Our People

Andrew Linton

Managing Partner

Solicitor

Dispute Resolution

Employment

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 323
alinton@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Andrew joined Buss Murton Law in 1995 and in 2015 became the firm’s Managing Partner. He is the head of the Employment Department, acting for both employers and employees. Andrew specialises in providing advice to employers on all aspects of employment law ranging from employment contracts for their senior executives to group redundancy arrangements. He also advises senior executives on their terms of engagement, revisions to their terms and conditions and, where necessary, negotiating their severance packages.

He has experience of all forms of dispute resolution ranging from the Employment Tribunal through mediation and arbitration to High Court action.

Expertise

Exit negotiations
Employment contracts
Service contracts
Settlement agreements
Redundancy
Disciplinary and grievances
Staff handbooks
Discrimination and equal opportunities
Employment Tribunal claims
Dismissals
Business reorganisations and redundancy
Restrictive covenants and business protection
Maternity and paternity rights
Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations

Helen Batt

Partner

Chartered Legal Executive

Residential Property

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 376
hbatt@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Helen joined Buss Murton in 2008. She is a member of the Institute of Legal Executives and qualified with a distinction in Conveyancing Law and Practice, as well as in 3 other heads of her ILEX exams in 2012. Helen became a Partner in 2016.

The majority of work Helen undertakes on a day-to-day basis is dealing with freehold and leasehold residential sales and purchases, unregistered land, shared ownership purchases, sales of part of land, equity releases, mortgages and remortgages, joint ownership agreements, assured shorthold tenancy agreements, deeds of variation and lease extensions.

Helen has established proactive relationships with local estate agents to ensure that clients receive a seamless service in dealing with their most valuable asset.

Expertise

Sale and Purchase of Freehold and Leasehold properties
Unregistered land
Shared ownership schemes
Assured shorthold tenancy agreements
Deeds of variation
Mortgages and remortgages
Lease extensions
All non-contentious residential property work

Kerry Carter

Partner

Associate Chartered Legal Executive

Private Client

Residential Property

Office : Cranbrook

01892 502 304
kcarter@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Kerry is an Associate Chartered Legal Executive in the Property and Private Client departments. After obtaining a First Class BA degree in Politics from Southbank University in 1993, Kerry went on to study Law and qualified as a Fellow in 2004 whilst working at a firm in Chancery Lane, London, specialising in property matters. Kerry became a Partner in 2017.

Kerry has many years experience advising in all areas of residential property work including freehold and leasehold property, unregistered land, equity release advice, new-build developments, shared ownership, declarations of trust, powers of attorney, transfers of equity, sales of land, auction properties, leasehold enfranchisement and the Help to Buy scheme. She has extensive experience in dealing with high value transactions and the accompanying complexities of dealing with listed buildings together with associated land.

Kerry also advises on all areas of Private Client work including Wills, Probate and Lasting Powers of Attorney, as well as post death Deeds of Variation in relation to Inheritance and Capital Gains Tax.

Expertise

Residential Property
High value transactions and the accompanying complexities of dealing with listed buildings together with associated land
Sale and Purchase of Freehold and Leasehold properties
Unregistered land
Equity release
Newbuild developments
Shared ownership schemes
Declarations of Trust
Transfers of equity
Sales of land
Auction properties
Leasehold enfranchisement
Help to Buy scheme
Bridging finance
All non-contentious residential property work

Private Client
Wills
Probate
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Post death Deeds of Variation in relation to Inheritance and Capital Gains Tax

Commercial Property
Commercial leases
Lease assignments
Option agreements
Promotion agreements
Commercial mortgages
Bridging finance

Melanie den Brinker

Partner

Barrister and Collaborative Lawyer

Family and Divorce

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 326
mdenbrinker@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Melanie was called to the Bar in 1984. For over 10 years she practised as a Barrister in a specialist set of London family law chambers, regularly appearing in the High Court and conducting a number of cases in the Court of Appeal.

