After studying law at the University of Liverpool and completing his post-graduate year at the College of Law Chester, Richard qualified as a solicitor in 1996. He joined Beers LLP in 2005 and became Head of Property in 2007.
Richard deals with a wide range of high-value residential and commercial transactions, including sales and purchases, the grant and surrender of leases, agricultural land transactions, the grant of easements and complex development and leasehold enfranchisement matters.
Away from the office, Richard enjoys spending time with his wife, their 2 young children and their Dalmatian dog. He is a former professional sailor, an indifferent guitar player and an ever slower long distance runner.
Richard is a Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association and is recommended in Chambers guide to the legal profession for commercial property work.
James is Managing Partner and Head of Litigation. James qualified as a solicitor in London in 1999 before relocating to South Devon in 2002.
James specialisies in civil litigation advising clients on contract disputes, residential landlord & tenant claims, property disputes, contested wills & inheritance actions and personal injury & clinical negligence claims.
Sonia is the Head of the Private Client Department and has over 10 years’ experience in private client work.
Born in Staffordshire, she relocated to the South West in 2008 to join Beers LLP, becoming a Partner in April 2015. She began her legal career studying with the Institute of Legal Executives qualifying as a Fellow of the Institute in 2009. Sonia then continued her professional development at the University of West of England and qualified as a solicitor in 2011. Sonia’s specialisms include all aspects of Will writing to include the creation of trusts, preparation of General and Lasting Powers of Attorney, Probate, Inheritance Tax advice taxation of trusts and assistance with your financial affairs.
Sonia is a fully accredited member of SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly) and a committee member with her local organization, a Dementia Friend and an affiliate member of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners). Until recently she was an active committee member of Devon and Somerset Law Society.
Away from the office Sonia enjoys spending time with her young family.
Jon is a partner and solicitor advocate in the Company Commercial and Property department in our Plymouth office. Jon read law at Plymouth, obtaining a first class degree and a series of academic awards. Acting for a variety of clients, individuals and businesses, Jon has many years’ experience dealing with all aspects of business and company law, sales, purchases, start ups, advising on corporate structure, shareholders agreements, partnership agreements, software licensing and other intellectual property matters. He is also widely experienced in commercial property, landlord and tenant work (for both residential and commercial leasehold matters) and high value or complex residential conveyancing. Jon advises on construction contracts (large and small projects), and commercial contracts.
Jon also undertakes contentious property matters, such as easements, restrictive covenants, adverse possession, rectification at HM Land Registry and residential and commercial landlord and tenant matters. Jon qualified as a solicitor in 2016 (although has many years of pre-qualification experience) and obtained rights of audience in the Higher Civil Courts, qualifying him to undertake advocacy in all civil courts, in 2018.
Jon is also the firm’s client care partner and training principal.
Outside of the office Jon is undertaking a PhD, researching geotechnology and property rights. He has published academic articles and lectures various law modules at Plymouth University.
When not studying, Jon enjoys the moors, time with his partner and dog, sailing, cycling (very slowly) and dreaming about a classic car.
Slade is a Partner and Head of our Employment Law and HR Department. Slade qualified as a solicitor in 2004 in London before relocating his family to the South West.
Slade undertakes all areas of Employment Law litigation including Discrimination claims, TUPE disputes, Unfair Dismissal, Redundancy, Equal Pay and accepts instructions from both employer and employee clients.
Slade also has a busy HR practice assisting our employer clients with advice with day-to-day employment issues as well as providing advice on expansion or preparing for change. Slade has acted for businesses in most sectors and for all sizes of businesses from International to SME’s.
Slade is a member of the Employment Lawyer’s Association and is a registered civil mediator with the civil mediation council. Click here for more information on CMC
Outside of work at the weekends you will probably find Slade on the touchline coaching his son’s football team from U8 to U15’s.