MAITLAND WALKER - Key Persons
Adrian Render is a partner in the EU & Competition Law department. He is one of few UK competition lawyers to have experience of opt-out collective action cases, having previously worked on US Federal Multidistrict Litigation opt-out class actions.
Alex Griffin is a Senior Conveyancer specialising in the sale and purchase of residential property as well as remortgages and transfers of equity.
Anna is a Partner in the Private Client department of our Taunton office. Anna is an experienced solicitor and specialises in both contentious and non-contentious private client work. Anna was a litigation solicitor for almost 15 years before turning her expertise to private client. She is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Head of Maitland Walker 's Private Client
Ben Simpson is a partner and head of Maitland Walker's Private Client department. He joined the firm in 2006 and was made a partner in 2016.
Ben is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) who has over 15 years of experience advising individuals and families on wealth protection, tax mitigation and succession. This includes the drafting of tax efficient wills, the preparation of lasting powers of attorney for individuals, including those with commercial interests, advice on lifetime gifting to support children and descendants and to mitigate tax, establishing and administering trusts that protect assets and provide long term financial benefit, advising on and drafting partnership agreements, primarily for farming families, and the efficient administration of estates, including the drafting of deeds of variation to achieve tax efficiency.
He has a broad client base which includes many farmers and business owners and their families. As a result, Ben has significant experience of advising on and making claims for agricultural property relief and business property relief. This often involves him working closely with other professionals, such as accountants, surveyors, financial advisors and barristers, to ensure that his clients' objectives are being met and that they receive the best advice possible.
Ben grew up in West Somerset where he now lives with his family. His ties to the area mean that he has a clear understanding of the specific requirements of his clients.
In general, clients praise Ben's knowledge and communication skills, which allow him to address complex legal issues clearly and concisely. He is also known for his professionalism and his friendly manner.
Ben heads the Legal 500 Real Estate team at Maitland Walker
He joined Maitland Walker as a trainee in 2002 and was admitted as a solicitor in September 2004. He completed his law degree at Middlesex University during which he was awarded the Ruynski Eurocabinet Prize for excellence in European and competition law studies. He went on to obtain a commendation on the Legal Practice Course at Gray's Inn School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Trainee Solicitor
Chris is a trainee solicitor in the civil litigation department of our Minehead office.
Chris joined Maitland Walker with over 2 years experience as a litigation paralegal having previously worked for law firms in Exeter.
David became a consultant solicitor to Maitland Walker in 2018, and provides employment law advice both to employers and employees.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Solicitor
Ella Parsons is a highly competent and accomplished Senior Associate Solicitor working in the Property department, with almost 20 years experience in the field. Ella specialises in all aspects of residential property and conveyancing work including contentious and non-contentious work as well as Landlord and Tenant matters. Development is Ella's passion and she has worked closely with local developers over the years dealing with a number of site acquisitions and disposals.
Emily is a Partner in the private client department in our Minehead office who has more than 13 years of experience in the field. She advises on all aspects of estate administration (including the administration of ongoing trusts), inheritance and succession planning, the preparation of wills and powers of attorney and making applications to the Court of Protection.
Emily is a full member (TEP) of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). She has also completed the Mountbatten Internship Programme in New York (whilst undertaking a Certificate in International Business via University of Cambridge International Examinations) and holds an LLB (Honours) English Law with French Law (including a French Law Licence from Savoie University in France in collaboration with the ERAMUS programme).
Emily has been praised for providing ‘helpful and warm advice' and ‘kind, thoughtful and patient support'.
Faith Angus is an experienced Partner working in the Property department and specialises in all aspects of residential conveyancing.
Gervase joined Maitland Walker in 2019 and works within our Private Client Department and provides both consultant services to the firm.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Legal Executive
Helen Grant is a Chartered Legal Executive working in the Property Department. Helen deals with all aspects of residential property in particular attorney and executor sales.
Hilary Coles is a partner in the Property department who undertakes a wide range of property work with particular emphasis on the non-contentious aspects of agricultural and rural property conveyancing work. She also regularly works with local developers dealing with site acquisitions and disposals.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Solicitor
- Member of the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners
James Ashby is an Associate Solicitor in our Private Client department at our Taunton office. He has over twenty years experience of dealing with a wide range of will, trust, estate administration and court of protection matters. He is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate practitioners (STEP)
James is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners (STEP) and is a full accredited member of Solicitors for the Elderly
Jessie is an experienced Associate Solicitor working in the Residential Property Department, specialising in all aspects of residential conveyancing.
Joe specialises in competition and commercial law.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner
- European Law Expert
Julian is a corporate and commercial lawyer and has a national and international reputation in the field of European and UK competition law, procurement and state aid/subsidy law, in addition to judicial review and planning. Ranked by Legal 500 as a Leading Individual 2024 in EU & Competition Law, Julian has a wealth of expertise and experience in the field.
Katie joined Maitland Walker LLP in 2022. after completing her BTEC in Public Services. Initially in an administrative roll, Katie is now a conveyancing assistant in the residential property team. Katie works closely with our residential conveyancing team to assist in the smooth running of all residential property transactions.
Job Titles:
- Senior Chartered Legal Executive
Kerry has over 20 years professional experience working in the field of private client and qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Legal Executives (FCILEx) in 2009 whilst working for a Legal 500 firm of solicitors in Surrey. She then relocated to Somerset in 2011 where she established and ran her own successful business in Minehead, Caring Legal Services for 7 years before joining Maitland Walker in 2019.
Kerry is an affiliate member of the Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and anticipates applying to STEP for full membership early next year. She is also an accredited member of Solicitors for the Elderly
Kirsty Trevis is an Associate Solicitor working in the Residential Property department with 9 years' experience in the property sector.
Lily is a Trainee Solicitor working within the residential and commercial property departments in the Taunton office.
Whilst studying for her Law LLB degree, at the University of Portsmouth, Lily undertook her CILEX Level 6 Diploma, achieving a First Class Honours degree.
Lily has now begun her LPC at the University of Law and training contract with the firm, aiming to qualify as a Solicitor in 2024.
Lois Heal has worked at Maitland Walker since moving to Taunton in 2017, initially providing general support to the residential and commercial property departments in the Taunton office.
Lois was promoted to a Paralegal in 2020 to work exclusively on residential property transactions. During this time she has developed strong relationships with both her clients and professional contacts.
Mollie joined Maitland Walker LLP in 2021 after completing her A levels in English literature, law and psychology at West Somerset College. After having decided that she wished to pursue a career in law, she applied for a position at Maitland Walker LLP. After an introductory period, she became a junior secretary in the private client department in May 2022.
Phoebe joined Maitland Walker LLP in 2022 after leaving school. Initially in an administrative roll, Phoebe is now a paralegal and PA in our commercial property team.
Rebecca trained with Maitland Walker LLP, qualifying as a solicitor in December 2022. Rebecca specialises in commercial property, working in our commercial property team in Taunton. Rebecca deals with all aspects of commercial property transactions.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Chartered Legal Executive
Sheree-Ann is a Partner and heads the Litigation & Dispute Resolution department in our Taunton office. Her practice consists of all types commercial litigation with particular focuses on competition and EU law related litigation, intellectual property litigation and professional negligence claims. Sheree-Ann has represented several of the firm's major corporate clients in the pharmaceutical, transport, leisure and public sectors in a range of complex and high value disputes.