Firm Profile > Sills & Betteridge LLP > Lincoln, England
Sills & Betteridge LLP Offices
Aquis House
18-24 Clasketgate
Lincoln
LN2 1JN
England
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Sills & Betteridge LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Commercial litigation: elsewhere in the East Midlands Tier 2
With a particular focus on the real estate industry, Sills & Betteridge LLP's 'pragmatic and sensible' team in Lincoln and Boston handles a variety of commercial disputes, including breaches of contract, planning, professional negligence and shareholders' claims. Lincoln-based Karen Bower-Brown, who previously worked as a litigator in London, specialises in landlord and tenant disputes and breach of contract claims. In Boston, partner David John's expertise includes property litigation, debt recovery and trusts disputes.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Their knowledge within the sector is impressive, they are extremely professional in their approach and the advice given provides reassurance that all cases are being dealt with appropriately.’
‘Malachy McGill is very knowledgeable in his field, works hard to meet deadlines and his personable manner makes him easy to deal with.’
‘Karen Bower Brown has a good knowledge of the law but is also practical and sensible.’
Key clients
Hemswell Biogas Limited
SHD Composite Materials Limited
Turnbull & Co Limited
Micronclean Limited
The Burdens Group Limited
Omex Agriculture Limited
SHD MTI Limited
Corporate and commercial: Elsewhere in East Midlands Tier 2
Sills & Betteridge LLP's Lincoln-based team has 'broad knowledge and experience', which is evident when assisting clients with sales and acquisitions, commercial contracts and restructurings. James Conduit, who is well-versed in the full gamut of corporate and commercial matters, leverages his expertise to advise clients in the renewable energy, software, insurance and agriculture sectors. Martin Walsh, who previously worked for an international firm in London, has a strong track record in cross-border transactions. 'Personable and responsive' Euan McLaughlin specialises in commercial contracts and data protection. Former practice head Andrew Payne retired in May 2020.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is very responsive and provides excellent customer service.’
‘Euan is relentless, has an eye for detail and can help with strategic planning as well as the legal issues which need to be addressed.’
Key clients
G H Sutton Limited
Omex Agriculture Limited
The Burdens Group
Micronclean Limited
EPS Logistics Technology Limited
Hemswell Estates Limited
Lincolnshire Football Association
Ballet Makers Europe Limited
SHD Composite Materials Limited
Turnbull & Co Limited
Lincoln College Group
Sleeping Disorders Centre Group
GH Byproducts (Derby) Limited
Family Tier 3
Sills & Betteridge LLP has a sizeable practice, which focuses on four key areas. John Mitchell, who leads the matrimonial and finances group, handles both divorce and financial cases involving trusts, pensions and farming businesses. An emergency work team, which is led by Chrystal Theofanous, is active in national and international child abduction and domestic abuse cases. Elsewhere, Mo Hayes heads up the care group, which handles complex regional and multijurisdictional work. Helen Derry, who leads the mediation team, is also the head of the overall family practice.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Representing Appellant mother in Court of Appeal C(A Child)(Interim Separation) [2019] EWCA Civ 1998
Representing Father in Royal Courts of Justice MC [2019] EWHC 3662 (Fam)
Representing Appellant mother in Court of Appeal G(Children: Fair Hearing) [2019] EWCA Civ 126
Representing Mother in the Court of Appeal Y and E (children sexual abuse allegations) [2019] EWCA Civ 206
Representing Mother in the High Court Z and Y [2019] EWCH 2255 (Fam)
Contentious trusts and probate Tier 4
Sills & Betteridge LLP, whose team garners praise for its 'excellent service', excels in wills and trusts disputes, proprietary estoppel cases, financial provision claims and applications relating to the removal of executors in cases of wrongdoing by those appointed. The practice is jointly led by Karen Bower-Brown and David John. Bower-Brown is described by clients as 'very experienced', 'down to earth and approachable'. Robert Pearson is another key figure.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Karen Bower-Brown is very down to earth and approachable. She is very experienced and handles clients very well, and is always a pleasure to work with.’
‘Excellent service by all. Karen Bower-Brown is an excellent solicitor. She worked tirelessly on my case and showed great empathy and was my shoulder to cry on when things were getting too much for me. I would hugely recommend her for any case in her field of expertise. I felt like I had a friend in her.’
‘Sills & Betteridge would be my first port of call for contentious trusts and probate work in the Lincolnshire region.’
Sills & Betteridge LLP > Firm Profile
Sills & Betteridge LLP offers a wide range of personal and commercial legal services. Clients include both private and publicly funded individuals, businesses, charities and government bodies.
The firm: The recorded origins of Sills & Betteridge date back to 1759, and the firm now has fifteen offices in fourteen locations with 291 partners and staff across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire.
