GHP LEGAL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Criminal Solicitor
- Member of the Crime
joined the Crime team at our Wrexham head office in August 2022. Working alongside GHP Legal Partners, Euros Jones and Emma Simoes, Alex has considerable experience in the areas of both Criminal and Prison Law.
A fluent French speaker with a basic command of German, Yorkshire born Alex studied law at the University of Leicester and also Université de Strasbourg, before gaining a Distinction at the University of Law in her LPC/LLM, a programme that combines a masters-level qualification with an enhanced Legal Practice Course.
As well as developing her language skills as a law student, Alex was winner of the Strasbourg Second Year Mooting Competition and the University of Leicester debating competition, and a regional finalist in the Weightmans Negotiation competition.
Alex qualified as a Solicitor in 2020 after two years as a Trainee Solicitor. Prior to that she worked as a Paralegal, representing clients at the Police Station and throughout all stages of criminal investigation. Her work as a Police Station Representative has continued alongside representing clients in both adult and youth courts in multiple court centres, an area of law where she has gained a reputation for being approachable and caring
More recently Alex found herself managing an increased personal case load in the specialist area of Prison Law, working with juveniles, adults and IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) prisoners. Her appointment to GHP Legal has furthered her interest in this work, as with a specialist prison law team consisting of highly skilled solicitors, we are dedicated and committed to looking after the rights of prisoners and providing comprehensive advice and assistance throughout their sentence. We understand the feeling of isolation that prisoners experience and aim to bring hope to them by continuing to safeguard their best interests and help them to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Away from work, Alex can be found heading for the outdoor life. Her first love is kayaking and until moving to Wales she was heavily involved in the White Water Kayaking Club in York. A Kayaking instructor with ten years' experience, she has also been a canoe polo player in France and the UK, and has spent a significant amount of time hiking in the Yorkshire Wolds, Dales and Scotland.
Alex is a member of the Crime team at our Wrexham head office.
Alison Peters qualified as a solicitor at the unusually young age of 23 and was appointed a Partner of GHP Legal in May 2015.
Alison is a partner in our family and matrimonial department in Oswestry. She has specialised in Matrimonial work since joining the firm in 2006. In November 2015 she was granted membership of the Law Society's Advanced Family Law panel after satisfying stringent requirements in maintaining a high level of knowledge, skills, experience and practice in specialist areas of family law.
Due to her extensive experience in advising and representing clients in matrimonial matters Alison is fully appreciative of the stress that relationship breakdown places on couples and children. She is a member of Resolution, an organisation of family law experts which promotes a cost effective and constructive approach to resolving family disputes, along with being a member of the Law Society Family Law Panel. She has also undergone specialist training in matters relating to separating couples and children. Alison's aim therefore is to resolve the legal issues relating to relationship breakdown as painlessly as possible.
Alison is local to Flintshire and studied law in Wales. Outside of work, Alison enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to the cinema, enjoying afternoon tea and taking city breaks.
Alison Peters is a Partner and is part of the Family and Matrimonial team in our Oswestry office
Amy joined GHP Legal in September 2022 as a paralegal based in the Criminal department at our Wrexham head office. Having previously worked in Residential Conveyancing, Amy developed a passion for Criminal Law whilst carrying out Court Reporting during her Undergraduate Degree course in Journalism at the University of Chester.
Prior to going to university, Amy attended Coleg Cambria, just across the road from our head office, so working for GHP Legal was an ambition she was thrilled to fulfill, not least because we have one of the largest Criminal Law teams in the region. With a team of lawyers who collectively have more than 100 years' experience in Criminal Law, including solicitors with higher rights of audience, we are able to provide on-going consistency, representing clients throughout their case, from Police Station to Magistrates Court and Crown Court. We also assist with juvenile offences and make representation in the Youth Court, and it is this varied spectrum of work that Amy finds appealing.
Originally from Hawarden, Amy has lived in the local Wrexham area all her life. After gaining a degree in Journalism she went on to complete a Qualifying Law Masters degree (LLM) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice in 2020, in which she achieved a Distinction from Liverpool John Moores University.
