GUILDFORD CHAMBERS - Key Persons
Christian Mitchell has extensive experience in both public and private aspects of Children Act work, ancillary relief and acts regularly for parents in local authority care proceedings.
Job Titles:
- Head of Chambers
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
George Coates specialises in financial remedies in divorce proceedings and related family financial disputes. He deals with cases involving substantial assets; valuation of businesses and minority shareholdings in private companies; partnerships and LLP's; family trusts; pensions; undisclosed assets and conduct (eg serious violence or dissipation of assets).
Deals with disputes over company valuations and has a good working relationship with several forensic accountants to assist him on more thorny issues, whether as shadow or expert witnesses. He is well acquainted with the need to consider all the possible options when the Court is dealing with illiquid assets and to find a commercial solution: see his article "Sharing the Golden Goose".
His practice is in both the Central Family Court and local Family Courts county courts with some cases in the High Court.
Recent cases in which he has been led by a QC have involved: assets worth up to £25m; serious violence/conduct dispute; variation of offshore trusts.
George Coates is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and accredited to conduct family financial Arbitrations by the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators.
Luke is a specialist in property law, having advised both landlords and tenants on a wide array of issues concerning both commercial and residential tenancies. He also has considerable experience representing clients in court at multiple levels, including the Court of Appeal.
Job Titles:
- Associate Member of the Centre for Environmental Strategy
Rosalind is also an associate member of the Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey.
Simon joined Chambers in January 2009 as Senior Clerk, he has over 20 years experience having previously worked in some of London's most prestigious Chambers . He is available to handle queries regarding any aspect of Chambers work. Simon is a qualified member of the IBC.
Suzanne is a qualified solicitor and was a partner for 5 years in a regional law firm specialising in family law matters, prior to commencing work as a Barrister, during that time Suzanne was on the Family Panel, Advanced Family Panel and Children's Panel.
Theresa joined Chambers in August 2006, after having worked previously as bookkeeper for an accountant. She is AAT qualified. She deals with all Chambers' finances, including aged debt and fee collecting.