Maz Rahmati

Maz is a Partner in the Insolvency team specialising in all areas of corporate and personal insolvency. His expertise includes working with Insolvency Practitioners, financiers, creditors and debtors

Neil Baker

Neil is a Partner in Clarke Willmott's Planning and Environment Team and acts for a number of leading institutions, national housebuilders, regional commercial developers, landowners, industrial and manufacturing concerns, and for a number of public sector bodies.

Neil Ham

Neil is a partner in our Property Litigation team whose expertise has been gained acting for many investor, developer and industrial clients.

Niall Murphy

Niall Murphy is a partner in Clarke Willmott's Southampton Corporate team specialising in share schemes, international tax planning and tax litigation.

Nicola Sutton

Nicola is a partner in our commercial property team and advises developers, housebuilders and landowners in relation to a broad spectrum of residential development legal issues in the residential housebuilder market. Nicola also gives a considerable amount of her time to sitting on several external steering groups and forums that have been set up to assist and promote the SME housebuilder and she heads up a bespoke SME housebuilder offering we have in our commercial property team. In addition to her housebuilder work Nicola acts on behalf of landlords and tenants in the office and industrial market. In particular, Nicola has considerable experience in acting for tenants in respect of the life science laboratory and GMP facility markets. Nicola enjoys engaging with businesses in her local market and is always looking for ways in which to promote and support these businesses especially those in the SME housebuilder market. Nicola enjoys building long term business relationships so she can understand her clients and their business objectives and plans whether it is working with a large corporate team or an individual on a project she is accessible and easy to get along with.

Nicola Seager

Nicola is a Partner in the Property Litigation team specialising in real estate management and development.

Oliver Smedley

Oliver is a Partner in our Commercial Property team specialising in development and investment work.

Owen Williams

Owen is a partner in the Commercial & Private Client Litigation team specialising in the main in commercial and corporate disputes.

Paul Davies

Paul leads the private capital team in the Manchester office of Clarke Willmott. He has been assisting wealthy individuals, trustees, and executors, with all manner of legal and tax issues for 20 years. Although he deals with all aspects of private client work, he has particular specialisms in estate planning, inheritance tax mitigation, and the use of onshore and offshore trusts, and other asset holding vehicles. He is regularly appointed as an independent professional executor and trustee by his clients.

Paul Griffiths

Paul is a partner in Clarke Willmott's Birmingham specialises in professional negligence, commercial landlord and tenant claims and also deals with general commercial disputes including contractual and property disputes.

Paul Chapman

Paul is the Managing Director of the Litigation Division and the firm’s Compliance Officer for Financial Affairs. He is also a Partner in the Financial Services Litigation Team specialising in professional negligence claims involving financial institutions.

Paula Squire

Paula is a Partner and has been with the Clarke Willmott Employment team for nine years, specialising in employment law and human resources advice.

Peter Swinburn

Peter is a Partner in the Commercial Property team specialising in retail, portfolio management, development and property finance.

Peter Brewer

Peter is a Partner in the Commercial and Private Client litigation team and deals with the resolution of complex, high value commercial disputes, and is particularly specialist in acting on corporate litigation.

Peter McHugh

Peter McHugh is a construction law specialist, acting on behalf of contractors, sub contractors and employers in construction disputes of all sizes and types.

Philip Edwards

Philip is a partner in the Serious Injury team specialising in head injury claims.

Philip Whitcomb

Philip works in the firm’s wills, tax and trusts team and specialises in succession planning, asset protection, heritage law and tax advice for individuals, trusts and family businesses. His clients include owners of landed estates, farmers, high-net-worth individuals and their families. Philip uses his extensive knowledge and practical experience to advise clients on the issues arising in estate planning including the tax efficient ownership of agricultural, business and heritage property. He deals with all aspects of wills and farming partnerships — advice which requires a high level of technical know-how combined with commercial acumen. He also acts for trustees and beneficiaries on a range of trust issues including the scope of trustees’ powers and the interpretation of complex trust arrangements. Philip takes time to understand his client’s circumstances and their particular needs and wishes. His clients want pragmatic legal advice from someone who empathises with the issues and challenges they face.

Philip Thompson

Phil is a Partner in the Commercial Property team specialising in the real estate aspects of property development for a number of national and regional residential development companies.

