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Anne Irwin

Slater Heelis

Anne has specialised in commercial property and residential development for 35 years and was a partner at both Cottrills and Slater Heelis. She now works with the firm as a consultant bringing her extensive experience and knowledge in two key areas: Residential Development – specialising in acquisition, disposal and development including complex heritage sites, the conversion of listed buildings to residential use, joint ventures and public/private sector agreements. Leisure Development – detailed knowledge of the planning, development and legal issues affecting home and holiday parks.  Anne’s skill is in quickly understanding a client’s needs and providing a high quality, personal service. She takes time to understand exactly what each situation needs and negotiates on clients’ behalf to get the best deals possible, adding real value to a transaction.

Chris Partington Tep

Slater Heelis

Chris is a Partner and Head of Private Client at Slater Heelis.He is one of 22 Court of Protection Panel Guardians and also one of only 71 Court of Protection Panel Deputies in the country acting on behalf of, or protecting, mentally incapacitated individuals (as Deputy or Attorney). As a member of Solicitors for the Elderly, he specialises in advising clients on the best way of protecting their families and their loved ones’ assets. He assists with Court of Protection applications and gives guidance on Lasting Powers of Attorney. Chris also acts as a Professional Executor for many of our clients. His considerable experience in this area of the law has been recognised by the Courts in his appointment as a neutral executor for complex estates.Due to the potentially stressful nature of this type of work, Chris has a particularly sensitive approach to advising in these matters, recognising that many clients need friendly support and reassurance in addition to uncomplicated advice on the legal issues.

Chris Bishop

Slater Heelis

As Managing partner Chris is heavily involved in the management of the business but still does a lot of client work. He is experienced in a variety of contentious disciplines, specialising in commercial disputes, property litigation, professional negligence and contentious trusts and probate.Clients range from private individuals, small companies and partnerships, to PLCs and not-for-profit organisations.

Daniel Stern

Slater Heelis

Partner and Head of Property Litigation team in Manchester office he has expertise in commercial, insolvency, banking and real estate litigation, advising both national UK and overseas clients on a wide range of residential and commercial property related contentious issues. He is known for his clear, pragmatic and cost effective solutions to complicated issues and his pro-active approach to resolving disputes.His client base ranges from FTSE companies to SMEs, high-net worth landlords and investors.

Edward Michell

Slater Heelis

Edward Michell is a full time Consultant with Slater Heelis. He offers very considerable experience spanning more than 35 years in the legal profession. Edward qualified as a solicitor in 1983 after degree in Law from the University of Manchester.  Edward specialises in high net worth sales and purchases and has considerable experience in equity release, transfers of equity, investment properties, Probate sales, new build properties and auction property work. Like all of his colleagues, Edward has an excellent working relationship with the property community. He has extensive experience in acting for not only the mainstream but also the less well known lenders.

Elizabeth Wilkinson

Slater Heelis

Head of Department, Elizabeth has over 20 years PQE advising on a wide range of commercial disputes including large-scale complex contract cases, professional negligence actions, shareholder and breach of warranty claims, board disputes and pre-emptive actions to protect businesses from departing employees or previous owners.She advises on the rights and obligations of directors and shareholders, partners and members of LLPs and has advised large corporates and PLCs, SMEs and owner-managed businesses as well as individuals.Elizabeth has been recognised as a Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500 since 2009.

Fakhruddin Maimoon

Fakhruddin Maimoon

Slater Heelis

Fakhruddin is primarily based in the Private Client Team in the Manchester office but deals with both contentious and non-contentious matters. He advises on Inheritance Act claims, disputes in relation to Wills and Trusts, and claims against Executors and Trustees.   Fakhruddin previously worked at a top tier international law firm gaining invaluable experience in commercial litigation. At his time there, he worked in-house for a large insurer client which meant that he was able to understand and appreciate how his client operates and their requirements. He most recently worked for a South Cheshire boutique practice advising in all areas of private client matters.   Fakhruddin has many attributes but what makes him stand out is his personable nature and his ability to provide a practical approach whilst ensuring the best possible solution is found for each of his clients.

Georgina Garner

Slater Heelis

Georgina has recently been appointed Head of the Court of Protection team. She has a strong reputation in South Manchester and goes above and beyond for her clients. She specialises in elderly client law and prides herself on her holistic approach. Georgina closely assists both Panel Deputies with the management of the property and financial affairs of vulnerable clients who lack the mental capacity to manage their finances themselves. She works closely with a number of local authorities and advises on all Court of Protection matters together with Lasting and Enduring Powers of Attorney. She has previously been Highly Commended in the Made in Manchester Awards which reflects her dedication to her role. Georgina has a professional and empathetic approach to her work which she feels is important as her job is to safeguard the finances of the most vulnerable members of our society.

