PAUL BERWIN - Paul Berwin has been a Solicitor since 1982. Having opened his office in Harrogate in 1986, he went on to found the organisation now known as Berwins in 1993. He is the company's Managing Director, and also works for clients in the firm’s Commercial and Corporate Department. Paul deals with Acquisitions and Disposals, Company Restructures, Shareholder and other Company Agreements as well as having a speciality in dealing with Information Technology matters, including Software Licensing, developments and related matters. He is a member of the Society for Computers and Law, the Law Society's Management Section and the Institute of Directors and the Chair of the Harrogate Forum of the Leeds York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Paul is also an active sportsman and fundraiser, competing regularly as a runner and tri-athlete, and raising considerable sums for charity through his efforts. Paul is noted in the Legal 500 Directory for his IT specialism.

STEPHEN ROOT - Stephen qualified as a solicitor in 1985 joining Myers & Co. He became a partner in that firm and later in Berwins after the merger of the two firms in 2002. He is now a Director specialising in family law, leading the Legal 500 recommended family team and is head of the company's Private Client Unit. He was one of the first members of the Law Society's Family Law Panel and is a member of Resolution, a Solicitors' association dedicated to seeking constructive solutions to matrimonial issues. He is also one of the first accredited collaborative lawyers in Harrogate and heads the local collaborative group. He gives training and presentations to groups such as CAB advisers and NYCC social workers on collaborative law. Stephen can often be heard commenting on family issues on the local radio station Stray FM. He has substantial experience in relation to farming businesses and having gained experience in a breadth of legal areas is able to bring a pragmatic approach to clients' cases. He is also the company's money laundering compliance officer.

SUE BLAKE - Sue qualified as a Solicitor in 1990 with A M Hall & Co after prior experience in Retail Management. A M Hall & Co merged with Berwins in 1995, and Sue became a partner in Berwins in 1996 becoming Berwins’ Finance Director on incorporation in 2009. Having gained wide experience in a number of legal areas, Sue now concentrates on Residential Property, heading that Team, but brings to her work the benefit of her wider experience. Sue is particularly valued by clients for her down-to-earth approachability and good sense and specialises in higher value properties, rural property and complex transactions. In her former role as staff partner Sue was responsible for the Firm's achievement of its Investor in People status which has been maintained for many years.

CAROLYNN PEACE - Carolynn qualified as a Solicitor in 1991, and joined Berwins as a partner in 1998, specialising in residential property, where her technical expertise and ability to find solutions to difficult problems provides a valuable resource to the residential property team. Carolynn stood down as head of the Residential Property Team to become the company’s Marketing Director on incorporation in 2009 and is currently studying for the Professional Diploma in Professional Services Marketing Communications. Carolynn is Chairman of Berwins’ Board of Directors. In her spare time Carolynn is a dedicated follower of the Arts having sat on the Board of Harrogate Theatre for seven years and is now a trustee of NYMAZ (www.NYMAZ.org.uk). Carolynn is a member of the Law Society's Property Section and the Association of Women Solicitors.

SARAH SMITH - Sarah qualified as a Solicitor in 1996, practising in London until she relocated to North Yorkshire and joined Berwins in July 2008. Sarah became a Director on Berwins' incorporation in 2009 and, in her role of Director of Personal Development ensures the harmonious running of the firm and that all staff maximize their development through training and regular appraisals. Sarah's work area is family law; specialising in relationship breakdown for married couples, unmarried couples and Civil Partners. Sarah is trained as a Collaborative Lawyer and is a member of Resolution. She brings a progressive and pragmatic approach to resolving family disputes. Her clients benefit from the good understanding she develops of each family's particular circumstances and the solutions tailored to individual needs. Her specialism and experience have been recognised with membership of the Law Society's family Panel and Accredited Specialist status from Resolution as well as contributing to the team's recognition in the Legal 500.