Having studied Welsh as an A-level subject, Amy is now keen to improve her Welsh language skills and is finding plenty of opportunity for practice, as GHP Legal has several fluent Welsh speakers on its team as well as a number of clients who prefer to conduct business in Welsh.
In her spare time Amy is a passionate fan of Liverpool FC and follows them throughout the season. She also enjoys walking , particularly around the coastal paths of Wales, and paddleboarding in the summer. From the age of 12 she has been a keen figure skater. NISA Level 5 Qualified she competed across the UK, but these days just visits the ice rink for fun. Her next ambition is to return to competitive skating in the near future.
Amy is a Trainee Solicitor based in our Wrexham office.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Member of Our Mental Health
Andy Howarth is an experienced member of our Mental Health team who is based at our Oswestry office.
Coming into law quite late in life following a career as a printer, graphic designer and an English teacher in Finland and France, Andy previously worked for the mental health charity, Mind. He has also worked as an inspector of psychiatric hospitals with the Care Quality Commission. All this makes him well qualified to advise not just mental health clients but also their relatives of their rights and responsibilities…
Andy first got involved with Mind as a volunteer in Salford in 1990 and soon realised mental health was the niche area in which he wanted to be. Back then Mind ran a Sunday drop-in and an advocacy scheme. Whilst advocacy is now on a statutory footing, Andy says it was voluntary schemes like theirs that demonstrated the value of it.
Andy has lived in Shropshire for over twenty years. To relax he indulges his passion for and talent in the arts and has exhibited sculpture and drawings at the Gateway Gallery in Shrewsbury. He can also sometimes be seen playing his bass guitar in pubs around the town. If you see him, please don't give him money, as it only encourages him!
Chris Scott returned to GHP Legal in 2006 after his Ellesmere based firm of Christopher Scott & Co merged with ours. He first joined as an articled clerk in 1990 and stayed on as an employed solicitor until 1996. Now a consultant he works part time in the property department of our Llangollen office where he acts on behalf of both private and commercial clients, handling legal matters mainly associated with freehold and leasehold property.
Born in South Wales Chris grew up in London but moved back Wales for university. He has four children and now lives in Shrewsbury. His interests include running (he says in the loosest sense of the word): he is a member of the Shropshire Shufflers and has been know to run the occasional half marathon and 10K.
Chris Scott works in our Chirk office and specialises in Commerical and Residential Property
Job Titles:
- Senior Solicitor
- Senior Solicitor / Senior Solicitor Within Our Civil Litigation Team in Wrexham and Oswestry
Claire Parfitt is a senior solicitor within the Civil Litigation team in our Wrexham and Oswestry office
Claire Parfitt works as a senior solicitor in the civil litigation team of our Wrexham office. She joined GHP Legal in May after graduating from Newcastle University and completing a two year LPC at Chester College of Law where she also did voluntary work with the National Centre for Domestic Violence.
Born and bred in Wrexham, Claire enjoys travelling, walking and cycling in her spare time. She is also a keen photographer who loves to paint, go to the theatre and socialise with friends.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Conveyancer / Licensed Conveyancer in Our Wrexham Office.
- Member of Our Residential Property Conveyancing
Clare Lewis is a member of our Residential Property Conveyancing department in Wrexham.
A Licensed Conveyancer with 20 years' experience of residential conveyancing, Clare qualified in 2016 after working her way up through the ranks from initially being a secretary.
Prior to joining GHP Legal Clare worked for several law firms in Chester and having lived in Mold all her life, has excellent local knowledge she has found to be very useful when dealing with sale and purchase transactions.
Since qualifying, Clare's caseload has come largely from lenders and panel referrers, giving her a valuable insight into the communication line through the full conveyancing chain.
Deon Hayward is a Solicitor and part of our Family & Matrimonial team in Oswestry.
Deon Hayward is a Solicitor based in our Oswestry office.
