Lynne Ayres LLB

Managing Director

Email: lynne.ayres@hcsolicitors.co.uk

Lynne is the Managing Director of hc solicitors and Head of the Practice Support department with full-time responsibility for Finance, IT, Client care, Marketing, Administration and Professional Standards.

Educated at Peterborough High School, Lynne studied at Bristol University and the London College of Law and qualified in 1971.

Lynne's broad background of legal work enables her to offer assistance to many lawyers across the Practice.  Lynne has a reputation for tenacity which is evidenced by her winning a landmark case in the House of Lords preserving a client's right to confidentiality.

She is a Member of the Negligence Panel Referral Scheme for the Consumer Complaints Service, Chairman of the Governors of Peterborough High School, Trustee of the Peterborough Cancer Treatment Appeal and is an Executive Board Member and Fellow of Woodard Schools.

Henry Anstey LLB

Director and Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate Team

Email: henry.anstey@hcsolicitors.co.uk

Henry is a Director of the firm and specialises in Wills, Trusts, Probate and Care for the Elderly. He also specialises in tax planning and has considerable experience in helping clients to plan for the future.

Henry gained an LLB at Guildhall University in London. He then attended the College of Law in London and qualified as a solicitor in 1992. Henry is a member of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners, a member of the Law Society Probate Section and a member of Solicitors for the Elderly.

Specifically, Henry can advise you on: 

• Preparing a Will - helping you to draw up a Will and consider the tax implications of how you leave your property. 
• Drawing up a Lasting Power of Attorney - preparing for the future by drawing up an LPA to ensure that your property and your welfare are managed as you wish if you become incapable of doing so yourself. 
• Administering an Estate when Someone has Died - carrying out the paperwork and applying for Probate or Letters of Administration. 
• Care Home Fees - planning for the possible impact of care home fees in the future by developing strategies to fund such care which minimise the impact on your assets. 
• Tax Planning - helping you to reduce the amount of tax due on your death.

David Heming LLB

Director and Head of Personal Injury and Dispute Resolution Team

Email: david.heming@hcsolicitors.co.uk

David gained a BA (Hons) in Law at Leeds Metropolitan University. He studied for the Bar at the Inns of Court School of Law and qualified as a Barrister in 1980, obtaining an entrance award from Grays Inn. David then changed disciplines and qualified as a Solicitor in 1990.

David also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Personal Injury Law and is H.M. Deputy Coroner (Peterborough and Stamford).

David is a solicitor specialising in catastrophic injury cases including complex brain and spinal injury. He runs a team of Personal Injury specialists who advise and represent those who have sustained injuries due to accidents or negligent treatment.

David has been involved in a number of high profile cases including group actions and cases resulting in awards of several million pounds.

Specifically, David can advise you on:

• Obtaining Damages - He can provide advice on how best to claim damages for injuries resulting from Road Traffic Accidents, negligent medical treatment, accidents at work or other accidents for which someone else is liable.
• Court representation - most damages claims are settled out of court but where necessary David can represent you in court or construct a barrister to represent you.
• Defending Claims - if you are being sued for damages yourself, David can provide advice and representation to defend the claim.

Simon Milburn LLB

Director and Head of Crime Department

Email: simon.milburn@hcsolicitors.co.uk

Simon completed his LLB and Law Society finals at Northumbria University and qualified as a solicitor in 1991. Simon is a highly experienced Criminal Advocate whose experience includes both prosecuting and defending environmental, health and safety and trading standards matters.

Specifically, Simon can advise on: 

• Licensing - helping you to apply for alcohol and gaming licenses and representing you if any problems arise. 
• Business Defence - advising and representing your company in the event that it is charged or prosecuted in connection with an offence. 
• Statutory Prosecutions - carrying out prosecutions on behalf of agencies with statutory enforcement responsibilities. 
• Motoring Offences - advising and representing individuals who are charged with motoring offences. Our Crime team has a good track record of saving driving licenses even where you have reached the maximum number of points.
• Prison Law - Simon is experienced in representing prisoners at parole hearings, lifer reviews or adjudications.