Sills & Betteridge has amalgamated with numerous firms over the past decade. The firm has used mergers and acquisitions as a strategy for expansion into new geographic areas and to further strengthen its existing operations. Within the last 12 years the firm has merged with 11 smaller practices, with Bridge Sanderson Munro in Doncaster and three other South Yorkshire locations being the most recent in 2019. It continues to effectively meet and overcome the challenges facing the legal profession.
Throughout almost 260 years of practice, Sills & Betteridge has built up a wealth of experience and knowledge about what its clients want from their solicitors. It believes that by putting the client’s needs at the heart of everything it does it can solve problems, meet goals and provide the best possible advice, in a clear, straightforward manner. The firm’s clients regularly tell it that its staff are professional, efficient and courteous, and operate with skill, integrity and flair.
The firm’s people are its proudest asset, with many at the very top of their field. They include Law Society panel members, Resolution accredited specialists, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers fellows and members, and members of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and The Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).
The firm has held the Law Society’s Lexcel practice management standard since 2002. It also holds the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme.
Types of work undertaken: For private individuals, the firm can offer advice on personal injury, medical negligence, family law, residential property, wills, trusts and probate, employment law, crime, immigration law, housing, forces and military law, regulatory law, and personal notary services. The firm undertakes publicly funded work in the areas of care proceedings, domestic abuse, forced marriage and honour-based violence, international child abduction, mediation and crime.
For business clients, Sills & Betteridge has extensive experience in corporate sale and purchase, employment law, litigation and dispute resolution, commercial property, renewable energy, regulatory law, agriculture and rural business, commercial contracts, partnerships and LLPs, professional negligence, licensing, banking and finance, debt recovery, commercial notary services, health and safety law, GDPR advice and debt recovery.
Lincolnshire offices: Lincoln, Gainsborough, Skegness, Boston, Sleaford, Scunthorpe, Spilsby and Grimsby.
Offices elsewhere: Nottingham, Doncaster, Northampton, Bawtry, Thorne and Wath upon Dearne.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Partner | Stephen Wilson | ||
| Chief Executive | Martyn Hall | ||
| Residential property | Ed Sharpe | ||
| Crime | Dean Bower | ||
| Family | Helen Derry | ||
| Wills, trusts and probate | Richard Bussell | ||
| Corporate and commercial | Andrew Payne | ||
| Personal injury | Alison Hurton | ||
| Commercial Property | Malachy McGill |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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Mr Dean Bower | Partner and higher court advocate. Specialist in all areas of criminal defence… | View Profile |
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Mrs Karen Bower-Brown | Partner specialising in commercial litigation with a particular specialisation in contentious probate… | View Profile |
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Mrs Louise Bush | Partner and Head of Medical Negligence Team and able to assist adults… | View Profile |
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Mr Richard Bussell | Partner and head of department, Richard provides advice on trusts, capital tax… | View Profile |
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Mr James Conduit | Partner dealing with a variety of commercial and corporate contentious and non-contentious… | View Profile |
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Mrs Helen Derry | Helen is a partner specialising in all aspects of family law for… | View Profile |
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Mr Andrew Durkan | Andrew offers specialist advice on all aspects of wills, trusts, probate, tax… | View Profile |
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Mrs Mo Hayes | Partner in the family department with specialism in children’s law. This includes… | View Profile |
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Mrs Alison Hurton | Alison is the Head of the Personal Injury Department and specialises in… | View Profile |
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Mrs Shan Jaehrig | Partner specialising in employment law. Gainsborough Citizen of the Year 2014-15. | View Profile |
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Mr Malachy McGill | Partner in commercial property department. | View Profile |
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Mr Euan McLaughlin | Partner in the Commercial Department. Specialises in commercial and private contracts, distribution/franchising and… | View Profile |
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Mr John Mitchell | Head of the family department. Chair of Lincolnshire Family Justice Board. Financial… | View Profile |
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Mr Andrew Payne | Practice areas are corporate and commercial property. Andrew is widely recognised as… | View Profile |
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Mr Gary Phillips | Gary handles a wide variety of complex non-contentious and contentious matters in… | View Profile |
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Mr Elliot Ruffle | Solicitor specialising in corporate sales and acquisitions | View Profile |
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Mr Edward Sharpe | Partner and Head of the Residential Property Department specialising in property law… | View Profile |
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Mrs Chrystal Theofanous | A partner in the family department at Sills & Betteridge specialising in… | View Profile |
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Mr Martin Walsh | Partner corporate department, advising on a wide range of corporate transactions, including… | View Profile |
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Mr Stephen Wilson | Senior Partner, Stephen specialises in high value and complex claims covering all… | View Profile |