Having taken a career break to care for her children, in 2003 she joined the Buss Murton family team. Melanie is now a partner and head of the family team. Her expertise and wide experience gained both from her time at the Bar and at Buss Murton, enable her to assist and advice on all areas of family law. She now specialises in high net worth financial cases and in complex children cases including those where a parent wishes to move abroad with children.

Melanie is one of the area’s most experienced and active collaborative lawyers and, where possible, strongly supports the resolution of issues through negotiation, rather than through the courts. She is a founder member of the local collaborative lawyers’ group and has given lectures to other family lawyers on collaborative law. Melanie is a member of Resolution (the organisation of family lawyers) and strongly supports the association’s aim to resolve issues in as fair and amicable way as possible.

Expertise

Divorce and civil partnership
Arrangements for children on divorce and separation
Financial arrangements on divorce and separation
Co-habitation and Separation Agreements
Removal from the jurisdiction
Change of Name
Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements

Graham Edwards

Partner

Solicitor

Private Client

Residential Property

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 306
gedwards@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Graham joined Buss Murton in December 2003 having previously practised in Bromley and Dartford.

Graham qualified in 1980 and has since the early 1990s specialised in non-contentious Private Client work in particular estate administration, the drafting of Wills, the administration of the affairs of the elderly and contested and non-contested applications to the Court of Protection on behalf of those incapable of dealing with their own affairs. He has also acted as a Professional Deputy approved by the Court of Protection and as a Professional Attorney

Graham is a Partner in the firm and having spent 5 years at the Tunbridge Wells office, he then headed up the Cranbrook office and Private Client team there and then took on the role of managing the Dartford Office before his return to Tunbridge Wells in December 2019.

Graham is also the Treasurer and occasional player for Meopham Cricket Club, one of the oldest Cricket Clubs in Kent and a keen football and rugby spectator although does regularly play 5 a side football for those above a certain age!

Expertise

Private Client
Estate Administration, Taxation and Distribution
Deeds of Variation of Estate
Wills
Administration of the affairs of the Elderly
Court of Protection applications (both contested and non-contested)
Lasting Powers of Attorney (both creation and registration and operation)

Residential Property
Sale and Purchase of Freehold and Leasehold properties
Unregistered land- Registration of and sale of
Shared Ownership Schemes
Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements
Mortgages
Lease extensions
Transfers of Equity
All non-contentious Residential Property work

Daldeep Jaswal

Partner

Solicitor

Commercial Property

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 324
djaswal@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

After obtaining an LLB honours degree in Law at the University of Kent at Canterbury in 2000 and successfully completing the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in London, Daldeep (known as ‘Dal’) joined Buss Murton in September 2001 as a Trainee Solicitor and qualified in 2003.

At the age of 25, Dal set up Buss Murton’s first standalone Commercial Property Department. Three years later he became one of the youngest Solicitors to be appointed Partner at Buss Murton. Dal is now the Partner in charge of the Property Department across its four offices, the firm’s Senior Responsible Officer for its Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation and he is also the Training Supervisor for the firm’s Trainee Solicitors.

Dal specialises in advising commercial clients on their property needs, in particular, landlords, tenants, developers and financiers.

Expertise

Commercial Property
Acting for landlords and tenants in relation to commercial leasehold premises
Acting for developers acquiring, disposing or refinancing land and in relation to site assembly
Acting for banks, independent lenders and other financiers in relation to property financing
Sales and purchases of freehold and leasehold business premises
Advising both developers and land owners on option agreements

Residential Property
Advising in relation to the residential conveyancing process and matters

Alex Lee

Partner

Solicitor

Company and Commercial

Employment

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 362
alee@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Alex leads the Company/Commercial team at Buss Murton. He joined the firm in 2012 from his own boutique corporate firm that he started up in 2010, bringing with him 20 years’ experience in leadership positions as in-house corporate counsel for such companies as FremantleMedia Limited (the makers of the X Factor and Grand Designs) and as Head of Corporate Strategy and General Counsel for the Jamie Oliver group of companies. Educated in New Zealand and the UK, and having worked with global organisations, Alex has gained significant experience, and led and contributed to high profile international media acquisitions and business strategy.