NATALIE SAUNDERS - Natalie studied law at Magdalen College, Oxford and qualified at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in September 2000. Having joined one of the top-tier firms in Leeds, she subsequently founded the employment department of a mid-tier firm in Leeds, gaining it Legal 500 recognition for the quality of its work. She joined Berwins in 2008 as Head of Employment, became a Director on Berwins' incorporation in 2009 and is now also Head of the Commercial Team. Natalie can advise not only on the full spectrum of UK employment law issues but also helps her employer clients put their practical obligations into a strategic context by looking at the ways in which their business strategy drives their HR and reward issues. Her areas of expertise also include bonus planning and share option arrangements and transactional issues arising on the sale or purchase of a business. Natalie also advises individuals - focusing in particular on negotiating senior executive exit packages. Natalie is a member of the Employment Lawyers' Association and the Industrial Law Society and sits on the Board of Trustees of Harrogate Theatre. Natalie is currently on maternity leave.

JULIE JEWERS - Julie is deputy head of the Firm's Private Client Department and leads the Wills Trusts and Probate Team, specialising in advising the elderly, Wills, Probate, Trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection matters. Julie became a Director on Berwins' incorporation in 2009. Her commitment to her clients led to her being a finalist in the Ackrill Media Awards 'Employee of the Year' category in 2008. Under Julie's leadership her Team was once again recognised in 2010's Legal 500. Julie is also member of the Society for Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Under Julie's leadership her Team was once again recognised in 2010's Legal 500. Julie is currently on maternity leave.

CAROLINE DAVISON - Caroline joined Berwins as Practice Manager in June 2005, having fulfilled a similar role for a large Leeds Practice. It is a testament to Caroline's contribution to the business that she became one of the first non lawyer directors in the country, becoming Berwins' Operations Director on incorporation in 2009. Caroline is head of Berwins' Operations Support Unit responsible for keeping the rest of the organisation in check, and enabling Berwins' lawyers to provide the best possible service to its clients.

JOHN BARRETT - John has practiced in Harrogate since 1975. He was a partner in Myers & Co from 1977 and became a partner in Berwins in May 2002 when the two firms merged. He is now a consultant in the firm's Private Client Team dealing with Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney and Tax planning. John has a further speciality in advising agricultural clients and has been praised for "getting into the mind set of the farmer". The quality of John's work is highly rated in the area, particularly in relation to tax planning where he has saved Berwins' clients hundreds of thousands of pounds. John is a long standing member of Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and is a Trustee of St Michael's Hospice, Harrogate. John is highly regarded for his clarity of thought and expression, giving clear explanations of complex matters for the benefit of clients.

DEBORAH MYERSON - Deborah is a Senior Property Solicitor. Having qualified in 1994 in Leeds, she worked with major Law Firms there before moving to Wales where she headed up a Residential Conveyancing Department in a busy local practice. Deborah relocated to Yorkshire in 2004, joining Berwins. With Berwins she has been able to take her broad background and developed this within the Commercial Property Team where her expertise has grown further. With her substantial experience she is able to assist with a range of commercial property matters and those with a residential aspect, with a particular strength in advising on more complex and problematical development and in the issues which sometimes arise in her area. These skills lead to the Team once again being listed in 2010's Legal 500. Deborah is also a member of the Firm's Agricultural Team to which she brings the benefit of her experience in rural property issues.

CLAIRE MURPHY - Claire is a specialist commercial property consultant to Berwins, and has extensive experience acting for companies, investors and financial institutions in the acquisition funding development and sale of investment properties, complex development sites and healthcare facilities. Claire has been a solicitor since 1996, with a background in both the City and at senior level in major Yorkshire law firms; she brings Berwins a wealth of experience in her field of expertise.

RACHEL ROBINSON - Rachel is a Senior Residential Conveyancing Solicitor, who qualified in 1998 and joined Berwins in 2002. Having worked for major Leeds-based commercial practices, as well as small firms, Rachel brought to Berwins a breadth of experience in residential Conveyancing and building on that has become a particular specialist in dealing with complex leasehold and development transactions.