Edward Owen BA

Director and Head of Family Team

Email: edward.owen@hcsolicitors.co.uk

Edward gained a BA at Anglia University and attended the College of Law in Chester, qualifying in 1981. Edward is a member of the Family Court Business Committee. He is the only solicitor in the Peterborough area to have gained accreditation by Resolution, the leading UK body for Family Law, in dealing with the complexities of pensions in divorce settlements.

Edward is a leading Family Law solicitor who helps clients with separation, divorce, pre-nuptial contracts, cohabitation agreements and children's residence/custody arrangements. He is also a member of the Collaborative Family Law group who can utilise their skills in client representation, negotiation and problem-solving to help their clients shape a fair agreement without going to Court.

Specifically, Edward can advise on: 

• Divorce and Separation - advising you if you are facing the breakdown of your Marriage or Civil Partnership and representing you in Court if needed. 
• Preparing for Marriage, Civil Partnership or Cohabitation - advising you on any steps you can take to protect your assets and prepare for the future before getting married or moving in with someone. 
• Arrangements for Children - providing advice on arrangements for residence and contact to children after family breakdown.

Anna Spriggs LLB

Director and Head of Commercial Team

Email: anna.spriggs@hcsolicitors.co.uk

Anna attended Peterborough High School and gained her law degree at Hull University. She attended the College of Law in Guildford and qualified in 1988. Anna is a member of the Agricultural Law Association, the Charity Law Association and the Ecclesiastical Law Society. Since 1995 she has been H.M Assistant Deputy Coroner for Peterborough and Stamford.  She is also a trustee of Peterborough Cathedral Development and Preservation Trust.

Anna is a Director and head of our Commercial Team. She has extensive experience in Commercial property having helped businesses ranging from multi-million pound commercial enterprises to ecclesiastical property funds and small local charities. As well as broad property skills, Anna also has significant specialist experience in ecclesiastical law and charity law.

Specifically, Anna can advise on:

• Sales and purchases of land for development including Option Agreements, Overage and Conditional Contracts
• Sales and purchases of agricultural, charitable or church land
• Sales and purchases of commercial properties, both leasehold and freehold
• Sales and purchases of businesses.

John Henson LLB

Director

Email: john.henson@hcsolicitors.co.uk

John is a Director who works with the Family and Crime teams.  John has more than 30 years experience in advocacy and specialises in two areas of the law, namely criminal defence work and childcare (public law) work, which often overlap.  John was educated at Deacons in Peterborough before studying law at Birmingham University, then at the College of Law in Guildford.  He qualified in 1975.

Specifically, John can advise you if:

• You are a Guardian and would like advice on the law affecting child protection.
• You are a parent whose child is involved in child protection proceedings and you would like advice on court representation in the proceedings.

Peter Izod BA

Director and Head of Oundle Office

Email: peter.izod@hcsolicitors.co.uk

Peter is a Director of the firm and has responsibility for hc solicitors' Oundle office, which he has succesfully run since 1986. Whilst sustaining a market town style of service, Peter makes expert use of our complex IT systems.

Educated at Stamford School before continuing his studies at Liverpool Polytechnic and Chester College of Law, Peter qualified in 1983.

With over 20 years' extensive experience in commercial and residential property, Peter is a specialist in freehold and leasehold transactions.  He also advises in matters concerning probate, trusts, wills and care of the elderly.  Peter draws on legal expertise outside of his own specialist area from our Peterborough office as required.

Denis White LLB

Director

Email: denis.white@hcsolicitors.co.uk

Denis was educated at Xaverian College in Manchester and gained his LLB from Sheffield before attending the College of Law in Guildford, qualifying in 1976. Denis was formerly Chairman of Peterborough & District Round Table and was also Chairman of a local primary school Board of Governors.

Denis is a member of the Collaborative Family Law Group, the Law Society Children's Panel and the Charity Law Association. He currently sits on the Legal Services Commission Appeals Committee. He is a Chairman of the Diocese of East Anglia Child Protection Commission and Vice-Chairman of Drinksense.

