The RJS Team
Legal Team
Carla Dawn
Practice Area
Carla is a is a solicitor in RJS’ Property Team.
She advises on Landlord and tenant lease negotiations, commercial legal charges, acquisitions and disposals of commercial property. Also, acquisition of development sites and subsequent plot sales, pension funded acquisitions and disposals.
Experience
Carla has experience in assisting clients in a range of property matters and provides expert legal advice and guidance on a wide range of commercial transactions.
Personal
In her spare time, Carla enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Laura Lambert
Practice Area
Laura is a solicitor and Head of Family
Laura’s key specialisms include Divorce, Separation from an unmarried partner, Civil partnership dissolution, Financial settlements, Cohabitation agreements, Nuptial agreements, Arrangements for children and Children Act court proceedings, Property law issues including Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act, and second opinion.
Experience
Laura has 12 years’ experience in advising clients on all aspects of marriage and relationship breakdown. Laura takes a strategic approach and is proactive when it comes to pursing a settlement on behalf of a client, identifying the issues early on and communicating with the clients at all stages. Laura will focus on practical family law advice for the client. Laura stands out amongst her peers in terms of conducting her own advocacy from start to finish for several cases to provide consistency and cost efficiency.
Personal
Away from work Laura enjoys walking with her young family and baking. Laura also had a flock of 40 native sheep.
James Butcher
Practice Area
James is a Trainee Solicitor
Experience
James has Paralegal experience working in personal injury, conveyancing, and commercial property.
Personal statement
In his spare time, James enjoys going to the gym and spending time with his friends and family.
Emma Faunch
Practice Area
Emma is a solicitor in RJS’ Property Team.
Her specialisms include sales and acquisitions of commercial property, including providing property support on the sale and acquisition of businesses; commercial legal charges; transfers in and out of pension trusts; and advising Landlords and Tenants on lease negotiations.
Emma’s clients include residential and commercial developers; hospitality groups; and Professional Trustees / Pension Trusts.
Experience
With over 7 years of experience in assisting clients in a range of commercial matters, Emma provides expert legal advice and guidance to all types of business from sole traders to partnerships and limited companies on a wide range of commercial arrangements.
Personal
Emma enjoys spending time with her young family and either walking the local canal or exploring historic National Trust places. Before taking a break to spend time with her little boy, Emma was an active Girl Guide Leader and enjoyed many adventures with her Rainbows and Guides!
Tom Newman
Practice area
Tom is a solicitor in the Corporate and Commercial Team
Tom’s areas of corporate expertise include mergers and acquisitions, company reorganisations and business transfers. He also works on all types of commercial matters, including shareholders’ agreements, terms and conditions, franchising work and intellectual property.
Experience
Tom read history at Newcastle University, before later taking the GDL and LPC at the University of Law in Chester. Tom qualified at a boutique commercial firm in Chester in August 2015, where he remained as a part of a busy corporate and commercial department for five years. Tom joined RJS in September 2020.
Personal
Tom enjoys watching most sports, particularly cricket, football and Formula 1. He is an occasional gym user and enjoys playing tennis. Since the Covid-19 lockdown Tom has been attempting to develop his baking skills, with varying degrees of success.
David Carson
Practice Area
David is a solicitor and Head of Private Client
He specialises in all aspects of private client, and in particular advising Company Owners and Directors on how to structure their estate to protect their business and minimise tax.
Experience
David read history at the University of Liverpool before undertaking the CPE and LPC. He qualified as a solicitor in 2003, having previously worked as a Trust and Estates Manager. David became a full member of STEP in 2011 and has worked for several Legal firms in London and Manchester. David began working for RJS in 2019.
Personal
In his spare time, David enjoys playing sports and spending time with his friends and family.
Lauren Wild
Practice Area
Lauren is a is a solicitor in RJS’ Property Team.
She is responsible for dealing with leases and lease renewals, purchases and sales of residential and commercial property, simple transfers of property, mortgages and remortgages and general client enquiries.
