Our People

Alex Smith
Partner & Managing Director
Alex Smith
Partner & Managing Director
Shakespeare Martineau Nottingham
As Managing Director of Shakespeare Martineau’s Infrastructure & Specialist Markets Business Unit, I’m responsible for the strategic growth of the business unit, working closely with colleagues in the development of our strategy, values and culture.

Karen Walker
Chief Transformation Officer
As Chief Transformation Officer, Karen has a particular focus on transformation and change. Aligning to our ambitious strategy, Karen’s role is focused on maximising the profitability of our business and unlocking our potential.

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.

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.

Catherine Rustomji
Partner & Head of Charities
Catherine Rustomji
Partner & Head of Charities
Shakespeare Martineau Works from Home
Catherine Rustomji is a partner and head of charities at Shakespeare Martineau. She has been advising charities, social enterprises and not for profit organisations exclusively for over 20 years.
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My Recent Articles
- Charity expert vows to ‘stand up for the sector’ after committee appointment

Ed Wright
Partner & Head of Sport
Ed Wright
Partner & Head of Sport
Shakespeare Martineau Nottingham
Ed works with clients from all sectors (particularly healthcare/life sciences, sport, technology, media and communications) on wide-ranging non-contentious contractual, IP, data protection and competition law issues.
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Languages:
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English
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French

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.

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.
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My Recent Articles
- Voluntary redundancy – Are you really safe from an unfair dismissal claim?

Allawee Albaghdadi
Partner
Allawee Albaghdadi
Partner
Shakespeare Martineau Milton Keynes
Allawee has led multi-disciplinary teams for over 10 years both within private practice and whilst in-house.

Amy Cowdell
Partner
Amy Cowdell
Partner
Shakespeare Martineau Lincoln
Amy specialises in agricultural property law, bringing more than 16 years’ experience.

Andrew Adams
Partner
Andrew Adams
Partner
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
Andrew works with teams to achieve the best commercial and strategic outcome to complex commercial disputes.

Andrew Mellor
Partner
Andrew Mellor
Partner
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
Andrew is an experienced real estate development lawyer, dealing with complex commercial and mixed use sites. He regularly leads teams of lawyers on complex real estate developments.

Ben Humphreys
Partner
Ben Humphreys
Partner
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
Ben works with clients to manage all manner of commercial disputes.

Carys Thompson
Partner
Carys Thompson
Partner
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.

David Wells
Partner
I am a City trained commercial real estate solicitor with over 20 years’ PQE with current partnership and leadership experience, a high level of commercial and financial awareness, an ethic of client focused service delivery and a keen interest in business development.

Helen Molloy
Partner
Helen is an expert in employment law, HR and commercial matters, including all manner of employment law issues (ranging from grievances and disciplinaries through to complex restructures and redundancy exercises), high value cross-border commercial contracts and business turnaround advice.
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My Recent Articles
- We’re joined by a new Lincoln trio

James Fownes
Partner
James Fownes
Partner
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
James works with clients and colleagues to find effective solutions to property disputes and problems.
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My Recent Articles
- Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022

Janet James
Partner
Janet has a reputation as being a personable and commercial practitioner and works closely with her clients to achieve their goals.

Jody Webb
Partner
Jody Webb
Partner
Shakespeare Martineau Birmingham
Jody leads on substantial transactions including acquisitions, disposals, management buy outs and private equity investments with a particular focus on the UK mid-market with values of circa £5m – £100m across a variety of sectors.
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My Recent Articles
- Lawyers trade office for canal as part of litter pick

Jon Heuvel
Partner
Jon Heuvel
Partner
Shakespeare Martineau London
Jon supports business owners and HR teams in providing strategic people management advice across a range of industries and sectors.

Jonathan Stork
Partner
Jonathan is a partner in the litigation and dispute resolution team with a broad range of experience and expertise. His particular areas of focus lie in contested trust and probate work, disputes within the agricultural sector and commercial litigation.

Jordan Glackin
Partner
Jordan Glackin
Partner
Shakespeare Martineau Milton Keynes
Jordan has experience working with healthcare operators and education clients for some 15 years.
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My Recent Articles
- Recruitment challenges lie ahead for the social care sector

Joseph Soul
Partner
Joe is a commercial real estate lawyer with over 20 years experience working with healthcare operators and has particular expertise in the funding, ownership and development of care homes, new medical centres and private medical hospitals.