Birketts LLP logo

Birketts LLP

birketts.co.uk
Show options

Lawyers

search
Philip Brown
Philip Brown
Philip is a Partner in our Real Estate team and leads the firm’s developer team. He has expertise in a wide range of real estate work with particular emphasis on commercial and residential development (both immediate and strategic) and the securing of development and project finance. Philip’s clients are made up of national, regional and local developers, promoters, housing associations, landowners disposing of land for development and banks and alternative lenders. Philip has been ranked highly in numerous Legal500 and Chambers rankings over the last decade. Outside of work Philip enjoys spending time with his young family and is a passionate sports fan; in particular he enjoys following the Exeter Chiefs and, in the summer, Somerset County Cricket Club.
Barny Croft
Barny Croft
Barny joined as a Partner in Birketts’ Private Wealth Disputes Team in June 2025 working primarily out of our Bristol office. His work covers will disputes on the grounds of lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, lack of knowledge and approval, fraud and failure to execute a Will correctly; professional negligence claims; disputes concerning the lack of provision made for family and/or dependants in Wills; proprietary estoppel claims (in a nutshell: promises made during a testator’s lifetime, but not made good in their Wills); trust disputes; claims concerning the administration of estates; and advising executors and trustees in complex trusts and/or estates. Barny has been recognised for many years as an expert in legacy and trust disputes. Chambers and Partners praise him as “very well-liked by judges and other lawyers. He’s pragmatic, easy to work with, and has an excellent reputation. Even his opponents respect his approach.” Legal 500 describes him as “unflappable, even in the most complex and contentious probate cases.” Barny is recognised as one of the leading advisors to charities in relation to legacy disputes, a sector in which he has a well-established and prominent reputation.
Meena Gupta
Meena Gupta
Partner in the Property Disputes team. Specialising in commercial litigation, employment and company/commercial matters.  Highly experienced in advising commercial clients on a wide range of issues including partnership disputes, contractual disputes, unfair prejudice claims and commercial property matters. She is an experienced negotiator and applies her skills and experience in obtaining optimum results whilst mitigating against the risks of litigation. She also acts for clients in the healthcare sector including GPs, dentists, pharmacists and nursing homes.
Stephanie Kingdon
Stephanie Kingdon
Stephanie has significant experience in all aspects of general property and commercial landlord and tenant disputes, in particular relating to managing and mitigating risk in transactional work. Stephanie advises on a wide range of contentious commercial property matters, and her experience extends to complex, high profile and politically sensitive advisory work. She has dealt with real estate litigation in both the High Court and Court of Appeal and has resolved disputes through mediation and arbitration. In addition to “traditional” property disputes, Stephanie also advises on planning-related matters including judicial reviews and statutory challenges.
Mark Walkington
Mark Walkington
Mark is a Partner and has more than 30 years’ experience of representing business clients particularly in Commercial Property and in Real Estate Finance work. He has acted in the acquisition and disposal of commercial property, commercial leases, and in different finance transactions including owner/occupier, investment and development finance, and in bridging loans. He has also drafted the security documentation for a new challenger bank. His clients include leading UK banks as well as borrowers.
Patrick Wetherall
Patrick Wetherall
Patrick leads the firm’s developer sector and is Head of Real Estate Group. With expertise in all aspects of commercial property disputes, whether property or landlord and tenant, he has acted on several multi-million pound claims. These relate to development, dilapidations and disrepair, options, agreements to purchase, contractual loss of profits, restrictive covenants, injunctions and easements. Patrick also has extensive Court of Appeal, High Court trial and arbitration experience, and has successfully resolved over 25 matters at mediation. Focused on taking a pragmatic approach to litigation and dispute resolution, Patrick always considers what the client wants and how to get results – whether that be through proactive and forthright litigation or a more conciliatory approach.