BRANCH AUSTIN MCCORMICK - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Senior Associate - Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Private Client
Aida graduated with a Masters degree at the Faculty of Law in Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania and undertook her Law Society Graduate Diploma in law followed by the Law Society Legal Practice Course at the College of Law, Bloomsbury, qualifying as a solicitor in October 2012.
Aida is a solicitor with a particular focus on dispute resolution work as well as supporting the firm's other teams on private client matters, as well as disputes with a family or employment law angle. Aida appears in the Divorce Law Expert Guide (follow the link here); Download our PDF about Pre Nuptual Agreements, are they legally binding.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate Solicitor - Dispute Resolution
Alla joined the firm as Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution department.
Alla completed her training contract at a US headquartered international City law firm and qualified as a Solicitor in 2004.
Caroline has over 20 years' experience in family law having qualified in 2003. She has a wealth of knowledge gained from representing clients from all walks of life, with complex, high net worth and straightforward matters. Caroline is committed to ensuring her clients achieve a fair and workable result.
Caroline is a paralegal specialising in family law. She is currently working towards her CILEX paralegal qualification.
She supports our family lawyers with all aspects of their cases and she has experience in dealing with divorces, financial provision and Children Act proceedings.
Job Titles:
- Associate Solicitor - Private and Corporate Immigration
- Immigration Specialist
Charlotte is an experienced immigration specialist at Branch Austin McCormick LLP, having trained at a boutique practice in Mayfair prior to representing clients at a city practice. Her expertise within both corporate and private immigration matters permits well rounded advice to her clients.
Job Titles:
- Consultant - Residential and Commercial Property
As well as residential and commercial conveyancing, David deals on a daily basis with property development and specialist lending, acting for both lenders and borrowers as well as joint ventures, land promotion and options.
The nature of the transactions he deals with often require a pragmatic and problem solving approach to get the deal done.
With over 20 years in real estate, David is a highly experienced conveyancer who routinely deals with complex property transactions.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate - Corporate and Private Client Immigration
Efrat has excessive experience in all UK immigration matters and has been dealing with complex UK nationality law matters and high profile immigration cases since she started her practice in this field in January 2016.
She has significant experience dealing with business clients, as well as asylum seekers and vulnerable individuals. She acts for EEA nationals and other nationals from all over the world such as Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, UAE, USA, Canada, Yemen and Israel.
Efrat qualified as a solicitor in 2020. She graduated with an LLB (with a minor in Political Science) from the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Centre, Israel, followed by an LLM (specialised in international law and human rights) from the Institute of Comparative Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Efrat completed her Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course at BPP University.
Expertise
Corporate Immigration
Immigration
Efrat is an Associate Solicitor in the Immigration Department and joined the firm in January 2022.
Job Titles:
- Partner and Head of Employment
Elliot is a seasoned litigator in the employment field, able to represent high profile clients in the Employment Tribunal, the Employment Appeal Tribunal ("EAT"), High Court and Court of Appeal. Elliot's legal practice consists of all manner of Equality Act claims (discrimination, victimisation, harassment, equal pay etc) and whistleblowing claims including automatic unfair dismissal and detriment claims. He can also advise and represent in Unfair Dismissal, Wrongful Dismissal, Constructive Dismissal and Breach of Contract Claims.
Emily Iveson, joined the firm in October 2023, working as a Paralegal supporting all departments.
Job Titles:
- Partner - Dispute Resolution
Job Titles:
- Associate Solicitor - Dispute Resolution
Frances is a Solicitor at Branch Austin McCormick, working closely with the Dispute Resolution and Corporate departments, assisting on a range of matters. Prior to starting her training contract, Frances joined the firm in 2021 as a Paralegal, providing legal and administrative support to all fee earners.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Member of Resolution
- Senior Associate - Family Law
Gorkem is a Senior Associate in the Family department advising on all aspects of family law, including, divorce and dissolution of civil partnership, financial remedy proceedings, arrangements for children, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, cohabitation and separation agreements.