Elliot Lacy is a Trainee Solicitor within our family and matrimonial team in Wrexham
Elliot Lacy is a trainee solicitor currently based in our Wrexham head office. He joined GHP Legal in April 2022, working first as a secretary for the private client team in our Probate department and later as a Paralegal where he also gained experience in our Family department. In the summer of 2023, he was offered a solicitor training contract which should lead to him qualifying as a solicitor in 2025.
Born and raised in Wrexham, Elliot attended Coleg Cambria before going on to the University of Lincoln from where he graduated with a 1 st class honours degree in Bachelor of Laws. Alongside his undergraduate studies he volunteered at the Citizens Advice Bureau in Lincoln. Following his graduation, he went on to take his LPC and Masters at the University of Law, Chester, where he gained his LLM LPC with a distinction.
Employing around 100 staff, GHP Legal is one of the leading solicitor training partners in the region. During their time with us, we ensure trainee solicitors gain as much experience as possible. Elliot Lacy is currently assisting in our Private Client and Family departments, both of which are increasingly busy and provide a wide scope of expertise.
When Elliot is not working he enjoys baking, taking his dog on long walks and going to the gym.
Elzbeth Kenny is a senior solicitor in the Criminal Department at our Wrexham office covering a wide spectrum of crimes in the Magistrates Court, particularly specialising in contested Criminal Anti-social Behaviour Orders in the Magistrates Court.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Solicitor
- Joint Head of Our Criminal & Prison Law
- Member of the Law Society Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme
Emma Simoes is a solicitor in the Crime, Regulatory & Prison Law department based in our Wrexham Office. She was admitted as a solicitor in 2010 and since that time has specialised exclusively in criminal law gaining a wealth of experience dealing with a diverse range of criminal cases in courts across Wales. She became a Partner at the firm in 2017.
Emma is a member of the Law Society Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme, in addition to being a member of the local Court and 24 hour Police station Duty Solicitor Scheme. She also has vast experience of dealing with DWP/Local Authority Prosecutions and can provide advice and assistance at interview under cautions with these agencies.
Emma is one of the founding partners of the Prison Law Department, able to provide legal advice from the initial arrest at the police station, interview, charge, court representation and (if unfortunate enough to be convicted and sent to prison) she can provide advice during the period of detention , ensuring that the earliest possible release can be secured.
Emma takes a professional yet sensitive approach to all cases and will always endeavour to go the extra mile. She particularly enjoys working in the youth court where she has built up an excellent rapport over the years with her clients and is well known for her passionate handling of cases.
Emma was born and raised in Wrexham and volunteers for the Local community as often as she can. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and long walks with her partner.
Emma Simoes is a Partner and Joint Head of our Criminal & Prison Law team and is based in our Wrexham office
Job Titles:
- Partner
- in 2000 As a Trainee Solicitor
- Money Laundering Reporting Officer
Euros Jones joined GHP Legal in 2000 as a trainee solicitor and became a partner in 2011. He is based in our Wrexham office where he is a department supervisor. Euros is a fluent welsh speaker and regularly appears on TV as a legal commentator on both BBC Wales and the welsh channel, S4C.
As a partner, Euros is the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for the firm.
Job Titles:
- Partner of the Firm in 1999, Following the Retirement of Gwilym Hughes Who Remained With the Firm As a Consultant until 2002
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Solicitor / Solicitor Based in Our Wrexham Office.
Harriet Roberts is a solicitor in the Private Client Department at our Wrexham head office. She joined GHP Legal in November 2021 as a paralegal working in the Civil Department. She began her solicitor training contract in February 2022 and qualified in February 2024.
As a trainee solicitor, Harriet gained experience in a wide range of civil practice areas including personal injury, contentious probate, Landlord and Tenant and consumer disputes. She successfully completed seats in our Conveyancing Department, where she gained experience in both residential and commercial property, and finally our Private Client Department where her particular interest lies. Harriet's current caseload includes wills, lasting powers of attorney and probate matters.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Solicitor Advocate
Henry is utterly committed to achieving justice and ensuring people's rights and liberties are safeguarded.
After a career in the Probation Service, Henry qualified as a Solicitor in 1998. During his career as a Criminal Defence Lawyer, he has experienced all levels of cases, from road traffic through to serious and complicated cases in the Crown Court.