Jay Lafinhan

Slater Heelis

Jay is a Partner in the Slater Heelis Property team. He joined the firm with extensive knowledge and experience in all areas of commercial and residential property law. He acts for a variety of clients including property investors, developers, corporate investors, private landlords, corporate landlords, commercial property portfolio managers, mainstream lenders as well as private corporate lenders. He also specialises in acting for lenders on short-term development loans, bridging finance and for private property developers and advises clients on all property aspects of infrastructure projects and renewable energy projects. With the high-level of experience and expertise he has acquired throughout his career, Jay provides an efficient, knowledgeable and user-friendly service to all the clients he acts for.

Jim Tully

Slater Heelis

Jim is a Consultant in the Corporate team with Slater Heelis.He has a leading reputation in the North West private equity market, having built and led over 15 years the market-leading practice at Addleshaw Goddard; at Slater Heelis his focus is now more on acting for individual entrepreneurs, management teams and investee companies.Previously at the Co-op, as well as his Director of Legal role, he had a commercial role as an Executive of the £10 billion food business. He specialises in advising family owned businesses, particularly those going through the generations, and, as well as advising on M+A/ corporate transactions, has a particular expertise advising all clients on governance.Jim now has a plural career, including his roles as Chairman of the family-owned brewers JW Lees, non-exec director of MGF Limited and as a trustee of various charities.

John Gorner

John Gorner

Slater Heelis

John specialises in contentious probate and trusts, residential property disputes, contentious Court of Protection, community care law (including safeguarding), public law/regulatory matters. He joined Slater Heelis to develop specific areas of work and use his experience, expertise and connections for the benefit of the firm.

Kenneth Salmon

Kenneth Salmon

Slater Heelis

Ken is a specialist dealing with contentious and non-contentious building and civil engineering matters. He is familiar with all UK methods of procurement and standard forms of contract, and he has extensive experience of dispute avoidance and all forms of dispute resolution – including litigation, arbitration, adjudication, expert determination and mediation. His clients include developers, contractors, specialist sub-contractors and construction professionals. Ken is also experienced in regulatory work, which includes advising and attending PACE interviews, dealing with enforcement notices and defending enforcement proceedings and prosecutions under health and safety at work, and environmental legislation. Ken is also a CMC-accredited and highly regarded mediator, experienced in conciliation techniques and procedures.

Kim Aucott

Kim Aucott

Slater Heelis

Kim is a Consultant in the Family team at Slater Heelis. She has a wealth of experience as a family lawyer and is a Resolution mediator, bringing a common-sense and focused approach to complex disputes. Working in the area of finances and wealth protection, Kim advises business owners and professionals across the UK on the breakdown of relationships as well as pre and post marital agreements where there are substantial UK and international assets. Kim is highly regarded throughout the legal community for her straightforward and sensible approach in areas of complex financial and children work. She has extensive experience with firms at both national and local level and regularly works with and receives client referrals from her professional peers. Kim’s clients include sport and media clients, business owners, doctors and fellow lawyers. Her work has an emphasis on intricate financial arrangements including detailed corporate structures and trusts and more challenging children cases where parental alienation plays a big part.  A key feature of her financial practice is advising on nuptial agreements and wealth protection for clients.

Mark Heptinstall

Slater Heelis

Mark joined Slater Heelis in 2005 and is Partner and Head of the Family Department. Mark holds two part-time judicial appointments. He has recently been appointed as a Deputy District Judge (Civil & Family) and a Recorder (Family) on the Northern Circuit. Mark specialises in private family high net worth finances, complex children cases and is a Collaborative Lawyer. He has a niche in dealing with cases where capacity is an issue and cases involving contested trusts/probate and often cases with an international element. Mark has an array of clients both in the UK, particularly the South East and overseas including other professionals such as Barristers, Solicitors, business directors, media & sports personalities and medical professionals. Mark’s clients are almost exclusively personally referred to him by former clients and other professionals locally, nationally and internationally.  Mark is recognised as a leading lawyer in the  Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession and is described as a “very thorough, proactive and a hard negotiator”  and recognised as a leading individual in the Legal 500.