Gorkem is a member of Resolution which promotes a constructive and non-confrontational approach to resolving family law disputes. Nevertheless, he can be a sharp and vigorous negotiator when necessary.
Gorkem Ozsoy is accessible to all of his clients and is firm but compassionate in giving advice. He does not sell clients unattainable dreams and has a calm professional manner'
‘I had the pleasure of liaising with Gorkem Ozsoy on family matters and can say Gorkem is an outstanding family lawyer and has built a niche within family law practice with his knowledge on diverse cultural issues. Gorkem is passionate about his role, his professionalism towards the industry and clients and the good he provides through his role is focused on helping clients with complex legal issues'.
Job Titles:
- Associate - Corporate and Commercial
John is an Associate in Branch Austin McCormick's Corporate team.
John advises clients on a broad range of corporate and commercial matters for international and domestic clients, including numerous M&A transactions, preparing commercial documents, and providing advisory services to corporate clients.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of Arbitration Ireland
- Partner - Dispute Resolution
Joseph is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution team. He is a solicitor advocate with Higher Rights of Audience and represents clients involved in disputes, as well as investigations and regulatory matters, involving all forms of dispute resolution. He was highly commended for Solicitor of the Year in the Law Society Awards 2021, with judges noting his "highly creative and tenacious approach". Testimonials include that he is "very impressive", "seemed to have approached the case from every possible angle", "has great strategic insight" and "is excellent with clients" (feedback provided to Legal 500, 2023).
Joseph is a member of Arbitration Ireland, the London Irish Lawyers Association and the Commercial Litigators' Forum (London Committee).
Job Titles:
- Partner - Family Law
- Resolution Member
Julius brings more than twenty-four years of legal experience to the firm's Family Law Department. Julius qualified in 2004 and has a number of reported cases and particular expertise in international aspects of Family Law. Julius is also admitted in Queensland (albeit non-practising) and has had three reported cases in the last three years. He worked for over twenty years in his well-known and commended Family practice, Brookman, and has had four years experience working in boutique Legal District and City firms prior to joining the team at Branch Austin McCormick.
Julius is a Resolution member and a Committee member on the Anglo-Australasian Lawyers Society.
Job Titles:
- Partner - Corporate and Commercial
Martin qualified as a solicitor in 1990, and has many years of experience in Corporate, Commercial and Employment law.
He focuses on two main areas, the Technology and Medical Sectors.
Martin is an avid follower of AFC Wimbledon and Surrey County Cricket Club, and can often be found cheering on the Irish Rugby Team. He is tech-savvy and recently spent time abroad with a client visiting a software developer to better understand the logic process involved in developing a Distributed Application. He is also the tech help desk for his extended family!
Job Titles:
- Head of Private Client Department
- Member of the Society of Trust
Miriam qualified in 2008 at a dedicated private client law firm and joined Branch Austin McCormick in 2021.
Miriam specialises in:
drafting wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs), deeds of variation and trusts
advising on bereavement and applying for probate and letters of administration
tax planning including advising on gifting, setting up trusts and deeds of variation
applications to the Court of Protection
advising multiple generations of families to ensure family members are protected and wealth ringfenced
working with our corporate team to advise business owners on protecting themselves and their businesses if they were to lose capacity or die.
Miriam prides herself in supporting her clients at vulnerable times, bringing humour and warmth to her client interactions, and she firmly believes her clients must fully understand their jargon free documents.
Miriam has a wide range of clients from all backgrounds, which leads to a breadth of experience and knowledge. Given the nature of her work, Miriam knows her connection with her client does not end when the matter is finished and she enjoys establishing long terms relationships over a coffee.
Miriam is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, Solicitors for the Elderly and the Law Society Private Client Section and she holds a STEP Advance Certificate in Advising Vulnerable Clients. She is the co-author of the Routledge published Succession, Wills and Probate.
