Settlement

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Investors, Entrepreneurs and highly talented individuals

Tier 1 (Investor) Visa

The Tier 1 Investor visa is for non-EEA nationals who have substantial funds available for investment in the UK. The applicant in this category must meet the following key requirements:

  • Have not less than £2million funds available;
  • The funds are held in a regulated financial institution and are transferrable to the UK;
  • Have a UK bank account opened with a UK regulated institution;
  • Have criminal record certificates from any country where resided for at least 12 months within 10 years before application.

The Tier 1 Investor applicants do not need to show English language ability nor maintenance funds. The initial visa is granted for 3 years and 4 months (3 years if switched from inside the UK) and it can be extended for a further 2 years. After 5 years the Tier 1 Investor can apply for settlement and then for UK citizenship. There is an accelerated settlement option after 3 years for those who invest £5million and after 2 years for those who invest £10 million.

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa

Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa category is for non-EEA nationals who intend to establish, join or take over a business in the UK. The key requirements to qualify for the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa are:

  • Have at least £200,000 of own or third party funds available for investment (£50,000 when the funds are from government department, FCA registered ventured capital firm or from Home Office approved seed funding competition).
  • Have a viable business plan.
  • Have £3,310 maintenance funds (plus £1,890 for each dependant) in addition to the investment funds.
  • English language knowledge CEFR B1 or above (in each of the 4 components: reading, writing, speaking and listening).
  • Provide criminal record certificates from any country that applicant (equally applicable to adult dependant) resided for at least 12 months during the 10 years before application.
  • Meet the genuine entrepreneur test (this is an assessment of viability and credibility of the applicant’s business plan by way of an interview).

The initial Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa is granted for 3 years and 4 months (3 years when switching from inside the UK) and it can be extended for a further 2 years. After 5 years in the UK the Tier 1 Entrepreneur can apply for settlement and then for UK citizenship. Those Tier 1 Entrepreneurs who create 10 full time jobs or have a business turnover of £5 million can apply for an accelerated settlement after 3 years in the UK. The Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa route is due to be closed in the spring of 2019 and replaced by a new Innovator visa. The details of the requirements for the new Innovator visa have not yet been published by the UK Home Office.

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa  

The Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa is for non-EEA nationals who are world leaders or emerging world leaders in the fields of digital technology, humanities, engineering, science, the arts, architecture and fashion design. Obtaining the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa is a two stage process. Stage 1 is to obtain an endorsement from a designated competent body (DCB) for the particular field of applicant’s expertise. The DCBs are: the Tech Nation, the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the British Academy, the Arts Council. Each DCB has its own set of endorsement criteria and there is a limit of 2000 endorsements that can be granted each year. The limit has never been reached yet. The applicants must provide support letters from eminent experts in their respective fields as well as provide other documents to evidence their achievements to date. The processing time for endorsement is normally approximately up to 8 weeks, although there is an expedited option available for certain digital technology applicants (e.g. those with previous experience of scaling digital technology business or those who intend to be located in the North of England). Once the endorsement is obtained the applicant can apply for the visa within 3 months. The processing time for the visa varies but it is usually about 2-4 weeks. The initial visa is granted for up to 5 years and 4 months (exceptional Talent) and 3 years and 4 months (exceptional promise). Those who were endorsed as exceptional talent can apply for settlement after 3 years and those with exceptional promise endorsement can settle in the UK after 5 years. Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa holder can work for any employer, be a Director or be self employed in the UK.

Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Visa

You can apply for a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa if you are a graduate who has been officially endorsed as having a genuine and credible business idea. The endorsement must come from a UK higher education institution (HEI) listed as authorised endorsing body for this visa type OR from the Department of International Trade (DIT) as part of the elite global graduate entrepreneur programme (Sirious). The initial visa is granted for up to 1 year and it can be extended for a further year. Graduate Entrepreneur visa does not lead to settlement in the UK. To continue their business in the UK, the Graduate Entrepreneurs usually switch to Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa prior to their Graduate Entrepreneur visa expiry. The Graduate Entrepreneur route is due to be replaced by a new start up visa in the spring of 2019. The details of the requirements for the new start up visa have not yet been published by the UK Home Office.

Meet the team

Alexandra Grigorian
Alexandra Grigorian
Team Assistant/Paralegal - Property

Alexandra joined Carter Lemon Camerons LLP in 2022 as a Team Assistant in the Litigation department where she assisted Solicitors with their cases, including preparing bundles for Court hearings, mediation and arbitration, as well as meeting and supporting clients throughout the litigation process. Alexandra is now in the Property department and has gained more legal experience in supporting secured lending by drafting legal charges, board resolutions and arranging movement of funds as well assisting Partners and Solicitors with commercial property transactions and completions.

Alexandra gained an LLB (with Hons) in Law at the University of Kent and is working her way towards qualifying as a Solicitor.

Before joining the firm, Alexandra worked at a Mayfair based private equity firm supporting the Partners and investment team and managing the firm’s investment pipeline.

Outside of work, Alexandra can be found performing live music in London, playing a variety of sports and collecting records.

020 7406 1000 - AlexandraGrigorian@cartercamerons.com
Andrew Firman
Andrew Firman
Partner - Employment

Andrew Firman is a partner in our corporate & commercial team. His corporate practice concentrates on buying and selling mainly owner-managed SMEs and associated advice on contractual and banking documentation work.  His employment practice covers all aspects of contentious and non-contentious work for both employers and employees. His charity practice majors on compliance and amalgamation matters.

Transactions

In his work, Andrew looks for proactive and pragmatic solutions derived from a proper understanding of the client’s perspective and against the background of the commercial constraints.