Philip Roberts

Phil is a Chartered Legal Executive and Partner with the firm specialising in defended, high profile and complex debt recovery litigation and insolvency actions for both individuals and commercial entities. His sector expertise includes working with managing agents, utility companies, commercial businesses, insurance companies, government bodies, local authorities and independent schools.

Philippa Yeo

Philippa is committed to helping couples navigate all aspects of the legal process on the breakdown of their relationship in a pragmatic, collaborative and family-focused way including supporting couples to reach arrangements for their children and achieve healthy future co-parenting relationships. Philippa has significant experience advising a wide range of clients on all aspects of family law. She specialises in resolving high net worth financial cases involving complex trust assets, farms and businesses as well as arrangements for children (including international relocation). Philippa joined Clarke Willmott in 2022 following just over six years at a boutique family law practice. Before that she spent five years at a leading London law firm at which she trained and qualified Philippa is a qualified family mediator and deals with all types of mediation including financial claims arising on divorce, disputes arising from cohabitation and children arrangements. She is available to conduct sole mediations and co-mediations in our offices in Taunton and Bristol, as well as virtually. Philippa is a qualified mediator and member of Resolution, the family lawyers’ association which aims to resolve Family Law matters through a constructive approach. How Philippa can help you Philippa offers a bespoke and personal service to support clients through the legal process to achieve their particular aims. Philippa is valued by her clients for her calm and supportive approach, and her willingness to do her utmost to achieve the best possible outcome. Philippa provides an excellent service to clients, taking their individual needs into account, frequently receiving referrals from current and former clients, as well as from other professionals as a result of her approach. Philippa regularly deals with: Divorce Financial provision on divorce, including after overseas divorce Cohabitation rights Applications for domestic and international relocation with children Separation agreements Disputes about the care or education of children Child residence and contact disputes Cases involving allegations of domestic violence and applications for non-molestation and occupation orders. Variation or set aside of existing financial orders Experience Advising parties in financial disputes. including complicated asset structures, multiple properties and inter-jurisdictional elements. Advising parents and wider family members in relation to child arrangement proceedings including cases where there are serious allegations of significant harm. Advising clients with complex assets including farms, business assets, trusts, carried interests and Restricted Stock Units/Share Options. Advising clients in conjunction with out of Court options such as mediation, arbitration and Private Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) hearings.

Rayner Grice

Rayner is a Partner and Head of the Birmingham Family Team. She has nearly 20 years’ experience of practising in all areas of family law but in particular she specialises in dealing with high value complex financial matters as a result of divorce or relationship breakdown.

Rich Eldridge

Rich is a partner at Clarke Willmott LLP. Rich is an established banking & finance lawyer. Rich can advise on a wide range of financings including for working capital, equity releases, acquisitions and developments. Rich’s expertise includes negotiating facility agreements, security agreements and intercreditor agreements. Rich can advise on documents based upon Loan Market Association templates as well as shorter documents. Rich has appeared on Panorama. He has been quoted in the printed press including The Telegraph, The Times and The Independent.

Richard Swain

Richard Swain is a Partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Southampton Corporate team specialising in acquisitions, MBOs and mergers/demergers.

Richard Moore

Richard Moore is a partner in Clarke Willmott's Bristol Commercial & Private Client Litigation team specialising in international property disputes.

Rob Ridd

Rob is a partner in the Corporate team specialising in company acquisitions and disposals, debt and equity fundraising, shareholders’ agreement and joint ventures, along with other corporate vehicles such as limited liability and general partnerships.

Rod Lloyd-Jones

Rod Lloyd-Jones is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Taunton Private Property & Agriculture team specialising in rural property transactions.

Roger Seaton

Roger heads our Banking and Finance group specialising in real estate finance. Roger’s expertise includes working with clearing and private banks lending to UK and off-shore based corporates and high net worth individuals on development and investment projects as well as business ventures, particularly in the hotel and leisure sector.

Ruth Hartnell-Thorne

Ruth is a partner and has a wide range of experience of insolvency law in both areas of personal bankruptcy and corporate insolvency. In particular she has undertaken and assisted on a wide variety of work including possession and sale applications and asset recovery, challenging transactions at undervalue and preference payments, illegal dividend payments, private examinations of bankrupts and directors of insolvent companies, directors disqualification proceedings, annulment applications, wrongful trading and misfeasance proceedings.

