Tees Law

Partner Jane is Head of Commercial Property in the Brentwood office and Tees Training Principal, responsible for the Tees Trainee programme. She is experienced in dealing in all aspects of commercial property work including acquisitions and disposals, leases, assets management, investment and property finance with her niche area being landlord and tenant. Her specialisms include acting on behalf of landlords and tenants, whether they be investment landlords, corporate tenants, private landlords or SME tenants. she also has extensive experience in acting for buyers and sellers of commercial property, whether freehold, leasehold, sole traders or investment owners.

Executive Head of Residential Property at Tees and Head of Tees’ Brentwood office. Anne specialises in complex residential property, residential long leasehold matters, including lease extensions.

Executive Partner Aaron is experienced in a wide range of matters including working on multi-million pound development and regeneration projects as well as acting for investors in their acquisition and portfolio management work. Aaron represents prominent house builders on all types of property development work as well as banks, dealing with secured lending and restructuring. Clients include international companies where commercial property interests in the UK are handled.

Partner Lucy is a partner in the corporate and commercial department specialising in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and collaborations as well as handling the corporate aspects of running a business, including finance. Expertise in commercial matters includes advising on large outsourcing projects in various sectors and dealing with contracts for a wide variety of services.

Partner Baljeet qualified as a solicitor in 2013 and is now a Partner advising business clients on all aspects of a company and commercial law including asset and share acquisitions and disposals, joint venture agreements and partnership agreements. Her experience also includes drafting an array of commercial contracts. The advice she provides to any one client can vary from providing business contract advice to governance related advice. She acts for a variety of clients which include high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs and charities in a number of different industry sectors such as manufacturing, transport and logistics, retail, technology, software, insurance and leisure.

Caroline Andrews

Senior Associate Caroline advises on matters ranging from prenuptial agreements to cohabitation issues with the aim to prevent problems arising for the client at a later stage. Consequently, she recognises that often advance planning is key in minimising family breakdown issues. In addition, she has developed an in-depth understanding of fertility law ranging from surrogacy in obtaining parental orders to legal parenthood issues. Further, she has been able to utilise her knowledge of fertility matters through her volunteering role at a women’s health charity, thus her contribution has been recognised in national awards and she speaks internationally on these matters.

Associate Gez has 27 years experience of in general litigation and dispute resolution. He specialises in property litigation and his practise encompasses: Commercial property, contested lease renewals, dilapidations and service charge disputes. Residential landlord and tenant. Real Property including adverse possession; restrictive covenants and easements. Boundary disputes. Disputes arising from the co-ownership of property. Professional negligence arising from the conveyancing process.

Senior Associate Lucy joined Tees in 2021 as an Associate Solicitor in the Commercial Property Department. She qualified as a solicitor in 2017 and has worked in the South Essex area for the whole of her post-qualified career. She has a vast range of property experience, including: Asset site acquisitions and disposals All aspects of Landlord and Tenant matters and asset management Strategic land development schemes including option agreements, conditional contracts, clawback/overage agreements, promotion agreements Secured lending and refinancing of portfolios, including bridging finance with experience acting for borrowers, lenders only and dual representation Acting for charities on a wide range of property related matters

Solicitor Alexandra is a solicitor in the Family team at Tees. Her work involves advising and representing clients on a range of different family matters including divorce, financial settlements and pre-nuptial agreements, arrangements for children and children act applications and domestic abuse orders.

Victoria Morgan

Solicitor Victoria qualified as a Solicitor in 2019 and joined the Tees Law Private Client department in February 2022. Her areas of expertise includes, advising clients in relation to their Wills and succession planning, creating and registering Lasting Powers of Attorney, preparing Declarations of Trust and assisting executors or administrators in the administration of an estate.

Consultant Govan principally acts for landowners large and small on full range of property and diversification interest, large scale option and collaboration agreements, mineral and energy development and site disposal and development for developers. Recent work includes advising on complicated building licences on a 2,300 scheme etc. New clients are often recommended to Govan by leading teams of surveyors for the practical, commercial and timely advice that he and the department can give to their clients. Often involving more specialist areas including farm sale and purchase, mineral exploitation and wind farm development.

Associate Luck qualified in 2009 with a large regional firm in the South of the country and specialised in Wealth Management which involved the creation, administration of and advice relating to Trusts, Wills and Inheritance Tax. He subsequently joined a full service firm in Cambridge where he broadened his area of specialism which now includes matters relating to estate planning, applications for Grant of Probate, the administration of estates, the preparation, finalisation and registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney and Deputyships. In addition to this, Luck also acts in the creation of and administration of trusts including Personal Injury Trusts and advice relating to trusts.

Catherine Mowat

Senior Partner Catherine is Partner in the private client department, leading the Cambridge team, specialising in wills, estate planning and administration, trust creation and management, Court of Protection and powers of attorney, acts as professional deputy. She has particular expertise in succession and estate planning for rural clients.

Partner Having trained at a firm in London, James qualified as a solicitor in 1994 and has worked in Bishop’s Stortford, Cambridge and latterly Saffron Walden for most of the time since qualification. James has a wide breadth of experience in commercial property transactions, acting for both corporate clients and also for individuals. His workload includes acting for developers of residential and mixed use schemes, taking transactions through from first principles through to acquisition, build out and disposal. He also deals with planning and infrastructure documentation for such schemes as well as all aspects of disposals. He is involved in a number of transactions for agricultural and other land owning clients including the purchase and sale of farms and farmland, strategic options and promotion agreements. He also has a wide experience of landlord and tenant and general commercial property transactions, including corporate support and refinancing.