Career highlights include

  • running a David v Goliath style battle for a former employee of a US based bank related to the late vesting of share options following that employee’s termination at a time when the US markets were in freefall
  • negotiating, finalising and drawing down for an off-shore SPV borrower at £310M facility to buy a group of companies which owned, as an investment, the London HQ of a multinational corporation
  • reaching settlement terms on a long running shareholders’ dispute concerning a company running a niche members’ gym in a close knit area of London

More recently, Andrew has advised upon

  • the purchase of owner-managed companies across a number of different sectors by a leading SME investor, incentivising existing management via equity and loan note positions in the purchasing entity
  • sale by owner managers of a London based estate agency business with multiple sites, whilst preserving the sellers’ ability to continue business activity in the sector
  • sale of SPV off shore companies holding UK property assets
  • multi facility refinancing of a major UK specialist facilities maintenance company with asset based receivables, property, cashflow and recovery loan scheme elements
  • the negotiation and documentation of departure terms for the CEO pioneer of a cutting edge national charity
  • the position of a charity trustee in connection with disqualification proceedings and interim manager appointment by the Charity Commission in respect of two charitable trusts

Andrew has over the years enjoyed advising many owner-managed SMEs on the range of their needs for commercial, employment and dispute related legal advice, something for which the firm has received increasing recognition through awards, repeat and new business which in turn goes to the depth of the relationships the firm has with its clients and its target market in terms of size of business clients.

Andrew was educated at Nailsea School and holds degrees in law from Manchester and Leicester Universities.  He qualified as a solicitor in 1995. He is a co-author of a Practical Guide to Drone Law.

Away from the office Andrew, married to a local GP and of occasional use to his three children, enjoys running and cycling and being involved in various ways in his local church and the fantastic community that is SE24.

020 7406 1000 - AndrewFirman@cartercamerons.com
Becky Smith
Becky Smith
Paralegal - Property

Becky joined CLC in December 2017 as a Team Assistant in the firm’s Property department, supporting the team with both residential and commercial property matters. In October 2018, Becky became a paralegal at the firm, specialising in residential property and secured lending transactions.

 

Becky has gained experience in varied areas of residential conveyancing and secured lending and is able to run residential sales, purchases, transfers of equity, financing, and refinancing. Becky has also worked on the property side of corporate transactions (acquisitions and disposals of SPV companies) as well as de-enveloping of properties on behalf of overseas corporate clients and assists in commercial property transactions. She has travelled to Asia a number of times to see clients and contacts face to face and is highly regarded by clients from SE Asia and the Arabian Gulf.

 

Having completed her Graduate Diploma in Law in 2016, she is currently studying towards her Solicitors Qualifying Examination, with the aim of becoming a qualified solicitor with a passion for property work and property related advice and projects.

 

In her free time, Becky enjoys going to the gym and reading.

020 7406 1000 - BeckySmith@cartercamerons.com
Carmen Loke
Carmen Loke
Paralegal - Immigration, Company Commercial

Carmen is a paralegal with over 7 years’ experience in immigration. Her calm and efficient manner ensures matters are dealt with as quickly and cost effectively for clients as possible.

Carmen provides general support to fee earners and Partners within Company Commercial and Immigration teams. She assists in the day-to-day functions of the Immigration team including all aspects of casework and assisting in the preparation of applications. Under direct supervision, Carmen acts as a caseworker on straightforward cases, and supports solicitors in more complex matters. She reviews client queries and drafts responses for review by solicitors and prepares documentation for application under a wide range of visa routes with great skill. As part of the Company Commercial team, she has reviewed share purchase agreements, drafted escrow agreements, prepared bundles for mediation and recently attended a successful mediation meeting over a contract dispute.

She holds degrees in Airline and Airport Management (First-Class Honours), and International Politics and Economics (2:1).

Outside of work, Carmen plays the piano, enjoys trying new activities (the latest being paddle boarding) and is an active church member.

020 7406 1000 - CarmenLoke@cartercamerons.com
Chris Picardo
Chris Picardo
Partner - Commercial Property

Chris Picardo is a partner in the Commercial Property team specialising in transactional property work and property management advice. Chris advises investors, developers, business occupiers and individuals on a variety of commercial property transactions including acquisitions, disposals, property finance, the negotiation of business leases and portfolio management. Chris is regarded by a number of clients as a member of their team. He adds value for those clients by retaining a knowledge of and an interest in their portfolio of investments, and their business needs, so that he can efficiently see ways to get results for them.

Recent projects include:

  • acting for the buyer on the purchase of a chemical plant in North London, with involvement from the initial bidding process until occupation of the site, working throughout with the client’s environmental consultants
  • leading the commercial property due diligence on the disposal of the shares in a group of investment and development companies owning in excess of £30m of office, retail and industrial property
  • the sale of London industrial premises to a global drinks manufacturer
  • representing a leading global shipbroker on the relocation of its London headquarters
  • acting for a City of London investment management company on its exit strategy from leasehold premises and its acquisition of more than 23,000 sq ft of leasehold premises in Bishopsgate

More…

Chris graduated in Law from the University of Reading and studied the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in Guildford.

Chris was admitted as a solicitor in 1999 and joined Carter Lemon working in the Commercial Property team.

In his free time Chris enjoys travel abroad (more recent destinations including Peru, Chile, Argentina, San Francisco and the South of France), reading, running and spending time with his family.

020 7406 1000 - ChrisPicardo@cartercamerons.com
Christina Matjilla
Christina Matjilla
Trainee Solicitor - litigation

Christina currently works on legal disputes within our Litigation Team.  

Although originally getting her BA in Philosophy from York, Christina completed her LPC in London, taking an elective on ‘Advanced Commercial Litigation.’  

Before joining Carter Lemon Camerons LLP, she worked as a Product Expert for a leading legal AI company, driving sales and usage of their technology. Her clients varied across ten different countries. 

Christina previously worked on a project entitled ‘using technology to promote gender balance within the legal profession’ and remains passionate about the subject. 

In her time off, Christina enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and baking. She also loves exploring London’s newest restaurants and going to see shows at the theatre.  

020 7406 1000 - ChristinaMatjilla@cartercamerons.com
Eleri Jones
Eleri Jones
Partner - Commercial Property

Eleri Jones is a partner in the Commercial Property department at Carter Lemon Camerons, having joined in December 2019 from another City-based law firm.

She specialises in commercial property matters relating to the charity sector in addition to acting for a full range of commercial clients.

Eleri is experienced in acting in the sale and purchase of commercial and residential property, Development Agreements, Commercial Lease renewals and Licences, as well as advising on compliance with the Charities Act, charity governance documentation, the transfer of properties to CIO and the development and disposal of school land.