As a result, Alex is not only able to advise on the legal aspects of an enterprise’s business, but is also able to bring a unique perspective having been involved in the operational aspects of those enterprises. In addition to these insights, Alex has also been at the heart of a number of change management projects, and led transformation and integration initiatives.

With this wealth of experience, Alex can advise on a broad spectrum of company and commercial law. These include corporate and business acquisition and disposals, debt financings, corporate finance, insolvency, restructuring, and corporate governance right through to employment (non-contentious and contentious), commercial contracts, agency arrangements,

Alex brings to the firm the passion he also exhibits in his interest in sailing and classical guitar. Originally qualifying in New Zealand, he still supports the All Blacks (and everyone else playing Australia). He qualified as a solicitor in the UK in 1990 and obtained a Masters of Law from the London School of Economics in 1991. He regularly speaks on such subjects as the legal and business impacts of social media, data protection and cybersecurity.

Expertise

Company Commercial
Incorporations
Corporate and business acquisition and disposals
Debt financings
Corporate finance
Insolvency
Restructuring
Corporate governance through to employment
Shareholder agreements
Cross Option arrangements
LLP Incorporation
LLP Agreements
Employee shareholder arrangements
Commercial contracts
Agency arrangements
Intellectual property
Exploitation and protection
IT and website development
Data protection
Franchising
Dispute resolution

Employment
Employment contracts
Service contracts
Settlement agreements
Redundancy
Disciplinary and grievances
Staff handbooks
Business reorganisation and redundancy
Employment Tribunal claims
Dismissals
Consultancy agreements
Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations
Employee share schemes

Alex Smith

Partner

Head of Finance & Operations

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 309
asmith@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Alex joined Buss Murton in 2007 as a Business Analyst having previously worked in the shipping industry. Thereafter he headed up Buss Murton’s IT and Management Information Team, then became Financial Controller in 2013, and was appointed as the firm’s Practice Manager in June 2015. In June 2016, following the firm’s move to an Alternative Business Structure, Alex was appointed the firm’s first non-lawyer Equity Partner.

Alex oversees all aspects of finance & operations at Buss Murton and acts as the firm’s Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA).

Julie Taylor

Partner

Solicitor

Family and Divorce

Office : Cranbrook

01892 502 354
jtaylor@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Julie joined Buss Murton in 2015 as a Solicitor in our Cranbrook office, specialising in family and employment law. She qualified as a Solicitor in 2013 and became Partner in 2018.

Julie acts for clients in all areas of family law, specialising in issues relating to arrangements for children and financial provision arising from divorce. She is a member of Resolution and understands the complex emotional processes involved in family law matters and promotes mediation and a collaborative approach where appropriate.

Julie lives in Cranbrook and has many local community connections.

Expertise

Divorce and civil partnership
Arrangements for children on divorce and separation
Financial arrangements on divorce and separation
Co-habitation and Separation Agreements
Removal from the jurisdiction
Change of Name

Kristy Underwood

Partner

Chartered Legal Executive Advocate

Employment

Family and Divorce

Private Client

Office : East Grinstead

01892 502 312
kunderwood@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Kristy joined Buss Murton as an Associate in November 2015. She has over 25 years’ experience in family, general civil litigation, criminal, Wills & probate and financial planning areas of law.

In 2003 Kristy was admitted as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and in 2008 she became one of the first six Legal Executives in the country to obtain higher rights of audience as a Chartered Legal Executive Advocate in Family Proceedings. She undertakes the majority of her own advocacy.