Clare Pilsworth

Partner and Head of the Cambridge Office Clare is a partner at Tees, with over 20 years’ experience specialising in family and divorce law. Clare covers all aspects of family law including divorce and separation, financial issues, children, nuptial agreements and cohabitation cases. Clare’s clients are often going through very challenging personal situations – her focus is on securing favourable, and practical solutions for her clients following the breakdown of their relationship. Clare’s areas of expertise include: The financial effects of separation or divorce: the financial implications of divorce can be complex, such as splitting or protecting pensions and business interests. She helps her clients protect their interests and always aims to secure the best possible result in their circumstances. Arrangements for children after divorce/separation: she advises on arrangements for children after separation to make sure that the family’s needs can be in the best interests of the children, school age in particular Legal advice before getting married, and legal advice for unmarried couples: she advises on relationship issues prior to marriage, including pre-nuptial (and post-nuptial) agreements and cohabitation agreements. Clare undertakes family mediation – an alternative to traditional divorce proceedings. Mediation encourages communication between divorcing couples, under the guidance of a specialist mediation solicitor. Clare has experience advising couples through the mediation process, towards a cost-effective settlement agreement which works for both parties. As a family mediator and collaborative solicitor, she can advise on the best route to take if a client is considering divorce proceedings.

Partner Tim has over two decades of experience working exclusively on medical negligence claims supporting families and individual. His areas of particular expertise include Catastrophic injury; Birth trauma; Brain/Spinal injury; Limb loss/amputation and Inquests.

Solicitor Angela specialises in the area of wills and estate planning, Trusts and Powers of Attorney. She is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) and can advise and assist in Preparation and revision of Wills, Estate planning – including inheritance tax and planning for the cost of future care, living Wills/ advance directive, trusts – including preparation and administration, administration of Estates, Lasting Powers of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs and Health and Welfare and applying for a Deputyship Order through the Court of Protection.

Executive Partner Janine is the Head of the Medical Negligence and Personal Injury Team at Tees. She began her career with one of the country’s leading medical negligence London-based practices nearly 20 years ago and is a long-standing member of the AvMA and Law Society Clinical Negligence panels. Janine has recovered £millions of compensation for victims of medical accidents over the years and, in addition, has achieved significant non-monetary relief through mediation. Janine's experience includes birth defects and unintended pregnancies (wrongful birth claims); birth injuries to the child, including cerebral palsy; birth injuries to the mother; brain injuries; deaths; DVTs and pulmonary emboli; substandard general practice care; orthopaedic claims; surgical errors and tuberculosis. Latterly, Janine has sub-specialised in cases involving: - Cerebral palsy cases - birth injuries to the mother (obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS)); - adult brain injuries (in particular cases involving delays in diagnosing a brain tumour and strokes); and - a fatality, where there are a number of surviving dependants - sepsis - amputation - sight loss

Senior Associate Sara focuses on commercial and proactive advice on law and strategy so as to achieve client objectives whilst minimising risks and cost. Areas of specialism include: Contested Trust and Probate disputes; TLATA disputes; Business disputes (partnerships, shareholders, directors); Complex contract disputes; Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution

Consultant Vicki was a medical solicitor with over 40 years’ experience whose role now at Tees is to review new enquiries . She founded her own legal firm "Scrivenger Seabrook" in 1989 and was managing director until October 2019 when she transferred her business to Tees. She specialises in all medical negligence claims and strives to deliver the best possible service for each and every client, drawing upon a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Alexander Waples

Associate Alexander specialises in acting on sales and acquisitions of commercial property, negotiating and advising landlords and tenants on leasehold transactions, acting for land owners and developers in promotion, option and overage agreements and conditional contracts together with a particular specialism in buying and selling farms and agricultural land.

Associate Heather has worked in wills, trusts, tax and probate since qualifying over 30 years ago, which includes 13 years in the private client department of a city of London law firm. Heather advises on Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection applications as well as traditional probate work and all aspects of Inheritance tax and succession planning.

Chris Claxton-Shirley

Senior Associate Chris is a Senior Associate Solicitor in the Private Client team at Tees. He can assist with a range of issues including Court of Protection work, the creation and administration of trusts, estate & tax planning, lasting powers of attorney, registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney, Wills and probate.

Associate Piers has expertise in a broad range of transactional commercial property work. His experience includes acting for landowners, trustees and charity trustees, developers and investors in relation to sales and acquisitions, strategic land transactions and development agreements, diversification and estate management work; multinational, national and SME public and private companies in connection with corporate transactions; property investors in relation to portfolio transactions, acquisitions and disposals, portfolio management, finance and refinance work; landlords and tenants in relation to new leases, assignments, renewals and leasehold management matters.

Associate Sarah is an Associate Solicitor within the Medical Negligence team at Tees. Sarah has been working exclusively on medical negligence claims for over 9 years and has developed specialisms in: Stillbirth & Neonatal deaths; Ophthalmic claims; Surgical Negligence; GP Negligence; and Cosmetic & Bariatric Surgery.

