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.
Paul graduated from the University of Cambridge before training at the future Clifford Chance. After a short spell there as a solicitor dealing with commercial leases he made the lifestyle choice of moving to general practice in Devon. Paul has then specialised in employment law and for many years has acted as the main employment adviser to several large plc clients as well as looking after smaller employer clients, including firms of solicitors and care homes, and handling claimant work.
Paul has been a partner at Beers LLP since 1982. He has sat as an Employment Judge since 1992, and as a Judge of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal since 2014. He also has an interest in professional regulation, sitting on the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, and being responsible for the regulation of the members of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. He is also chairs the Architects Registration Board’s professional conduct committee and is a legal assessor (adviser) for the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s fitness to practice committees.
Outside the office, Paul much enjoys the company of his wonderful wife and his children as well as outdoor activities such as running on Dartmoor, mountaineering and sailing.
“Beers LLP’s team head Paul Housego is ‘an outstanding individual, who has immense knowledge’ and ‘knows how to put it into practice’.”
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.