HOWARD & CO. SOLICITORS - Key Persons


Andrew Baines

Job Titles:
  • Partner
  • Partner - Head of Conveyancing & Wills and Probate
Andrew was born and bred in Penistone. After leaving school, he started working in the legal profession in June 2002 and subsequently started work with Howard & Co in July 2009, working in both the Conveyancing and Wills & Probate departments. Andrew was admitted as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in October 2010 and became a Chartered Legal Executive in January 2012. He completed the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course at the De Montfort University in Leicester and qualified as a solicitor in 2017. During his time with Howard & Co, Andrew has quickly gained experience in both conveyancing and probate and estate administration and has successfully advised in numerous matters. He became Partner in October 2019. At the same time, he took over as Head of Conveyancing and Wills and Probate and supervises work carried out in these areas.

Charlotte Binns

Job Titles:
  • Conveyancing Executive
Having obtained a BA (Hons) degree at Leeds University in 2006, Charlotte joined Howard & Co. in May 2010, as an assistant in the matrimonial department before moving to conveyancing and wills & probate. Charlotte was born and raised in Penistone and has been based at our Penistone branch since it opened in 2014. During this time, she has increased her experience in conveyancing and currently deals with residential sales and purchases, leasehold and new build conveyancing. Her work is supervised by Andrew Baines.

Deborah Marsh

Job Titles:
  • Member of Resolution
  • Solicitor & Collaborative Lawyer
Deborah works in our family department and joined Howard & Co in January 2022. Deborah completed her Law Degree at Hull University and Legal Practice Course at Sheffield University. Deborah qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and has since specialised in family law. Deborah deals with all aspects of private family law with a particular emphasis on separation/divorce/civil partnerships and the sorting of financial matters, dealing with cases involving modest assets through to high net worth assets with the complexities each case brings. Deborah is a member of Resolution (a national organisation aimed at making the process of separation, especially when children are involved, as amicable and constructive as can be) and is a committee member of the South Yorkshire Resolution Committee. Deborah is also a Resolution qualified Collaborative Lawyer. As a Collaborative Lawyer, Deborah can offer clients an alternative approach that avoids the traditional routes including court proceedings. However, if court proceedings do prove necessary Deborah provides strong representation. Outside of work Deborah enjoys spending time with her family and friends, walks with her dogs and weekends and holidays away in the family's VW Camper van.

Heather Wheelhouse

Job Titles:
  • Partner
  • Partner - Head of Family Department

James Gascoigne

Job Titles:
  • Solicitor

Jo Sharp

Job Titles:
  • Licensed Conveyancer
Jo joined Howard and Co in July 2012 as a secretary in the family department, however has found her comfort zone in Conveyancing. Jo completed her Level 6 Diploma in Conveyancing Law and Practice, through the Apprenticeship scheme and became a Licensed Conveyancer in April 2021.

Joelle Bramall

Job Titles:
  • Conveyancing Executive
Joelle joined Howard & Co in May 2022 as a Conveyancing Executive. Joelle is familiar to the legal industry having practiced Civil Litigation for the past 10 years and having completed the Level 6 CILEX Diploma in 2016. Joelle is currently studying the Level 3 CILEX Conveyancing module and hopes to complete the work based learning portfolio at which point she will qualify as a Chartered Legal Executive.

John Gibson

Job Titles:
  • Solicitor

Jonathan Reece

Job Titles:
  • Partner
Jonathan is a partner of the firm and supervisor in the family department. Whilst he undertakes all forms of family law work, including divorce and private law children cases, he specialises in care proceedings and has been a member of the Children Panel since 2012. He completed his law degree and professional examinations at Newcastle Upon Tyne Polytechnic and has been qualified as a Solicitor for over 35 years. He joined Howard and Co in 2003 and became a partner in 2015. Prior to joining Howard and Co, Jonathan worked as a general Solicitor and has a broad knowledge of all areas of the law.

Julie Amiss

Job Titles:
  • Solicitor

Kevin Ripley

Job Titles:
  • Advocate

Kristal Woodhall

Job Titles:
  • Solicitor
After completing her degree at The University of Law, Kristal joined Howard and Co in June 2019. Kristal has then gone on to complete the Legal Practice Course and was admitted to the roll as a Solicitor on 1st February 2023. During her time at Howard and Co, Kristal has gained experience in several areas of law including Conveyancing, Wills and Probate, Powers of Attorney and Estate Administration.

Penny Burgess

Job Titles:
  • Consultant
Penny is a consultant in our Conveyancing and Wills & Probate department. Penny was admitted as a solicitor in 1988, after previously working in a solicitors practice and having an interest in law. Penny was a founding partner of Briscoe Burgess in 1995, which merged with Howard & Co in 2001. Penny was a partner until October 2015 when she retired from the partnership to continue working part time.

Yvonne Woolley

Job Titles:
  • Conveyancing Executive