Out of the office, Miriam is an avid theatregoer and is a member of the British Museum, V&A and National Gallery. She attends a whisky club and keeps bees and when her lemon tree is ready, she will be making hot toddies with her own honey, lemon and whisky.
Expertise
Wills and Probate
Job Titles:
- Consultant - Dispute Resolution, Employment & Family Law
Nadia regularly advises international and domestic corporate and private clients on schemes of arrangement, bankruptcy proceedings, trade disputes, employment disputes and a wide array of other contractual and tortious claims from fraud to defamation. Her litigation practice draws upon her experience representing clients in complex multi-jurisdictional cases involving misappropriation of funds and shareholder disputes. She has also represented numerous employers and employees in claims relating to wrongful dismissal, breach of employment contracts and harassment in the workplace.
Nadia's matrimonial practice features cross-border disputes regarding child custody and the enforcement of maintenance as well as High Court litigation pertaining to the division of substantial matrimonial assets located in multiple jurisdictions. Her non-contentious practice includes the drafting of various commercial agreements such as shareholders' agreements and distribution agreements as well as personal legal instruments such as wills, lasting powers of attorney and deed polls.
Nadia read law at the National University of Singapore. She is a qualified lawyer in four jurisdictions- New York, England & Wales, Ireland and Singapore.
Expertise
Family and Divorce
Nadia's practice represents a broad cross-section of the kind of legal services that most businesses and individuals typically need, regardless of industry sector or client profile, with a particular focus on dispute resolution.
Job Titles:
- Senior Paralegal - Immigration
Ramatu Ibrahim, joined the firm in February 2024, working as a paralegal in the Immigration Department.
Robyn joined the firm in December 2023 and is an experienced Family Law solicitor, accredited Family Mediator (PPC) and Notary Public.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Consultant - Residential Property and Private Client
Roland's practice, developed in the Covent Garden area over 30 years before joining us in 2020, covers residential property transactions, including sales and purchases of houses and flats and lease extensions, the preparation of Wills, and the administration of deceased estates.
Job Titles:
- Associate Solicitor - Corporate and Private Immigration
Rosalind (Ros) qualified as a Solicitor in 2006 after attaining a Master's Degree in Immigration & Human Rights.
She since built up extensive experience and skills in Immigration and Human Rights Law.
Job Titles:
- Partner - Head of Family Law
Saika heads the Family Law department. With more than 25 years experience in representing spouses, cohabitees, parents and grandparents, Saika is able to quickly focus in on the core issues in any Family Law case.
Saika Alam has provided me with invaluable advice in relation to matrimonial matters during the last few years. I have valued her patient, client-centred approach and ability to remain calm in the face of adversity. I would highly recommend her.
Saika Alam is the only person I would ever go to. She has always advised me in the most professional and honest way possible. She works in a way that makes you feel comfortable and you feel you are in good hands. I have referred so many people to her and will continue to do so.
I highly recommend Saika as she is professional, approachable and does a fantastic job achieving realistic positive results.
Saika Alam has provided me with invaluable advice in relation to matrimonial matters during the last few years. I have valued her patient, client-centred approach and ability to remain calm in the face of adversity. I would highly recommend her.
Saika Alam is the only person I would ever go to. She has always advised me in the most professional and honest way possible. She works in a way that makes you feel comfortable and you feel you are in good hands. I have referred so many people to her and will continue to do so.
I highly recommend Saika as she is professional, approachable and does a fantastic job achieving realistic positive results.
Job Titles:
- Consultant - Residential Property
Sandra joined the firm from CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP and has extensive experience in the residential real estate sector. Before CMS, Sandra gained a wealth of experience at Hogan Lovells (formerly Lovell White Durrant), Dawsons LLP and Olswang LLP, Solicitors.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate - Residential Property
Sarita has a wealth of experience in all aspects of residential property and acting for a varied client base, from first time buyers to seasoned property investors.
Job Titles:
- Consultant - Immigration and Corporate
Sofia advises businesses and private individuals on UK immigration and corporate matters.
