Staff
Accidents & Compensation
Geoff Cruickshank - Partner
Joined Punch Robson in 1990 having previously been a partner in another Middlesbrough firm. Has over 30 years experience of personal injury work having specialised exclusively in this area of law since 1995. Represents both injured individuals and insurance companies. Member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
Hugh Dorey - Solicitor
After qualifying as a solicitor in 1991, Hugh worked in Newcastle before moving to Teesside in 2005. He mainly undertakes personal injury work acting for injured victims, but also has experience of acting for insurance companies and liquor licensing work.
Our Accidents & Compensation Department also includes a number of very experienced and dedicated support staff.
Civil Litigation
John Wilkin - Partner
A graduate of Leicester University, John qualified as a solicitor with Punch Robson in 1992. He has a broad range of experience in civil/commercial litigation and of acting for both claimants and defendants. His areas of special interest include contract and negligence claims, landlord and tenant matters, sale of goods, employment, boundary and neighbour disputes, personal and corporate insolvency, partnership disputes and contentious probate.
Graham Tyler - Partner
Graham, a graduate of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, qualified in 1994 and has long experience of civil and commercial litigation. He offers specialist knowledge of insolvency, director disqualification proceedings, shareholder and partnership disputes, contract disputes and credit/debt issues, as well as general litigation matters.
Victoria Short - Solicitor
Victoria graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and qualified in July 2007. She works alongside the Partners in the Civil Litigation Department dealing with a variety of matters and has a specific interest in Employment Law.
Commercial Work
Colin Vaux - Partner
Partner in charge of commercial property work. Qualified as a Solicitor in 1966 and has been a Partner in the firm since 1968. He now spends the majority of his time dealing with development work.
Stewart Williamson - Partner
Qualified as a Solicitor in 1978 and in 1979 became a partner in his own practice. He joined Punch Robson in January 2002 and deals with commercial and residential property work, and sales and purchases of companies and businesses.
Colin Howard - Partner
Qualified as a Solicitor in 1966 and joined Punch Robson in 2000 following the merger of his own practice with the firm. He carries out work in commercial and residential property and wills and probate.
Stephen Haigh - Associate
Stephen qualified as a solicitor in 1994 having trained in the London firm of Howard Kennedy. He joined Punch Robson in April 2006, having worked for four years as a solicitor in the Kent firm of Kingsfords, where he was made a partner. Stephen specialises in all aspects of commercial property work, as well as business sales and purchases and residential conveyancing. He has passed the Diploma in Land Registration Law, a course offered jointly by the Land Registry and the College of Law.
Alison Vines - Clerk
Alison has gained commercial experience in the North-East and London. She was Jeremy Spooner’s personal assistant for seven years prior to joining Punch Robson as clerk to the Commercial Department in January 2008 after it acquired Spooner & Co in a deal which saw Jeremy Spooner join the firm as consultant.
All of the above are based at Albert Road, Middlesbrough but can attend any of our offices for meetings and are able to visit client premises.
Conveyancing
Alan Mottram - Partner
Alan is the partner in charge of all residential conveyancing work within Punch Robson. He qualified as a solicitor in 1979 and has dealt with conveyancing work throughout his career, but in 1989 began specialising in this type of work exclusively. Based at the firm’s office in Ingleby Barwick, Stockton-on-Tees, where the residential conveyancing team is based, but also works at the firm’s office in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough.
Katherine Eaton - Associate
Katherine joined Punch Robson as a trainee solicitor in 2002 and, since qualifying in 2004, has specialised in conveyancing. Based in Ingleby Barwick, she now works exclusively on residential conveyancing, including the sale and purchase of houses, building plots and buy to let investment properties, transfers of ownership due to divorce, death or otherwise, and re-mortgages.
Sarah Haley - Conveyancing Assistant
Sarah has been employed by Punch Robson in the conveyancing department since 1998. She is based at the firm's office in Coulby Newham.
Ruth McWilliams – Conveyancing Assistant
Ruth has been employed by Punch Robson in the conveyancing department since 1986. She is based at Ingleby Barwick.
Claire Kiernan - Conveyancing IT Assistant
Claire has been employed by Punch Robson since 2006. She has some experience in residential conveyancing but spends most of her time developing the firm's computer software and e-conveyancing systems. Based at the firm's office at Ingleby Barwick, Stockton on Tees.
Family Problems
Graeme Downs - Partner
A partner in the firm, Graeme is head of the Family Law Department. He qualified in 2000 and is a member of Resolution the Law Society’s Family Law Panel. Graeme previously worked with the Citizens Advice Bureau and his main area of work is divorce and financial matters associated with divorce or separation. He is based at our Coulby Newham Office.
