PARKLANE PLOWDEN CHAMBERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Payments Processing Clerk
Job Titles:
- Legal Aid Billing Administrator
Beth has worked within a Barristers chambers since 2018 , having previously worked at Zenith chambers before joining Parklane Plowden in 2020.
Beth is responsible for Family and Court of protection legal aid billing.
Outside of work, Beth enjoys spending time with her family and long walks with her dog.
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager - Family Team
Callum joined PLP in February 2024 from New Park Court after clerking there for the past 8 years. In that time Callum has clerked family work, civil, criminal and assisted in clerking the silks. Before joining New Park Court, Callum was at Leeds Crown Court for 2 and a half years. He started as an usher and quickly moved in to the general office and then to listing.
Outside of chambers, Callum enjoys watching rugby league and supports Bradford Bulls. He also enjoys going to concerts.
Job Titles:
- Office Assistant ( Temporary )
Job Titles:
- Senior Fees Credit Controller
Chrissy has worked in debt management for over 30 years, she was also a debt counsellor for Northern Rock for 7 years in the Mortgage Arrears Unit in Leeds. Her most recent long-term role was for Adair Paxton as Credit Control Manager, she dealt with the Residential Service Charge Department for 13 years. Chrissy had many aspects to her role, mostly collecting service charges, ground rents & levies. Chrissy's hobbies include:- long dog walks with her working cocker spaniel Bella, eating out, good wines, cocktails, socialising, holidays abroad to relax, reading and meditating. Chrissy is a good listener and likes to have lunch with her friends.
Claire Millns is a specialist employment, discrimination & education practitioner with over 20 years' experience.
"Claire Millns is a well-regarded barrister who has a strong reputation in employment litigation, with particular expertise in complex discrimination and whistle-blowing claims. She is highly rated for her knowledge of difficult and technical areas of employment law." Chambers and Partners (2023) - Employment (Band 3)
"Claire is incredibly thorough and forensic in her preparation for a case, and her cross examination is professional and robust where it needs to be. Clients her seek out for her personable approach and ability to put witnesses at ease." Legal 500 (2023) - Employment (Tier 2)
"Very client-friendly and a very good advocate who grasps the facts quickly." "A fantastic knowledge of law and procedure, and she's very reassuring to clients in stressful situations (Chambers & Partners Band 3 Employment 2022)
"Claire is excellent to work with. She is unflappable in all situations and offers great reassurance to clients. It is very obvious that Claire is respected and liked by the local employment judges. (Legal 500 Tier 2 Employment 2022)
Job Titles:
- Senior Administrative Fees Clerk
Elizabeth Hodgson has practiced almost exclusively in the field of injury-related litigation since pupillage in 1993. She acts on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants in a wide range of personal injury and clinical negligence cases. She is instructed by many insurance companies, local authorities, NHS Resolution, and the major trades unions.
She is increasingly experienced in conducting court hearings, conferences, settlement meetings and mediation remotely, and is happy to advise with regard to the best way of progressing cases during the Covid-19 crisis.
Areas of Expertise
Civil Fraud
Elizabeth Hodgson appointed as a Fee-Paid Judge of the First Tier Tribunal, assigned to Health, Education and Social Care (Mental Health).
Elizabeth Hodgson appointed as a Deputy District Judge.
Job Titles:
- Legal Aid Billing Administrator
Ellen has worked in the legal sector for over 20 years, in both Solicitors offices and Barristers chambers. She deals with all aspects of Family Legal Aid billing. Her interests are theatre and concerts.
Job Titles:
- Junior Civil and Clinical Negligence Clerk
Emma Joined Parklane Plowden Chambers in 2018 as an office assistant, where she completed her business admin apprenticeship. She later gained experience within the accounts department, by helping out in relation to the BACS payments. She then became the ‘Roving Clerk' in October 2019, covering all of the teams. This included, Chancery and Commercial, Family Law and now Civil, where her current position is one of the Junior Civil Clerks. Emma's day to day tasks as a civil clerk incorporate daily diary management for the barristers, liaising with both instructing and new solicitors to allocate work and build up new relationships as well as, some fee negotiation.
