courteous &     
     diligent

partner profiles

profiles
 

Robert  Watsham
Robert has headed FSP’s wills, trusts and probate team since FSP was founded in 1987. He has practiced in Reading for the whole of his professional life, having qualified in 1967. He has specialised in probate and trusts law for the last twenty years and has substantial experience of estate planning and Court of Protection work. Robert is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). robert.watsham@fsp-law.com vCard

Philip  Seymour
Philip was one of the founding Partners of FSP in 1987. He qualified as a solicitor in 1972 and has worked in Reading throughout his professional career, developing a wide-ranging knowledge of the Reading business community. He has specialised in commercial property for many years and has considerable experience of land acquisitions, the property aspects of business acquisitions and landlord and tenant matters as they affect the commercial client. He is noted in Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession as a leader in the Real Estate sector. As well as his mainstream commercial property work, Philip has for many years acted for a number of schools and colleges offering a wide range of legal advice. philip.seymour@fsp-law.com vCard

Ian  Wood-Smith
Ian joined FSP in 1987. He has considerable experience in advising companies and professionals on company and corporate issues. He acts on high value share acquisitions and disposals, as well as advising on the sale and purchase of businesses. Ian advises financial institutions on company law issues, including in relation to taking security. Ian also advises insolvency practitioners, companies and individuals on corporate recovery and insolvency issues. ian.wood-smith@fsp-law.com vCard

Sue  Vandersteen
Sue joined Field Seymour Parkes in 1989, becoming a partner in April 1997. Sue has wide-ranging experience in commercial contracts, intellectual property, partnership law (including limited liability partnerships) and e-commerce. Sue advises on research and design collaborations as well as trade marks, branding, patents, copyright protection and data protection. Sue acts for a wide variety of companies who use the internet as their prime mode of operation from start-ups to international operations. Sue also acts for a number of well-known charities and has been involved in the setting up of a major charitable foundation and a new city academy. Sue is a regular speaker at external and internal seminars and is a member of the British Computer Society. sevy@fsp-law.com vCard

Susan  Baker
Sue became a partner with FSP in 1999 having joined in 1993. Sue advises clients who are separating or divorcing as well as those who are considering living together. Sue is a member of the Law Society's Children Panel which means she is recognised as being accomplished and experienced in giving the highest standards of advice in all areas of law concerning children, child care, education, child abduction and disputes regarding residence and contact. sue.baker@fsp-law.com vCard

Jeremy  Parkes
Jeremy trained at FSP, becoming a Partner in 2000. He has a wide range of experience in advising on corporate issues, including acting on acquisitions and disposals, and advising on the taking and granting of security and on other legal aspects of corporate finance and banking. Jeremy has considerable experience in advising both companies and insolvency practitioners on corporate restructuring and insolvency issues. He also advises companies on property transactions, from acquisitions and disposals of portfolios to property development. jeremy.parkes@fsp-law.com vCard

Mary  Pears
Mary trained with FSP becoming a Partner in 2002. Since qualifying she has specialised in company law, in particular corporate finance transactions. Mary acts on share acquisitions and disposals, sales and purchases of businesses and corporate restructuring. She also advises banks, financial institutions and private companies on the legal issues involved in taking and granting security. mary.pears@fsp-law.com vCard

Bridget  Crossley
Bridget trained with Reading firm Brain & Brain where she became partner in overall charge of property work in 1986. Bridget became a partner of FSP in April 2003. She is experienced in many sectors of the property market and is accustomed to dealing with multi-million pound acquisitions and disposals. Bridget also advises on development and landlord and tenant matters. bridget.crossley@fsp-law.com vCard

Michelle  Mann
Michelle joined FSP in February 2001, becoming a partner in April 2003. Michelle specialises in advising clients on all aspects of family law but in particular the financial aspects of relationship breakdowns. Michelle is a member of Resolution, an organisation whose members are committed to seeking to resolve family difficulties in a sensitive and efficient manner. michelle.mann@fsp-law.com vCard