Experience
Lauren moved to RJS Solicitors in February 2020. She has dealt with various aspects of a commercial transaction, be that in relation to a simple sale or purchase or a larger more complex refinance of properties. She ensures that we have a good rapport here with clients so that they will want to come back to us again and again.
Lauren has dealt with a large portfolio of properties in a large refinancing transaction which whilst taking some time was very rewarding and encouraged her continuing growth and knowledge of the commercial property transactions/process.
Personal
In her spare time, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family, especially her little boy, she likes to take him on day trips like the National Trust parks/sights or to local attractions such as wildlife parks and farms. Lauren also enjoys reading a good book.
Support team
Jennifer Averill
Practice Area
Jen is a legal secretary
She assists the Family and Private Client departments.
Experience
Jen has worked in the legal sector for 2 years and joined RJS in September. Prior to this she spent 5 years working in large property firms in Birmingham and London.
Personal
In her spare time, Jen enjoys spending quality time with her son and going out with friends. She also enjoys watching football and is an avid Aston Villa fan.
Lee-Sara Davis
Practice Area
Lee-Sara is head of HR & Training
Experience
Lee-Sara has over 15 years’ experience in HR strategy and operational management, to ensure short and long term development enhances the performance of individuals alongside the provision of excellent service from the firm.
From a multiple project management background, Lee-Sara’s background has been gained in heavily regulated environments, both legal and financial. So she is able to adhere to all compliance guidelines whilst still ensuring successful delivery of executive-level projects.
Personal
Alongside her role at RJS, Lee-Sara is an advocate of health and wellness and also studying a diploma in Naturopathic Nutrition.
Georgia Mitchell
Practice Area
Georgia is a Business Development Executive.
Georgia’s provides support to the marketing department and execute marketing strategies and campaigns, such as the social media channels; Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, email campaigns, managing and updating Website content, blogs and news feed, and updating the databases as required.
Georgia also assists with the day-to-day planning, organization, and smooth running of the office to ensure the business objectives are met.
Personal
In her spare time, Georgia enjoys going to the gym and spending time with friends and family.
Georgia Mitchell
Practice Area:
Georgia is a Business Development Executive.
Georgia’s provides support to the marketing department and execute marketing strategies and campaigns, such as the social media channels; Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, email campaigns, managing and updating Website content, blogs and news feed, and updating the databases as required.
Georgia also assists with the day-to-day planning, organization, and smooth running of the office to ensure the business objectives are met.
Personal:
In her spare time, Georgia enjoys going to the gym and spending time with friends and family.
Kerrie Nixon
Practice Area
Kerrie is a Conveyancing Assistant
Kerrie provides assistance to the Residential and Commercial Solicitors within the Conveyancing Team.
Experience
Kerrie have over five years’ experience within the residential conveyancing sector, and 8 months experience within the commercial conveyancing sector as an assistant, supporting busy teams with a high demand and enjoys learning new things within each sector.
Personal
In her spare time, Kerrie enjoys being with her two children and husband, making important memories and going on mini adventures.
Joanne Davies
Practice Area
Joanne is a Legal Secretary in the Corporate and Litigation Department and joined the firm in March 2018.
Her main duties are dealing with the opening of new matters to speaking and dealing with client’s enquiries. In person and on the phone.
Experience
Joanne has worked in the legal profession since 1988 doing various roles from Receptionist, Legal Secretary, PA and Accounts Clerk. She has also been to court sitting behind counsel in criminal and family matters taking notes. She feels that she has gained a wealth of knowledge throughout working years.
During her time working in legal profession she has achieved various achievements such as doing various courses for legal cashier from the Law Society.
Personal
Joanne is married with one daughter who is turning 18 years this year. She enjoys going for walks with her dog. She also enjoys watching Football mainly Manchester United who she has supported since she was 15 years of age.
Joanne’s personal accomplishments are that she has performed for many years within the Operatic Society performing on stage, but her biggest pleasure is working backstage as a chaperone looking after the children which are performing on stage.