Since 2001, Kristy has been a full Member of Resolution (formerly the Solicitors’ Family Law Association) and adheres fully to their Code of Practice attempting to achieve a fair and amicable settlement.

Kristy specialises in all areas of family law, wills and probate and employment law.

Expertise

Employment
Settlement Agreements

Family
Divorce and civil partnership
Co-habitation and Separation Agreements
Arrangements for children on divorce and separation
Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TLATA)
Special Guardianship Orders
Financial arrangements on divorce and separation
Declaration of Trusts
Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements
Removal from the jurisdiction
Change of Name
Independent legal advice
Enforcement

Private Client
Wills
Probate and estate administration
Lifetime planning
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Declaration of Trusts

Edward Walter

Partner

Solicitor

Private Client

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 320
ewalter@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Edward is a Partner in the Private Client Department. He started practising Private Client Law in 2000, initially as a solicitor in a well-known firm in Tonbridge and thereafter with several well-known East Sussex firms before joining Buss Murton in July 2014. Edward became a Partner in 2015.

He advises and acts on all aspects of Inheritance tax planning and Capital Gains tax planning. He also acts in Probate administration matters and post death Variations for Inheritance tax and Capital Gains tax purposes. He also regularly advises clients regarding the making of their Wills, Powers of Attorney, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Declarations of Trust with respect to client’s properties.

He undertakes the full range of advice and work with respect to Trusts and advises on associated tax implications of those actions. He also advises generally on (tax) domicile and residence issues.

He regularly advises and acts on the registration of Lasting and Enduring Powers of Attorney, the making of Statutory Wills and gift applications at the Court of Protection.

Expertise

Inheritance Tax Planning
Capital Gains Tax Planning
Wills
Probate and estate administration
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Declarations of Trust
Court of Protection
Estate Planning
Taxation advice
Succession strategies
Residence and domicile matters
Trusts

Gail Anthony

Licensed Conveyancer

Residential Property

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 303
ganthony@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Gail is a Licensed Conveyancer in the Residential Property Department. She acts for clients in all areas of residential conveyancing and specialises in dealing with purchases through the Government Help to Buy Schemes for clients. Other areas which Gail has experience in are equity release schemes, transfers of equity, lease extensions and remortgage transactions.

Gail joined Buss Murton in July 2014 having previously worked at another Kent firm for 12 years where she worked her way from a Secretary to a Conveyancing Assistant. In January 2012, she began studying to become a Licensed Conveyancer and qualified in September 2015.

Expertise

Sale and Purchase of Freehold and Leasehold properties
Shared ownership schemes
Government Help to Buy Scheme
Equity release schemes
Transfers of equity
Lease extensions
Mortgages and remortgages
All non-contentious residential property work

Christina Bassett

Solicitor

Commercial Property

Residential Property

Office : East Grinstead

01892 502 308
cbassett@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Christina joined Buss Murton in February 2015 and is local to the area. She qualified as a Solicitor in 2006. Christina deals with residential conveyancing including Freehold and Leasehold residential sales and purchases, new-builds, re-mortgages, transfers of equity, shared ownership and park homes. She has recently taken over conduct of commercial property work in the branch, the variety of which she enjoys. This can be from renewal of commercial leases, sales and purchases of business premises, option agreements and commercial loans.

Expertise

Residential Property
Sale and Purchase of Freehold and Leasehold properties
Newbuild properties
Re-mortgages
Transfers of equity
Shared ownership and park homes

Commercial Property
Renewal of commercial leases
Sales and purchases of business premises
Option agreements
Commercial loans

Corinne Browne

Solicitor

Commercial Property

Residential Property

Office : Cranbrook

01892 502 388
cbrowne@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Corinne has been with Buss Murton since 1977 and has many years experience of all types of property work acting for a variety of personal and commercial clients across a wide geographical area. Corinne typically handles residential and commercial property conveyancing, as well as financing both residential and commercial property. She has also acted for house builders in the acquisition of land for development and its eventual disposal as completed units.

