Brabners LLP

Craig Arrowsmith

Senior Associate

Matthew Astley is a Senior Associate in our commercial litigation team. He deals with a wide range of commercial litigation and dispute resolution matters, including contractual disputes, shareholder and director disputes and professional negligence cases. He also handles employment-related litigation matters (including claims for breach of restrictive covenant and misuse of confidential information) and similar claims involving contractors and commercial parties. Matthew has a strong track record in sports-related litigation and arbitration cases, as well as sports regulatory and disciplinary matters, having acted for clients in proceedings before sports national governing bodies including The FA, British Cycling and British Dressage. He's a member of The FA’s National Serious Case Panel — which adjudicates on all types of serious disciplinary cases in grassroots football — and a Specialist Member of Sport Resolutions’ Panel of Arbitrators. His reported cases include Fleetwood Wanderers Limited (t/a Fleetwood Town Football Club) v AFC Fylde Limited [2018] EWHC 3318 (Comm) — concerning an appeal against the decision of an FA Rule K arbitrator. Matthew joined us in January 2024 and is based in our Lancashire office.

Amanda is a Partner in our private client team. She is an experienced private client lawyer who specialises in landed estates. She handles a range of succession and tax planning matters such as the preparation of wills, the creation and administration of Trusts and the establishment of Family Investment Companies. Amanda acts for private individuals, business owners, agricultural property owners, family trusts, and landed estates. She also advises on probate matters, with a particular expertise in the application of agricultural and business inheritance tax reliefs. In addition, she is experienced in advising on and establishing ‘Balfour’ type partnership arrangements for landed estates. Amanda has a strong background in all non-contentious tax, trust and estate planning. She is a recognised as a leading authority on family investment companies and gives professional training for lawyers and accountants on the subject via MBL Training and the Offa Group. Amanda is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Colin is a Partner and leads our intellectual property and technology teams. An experienced commercial lawyer, Colin specialises in intellectual property (IP) law, advising both national and international clients. He handles issues relating to patents, trade marks, copyright, passing-off, brand management, company names and domain names, as well as database, image and design rights. With a strong background in both contentious and non-contentious IP work, Colin is highly experienced in the protection and registration of IP portfolios (including UK, EU and international trade marks), brand strategy, clearance advice, the exploitation and licensing of IP, enforcement and infringement disputes. He has developed an extensive and highly regarded network of trusted agents to assist in the enforcement and defence of IP rights in international territories.Colin also leads our technology team, which advises entrepreneurs, start-ups, scale-ups, established businesses, investors and corporate boards on a wide range of transactional, corporate and regulatory matters. We deal with both general technology-related matters as well as specific matters across a number of sector verticals including esports, the creative industries, IT, cybersecurity and big data. Outside the technology space, Colin represents many clients across the sport and retail sectors, advising on a wealth of commercial matters including commercial contracts, IT contracts, licensing, franchising, agency collaborations, joint ventures, sponsorship, broadcasting, host city and venue agreements, as well as privacy, data protection, GDPR, retail, e-commerce, digital assets, gaming, gambling, betting, advertising and promotion issues.

Claire is a Partner in our regulatory and professional conduct team. A specialist regulatory compliance lawyer with expertise in health and safety, environmental, food safety, product safety, medical device regulation, coronial law and anti-bribery legislation, Claire is often involved in complex regulatory investigations. She helps clients to navigate their way through regulatory requirements and assists them to investigate, defend and mitigate enforcement action when things go wrong. She is known for having significant expertise in crisis management, incident response and major investigations. With over a decade’s experience as a regulatory specialist, Claire has acted on numerous high-profile health and safety cases following fatal and serious incidents. An experienced advocate who has appeared in the Magistrates and Coroners Courts on numerous occasions, Claire also advises clients on their regulatory obligations and how to effectively demonstrate compliance. She is able to conduct regulatory due diligence across a wide range of topics to offer advice on compliance issues and practical risk mitigation to corporate clients during acquisitions. Claire advises large, corporate clients (both national and international) across various sectors including construction, demolition, manufacturing and healthcare. Strategic thinking and being fully immersed in her clients’ businesses enables her to offer practical, honest and commercial advice. Claire has advised many clients on the complexities of placing products on the market to ensure that they meet specific product requirements including in respect of medical devices, personal protective equipment, children’s toys, cosmetics and food and drink. She advises clients on their specific legal obligations in respect of health and safety considerations, conformity testing and certification, technical file and labelling requirements. This allows clients to ensure that fully compliant products are placed onto the UK market and regulatory liability is effectively managed in complex supply chains. Claire joined us in April 2023 and is based in our Leeds office although she operates across all of our office locations.

