Employment Law Advice

Ian is Pickworth's Senior Partner and heads up the firm’s Employment Law department. Ian joined the firm in 1978 and for many years had a mixed portfolio in which he did domestic and commercial conveyancing and also Probate and Wills. He switched to specialise in Employment Law in the early 1990’s and has become “highly regarded" for his expertise in this area. 

Ian acts for both employers and employees on all aspects of employment law and has regularly appeared before Employment Tribunals. He has also considerable experience in giving seminars and for a number of years was a guest lecturer for Hertfordshire Law Faculty.

Recently Ian has again begun to use his knowledge on Probate and Wills and now  heads up this department in Pickworths.

In his spare time Ian enjoys playing squash and keep fit, learning the guitar and participating in amateur dramatics.  Ian also enjoys rugby and football and is a qualified rugby referee.  He supports the Saracens RFC and Watford FC.

Ian is on the management board of DENS that help the homeless in Hemel Hempstead

You can contact Ian by email: ian.tottman@pickworths.co.uk or call 01442 508623

Check out Ian on LinkedIn 

Commercial Property & Leasehold Management

Glenda is a partner with the firm specialising in Commercial Property.  She has a degree from the University of Manchester and undertook her training with a large city firm before joining Pickworths in 1980.

Glenda has earned a reputation for dealing with challenging property issues and acts for landlords, tenants, property developers, investors and flat management companies.  She says "I consider it essential to explain the crucial elements of the lease to my client.  After all, a lease is a contract that may impose onerous obligations on the tenant.  The full implications may not be appreciated until the landlord claims for substantial dilapidations when the lease comes to an end.  When drafting a lease for a landlord I do my best to create a framework that is suitable for the type of building and to ensure that service charge and management responsibilities are clearly defined in order to avoid problems arising in the future."

Glenda has a particular specialism in Residential Leasehold Property (including retirement housing) and Leasehold Enfranchisement 

Over a lengthy period, Glenda has developed excellent local connections, and is involved in the Local Community. Married with 2 sons, Glenda enjoys participating in music, particularly singing and playing the clarinet.

You can contact Glenda by email: glenda.ferneyhough@pickworths.co.uk or call 01442 508635

Company, Commercial Property and Equestrian Law Advice

Belinda is a Partner with the firm, specialising in commercial and property law. She has many years of experience dealing with commercial litigation and property disputes which provides a practical perspective when negotiating commercial contracts. Belinda advises on business, company and corporate matters and acts for clients in commercial property transactions. Belinda who is a member of ALEP (Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners) has developed a special interest in long residential leases and has conducted complex litigation both in  Leasehold  valuation tribunals and through the courts regarding leasehold enfranchisement, service charges and other issues relating to leasehold property.

Belinda’s passion for horses has led to the development of the firm’s Equestrian Department, one of only a few in the country. Pickworths recognised the value of using her specialist knowledge of riding, owning, breeding and training horses, to provide advice to clients from a professional who understands their particular needs and problems.

You can contact Belinda by email: belinda.walkinshaw@pickworths.co.uk or call 01442 508624

Personal Injury Law Advice

Martin was born and brought up in Paddington, NW London. Upon leaving school he joined a law firm in the West End where he gained experience in a wide range of key disciplines including Conveyancing, Probate, Landlord & Tenant and Litigation (both civil & criminal). He qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in 1980 and is now an experienced litigator of some 30 years' standing!

Martin has a successful track record and a high reputation. He was appointed a member of The Law Society's Personal Injury Accreditation Scheme upon its inception in the 1990s.  He is also a member of APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers)

Away from the law, Martin is married with two children, enjoys cooking, cricket and supporting Arsenal - although not necessarily in that order! He is also a keen runner and generally likes to keep fit.