She has acted for commercial landlords and tenants in respect of leases of offices, retail, industrial units and land.

Expertise

Commercial Property
Commercial landlords and tenants
Office leases
Retail
Industrial units and land

Residential Property
Sale and Purchase of Freehold and Leasehold properties
Unregistered land
Shared ownership schemes
Deeds of variation
Mortgages and re-mortgages
Lease extensions

Sharon Callery

Licensed Conveyancer

Residential Property

Office : East Grinstead

01892 502 313
scallery@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Sharon is part of the Property Team at Buss Murton’s East Grinstead Office. Sharon worked as a Legal Assistant for 25 years after which she pursued a career as a Licensed Conveyancer qualifying in March 2011 and passing her conveyancing module with merit.

Sharon deals with all residential conveyancing matters including a large amount of Park Home sales and purchases, Freehold and Leasehold sales and purchases, equity release and re-mortgages.

She is keen to ensure that clients receive an efficient and friendly service at all times.

Expertise

Park home sales and purchases
Sale and Purchase of Freehold and Leasehold properties
Equity releases
Re-mortgages
Lease extensions

Laura Chapman

Paralegal

Private Client

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 356
lchapman@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Laura graduated from the University of Bristol with a law degree in 2011 and went on to complete the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in London. During her academic studies Laura was a student member of the University of Bristol Pro Bono Law Clinic and volunteered at the College of Law with their LawWorks Mediation Scheme.

Following her legal studies, Laura gained experience as a paralegal at a family law firm in East Sussex. She then moved to another Kent law firm and worked as a probate legal secretary before being promoted to a legal assistant within the department. Laura joined Buss Murton in November 2015 and is a member of the Private Client team.

Expertise

Court of Protection
Probate and estate administration
Lasting Powers of Attorney

Alex Cuppage

Consultant Solicitor

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 321
acuppage@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

For the bulk of his career Alex has specialised in Estate Planning work for families, individuals, trustees and owner-managed businesses. This includes advice on taxation (mainly capital taxes such as IHT and CGT,) succession strategies, residence and domicile matters, Wills and Trusts.

Alex has a specialty in law for charities, advising many, both large and small, on their constitutional affairs, taxation and general commercial contracts. It helps that Alex has been the Chairman of a Hospice and is trustee of three other charities and has therefore hands-on experience of the issues that charities face day-to-day.

Alex has many years’ experience representing individuals who have lost the capacity to make decisions concerning their personal and financial affairs. He has been appointed by the Court of Protection to be Deputy (formerly Receiver) to a wide range of individuals in that role. Alex qualified in 1973 and after 18 years as a Partner in a provincial firm in Sussex, moved to London to join Campbell Hooper in Westminster. There he was a Partner and Head of the Private Client Department, a post he held for 10 years.

Expertise

Private Client
Estate Planning
Taxation advice
Succession strategies
Residence and domicile matters
Wills
Trusts

Charities
Constitutional affairs

Margaret Evans

Associate Solicitor

Family and Divorce

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 386
mevans@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Margaret is a Solicitor in the Family Department. Margaret started practicing Family Law in 1996 and joined Buss Murton in January 2000. She qualified as a Solicitor in 2003 and was made an Associate in 2009.

Margaret has considerable experience in all areas of Family Law, specialising in issues relating to arrangements for children and financial provision arising from divorce. Where appropriate, Margaret advises and supports clients in reaching agreement on these matters, but when this is not possible, she guides and assists them throughout the court process.

Margaret also advises unmarried couples in relation to issues relating to children and finances.

Margaret is a member of Resolution and strongly supports the association’s aim to resolve issues in as fair and amicable way as possible.

