Melinka Berridge > Kingsley Napley LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Kingsley Napley LLP Offices
20 Bonhill Street
London
EC2A 4DN
England
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Melinka Berridge
Work Department
Regulatory and professional discipline.
Position
Melinka is a litigation specialist with expertise in the fields of private prosecutions, professional discipline and Health and Safety.
Melinka heads up the team responsible for private prosecutions. She helps individuals, corporates and charities bring criminal prosecutions, especially when the State fails to act.
Melinka has over twelve years’ experience of investigating and presenting high-profile fitness to practise cases. She also advises regulatory clients on the suitability of their enforcement regimes.
Melinka acts for directors and senior officers accused of committing health and safety offences. She also advises them on what constitutes effective governance over health and safety within their organisations.
Prior to joining Kingsley Napley, Melinka was the Head of Licensing for JD Wetherspoon plc. She continues to help operators in the leisure sector to comply with their regulatory responsibilities or respond to enforcement action.
Career
Admitted as a solicitor and barrister of the High Court of New Zealand 2000; employed by Crown Solicitor for Wellington, New Zealand 2000-05; admitted to the roll of solicitors for England and Wales 2006; head of licensing JD Wetherspoon plc 2006-09; solicitor advocate (criminal) 2007; Kingsley Napley LLP 2009 to date, partner 2011.
Memberships
Melinka is a founding member of the Private Prosecutors’ Association. She is on the Advisory Board to the Victims of Crime Association of Lawyers. She is a member of the Health and Safety Lawyers’ Association and the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers.
Lawyer Rankings
London > Employment > Health and safety
(Hall of Fame)The Kingsley Napley LLP‘s practice is noted for its ‘excellent crossover of skills in health and safety and criminal investigations’, handling an array of matters, including corporate manslaughter claims. Noted for his ‘excellent judgement’, criminal litigation expert Jonathan Grimes, and regulatory specialist and ‘leader in the field’ Melinka Berridge, co-head the team. Hannah Eales brings expertise in fire safety and regulatory work to the offering. Legal counsel Craig Baylis departed to Keystone Law in October 2022.
London > Dispute resolution > Professional discipline
(Leading partners)Kingsley Napley LLP is consistently sought out by regulators for prosecution work. It is also well known for defending law firms, accountancy practices and regulated professionals. Regulatory head Nicola Hill routinely advises the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); Julie Norris is ‘excellent, intelligent and tough‘; Julie Matheson focuses on the accountancy, audit and built environment sectors; Shannett Thompson ‘picks up on cases’ every detail‘; and Iain Miller‘s experience incorporates disciplinary proceedings. Also highly rated, Melinka Berridge represents leading national regulators; Hannah Eales is ‘a standout practitioner‘; and recently-elevated Jessica Clay advises on a range of SRA-related matters. At senior associate level, Charlotte Judd routinely defends accountants and accountancy firms; Kathryn Sheridan represents regulatory bodies presenting hearings before their practice committees; Sarah Atkinson leads investigations on behalf of both the Architects Registration Board and (HCPC); and Clare Hastie is experienced in investigating and preparing fitness to practise cases.
Lawyer Rankings
- Hall of Fame London > Employment > Health and safety
- Leading partners London > Dispute resolution > Professional discipline
- Professional discipline London > Dispute resolution
- Health and safety London > Employment
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Public sector > Administrative and public law
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: general
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)
- Employment > Immigration
- Dispute resolution > Professional discipline
- Employment > Senior executives
Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Dispute resolution > Costs lawyers
- Private client > Court of protection
- Private client > Family
- Private client > Family: mediation
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- Employment > Health and safety
- Corporate and commercial > Partnership
- Real estate > Residential property
- Insurance > Clinical negligence: claimant
- Public sector > Education: individuals
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Licensing
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- Employment > Employers
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Smaller Deals, £10m-£100m
- Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
- Insurance > Professional negligence
- Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity