Weightmans LLP

Aamir Khan

Principal Associate - Real Estate Manchester and Leeds · Real Estate

Abdul Zaheed

Real Estate

Adam Baker

Adam is an experienced solicitor in the field of aviation litigation. His practice encompasses a broad spectrum of aviation work. Areas of particular interest and specialism include complex Commercial Court claims, General Aviation claims and claims involving a German language element (he originally studied Economics and German at university). Adam holds the following aviation-related qualifications: EASA Fixed Wing Private Pilot Licence EASA Helicopter Private Pilot Licence BHPA Club Pilot Paragliding Licence British Gliding Association Solo Gliding Certificate Ratings completed on fixed-wing aircraft include: Class Rating Flying Instructor (Single Engine Piston aircraft) Night Rating IMC Rating Multi-Engine Rating Aerobatics Rating Seaplane Rating (Canadian) Other courses completed on fixed-wing aircraft include: Complex aircraft conversion course Three axis microlight conversion course Tailwheel conversion course Bush and mountain flying course Farmstrip Flying Course Digital (glass) cockpit conversion training (Garmin 1000) Adam has considerable experience of flying light aircraft in the United Kingdom and the United States, and has also flown in Canada and France. He has logged time on the following aircraft types: Fixed wing Cessna 150, Cessna 152, Cessna 172, Piper PA28-140, Piper PA28-161, Piper PA28-181, Diamond DA40, Piper Arrow, Pitts Special, Piper Cub, Ikarus C42, Grumman GA7 Cougar, Aero AT3 and Jet Provost. Helicopters Guimbal Cabri G2, Robinson R22 and Aerospatiale Gazelle. In order to enhance his knowledge of commercial operations and jet aircraft, he has, in addition, completed the following training: Jet Orientation Course on a Boeing 737-800 simulator 30 hours on a Boeing 737-800 simulator, including simulated Line Orientated Flight Training 7 hours on Airbus A320 simulator, including simulated in-flight emergencies This training is particularly useful in terms of understanding accident reports, evaluating witness evidence, retaining experts, considering expert evidence, briefing Counsel and developing novel aviation-related arguments throughout the life of a case. · Aviation

Adam Skelland

Adam is an experienced solicitor who specialises in defendant credit hire. He joined Weightmans in 2016, following a seven year stint at another leading law firm. Adam has extensive experience in defending personal injury and credit hire claims, claims for credit hire from companies, with particular knowledge and experience in claims for replacement taxis. Adam’s noteworthy cases are Lubhaya v Stanley a case involving estoppel and acceptance of zero offers, and Ali v Bayliss surrounding the correct assessment of damages where the claimant is a taxi company or an individual who operates a fleet of vehicles. · Personal Injury

Adele Shortman

Adele has extensive quality experience advising, training and representing SME and Corporate business’ on employee relations and all ancillary employment law issues. Her expertise and insight allied to her friendly manner fosters a very good rapport with clients, so she quickly grasps their business requirements, values and culture. She focuses on the key issues. She forensically breaks cases down delivering clear and pragmatic solutions tailored to the needs of your business. She acts for a host of loyal manufacturing and retail brands, blue chip companies and SMEs. Her considerable expertise in the manufacturing and retail sectors, includes assisting them with complex change management programmes, advising, supporting and coaching teams of HR Managers in significant restructures with reputational implications for their business whilst enhancing their brand. Adele is an experienced and persuasive advocate in the Employment Tribunal. She has many successful experiences of judicial and private mediation. Adele regularly leads on bespoke training courses delivered in-company where she is an engaging presenter. Highlights include: Successfully advising, proactively supporting and coaching a team of HR Managers in harmonising and changing terms and conditions of employment of 10,000 employees. The international brand increased weekend working to 3 in 4 weekends. Removal of bonus payments and introduction of living wage foundation pay resulting in increased staff at business critical times and reducing the overall wage bill; Advising and supporting and coaching HR in significant restructure to cut 7500 jobs worldwide and 350 jobs in UK with reputational implications for the international brand resulting in a reduction in wage bill; Successfully managing capability termination of long-standing employee with significant mental health illness and numerous suicide attempts, preventing future grievances and significant liability for disability discrimination; Successfully settling multiple lurid allegations of sex discrimination which had the ability to adversely affect the reputation of a national business and saving approx. £85K in damages; Successfully advising and defending unfair dismissal and sex discrimination claims involving a longstanding employee with significant final salary pension loss saving £100k in damages Successfully advising and defended unfair dismissal claim where an employee refused to vary his working hours in accordance with the contractual flexibility clause, claiming the respondent engineered a gross misconduct conduct issue to exit him from the business. Successfully advising and defended a 6-day ET hearing relating to direct race discrimination, racial harassment and victimisation. The employee had put in a flexible working request (FWR) seeking to deviate from the hybrid working to fully remote. The employee alleged that the failure to grant the FWR was because he was a British Asian and/or that he had previously given evidence in another employee’s race discrimination case, and he had been stopped from attending management meetings. Advising on a redundancy. The HR1 was issued for a 45-day consultation with over 100 employees across the shop floor to be subject to a selection criterion devised for the exercise. Advising on the performance related exit of an employee with ADHD and depression. Recent testimonials: David Richardson - Business Segment :Systems and System Components – Indutrade - ‘We have worked closely with Adele and Weightmans for many years, always with the same great support. Adele works to give sound advice and help to resolve complex issues always giving clear advice. Adele has a great ability to listen to business difficulties to help form strategies to address issues - always with a successful outcome. I am happy to speak individually if that's helpful.’ Chris Partington Beldam Crossley Limited - Indutrade - ‘Adele Shortman and the HR rely team are first class, responding to all our HR needs and requirements, with plain English easy to understand advice, support and recommendations. We have no hesitation in recommending Weightmans to other potential clients as well as utilising additional legal services on offer such as; commercial, property, pensions and intellectual property to name a few. I fully endorse and recommend Weightmans, it’s no surprise I have Adele on speed dial!’ Carole Anderton, HR & SCM Manager, ContiTech UK Ltd Continental AG - ‘However complex a situation I find myself in as a HR Manager, Adele methodically unravels the scenario through thorough questioning and then provides pragmatic tailored guidance in the form of either written or verbal advice. To ensure my understanding and ability to apply the advice provided, Adele includes explanations of the legislation and cases that she has used to formulate the solution and provides templates and other documentation where required. In addition, Adele is proactive in keeping me up to date with any legislative changes that are applicable to our sector of manufacturing, sales and distribution plus any generic changes. I feel as though Adele is part of our business and understands our culture and most definitely works collaboratively with us to limit risks and create best practices.’ · Employment

Adrian Marston

Partner - Casualty Commercial 3 · Personal Injury

Aidan Thomson

Partner - Regulatory Core · Environmental

Alain Orengo

Consultant • Specialty 1 · Professional Negligence

Alan Meneghetti

Alan is a partner in the Corporate department at RadcliffesLeBrasseur UK LLP, where he undertakes a full range of privacy, commercial and regulatory work in the general commercial, aviation and manufacturing sectors. The main focus of his practice is privacy and regulatory work, and commercial contract negotiations. Alan’s practice ranges from handling regulatory issues to the procurement of suppliers and responses to tenders, to data protection and privacy, information technology, intellectual property, and the drafting and negotiating of various commercial agreements, such as outsourcing, supply, service, and research and development. He has worked extensively on matters in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the United Kingdom. Alan is a regular contributor to publications and speaker at conferences in these sectors, and his articles and book reviews have been widely published. · Privacy & Data Protection

Alan Ross

Partner - Planning and Construction · Construction

Alex Leslie

Alex is a Partner in the Healthcare team. He has more than 30 years’ experience in health related law acting for NHS and private healthcare providers. Alex’s principal area of work is advising professionals working in the NHS on regulatory, disciplinary, employment and ethical issues. Alex has advised participants in major public inquiries and acted in many high profile cases, including: R(Squier) v General Medical Council (GMC), Chhabra v West London MH NHS Trust, Lewis v Secretary of State for Health, R(Bonhoeffer) v General Medical Council (GMC), and Re C. Alex publishes articles and gives seminars. · Healthcare

Alex Marler

Alex defends professionals facing negligence claims, chiefly in the construction sector, including engineers, architects, design-and-build contractors and surveyors. Alex is skilled in analysing the legal and practical issues in a claim, and gathering and deploying the evidence and arguments in his client’s favour. This has helped many clients walk away from trial with the claims against them dismissed, and brought many more to successful negotiated conclusion where that is the best outcome. Alex also specialises in insurance coverage disputes, dealing with issues such as fair presentation, breaches of policy conditions, the effect of exclusions, aggregation and double-insurance. A current highlight is a matter in which the Court of Appeal is set to determine a point of law regarding limitation in Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010 claims. The outcome will be of some significance to all liability insurers, and those seeking to bring claims against them. Alex is recognised by clients for his technical ability, innovation, clarity and pragmatism. · Professional Negligence

Alexandra Johnstone

Partner - Regulatory Healthcare Advisor · Healthcare

Alison Brennan

Alison is an Associate in the Liverpool healthcare team and qualified as a solicitor in 2010, joining Weightmans in 2012 and has dealt with clinical negligence claims across several specialist fields along with secondments to NHS Resolution. Alison deals with a range of complex high value and sensitive claims, including addressing complex clinical issues in cases relating to spinal injuries, paediatrics, orthopaedic and gynaecology including baby deaths. In addition, her caseload includes high-value cases in spinal injury and stroke medicine, along with sensitive psychiatric and suicide claims. Alison has a background in the health service as a nurse holding a dual qualification in paediatric and adult nursing. She has worked at a senior nursing level and therefore has significant knowledge and insight into the demands on the health service, along with a particular focus on clinical governance and patient safety. Alison remains committed to patient safety and continues to work with trusts, clinicians and teams to learn from and address patient safety issues through presentations and discussing specific topics, along with organising large events on this subject. She is also regularly instructed to assist trusts with complex complaints and serious incident investigations, taking a thorough, open and transparent approach in the way that she works with clinicians and liaising with families including other stakeholders. · Healthcare

Alistair Hewitt

Partner - Regulatory Healthcare Professional Discipline · Healthcare

Amal Dhesi

Partner - Real Estate Manchester and Leeds · Real Estate

Amal Kaur

Real Estate Manchester and Leeds · Real Estate

Amy Nesbitt

Before joining Weightmans, Amy practised for a number of years at the independent bar in London as a member of a leading set of barristers’ chambers. She specialises in professional liability, insurance coverage and cyber. Amy acts for all manner of professionals including surveyors, construction professionals, solicitors, accountants, IT consultants and agronomists. In 2018, she successfully represented an electrical contractor in Hiscox Insurance Company Ltd v (1) Quendon Interiors Ltd (2) Mr Ismail Oral (T/A Precious Marble) (3) T P & N Electrical Contractors [2018] EWHC 3585 (TCC) and she is currently instructed to act in connection with the Pyrite class actions in Eire. Her insurance coverage experience spans multiple classes of business, including cyber, professional indemnity (particularly engineering and construction risks), public liability and product liability. She has advised on all aspects of insurance law including validity of notifications (including block notifications), breach of the duty of fair presentation, breach of policy terms and conditions and the application of the Insurance Act 2015, fraudulent claims and waiver and estoppel issues; and is regularly instructed to act on behalf of insurers in related complex and high-value coverage disputes, including in respect of post-Grenfell cladding notification issues. Amy regularly acts as coverage and monitoring counsel under cyber insurance policies. She is a key member of the Weightmans CyXcel team - a unique multidisciplinary service from Weightmans which was launched in 2018 and provides comprehensive advice and solutions for digital and data resilience, incident planning, crisis management and response - and is a regular speaker and author on cyber and data protection risk issues. She is an advocacy tutor, deputy chair of FOIL’s Technology & Cyber Liabilities Sector Focus Team and a regular spokesperson on the impact of technology on professional indemnity and liability. · Insurance

Andrea Cohen

Andrea joined Weightmans in March 2018 and is a Legal Director in the Compli team, Weightmans' bespoke regulatory consultancy service for the legal sector, advising on all aspects of regulation, compliance, risk management, disciplinary matters, including SRA investigations and defence work for solicitors before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, claims and complaints handling. Andrea also delivers training on a wide range of areas, most recently on AML, professional ethics and regulatory obligations, and regularly speaks at both national and local Law Society conferences Andrea qualified as a solicitor in 1988 and specialised in commercial litigation, with a particular focus on professional negligence claims. She is a founder member and Chief Executive of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association (PNLA). In 2006, Andrea moved into the management team of a Top 100 law firm, developing a niche expertise in risk and compliance. Following five years in her own risk and compliance business, and Head of Risk and Compliance and Training Principal at a law firm, she moved to Weightmans, where she continues to advise clients on a range of issues from setting up new law firms, retainers, policies and procedures, AML obligations and concerns and carrying out independent AML audits, to disciplinary investigations. Andrea acts for solicitors, including partners, employees and entities, from sole practitioners to ABSs. One client wrote to our managing partner to say, ‘Andrea has a professional, engaging manner and she provided high quality advice and documents backed up by an understanding of what the regulator would require… she has been an outstanding support to my business, and I shall not hesitate to work with her again.’ In addition to her role at the PNLA, Andrea is a member of The Law Society Regulatory Processes Committee, the Manchester Law Society Regulatory Affairs Committee and COLP and COFA Forum, and the Editorial Board of the Journal of Professional Negligence. She has a monthly column in a number of Law Society publications and is a contributor to Practical Law. · Regulatory & Compliance

Andrea Steventon

Andrea advises on all aspects of commercial real estate law, acting for owners, investors and developers who range from multi-nationals to smaller regional businesses. A large number of her clients are from the manufacturing and industrial sector. She specialises in providing advice on multi-million pound acquisitions, disposals and development agreements for clients in both the public and private sector. · Real Estate

Andrew Brammer

Andrew Brammer joined Weightmans in April 2019, to become the Lead lawyer in the Midlands Regulatory Team. Since qualifying in 1996, he has developed an enviable reputation as a specialist Regulatory lawyer.Working for national and international organisations across multiple sectors, Andrew’s practice focuses on protecting businesses and key decision makers during criminal investigations and prosecutions. He has defended hundreds of clients against regulatory bodies like the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency and Local Authority Trading Standards teams. His polished but practical style enables him to advise at all levels and he has been described as "highly experienced and impressively robust" and is known for his "tactical astuteness" and "excellent attention to detail".Drawing on his knowledge and experience, clients regularly call upon Andrew to offer in-house training and compliance management support.Andrew’s expertise in contentious health and safety and environmental law has been recognised by legal directories for over a decade and he is cited as being a "Leading Individual" by the Legal 500 for his health and safety work. · Regulatory

Andrew Clarke

Andrew is Regional Office Head of the Leicester office and a partner in the Local Government team based in our Leicester office. He acts for a large number of local authorities, police and fire services, housing providers and education establishments across the country in relation to a wide range of issues. Andrew specialises in complex, high value, multi-party litigation and has significant experience of stress, bullying, assault and harassment claims. He leads the Environmental Technical Claims Unit dealing with flooding, subsidence, tree falls, invasive species and highway winter-maintenance claims. He is also regularly instructed in relation to data loss and information management as well as social care and abuse claims. Andrew acted for the Defendant in an undercover police officer stress case - AB v Chief Constable of X Constabulary [2015] EWHC 13, and for the local authority in a case involving illegal accessing of social services information - Ali v Luton Borough Council [2022] EWHC 132 (QB). He regularly delivers bespoke training at national and regional level. · Local Government

Andrew Cooper

Claims Management

Andrew Cromby

Andrew has over 30 years' experience in commercial litigation and dispute resolution including High Court proceedings, injunctions, domestic and international arbitrations and mediation. He acts for UK and international clients on a broad range of commercial and contractual matters including shareholder and joint venture disputes, breaches of contract and warranty claims, the enforcement of contractual obligations, maintaining confidentiality and terminating commercial relationships. Andrew is an accredited Mediator and has been described in leading independent directory Chambers UK as someone with the “ability to steer a clear, sensible course through very troubled waters.” He has a particular expertise in partnership disputes and acts for Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) and professional partnerships (solicitors, accountants, financial services businesses, doctors and dentists) as well as for outgoing partners on individual and team moves. He also specialises in enforcing and resisting restrictive covenants and advising partnership management on constitutional and management issues and procedures. Andrew has been ranked for more than two decades as a leader in the field of partnership law in independent directories Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 · Litigation

Andrew Forrest

Andrew is a Fellow of the CIPD and has a masters’ degree in Human resource management and industrial relations. His experience covers both the public and private sectors and includes: Tribunal advocacy, consulting and negotiating with trade unions, training, mediation, seminar presentations and advising on employment law. Andrew joined Weightmans in October 2010 from EEF (now Make UK) where he was the HR and legal leader for the Midlands. · Employment

Andrew Krausz

Andrew is recognised as a leading practitioner in the Who's Who Legal, specialising in aviation litigation work and handling a broad spectrum of aviation related claims (including coverage), both in the UK and worldwide. With a passion for all things aviation and with a proven track record in the Courts as a "formidable litigator" and a tenacious problem solver, he has a particular interest in defending claims, typically those made against pilots and both GA and Airline operators. Having graduated from the University of St Andrews and completed his legal training at the College of Law in York, he worked as Assistant to the Group Lawyer in the Legal Department of Monarch Airlines. Andrew then trained at Beaumont and Son and spent 13 and a half years in the Aviation Department at Clyde and Co. Andrew has a broad practice which has typically included carrier/operator liability work (including major loss handling worldwide); product liability disputes; coroners' inquests; insurance coverage; and contractual and general commercial disputes. He has also assisted more broadly with regulatory and commercial issues. Andrew is a qualified, current pilot with night rating. He also held a commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training) Branch, for many years, where he had the opportunity to fly a wide variety of aircraft including piston and turbo-prop trainers, fast jets, helicopters and multi-engine types. Experience Indicative experience includes: Rogers' v Hoyle and Ors (High Court and Court of Appeal) - Tiger Moth, G-AOIL accident, Dorset. R v Hoyle – Tiger Moth, G-AOIL accident, Dorset – assisting successful Criminal Defence of pilot to Manslaughter and Endangering the Safety of an Aircraft. Allied Air accident, Ghana (Cargo Aircraft B-727 - Major Loss). Weal and Ors v Flying Time Ltd and Ors (High Court) – Defending claims in collision between two aircraft Vans RV-6 G-RVGC and Diamond DA40 G-CEZR at Shoreham Airport. Various pilot estate and ground claims (TCC, High Court and County Court)– Engine failure and crash of Piper Tomahawk G-RVRK into residential area of Eccles, Cheshire. Leicester Airport mid-air collision between Pitts G-IICI and Luscombe G-BVXS aircraft. Various claims in PFG Tripacer G-ARHN accident, Southampton. Various claims in Gazelle, G-WDEV crash, Salisbury. Cemair accident, Democratic Republic of Congo - Reinsurance and various multi-jurisdictional claims including Forum Non-Conveniens. Muirhead and McCready v FB Heliservices and Ministry of Defence. Complex claim involving collision of two Squirrel helicopters at Ternhill. Major loss of Challenger Business Jet, D-ARWE Almaty, Kazakhstan. Dealing with multi-jurisdictional claims and complex s.76B issues. G-STYX microlight accident, Isle of Sheppey. Representing deceased pilot interests in catastrophic technical failure case. Sims v Carruthers and Ors [2013]. Successfully defending microlight school. Stisted and Ors v Smith, Wooldridge and Ors. Helicopter Major Loss N-2NR . Dealing with certain coverage issues. Evans v Pascall and Blaver-Mann. Helicopter Major Loss G-WOOW . Dealing with certain coverage issues. John Abrahm v British International Helicopters Limited [2013] – Scotland. Successful strike out for want of prosecution. Beechview Aviation Limited v AXA Insurance Limited [2016] (successful subrogated claim in the High Court in Northern Ireland) Complex engineering dispute involving a business jet - ongoing litigation in Nigeria Numerous cases successfully defended at Trial in the County Courts for airlines with defences under the Montreal Convention (and dealing with other regulations such as EC261/2004). Examples include: James Brown v Monarch Airlines Limited [2014] Phyllis Hutchison v Thomas Cook Airlines Limited and Thomas Cook Tour Operations Limited [2013] – Scotland Christine Buckley v Monarch Airlines Limited - [2012] Jacqueline Foster v Thomas Cook Group PLC - [2011] Keith Barraclough v Thomas Cook Airlines Limited - [2010] Mohammed Hanif v Pakistan International Airlines Corp - [2009] Successfully defending insurers in various fraudulent aircraft damage cases. Experience of successfully defending a wide range of hot air balloon, microlight, fixed and rotary light aircraft, ground, business jet, airliner and military claims including defending the Red Arrows. Andrew regularly presents in a number of industry forums · Aviation

Andrew MacLeod

Partner • Specialty 3

Andrew Parsons

Andrew specialises in medical law and all areas of health and social care law. He acts for a large number of private sector healthcare providers, care home operators and the NHS. Andrew regularly advises on care home law, mental health law, public law and judicial review and all operational legal issues that affect health and social care providers. He has been involved in many important mental health cases in recent years and is seen as a leading practitioner in this field. Andrew has extensive advocacy experience, including attending inquests on behalf of healthcare clients, and has significant experience in the Court of Protection. Andrew acts as an adviser on regulatory matters involving the CQC and the HSE/police. Andrew is a regular lecturer and contributor of articles to the health and legal press. He provides an educational programme to clients and others in the healthcare sector, especially relating to mental health, care homes and human rights. · Medical Law

Andrew Roberts

Andrew is a Partner in the Litigation team at Weightmans and has well over 30 years' experience of handling and resolving commercial disputes and litigation, all of which has been gained at leading national and global law firms in the UK. In recent years, Andrew has led work on a number of significant and complex cases proceeding in the Commercial Court, Mercantile Court and Court of Appeal. Andrew's specialist areas of practice within commercial litigation include: advising in relation to contract disputes (including contract interpretation, enforcement and termination) warranty claims arising from the sale and purchase of companies shareholder disputes (including claims of unfair prejudice) intellectual property matters (including breach of copyright, trademark infringement and passing off) defamation IT disputes including contracts for the supply of software franchising disputes (including those involving international franchisors) joint venture disputes the enforcement of restrictive covenants and the protection of confidential information advising on claims for compensation by commercial agents procurement disputes He is experienced in managing electronic disclosure in litigation proceedings and in advising clients on appropriate and cost-effective strategies for dealing with electronic disclosure. Andrew has helped numerous clients to settle their disputes either before or during litigation by way of Alternative Dispute Resolution and in particular by way of mediation. He is also National Sector Lead for Manufacturing at Weightmans and a member of the firm's Education Sector group acting as lead Partner for Further Education. Andrew acts for a broad range of clients ranging from large corporates, owner-managed businesses and private individuals as well as universities, further education colleges, local authorities and charities. Prior to joining Weightmans in December 2013, Andrew spent over 20 years at DLA Piper in Liverpool where he had been a Partner since 2007. He is a member of the Society for Computers and Law. · Commercial Litigation

Andrew Steel

Partner - Casualty Police Claims · Casualty

Andrew Warren

Andrew specialises in commercial real estate transactions across a range of classes of property including the office, retail, leisure and industrial sectors for investors occupiers and funders and has over 30 years of experience operating in those sectors. Andrew acts for a number of high profile clients and regularly advises on the Scottish property aspects of cross-border transactions. A selection of notable transactions and matters in which Andrew has been involved are as follows: The Scottish property aspects of the outsourcing of property estate of the Inland Revenue to Mapeley (a Soros/Delancey backed investment vehicle) with a global transactional value of circa £2 billion; The multi-million pound acquisition and subsequent disposal of Cameron Toll Shopping Centre, Edinburgh for a private Irish Investor; The relocation of AMF Bowling to premises at Springfield Quay, Glasgow; The restructuring of the Scottish property portfolio of Little Chef; The property aspects of the Administration of Gretna Football Club; The acquisition of properties in Glasgow and Edinburgh for student accommodation for an offshore fund at a value of circa £30 million; The management and leasing work for Landmark Space Limited (formerly I2 Office Limited) in Scotland; The Scottish property aspects of the refinancing of the student accommodation property portfolio of an offshore fund with a global value exceeding £100 million; Acting for a BVI offshore entity in the acquisition of a Holiday Inn Express branded hotel in Edinburgh from an Administrator for circa £17 million; Acting for a major cinema operator in negotiating an Agreement for Lease and taking a lease as part of a redevelopment of a city centre shopping centre in Glasgow; Acting for a US Funder in agreeing security documentation for provision of funding to the purchaser of a major PRS Scheme at Fountainbridge Edinburgh; Acting for a US Funder in agreeing security documentation for provision of funding to the developer of a speculative build office building in Glasgow; The property aspects of the acquisition of Hillington Industrial Estate Glasgow for a Singaporean investor as part of a cross-border deal with a global value in excess of £650 million; Acting for a UK operator in the acquisition of a riverfront site in Glasgow for development of a hotel; The management and leasing work for Thorntons Limited in Scotland. In his leisure time, Andrew enjoys playing golf and is a member of his local club at Caudwell near Glasgow and also of The St Andrews Golf Club in St Andrews. · Real Estate

Andy Griffiths

As Business Change, Knowledge & Market Affairs Director, Andy is responsible for the overall delivery of business change at Weightmans, together with our knowledge management and providing market affairs insight for clients. He leads three teams. One consisting of project managers and business analysts engaged on a variety of projects throughout the firm. Another consisting of professional support lawyers focussed on embedding a knowledge sharing culture that contributes to the success of our clients, our business and our people. And also a team of market affairs specialists dedicated to horizon scanning and thought leadership. Andy and his department are continually and actively looking for ways to enhance the client experience - always seeking to add value and deliver tangible benefits. Andy is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Lean Six Sigma methodology is just one of the approaches used by the Projects team when seeking to review and re-engineer processes. Looking at everything we do, how we do it and how it can be improved. Andy oversees consistent and effective project management nationally and is a certified AgilePM practitioner. He also forms part of the operations board responsible for portfolio management of projects and priorities. As a qualified solicitor, Andy has, in the past, acted for a number of local authorities specialising in the defence of public and employers' liability claims. He also has experience of operations management and team management during his time at Weightmans which is used to good effect in his current role. Andy joined the firm as a trainee in 2001, qualified in 2003 and became a partner in 2009. Andy splits his time between our Liverpool and Birmingham offices. · Business Change

Angela Gregson

Partner - Corporate · Competition Law

Angela Kirtley

Partner - Healthcare Newcastle & Leeds · Healthcare

Anil Rajani

Anil is a Partner in the Commercial Litigation department, with extensive experience dealing with individuals and organisations in relation to corporate fraud, white collar crime and regulatory matters. Anil represents individuals and corporate bodies facing regulatory and investigatory action from the FCA, OFT, HSE, Environment Agency, Department of BIS, RICS, ACCA and others. He is a specialist in confiscation and restraint proceedings and representing individuals and third party interests under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (PoCA). Anil advises corporate clients in relation to internal investigations and proceedings instituted by regulatory or prosecuting bodies including the SFO, CPS and HMRC. He has experience in dealing with matters from Magistrates Courts through to the Supreme Court. Anil has commented on and written articles about white collar crime and the impact on professionals and corporates and has been interviewed by the media on a number of occasions. · Commercial / Litigation

Anna Naylor

Anna is a regulatory defence lawyer specialising in advising organisations on health and safety, food safety, coroners’ inquests and Public Inquiries. She assists clients who are being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive, Local Authorities, Environment Agency and Police following serious incidents. She represents companies in enforcement notice appeals, fee for intervention disputes and prosecutions of companies and individuals for a range of regulatory offences. Anna also provides advice and support for directors and senior managers on regulatory compliance. Anna assists clients in getting to grips with forthcoming changes to legislation and provides training on a wide variety of health and safety, food safety and inquest related topics. Anna undertakes advocacy on behalf of defendants charged with regulatory offences in the criminal courts and a large part of her practice involves acting for Interested Persons at Inquests. Her inquest experience spans workplace fatalities, prison deaths, motor incidents and healthcare matters. She is described by the directories as having great experience and being tireless in her determination to achieve results for her clients. Anna is also recognised by Legal 500 for being 'patient, industrious and very hard working'. Anna qualified as a lawyer in 2003 and joined the regulatory team at Weightmans in 2019. · Regulatory / Compliance

Anne Green

Partner - Regulatory Healthcare Professional Discipline · Healthcare Regulation

Anne-Marie Barnes

Anne-Marie is a Principal Associate in the Corporate department, based in the Manchester office. Anne-Marie joined Weightmans in 2018 and has over 8 years of experience advising on corporate law matters. Anne-Marie specialises in a range of corporate work; including share sales, mergers and acquisitions, group reorganisations, de-mergers, joint ventures, equity investment, shareholders' agreements, PSC requirements, asset sales, partnership agreements and general company law advice. Anne-Marie has acted for a variety of clients including owner managed businesses, national and international corporate clients, GP and dental practices, pharmacies and institutional investors. · Corporate / M&A

Anne-Marie Knight

Partner - Specialty Core · Professional Indemnity

Anthony Howarth

Anthony a Chartered Legal Executive (FCILEx) and joined Weightmans in June 2016. He is a is a Principal Associate in the Real Estate Team and has gathered over 25 years of residential conveyancing experience in the Yorkshire Region. He takes a particular interest in technological and legal developments in relation to conveyancing practice. In addition to a varied caseload of private client files, Anthony has also recently been engaged in the purchase of a portfolio of properties for the London Borough of Newham and acts for a range of other public and charity sector clients. · Real Estate