Sarah  Wray
Sarah qualified in 1986 and joined FSP as a Partner in September 2004. She has extensive experience in all aspects of property law, specialising in complex residential matters, and heads our Residential Property Team. sarah.wray@fsp-law.com vCard

Rachel  Tozer
Rachel joined FSP in June 2004 from City firm Lovells, becoming a Partner in 2005. She brings with her considerable experience in advising companies (including major multinationals) and senior executives on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law, including transactional advice. Rachel has a particular interest in discrimination matters and she also provides employment advice to schools and colleges. In addition to providing advice and guidance, she is experienced at training clients on new developments in employment law. rachel.tozer@fsp-law.com vCard

Marcus  Francis
Marcus joined FSP as a trainee and became a partner in April 2007, having already worked for city firm Ashurst where he became familiar with working on substantial value property transactions. Marcus qualified in March 2003. He now acts for a number of London and Thames Valley based clients in connection with the acquisition, leasing and general management of commercial property. He also acts for a number of national and international property investors in the acquisition and financing of commercial and residential properties. Marcus has a strong interest in agricultural property and advises many of the firm's farming clients. marcus.francis@fsp-law.com vCard

Dean  Bickford
Dean qualified in 1999 and became a partner at FSP in April 2007 having worked for Boodle Hatfield in London's West End. He has broad experience in all aspects of commercial property including acting for investors, developers, landlords and tenants. Dean handles the property work in the sale of insolvent companies and brings his extensive knowledge and experience of commercial property to a number of groups in the firm. dean.bickford@fsp-law.com vCard

Helen  Monson
Helen joined FSP in June 2007. Helen has gained broad experience in both contentious and non-contentious matters. She has acted for employers in a wide range of sectors, in addition to advising senior executives, at City boutique employment law firm, Fox Williams, and more recently at a large national law firm. Helen's recent litigation "wins" include advising a client in relation to the largest Tribunal claim brought by a transsexual employee under the sex discrimination legislation and successfully defending a disability discrimination claim. She has also delivered bespoke training sessions for clients and spoken at a number of seminars on various employment law issues, which were organised by the CIPD, the City Personnel Group and by local recruitment consultants. helen.monson@fsp-law.com vCard

Tim  Adams
Tim joined FSP in June 2007 having previously worked in both City and major provincial practices. He qualified in 1989 after an earlier career in pharmaceutical research. He has broad experience of corporate and commercial matters, including secured lending, intellectual property, shareholder and investment agreements, and in handling many other bespoke commercial arrangements whether as part of a larger transaction or on a stand alone basis. He advises individuals and companies on acquisitions and disposals of shares and businesses. tim.adams@fsp-law.com vCard

Joe  Lott
Joe trained at FSP and qualified in September 2002. Joe handles a variety of commercial disputes, including breach of contract claims, partnership disputes, inter-company disputes and employment disputes. Joe has significant experience in dealing with IT related matters. Joe also handles insolvency work and is joint head of the FSP debt recovery service. Joe is a member of the Society for Computers and Law. Joe also acts for a number of banks advising on the taking and enforcement of security. joe.lott@fsp-law.com vCard

Jo  Wilson
Jo trained at FSP and qualified as a solicitor in September 2002. Jo handles a wide range of commercial claims, including contractual disputes, partnership disputes and inter-company disputes. She deals with contract-based employment issues and has significant expertise in dealing with intellectual property disputes. Jo also has considerable experience of advising on insolvency issues and is joint head of the FSP debt recovery service. Jo also acts for a number of banks advising on the taking and enforcement of security. jo.wilson@fsp-law.com vCard

James  Burgess
James was, until recently, one of the senior partners at Pitmans and headed their property team for a number of years. He moved into Reading in 1989 and quickly became one of the highest profile individuals in the Thames Valley property scene. He has a wealth of experience in almost all aspects of commercial property. He joined FSP as a partner in June 2008. james.burgess@fsp-law.com vCard