Charities legal services solicitors

Diane Gill »
Partner and Practice Group Leader
Practice Group: Charities legal services
Call: 01753 279022
Email: diane.gill@bpcollins.co.uk
Link with Diane
Diane graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2000 with an LLB (Hons), trained at B P Collins Solicitors and qualified in October 2003, being promoted to Senior Associate in 2008. Diane's legal expertise and experience covers a broad range of corporate and commercial matters. Diane also has a special interest in, and is a member of, both the environment team and the charities team within the firm, focusing on advice specifically for waste to energy clients and not-for-profit organisations.
Commended by the UKs leading independent provider of music therapy services, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, as "empathetic, sensitive to the needs of the situation, completely reliable and honest, highly professional and willing to go beyond the call of duty", Diane provides commercial legal support for a variety of regional and national charities.
For the past two years, Diane has been named as a highly recommended individual in the charities practice area for the Regions in the Legal Experts Directory. Out of work, Diane is involved on the Committees of a number of not-for-profit organisations which promote sport in the Thames Valley area.

David Smellie »
Partner
Practice Group: Charities legal services
Call: 01753 279034
Email: david.smellie@bpcollins.co.uk
Link with David
David graduated from Trent Polytechnic with LLB (Hons) and completed his training at City law firm Davies Arnold Cooper in 1988, becoming a partner ten years later. David joined B P Collins in 2007 as a senior associate in the corporate team bringing with him a wide range of corporate and commercial experience for multinational, listed and growing businesses including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate finance.
David became a partner in 2008 and he has been instrumental in providing prompt and pragmatic solutions to clients, ensuring a no-nonsense approach and attention to detail.
Although a keen sportsman, David will often be found (when away from the office) chauffeuring his four children to their various social and sporting engagements.

Sue Deacon »
Senior Associate
Practice Group: Charities legal services
Call: 01753 279018
Email: sue.deacon@bpcollins.co.uk
Link with Sue
Sue graduated with an LLB (Hons), qualified in 2004 and joined B P Collins from Allen & Overy in 2006.
Sue deals with commercial property matters, involving shops, factories and warehouses for a spectrum of clients, including charities, individuals and businesses.
When not at work she enjoys travelling, drawing and painting, reading and going to the gym.

Victoria Holland »
Senior Associate
Practice Group: Charities legal services
Call: 01753 279022
Email: vicky.holland@bpcollins.co.uk
Link with Victoria
Victoria qualified in 1999 and was previously at Pinsent Masons in London. She joined B P Collins in 2006.
Victoria deals with transactional work and is involved in a wide variety of matters, from M&A transactions to a whole range of commercial and contractual matters, including some charities work.
Victoria loves reading and theatre but her outside interests generally revolve around entertaining her two young children.

Robert Clark »
Associate
Practice Group: Charities legal services
Call: 01753 279037
Email: robert.clark@bpcollins.co.uk
Link with Robert
Robert has specialised in property litigation since qualification in 2005. He deals with a wide range of commercial and residential property disputes and particularly specialises in issues of insolvency, dilapidations and both residential and commercial possession proceedings. He also has specialist knowledge on the consequences of failing to complete on property transactions for both vendors and purchasers and appeared in the LNTV video produced by the College of Law on the subject.
In addition, Robert has considerable technical experience in adverse possession, rights of way and boundary disputes and deals with a wide range of commercial and residential lease disputes and issues of tenant default. He also advises a number of private individuals and commercial clients on business and residential lease renewals and has experience in collective enfranchisement applications and applications for the right to manage.
Robert acts for a number of private individuals as well as nationally and internationally recognised companies and organisations.

Harriet Jones »
Associate
Practice Group: Charities legal services
Call: 01753 279075
Email: harriet.jones@bpcollins.co.uk
Link with Harriet
Harriet graduated from the University of Liverpool with an LLB (Hons) in 2005, trained at B P Collins and qualified in October 2008 as a corporate and commercial solicitor. She advises on a range of commercial and contractual matters and is involved in business acquisitions and disposals. Harriet has a particular interest in and is a member of both the environment and information technology teams. Outside work, Harriet enjoys going to the gym, cooking, and trying to improve her tennis serve.

Cristine Benn »
Consultant Trust Administrator
Practice Group: Charities legal services
Call: 01753 279059
Email: cristine.benn@bpcollins.co.uk
Link with Cristine
Cristine Benn joined B P Collins in February 2002, having previously had a financial services background with Abbey National Plc and Commercial Banking with Allied Irish Bank. Cristine runs the trust administration section of the private client practice group and deals with the compliance and day to day issues that arise in connection with the many Trusts B P Collins monitor and advise upon. Cristine's interests include Italian culture and language, golf and swimming. Cris is also a mentor for Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners Students in relation to trust administration.