Sam Harkness

Sam advises individuals, companies and local authorities with criminal and regulatory investigations and court proceedings, specialising in rural crime, road traffic matters and local authority prosecutions. Sam is a solicitor in the Commercial and Private Client Litigation team specialising in criminal and regulatory litigation, with a wider practice that incorporates civil litigation and agricultural property litigation. He is based in our Taunton office. Sam joined Clarke Willmott as a paralegal in August 2019 and began his training contract with the firm in March 2021, qualifying as a solicitor in November 2022. Sam advises private clients, agricultural clients, businesses and local authorities on a wide range of contentious matters. Since joining Clarke Willmott, Sam has developed a strong practice within the crime and regulatory team and has been individually recommended in the 2024 Legal 500 as “a very diligent, bright solicitor who has a bright future ahead of him”. Chambers and Partners also named Sam as an Associate to watch in their 2024 guide. How Sam can help you Criminal/regulatory matters Sam’s practice in this area includes advising and representing individuals, businesses, and local government bodies in a wide range of criminal and regulatory matters, including in the following areas: Environment Agency investigations and prosecutions; Animal welfare prosecutions; Traffic and motoring offences, including Public Inquiries by the Traffic Commissioner; Hunting Act issues; Trading Standard disputes; Planning law breaches and enforcement; Firearms licensing; Offences against the person. Sam can assist clients at all stages of the regulatory and criminal process and regularly assists clients during investigations, with interviews, and with preparation for Court proceedings. Sam also regularly represents clients in the Magistrates’ Court.

Samantha Grimwood

Samantha is a Partner in the Private Property and Agriculture team specialising in residential property law. Samantha deals with residential sales and purchases, auctions, residential landlord and tenant matters, re-mortgages, charges and transfers of equity.

Sarah Wood-Heath

Sarah has many years’ experience of advising on family law. Her expertise includes family breakdown, advising and representing clients through divorce proceedings, civil partnership dissolutions, co-habitation disputes and the associated financial negotiations, and settlement.

Sarah Mogford

Sarah is a Partner within the Commercial Property team, who advises both landlords and tenants across a range of sectors on all matters of property law.

Sharon Latham

Sharon Latham is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Bristol Employment team specialising in HR/legal/strategic support for businesses.

Simon Thomas

Simon is a Partner and Managing Directo in the Corporate team specialising in a wide range of transactional matters (including mergers and acquisitions, public and private equity fund raisings and debt financings) as well as providing general company law advice to businesses and their stakeholders.

Simon Smith

Simon is a Partner in the Corporate team specialising in the acquisition and disposal of companies and businesses (domestic and cross-border), debt and equity fundraisings, reorganisations, demergers and corporate joint ventures. He also advises on company, LLP and partnership formations, general banking matters, compliance and corporate governance.

Simon Freeman

Simon is a Partner in the Property Litigation team specialising in asset management and corporate real estate including development and joint ventures, recoveries, rent views and valuation, rating, rights of light and party wall matters, professional negligence relating to real estate, planning and environmental related litigation and investment transactions.

Simon Day

Simon is a Partner in the Real Estate team specialising in commercial landlord and tenant work, Investment property management, funding and property insolvency.

Stephanie Slinn

Stephanie Slinn is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Birmingham Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency team.

Stephen Rosser

Stephen is Clarke Willmott's Chief Executive having been elected to that position in May 2010. He is responsible for the day to day management of the firm, and chairs its executive board, and defining and implementing the firm’s strategy.

Stephen Searle

Stephen Searle is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Bristol Financial Services Litigation team specialising in professional negligence disputes.

Steven Slough

Steven Slough is a partner in Clarke Willmott's Bristol housebuilder team specialising in acting for developers in site acquisitions and planning issues

Tim Copplestone

Tim is an employment lawyer within the firm’s sport sector, having previously been an international athlete representing Great Britain in kayaking. Tim advises a wide range of commercial employers, professional clubs and senior employees on contractual matters (including football manager contracts, bonus structures and tailoring restrictive covenants), Employment Tribunal litigation, and employment issues arising in corporate transactions.

Tom Chiffers

Tom is a Partner in the Private Capital team, specialising in inheritance tax and succession planning for private individuals, farmers and other business owners. Tom grew up in rural Somerset and his practice has an agricultural focus.

Zoe Stollard

Zoe Stollard is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Bristol Construction team specialising in public and private, domestic and international projects.

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