Denis is a Director and key member of our Family Team. Denis is one of Peterborough's leading Family lawyers and has worked with children and families in the Peterborough area for over 30 years. Denis is accredited by Resolution in dealing with complex financial arrangements following the breakdown of relationships in cases involving people with medium or high incomes, valuable assets, tax implications and sometimes foreign and company or partnership issues.

Specifically, Denis can advise on:

• Divorce and Separation - advising you if you are facing the breakdown of your marriage or Civil Partnership and representing you in Court. 
• Preparing for Marriage or Cohabitation - advising you on any steps you can take to protect your assets and prepare for the future before getting married or moving in with someone. 
• Acting for Parents - providing advice on arrangements for residence and access to children after family breakdown. 
• Acting for Children - providing advice to court-appointed Guardians on Child Protection laws on how to protect a child's interests.

Andrew Cave LLB

Director

Email: andrew.cave@hcsolicitors.co.uk

Andrew was educated locally at Jack Hunt School. He then went on to gain his LLB in Nottingham and complete his Legal Practice Course at the College of Law, De Montfort University. He was admitted to the roll of solicitors in 2002.

Andrew holds Higher Rights of Audience in both Criminal and Civil Courts, and is Secretary to the Deacons School Trust.

Andrew is a Director who works within our Crime and Defence team. He is an experienced Criminal Advocate who carries out business defence and prosecution work for a wide range of companies and organisations as well as representing individuals in a wide variety of criminal and mental health matters.

Specifically, Andrew can advise businesses on:

• Business Defence - advising and representing your company in the event that it is charged or prosecuted in connection with an offence. Andrew has extensive experience of working in the Crown and Magistrates courts and recently gained the Higher Rights of Audience which allows him to represent clients in the Crown Court.
• Motoring Offences - advising and representing individuals who are charged with motoring offences. Our Crime team has a good track record of saving driving licences even where you have reached the maximum number of points. Andrew has represented a number of our business clients in this area and is skilled in the often complex legal arguments which can be used to defend your case.

Paddy Appleton LLB

Associate Director

Email: paddy.appleton@hcsolicitors.co.uk

Paddy is a solicitor specialising in Wills, Trust and Probate. He also specialises in tax planning and has considerable expertise in helping clients plan for the future.

Paddy gained an LLB at Leeds University before attending Chester College of Law.  He qualified as a solicitor in 1985.   Paddy is a member of the Law Society Probate section and a past President of the Peterborough and District Law Society. 

Specifically, Paddy can advise you on:

• Preparing a Will - helping you to draw up a Will and consider the tax implications of how you leave your property.
• Drawing up a Lasting Power of Attorney - preparing for the future by drawing up an LPA to ensure that your property and your welfare are managed as you wish if you become incapable of doing so yourself.
• Administering an estate when someone has died - carrying out the paperwork and applying for Probate or Letters of Administration.
• Care Home Fees - planning for the possible impact of care home fees in the future by developing strategies to fund such care which minimise the impact on your assets.
• Lifetime Tax Planning - helping you to reduce the amount of tax you pay in your lifetime and on death by the use of appropriate financial planning and trusts.

Andrew Whitehead LLB

Associate Director

Email: andrew.whitehead@hcsolicitors.co.uk

Andrew studied Law at Birmingham University and attended the College of Law in Guildford, qualifying in 1979.

Andrew has practised commercial law since 1986 and specialises in all areas of company law.  He joined hc solicitors in 2005.

Andrew deals with the full range of Company and Commercial law.  Since joining hc, Andrew has dealt with a number of high value company and commercial matters for some of our most valued clients. 

Recently, he has completed the share sale of a Pharmaceutical company for £2.8 million, the sale of a luxury hotel for £4.2 million, the sale of a vegetable packaging business for £1.8 million, the purchase of a timber business, a restaurant, a local nightclub and several smaller business sales and purchases.  He has also in the last six months acted for banks in the funding of a large land purchase and a purchase of a caravan business in Lincolnshire.  

Andrew can advise on:

• sales and purchases of company shares

• buying and selling your business

• buying and selling commercial and investment property

• buying land for commercial development