Contact Martin by email: martin.white@pickworths.co.uk or call 01442 508640

Employment Law Advice

Mike joined Pickworths’ highly-respected Employment Department in November 2004.  He became an Associate with the firm in April 2006 and is a Full Member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association.  Mike had a 20-year career in industry before qualifying as a solicitor.  This experience has given him an appreciation of the range of employment issues in the workplace. 

Mike advises only on Employment law and acts for both employers and employees. He covers all aspects of Employment law such as disciplinary and grievance proceedings, unfair dismissal, redundancy, discrimination, maternity rights and compromise agreements.   

Mike offers an 'Out of Hours' service to clients who find it difficult to attend appointments in normal working hours.  He regularly advises at a local Citizens Advice Bureau as well as giving seminars on Employment law.

In his spare time Mike enjoys walking, trying to train his dog Ceri (and mostly failing) and rugby.

Contact Mike by email: mike.powell@pickworths.co.uk or call 01442 508625

Check out Mike on LinkedIn

Will & Probate Advice

Kate joined Pickworths in October 2006 to lead the Private Client Team (Wills, Probate etc.).  Born in Crystal Palace, Kate went to school in Croydon and read Geography at the University of Swansea before joining the Police. Five years later, Kate decided to study law. After gaining a training contract in Reading she qualified in 2002 and now specialises in Wills, Probate, Taxation and Trusts.  Married, with two children, Kate enjoys playing the piano, books, theatre, travelling and visiting National Trust houses.

Kate says: “I chose wills and probate law because I enjoy helping people.  Grieving relatives can feel that everything is complicated and I see my job as trying to simplify things for them, reducing their uncertainty.”  She says it also feels good trying to beat the taxman!  

Kate is presently studying for her STEP exams (Society of Tax & Estate Practitioners – see www.step.org)

Contact Kate by email: kate.mcnamee@pickworths.co.uk or call 01442 261731

Matrimonial and Family Law Advice

Pickworths appointed Jane in April 2007 as their family lawyer.  She studied for her Law Degree at Birkbeck College, University of London part time attending lectures in the evening as she was a mature student and working full time.  She gained a First Class law degree and whilst at Birkbeck received three prizes, including the prize for the best family law result for her year.  

Jane completed her Legal Practice Certificate at the University of Hertfordshire.  She then completed her training as a solicitor at a St. Albans firm which specialised in family law and conveyancing.  She gained valuable experience particularly as it was a small firm and she was responsible for her own case load early on in her training.  She also gained a lot of experience representing clients at Court on issues including contact and residence disputes, injunctive proceedings and hearings in respect of matrimonial finances.

Jane, who is a member of Resolution says “I enjoy family law as it is rewarding to help people when they are going through what can be one of the most stressful periods of their life.  My job is to make an often very difficult situation easier by advising on the law and procedure in a straightforward manner.  It is very important to establish what a client seeks to achieve early on and to advise them of the prospects of achieving or bettering their goal.  It is also vital to always consider the benefit to be gained against the costs that will be incurred.” 

When not working Jane enjoys impressing her son with her football and rugby ball skills and listening to him sing.  Unfortunately his talent for singing does not come from his mother.  She also enjoys DIY and gardening.

Contact Jane by email: jane.leadbeater@pickworths.co.uk or Call 01442 508627. Jane offers an 'Out of Hours' service for clients who find it difficult to attend appointments during normal working hours.

Leasehold Property Assistant

Anastasia was born and brought up in Middlesex after her parents moved to England from the Caribbean.  She attended school and college in Harrow and then enrolled at a London University to gain a Combined Degree in Business and Law.  

Travelling has become a source of much enjoyment fuelled by the fact her parents have returned to the Caribbean.

As a member of the property department for over 4 years, Anastasia says there are times when the job is stressful but she also appreciates all the more the sense of achievement and satisfaction when a transaction completes. 

Personal Injury Law Advice

Linsey joined Martin White’s Litigation team at Pickworths in January 2008 after relocating to Hertfordshire. 