Amongst her notable cases, she negotiated and drafted a development agreement for a large residential development with leaseback to the freeholder, including provision of development by the purchaser and provision for overage. Eleri also acted on a large-scale financial restructuring of a care home business.

Eleri qualified as a solicitor in 1993.

 

020 7406 1000 - elerijones@cartercamerons.com
Eloise McIlwraith
Eloise McIlwraith
Team Assistant/Paralegal - Private Client

Eloise began her relationship with Carter Lemon Camerons LLP as a student in August 2015 and has returned regularly ever since to help CLC where she can. In March 2022, Eloise began the role of team assistant/paralegal within the Private Client Team.

Eloise is a conscientious and attentive individual who intends to make her future in legal practice. She supports the Partners and fee-earners with drafting and reviewing Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, acting as the first point of contact for clients and making appointments for those with whom she works.

Eloise was educated at Brentwood School in Essex, where she studied A-Levels of French, History and English Literature. After leaving school, Eloise moved to New Jersey, USA to become a live-in au pair for a busy family and particularly enjoyed travelling to different regions and learning about a varied culture. Currently, Eloise is studying part-time for her LLB at the University of Law. Outside of work she enjoys playing tennis, learning new languages, and going out with her friends.

020 7406 1042 - eloisemcilwraith@cartercamerons.com
Fotini Leventi
Fotini Leventi
Partner - Commercial Property

Fotini joined Carter Lemon Camerons in July 2023 and is a Partner in our Commercial Property team. She acts on behalf of landlords and tenants, and also looks after all aspects of commercial property; from sales and purchases to negotiating Leases and accompanied deeds and discussing strategies with clients to assist them achieve their objective.

Fotini also acts for lenders and bridging companies as their advising solicitor on various lending deals ranging from small loans to multi-million-pound deals and refinancing portfolios.

Using critical thinking as well as a common sense is what distinguishes Fotini’s approach when solving, or avoiding problems for her clients.

Career highlights include

  • Completing a bridging finance of over £5 million on behalf of a lender where the borrower was three separate offshore companies, secured over three high-value residential properties in West London
  • Overseeing the refinance of a portfolio of 13 properties, acting for both the borrower and the lender
  • Completing the purchase of seven commercial properties in South London on a back-to-back contract with a longstop date, which was eventually completed with the aid of bridging finance over the purchased properties.
  • Negotiating the lease and contract for a commercial unit in Brunswick Square in Central London for a luxury patisserie company.
  • Sold six properties on behalf of a lender where power of sale was exercised

Fotini, who is a member of the SRA, has LLB Hons Degree and an LLM in International Commercial Law and began her career in 2011 as a Paralegal before becoming a Trainee Solicitor in 2015. She started as a Conveyancing Solicitor in 2017 at her previous firm where she was promoted to Partner in 2018.

Born in Cyprus, Fotini moved to the UK to study before settling here, Fotini is fluent in Greek and can also have a basic conversation in Albanian but is getting better at it with the help of her husband and children.

Away from the office, Fotini enjoys spending time with her family and Taco, her chihuahua. She also loves travelling and going swimming.

020 7406 1007 - FotiniLeventi@cartercamerons.com
Graham Balchin
Graham Balchin
Consultant - Litigation

The Legal 500: Recommended lawyer 2020Graham is a consultant solicitor in the litigation team and has specialised in professional negligence claims for over 20 years. He trained at Trowers & Hamlins, qualifying in 1992.

His recent successful cases include over 30 professional negligence claims arising out of an elaborate mortgage fraud, recovering over £5million on behalf of borrower/purchaser clients who have been defrauded into buying substantially overvalued “buy to let” properties.

He has also acted for a group of investors who had purchased properties ‘off plan’ in the Philippines that were either not built or were sold twice. In this case the investors brought successful claims against the negligent solicitors who failed to ensure that the purchase contracts were backed with the promised performance bonds that should have protected the buyers from default by the developer.

He has also acted in various other professional negligence matters, relating to solicitors, barristers, valuers/surveyors, accountants, financial advisors, banks and insurance brokers.

Graham takes pride in providing clear, concise and practical advice and is regularly contacted to offer expert comment on media reports relating to professional negligence and property.

He is on the register maintained by the London Solicitors Litigation Association of solicitors with experience of supervising and executing civil search orders.

Transactions:

Reported cases and cases of interest include:

  • Laib v Aravindan [2003] EWHC 2521 QBD, The Times [13/11/2003] – Claim against solicitors for loss of chance to pursue a negligence claim against a mortgage lender involving complex issues relating to limitation.
  • Vinayak v Lovegrove & Eliot [2007] EWHC 9009 – Claim against solicitors arising out of failure to advise that break clauses in leases could only be exercised by original lessee. Court held that losing solicitors could not compel disclosure of conditional fee arrangement.
  • Tavistock Repertory Guarantors Ltd v Gregory Rowcliffe Milners HQ02X2325 – Claim against solicitors who lost client the right to renew lease of theatre premises resulting in agreed damages of £2,020,000. This is believed to be possibly the highest sum ever recovered from a solicitor who has acted “pro bono.”
  • Ayton v RSM Bentley Jennison [2014] QBD Lawtel – Held defendant in fraud and negligence claim not entitled to rely on defence of tender before claim (action), which is a defence still only available in liquidated claims.

Memberships:

Professional Negligence Lawyers Association

Leisure:

Shooting, badminton, skiing and motorcycling.

020 7406 1000 - GrahamBalchin@cartercamerons.com
Ian West
Ian West
Partner - Private Client

Ian West is a partner in the Private Client team. He deals with a wide range of matters including commercial and residential conveyancing, will drafting, trusts and probate and powers of attorney.

Private Client Matters

As well as obtaining grants of probate for UK estates, Ian has assisted personal representatives of foreign estates in resealing foreign grants to administer UK assets held by a deceased domiciled outside the UK. He has dealt with resealing foreign grants in jurisdictions as diverse as Holland and Iran. He has also advised on domicile in respect of deceased’s estates and regularly deals with the UK estates of persons who have died domiciled outside the United Kingdom.

