Partners

 

Mark A Tildesley LLB

David M Roberts LLB

Alex S Payton LLB

John Barr LLM 

 

Associates

 

John K Coffee LLB, TEP

Philip J Northen

Tony Gowtage FILEX

 

Assistant Solicitors

 

Kathryn Dowding LLB

Debbie K Poonia LLB

Verity A Drinkall LLB

Claire L Howkins BA

Julian Crowle LLB

Sabrina Maini LLB

Geeta Kalyanji LLB

Hardeep Mann LLB

Verity A Lyon LLB

 

Legal Executives

 

Susan A Kirton

Jacqueline Cooper

 


 

 

Mark Tildesley

 

Mark is the Senior Partner of the firm and in overall charge of the commercial/company team.  He deals primarily with supervision of the commercial team who deal with all aspects of commercial conveyancing, company and corporate matters, commercial contracts and company sales and acquisitions.  Having been a businessman himself in Leicester for rather longer than he cares to remember with several sets of premises and almost 70 employees, he is well in tune with the needs and concerns of the local business community.

 

After taking his Law Degree at Leicester University followed by the College of Law in Chester, Mark trained as a Solicitor in Mansfield at Elliott Smith & Co. qualifying in 1980.  After 8 months at that firm he joined Rich & Carr as an Assistant Solicitor in the Civil Litigation Department and has transferred over the years to corporate and commercial matters having remained at Rich & Carr ever since broadening his knowledge and experience of the area, its people, the firms' clients and their needs and aspirations.   

 

In his personal life Mark lives with his partner, Vanessa and their four children.

 

Telephone : 0116 242 6030

Email: Mark Tildesley

 

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David M Roberts

 

David is the Partner in charge of the firm's Personal Injury Department, in which capacity he oversees a team of 3 fully qualified fellow practitioners, each of whom also has many years' experience in this field, together with the usual attendant support staff. He was admitted as a Solicitor in 1980, moved to Rich & Carr in 1986 and joined the partnership in 1990. For a number of years thereafter he continued to undertake criminal and liquor licensing work as well as some conveyancing in addition to handling accident / compensation claims but as the firm acquired other practitioners specializing in these fields David was able to concentrate fully on the personal injury side of things and to preside over the continued growth of this Department. 

 

He was responsible for the creation of the Just Claim! Advertising vehicle in 2003 - their adverts can be seen on ITV Central during the autumn and winter months - via which a not insignificant proportion of the new claims arrive these days. He is responsible for continuing to cement business links with the other firms, including the T F Bell Group, Insurance and Pensions Advisors, Hayles Farrar & partners, Chartered Accountants. David has been a member of the Law Society's approved panel of Personal Injury Lawyers for many years.

 

Telephone : 0116 242 6012

Email: David Roberts

 

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Alex S Payton

 

Educated at Nottingham Law School (where he took his Law Degree and Legal Practise Course) Alex Payton joined the Firm in 1994 as a Trainee Solicitor qualifying in 1996. In 2000 he was invited to join the Partnership and has stayed with the firm ever since! Alex is the Partner responsible for the Firm's Contentious matters and specialises in Employment Law (both contentious and non-contentious) acting for both Employers and Employees. Alex has built up a solid reputation in this field and often receives recommendations or referrals from the Employment Tribunals, ACAS, Government bodies, as well as from other firms of solicitors. Alex also advises on commercial contracts (as well as the standard contracts often being called upon to advise on and/or prepare increasingly complex contractual arrangements) and commercial litigation and amongst other issues frequently advises on the specialist area of commercial agencies, acting for both Principals and Agents, and dealing with the complex issues surrounding the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993. Alex is also a specialist in Partnership Law and regularly deals with the setting up of Partnerships including the drafting of Partnership deeds, and also deals with partnership retirement and dissolution issues. Through this work Alex has built up a niche area acting for many GP Practices throughout Leicestershire especially following the introduction of the new GP Contract.  Clients who have used Alex often refer to his business-focused and clear approach and the comprehensive and speedy way that he is able to deal with matters. Alex is also the Firm's Staff Partner responsible for all personnel issues arising in the firm. 

 

In his spare time, Alex enjoys spending time with his two children, is an avid sports fan (albeit from the armchair!), enjoys cooking and dining out, and less frequently these days (thank goodness) enjoys singing in a local folk-rock band.

 

Telephone : 0116 242 6010

Email: Alex Payton

 

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John Barr

 

John joined the firm in 1995.  He specialises in residential conveyancing and oversees our network of branch offices across the County. John believes that providing a local, personal service to clients is of paramount importance.

 

He is also the partner in charge of our new property selling business and is excited about being able to provide our clients with the whole house moving package under one roof.

 

Telephone : 0116 2759195

Email: John Barr

 

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 John K Coffee

 

I qualified as a solicitor in 1980 after taking a law degree at Leicester University and Law Society finals at Chester. Formerly senior partner in a local firm doing Commercial, Property and private client work, I joined Rich and Carr in 1998, and I am now head of the Wills and Probate department.

 

My interests include church, Scottish history, and rugby, at which I represented English Universities.

 

Telephone no: 0116 242 6016

Email: John Coffee

 

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Philip J Northen

 

I have been practising as a Solicitor for approximately 35 years. I commenced practice as a sole practitioner and then practised in partnership under the style of "Northen & Lindsey" before amalgamating that practice with Rich & Carr in 2004. I now work as an Associate with Rich & Carr doing mainly property work.