Emma also has prior experience within marketing, after helping to organise and carry out events, such as PLP seminars.
Outside of work Emma enjoys hiking, after completing many mountains such as Ingleborough and the striding edge of Helvellyn in 2021. She has many more to tick off of her list.
Emma also cherishes her free time spent with her family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Practice Director - Employment, Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence
Emma joined PLP back in 2015 and quickly moved her way from apprentice office assistant to Civil Clerk. In late 2020 Emma was then promoted to the Practice manager for the Civil and Employment team, working closely with the director of the employment team, Sharon Robson.
With over 6 years of clerking under her belt, Emma is well versed with diary and fee management and is always happy to help with new enquires from clients. Emma is qualified to assist with direct access case enquires and she is also a member of the institute for barristers' clerks.
Time spent outside of chambers is spent in the local crossfit gym or baking for friends and family. Emma often bakes to raise money for Charity, most recently raising over £220 by hosting a coffee morning in chambers, raising vital funds for Macmillan cancer support; a charity very close to her heart.
"I've never worked with better employment clerks than Sharon Robson and Emma Frazer. They are absolute stars and will go above and beyond for me to find someone to cover anything from long listings to last-minute hearings." Chambers and Partners 2023
Deciding to change career paths, Georgia joined Parklane Plowden in December 2022.
Her previous experience includes 4+ years' of being an Executive Personal Assistant and 3 years of experience as a finance assistant.
In her own time, she enjoys attending gigs/concerts.
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager - Family Team
Job Titles:
- Junior Chancery and Commercial Clerk
Job Titles:
- Practice Director - Civil, Clinical Negligence and Inquests
John has 34 years experience in the legal industry with 30 years as a barristers' clerk. He was trained in a high street solicitors' practice as a Legal Executive before joining a mixed common law and commercial chambers in Central Manchester.
Having trained as a junior clerk in two Manchester sets, John joined an emerging legal IT company providing bespoke diary and case management software to barristers' chambers. The opportunity to see the working practices of over 80 different chambers across England and Wales provided him with access to a wealth of experience and excellence in the clerking and administration of chambers.
John returned to a multi-practice Manchester set as a Head Clerk and was promoted to Senior Clerk within a year. In the 23 years that followed the chambers expanded over threefold and developed to become one of the leading mixed-discipline sets of chambers nationwide. He has overseen the elevation of 12 members of chambers to the judiciary at High Court, Circuit and District Judge levels. He is particularly proud of having the honour of escorting one member of chambers to his circuit bench appointment and his former Head of Chambers to his appointment to silk in the knowledge that he had clerked them both from joining chambers as pupils.
The clerking teams John has managed are recognised annually in the leading legal directories with personal accolades regularly included.
Jon joined Chambers in March 2024 on a temporary basis, he has previously held marketing roles at three separate sets of chambers in London, and worked for ten years at the legal directory, Chambers & Partners. Jon is a qualified counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Job Titles:
- Junior Civil and Clinical Negligence Clerk
Job Titles:
- Office Manager
- Office Manager ( Temporary )
Karen has joined Parklane Plowden as the Office Manager. Most of her career has been within retail management, however in 2021 she had a career change working as an Office and HR Manager in a law firm. Karen is an Associate CIPD (Level 5) and qualified in People Management. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with her family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Apprentice Practice Administrator / Finance
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager
- Practice Manager - Civil, Clinical Negligence and Inquests
- Practice Manager for Civil
Clinical negligence practice manager Laura Storr is noted by clients as being 'particularly helpful and responsive.'
Job Titles:
- Civil and Employment Clerk
Louise joined chambers in 2006 as an office assistant, she was quickly promoted to Civil Clerk and then went on to be Practice Manager to the Civil and Employment team. She is a highly motivated member of the team and in 2009 obtained a BTEC in Advanced Chambers Administration.
In 2020 Louise stepped down as Practice manager but still continues to clerk the civil and employment team.
