Downs Solicitors LLP

Amber deals with a range of private client work including Wills, administration of estates, Lasting Powers of Attorney and mental capacity work. As well as making sure the right beneficiaries will inherit your estate, Amber will help you minimise your exposure to the capital taxes. She will also assist you with Powers of Attorney to make sure the right people will be able to take control of your assets should you be unable to do so yourself.

Andrew Peach

Andrew covers all aspects of commercial property. His main focus is the purchase and disposal of both freehold and leasehold investment property, and acting for both landlords and tenants in connection with commercial leases. He assists clients who have large national property portfolios, including well-known charities. Andrew also deals with the acquisition and disposal of development sites, including issues relating to option and overage agreements. In addition to his commercial property practice, Andrew acts for a number of offshore clients in connection with their UK property investment portfolios.

Caroline Walton

Caroline has over 30 years’ experience in working with commercial property. Prior to joining Downs, she worked in-house for large companies handling the legal aspects of their extensive property portfolios. In addition to acting for buyers and sellers in the acquisition and disposal of properties and for landlords and tenants in relation to the grant of leases and related issues, Caroline specialises in the disposal of properties at auction. She prides herself on giving practical advice to assist her clients to achieve their objectives.

Chris Millar

Senior partner. Chris specialises in commercial litigation and insolvency. His clients are varied and many are located overseas. His focus is to advise clients on effective dispute resolution, covering a broad range of issues, eg from shareholder disputes, contractual claims and professional negligence claims to debt/asset recovery. Chris advises many insolvency practitioners and other clients on all aspects of insolvency-related issues, and has become an acknowledged expert in the field of ‘phoenix companies’. Recent cases include: the recovery of high-value assets in Switzerland and Belgium on behalf of a trustee in bankruptcy; a claim in excess of £10m against a European bank by a Mexican national; two Court of Appeal decisions regarding ss216-217 Insolvency Act 1986; and acting for a number of shareholders in respect of unfair prejudice petitions and derivative claims.

David Seals

David specialises in acting for employers in employment disputes and is an experienced advocate in the Employment Tribunals. He has acted for a broad range of clients, such as company directors, HR managers and owner-managers, in a variety of sectors from the motor car industry to schools and charities. He advises on all aspects of employment law, including terms and conditions of service, employment policies and procedures, termination, disciplinary and grievance procedures, employment aspects of business transfers/TUPE, redundancy and restructures, discrimination law, restrictive covenants and associated litigation, employment tribunal litigation and appeals. David also provides in-house training on employment law to HR departments and managers, typically in such areas as discrimination law, disciplinary and grievance procedures, and reorganisation/restructures. He is a regular article contributor to business journals and has presented many employment law seminars and workshops.

Julian Harvey

Head of Corporate and Commercial, Partner. Julian specialises in all areas of corporate and commercial law with a particular focus on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and joint ventures, including shareholder and LLP agreements. He is also experienced in franchising and share option schemes. Julian has advised on numerous acquisitions and disposals, especially in the SME sector and for family owned businesses. He also has considerable international experience. He works with clients in a range of different industry sectors, including technology, franchising, healthcare, property development, automotive and leisure.

Martin Steer

Martin specialises in all areas of commercial and civil litigation, excluding personal injury and employment matters. He has experience in dealing with all levels of the civil court system, up to and including the Court of Appeal. He deals primarily with contractual and negligence disputes, both corporate and individual; landlord and tenant disputes, both corporate and individual; professional negligence disputes; personal bankruptcy; and corporate insolvency. Reported cases include: Mutanders Recoveries Limited v Hoff and Kirby [2010]; Indiana Investments Ltd v Taylor [2004]; Barratt Homes Ltd v BBF Consultancy Group [2001]; State Bank of India v Sood [1998]; and Re Tajik Air [1995].

Richard Clapham

Richard practised in a central London firm for over 10 years before joining our Corporate and Commercial Department in Godalming as a Partner He advises UK and overseas corporates, start-ups, trade associations and individuals with particular expertise in the following: Corporate: private company share and business acquisitions and disposals, joint venture and shareholder agreements, LLP agreements, share buy-back arrangements, bespoke articles of association, start-ups, associations and clubs, group reorganisation, board and staff share incentive schemes, and corporate governance. Corporate finance: facility agreements, debentures and personal guarantees. Commercial: sale of goods and supply of services agreements, IP licensing, blockchain technology terms, manufacturing, agency and distribution agreements, property development agreements and confidentiality agreements.

Richard Taylor

Richard handles a broad range of property transactions and specialises in residential property development, residential conveyancing, secured lending and general commercial property work. His clients include many well-established developers and entrepreneurs and he has built up close working relationships with clients and contacts alike over a number of years. He always aims to give added value and is known for his creative and proactive approach.

William Edwards

William specialises in a broad range of matters including tax planning, wealth protection, administration of estates, drafting wills, drafting and management of trusts, applications through the Court of Protection including Lasting Powers of Attorney. He administers substantial estates with assets in a variety of jurisdictions.

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