Expertise

Divorce and civil partnership
Arrangements for children on divorce and separation
Financial arrangements on divorce and separation
Co-habitation and Separation Agreements
Removal from the jurisdiction
Change of Name

Lora Grogan

Senior Paralegal

Family and Divorce

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 333
lgrogan@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Lora has been part of the Buss Murton family team since 2001. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and qualified with distinction in Family Law and Practice.

Lora has wide experience in all areas of family law and predominantly advises clients who are divorcing or separating and who need to resolve issues relating to finances and children. Lora particularly specialises in complex residence and contact cases, including cases in which one parent wishes to take children to live in a different country.

Lora also works closely with Melanie den Brinker who is head of the family team to provide an expert and cost sensitive approach to matters involving complex and high net value financial cases.

Expertise

Divorce and civil partnership
Arrangements for children on divorce and separation
Financial arrangements on divorce and separation
Co-habitation and Separation Agreements
Removal from the jurisdiction
Change of Name

Katie Holland

Associate Solicitor

Dispute Resolution

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 359
kholland@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Katie joined Buss Murton in May 2019. She qualified as a Solicitor in 2006.

Katie deals with a broad range of contentious matters involving both individual and corporate clients. She also has extensive experience in regulatory professional discipline.

Katie has experience of dealing with breach of contract disputes, professional negligence claims and debt recovery.

She also has experience in advising both landlords and tenants in property disputes involving both commercial and residential properties. Katie is able to advise clients in respect of contested lease extensions and collective enfranchisement.

She also advises on disputes involving land including boundary disputes and adverse possession claims.

Katie has been responsible for investigating and preparing professional discipline cases on behalf of the largest global accountancy regulator. She is able to advise individuals in relation to their regulatory obligations in the wider context. Her experience extends through the initial investigatory stages, interim order, substantive hearings and appeals.

Emily Jones

Trainee Solicitor

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 370
ejones@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Emily is a third seat Trainee Solicitor in the Litigation Department. She completed her first seat in the Private Client Department and second in Commercial Property.

Emily graduated with her Law LLB degree from Oxford Brookes University in 2016. During her time at University she led a Pro-Bono scheme between the University and HMP Springhill. Emily visited the prison once a week to help the prisoners enrol onto external practical and educational courses and work towards gaining their full licence.

Between finishing her undergraduate degree and starting the LPC, she spent just over a year working for the Health and Safety team at Kennedys London office as a litigation assistant. Her role was to support fee earners in their work defending companies and individuals prosecuted by the HSE.

Emily completed her LPC at the University of Law, Bloomsbury with a Commendation in June 2018. She also completed the LLM alongside her LPC gaining a Commendation.

Emily began her training contract in September 2018.

Lucy Head

Solicitor

Private Client

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 372
lhead@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Lucy advises on all aspects of private client work including Wills, probate and lasting powers of attorney. She qualified as a Solicitor in 2007 having completed her training at a local Sussex firm. Lucy subsequently worked “in house” for Lloyds Bank as an estates administrator and also within their legal team advising on technical issues relating to Wills, probate and trusts. Lucy joined Buss Murton in 2014.

Lucy also dealt with the contentious side of private client where claims arose from negligent Will drafting, questions of capacity of the testator when executing their Will or inadequate provisions being made for dependents within valid Wills.

Expertise

Wills
Probate and estate administration
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Court of Protection

Amanda Jardine-Viner

Solicitor

Family and Divorce

Private Client

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 348
ajardine-viner@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Amanda is a solicitor in the Private Client and Family Departments, having qualified in October 2019. She studied for the LLM Qualifying Law Degree at Birkbeck College, University of London, achieving a Distinction and taking both the Year 3 prize and the prize for Highest Achieving Graduate. Amanda then completed the Legal Practice Course at University of Law, Moorgate, for which she achieved a Distinction. She also achieved a Distinction for the MSc in Law and Business which she studied alongside the LPC.

Prior to this, Amanda completed a degree in English Literature at University of Reading. After completing her PGCE in secondary education, she taught English, most recently at Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School where she was Curriculum Leader.