EMMA FARRELL - Having graduated from Oxford University in 1999, Emma joined leading Dublin law firm Matheson Ormsby Prentice and qualified into their Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution department in 2003. Whilst with Matheson Ormsby Prentice, Emma advised clients such as BSkyB, General Motors, Irish retailers Brown Thomas and Anglo Irish Bank directly in respect of various contentious matters ranging from intellectual property disputes to product liability claims, as well as advising insurance companies and brokers such as Marsh Ireland, AIG, ACE, and various Lloyds syndicates on EL, PL, E&O and D&O claims. Emma is experienced in all forms of Dispute Resolution including mediation, arbitration, and negotiated settlements, as well as traditional litigation. Emma advised clients across the board, from high-value commercial disputes, often with multi-jurisdictional issues, to smaller personal claims. Emma returned to the UK in 2009 and joined Berwins in January 2010 as Head of Dispute Resolution. Emma is a member of The Law Society Civil Justice Section.

SOPHIE BARTON - Sophie qualified as a Solicitor in 2001 and joined Berwins the following year. She specialises in Commercial Property matters and business sales, and has played a major role in the development of Berwins' Legal 500 listed Commercial Property Team into one of the strongest in the area. Her positive approach and thorough technical grasp have earned her a growing following of loyal business clients.

MARIE WALSH - Marie qualified into commercial and employment law in September 2001 after having trained at a niche commercial firm in Leeds. Following qualification Marie spent two years as a lecturer at York College of Law and now continues to work as a visiting lecturer mainly in employment law alongside her private practice commitments. Marie built up an employment department in Wetherby which she headed for 5 years after leaving the College and joined Berwins in January 2010. Marie has a vast amount of experience in advising both Claimants and Respondents in relation to Employment Tribunal litigation, conducting her own advocacy. She is also experienced in negotiating and drafting compromise agreements on behalf of individuals and commercial clients. In addition to contentious work Marie also deals with non-contentious matters such as contracts of employment, redundancy procedure advice and transactional issues. She is also able to provide in house legal training services to commercial clients and in particular their line managers.

CLAIRE ARMER - Claire qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and joined Berwins in 2006, having worked initially with a leading East Midlands Commercial Practice, Claire has a strong background both in Commercial/Corporate work, and also in Commercial Property. She has particular experience in dealing with transactional and banking deals, as well as working with innovative Commercial Agreements, working creatively and with great good humour in her dealings with clients. Claire has been praised by clients and solicitors for her calm and confident approach to her work. Claire also sits on the Board of Governors for a local primary school.

GARETH MARLAND - Gareth qualified as a Solicitor in July 2007 following a previous career as an engineer and joined Berwins in June 2008. During training Gareth gained experience in property and litigation work as well as private client matters. Now specialising in private client matters he advises on Wills, Probate and elderly client matters. Gareth is a member of the Society for Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Law Society Probate Section. Gareth is also a member of our Agricultural Team having gained experience in this area advising farmers in the Yorkshire Wolds. When not at work Gareth is most likely to be found camping, hiking, kayaking, ski mountaineering or in a jazz bar.

EMILY WHEATLEY - Emily is a solicitor specialising in commercial property law who also has useful experience in residential property sector. Emily trained with a major Hull firm and on qualification came 'home' to become part of the commercial property team at a top tier Leeds firm where she acted on general commercial property transactions for household name national businesses including large regional retailers, investment institutions, regional developers and hotel operatives as well as smaller commercial clients and private individuals across the country. Her most recent experience before joining Berwins in 2010 was as an in-house commercial property locum for a national supermarket chain. Passionate about property, Emily is an active member of Women in Property sitting on the Yorkshire and North East Committee. Emily also has a keen interest in working with a variety of charitable organisations. Her work has included providing pro-bono legal advice to a section of the South Leeds Community and more recently working as an Independent Visitor, mentoring a Leeds based foster child on a monthly basis through Leeds City Council.