Anthony Rance

Anthony is a commercial litigator who is also part of CyXcel, Weightmans’ multi-disciplinary team specialising in cyber risk, crisis, incident response and litigation. Anthony’s commercial litigation practice sees him advise on a broad range of disputes across a variety of sectors. He is regularly instructed to act on disputes arising out of commercial contracts, distressed IT and outsourcing projects, financial disputes, shareholder disputes, cases involving the misuse of confidential information, restraint of trade disputes and also negligence claims, including professional negligence. He has been involved in many high value and complex commercial cases, several of which have involved reported decisions. As part of Weightmans CyXcel team, Anthony also has substantial experience of assisting clients with data breach and cyber incidents, as well as cyber-related disputes. Anthony is also highly experienced in alternative dispute resolution and has represented clients at numerous successful mediations and other forms of structured settlement negotiations. · Commercial Litigation

Anthony Sullivan

Anthony is a Legal Director in the Large Loss and Technical Claims team of Weightmans. He qualified as a solicitor in 1991 and, after many years advising and representing Claimants, he joined Weightmans in 2006. Anthony now specialises in defending civil claims for compensation against various insurance companies, brought by or on behalf of Claimants who have suffered catastrophic personal injuries of the utmost severity. Anthony deals with a broad spectrum of claims, including those for serious traumatic brain injuries for adults and children, spinal injuries (including tetra and paraplegia), amputations and chronic pain. The areas of law he covers are road traffic accident, employers’ liability, public liability, occupiers’ liability and product liability. His work includes dealing with complex liability, technical, and indemnity issues. He is also experienced in dealing with public funding issues, reverse indemnities, in-out Deputyships and periodical payments orders. The claims he currently deals with have gross reserves up to c£30million each. He is an experienced advocate and regularly conducts hearings in both the County and High Court. He has also dealt with cases which have reached both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Anthony was previously a Team Manager with responsibility for managing 13 catastrophic injury case handlers and their associated secretaries and administration assistants. In that role he dealt with budgeting, recruitment, MI, ensuring that the whole team provided an excellent service to clients, financial hygiene and many other issues. · Personal Injury

Antony Ball

Partner - family · Family

Arvinder Shergill

Arvinder is a Principal Associate specialising in high value property damage claims, including subrogated recoveries and professional indemnity claims. Her experience includes a broad spectrum of claims arising from fires, floods, subsidence, design and construction defects, loss and expense, delay and final account. Arvinder has experience at all stages of the pre-action process and throughout litigation, as well as, mediations and without prejudice meetings. Arvinder enjoys focusing on the commercial aspects of disputes and has experience in advising on strategies for managing risk in light of both legal and commercial considerations. Arvinder has spent time on secondment at two insurers, the NHBC and as Legal Counsel in-house at a top 10 accountancy firm · Litigation

Asad Hadadi

Local Government

Asema Natha

Asema is a Principal Associate in the Local Government team based in our Leicester office. Since qualifying as a solicitor 19 years ago, Asema has focused on delivering support to local authority clients. She joined Weightmans 17 years ago. Asema is regularly instructed in relation to flooding, subsidence and highway winter maintenance claims. She is also regularly instructed in relation to data loss and information management claims. Asema is also vastly experienced in advising clients in claims concerning public liability. This specialist support often includes complex, high value, multi-party litigation and Asema has significant experience of defending public liability claims on behalf of local authorities, education establishments and housing providers in relation to a wide range of issues. Her vast experience includes multi-party litigation arising out of newly designed shared space schemes, multi-party complex litigation arising out of a flooding incident affecting 33 properties. Reported cases include: Asema represented the Defendants in McDonald v Leicester City Council [2007], a highway winter maintenance claim. Asema assisted in defending the claim brought against the local authority in Ali v Luton Borough Council [2022} EWHC 132, a vicarious liability case related to unlawful accessing of information. · Local Government

Basiru Terry

Basiru is an Associate in the Large Loss department, based in the London office. Basiru joined Weightmans in 2015 and initially worked successfully within the Disease department (handling claims including mesothelioma, HAVS/VWF, NIHL) before moving to Large Loss in May 2020. Basiru has extensive experience in defending motor, public and employers' liability claims on behalf of UK insurers and local authorities. Basiru is also adept at defending claims that involve fraud. Basiru specialises in catastrophic personal injury cases including severe brain injury, spinal injury, amputation and fatal accident claims. Basiru is also the Weightmans lead on BAME-related issues, supporting and promoting BAME agendas and initiatives firm wide. · Personal Injury

Becki Smith

Becki is an Associate in our family team. Becki assists clients with all aspects of family law including divorce and separation, financial remedies, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, variation of maintenance, cohabitee disputes, injunctions, and private children law. Becki trained as a Solicitor at Weightmans and qualified in 2020, with over 6 years’ litigation experience prior to qualification. Becki is an active member of Resolution and sits on the Merseyside Resolution Committee. Becki is part of the winning team named Family Law Firm of the Year at the LexisNexis Family Law Awards. · Family / Matrimonial

Becky Baty

Becky qualified in 2000 and joined Weightmans in 2001 working in the large loss and catastrophic team. She is currently an associate in the motor team specialising in defending civil claims for compensation against insurance companies and handles claims up the value of £500k. · Motor