Property Transactions

Recent property transactions include:-

  • Acting for clients on a lifetime mortgage as part of an inheritance tax strategy.
  • Acting on behalf of a landowner in connection with the grant of an option for a lease for use of the land for battery storage.
  • Acting on behalf of a landowner in connection with the sale of land for use as an electricity sub-station in connection with a wind farm project and grant of options for related easements.
  • Acting for both landlords and tenants in respect of statutory claims for extension leases of flats.

More…

Ian was educated at Brentwood School Essex, Manchester University and the College of Law London. He qualified as a solicitor in 1981 and joined Metson Cross in 1982 becoming a partner in 1990.

Ian is married with two children.

As former Honorary Secretary of the Society of Old Brentwoods, Ian takes a keen interest in the affairs of the School and in various events and functions organised by the Society. He is also a keen follower of football and has an interest in classic cars. Ian is a member of the Mini Cooper Register. Ian has also been learning to play the guitar (for over 45 years!).

020 7406 1000 - IanWest@cartercamerons.com
Janet Dayman
Janet Dayman
Office Manager - Administration

Janet joined the firm in 1983 (then known as George Carter & Co, the firm which after many mergers and an LLP conversion is now Carter Lemon Camerons LLP).

Working her way up through the firm and learning on the job, Janet has gained a strong background in administration and practice management.

Janet manages the day to day running of the office and provides management support to the partners in areas such as risk management, compliance, accreditations, IT and recruitment.

Outside of work, Janet enjoys decorating and gardening.

020 7406 1000 - info@cartercamerons.com
Jarmila Entezari
Jarmila Entezari
Senior Associate - Immigration

Jarmila’s extensive and well-rounded experience in both corporate and private immigration enables her to advise and assist clients efficiently. Her detailed knowledge of the Home Office policies and her professional manner is a great benefit to clients with tight deadlines.

Her experience also includes applications for the review of public authority decisions by the court, that enable such decisions to be challenged on the grounds of illegality, irrationality and unfairness. Jarmila understands the particulars of bringing or defending a claim. She works with clients from the start to identify the core issues and gain an understanding of the key concerns, which allow her to deliver focused and clear advice. Jarmila works with her clients from the beginning and throughout the preparation to ensure the clients’ actions are lawful, or where a potential dispute arises she assists with a principled, measured and robust defence.

Jarmila receives instructions to prepare appeals to First tier and Upper Tribunals of the Immigration and Asylum Chambers and has been involved in judicial review applications at the High Court.

Jarmila assists clients on HR issues and all aspects of employment law including: employment rights; discrimination, victimisation and whistleblowing; termination of employment and settlement agreements; redundancies and restructures; TUPE; employment policies and employment contracts; HR process, including disciplinaries and grievances.

She has strong links in the Slovak community and cooperates with the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in advising corporate and private clients about sponsoring workers as well as family visas and status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Jarmila has had articles published in the Employment Law Journal and Law Gazette for Westminster and Holborn.

She is a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association.

020 7406 1000 - JarmilaEntezari@cartercamerons.com
Jessica Gomes
Jessica Gomes
Receptionist and Administrator

As a Receptionist and Administrator, Jessica is responsible for greeting our clients with a welcoming smile and making sure they have a pleasant experience before and after meeting our solicitors.   

She also helps our Team Assistants in keeping our office running smoothly and efficiently.  

Jessica is well informed and answers our visitors’ questions quickly and accurately, always referring them to the right department where necessary.  

In her spare time, Jessica is heavily involved in her local church. She also balances her love of books with a passion for creating fashion content.  

020 7406 1000 - JessicaGomes@cartercamerons.com
Julian Smith
Julian Smith
Trainee Solicitor - Commercial Property

Julian joined Carter Lemon Camerons LLP after studying at the University of Cape Town and completing Law School in London. He currently works in the Property department, supporting colleagues in client matters including secured lending and commercial property transactions. 

He especially looks forward to working with commercial clients. During his Legal Practice Course, he took electives in Commercial and Intellectual Property, Private Acquisitions, and Advanced Commercial Litigation.  

Before joining the firm, Julian volunteered at a legal advice centre in West London, where he assisted clients with issues concerning debt, housing, and employment.   

He also has a keen interest in International Trade Law, having tutored at undergraduate level on the rules surrounding dispute resolution, investment, technical barriers to trade, and intellectual property.  

Outside of work Julian balances his hobbies by competing in powerlifting and relaxing by painting and exploring London’s museums and galleries.  

020 7406 1000 - JulianSmith@cartercamerons.com
Kate Boguslawska
Kate Boguslawska
Partner - Corporate

The Legal 500: Recommended lawyer 2020Katarzyna (Kate) Boguslawska qualified as a solicitor in 2006 and is a Partner in our corporate and commercial department.

Kate’s clients range from start-up owners through to SMEs and some global main-players who need advice on business-related matters. These range from advice on employment and company matters to contract drafting and disputes. Kate understands her clients, their needs and goals. Her clients often praise her pragmatic approach and tailored practical advice.

Employment

In her employment practice Kate:

  • drafts contracts, handbooks and company policies
  • provides regular Employment/HR Advice
  • negotiates contracts
  • drafts and negotiate settlement agreements
  • helps to navigate through TUPE, restructure and redundancies
  • advises and represents in claims for unfair dismissal, discrimination, breach of contract, unlawful deduction from wages, etc
  • advises on injunctive relief and restrictive covenants

Notable employment work included:

  • advising a well-known English designer in company restructure and redundancies;
  • advising employers and high net worth individuals on settlement agreements and severance packages;
  • regular HR advice to a number of company clients;
  • advising media company on contracts and issues relating to confidentiality, IP and restrictive covenants;
  • representing high earning claimants in ‘Stress at Work’ personal injury matters.

Commercial

In her commercial and company practice Kate:

  • advises on suitable business entities and company formation;
  • advises on company and directors’ duties;
  • drafts necessary company documents including amended articles and resolutions;
  • drafts and negotiates contracts and shareholders’ agreements;
  • advises on shareholders disputes.