Nicola Deutsch

Slater Heelis

Nicola is a Partner & Head of Residential Development. She was promoted to Partner in 2018 and now heads the Residential Development arm of the Commercial Property Team. The residential development team act for developers in sites nationwide but also for developers on bijou schemes. Nicola specialises in site assembly social housing and statutory agreements particularly Section 106 Agreements. She also oversees our growing Plot Sales Team. Key clients include PJ Livesey, De Trafford Estates, One Manchester and Novo.Nicola also has public sector experience having been the in-house lawyer for a registered charitable provider and a local authority. Having worked in social housing for over 35 years, Nicola’s expertise is in residential development, all elements of social housing, site set ups, Section 106 Agreements, easements and property finance.

Patricia Robinson

Slater Heelis

Established partner practising exclusively in Family Law for over 20 years with a particular emphasis on high value and complex financial cases within divorce/dissolution proceedings, often involving overseas assets, business interests, trusts and pensions. She regularly advises upon prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, as well as legal issues affecting unmarried couples. Also advises upon domestic and international private children law matters particularly those involving complex issues (including allegations of serious abuse, mental health issues, and jurisdictional disputes). Her clients include high profile and high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs and professionals on a local, national and international stage. Patricia recently appealed successfully to the Court of Appeal in a high value financial remedy case. She is a member of the Financial Remedies Court Group in Manchester, whose members also include senior members of the judiciary. Patricia also writes for legal publications including the Family Law Journal and comments on family law issues in both local and national media. Patricia is a long standing committee member of Resolution, whose 6,500 members comprise family lawyers and other professionals committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes. She was the chair of the Resolution Greater Manchester Region for several years having only recently stepped down but continues to be actively involved with the group. Patricia was the conference chair at Resolution’s National Conference in Manchester in 2014 and 2019. She is also a qualified collaborative lawyer, and keen to promote an ADR approach with her clients where appropriate. Patricia frequently receives positive feedback from her clients, below are just a few of those recently received:- “I want to say a huge Thankyou to the both of you for all your help. (Again) You have helped me more than you will know and I appreciate everything you have done for me, always going above and beyond.” “Throughout a bitter divorce, Tricia was supportive, friendly, compassionate, approachable and highly experienced. She made it clear she was looking after my best interests. Helped me to feel confident and calm. From the outset I felt I was in good hands. The price was fair and I was able to budget because it was clarified from the outset, with regular updates throughout the process of how much things would cost. Tricia made the whole process as smooth and as painless as possible. I felt supported through a really difficult time and that I could make contact and have a quick response if I ever had any queries. I would not hesitate to recommend Tricia to deal with a divorce and am so grateful to have had her help. Thank you.” “Incredible response to urgent requirements I recently required certain document to be Notarized and Apostatized and some were at the very last moment. The urgency was further compounded by looming holiday period. Patricia Robinson pulled out all the stops and in my opinion went well beyond her duties in organizing everything at very short notice. Thanks to Patricia I obtained all the documents I needed before deadline date.”  

Rebecca Lang

Rebecca Lang

Slater Heelis

Associate Solicitor in our Family team, Rebecca deals with all aspects of private family law. She advises clients in relation to divorce and civil partnership dissolution together with financial settlements, arrangements for children and cohabitation issues. Rebecca is a member of Resolution, the national association of family lawyers who are committed to resolving family disputes in a constructive manner. She strives to reach resolution as cost-effectively as possible and in accordance with the client’s objectives.

Richard Wilson

Slater Heelis

Richard is a partner in the personal injury department, handling claims arising out of road traffic accidents, accidents at work and accidents in public places. He has extensive experience of claims involving serious injuries and recently settled a claim in which a motorcyclist suffered serious leg fractures which led to a below knee amputation. Liability was disputed and the claim was compromised at £500,000. He has dealt with a claim in which the claimant suffered a nerve injury to his shoulder and received £300,000. His largest settlement was £1,200,000 in a case in which a doctor suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident, including various fractures and a brachial plexus injury, which reduced his earnings capacity. He has also dealt with claims arising out of fatal accidents.

Richard Riley

Slater Heelis

Richard is an Associate Partner at Slater Heelis, which he joined in 2011.He is experienced in commercial matters including drafting and review standard terms and conditions, commercial contracts, and commercial licences as well as advising on data protection matters, legal issues relating to online businesses, exploitation of intellectual property rights and software development agreements.He also deals with franchise agreements and advises on corporate matters including business sales and purchases, mergers and acquisitions, disposals, management buyouts and group reorganisations.He also advises clients on corporate governance matters including issues including drafting and advising on Articles of Association and Shareholders Agreements.