 

Telephone no: 0116 232 8738

Email: Philip Northen

 

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Tony Gowtage

 

I originate from Leicester and was educated in Evington.  In 1984 I qualified as a Legal Executive from which time I have worked as a domestic conveyancer. I am based at Rich and Carr's Oadby office and during that time I have received many tokens of appreciation for my efforts and enjoy receiving repeat instructions from past clients. 

 

I am happily married with two sons and enjoy family activities.

 

Telephone no: 0116 232 8732

Email: Tony Gowtage

 

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Kathryn Dowding

 

I qualified as a solicitor in June 2000 after attending Nottingham Trent University and completing my Training Contract with Solicitors in Loughborough. Since qualifying I have worked in Loughborough and Burton upon Trent before joining Rich and Carr in October 2002.

 

Telephone no: 0116 264 5981

Email: Kathryn Dowding

 

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Debbie K Poonia

 

I joined Rich & Carr in 2001 after reading law at Leicester University. I completed my training contract with the firm qualifying as a Solicitor in July 2003 and now specialise in residential conveyancing.  

 

Telephone no: 0116 242 6028

Email: Debbie Poonia

 

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Verity A Drinkall

 

I am a solicitor at our Blaby office, and have worked at Rich & Carr for 4 years.  I undertake a full range of domestic property work. When not at work I am a keen horse rider, and compete in local and regional events.

 

Telephone no: 0116 275 9191

Email: Verity Drinkall

 

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Claire L Howkins

 

I trained with Rich and Carr and I am now a qualified solicitor in our Family Department. I deal with all areas of family law including divorce, finances, separation and child contact matters. I am committed to providing sympathetic yet practical advice to find solutions to all of my clients' problems. Outside of working hours I enjoy reading, socialising and retail therapy!

 

Telephone no: 0116 247 7777

Email: Claire Howkins

 

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Julian Crowle

 

I am a solicitor working from Rich and Carr's Lutterworth office, dealing mainly with residential property matters. 

 

Outside work, my interests include cricket, rugby and golf.

 

Telephone no: 01455 551711

Email: Julian Crowle

 

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Sabrina Maini

 

I qualified as a Solicitor in July 2004, after attending Brunel University London, then completing my Legal Practice course at the College of Law- London. I completed my training contract with Solicitors in Birmingham.

I moved from Birmingham to Leicester joining Rich and Carr Solicitors in May 2007. I specialise in Wills and Probate and more recently Trust Administration.

 

Outside of work, I enjoy interior design, flower arranging, dance and travelling - I would really love to visit China!! 

 

Telephone no: 0116 242 6018

Email: Sabrina Maini

 

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Geeta Kalyanji

 

I qualified as a Solicitor in 2004 and since then I have been specialising in Wills and Probate. I joined Rich & Carr in 2007 and I enjoy providing a sympathetic and efficient service to my clients.

When I am not working my interests are to socialise, play Chess and Scrabble and attend the gym. I enjoy travelling to other parts of the world and learning about different cultures.

 

Telephone no: 0116 242 6018

Email: Geeta Kalyanji

 

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Hardeep Mann

 

I joined Rich and Carr in May 2007 following completion of her academic studies at Nottingham Law School and after training at a reputable regional firm in the West Midlands.

 

I specialise in Commercial litigation matters such as company disputes involving breach of contract claims, misrepresentation, sale of goods and services issues and intellectual property issues. I also deal with some civil litigation matters such as breach of agreement claims.

 

I also accept instructions on all Employment law matters from unfair & / or constructive dismissal claims to those involving allegations of discrimination. I am  also regularly instructed to advise both employers and employees on issues involving redundancy and restructuring issues. 

I am a member of the Employment Law Association. 

My favourite past time is to indulge in 'retail therapy' whether it is clothes, shoes, bags, jewellery, home furnishing or the like.   

Telephone no: 0116 242 6020

Email: Hardeep Mann

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Verity A Lyon

 

I have lived in Leicester all my life apart from the three years that I spent at Lincoln University studying for my law degree. I moved back to Leicester in 2004 and completed my Legal Practice Course at DeMontfort University. I was then offered a Training Contract at Rich & Carr and have now qualified into the Commercial Property Department.

 

I specialise in Business Sales/ Purchases, Share Sales/ Purchases, Commercial Leases, Business Procedure, Shareholder/ Partnership Agreements and Incorporation of Companies.

 

I live with my partner, Toby, and my puppy, Rufus, and in my spare time I love fine dining, watching films and socialising with my friends and family.

 

 

Telephone no: 0116 242 6006

Email: Verity Lyon

 

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Susan A Kirton

 

I qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in 1994.  I joined Rich & Carr in November 2001 and specialise in residential conveyancing.

 

Telephone no: 0116 242 6047

Email: Sue Kirton

 

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Jacqueline Cooper

 

I am the Head of our Family Law Department at Rich & Carr. Having qualified and been admitted as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in 1999 I deal with all aspects of Family Law. I am committed to ensuring that the Family Law Team at Rich & Carr continue to provide the highest level of practical advice and support to our clients. Outside work, I enjoy travelling, fine wine/food.

 

Telephone no: 0116 260 5764

Email: Jacqueline Cooper

 

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