Director. Civil and Criminal Financial Regulatory Defence. Acted in defence of HMRC Assessments for unpaid Excise Duty, and Appeals in respect of direct and indirect tax. Instructed in FCA mis-selling and market abuse. Also instructed in two of the larges Serious Fraud Office Prosecutions of recent years and the largest viivil asset recovery action brought by SOCA

Barry is a Partner and leads our construction team. Barry acts for contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers, developers and employers. He has advised on major projects including Hinkley Point C and also the new Mersey Gateway Bridge, two of the largest infrastructure programmes in the UK.

Charles Hansford

Charles is a Partner in our property team. He is a property lawyer who is experienced in all types of commercial property including issues such as landlord and tenant law, acquisitions, corporate support, development and renewable energy project matters. Charles specialises in acting on landed estates and agricultural property and represents clients with considerable land holdings. He deals with matters ranging from farm and land purchases/sales to mines and minerals, sporting rights and fell rights. He advises on development project-related issues such as option and planning promotion agreements and supports colleagues in our corporate team on property matters. He sits on the Parliamentary Property Rights committee and the Cumbria branch committee of The Country Land and Business Association. Charles is a Governor at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Penrith. Charles joined us in 2014 and is based in our Lancashire office.

Christine is a Legal Director in our employment and pensions team. She is an experienced employment lawyer who handles issues such as TUPE, industrial relations, employment tribunal claims, HR-related matters and recruitment sector legal issues. Christine acts for employers across the North West ranging from SMEs and family businesses to large corporates, as well as business owners and senior leaders such as directors. Christine has a strong background in contentious and non-contentious matters and has practised in employment law for over a decade. In addition, Christine regularly provides training to businesses on key issues ranging from disciplinaries and grievances to anti-bullying and harassment She trained under employment judge Paul Holmes and served as Head of Employment at a Bolton-based law firm prior to joining us. Christine is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Ali is a Legal Director in our employment, pensions and immigration team. He handles Employment Tribunal claims for unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, whistleblowing, discrimination, day-to-day employee relations, redundancies/reorganisations and negotiated settlements. He also drafts employment contracts, service agreements and policy documents.He acts for a range of clients in the automotive, higher education, manufacturing and supply chain, housing and regeneration and recruitment sectors. He also advises on various contentious and non-contentious matters involving disciplinary, dismissal and grievance issues, employment status issues, holiday pay and corporate transactions. Ali is experienced in contentious employment law and has acted for claimants and respondents in a wide range of cases including advocacy work in the Employment Tribunal. He is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and the Liverpool Law Society and is also the former Chair of the Merseyside Junior Lawyers Division.

Matthew Howarth

Matthew is a commercial litigator and the Practice Group Head for our litigation and regulatory teams. With over 30 years’ experience, Matthew regularly advises on complex, commercial, high-value claims including contractual disputes, warranty claims, pensions disputes and professional negligence claims, where he has substantial experience in advising both corporate and private clients. A member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association, Matthew has acted for a variety of lenders including Paragon Bank PLC, Paragon Development Finance Limited, Shawbrook Bank Limited, Nationwide Building Society and Santander plc in professional negligence claims against solicitors and valuers. His work includes claims about property development schemes, secured lending disputes and residential and buy-to-let mortgages, concluding cases at trial and mediations. He also has significant experience in group actions brought by lender clients and regularly advises at early stages of claims as to the merits and strategies of potential disputes. Matthew has both executed search and seizure orders and defended clients that have been served with them. He has further acted as a court-appointed supervising solicitor on the execution of such orders by other solicitor firms. He has additional significant experience in commercial fraud-related claims, acting for clients in high-value and complex litigation and working closely with our highly skilled corporate defence and compliance team. Matthew joined us in 2023 and is based in our Leeds office.

Danielle Hutchison

Danielle is a Solicitor in our family law team. She advises a wide range of private individuals on all types of family law matters including finances on separation and divorce, child arrangements and urgent protective orders. A Resolution-accredited specialist in private children matters and complex financial remedies, Danielle is particularly experienced in assisting victims of domestic abuse and has a solid background in complex private children litigation relating to welfare issues like domestic abuse, parental alienation and issues of neglect and addiction, as well as relocation both within England and internationally. Patient, understanding and always willing to go above and beyond, Danielle spends time getting to know her clients to ensure that they feel comfortable, supported and trust her with their case. While she approaches matters amicably from the outset, Danielle will always consider the best approach to achieve a client’s desired outcome. As chair of the Leeds Junior Lawyers Division, Danielle’s extensive network enables her to signpost clients to other resources they may find useful — including charities for issues such as mental health and domestic abuse or fellow professionals like financial advisors and mortgage brokers. Danielle started working in family law in 2018 and qualified as a solicitor in September 2022. She has always worked in Yorkshire and prior to joining us in 2024 worked at the UK’s largest specialist family law firm. Danielle is now helping to build our family law team in Leeds — a city that’s very close to her heart. She features on the Pro Bono Recognition List 2025, which recognises lawyers who undertook 25 hours or more of legal pro bono work over the last year. While studying law at Newcastle University, Danielle volunteered for the National Centre for Domestic Abuse helpline and obtained non-molestation orders for victims of domestic abuse. This is when she decided to continue to use her legal knowledge to help and support people through difficult times in their lives.

Kim leads our pensions team as Head of Pensions. She specialises in advising trustees and employers in relation to all aspects of pensions law, including scheme mergers, wind-ups on a solvent and insolvent basis (including dealing with the Pension Protection Fund) and benefit design changes, including the closure of schemes to future accrual. Working closely with our corporate team, Kim advises on the pensions aspects of corporate transactions, including refinancing, restructuring, sales and acquisitions. Kim also has expertise in Small Self-Administered Schemes and Self-Invested Personal Pensions and advises a range of employers across the public sector on the pension implications of outsourcing agreements, the application of TUPE and managing exit debts on cessation of participation. Having spent several years acting on behalf of an independent trustee company, Kim brings further experience in managing both defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes. She regularly advises individuals with pension disputes that are subject to the internal dispute resolution procedure as well as complaints submitted to the Pension Ombudsman. Kim is based in our Leeds office.

Sara is a Partner and Chartered Trade Mark Attorney in our commercial and intellectual property (IP) team. Based out of our Leeds office, Sara leads our IP practice across Yorkshire. She deals with both contractual and litigious IP issues, advising across all areas of IP including trade mark and design right registrations as well as commercial agreements, GDPR compliance, licensing, transactions and dispute management. Sara is also experienced in carrying out due diligence exercises for large international IP portfolios. If you’re looking to buy or sell a brand or patent portfolio, it’s critical to understand its true value and ensure that the proper protections are in place. As well as working in private practice, Sara has worked as in-house counsel for the Pentland Group, dealing with French brands Lacoste, Kickers and Luc Berjen as well as IP disputes for brands including Speedo, Red or Dead and Berghaus. She has also worked for Sports World (now Sports Direct) and Lonsdale London. Working in-house gave Sara first-hand knowledge of when to prioritise commercial issues over legal ones and how IP issues affect businesses in reality. She has built in-depth knowledge across a range of specialist markets and works to maximise the value of IP assets while minimising risks, whether in the UK or internationally. Sara qualified in 1996 while training at a niche London-based IP and litigation firm. She holds the highly regarded postgraduate diploma in intellectual property law and went on to run her own practice, where she was known by her clients as ‘Lightning Ludlam’ for her ability to achieve quick results. Sara joined us in 2023.

David is a Partner in our corporate team. He is an experienced corporate lawyer and handles issues relating to corporate transactions such as acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, MBOs, MBIs, private equity matters, reorganisations, shareholders agreements and share options. David regularly acts for and provides general corporate and business advice to private companies, partnerships, LLPs and other businesses.He also advises charities and social enterprises on governance and constitutional issues, as well as ongoing business matters such as mergers, trading activities and subsidiaries. David has a strong background in non-contentious work and has acted for both public and private companies on various issues for over three decades. He previously served as a Partner at a major national practice before joining us. David’s current clients include Brookes Bell, Roanza, Rathbones, Northern Drives and Controls and the Robert Smith Group. He serves as a trustee for the Manchester United Foundation (which he helped establish in 2007) and until recently was also a trustee of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

Charlotte McRae

Charlotte is a Senior Associate in our regulatory and professional conduct team. She handles issues such as health and safety prosecutions, licensing issues and professional disciplinary matters. Charlotte acts for a range of clients including individuals, SMEs and housing associations.She also advises on firearms licensing appeals as well as criminal matters. Charlotte is experienced in coronial law and has represented a number of clients at inquests in order to protect their interests and helping them avoid or respond to prevention of future death reports.

Andrew O’Mahony

Andrew is a Partner and our Head of Banking and Finance. An experienced corporate lawyer, he advises lenders, corporate borrowers and institutional investors on various aspects of banking and finance work. This includes structured and acquisition finance transactions, real estate finance transactions (both investment and development), bridging (short term) finance transactions and general corporate banking (including refinancings and reorganisations). Andrew has specialist expertise in advising registered housing providers in the social housing sector on their borrowing requirements. He also has a strong track record in private equity transactions and has worked with many investors to ensure that they take a strategic approach to investing in companies during various stages of development. On the lending side, Andrew’s clients include high street clearing banks, alternative and secondary lenders, debt funds and bridging finance providers. On the borrowing side, he advises corporates, registered housing providers and individuals. Known for remaining calm under pressure and his keen eye for the finer details, Andrew is an outstanding project manager with the ability to explain issues in a clear and concise manner. He takes a highly collaborative approach with clients, ensuring that he stays focused on achieving their objectives through regular calls and email updates.

Mairead is a Legal Director in our corporate team. An experienced corporate lawyer, she advises on mergers and acquisitions, shareholder protection, company restructures, exit strategies (including management buy-outs and employee ownership trusts) and advises start-up and scale-up businesses that are looking to grow. Mairead has a niche specialism in the EO (employee ownership) sector and played a key role in developing our EO reputation and client base, which led to us completing our 50th EO transaction in 2024. EOT exits are becoming increasingly popular, with clients looking for experts who possess outstanding levels of experience and technical knowledge. An approachable advisor with a strong commercial outlook, Mairead aligns her clients’ needs with their risk profiles and preferred ways of working to deliver excellent service. She works across corporate transactions of all sizes and complexities on behalf of private companies, SMEs and owner-managed businesses and brings experience in advising clients across the technology and recruitment sectors, with a focus on advanced manufacturing and recruitment technologies. Mairead has advised on various EO transitions on behalf of clients such as Crystal Doors, Granby Marketing Solutions, Day Architectural, AC Plastics, Power Saver Electrical Supplies and Maple Plastics. She has also worked on behalf of the management teams for Inscape Interiors and SEI Group on their MBOs, assisted on recent trade acquisitions for NWF Group Plc and advised the managing director and owner of Marl International on its sale to Glamox. An expert in supporting senior decision makers and businesses through retirement and succession planning, Mairead brings a deep understanding of different exit routes and options. She also assists businesses looking to grow through buy-and-build strategies, helping them to gain new talent or enter new markets while working collaboratively with colleagues to ensure that deals complete efficiently with the right comprehensive support from across our full-service offering. She’s always looking to give back and is an active member of our pro-bono, charity and social mobility committees.

Ross is a Partner in our real estate team. An experienced commercial property lawyer, Ross advises clients on a broad range of highly complex, multifaceted real estate projects, such as levelling up developments, infrastructure projects, shopping centres and brownfield sites. He handles all manner of real estate matters, including investment acquisitions, property management, development, estate work and landlord and tenant matters. A key adviser to our corporate team on the property-related aspects of complex deals and projects, Ross’ ability to resolve complex problems has seen him advise on significant infrastructure projects like the construction of the Ribble Link Canal and A130 as well as levelling up projects such as Eden Project Morecambe and The Strand (Bootle). With a strong background in non-contentious work, Ross specialises in representing clients across the public sector and the retail, sport and financial sectors, including Lancaster City Council, Carole Nash Insurance and the National Football Museum. Many of Ross’ clients have been with him for over 15 years thanks to his high attention to detail, fast response times and practical guidance. Ross joined us in 1990 and previously led our Lancashire team. He now works across the UK with a focus on London.

Tom is a Partner in our litigation team. He also leads our debt recovery practice. An experienced commercial litigator, Tom handles a broad variety of business disputes including cases that involve shareholder and partnership claims as well as contractual disagreements. With oversight of our debt recovery service, Tom is an expert in the effective and efficient recovery of invoice-based debts for our commercial clients. Having worked in debt recovery since 2005, Tom sets the overall approach and strategy of our service, including client relationship management. He understands both the legal and practical challenges that clients face, providing pragmatic advice and representation to maximise their chances of debt recovery. Tom also specialises in insolvency-related work, where he advises both insolvency practitioners and the former directors of insolvent companies. He has a successful track record in bringing and defending claims on behalf of these parties in relation to the duties, conduct and antecedent transactions of directors. With many years of experience in contentious work, Tom is an expert in resolving commercial issues between companies and individuals who have interests in companies or partnerships. In addition, he has a strong track record of advising and representing family and owner-managed businesses, regularly working with such clients on key issues including succession planning and reducing conflict in family enterprises. A key member of our sports law team, Tom covers a wide range of issues from contractual and business sale disputes through to banking litigation, using his experience of the sector to achieve favourable, pragmatic and commercial outcomes. Tom is a member of the Civil Litigation Section of the Law Society. He's also a trustee of a charity that supports the residents of his local village, Croston. Tom joined us in 2019 and is based in our Lancashire office.

Junaid is an Associate in our litigation team. He has developed a strong commercial litigation practice, advising clients across a broad range of complex and high‑value disputes with a particular focus on shareholder disputes, breach of warranty claims, professional negligence, contractual disputes, financial services matters and pension‑related claims. Junaid acts for a diverse client base that includes private equity firms, investment and wealth management companies, property developers and SMEs. He supports clients through all stages of contentious matters — from early strategic advice and dispute avoidance through to litigation and resolution. His work is characterised by a pragmatic, commercially focused approach that ensures legal strategies align with wider business objectives. Alongside his professional practice, Junaid is deeply committed to community, governance and international development work. He serves as a Trustee of The Leeds East Primary Partnership, contributing to strategic oversight and educational outcomes across local schools. He also volunteers to support humanitarian and development projects in Uganda, Jordan and beyond, having helped to raise in excess of £60,000 for initiatives including clean water wells, food distribution, school refurbishments and refugee assistance. He’s also actively engaged in professional development, mentoring and collaborative work within the legal community. Junaid qualified in 2021 and joined us in 2023. He’s based in our Leeds office.

Becky is a Legal Director in our property team. She is an experienced commercial property lawyer who specialises in commercial lease transactions (acting for both landlords and tenants), property acquisitions and disposals (both freehold and leasehold) as well as general portfolio management work. Becky acts for a wide range of clients including household name retailers, large property investment firms, small owner-managed businesses and individual investors.She also advises on renewals and procedures under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. In addition, Becky works with colleagues on various retail and manufacturing-based projects.

Dan is a Partner and leads our corporate defence and compliance team. With over 27 years as a white-collar crime practitioner (having qualified in 1997), he acts for a range of clients including individuals, corporates, partnerships and charities. Over his almost three decades in practice, Dan has vast experience in acting in the full range of criminal and regulatory investigations and prosecutions including those brought by the Serious Fraud Office, Financial Conduct Authority, CPS, HMRC and other regulators including those with parallel regulatory and linked financial, confiscation and restraint matters. In 2015 he became an Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist having been trained by the City of London Police Economic Crime Academy and as such advises organisations and individuals in respect of compliance (including anti-money laundering, bribery and corruption and the Criminal Finances Act 2017) and counter fraud as well as internal investigations. Dan is a member of the Fraud Lawyers Association, Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association and the International Bar Association (Business Crime). He previously secured the first ever acquittal of a Managing Director of a steel tech company prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) for bribery and corruption in the UK’s first prosecution of individuals following the second ever deferred prosecution agreement being reached with the corporate Sarclad Ltd. This case involved an internal investigation conducted by external lawyers instructed by the parent company. Examples of Dan's work include: The SFO investigation into TATA Speciality steels. The SFO investigation into AMEC Foster Wheeler Energy. The SFO case arising from the investigation into the Anglo-American Group. The SFO Miners Compensation Fund investigation. The SFO case arising from the collapse of the menswear group Ciro Citerrio. The SFO investigation involving Lord Davenport and Gresham Ltd. The SFO prosecution of individuals in the Duckers Furniture Ltd asset stripping case. The SFO prosecution involving the collapse and asset stripping of Uno Shopfitting Ltd, Wavetown Ltd and Abbotts Wholesale (Tobacconists and Confectioners) Ltd. The SFO prosecution of individuals in the Prudential Commercial case. Representation of two directors charged with bribery and corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 in respect of matters concerning the London Underground. Dan joined us in 2022. He works with clients across the country.

Nicola is a Partner and Head of Contentious Trusts and Probate. As part of our litigation team, Nicola specialises in disputes relating to wills, inheritance, estates and trusts, as well as financial abuse of the vulnerable and property trust cases. She conducts litigation in the High Court, County Court, Probate Registry and Court of Protection. Nicola is a full member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Solicitors. Nicola has a varied and complex caseload, including: Disputes between beneficiaries and executors/trustees regarding the performance of their duties and the administration of estates or trusts, which may require executors to be replaced or the court’s involvement to resolve an impasse. Challenges and investigations to the validity of a will (including cases that involve undue influence or mental capacity). Claims for provision from estates on behalf of disappointed potential beneficiaries made under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Cases with a business or commercial element, including disputes as to whether business interests and assets fall within an estate. Cases where Probate Registry proceedings can be used as an alternative to expensive litigation, including applications for an inventory and account or to force the production of testamentary documents. Disputes regarding jointly and solely owned property within the context of estate assets, including proprietary estoppel and constructive and/or resulting trusts arguments. Financial abuse cases, representing the most vulnerable people in society, including those who are protected parties and have (or require) an attorney or deputy, including disputes regarding lifetime transactions and/or gifts and the actions of attorneys. Nicola receives most of her instructions through recommendation. She is not only seen as the lawyer of choice by the public in the contentious probate field, but also by fellow lawyers in their own right. Nicola takes the time to deeply understand her clients’ priorities, end goals and the specific approach they would like taken in their case, which helps her to develop bespoke strategies to resolve cases with the best possible outcome. Prior to joining Brabners in September 2023, Nicola worked for two Lancashire-based law firms. After training and qualifying as a solicitor in 2005, Nicola went on to become Head of Civil Litigation before holding the role of Partner and Head of Contentious Probate. She is based in our Lancashire office.

Nikki is a Partner in our corporate team. An experienced corporate and insolvency lawyer, she handles a broad range of corporate transactions (on both a solvent and insolvent basis) including mergers, acquisitions and MBOs. Nikki works with a variety of clients — from SMEs to large corporates — and regularly handles matters relating to owner-managed and family businesses throughout their life-cycles, from the start-up stage right through to eventual exit via trade or private equity sale, management buy-out or sale to an employee ownership trust. She also advises business owners on scaling up by natural expansion, acquisition or private equity investment and assists investors and shareholders to properly protect their investments by preparing and advising on the appropriate agreements that need to be in place — from the pre-investment stage all the way through to handling investor exits. Nikki’s corporate clients include Eventura Limited, Carefoot PLC, Origin Control Panel Solutions Limited, Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses Limited, Wise One UK Limited, Lancashire County Developments Limited, Stanmore Insurance Group and National Westminster Bank PLC. Nikki also sits on the advisory board to Lancashire County Council, where she advises on early-stage investment in the Lancashire market — helping to shape the landscape and create a thriving ecosystem. Taking a highly commercial approach to corporate transactions, Nikki likes to get the job done with an appreciation that both parties have the same end-goal — and that their lawyers should be on-hand to assist in reaching the best possible conclusion, rather than point-scoring. Nikki also likes to give back to her clients, which is why she founded the networking events Business Circle, Business Club and The Care Collective. Having advised financial institutions, company directors and shareholders and acted for insolvency practitioners (both pre- and post-appointment) across the North West, Nikki has a strong background in non-contentious insolvency work. Her insolvency clients include Leonard Curtis Business Solutions Group, RSM Restructuring Advisory LLP, Begbies Traynor Group, FTS Recovery Limited, Paddington Street Limited and Arbuthnot Specialist Finance Limited. Given her experience in acting for accountants, IFAs, solicitors and insurance brokers in the M&A arena, Nikki is a key and founding member of our professional services sector team. Nikki’s accolades include winning the ‘Young Lawyer of the Year’ award at the Insider Young Professionals Awards in 2018 and being named one of the region’s top 25 female entrepreneurs and innovators to watch in 2021 by Lancashire Business View. Nikki qualified as a lawyer in 2008 and joined our Lancashire office in 2016. Hailing from a working-class background, Nikki was the first member of her family to attend university and obtain a degree. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a lawyer and followed this dream, funding her own way through university by working two jobs. Nikki has been a charity trustee for Recycling Lives Charity — a leading national charity that works in offender rehabilitation, homeless support and food redistribution — since February 2020.