Notable commercial work included:

  • advising and representing foreign companies establishing business in the UK;
  • advising companies on matters involving directors’ duties and shareholders’ disputes;
  • advising a Polish PLC on contract matters and negotiating on its behalf with an English PLC;
  • representing an international cosmetics company in injunctive relief and restraint of trade matters;
  • representing hauliers in representations against Border Force and HMRC in excise duty matters;
  • advising EU nationals on immigration issues, residency and citizenship applications in the UK.

More…

Kate has strong links in the Polish community and is recommended by the Polish Embassy in London, having co-written a Guide for Polish Investors in the UK that was published by the Embassy. She has a broad network of international connections and has been instructed by law firms in Poland to assist their clients in matters involving English jurisdiction.

Listen to Kate’s podcast

 

020 7406 1000 - katarzynaboguslawska@cartercamerons.com
Kiran Bansal
Kiran Bansal
Solicitor - Litigation
020 7406 1000 - kiranbansal@cartercamerons.com
Leesa Glenwright
Leesa Glenwright
Senior Associate - Property

Leesa joined our Property Department as an Associate in March 2019. Her interest in the Law and in particular conveyancing began over 20 years ago while working at a southeast London firm. She then moved onto a firm in Lincoln’s Inn where she qualified as a Licensed Conveyancer in 2009 before joining a firm in Westminster acting for UK and overseas high net worth individuals and developers.

Leesa has gained a wealth of experience in all areas of residential conveyancing and secured lending with a particular emphasis on UK and non-UK based individuals and new build/redevelopment sites both within central London and across the Country.

Leesa has worked with large and small scale developers both from the UK and overseas providing a top and tail service from the acquisition of sites through to the plot sales on sites from 1-120 units.

Outside of work Leesa enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and cooking.

020 7406 1000 - LeesaGlenwright@cartercamerons.com
Lisa Ginesi
Lisa Ginesi
Partner - Commercial Dispute Resolution

The Legal 500: Recommended lawyer 2020Lisa Ginesi is a partner in our commercial litigation and dispute resolution team.  Her practice covers a wide range of commercial disputes and predominantly relates to all forms of property disputes. The clients Lisa acts for range from large corporate property developers and investors to private property owning individuals.

Lisa regularly advises on a wide variety of issues affecting both residential and commercial properties and an extensive range of contractual disputes. Lisa has particular expertise in landlord and tenant disputes, the 1954 Act, dilapidation issues, nuisance claims; boundary disputes, possession claims, construction and development contracts, party wall disputes, trespasser proceedings and all aspects of enfranchisement.

In every case, Lisa actively looks for ways to reach practical and cost-effective solutions, whether that is through negotiation, court proceedings, self-help remedies or alternative dispute resolution. She works with her clients as part of a team, often alongside surveyors, engineers and a variety of other experts.

Recent Transactions include;

  • Successfully appealing against two Party Wall Awards and securing costs for our client in a case relating to a substantial development in Shoreditch.
  • Acting for a corporate property developer in a dispute to enforce the terms of a sale and construction agreement, to enable our client to complete their development and sell a number of flats.
  • Acting for a sole trader tenant, of a commercial shop in Great Russell Street in a claim against his landlord for unreasonably delaying and withholding consent to an assignment of his lease.
  • Acting for a residential property developer who intended to carry out underpinning works and was served with an injunction obtained by the Council to stop works for alleged breach of planning regulations and starting excavation for basement works.
  • Advising on a complex lease renewal of commercial premises under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, involving; disputed terms for a new lease; unauthorised sub-lettings and breach of planning legislation.
  • Advising a client who owns the freehold of a large residential block of flats in London in relation to a number of applications to extend leases under the 1993 Act, including dealing with applications to the First Tier Tribunal. Conversely, advising a number of tenants, in a different block of flats, on their rights to extend their leases.
  • Advising on a range of enfranchisement issues, including lease extensions and purchases of freeholds under the 1993 and 1967 Acts, and rights of first refusal under the 1987 Act.
  • Acting in a number of contractual property disputes including; disputed joint venture agreements; breaches and termination of JCT contracts; claims against insurers for losses and claims for unpaid fees and defective works.

Early in her career, Lisa had the privilege of being part of the team which took a highly technical lease renewal case to the House to Lords (P&O v Graysim).

Some notable and reported cases include;

  • Sai Ventures Ltd v Compar Properties Ltd [2016] – an appeal against two Party Wall Awards in a case relating to a substantial development in Shoreditch.
  • H Waites Ltd v Hambledon court Ltd and others [2014] – landlord and tenant dispute concerning air space and extent of the tenants’ demise.
  • Anslow and others v Norton Aluminium Ltd [2012] – a GLO claim for multi million pound damages in nuisance, claimed to be caused by smell, noise and dust.
  • Delgable Ltd v Perinpanathan [2005] – landlord and tenant dispute concerning the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 Act and liability to repair roof.
  • P&O Property Holdings Limited v Graysim [2005] – dispute on the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. This was a Supreme Court decision.

Judicial Appointment:  Lisa was appointed a Deputy District Judge to the South Eastern Circuit in 2020.

More…

Lisa was educated at Haydon Bridge High School in Northumberland and then studied law at the University of West London. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1992, having trained and qualified at Carter Lemon Camerons.  Lisa is a member of the Property Litigation Association, Women in Business, Women in Property, the Association of Women Solicitors and the Law Society.

020 7406 1000 - LisaGinesi@cartercamerons.com
Lyndsey Muse
Lyndsey Muse
Team Assistant

Lyndsey joined the firm in 1984 (then known as George Carter & Co).

As the firm’s remote Team Assistant, Lyndsey brings her years’ of experience as a legal secretary so as to be able to give support wherever it is needed.  Her knowledge of the firms’ document management system and other software is second to none and means she is the go to person for formatting and presentation of documents, electronic filing and efile management.

Outside of work, Lyndsey has on occasion starred as an extra in some well-known films.  She also enjoys holidays, reading and spending time with her family.

020 7406 1007 - LyndseyMuse@cartercamerons.com
Michael Sookias
Michael Sookias
Consultant - Family Dispute Resolution

Michael has over 40 years’ experience, including in multi-jurisdictional litigation.