Solicitor Jason specialises in dispute resolution and has acted for Claimants and Defendants, companies and individuals on a range of disputes, including contractual disputes, partnership disputes, debt recovery, professional negligence, construction matters, regulatory disputes, insurance and agricultural matters. Jason is a member of Tees’ highly regarded Rural team and assists in the running of the NFU LAS Call First scheme in which telephone advice is provided to a wide range of rural clients. He has a particular specialism in anti-doping matters, and has represented UK and international level athletes in tribunals. He has also represented retired athletes in contractual disputes.

Natasha Bhandari

Associate Natasha is an Associate within the Corporate Commercial team at Tees and specialises in all aspects of corporate law including; Share acquisitions and disposals Asset acquisitions & disposals Management buy ins & buy-outs Joint ventures Share restructuring Shareholders agreements and articles EMI Schemes Company formation. She has experience in advising a broad range of clients from SME’s, private equity companies, banks, large corporates to owner managed businesses, whether their objective is to diversify and grow or simply put in place a legal framework. Sectors she has a particular interest in include retail, technology, property development and sport. She also advises on corporate banking and finance and commercial contracts.

Associate Rachel is an Associate Solicitor in the Medical Negligence team at Tees. As a department, Tees Medical Negligence have many years of combined experience with specialisms that cover many different types of claim, including but not limited to: fatal claims, birth injuries, amputation claims, surgical errors and delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Solicitor Sophie is a Solicitor within the Medical Negligence team. The Medical Negligence team at Tees has many years of combined experience, with specialisms that cover many different types of claim, including, but not limited to: Inquests Fatal claims Birth injuries Spinal Injuries Delay in diagnosis and treatment Orthopaedic Injuries Still birth claims

Consultant Govan principally acts for landowners large and small on full range of property and diversification interest, large scale option and collaboration agreements, mineral and energy development and site disposal and development for developers. Recent work includes advising on complicated building licences on a 2,300 scheme etc. New clients are often recommended to Govan by leading teams of surveyors for the practical, commercial and timely advice that he and the department can give to their clients. Often involving more specialist areas including farm sale and purchase, mineral exploitation and wind farm development.

Senior Associate Polly has extensive litigation experience, advising in both commercial and civil disputes but, over the years, she has become a highly specialist education lawyer, assisting parents and schools in a multitude of education-related matters; both contentious and non-contentious. Being the only lawyer from a family of teachers, the niche field of education law was a natural career progression for her. Examples of the kind of educational legal work she undertakes includes: Special Education Needs advice; requesting Education Health and Care Needs Assessments, draft EHCP reviews, Annual and Emergency Reviews, Appeals in the First Tier Tribunal, Appeals to the Upper Tribunal School Exclusions Disability Discrimination Other forms of discrimination Educational Negligence School Admission Appeals Failure to Ensure Attendance Prosecutions University Disciplinary Processes, including some of the most serious allegations including sexual assault and rape, physical assault, harassment etc. Allegations of academic malpractice Judicial Review Change to status of schools. Reputational Risk Safeguarding As a result of her experience in the practice of education law, she has been a governor of several schools over the last 16 years (including primary, secondary, and specialist setting. She is also a trustee of SPACE, a Hertfordshire-based charity for neurodiverse children and young people and their families. She is a regular contributor of articles to an education-centric publication in Essex and has previously had an article published in the Education Law Association's circular. She has recently appeared on ITV news, to speak about SEND. Polly has delivered training to schools, local authorities, and parents in relation to Special Educational Needs and the law in practice and provides support monthly to the local branch of a national charity attending their special educational needs focused advice clinics to support their volunteers.

Graeme Atkinson

Consultant Graeme qualified as a solicitor in 1983 and specialises in commercial property work. It would be fair to say he tends to handle the complex and unusual transactions. Quite often the sale or purchase will involve several parties and negotiation with two or three firms of solicitors, an accountant, banker and surveyor. In recent years he has increasingly worked with insolvency practitioners on time critical disposals. Since 1995 he has been responsible for a portfolio of telecom contracts. He has seen this business sector grow and the contractual provisions become more complicated. This area of work requires close attention to detail and a careful review strategy carried out in conjunction with the client’s surveyor. Graeme acts for several small development companies typically building developments of up to 10 houses or apartments. He has also built up quite a client base in the leisure sector with pub owners, hoteliers, nightclub owners and owners of golf clubs. Graeme acts for two local golf clubs owned by their members and a football club playing at the highest level of non-league football.

Robert Whitaker

Executive Partner Rob is based in the Bishop's Stortford office and is head of Tees’ employment law department. He is executive partner for the business team - which comprises employment and company and commercial law teams. He has over 20 years’ experience specialising in employment law, in particular in TUPE, and strategic advice around re-organisations and redundancies. He also advises on equality act claims with a particular focus on disability claims and "reasonable adjustments". He has a Masters in anti-discrimination law and is a member of the employment lawyers association. He also advises on GDPR and data issues and is Tees’ data protection officer.

Partner and Head of Office for Tees Law in Chelmsford Joshua manages the busy Family Department in the Chelmsford office, and specialises in dealing with relationship related financial issues, whether by way of pre-relationship agreements, divorce or civil partnership settlements, or cohabitee disputes, as well as advising on issues concerning children (including Child Arrangements, Specific Issue, Prohibited Steps Orders, Child Relocation and Child Abduction). With over 26 years’ experience in family law Joshua is highly regarded and deals with cases both nationally and internationally.

