Shareholder, Director and Partnership Disputes

Joanne Davies

Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation | Head of Department | Partner

Experience

Joanne is a Partner and Head of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. Joanne is a solicitor with over 20 years’ experience in litigation matters. Having trained and qualified in 1994 at Wragge & Co, she also spent several years at Martineau Johnson, as well as having experience of working as in-house Counsel in the finance leasing industry.

Practice Area

Joanne headed up the dispute resolution and litigation team at her previous firm before joining Keelys LLP in January 2018. Joanne has extensive experience of all nature of commercial and contractual disputes, having handled minority shareholders’ disputes, professional negligence claims and overdrawn directors loan account claims. In addition she also handles landlord and tenant cases (both commercial and residential) and trust and contested probate claims. Joanne prides herself on taking a hands on approach to cases and will always take in to consideration the commercial issues that arise in any dispute.

Qualifications

Solicitor

Interests

When not in the office, Joanne enjoys walking the family dog, reading, history and travel (and if they can all be combined then so much the better).

Patrick Farrington

Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation | Partner

Experience

Patrick is an Associate with over 30 years’ experience in a broad range of matters, but particularly focusing on dispute resolution and company and commercial work. He has spent all of his career in Staffordshire qualifying as a solicitor in 1990. Patrick became an authorized High Court Enforcement Officer in 2004 and has particular knowledge in the enforcement industry, making him one of only a handful of people in England and Wales to be both a practicing solicitor and HCEO. He was the Managing Partner at his previous firm in Stafford before joining Keelys.

Practice Area

Patrick undertakes a broad range of dispute resolution work with a particular focus on contested trust and probate claims, ( having successfully obtained the specialist ACTAPS qualification) dealing with a range of complex issues involving both small and very large estates and debt collection, given his experience in the debt collection industry as an Enforcement Officer in the High Court. He deals with Landlord and Tenant matters (residential and commercial) and a range of contractual disputes.

Qualifications

Solicitor

Reporting to

Head of Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation department: Joanne Davies

Interests  

Patrick relaxes by watching and playing most sports, particularly football, cricket and golf and has travelled extensively, once working as a lifeguard in California. He enjoys reading, coin collecting and gardening and was a Councillor for Stafford Borough for twenty years, sixteen of which on the Cabinet and eight and a half years as Leader of the Authority. He has been honoured by being awarded the title of Honorary Alderman for his services to the Borough of Stafford, recognising his huge contribution to the local area.

Ellysse Bassan

Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation | Trainee Solicitor

Experience

Elly studied Law at Liverpool University from 2017 to 2020 and graduated with a First Class Degree with Honours. She is currently working towards qualification as a solicitor.

Elly began her legal career after graduation working at another law firm where she assisted other fee earners and also dealt with debt recovery matters and possession proceedings in relation to residential property matters. Elly is currently assisting Joanne Davies and Patrick Farrington in the Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation Department as well as undertaking debt recovery work.

Reporting to

Head of Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation Department: Joanne Davies

Interests

Outside of the office you will find Elly shopping, at the theatre, at spin class or discovering new eateries with family and friends.

Kerri Pearce

Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation | Solicitor

Experience

Kerri is a solicitor having qualified in 2001 and has over ten years’ experience in handling litigation matters. Prior to taking a break to raise her children in 2013, the vast majority of her legal career was spent at a large Birmingham city centre firm in the litigation team where she acted on behalf of some major insurance companies.   

Kerri has extensive litigation experience including landlord and tenant, debt recovery and contractual disputes.  She has also previously handled high value personal injury claims, occupational stress claims and has also spent time fighting off fraudulent claims against insurance clients, so she has extensive knowledge and experience on a very varied array of contentious matters.

Reporting to

Head of Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation Department: Joanne Davies

Interests

In her spare time, Kerri enjoys reading, trips to the theatre and watching rugby. She also enjoys fitness and the outdoors. Kerri is also a governor at her son’s secondary school.