Louise has over 15 years of clerking experience, assisting in all aspects of clerking including diary management, fee negotiation, direct access and liaising with solicitors and clients.
Job Titles:
- Apprentice Accounts Assistant
- Apprentice Accounts Assistant / Support
Martin joined Chambers in June 2015 as an accounts assistant. Based in Leeds, his role was varied across the whole finance function for Counsel fees and Plowden Facilities. Following a promotion to management accountant in 2018 and a restructure of the finance department in 2021, Martin's role focusses on the smooth running of finance for Plowden Facilities and supporting the Executive and Service boards and senior manager team in their decision making process. Martin has a passion for process improvements and automation and has helped Parklane Plowden with the migration of their case management system to LEX as well as moving Plowden Facilities' financial package to Xero, and played a pivotal role in developing the reporting suite for the leadership teams. Using his Accounting and Finance degree from Bradford University as a base of his knowledge, Martin has spent much of his spare time to become a Chartered Accountant through ICAEW, graduating in 2021.
Amy is a specialist employment and personal injury barrister. She is consecutively recommended in Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 for employment law in 2023 and 2024.
Amy joined her former supervisor, Seamus Sweeney, at an appeal hearing considering equal pay arrears from insolvent companies. Amy provided a note of the case
Amy is regularly instructed on behalf of local authorities in cases involving complex social and health care issues. Amy's recent experience includes success in section B, F and I appeals.
Job Titles:
- Civil and Clinical Negligence Clerk
Rebecca spent the last 4 years working for a full service law firm, providing legal support & litigation to the Serious Injury and Medical Negligence teams.
She has a keen interest Formula 1 and is likely to spend weekends with friends & her dog Lola.
Job Titles:
- Apprentice Office Assistant
Ruby started her journey with Parklane Plowden in July 2023 straight after finishing her GCSEs to begin her Level 3 business administration apprenticeship. Ruby's dream is to develop her career in the law industry. Ruby currently has the role of the Apprentice Office Assistant. Her day-to-day tasks include combining files, scanning and printing, setting up conference rooms and assisting the rest of the team. Outside of work hours, Ruby likes to spend her time shopping, having days out with friends and family, grabbing iced coffee to boost her energy and travelling.
Sandra joined Parklane Plowden Chambers in February 2021 as Fees Credit Control Manager, with over 30 years experiences in debt management. Sandra is responsible for the Fees Collections function, active debt management, debt reporting and providing Chambers with risk analysis. Outside of work Sandra enjoys socialising with friends which includes cocktails, attending concerts, and going to the gym. In the past Sandra has been involved with team charity days by helping the local community. Creating a sensory garden for a school, chopping down trees to create a natural habit for hedgehogs, in one of the local parks and working in charity shops. A charity close to her heart is the Cat Rescue charity, now having two cats, she can definitely be classed as the cat lady!
Job Titles:
- Practice Director
- Practice Director - Civil, Employment and Inquests
- Senior Practice Director
Sharon is a Practice Director based in our Newcastle office. She is head of the Employment clerking team and is responsible for managing the barrister's practices and personal development. She is also a senior member of the Civil clerking team providing support for the senior members of the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence teams.
Sharon has over 30 years experience as a barristers clerk and has an excellent knowledge of the local bar, judiciary and legal community.
Highly regarded for her unflappable nature, Sharon is extremely popular with both clients and counsel alike. She has an extensive knowledge of both the employment and personal injury teams and their specialisms and is a valued member of the clerking team.
Sharon also has a significant leadership role in Chambers. As well as her clerking and business development roles she assists greatly with the welfare and training of the junior clerks.
Senior practice director Sharon Robson in particular is friendly and will try to be accommodating whenever possible." Chambers and Partners 2021
Job Titles:
- Senior Practice Director of Family, Chancery & Commercial
Victoria joined Chambers in October 2022, bringing marketing and communications experience from working with the NHS over the previous 3 years. Victoria is a member of the Wellbeing Committee at Parklane Plowden Chambers and is qualified as a Mental Health First Aider. She can be found at the gym or spending time with her young family in her spare time.