Before embarking on his legal career, Michael studied biochemistry and worked in ICI Pharmaceuticals. Upon qualifying as a Solicitor, Michael and his brother Robert founded Sookias & Sookias in 1985, which merged with Carter Lemon Camerons in 2021.

Clients know that when they entrust their cases to Michael the matter will be in good hands and Michael will do more than what is seemingly possible to achieve the best outcome. Michael has a reputation for seeing beyond barriers and finding creative solutions. His talent is in pushing open doors where others see walls.

Michael is a member of The Lawyers Christian Fellowship, The London Solicitors Litigation Association, Association of Christian Law Firms and a board member of Advocates Europe and a Trustee of various Christian Charities.

Michael speaks Armenian and Farsi. He leads a weekly ‘Salt & Light’ gathering where he leads and teaches a group of people from all walks of life about the spiritual causes of broken relationships.

020 7406 1000 - MichaelSookias@cartercamerons.com
Michael Woodward
Michael Woodward
Consultant - Private Client

Michael qualified as a solicitor in 1982 and is a consultant based in the private client department.  Michael advises on a wide range of UK and international tax issues. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners and is an expert on wealth structuring, having been responsible for this area at Barclays Wealth for 13 years. He has also been authorised under the financial services legislation since it was introduced in the 1980s and advises on investment and financial services matters.

020 7406 1000 - MichaelWoodward@cartercamerons.com
Mike Davidson
Mike Davidson
Senior Associate Solicitor - Family and Dispute Resolution Departments

Mike joined our team as a Senior Associate Solicitor in our Family and Dispute Resolution Departments in 2023.

He is well-versed in all the key areas of family law, including divorce, matrimonial finance, child arrangement, and Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act (TOLATA) issues.

He is also a member of Resolution, which means he is dedicated to resolving disputes in a non-confrontational manner with other Family Lawyers.

Mike handles a variety of private family matters, such as:

  • Divorce and Separation;
  • Financial Disputes;
  • Matters related to Children (like child arrangements and financial provision for children);
  • Cohabitation Disputes;
  • Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements;
  • Injunctions (like applications for Occupation and Non-Molestation Orders).

We are glad to have Mike on our team, and we know his friendly, professional approach will be a big help for clients navigating their legal issues.

Resolution

0207 406 1000 - mikedavidson@cartercamerons.com
Mohammed Imran
Mohammed Imran
Paralegal - Residential conveyancing

Mohammed Imran has a wealth of experience dealing with freehold and leasehold sales and purchases. As such, he supports our residential property team and conveyancing clients to ensure a hassle-free house move.

His qualifications include a master’s degree in law and he is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx). As an advanced paralegal, he is currently working towards qualifying as a chartered legal executive.

In his spare time, Mohammed enjoys staying active and going to the gym.

020 7406 1000 - mohammedimran@cartercamerons.com
Neil Acheson-Gray
Neil Acheson-Gray
Consultant - Private Client

Neil Acheson-Gray is a consultant solicitor and part of the private client department. He has specialised in matters including contentious probate for more than three decades.

He trained at a leading firm in Holborn, qualifying as a solicitor in 1983 and then spent 25 years as a partner in the family firm with offices in Marble Arch and Richmond. This gave him a wealth of experience in estate planning, Wills, estates and trusts and carrying out the role of Executor and Trustee.

Neil has subsequently spent 6 years with a firm in Fetter Lane where he successfully developed the firm’s contentious probate capability, bringing his wealth of experience of private client work to the cut and thrust of claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependents) Act 1975 and contested Wills.

Notable cases:

  • Acting for the family of an elderly lady seeking to prove the validity of an allegedly forged or fraudulent Will in her favour
  • Acting for several children of a lady whose other daughter was alleged to have forged her mother’s Will
  • Acting for a widow whose stepchildren were claiming provision from his estate
  • Acting for a widow whose own son inherited all her late husband’s estate
  • Representing a child whose siblings were seeking her removal as Executor
  • Acting for the beneficiary of an estate in the removal of one of the Executors
  • Acting for the surviving partner of the man she lived with who remained married to his wife and left his entire estate to her and he children
  • Acting for a surviving husband in relation to a claim made by a friend he had allegedly maintained
  • Opposing a Will made by someone who took her own life whilst suffering from serious mental illness
  • Advising a daughter whose stepmother left her share in a family property to her nephew contrary to her late husband’s wishes

Alongside this, Neil has continued his established practice in the field of Wills and Probate, dealing with a variety of interesting estates and meeting a wide range of clients from all walks of life, with estates large and small, complex and straightforward.

Neil is married and lives in Surrey. Outside of work he enjoys all forms of sport, travel, cookery, photography and the arts. His greatest inspiration and his greatest critics are his wife, three children and above all his grandson who together provide all the distraction needed from an absorbing and rewarding career which he is pleased to continue at Carter Lemon Camerons LLP.

Neil will shortly turn 70 which is an age when solicitors start to wind down and he is no exception. Neil will remain active working from home dealing with his clients and introducing them gradually to his successors. Neil has a wealth of experience in probate work, both contentious and non-contentious, and enjoys nothing better than advising clients about Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney.

020 7406 1000 - NeilAcheson-Gray@cartercamerons.com
Nikki Hashemi
Nikki Hashemi
Solicitor - Property

Nikki joined Carter Lemon Camerons in April 2023 as a solicitor in the Property Department.   She specialises in bridging finance and secured lending, residential sales and purchases, refinancing, transfers of equity and drafting and negotiating leases.

She graduated with LLB honours from London Metropolitan University, she then went on to complete the LPC at The College of Law.

Having worked for many years as a freelance property consultant, and a sales and letting agent, Nikki gained a strong commercial insight into the estate agency sector before pursuing her legal career as a conveyancer in 2018.  Nikki is fluent in Farsi.

In her spare time, Nikki enjoys yoga, swimming, skiing and spending time with her family.

