People Profiles
James Chisholm: Partner
James is a partner in the Commercial Property Department and was formerly with international law firm DLA. He joined Keelys in July 2002 and specialises in property development but also undertakes commercial property work of a general nature, including corporate support work.
Daniel Keane: Managing Partner
In addition to his substantial experience in advising management buy-out/buy-in teams in relation to acquisitions, Daniel also has considerable expertise in advising on high value commercial contracts in a wide range of sectors, including information technology, distribution and engineering.
Sharon Lawrence: Partner and Head of Property Department
Sharon is the Head of Keelys Property Department. Sharon qualified with the firm in 1989 and has specialised in property matters and related transaction ever since. Sharon has extensive experience in investment portfolio acquisitions and disposals as well as dealing with the ongoing management issues that arise.
John Parkes: Senior Partner
John, Senior Partner, was formerly with Eversheds. He has specialised in property law for over 20 years with particular emphasis on development work, planning matters and the environment. John and his colleagues in Keelys Property Department provide property support to the Corporate transaction team.
Michael Phillips: Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution
Michael trained at, and spent over 12 years with Freshfields in London and Hong Kong, leaving them to join Eversheds in Cardiff as a Partner. After three years with Eversheds, Michael joined Keelys as Head of Dispute Resolution. Michael evaluates commercial contracts from the perspective of seeking to avoid disputes and, where such arise, resolving them in our clients' best interests.
John Primmer: Partner and Joint Head of Corporate Services
John has over 35 years of experience in advising companies and businesses of all natures. He specialises in mergers and acquisitions, corporate reconstructions, international joint venture agreements, shareholders agreements and employee share incentive schemes.
Hitesh Punjani: Partner
Hitesh joined the firm as a trainee in 2001 and qualified
with the firm in 2003. He specialises in corporate acquisitions (including
management buy-outs) and disposals, shareholders agreements ranging from
start up businesses to international joint ventures, employee share schemes
and has considerable experience in advising on high value commercial contracts
in a wide range of sectors including technology and manufacturing.
Paul Roberts: Partner and Head of the Employment Department
Paul advises employers on all aspects of
employment law with a view to keeping them out of the tribunal.
Paul has particular experience in TUPE, discrimination and
issues of employment status and regularly leads seminars on
these issues. Having previously worked at Pinsent Curtis,
Anthony Collins and Heatons, Paul has advised a diverse range of
employers, including large Plcs, private companies, charities
and housing associations.
David Williams: Partner and Joint Head of Corporate Services
David joined Keelys in 2004, formerly being a
partner with Pinsents and with Gateley Wareing. David
specialises in mergers and acquisitions - including buy-outs and
corporate finance (having acted for various banks, including
HBoS). He has advised businesses of all sizes - from fully
listed to sole proprietorships. David has been a regional IoD
Chairman and a CCI Director.
Trevor Wright: Partner and Head of Private Client
Trevor is the Head of the Private Client department, which covers Residential Conveyancing, Wills, Probate and Trusts and Family and Matrimonial matters. Although Trevor only joined Keelys in 2004, he has been qualified since 1980. He has specialised in Family Law for over 25 years and deals in particular with complex financial issues and child residence and contact issues arising out of relationship breakdown.
Trevor is a Law Society Family Panel member and also an Accredited Specialist in ancillary relief and children matters.
Trevor also has considerable experience in advising on Liquor Licensing and related matters, having advised major PLCs, brewers, pub companies and organisations in the leisure and hospitality industry, as well as individual owners of pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Rebecca Head: Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate
Rebecca is the Head of the Wills, Trusts and Probate department. She trained and qualified as a Solicitor in the West Midlands area, joining Keelys at the end of 2006.
Rebecca specialises in the preparation of wills, elderly client issues, inheritance tax planning, the creation and administration of trusts and the administration of estates. She also works closely with, and provides valuable advice to, both the Matrimonial & Family and Residential Conveyancing departments.
Simon Murray: Head of Costs Litigation
Simon has been in the costs industry for over 15
years.
He started his own legal costs consultancy in 1994, which he
built in to a substantial operation, specialising in acting for
paying parties. In 2004 Simon went in to partnership with Keelys
Solicitors, resulting a business dealing with legal costs from
cradle to grave.
Professionally, he advises and attends detailed assessment
hearings in a wide variety of cases of all values, up to high
seven figure costs claims, including a number of reported cases.
Simon is a monthly contributor to the Association of Law Costs
Draftsmen Journal, and has been an Associate of the Association
of Law Costs Draftsmen since 1996. He also undertakes training
and speaks at conferences for a number of clients and
organisations.
Simon graduated from Birkbeck College in 2005 with a 2:1 honours
degree in Politics, Philosophy and History, which he studied
part time.
He is married with 2 children.
Simon competes in Triathlons, is a West Ham United supporter and
follows motor sport keenly.
Mark Stirling: Head of Finance
Mark is the firm's Director of Finance and Administration. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1981, and worked in law firm management for 13 years before joining Keelys in 2001. He lives with his wife, Jo, in Warwickshire, and his main interests are rugby and the amateur stage.