Clare Bailey - Partner
Clare qualified as a solicitor in 1999 and has moved to this area after working in West Sussex and Hampshire. A member of Resolution and the Law Society’s Family Law Panel, her main field of work is divorce and financial matters. Clare is based at our Middlesbrough Office.
Deborah Greenwood - Partner
Deborah qualified as a solicitor in 1996 and specialises mainly in public child work, i.e. in children matters when Social Services or the Local Authority are involved. Deborah has extensive knowledge of working in the Teesside area having previously worked in Redcar and assisted in a Woman’s Refuge. She is based in Middlesbrough.
Zoe Tansley - Solicitor
Zoe qualified as a solicitor in 2003. She is a member of Resolution and deals with all aspects of family law, but has a particular interest in divorce and financial issues. Zoe is based at our Ingleby Barwick office.
Julie Brown - Solicitor
Julie qualified as a Solicitor in 2004. She specialises mainly in cases involving children, both in respect of private disputes between parents/family members and public matters, where the Social Services/Local Authority are involved. Julie is a member of Resolution and is an accredited member of the Law Society's Children Panel. She is based in our Middlesbrough Office.
Julie Beattie - Legal Clerk
Julie has extensive experience in dealing with all aspects of family work. She undertakes injunction work, particularly in relation to domestic violence issues, divorce proceedings and cases involving children. Julie also provides assistance to Graeme Downs and is based at our Coulby Newham office.
Angela Strike - Legal Clerk
Angela is another legal clerk with extensive experience in dealing with all aspects of family work. She undertakes injunction work, particularly in relation to domestic violence issues and cases involving children. Angela has worked as a legal clerk in the Teesside area since 1998 and has links with various organisations, including My Sisters Place, Women’s Refuge and Sure Start. Angela is based at our Middlesbrough Office.
Mental Health
Hugh Redway – Partner
Hugh is head of the Mental Health Department. He is a member of the Law Society’s Specialist Mental Health Review Tribunal Panel, with extensive experience of representing patients with mental health difficulties. He previously undertook criminal work, but since 1999 has specialised increasingly in mental health law. Now undertakes all aspects of mental health with particular emphasis on representing patients at Mental Health Review Tribunal. Based at our Middlesbrough office.
Graeme Downs – Partner
Graeme is a member of the Law Society’s Specialist Mental Health Review Tribunal Panel and undertakes mental health work in addition to family law. He has experience of representing both patients and their families in all aspects of mental health work. Based at our Coulby Newham office.
Andrea Graham – Legal Clerk
Andrea is an experienced legal clerk who has worked with the firm for many years in various departments and is now a member of the specialist mental health team. The work of which has expanded due to the provision of increasing health in patient facilities in the area in both the NHS and private sectors. Andrea joining the team enables us to take prompt instructions from detained patients, particularly those detained for assessment where matters of necessity are dealt with on an expedited basis. Andrea is based at our Middlesbrough office but, like our two partners, is able to visit patients throughout Teesside and the surrounding area.
Wills, Probate & Trusts
Peter Walker - Partner
A Partner in the firm and head of the Wills and Probate Department. Peter qualified as a solicitor in 1970 and specialises in wills, probate and trusts. He is a member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), The Solicitors for the Elderly, and is on the panel of external deputies with the Court of Protection. Peter is based at the Middlesbrough branch.
Colin Howard – Partner
A Partner in the firm, Colin qualified as a solicitor in 1966 and specialises in wills, probate and related matters. He is a member of STEP. Colin is based at our Middlesbrough office.
Katie Maltby – Solicitor
Katie qualified as a solicitor in 2006 and is a student member of STEP. She specialises in wills, probate and mental capacity work including Court of Protection deputyship matters and Lasting Powers of Attorney. Katie also deals with related residential conveyancing matters and house trusts. Katie is based at our Ingleby Barwick office.
Beverley Brook – Legal Clerk
Beverley has been with Punch Robson for over 30 years and became a legal clerk in 1990. Initially based in the family department, she transferred to the wills and probate department in 2003. She specialises in wills, probate and the preparation of Lasting Power of Attorney documents. Beverley is based at our Middlesbrough office.
Julie Beattie – Legal Clerk
Julie has been with the firm since 1977. She deals with the preparation of wills and Lasting Power of Attorney documents, as well as dealing with aspects of family work. Julie is based at our Coulby Newham office.
Jennifer Smith – Legal Clerk
Jennifer joined Punch Robson as a legal clerk in July 2006, after working for many years for another firm of solicitors and having qualified as an associate of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals in 2003. Jennifer specialises in probate and mental capacity work, particularly Court of Protection deputyship matters. Jennifer is based at our Middlesbrough office.
 |
 |
 |