Partner David has worked in the field of Commercial Litigation for over 18 years. His special areas of expertise are Insolvency law and Partnership and Company Disputes. On the Insolvency side, he acts for both Insolvency Practitioners and Individuals or Directors who are faced with proceedings against them. He has considerable experience in respect of Directors Disqualification Proceedings.

Gwyneth Munjoma

Senior Associate Gwyneth's clinical experience and natural grasp of medical issues makes it easier for her to understand the plight of her clients and to explain to them the important medico-legal issues in their case. She finds it easy to interpret the conclusions of medical experts to her clients using plain language. She has experience in all types of clinical negligence and catastrophic personal injury claims. She does however have a special interest in all obstetric claims, including Childbirth injury claims to include - cerebral palsy; Erbs palsy – as a result of shoulder dystocia and wrongful birth claims She has in depth knowledge of the standard of care that should be given to a woman throughout her pregnancy and childbirth. She understands the clinical situations in which claims resulting from negligence at or around the time of birth may arise. She conducts these claims with the empathy and sensitivity that they deserve. Gwyneth also has specialises in cancer cases - misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis; and negligent surgery cases.

Senior Associate John specialises in Property matters which overlap with Private Client matters and beneficial interests such as trusts, estates and powers of Attorney as well as dealing with title issues. In October 2022 he moved from Private Client to Commercial Property to specialise in that type of cross-over work further as a support lawyer. He assists other departments with their property questions and transactions across the six offices when it touches on such matters and declarations of trust. John advises local societies, clubs and charities on changes of trustees. Up until September 2022 he specialised in Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Lasting Powers of Attorney. John qualified as a solicitor in 2006, then became a STEP member (full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) in 2016. He became Associate in 2016 and Senior Associate in 2018. He was with Tees Brentwood office (formerly Wortley Byers) for 12 years until 2019 and then started at the Saffron Walden office of Tees from 2020 onwards. His background includes both Commercial Property and Residential Property as well as 10 years thereafter in Private Client. This broad base of experience acting for landlords, developers, companies and individuals proves invaluable in assisting his clients where property matters touch on trusts, probate, wills, and when advising attorneys and deputies.

Associate Gez has 27 years experience of in general litigation and dispute resolution. He specialises in property litigation and his practise encompasses: Commercial property, contested lease renewals, dilapidations and service charge disputes. Residential landlord and tenant. Real Property including adverse possession; restrictive covenants and easements. Boundary disputes. Disputes arising from the co-ownership of property. Professional negligence arising from the conveyancing process.

Solicitor Georgina is a solicitor in the Medical Negligence team, having qualified in September 2021. Although her experience covers a broad range of medical negligence claims, her particular areas of interest include inquests and surgical negligence claims.

Ana James-Pittau

Associate Ana is an Associate in the Dispute Resolution team at Tees Law, based in our Chelmsford office. She qualified as a Solicitor in January 2017 and worked as a Paralegal since 2010. She joined Tees in October 2019. She advises on contentious matters for both corporate and private clients, including: Contractual disputes Debt recovery Civil fraud Intellectual property disputes Reputational disputes including defamation Building disputes Misrepresentation Partnership and Company Disputes Insolvency Enforcement Alternative dispute resolution She has also previously advised on GDPR, employment law and Personal Injury and is able to draw on this knowledge to resolve relevant issues

Associate Heather has worked in wills, trusts, tax and probate since qualifying over 30 years ago, which includes 13 years in the private client department of a city of London law firm. Heather advises on Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection applications as well as traditional probate work and all aspects of Inheritance tax and succession planning.

Associate Piers has expertise in a broad range of transactional commercial property work. His experience includes acting for landowners, trustees and charity trustees, developers and investors in relation to sales and acquisitions, strategic land transactions and development agreements, diversification and estate management work; multinational, national and SME public and private companies in connection with corporate transactions; property investors in relation to portfolio transactions, acquisitions and disposals, portfolio management, finance and refinance work; landlords and tenants in relation to new leases, assignments, renewals and leasehold management matters.

Solicitor Angela specialises in the area of wills and estate planning, Trusts and Powers of Attorney. She is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) and can advise and assist in Preparation and revision of Wills, Estate planning – including inheritance tax and planning for the cost of future care, living Wills/ advance directive, trusts – including preparation and administration, administration of Estates, Lasting Powers of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs and Health and Welfare and applying for a Deputyship Order through the Court of Protection.

Executive Head of Residential Property at Tees and Head of Tees’ Brentwood office. Anne specialises in complex residential property, residential long leasehold matters, including lease extensions.

Alexander Waples

Associate Alexander specialises in acting on sales and acquisitions of commercial property, negotiating and advising landlords and tenants on leasehold transactions, acting for land owners and developers in promotion, option and overage agreements and conditional contracts together with a particular specialism in buying and selling farms and agricultural land.

Caroline Andrews

Senior Associate Caroline advises on matters ranging from prenuptial agreements to cohabitation issues with the aim to prevent problems arising for the client at a later stage. Consequently, she recognises that often advance planning is key in minimising family breakdown issues. In addition, she has developed an in-depth understanding of fertility law ranging from surrogacy in obtaining parental orders to legal parenthood issues. Further, she has been able to utilise her knowledge of fertility matters through her volunteering role at a women’s health charity, thus her contribution has been recognised in national awards and she speaks internationally on these matters.

