EDWARDS DUTHIE SHAMASH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Solicitor
- Residential Property
Albert qualified with, and become a junior partner of, one of the country's leading law firms based in Central London and then headed up litigation with Solicitors in Mayfair before establishing his own firm in which he practiced for nearly 30 years. More recently Albert has moved to the role of Consultant Solicitor.
Experience & Areas of Expertise
Albert initially practiced as a commercial litigator and established his own firm partly to expand his practice into those other areas of the law which were of interest to him. Albert soon developed expertise in those areas which then became and remain the mainstay of his practice and include all aspects of commercial and residential property transactions, particularly commercial leases as well as freehold and leasehold enfranchisement, general commercial, business and company share transactions in addition to Wills and Probate matters. Albert also continues to deal with contentious and non-contentious matters.
Albert enjoys working with his private and commercial client base which is rich in variety and includes many international clients.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / Media Law
Alex is a Partner and he heads up our Media Law team.
Alex qualified as a solicitor in 2007 and joined Edwards Duthie Shamash in April 2023, bringing with him a number of high-profile clients.
Alex advises on all legal areas relating to reputation management with particular expertise in defamation, privacy, breach of confidence and harassment. He has acted for many prominent figures in the sports and entertainment sectors and he has a wealth of experience in dealing with disputes involving social media platforms and online reputational issues.
Alex is recognised by Chambers and Partners as a ‘Ranked Lawyer' for defamation/reputation management.
Alex is also recognised by the Legal 500 as a ‘Recommended Lawyer' for reputation management.
Experience and Areas of Expertise
Alex has worked on many complex libel disputes, with a particular highlight being the successful claim of former international cricketer Chris Cairns brought against Indian businessman Lalit Modi in what was the UK's first Twitter libel ("Twibel") trial.
Alex has represented, and continues to represent, a large number of claimants in the phone hacking litigation against News Group Newspapers Ltd and Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd, recovering substantial damages payments and, where appropriate, public apologies on behalf of his clients.
Alex also works closely with Gerald and the wider team providing ongoing advice to the Labour Party in respect of all aspects of media law (including libel, privacy, harassment, and generative AI, such as ‘deep fakes') and election law, including the regulation of candidates and the regime of corrupt and illegal practices under the Representation of the People Act 1983.
Alex has acted in landmark libel and privacy claims (including in all of the appellate courts) and he has successfully obtained injunctions in respect of urgent privacy and harassment matters, including an anonymised injunction to prevent the distribution of intimate photographs of a client.
Alexandra joined the firm in July 2023 as a paralegal in the Community Care department, assisting James Harrison on a wide range of housing matters. She began her training contract in November 2023.
Alexandra obtained her undergraduate degree from King's College London in Law. She is currently enrolled on a Legal Practice Course at the University of Westminster, where she attends evening classes part-time.
Alexandra has gained work experience in Housing and Property Litigation. She has worked on a wide range of matters including Possession, Disrepair, and Unlawful Eviction.
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Solicitor
- Member of the Law Society 's Children Panel
Alistair joined the firm in October, 2011 as a family law consultant.
Experience & Areas of Expertise
He qualified as a solicitor in 1975 and, from 1983 to September, 2011, he was joint senior partner in his own firm of Mullinger Banks Solicitors in Newham.
Alistair has been a member of the Law Society's Children Panel since it's inception in 1987 and has Higher Courts Rights of Audience. He specialises in care proceedings and other cases involving children such as difficult contact disputes and surrogacy where he often acts for the children themselves.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Member of the Junior Housing Lawyers Practitioners Association
Amelia joined Edwards Duthie Shamash after qualifying as a solicitor in January 2022.
Prior to joining Edwards Duthie Shamash Amelia worked in the charity sector managing caseloads in housing, welfare benefits and debt. Amelia ran a legal clinic at a women's refuge specialising in the intersection between homelessness and domestic abuse. She completed her training contact at the charity Release with a secondment in housing litigation to the Hammersmith & Fulham Law Centre.
Amelia has experience in a variety of housing matters including challenging the homelessness decisions, suitability of accommodation, allocations reviews, public law challenges and defending possession proceedings.
Amelia has a BA in Politics from Newcastle University and completed the GDL and LPC at BBP University London.
Amelia is a member of the Junior Housing Lawyers Practitioners Association (HLPA), Young Legal Aid Lawyers and has written for the Legal Action Group Magazine.
Anna joined the firm in July 2003 and qualified as a solicitor in May 2006. Anna was appointed as a salaried partner in April 2011. Anna became the youngest equity partner of the firm in April 2017.
Experience & Areas of Expertise
Anna specialises in all matters pertaining to the private client department including Will writing, advising on Lasting Powers of Attorney, estate administration and matters with regards to the Court of Protection.
Anna has significant experience in respect of Lasting Powers of Attorney and Deputyships and is often appointed herself to act for individuals who have no one else to whom they can turn.
Anna has a wealth of experience in Will preparation and, given her experience in estate administration, is often appointed as a professional executor herself.
Anna has developed a loyal client base and leads our Wanstead office and is becoming a familiar face amongst local residents. Anna has recently been featured as one of the leading ladies in the area.