Sofia's immigration areas of expertise include business mobility and sponsored work routes such as Skilled Worker, Health and Care, Senior or Specialist Worker, and advice to UK businesses in obtaining Sponsorship Licences and complying with their sponsor duties. She also assists overseas companies expanding to the UK via the Global Business Mobility routes and individuals setting up their new companies in the UK under the Innovator/Start-up routes. She is a Portuguese and Spanish speaker and has represented clients from Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico.
As well as her immigration experience, Sofia advises corporate clients on all matters including the establishment of new businesses in the UK to transactional work. Sofia's experience includes drafting commercial contracts, joint venture and shareholder agreements, and the registration of charities. In addition, Sofia is able to advise on compliance and non-contentious employment advice, including employment and settlement agreements.
Sofia holds a Master of Laws degree in International Economic Law from Queen Mary University of London, following completion of a bachelor's degree in International Law with Japanese Language from Birkbeck University of London. She is a regulated Immigration Adviser by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).
Expertise
Corporate Immigration
Corporate and Commercial
Sophie has over ten years' experience working as a Legal Secretary in Central London and is highly skilled in case management, court processes and providing administrative support.
In her spare time, Sophie enjoys travelling (having grown up in Japan when she was younger), attending fitness classes and reading.
Sophie is a paralegal providing legal and administrative support to all fee earners across the firm. She is currently working towards her CILEX paralegal qualification.
Steven has spent 40 or so years of his professional life variously between private practice and as "inhouse counsel", principally specialising in corporate acquisitions (both domestic and international), joint ventures, licensing, distribution and agency agreements and the related tax issues, particularly in the application of double taxation treaties.
Job Titles:
- Consultant - Commercial and Residential Property
Steven has over fifty years' experience in all types of property transactions.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Arb Partner - Dispute Resolution
- Partner - Dispute Resolution
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and Solicitor Advocate (Higher Courts Civil), Subir specialises in International and Commercial Arbitration and Litigation
With over thirty-years' experience, Subir specialises in International and Commercial Arbitration and Litigation. Subir deals with high-value commercial and cross-border matters.
Initially qualifying as a Barrister in 1984, Subir became a Solicitor in 1991. Since then his High Court practice has assisted clients regarding cross-border fraud, letters of credit and guarantees, insolvency, commodities and shipping disputes, insurance claims and company disputes.
Subir specialises in International Arbitration, with expertise in matters involving metals, commodities, shipping, joint-venture and investment treaty claims and disputes. He has dealt with proceedings held under GAFTA, FOSFA, LME, LMAA, ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL arbitration rules.
He has also accepted appointments to act as an arbitrator in arbitrations held in the UK.
Subir is well placed to provide clients with the best possible litigation funding solutions, through renowned specialist brokers.
Experience
Subir has been representing various clients as a Partner since 1991 and his cases include the following:
successfully pursued claims for fraudulently diverted freight collections worth millions of US Dollars owed to a major ship owner, UASC, in several parts of the world and recovered the same in proceedings commenced against a major bank;
successfully securing the claims of an Oil Mining Lease owner against oil companies (Cavendish Petroleum v Tusker Resources & others, reported in the Daily Telegraph);
Job Titles:
- Head
- Partner - Commercial and Residential Property and Private Client
Tania is head of the property department. A highly experienced solicitor whose extensive experience and expertise extends to all types of property . Having acted for many years for a wide range of owners, occupiers, investors, developers, high net worth clients and family offices, her breadth of knowledge across all aspects of property law and the interrelation between areas is invaluable. Tania is highly regarded by both her clients and her peers and much in demand for her pro-active and practical attitude and advice.
Job Titles:
- Partner - Dispute Resolution
Tatyana is a Partner within the Dispute Resolution team and has over 16 years of experience advising multinational corporations, high net worth individuals and family offices in numerous practice areas, with a strong focus on complex cross-border disputes as well as investigations and regulatory matters.