Natalie Pibworth

Senior Associate and Team Leader Natalie is an experienced clinical negligence solicitor with 13 years of experience in this area of law. Natalie is passionate about helping Claimants obtain the answers to complex medical issues to enable them to move forward with their lives following bad experiences whilst obtaining medical treatment. She has also helped many Claimants obtain just compensation for their injuries, going some way towards relieving the financial burden which many face after clinical negligence (such as the costs of aids, equipment and care). Natalie has experience across a wide variety of clinical negligence claims including orthopaedic injuries; obstetrics and gynaecology errors; GP negligence; substandard surgery; delayed cancer diagnoses; and fatal claims (including inquests). Natalie is also the Team Leader for the clinical negligence team based in the Chelmsford office of Tees, which consists of another Senior Associate, two Associates and a Paralegal.

Senior Associate Anya qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and since then has specialised in commercial property work. She grew up in Chelmsford, and after studying at Oxford and in Germany, she spent the first part of her career in the City before moving back to Essex to work. She advises on all aspects of commercial property work, including: freehold and leasehold acquisitions and disposals development sites secured lending and refinancing option agreements, overage agreements planning agreements promotion agreements leases all aspects of the landlord and tenant relationship.

Partner Daniel specialises in a wide range of commercial property transactions, such as: Acting on sales and acquisitions of commercial property in England and Wales Acting for land owners and developers and promoters in promotion agreements, option agreements, overage agreements and conditional agreements Negotiating and advising landlords and tenants in relation to new and existing leases Advising landlords and tenants in relation to lease renewals, lease surrenders, lease extensions and under-lettings Acting for banks, private lenders and borrowers in connection with development loans and general financing for working capital which is then secured against land and property

Andrew Harrison

Solicitor Andrew is a Solicitor in the Commercial Property team based in Chelmsford. He specialises in a wide range of commercial property transactions, such as: Sales and acquisitions of commercial / mixed use property in England and Wales; Advising landlords and tenants in relation to new and existing commercial leases; Acting for banks, private lenders and borrowers in connection with development loans and general financing which is then secured against land and property; Acting for landowners and developers concerning acquisitions and leases of agricultural land for the purpose of redeveloping it into to renewable energy developments

Consultant Govan principally acts for landowners large and small on full range of property and diversification interest, large scale option and collaboration agreements, mineral and energy development and site disposal and development for developers. Recent work includes advising on complicated building licences on a 2,300 scheme etc. New clients are often recommended to Govan by leading teams of surveyors for the practical, commercial and timely advice that he and the department can give to their clients. Often involving more specialist areas including farm sale and purchase, mineral exploitation and wind farm development.

Associate Luck qualified in 2009 with a large regional firm in the South of the country and specialised in Wealth Management which involved the creation, administration of and advice relating to Trusts, Wills and Inheritance Tax. He subsequently joined a full service firm in Cambridge where he broadened his area of specialism which now includes matters relating to estate planning, applications for Grant of Probate, the administration of estates, the preparation, finalisation and registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney and Deputyships. In addition to this, Luck also acts in the creation of and administration of trusts including Personal Injury Trusts and advice relating to trusts.

Tracey is a Partner with Birkett Long LLP advising on all aspects of company, partnership and limited liability partnership (LLP) law. She also heads the Commercial & Corporate Finance team.

Executive Partner Aaron is experienced in a wide range of matters including working on multi-million pound development and regeneration projects as well as acting for investors in their acquisition and portfolio management work. Aaron represents prominent house builders on all types of property development work as well as banks, dealing with secured lending and restructuring. Clients include international companies where commercial property interests in the UK are handled.

Associate After graduating from Cambridge University with a BA Hons and an MPhil in classics, Tom undertook the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course at what was then the College of Law in Bloomsbury. He then trained at a medium sized East Kent firm, qualifying as a solicitor in February 2012 into the property litigation department. From 2013 onwards He has practised exclusively in commercial property. He joined the firm in 2016 dealing with a wide range of transactions including acquisitions and disposals, all aspects of landlord and tenant work, commercial refinancing, and the sale and purchase of land for development.

Alexander Waples

Associate Alexander specialises in acting on sales and acquisitions of commercial property, negotiating and advising landlords and tenants on leasehold transactions, acting for land owners and developers in promotion, option and overage agreements and conditional contracts together with a particular specialism in buying and selling farms and agricultural land.

Senior Associate John specialises in Property matters which overlap with Private Client matters and beneficial interests such as trusts, estates and powers of Attorney as well as dealing with title issues. In October 2022 he moved from Private Client to Commercial Property to specialise in that type of cross-over work further as a support lawyer. He assists other departments with their property questions and transactions across the six offices when it touches on such matters and declarations of trust. John advises local societies, clubs and charities on changes of trustees. Up until September 2022 he specialised in Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Lasting Powers of Attorney. John qualified as a solicitor in 2006, then became a STEP member (full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) in 2016. He became Associate in 2016 and Senior Associate in 2018. He was with Tees Brentwood office (formerly Wortley Byers) for 12 years until 2019 and then started at the Saffron Walden office of Tees from 2020 onwards. His background includes both Commercial Property and Residential Property as well as 10 years thereafter in Private Client. This broad base of experience acting for landlords, developers, companies and individuals proves invaluable in assisting his clients where property matters touch on trusts, probate, wills, and when advising attorneys and deputies.