Anna often receives instructions from other firms, especially those abroad, to assist in reseal applications and other probate issues.
Anna carries out home visits for those unable to attend the office and spends a great deal of time visiting care homes to provide advice to clients and also professional advice to staff.
Anna Orpwood has achieved full accreditation for Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE), which has been celebrated by the firm and wider community.
Anna has been a qualified solicitor since 1990. She has been a member of the Law Society's Children Panel for 15 years. She has extensive experience of representing both parent's and children, both taking instructions from the children's guardian and from the young person directly in both public and private proceedings. She conducts her own advocacy from the initial hearing to the final hearing including in the High Court. She has represented vulnerable adults who require the assistance of the Official Solicitor.
Experience & Areas of Expertise
Ms Ponting is also a criminal duty solicitor and has experience of attending police stations, undertaking advocacy in the magistrates' court and preparing crown court cases.
Memberships:
Member of the Law Society Children Panel
"I'm incredibly grateful to Alex Cochrane for achieving a successful outcome to my claim. Alex was great to work with: thorough and concise, and always easy to reach via email and phone. From the very first conversation I felt I was in very capable hands working with Alex. His warmth and compassion readily shines through. I can't recommend him enough!"
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Solicitor
- Consultant Solicitor / Commercial and Residential Property Department
- Specialist
Arthur joined the firm as a consultant in October 2011. He will be advising our commercial and property teams and can be contacted at our Bank House, Ilford Commercial Office.
Experience & Areas of Expertise
Arthur is a specialist commercial lawyer dealing with sales, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and special projects (including start-ups, larger SMEs, intellectual property, digital and new media). He also deals with commercial property and related litigation.
Asya graduated with a first class honours degree in Law (LLB) from the University of Hertfordshire in 2016. She then went on to complete her LPC at BPP University Holborn, followed by an LLM in professional legal practice. Asya joined the Wills & Probate team in October 2018 and is based at the Wanstead office. She is fluent in Turkish.
Aysha joined Edwards Duthie Shamash in May 2017 as a solicitor in the Community Law Team.
Aysha graduated from the University of Westminster with an honours degree in LLB Law (2:1). She completed the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law, London. Aysha qualified as a solicitor in 2006.
Aysha has experience in immigration, property and family law. In her previous role she was part of a specialist team commissioned by the London Borough of Waltham Forest to provide legal assistance to victims of domestic violence.
Experience & Areas of Expertise
She is currently practicing housing law at Edwards Duthie Shamash solicitors. Her areas of experience include possession, homelessness and eviction.
Bernie was admitted as a solicitor in June 1980 after joining Duthie, Hart and Duthie as a trainee in 1978.
Experience & Areas of Expertise
Bernie conducts a significant amount of family law cases and, in particular, child care law. He has over 30 years of experience as a criminal litigator.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / Personal Injury and Medical Negligence Departments
Bradley Wright is a partner and head of the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Department.
Bruce Reid is one of the most experienced Magistrates Court advocates in London. A resident of Brixton long before it was fashionable, he has practised in South London for years and now conducts the firm's cases at Croydon Magistrates Court. He has an enviable reputation for swift, pertinent and sometimes blunt advice, but it is always delivered with sympathy for the clients that he represents, with many of them returning to him.
Defending in the police station, he is pro-active, viewing a police interview as the first stage in a trial; a chance to shape the police evidence, if not refute it entirely. At Court, he believes that the secret of successful Defence advocacy is an accurate strike at the weaknesses of the Prosecution; he then presents the Defence case lucidly and with empathy, achieving results that are often far more than his client's could hope for.
Bruce understands that many people have addiction and mental health problems that bring them to Court, but that others may need his help simply because of bad luck or a foolish mistake. He doesn't judge any of them.
Experience & Areas of Expertise
Bruce has Higher Rights of Audience, enabling him to appear in the Crown Court. He lectures on Magistrates Court advocacy on professionally approved courses and writes a regular acerbic column in the London Advocate, the publication of the London Criminal Courts Association.
To relax, Bruce treks twice a year in the Himalaya and wishes he had practised his Spanish. He has a flamboyant taste in ties.
Job Titles:
- Property Conveyancing Executive
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Solicitor
- Commercial Property
Job Titles:
- Police Station Representative
Job Titles:
- Paralegal and Police Station
Job Titles:
- Civil Litigation Paralegal
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner
- Family Law
Job Titles:
- Criminal Defence Solicitor
Tony joined the firm in 1993 having qualified as a solicitor in 1984.
Experience & Areas of Expertise
Tony has wide experience of substantial commercial and residential property work having worked in city firms for a number of years before joining the firm.
Tony specialises in commercial property and in particular development work. A major proportion of his workload involves acting for developers in all aspects of residential and commercial development. Typically this involves the conduct of matters from site assembly, development appraisals, negotiating planning agreements and provision of social housing. He also has considerable experience of advising clients on problems affecting developers including issues concerning enforcement of restrictive covenants, adverse possession, easements and Town and Village Greens.
He is particularly experienced in developing high quality Information Packs for Commercial and Residential developments to ensure the smooth running of estate disposals to strict deadlines.
He is also responsible for setting up and monitoring manuals and systems of best practice.