Our People
Sarah Walker-Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Sarah Walker-Smith is CEO of professional services group Ampa, one of the fastest growing businesses in the legal top 50, of which Shakespeare Martineau is its largest legal brand.
A chartered accountant with more than 25 years’ leadership experience, Sarah strongly believes that ‘good business’ is both purposeful and sustainably profitable.
Alex Smith
Partner & Managing Director
Alex Smith
Partner & Managing Director
Shakespeare Martineau Nottingham
As Managing Director of Ampa Group Services. I’m responsible for the strategic growth of the business unit, working closely with colleagues in the development of our strategy, values and culture.
Andrew Foreman
Group Chief Information Officer
Andrew Foreman
Group Chief Information Officer
Shakespeare Martineau London
Andrew started his career in software development with IBM and developed through various roles into Group Director Projects at SITA, based in Geneva, responsible for delivery globally.
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My Recent Articles
- Shakespeare Martineau completes GL Law merger
Mark Beesley
Partner & Managing Director
Mark Beesley
Partner & Managing Director
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
Mark is Managing Director of the litigation services and dispute resolution business unit, responsible for growing and developing the litigation and restructuring teams across Shakespeare Martineau.
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My Recent Articles
- Shakespeare Martineau completes GL Law merger
Victoria Tester
Partner & Managing Director
Victoria Tester
Partner & Managing Director
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
Victoria sits on our Main Board and is responsible for our Life & Business, business unit.
Keith Spedding
Senior Partner
Keith Spedding
Senior Partner
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
Keith advises companies (both public and private), partnerships and their owners on all aspects of corporate and partnership law.
Andrew Taylor
Partner & Head of Restructuring
Andrew Taylor
Partner & Head of Restructuring
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
Andrew is a highly regarded and experienced restructuring lawyer.
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Languages:
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English
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French
Andrew Whitehead
Partner & Head of Energy
Andrew Whitehead
Partner & Head of Energy
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
Andrew is a specialist energy regulatory and contracts lawyer, who works with a range of utility and developer clients and funders to help them manage regulatory and legal risk in a fast moving and complex environment. Andrew is also currently our elected Senior Partner.
Audrey Holden
Head of Marketing Business Partners
Audrey Holden
Head of Marketing Business Partners
Audrey is Head of Business Development. She is a member of the business services senior management team and leads a committed and passionate team of sales, propositions, business and client development specialists who help our brands and teams achieve our growth ambitions.
Carys Thompson
Partner & Head of Sheffield
Carys Thompson
Partner & Head of Sheffield
Shakespeare Martineau Sheffield
Carys undertakes a comprehensive range of commercial work providing high quality and commercially focussed advice to clients across a variety of sectors.
Catherine Rustomji
Partner & Head of Charities
Catherine Rustomji
Partner & Head of Charities
Shakespeare Martineau Sheffield
Catherine Rustomji is a partner and head of charities at Shakespeare Martineau. She has over 20 years’ experience advising charities, social enterprises and not for profit organisations.
David Browne
Partner & Head of Employment Law
David Browne
Partner & Head of Employment Law
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
David is Head of Employment Law and the lead employment partner for the firm’s education clients and provides sector specialist advice to universities and colleges. His exceptional clarity in explaining complex solutions and strategic advice has earned recognition in the Legal 500.
David Pendle
Partner
David Pendle
Partner
Shakespeare Martineau Nottingham
David works with landowners, developers and consultancies to deliver a range of development projects and specialises in land promotion and strategic developments.
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My Recent Articles
- Chancellor Unveils Ambitious Plans to Boost UK Economy
Duncan James
Partner & Head of Finance & Advisory Services
Duncan James
Partner & Head of Finance & Advisory Services
Shakespeare Martineau Nottingham
Duncan works with fast growing family businesses and entrepreneurs to ensure they are successful and to help them achieve their goals through acquisitions, funding lines and exit and succession planning.
Emma Porter
Partner & Head of Managed Legal Services
Emma Porter
Partner & Head of Managed Legal Services
Shakespeare Martineau London
Emma is the Head of Operations for our Volume and Consumer group and has in excess of 18 years’ legal practice management experience.
Helen Bowns
Partner & Head of Family Law
Helen Bowns
Partner & Head of Family Law
Shakespeare Martineau Stratford
Helen works with clients to ensure that they are sensitively guided through the complex area of family and relationship breakdown.
Jayne Gardner
Partner & Head of Debt & Asset Recovery
Jayne Gardner
Partner & Head of Debt & Asset Recovery
Shakespeare Martineau Stratford
Jayne has over 25 years’ experience in both debt collection and credit management.
Michael Hibbs
Consultant
Michael Hibbs
Consultant
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
Mike provides solutions to the employment problems faced by employers.
Michael Stace
Partner & Head of Corporate
Michael Stace
Partner & Head of Corporate
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
Michael specialises in corporate finance; advising public and private companies, individuals and institutions on domestic and international M&A, private equity investments, restructurings and joint ventures. He also advises on partnership matters.
Mohammed Saqub
Partner & Head of Islamic Finance
Mohammed Saqub
Partner & Head of Islamic Finance
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
Mohammed is a real estate finance and islamic finance specialist with considerable experience in dealing with a range of high-value and complex property investment, finance and development transactions.
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Languages:
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English
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Urdu
Naomi Tudor
Partner & Head of Banking & Financial Services
Naomi Tudor
Partner & Head of Banking & Financial Services
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
Naomi and her team work together with funders and their customers to ensure a smooth path to completion of a transaction where all parties are satisfied with the terms.
Neil Gosling
Partner & Head of Residential Development
Neil Gosling
Partner & Head of Residential Development
Shakespeare Martineau Solihull
Neil builds long standing working relationships with our clients by becoming an extension of their business. He is forward thinking and progressive in his approach.
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Languages:
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English
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French
Nicholas Briggs
Partner & Head of Intellectual Property
Nicholas Briggs
Partner & Head of Intellectual Property
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
Nick helps UK and international clients enforce and protect their Intellectual Property rights, and defends those accused of infringing IPRs.
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Languages:
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English
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French
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German
Philip Pepper
Partner & Head of Commercial, IP & Employment
Philip Pepper
Partner & Head of Commercial, IP & Employment
Shakespeare Martineau Leicester
Phil works in partnership with HR and senior management teams by providing commercially driven employment advice, which is both pragmatic and outcome focused.