Associate Luck qualified in 2009 with a large regional firm in the South of the country and specialised in Wealth Management which involved the creation, administration of and advice relating to Trusts, Wills and Inheritance Tax. He subsequently joined a full service firm in Cambridge where he broadened his area of specialism which now includes matters relating to estate planning, applications for Grant of Probate, the administration of estates, the preparation, finalisation and registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney and Deputyships. In addition to this, Luck also acts in the creation of and administration of trusts including Personal Injury Trusts and advice relating to trusts.

Consultant Govan principally acts for landowners large and small on full range of property and diversification interest, large scale option and collaboration agreements, mineral and energy development and site disposal and development for developers. Recent work includes advising on complicated building licences on a 2,300 scheme etc. New clients are often recommended to Govan by leading teams of surveyors for the practical, commercial and timely advice that he and the department can give to their clients. Often involving more specialist areas including farm sale and purchase, mineral exploitation and wind farm development.

Senior Associate Polly has extensive litigation experience, advising in both commercial and civil disputes but, over the years, she has become a highly specialist education lawyer, assisting parents and schools in a multitude of education-related matters; both contentious and non-contentious. Being the only lawyer from a family of teachers, the niche field of education law was a natural career progression for her. Examples of the kind of educational legal work she undertakes includes: Special Education Needs advice; requesting Education Health and Care Needs Assessments, draft EHCP reviews, Annual and Emergency Reviews, Appeals in the First Tier Tribunal, Appeals to the Upper Tribunal School Exclusions Disability Discrimination Other forms of discrimination Educational Negligence School Admission Appeals Failure to Ensure Attendance Prosecutions University Disciplinary Processes, including some of the most serious allegations including sexual assault and rape, physical assault, harassment etc. Allegations of academic malpractice Judicial Review Change to status of schools. Reputational Risk Safeguarding As a result of her experience in the practice of education law, she has been a governor of several schools over the last 16 years (including primary, secondary, and specialist setting. She is also a trustee of SPACE, a Hertfordshire-based charity for neurodiverse children and young people and their families. She is a regular contributor of articles to an education-centric publication in Essex and has previously had an article published in the Education Law Association's circular. She has recently appeared on ITV news, to speak about SEND. Polly has delivered training to schools, local authorities, and parents in relation to Special Educational Needs and the law in practice and provides support monthly to the local branch of a national charity attending their special educational needs focused advice clinics to support their volunteers.

Professional Support Lawyer James is a Professional Support Lawyer in the Wills, Trusts, Tax and Probate Department. He provides specialist technical support to the department on relevant client matters. James qualified as a solicitor in 2004, moving into Private Client law in 2007 after previously working as an in house lawyer in the Life & Pensions department of a multinational insurance company. He specialises in wills, estate and capital tax planning and probate, both onshore and offshore, and charity administration. He has experience of advising a wide range of clients, including high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs, charities, families, farming clients and non-UK resident or non-UK domiciled/deemed-domiciled clients.

Partner in Private Client and Head of Agriculture Letty specialises in working with, and understanding the needs of both wealthy and elderly clients, with a particular focus on agriculture. Letty offers capital tax planning advice and guidance to those who wish to provide for their and their family's futures. She has extensive experience in dealing with clients in later life and of working with those diagnosed with the onset of dementia. Letty helps to structure a framework which gives confidence and reassurance that their affairs will be dealt with appropriately going forward. She administers a range of estates and regularly acts as a professional trustee including for large charitable trusts.

Jennifer Appleton

Associate Jennifer is an Associate in the private client team in the Royston office. She qualified as a solicitor in 2016 and has been advising on Wills, probate, trusts, tax and powers of attorney and related matters ever since.

Natalie Liversidge

Consultant Govan principally acts for landowners large and small on full range of property and diversification interest, large scale option and collaboration agreements, mineral and energy development and site disposal and development for developers. Recent work includes advising on complicated building licences on a 2,300 scheme etc. New clients are often recommended to Govan by leading teams of surveyors for the practical, commercial and timely advice that he and the department can give to their clients. Often involving more specialist areas including farm sale and purchase, mineral exploitation and wind farm development.

Associate Luck qualified in 2009 with a large regional firm in the South of the country and specialised in Wealth Management which involved the creation, administration of and advice relating to Trusts, Wills and Inheritance Tax. He subsequently joined a full service firm in Cambridge where he broadened his area of specialism which now includes matters relating to estate planning, applications for Grant of Probate, the administration of estates, the preparation, finalisation and registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney and Deputyships. In addition to this, Luck also acts in the creation of and administration of trusts including Personal Injury Trusts and advice relating to trusts.

Consultant Cathy is a former Partner in the private client department specialising in wills, tax planning, probate administration, estates and trusts. Cathy has worked in the field of Wills, trusts and probate since she qualified as a lawyer more than 33 years ago. Her particular interests are in wills and probates with an international dimension. She works closely with our French law team to provide advice on succession issues for UK clients owning property in France. Cathy also provides a lot of specialist succession advice to our extensive rural client base. This can involve wills, tax planning either for diversification or handing on to the younger generation and administration of estates qualifying for Agricultural Property Relief or Business Property Relief.