Matthew Lewins

Solicitor

Commercial Property

Company and Commercial

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 314
mlewins@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Matt joined Buss Murton in 2016 as a Trainee Solicitor after completing his GDL at Oxford Brookes, where he achieved a Distinction and won the GDL Prize, and his LPC at the University of Law, Bristol where he also gained a Distinction. Prior to beginning his legal career, Matt taught English at a high school.

Matt qualified into the Commercial Department in October 2018 specialising in Company Commercial and Commercial Property matters.

Expertise

Company Commercial
Corporate and business acquisition and disposals
Debt financings
Corporate finance
Corporate governance through to employment
Commercial contracts
Intellectual property
IT
Data protection
Dispute resolution

Commercial Property
Acting for landlords and tenants in relation to commercial leasehold premises
Acting for developers acquiring, disposing or refinancing land and in relation to site assembly
Acting for banks, independent lenders and other financiers in relation to property financing
Sales and purchases of freehold and leasehold business premises
Advising both developers and land owners on option agreements

Charlotte Mortimer

Junior Paralegal

Residential Property

Office : Cranbrook

01892 502 396
cmortimer@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Charlotte is a paralegal working in the Residential Property department at Cranbrook. She joined the firm in October 2017 after obtaining her Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP Law School in London. Prior to this, Charlotte attended Goldsmiths University of London where she studied for a BA English and History degree.

Expertise

Sale and Purchase of Freehold and Leasehold properties

Helen Peach

Consultant Solicitor

Dispute Resolution

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 358
hpeach@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Helen’s experience as a commercial lawyer and litigator started in 1996, working in London with a strong bias towards commercial property law, professional negligence and insolvency.

Her more notable recent case experience has included successfully defending a multimillion pound equitable fraud case; directors disqualification actions including actions relating to shadow directors and a multi-party surveyors negligence action. On the claimant side, recent cases have included successful applications to the European General Court regarding trademark harmonisation matters; solicitors’ negligence cases regarding property transactions and limitation issues and undue influence cases against major banks.

Helen is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and has been an accredited mediator for the past 10 years.  Her mediation experience covers all areas of commercial disputes.  She also provides many of her employment law clients with workplace mediation services, assisting with internal disputes in an effort to promote workplace harmony and avoid litigation and formal grievance procedures.

On the commercial and corporate front, Helen has a wide experience of managing transactions including the buying and selling of companies and businesses, debt restructuring, corporate finance, MBOs and BIMBOs and change management advice.

Expertise

Shareholder disputes
Derivative Actions
Unfair prejudice actions
Company disputes
Commercial disputes
Landlord and Tenant disputes
Party Wall litigation
Insolvency
Restructuring
Directors disqualification
Intellectual Property
Dilapidations claims (Landlord or Tenant)
Professional Negligence
Property Litigation
Contentious Probate
Employment (employer and employee)

Katherine Proctor

Solicitor

Commercial Property

Company and Commercial

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 377
kproctor@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Katherine joined the firm in 2015 as a Trainee Solicitor in the Property team after spending two and a half years as a Paralegal in a London firm. While working in London she also studied part-time for her LPC with the University of Law.

Katherine qualified as a Solicitor in 2017 and is working in the Company Commercial and Commercial Property teams at Buss Murton. She has experience in corporate transactions such as business and share sales and corporate financing as well as commercial property work including leases (landlord and tenant), sale and purchases, overage and option agreements.

Expertise

Company Commercial
Corporate and business acquisition and disposals
Debt financings
Corporate finance
Corporate governance through to employment
Commercial contracts
IT
Franchising

Commercial Property
Acting for landlords and tenants in relation to commercial leasehold premises
Acting for developers acquiring, disposing or refinancing land and in relation to site assembly
Acting for banks, independent lenders and other financiers in relation to property financing
Sales and purchases of freehold and leasehold business premises
Advising both developers and land owners on option agreements

Fraser Rickman

Solicitor

Commercial Property

Residential Property

Office : Cranbrook

01892 502 393
frickman@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Fraser is a Solicitor in the Property department, specialising in both commercial and residential property. Having trained and worked at a well-known Tunbridge Wells based firm, Fraser then worked in the Real Estate department of a leading City firm before joining Buss Murton in 2019.