Sarah Calderwood

Slater Heelis

Sarah works alongside many corporate clients advising them in relation to complex employment-related issues and queries, such as restrictive covenants, discrimination and the termination of senior executives.She regularly assists clients with the defence of employment tribunal claims or pursuing injunction action and damages claims. She also advises on the employment aspects of corporate transactions including TUPE, service agreements, settlement agreements and employment indemnities and warranties.Sarah regularly features in national newspapers and magazines, being called upon to provide expert comment across all areas of Employment Law, including The Sun, MoneyMagpie, Management Today and MSN.She is also a member of our Schools and Academies team and is recognised as a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 law directory.

Simon Wallwork

Slater Heelis

Simon is a Partner and Head of the Corporate Team at Slater Heelis. He has over 30 years' experience in the industry, and advises on acquisitions, disposals and corporate transactions. He has specific sector experience of life sciences and technology, with particular expertise in advising early stage companies through their funding rounds to eventual exit.In addition to his life science specialism, he acts for a wide range of companies within the digital, telecommunications and manufacturing sectors.Simon has been consistently ranked in the top three of corporate transactional lawyers according to the Experian guides from 2015 to 2018, and held top positions for Most Active Legal Adviser in Manchester in 2019 and 2020.

Simon Adamson

Slater Heelis

Simon is a Partner and Head of Personal injury team. He specialises in all aspects of personal injury work, including road traffic accidents, public liability claims, accidents at work and holiday claims. Acts for claimants in mid and high value claims, including fatal accidents.

Stephen Farnworth

Slater Heelis

Personal Injury Partner specialising in Clinical Negligence claims including:birth injuries; dental negligence and cosmetic surgery; brain injury and catastrophic injuries following RTAs and accidents at work.

Sunil Mohindra

Slater Heelis

Sunil is a Partner and his work over the years has focused on commercial transactions including banking, mergers and acquisitions and cross border transactions especially between the UK and India. In addition he has a keen interest in and has specialised in the healthcare sector including regulatory work.Clients include major Indian banks and international companies investing into the UK and Europe, especially those from the Indian subcontinent. He also advises businesses who are seeking to enter the Indian market. Sunil has extensive experience in commercial property and acts for a large trade union in relation to all its property requirements.Sunil is also very experienced in commercial litigation and dispute resolution including professional negligence

Tracey Guest

Slater Heelis

Tracey heads the employment team at Slater Heelis.She specialises in employment litigation, acting for both companies and private individuals in relation to claims such as unfair dismissal, constructive dismissal, discrimination and wrongful dismissal. Tracey is pragmatic and realistic in her approach to clients, advising and negotiating on their behalf in relation to settlements where this is the most realistic option.Tracey also supports on the employment aspects of corporate transactions, including advice on TUPE, redundancy, service agreements, settlement agreements and consultancy agreements.She also regularly advises clients in respect of executive terminations, restrictive covenants and injunctive proceedings, disciplinary and grievance procedures. Tracey also works closely with our corporate team, providing commercial advice in relation to corporate transactions. She is a regular speaker at seminars and provides client training at their premises on a variety of employment-related topics. She is frequently quoted in the press and is the featured expert for workingmums.co.uk providing regular advice on employment matters affecting mothers in the workplace.

Will Henson

Slater Heelis

Will is a Partner and the Head of Commercial Property and has built an excellent reputation for his keen commercial approach and his established client base includes a wide variety of private and corporate investors, landlords and tenants. He acts for a number of high-profile regional developers and has particular expertise in residential and commercial property development.

Zara Banday

Slater Heelis

Zara is a Partner and Head of the Residential Property team at Slater Heelis. Zara joined the firm in February 2016 after her former firm, Darbys LLP, were merging with Knights Professional Services Limited. Zara spent just under two years at Darbys LLP and prior to this she spent seven years in a national city centre firm where she gained superb experience in all aspects of residential property transactions, ranging from sale and purchase transactions to boundary disputes and Landlord and Tenant issues.Zara has a wide variety of clients and has acted for numerous sports personalities. She is often asked to act for high net worth individuals in complex property transactions. She also acts for lending institutions providing short term lending. Zara has a number of loyal clients and contacts and most of her work is generated from personal recommendations. Zara has strong links with numerous sports personalities and regularly gets asked to act on their behalf in complex sale and purchase transactions as well as drafting and approving Tenancy Agreements.