Executive Partner Darren heads up the Dispute Resolution & Litigation department at Tees. He specialises in property disputes and property related professional negligence claims (including those against surveyors, solicitors and barristers). He regularly advises plc's, public bodies and charities as well as owner-managed business and individuals in respect of their property related matters. Examples of his clients include national housebuilders, national public house owning breweries, a national airport owning company and some of the biggest property agents in the UK

Consultant Govan principally acts for landowners large and small on full range of property and diversification interest, large scale option and collaboration agreements, mineral and energy development and site disposal and development for developers. Recent work includes advising on complicated building licences on a 2,300 scheme etc. New clients are often recommended to Govan by leading teams of surveyors for the practical, commercial and timely advice that he and the department can give to their clients. Often involving more specialist areas including farm sale and purchase, mineral exploitation and wind farm development.

Executive Partner and Head of the Family Team Sally specialises in financial issues arising from relationship breakdown. Known in the region for advising HNW individuals or their spouses, including cases featuring family businesses, farming families and city high-flyers. Also advises on complex private law Children Act cases to include the reversal of residence, relocation and leave to remove for the jurisdiction.

Partner Executive Partner and joint Head of the Private Client Department. Sarah has extensive experience in all areas of private client work including estate and inheritance tax planning, wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, estate administration and trusts. She has particular interest and experience in Anglo-French matters and assists many clients with preparing French wills, advising on French estate and inheritance tax planning and dealing with estates including French assets.

Joint Head of Private Client Nicola is an Executive Partner and joint Head of the Private Client Department. Nicola has worked in this field for more than a decade and has extensive experience in all areas, but her particular area of interest is Trust work. She provides advice on the creation, management and cessation of Trusts, as well as acting as a professional Trustee herself for many of her clients. She also has considerable knowledge of succession and tax planning for rural clients.

Senior Associate Helen's work as a Solicitor involves advising and representing clients on a range of different family matters including divorce, dissolution or nullity proceedings; financial settlements and nuptial agreements; arrangements for children and Children Act applications; and cohabitation disputes. She is also an all issues, Resolution-trained Mediator, working towards accreditation, which enables her to help those involved in family relationship breakdown or disputes to discuss and negotiate bespoke solutions and options in a cost-efficient and voluntary forum. As a member of Resolution and the Family Mediation Council, Helen adheres to Codes of Conduct which mean that, as both a Solicitor and a Mediator, she endeavour to minimise conflict in family disputes.

Katherine Jameson

Associate Katherine is an associate in the Employment Law team providing advice to both employers and employees including restrictive covenants, redundancies, disciplinaries and grievances and ill health capability, negotiating exit packages/settlement agreements, tribunal claims and reviewing and preparing contracts, handbooks and policies. Clients include schools, professionals (dentists, accountants, solicitors), SMEs, farmers and agricultural businesses and senior executives.

Executive Partner Aaron is experienced in a wide range of matters including working on multi-million pound development and regeneration projects as well as acting for investors in their acquisition and portfolio management work. Aaron represents prominent house builders on all types of property development work as well as banks, dealing with secured lending and restructuring. Clients include international companies where commercial property interests in the UK are handled.

Partner Jane is Head of Commercial Property in the Brentwood office and Tees Training Principal, responsible for the Tees Trainee programme. She is experienced in dealing in all aspects of commercial property work including acquisitions and disposals, leases, assets management, investment and property finance with her niche area being landlord and tenant. Her specialisms include acting on behalf of landlords and tenants, whether they be investment landlords, corporate tenants, private landlords or SME tenants. she also has extensive experience in acting for buyers and sellers of commercial property, whether freehold, leasehold, sole traders or investment owners.

Partner in Private Client and Head of Agriculture Letty specialises in working with, and understanding the needs of both wealthy and elderly clients, with a particular focus on agriculture. Letty offers capital tax planning advice and guidance to those who wish to provide for their and their family's futures. She has extensive experience in dealing with clients in later life and of working with those diagnosed with the onset of dementia. Letty helps to structure a framework which gives confidence and reassurance that their affairs will be dealt with appropriately going forward. She administers a range of estates and regularly acts as a professional trustee including for large charitable trusts.

Partner Kay has a broad knowledge of all types of property transactions; including development acquisitions and sales, option and overage agreements, re-financing, leases, general property, land or farm sales and purchases, leasehold enfranchisement, lease extensions, rights of first refusal and multi-use buildings. Kay acts for a wide range of clients, such as large commercial companies, property developers, farm and land owners, landlords, tenants and experienced property investors.

Natalie Pibworth

Senior Associate and Team Leader Natalie is an experienced clinical negligence solicitor with 13 years of experience in this area of law. Natalie is passionate about helping Claimants obtain the answers to complex medical issues to enable them to move forward with their lives following bad experiences whilst obtaining medical treatment. She has also helped many Claimants obtain just compensation for their injuries, going some way towards relieving the financial burden which many face after clinical negligence (such as the costs of aids, equipment and care). Natalie has experience across a wide variety of clinical negligence claims including orthopaedic injuries; obstetrics and gynaecology errors; GP negligence; substandard surgery; delayed cancer diagnoses; and fatal claims (including inquests). Natalie is also the Team Leader for the clinical negligence team based in the Chelmsford office of Tees, which consists of another Senior Associate, two Associates and a Paralegal.

Solicitor Jason specialises in dispute resolution and has acted for Claimants and Defendants, companies and individuals on a range of disputes, including contractual disputes, partnership disputes, debt recovery, professional negligence, construction matters, regulatory disputes, insurance and agricultural matters. Jason is a member of Tees’ highly regarded Rural team and assists in the running of the NFU LAS Call First scheme in which telephone advice is provided to a wide range of rural clients. He has a particular specialism in anti-doping matters, and has represented UK and international level athletes in tribunals. He has also represented retired athletes in contractual disputes.