Born and raised in Birmingham, Linsey studied Law at the University of Wolverhampton where she gained honours. She then undertook a Legal Practice Course at the college of Law, Birmingham.  Linsey went on to gain a training contract with a legal firm in Solihull qualifying as a solicitor in January 2006.

Travelling and a love of music are Linsey's favourite past times; especially watching bands live and going to local gigs to see new groups. 

Linsey says “I chose to practice Litigation because I enjoy a challenge and in particular working on high value Personal Injury claims where the financial settlement can really improve the client’s way of life after an injury”. Linsey has a particular specialism in Dental Negligence claims.  She also offers an 'Out of Hours' service to her clients.

You can contact Linsey regarding a Personal Injury by email: linsey.carroll@pickworths.co.uk or call 01442 508646

Check out Linsey on LinkedIn

Civil Litigation

Elaine joined the Pickworths Litigation team in March 2008.  Raised in Cambridge, Elaine attended the Hills Road Sixth Form before studying for her LLB at the University of Surrey.  During this time Elaine studied for six months in Finland and also worked in Belgium as part of her European Studies. She then went on to train as a solicitor with a Nottingham firm before returning to the South East of England.

Choosing to practice in Civil Litigation, Elaine says she loves it because she gets to deal with a broad range of legal and practical issues.

Hobbies include walking in the Peak District, Lake District and also London’s parks and heaths. 

You can contact Elaine for Civil Litigation matters on 01442 508628 or by email: elaine.wong@pickworths.co.uk

Check out Elaine on LinkedIn

Commercial Property

Sarah joined Pickworths in January 2006 as Martin White’s Litigation Assistant (specialising in Personal Injury).  She was then offered a training contract and found her niche in Commercial and Residential Property work during her training.  Sarah became a solicitor on 1 September 2008 with the firm .

Born and raised in Garston where she still lives, Sarah was educated at Parmiters School, Watford and went on to gain her Law degree and LPC at the University of Hertfordshire which she completed in June 2006.  Whilst there, she won the prize for ‘Best Commercial Law Student’. 

Sarah says that whilst she has really enjoyed the challenge of litigation work, she is enjoying the new challenges that she is facing and finding it especially satisfying to help clients at such stressful times in their lives.

 Contact Sarah by email: sarah.pape@pickworths.co.uk or call 01442 508637

Wills & Probate

June joined Pickworths in February 2006 as an assistant to both Wills & Probate and Conveyancing departments.  In March 2007 June became a trainee solicitor and went on to specialise exclusively in Wills & Probate.  June was admitted as a solicitor on 1 September 2008.

Born and raised in Malaysia until the age of seven, when June and her family moved to Barnstaple, Devon. June then went on to study in Exeter, London and Bristol. She has her Law Degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and her LPC from the University of West England. 

Contact June by email: june.yap@pickworths.co.uk or call June on 01442 508649

Kimberley joined Pickworths in February 2010 as an Assistant Solicitor to the Property Team.

Kimberley was raised in Harpenden where she attended school and Sixth Form before moving to Bristol to complete her LLB Law Degree.  She then undertook the postgraduate Legal Practice Course at the University of Hertfordshire and the Professional Skills Course at BPP in London.

Following successful completion of her training contract and qualifying with a local and City firm, Kimberley is keen to remain a local lawyer, specialising in all aspects of property law.

Commenting on her work, Kimberley says “I love being an integral part of the house moving process, which can often be a stressful time for both buyers and sellers.  I get a great deal of satisfaction from seeing a transaction progress to successful completion and to ensure happy clients”.

Away from work, Kimberley is addicted to health and fitness, and can usually be found at the gym, regularly participating in exercise classes and the annual St. Albans Half Marathon.  She also enjoys the challenge of learning new languages, travelling abroad and has a passion for cooking.

You can contact Kimberley by email:

kimberley.smith@pickworths.co.uk