020 7406 1000 - NikkiHashemi@cartercamerons.com
Olivia Crolla
Olivia Crolla
Trainee Solicitor - Commercial Property

Olivia joined Carter Lemon Camerons LLP in 2019 as a Team Assistant in our Litigation department. In March 2022, she began her training contract with us and is currently in the Company Commercial department.

Olivia studied Law at the University of Sussex and the LPC/LLM at BPP University in Holborn, which she did alongside her role in our Litigation team.

Prior to joining Carter Lemon Camerons LLP, Olivia worked in a global law firm in the Banking and Finance Litigation department.

Outside of work, Olivia enjoys playing piano, cycling and spending time with family and friends.

020 7406 1000 - oliviacrolla@cartercamerons.com
Pami Akthar
Pami Akthar
Solicitor - Private Client

Pami joined Carter Lemon Camerons in February 2023 as a solicitor in the Private Client Department, having previously worked in the legal field for around five years.

She assists clients in preparing Wills, Lasting Powers and Court of Protection applications and can advise clients on applications for Grants of Probate/Grants of Letters of Administration.

Pami also has knowledge of residential property which together with her liaison with residential property colleagues assists her when estates include property to be sold or transferred.

She first obtained an undergraduate LLB degree at Queen Mary University of London, before taking a Legal Practice Course and a Master’s Degree in law at the University of Law. She qualified as a solicitor in 2022.

During her training contract, she assisted clients in contested probate and property matters including commercial and residential work and refinancing.

Pami has a number of interests and hobbies away from the office including reading, trying out new restaurants and going out to the theatre/cinema. She also loves horror movies.

020 7406 1000 - Pamiakthar@cartercamerons.com
Prodromos Shakallis
Prodromos Shakallis
Partner - Residential Property

Prod is a partner in the firm’s property department specialising in commercial and residential property transactions.

Prod qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive in 1999. He joined the firm in 2008, bringing with him a substantial client base from the North London area, where he had previously worked for over 15 years.

Property Work:

Prod has considerable experience in residential and commercial conveyancing and landlord and tenant matters. His property work includes buying and selling of freehold, leasehold and new-build properties; granting and taking commercial and residential leases and tenancies; handling collective enfranchisement and lease extensions; property gifts and transfers; advising on defective titles, co-ownership arrangements and personal guarantees.

Secured Lending:

Prod has vast experience in dealing with regular mortgages and re-mortgages for homeowners as well as secured lending against high-value Central London and West End residential properties for private banks. He also acts for UK based private lenders providing short-term loans and development finance on properties and development sites across the country.

Church Work:

Prod is retained as legal counsel to a number of Christian charity organisations advising them and their associated churches on charity law and the duties and responsibilities of charitable trustees. His church work includes handling all types of property transactions on behalf of churches located in and around the Greater London area, including the purchase and sale of chapels and manses, granting and taking leases and licenses and dealing with re-developments of church land and properties.

Prod represents a wide spectrum of clients including domestic and overseas investors; developers; landlords; managing & lettings agents; surveyors; charity associations and church trustees; domestic and overseas lenders; management companies and residents’ associations; as well as a loyal following of individuals and families going back many years.

Prod is known and trusted by clients for his warm, friendly and approachable manner; for the speed and efficiency of his handling of their instructions; and for his exceptional understanding of property related matters. He is a firm believer in a non-nonsense approach to his work and the importance of using plain English when dealing with clients, professionals and others.

  • Representing church trustees on a multi-million pound church relocation and redevelopment project to create a new place of worship and Christian faith school;
  • Representing 30 leaseholders on a collective enfranchisement of a freehold residential block;
  • Acting for a number of leaseholders in the same block on individual lease extensions to their respective flats under the 1993 Act;
  • Acting on the purchase of a multi-million pound property by acquiring ownership of shares in the selling company;
  • Achieving first registration of agricultural land affected by a number of rights, settlements and trusts created over a number of years;
  • Completing a high-value purchase transaction within 10 days of receipt of papers;
  • Successfully bringing a claim to preserve and uphold a right of way thought to have extinguished many years earlier;
  • Acting for one of the largest private property investment groups in the UK in connection with the grant, renewal and surrender of commercial leases;

Prod enjoys close links to the local and overseas Greek and Greek Cypriot community and speaks the Greek language reasonably well.

Outside the office, Prod is a devoted husband and father of two, with particular specialism in home learning; chauffeuring; toy repair; football cheerleading; and sibling dispute resolution. He is a member of the governing committee of his local Greek language school, with responsibility for over 200 pupils aged between 4 and 17 years. He is also active in his local Orthodox Christian Church.

Prod enjoys DIY and believes he is really good at it, having helped renovate six properties over the years. He is also a keen gardener and boasts to have a garden worthy of entry in a well-known flower show.

In contrast to his exceptionally smart appearance (dressed always in a three-piece suit) Prod is an avid sports-bike enthusiast and enjoys a daily commute to and from work on his cherished motorbike, dressed in full leathers.

020 7406 1000 - ProdShakallis@cartercamerons.com
Rebecca Moran
Rebecca Moran
Post Completion Assistant - Residential and Commercial Property

Rebecca has a wealth of experience in all aspects of Post Completion formalities in Conveyancing transactions and can provide a high level of support. Rebecca has completed the CILEX Level 3 Diploma for Legal Secretaries and has also achieved the CILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice as she was keen to develop her legal knowledge. This has enabled Rebecca to provide a higher level of support within the legal environment and carry out paralegal tasks.

In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys travelling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her family.

020 7406 1036 - rebeccamoran@cartercamerons.com
Robert Sookias
Robert Sookias
Partner - Immigration/Nationality/Commercial Property

Property

  • Commercial property transactions
  • Purchase and sales of commercial properties
  • Grants of commercial leases
  • Property aspects of M&A transactions

Immigration

  • Over 40 years working in all areas of immigration and nationality

More…

Robert studied Business Management before converting to Law and attending the College of Law in London. Robert qualified as a Solicitor in 1983.

Before qualifying as a Solicitor in March 1983, Robert worked as a property agent and played football at a semi-professional level.

Robert has earned himself the reputation of being both commercial and caring in his approach to clients.

He is a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association and The Lawyers Christian Fellowship.

Robert speaks Armenian and Farsi.