Belinda Moore

Belinda qualified as a solicitor in 1998 following a career in senior management in the public sector. She acts for police forces and public authorities in defence of civil claims in particular misfeasance cases. Belinda has developed a specialism in applications arising out of legislation aimed at targeting anti social behaviour. This includes applications for ASBOs, crack house closures, football banning orders, sexual offences prevention orders and cash seizures and forfeiture. She has lectured extensively on these areas of law and has provided training in house for the police service. · Civil Litigation

Belinda Normandale

Personal Injury

Ben Daniel

Ben is head of service delivery for the employment, pensions and immigration team at Weightmans. Formerly a partner with Ford & Warren solicitors, Ben deals with all areas of employment law for a wide variety of clients in both public and private sectors. Ben is an advocate, regularly appearing in multi-day Employment Tribunal Hearings, and also conducts the advocacy in appeal cases at the Employment Appeal Tribunal. He has specialist knowledge from 20 years' experience in the transport sector, including road haulage, rail and bus passenger transport. He is particularly involved in the management of industrial disputes with clients across the transport sector. Ben also leads client management development seminars in the field of employee relations with the emphasis placed upon 'the right to manage'. · Employment

Ben Mackenzie

Partner • Property Litigation Birmingham, Leeds & Manchester · Property Litigation

Ben Troke

Partner - Regulatory Healthcare Advisory · Healthcare

Benjamin Davies

Partner - Insolvency and Recoveries · Insolvency

Bill Molloy

Partner • Litigation National · Litigation

Blaise Smith

Blaise is a partner in Weightmans' large loss team in Leeds. He handles catastrophic injury and major property damage claims for insurers. He has 42 years' experience in all aspects of personal injury and insurance litigation. He has particular experience in head and spinal injury claims, fatal accidents and policy disputes and fire claims. Blaise was a Medical Working Party member for the IUA UK Bodily Injury Awards Study (2003). Blaise has handled fatal and catastrophic injury claims arising not only from accidents on the road, in the workplace and from defective premises and products, but also from hot air ballooning, gliding, paragliding, horse riding, a miniature train ride and 'welly-wanging'. He also handled multi-party litigation arising out of the Bradford fire, the loss of the Herald of Free Enterprise, the Hillsborough stadium disaster, the Myodil pharmaceutical claims and the Dingle Tunnel collapse. Other notable cases include litigation arising out of the finding of the Middleham Jewel and the fire which destroyed the Football Association’s former headquarters at Lancaster Gate. Other fire claims include sauna, gym, school, restaurant, supermarket, home and factory fires. Reported cases include: Alcock v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police [1992] 1 A.C 310 (liability for psychiatric injury) Crabtree v Wilson [1993] PIQR Q24, CA (assessing damages for dependency); and Blair-Ford v CRS Adventures [2012] EWHC 2360 (QB) (risk assessment, foreseeability, Compensation Act, section 1) Thewlis v Groupama [2012] EWHC 3 (TCC) ( CPR part 36) Whitehead v Bruce and others [2013] EWCA Civ 229 ( RTA apportionment of liability; Court of Appeal) · Personal Injury

Bob Granger

Bob joined the firm in 2017 as Group Finance Director, following 13 years as Finance and Retail director at Lakeland based in Windermere. As FD Bob was instrumental in the transformation of Lakeland into a digitally focused and international business. During his ten years as retail director, he had line responsibility for 68 stores and 1200 colleagues, and the team were consistently recognised by customers as one of the leading UK brands for customer service. Bob's career spans retail, technology, hospitality and professional services. Whilst at Vodafone Bob held roles in Group Finance and ultimately as the head of finance in the UK technology division, where the business spent over £1bn p.a. building and operating the UK mobile network. At PWC Bob qualified as a chartered accountant and spent two years as audit manager, gaining exposure to a range of audit, corporate finance and tax assignments. His appointment at Weightmans is his first in the legal sector, and his 25 years experience in a wide variety of other businesses bring a fresh and commercial perspective to the firm. People, values and winning through effective teamwork are of fundamental importance to Bob's approach.

Bob Hetherington

Bob joined Weightmans in 1994 and has been a partner since 2004. He specialised in litigation for local government clients and was Head of Local Government Litigation before becoming Head of Management Information in 2010. He is responsible for the provision of Business Intelligence and Management Information to the firm’s clients. This incorporates liaison with clients on market analysis, the provision of key performance statistics, risk management and advice around data management and delivery. Bob’s role also covers the production of internal management reports to enable strategic business and planning decisions and performance reports to ensure the quality and consistency of our client services. Bob has a MBA in Legal Practice Management from Nottingham Trent University · Litigation

Brian Collins

Brian is part of the niche costs team responsible for providing a costs service that combines technical excellence with a commercial approach, together with training that can lead to continuous improvement. He is an expert in advocacy and costs control during litigation including budgeting and case management. Brian qualified as a costs lawyer in 2007 giving him rights of audience and authority to conduct costs litigation. Although costs lawyer qualification was only given regulated professional body status in 2007, Brian has 37 years' experience in costs litigation and was a Fellow of the Association of Law Costs Draftsman (now the Association of Costs Lawyers). · Litigation