Associate Katheryn qualified as a Legal Executive in September 2019 and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. She originally joined Tees as a Paralegal in the Medical Negligence team in April 2015 and studied for her professional qualification whilst working full-time and gaining invaluable experience. Katheryn qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in September 2019 and was promoted to Associate in April 2020. Katheryn is Team Leader of the Medical Negligence team in Bishop’s Stortford. She deals with a variety of Medical Negligence claims, working with clients to understand their needs and seek answers for what has gone wrong. Katheryn understands that seeking legal advice on a medical issue can be daunting however she is friendly and approachable and will provide updates, support and understanding from the initial meeting and throughout. Katheryn has particular expertise in claims involving obstetrics, gynaecology and fertility, general surgery, cardiology and brain injury.

Associate After graduating from Cambridge University with a BA Hons and an MPhil in classics, Tom undertook the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course at what was then the College of Law in Bloomsbury. He then trained at a medium sized East Kent firm, qualifying as a solicitor in February 2012 into the property litigation department. From 2013 onwards He has practised exclusively in commercial property. He joined the firm in 2016 dealing with a wide range of transactions including acquisitions and disposals, all aspects of landlord and tenant work, commercial refinancing, and the sale and purchase of land for development.

Solicitor I qualified as a Solicitor in April 2022 working in the Dispute Resolution and Litigation Department at Tees, acting on behalf of Claimants and Defendants on a range of disputes, including; contractual disputes, partnership disputes and property disputes.

Isobel Foenander

Associate Isobel is an associate in the Medical Negligence team, and has experience in a wide variety of cases including orthopaedic claims; delay in diagnosis and treatment, of cancer in particular; birth injury; brain injury in adults and children and fatal claims.

Solicitor Georgina is a solicitor in the Medical Negligence team, having qualified in September 2021. Although her experience covers a broad range of medical negligence claims, her particular areas of interest include inquests and surgical negligence claims.

Senior Associate Samantha is a senior associate in our commercial property team. Since joining Tees in November 2012, she has been advising companies and individuals as to the management of their property portfolio. She acts for landlords and tenants, helping them through the process of the grant/ renewal and termination leases. She also deals with general sales and purchases of commercial and agricultural property. Samantha liaises regularly, and acts in conjunction with agents and surveyors to ensure the relevant clients’ needs are met in the particular transaction. She also assists our Wills, Tax Trusts and Probate department by dealing with the transfer of property for executors and voluntary first registrations.

Associate Katie is an associate in the Family Department at Tees, based in the Bishops Stortford office. Katie started working in family law in 2014. She advises and represents clients on a range of family matters, including private law children, divorce and finances, cohabitation matters, including cases brought under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and Schedule 1 Children Act proceedings, pre-nuptial agreements and cases involving domestic violence.

Solicitor Mark is a Solicitor within the Family department at Tees’ based at the Bishop’s Stortford office. He advises and represents clients on a broad spectrum of family matters, including but not limited to, divorce and finances, cohabitation matters, child arrangements, as well as assisting with pre and post-nuptial agreements.

Victoria Sweeting

Senior Associate Victoria is a Senior Associate in Tees’ Private Client team and is based in our Bishop’s Stortford Office. She has worked in this field since she qualified as a solicitor in 2005, and undertakes all types of private client work for a diverse range of clients including, preparing Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney and registering Enduring Powers of Attorney, providing estate planning and inheritance tax advice, administering estates and setting up and breaking trusts and advising on their administration.

Solicitor Lauren qualified as a Solicitor in 2019 and joined the Tees Law Private Client department in March 2022. Her areas of expertise include, advising and preparing Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection matters, assisting with Probate and Letters of Administration, preparing Declarations of Trusts and other related work.

Associate Frances is a solicitor in the Wills, Tax, Trusts and Probate Team. Her work involves preparing Wills, dealing with probates, advising on and preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney, assisting with Court of Protection applications and other related work.

Georgina Brignell-Wade

Solicitor Georgina is a solicitor in the Medical Negligence team, having qualified in September 2021. Although her experience covers a broad range of medical negligence claims, her particular areas of interest include inquests and surgical negligence claims.

Suzanne Bradbury

Associate Licensed Conveyaner and Team Leader of the Real Estate Team (Chelmsford office)

Associate Piers has expertise in a broad range of transactional commercial property work. His experience includes acting for landowners, trustees and charity trustees, developers and investors in relation to sales and acquisitions, strategic land transactions and development agreements, diversification and estate management work; multinational, national and SME public and private companies in connection with corporate transactions; property investors in relation to portfolio transactions, acquisitions and disposals, portfolio management, finance and refinance work; landlords and tenants in relation to new leases, assignments, renewals and leasehold management matters.

Associate Luck qualified in 2009 with a large regional firm in the South of the country and specialised in Wealth Management which involved the creation, administration of and advice relating to Trusts, Wills and Inheritance Tax. He subsequently joined a full service firm in Cambridge where he broadened his area of specialism which now includes matters relating to estate planning, applications for Grant of Probate, the administration of estates, the preparation, finalisation and registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney and Deputyships. In addition to this, Luck also acts in the creation of and administration of trusts including Personal Injury Trusts and advice relating to trusts.