020 7406 1000 / 07973 418 174 - RobertSookias@cartercamerons.com
Rufus Ballaster
Rufus Ballaster
Senior Partner - Property

Rufus Ballaster is Senior Partner and specialises in secured lending for both lenders and borrowers, within Carter Lemon Camerons LLP’s commercial property team.

Rufus’ team is able to assist lenders with putting in place effective protection for their loans, including advising on the form of security that is needed, arranging reporting systems between lawyer and lender, preparing documents, raising enquiries, examining title and making the appropriate searches.

Rufus is also experienced in assisting borrowers, advising on the risks involved in the transaction and negotiating the best possible terms.

Where appropriate, having carefully looked at professional rules governing conflict of interest, Rufus can act for both the lender and the borrower in a single transaction.

His detailed technical legal knowledge and ability to crunch numbers are great assets both transactionally and as Carter Lemon Camerons LLP’s spreadsheet obsessive.

Transactions

Recent transactions include:

  • Secured Lending Portfolio Refinance for a group of clients shifting lending from one international Private Bank to another international Private Bank with full Certification of Title across 7 Central London Properties both commercial residential (or mixed) use – aggregate value £30M approx.
  • Phased purchase with development finance of site for over 40 new homes in SW London for a group of clients which has also bought and sold many other units in the region with Rufus and his team acting.
  • Short term (2 to 18 month) lending by a Wealth Management company into a variety of development projects taking first or second charge security over those sites or collateral security elsewhere.

Career highlights include:

  • Stepping into the panel of speakers at a course for which he was understudy – at only 3 years qualified
  • Representing most of the sets of barristers’ chambers at one of the Inns of Court in lease renewals with that Inn
  • Drawing down finance to purchase a SW1 development opportunity (offices to flats) by an off shore company at a price exceeding £120M (for a group of clients for whom previous deals were at values ranging from £7M to £220M)
  • Drawing down finance to purchase a group of off-shore vehicles which owned of a City office block let to a blue chip investment bank – loan exceeding £300 million, split into senior and junior debt.

More…

Rufus combines client focused views of legal issues with more holistic ones.  This is clearly visible from his writing (having contributed to many journals and been a co-author of the Landlord and Tenant Factbook and more recently of a Practical Guide to Drone Law) and from his lectures and seminars on banking, commercial property, artificial intelligence and other topics.

Asked what he likes most in his work, Rufus will talk of his role as a “trouble-shooter”.  He enjoys being asked by clients and colleagues what he thinks about something and trying, with them, to work up structures or strategies achieving a desired result at the lowest sensible cost/ tax-hit/ risk.  He travels within Europe and beyond (Arabian Gulf, South East Asia, Southern Africa) to see clients and contacts face to face and says working with people he has met is always preferable to hiding behind email and telephone for client contact!

Rufus was educated at Reading School, Wadham College Oxford and Chester College of Law, qualifying as a solicitor in 1988.

Outside the office Rufus has a full and active life with commitments to two Christian Churches, family (wife and three now adult children), RBS Rugby Football Club (for whom he plays as a second row forward) and RBS Lawn Bowls Club which is more suited to his age.

020 7406 1000 - RufusBallaster@cartercamerons.com
Sara Nazir
Sara Nazir
Solicitor - Commercial Property

Sara is a solicitor in our Commercial Property team specialising in non – contentious matters.

Sara acts predominantly for property owners (both commercial and private clients) and assists them with their following affairs:

  • Buying and selling property by negotiating contracts unique to their circumstances and progressing them to completion.
  • Providing strategic advice on different elements of the transaction including where these deviate from the normal conveyancing process.
  • Negotiating additional agreements and documents where required with third parties such as with the client’s lender or with the local authority; and
  • Dealing with tenants’ requests for property alterations, assignments and renewal of their leases by advising her clients on the impacts and consequences of such.

She also has expertise in acting for domestic and overseas based companies who have commercial properties in London.

Sara also acts for a number of tenants in taking leases of buildings, commercial units and is well versed in key aspects of landlord and tenant law.

Away from the office, Sara enjoys running regularly and playing the guitar.

020 7406 1000 - SaraNazir@cartercamerons.com
Seamus Smyth
Seamus Smyth
Partner - Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

The Legal 500: Recommended lawyer 2020Seamus Smyth is head of litigation and arbitration. His practice is primarily commercial with an emphasis on arbitration, financial services and work for South African and Italian clients.

Transactions

His reported cases include RH Green & Silley Weir v BR (limitation period against 3rd party), de Bry v Fitzgerald (security for costs), Hartt v Newspaper Publishing (libel concerning a work by Michelangelo), Pearson v Sanders Witherspoon (valuation of loss of chance), Siebe Gorman v Pneupac (status of consent orders), Senate Electrical v NTL (liability of an employee for acquisition warranties) and Bendell v Smith & Others (a successful recovery action by a lender on a shared appreciation mortgage equity release – the only such case to go to trial).

Recently involved in enforcement of foreign arbitration awards, claims arising from the banking upheavals since 2007, a successful claim against a high street bank resulting from a banking error and a successful claim against estate administrators and their solicitors for wasting the estate funds on irresponsible litigation.

More…

Educated (BA, LLB, Wits) and first qualified as an attorney in South Africa, he requalified in England in 1977, took an LLM at UCL and a Diploma in International Arbitration at QM, and became an FCIArb. He is chairman of the British South African Law Association (for the second time), chairman of Michaelhouse UK Trust, chairman of Global Leadership Foundation (UK), a former President of the London Solicitors Litigation Association and Trustee and President of Town Malling Cricket Club (established in 1827!).  He was until 2012 a Visiting Senior Lecturer in International Commercial Arbitration at London Metropolitan University.  When work and domesticity permit he plays some cricket and more golf (but – which is immediately obvious – not nearly enough).

020 7406 1000 - SeamusSmyth@cartercamerons.com
Stuart Brennan
Stuart Brennan
Consultant, non-practising solicitor

Stuart Brennan is a former partner and is currently a consultant, non-practising solicitor.

 

020 7406 1000 - StuartBrennan@cartercamerons.com

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