Fraser has wide ranging experience in all aspects of commercial property assets, including property sales and acquisitions, development work, as well as acting for landlords and tenants, particularly in the retail and office sector.

Fraser also advises on all areas of residential property work, aiming to make the house buying or selling process as smooth as possible. He can deal with complex transactions which may include listed buildings and other issues which arise in high value transactions.

Expertise

Residential Property

Sale and purchase of freehold and leasehold properties
Unregistered land
Newbuild developments
Shared ownership schemes
Lease extensions
Help to Buy schemes
Deeds of variation
Mortgages and remortgages
All non-contentious residential property work

Commercial Property

Sale and purchase of freehold and leasehold properties
Commercial leases (office, retail and industrial)
Acting for landlords and tenants on day to day property management matters
Option agreements and development work
Commercial mortgages

Claire Shireby

Associate Solicitor

Private Client

Residential Property

Office : Cranbrook

01892 502392
cshireby@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Claire started her legal career with an LLB(Hons) from the London School of Economics after which she trained as a barrister and was called to the Bar in 1989 and joined Buss Murton in 2014. She retrained as a Solicitor in Cambridge subsequently returning to her original home in Kent where she has worked for practices in Kent, Sussex and the City of London.

Claire specialises in residential property work but also undertakes some non-contentious private client work, particularly the administration of estates.

Expertise

Residential Property
Sale and Purchase of Freehold and Leasehold properties
Unregistered land
Shared ownership schemes
Assured shorthold tenancy agreements
Deeds of variation
Mortgages and re-mortgages
Lease extension
All non-contentious residential property work

Private Client
Wills
Probate and estate administration
Lasting Powers of Attorney

Patricia Simpson

HR Manager

Human Resources

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 347
psimpson@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Pat has worked within a legal environment for many years and qualified as an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in August 2006. She is based in Tunbridge Wells and manages the HR function for all of Buss Murton’s offices.

Therese Waterson

Marketing Manager

Marketing

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 502 343
tfwaterson@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Therese joined Buss Murton in April 2015 as the firm’s Marketing Manager and is responsible for developing the firm’s marketing strategy and implementation.

Prior to joining Buss Murton, Therese worked in various marketing functions in the pharmaceutical industry and then moved into financial services working for NatWest Bank and Barclays Stockbrokers in London. She then moved to Scotland where she was in charge of marketing for an international paper manufacturer.

Therese holds a Law degree from the University of Durham and a Masters degree from Warwick Business School.

Alan Williams

Consultant Solicitor

Company and Commercial

Office : Tunbridge Wells

01892 510 222
awilliams@bussmurton.co.uk

Profile

Alan trained and spent the early years of his career with international firm Bird & Bird. Subsequently he worked as an in-house lawyer in industry, spent some years as managing director of a group of management training companies, and founded his own law firm. With that background, he has acquired a wide range of commercial experience and awareness, and is well placed to view matters from a client’s perspective.

He joined Buss Murton as senior partner in 2007, and advises on corporate and commercial matters including shareholder arrangements, corporate governance, venture capital transactions, company acquisitions, joint ventures and share options, and on partnership and commercial agreements generally. He holds the Corporate Finance qualification granted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and is a co-author of Succession Solutions Manual, published in 2006 by Wolters Kluwer.

Expertise

Corporate and business acquisition and disposals
Partnership and commercial agreements
Corporate governance
Commercial contracts
Joint ventures and share options
Shareholder arrangements
Sports Club constitutions
Venture capital transactions