CAROLINE ACTON - Caroline qualified in March 2009. She specialises in all aspects of employment law, advising on contentious and non-contentious matters for a broad range of clients and covering all aspects of the employment relationship. She also undertakes corporate and commercial work, handling transactions and (in particular) the drafting and negotiating of shareholders' and partnership agreements. Her cross-unit experience is invaluable in bringing a commercial perspective to her employment work and an understanding of the people aspects of transactions to her corporate advice. After having achieved a First-Class Honours in her Management degree at Leeds University, Caroline went on to study both the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course at Leeds Metropolitan University; achieving a distinction in both. On the Legal Practice Course, amongst other prizes, Caroline was awarded the renowned Berwins Commercial Law Prize proving she is no ordinary lawyer

ROBERT HARVEY - Robert is a solicitor in in the Dispute Resolution Unit. He joined this firm in 2007 immediately after graduating from Leeds Law School with the postgraduate Legal Practice Course, which followed reading law at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. At Berwins Robert's training included commercial and residential property, wills probate and trusts and dispute resolution. He is now focusing on dispute resolution and handles a caseload covering a wide range of contentious issues; including professional negligence, personal injury and commercial disputes. Robert is a member of The Law Society Civil Justice Section.

MARK FAGAN - Mark is a qualified legal executive joining Berwins in 2009 with six years' experience in dispute resolution with a prominent local firm where a career highlight was being part of the legal team taking a high profile company law dispute to the Court of Appeal. Before starting his career in the law Mark spent seven years in the motor trade and has kept up that association advising in disputes on all things automotive. He has a speciality in property litigation, advising property and land owners and commercial and residential landlords and has assisted builders on issues in the complex arena of building in construction law. Mark is known for his calm and reassuring demeanour although having spent all but the first five years of his life in Yorkshire he can always be relied on to tell it how it is and this plain speaking is very much appreciated by his clients. When not helping Berwins' clients Mark can most often be found on the golf course or playing rugby for Harrogate Pythons.

JANE KENDREW - Jane is a member of a well-known family of Lawyers and has been with the Firm since 1994. With her long experience as a Conveyancer, she is able to work closely with the rest of the Conveyancing Team, and specialises particularly in dealing with mortgage and remortgage work. With her long service with the Firm, she has developed a devoted and long-serving clientele.

CLAUDETTE MILLER - Claudette joined Berwins in 2003 and assists in the administration of deceased estates. Claudette's clients comment on her calm helpful efficiency. Claudette has worked in the development of the Firm's systems in this and other areas in order to improve the quality of service which the Firm seeks to provide.

TOM WOOD - Thomas joined Berwins in 2010 and works as a legal assistant in the residential property team. Thomas grew up in Scarborough and graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2008 with an honours degree in law. Thomas has a passion for property law and customer service having honed his client care skills in a background that takes in jobs in such diverse areas as a language school, a nightclub and the local authority. Tom is a keen sportsman and has learned to live with the constant disappointment attendant upon being a Leeds United fan.

YVONNE VIVERS - Yvonne works as a legal assistant in Berwins' residential property team. Born and educated in Scotland Yvonne graduated with an honours degree in law from Newcastle University in 2009. During her student career Yvonne completed work experience assignments in a number of areas including a placement at the Scottish Law Commission. Following graduation Yvonne worked with a firm appointed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority on completing and rectifying post- completion property cases for clients whose law firm had ceased to trade and joined Berwins in 2010. From an early age Yvonne has demonstrated a keen head for business, winning her school's prize for Business Enterprise for her work as Finance Director for a successful Young Enterprise Company.

HENRY BENNETT - Henry is Berwins' marketing executive and client service manager. An ex Harrogate Grammar student, Henry graduated with an upper second class degree from Liverpool University in Marketing Management and honed his skills at a large British healthcare organisation, with more than ten million customers in over 200 countries. Henry brings to Berwins a passion and a flair for marketing and a commitment to improving the Berwins' client experience.