Henry qualified as a Higher Courts Advocate in 2009, and he practices mainly in the Crown Court. He is an experienced trial Advocate in a wide range of cases, including serious violence, drugs, sexual offences, robbery, and burglary, and has maintained a high success rate across the board.
Henry brings his wide range of experiences of life and people to bear on his work. He is meticulous in his preparation; he is determined to achieve a fair and proper result for all those whom he represents. He has a particular aptitude for and is skilled at working with vulnerable witnesses and clients. As Henry says "It is essential that each client is looked after with care and dedication so that they feel confident that their case is being advanced in their best interest".
Henry Hills is a Solicitor and Crown Court Advocate specialising in Criminal Law and is based in our Wrexham office
Henry is a member of the following professional groups:
• National Committee Member of the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates.
• The Law Society Criminal Practitioners Group.
• MoJ Working Group on AGFS Reform.
Hywel Jones is a partner in the Property Department based in the Oswestry office. Hywel specialises in sales and purchases of freehold and leasehold residential and commercial property sales and agricultural matters, including the acquisition and sale of farms and land. Hywel joined GHP Legal in September 2015. Welsh Speaking Hywel has a wide range of experience in dealing with high volumes of cases and completions per month.
From a farming family himself, Hywel was born in Foel and attended Llanfair Caereinion High School before going on to complete a Law degree and Legal Practice Course at Cardiff University. Prior to joining GHP Legal he worked for Harrisons Solicitors in Welshpool.
After a hard day in the office Hywel regularly goes home to do a few more hours work, helping out on the family farm. And as if this is not enough exercise, he is also a keen rugby player and currently vice-captain of COBRA rugby club in Meifod.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor / Solicitor in Our Civil Litigation Team in the Oswestry and Wrexham Offices.
a Trainee Solicitor working in the civil litigation and commercial property departments at our Wrexham head office
Job Titles:
- Partner of the Firm in 1999, Following the Retirement of Gwilym Hughes Who Remained With the Firm As a Consultant until 2002
In 2000 the Firm merged with Brown & Lloyd of Oswestry, formerly A W Brown & Co which was established in 1980. The Partners, Richard Lloyd and John Hulme, continued to work from the Albany, 37/39 Willow Street, Oswestry, the current GHP Legal premises.
John Lancaster became a Partner of the Firm in 1999, following the retirement of Gwilym Hughes who remained with the Firm as a Consultant until 2002.
Alex Mackenzie
Solicitor
Alex is a member of the Crime team at our Wrexham head office.
Lauren Blackford is a Solicitor based in our Llangollen office.
Linda Hill is based in our Oswestry office and was previously a partner with Stevens Lucas.
Job Titles:
- Conveyancing and Probate Executive
Mandy is a Conveyancing and Probate Executive in our Llangollen office.
Job Titles:
- Accredited Police Station Representative
Mark is our Accredited Police Station Representative and part of our Criminal Law team based in Wrexham.
Molly Drake is a Solicitor based in our Oswestry office.
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager / Group Practice Manager Based in Wrexham
Peter Butler, served his Articles with Gwilym Hughes & Partners and became a Partner in the firm in 1980. His partnership was followed in 1984 by that of Stephen Edwards, who also served his Articles with the firm.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Compliance Officer for Legal Practice
Job Titles:
- Partner and Complaints Handler / Partner and Head of the Civil Litigation, Personal Injury and Dispute Resolution Team in Wrexham
Robert Williams and Alun Williams became Partners in 2001 and the following year Gethin Davies retired as a Partner, though he continued his involvement with the firm as a Consultant.
Ronald Carter is Head of our Corporate Law team and is based in Oswestry.
Sarah Talbot is a Senior Solicitor in our Civil Litigation team and is based in our Wrexham office
Job Titles:
- Chartered Legal Executive
Tom is a Senior Solicitor based in our Wrexham office.
Ulia is a Partner who specialises in Probate, Wills, Trusts and Tax and is based in Wrexham