The Team

Patricia specialises in complex financial cases, disputes over children between married and unmarried partners and co-habitation and civil partnership disputes.  She combines excellent legal knowledge with great empathy so you can trust her to find the right solution, minimise disputes and thereby save you costs.  However when litigation is unavoidable you will find her highly professional, organised and not shy of a tough fight.

Expertise:

• Family
• Divorce
• Complex Financial Disputes
• Children Issues
• Domestic Violence
• Disputes between unmarried partners

Patricia set up a chain of antique book shops before starting her legal career. She became a founder member of Aletta Shaw in October 2000 and has used both her legal and business experience to build a successful and respectable law firm over the past 10 years.

Simon became a barrister in 1981 and works with Aletta Shaw as a specialist advocate and advisor.

He is a heavyweight specialist criminal advocate who has developed a loyal client base and an excellent track record in serious and complex casework. He has acted as lead counsel in murder, attempted murder and manslaughter cases as well as numerous cases involving fraud, serious organised crime, violent sex offences and causing death by dangerous driving.

Expertise:

• Rape
• Indecent Images
• Violent Crime
• Death by Dangerous Driving/ Dangerous
• Driving
• Drink Driving
• Road Traffic Offences

Simon is happy to represent clients in court throughout England at Crown Court and Appellate levels. He practices mainly in the Crown Courts in London and the South East.

Notable cases:

• R v Beysongu and others - multimillion pound class A drugs importation. involving 9 defendants
• R v P - slavery, GBH, sexual abuse by 41 year old female defendant.
• R v Tedder and others - Leading Junior in armed robbery of £2.5 Million (Securicor van). Co-Defendant giving evidence for Crown.
• R v Caleja and others - Human Trafficking for prostitution.
• R v Turner - Importation of £12.5 million cocaine.
• R v P - Choirmaster accused of historical sexual abuse of 4 boys.
• R v C and others - Operation Ore. Sophisticated peer to peer paedophile computer network. National High Tech Crime Unit.
• R v R - 15 year old accused of sexual abuse of 3 year old. Child of 5 giving evidence
• R v Riley - Attempted murder - sleepwalking defence.
• R v G - Multiple death by dangerous driving.

Hazel qualified as a Solicitor in 2001 having obtained a University of Leicester Law Degree and a Diploma in Legal Practice at University in Birmingham. Hazel was appointed as a Director in 2004

Expertise:

• Divorce
• Financial Settlement
• Domestic Violence
• Child Care Issues
• Unmarried Partners
• Housing (landlord & tenant)

Hazel is an Accredited Specialist Member of Resolution, a Family Law Organisation which promotes a conciliatory approach to family law. Hazel practices in all areas of Family Law with particular specialisms in Financial Provision upon divorce and Domestic Violence.

As well as practicing Family Law Hazel deals with Debt Recovery and Social Housing/ Landlord and Tenant Law, representing both Landlords and tenants in disputes.

Samir obtained a University of Kent Law Degree and passed his Legal Practice Course at Guildford College of Law before qualifying as a Solicitor.

Expertise:

• Compromise Agreements.
• Redundancy
• Contracts of employment
• TUPE transfers
• Bringing and Defending Employment Tribunal claims
• Unfair dismissal
• Reviewing and Drafting Employment contracts, policies and procedures

Samir is also able to advise on all areas of family law and has a particular interest in children/domestic violence matters.

Duncan joined Aletta Shaw in 2009 when he relocated to Kent. Before joining Aletta Shaw he worked at one the UK’s top 15 Law firm for five years at which he obtained first class experience as an associate solicitor in what is recognised as one of the premium property law departments in the UK.

Duncan is an expert in:

• residential conveyancing
• transfers of equity
• new build purchases
• re-mortgages
• commercial leases
• commercial disposals/acquisitions
• commercial landlord/tenant management
• transactions

Laura joined Aletta Shaw in 2007 after she obtained a law degree from the University of Greenwich. Laura has also completed her Ilex Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice and Ilex Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice passing with a distinction in the practice of family law.

Expertise:

• Divorce
• Financial Settlement
• Domestic Violence
• Child Care Issues
• Unmarried Partners
• Will Writing
• Power of Attorney

Laura deals with all financial aspects of divorce, unmarried couples and disputes relating to children and care proceedings. She is a Graduate Member of the Institute of Legal Executives.

As well as specialising in family law, Laura is a highly trained Will writer and is experienced in dealing with the administration of estates and Powers of Attorney.

Having entered the legal profession from school, Martin qualified as Legal Executive in 1974; and has worked in a number of solicitors firms in Central London and most recently for 20 years in Woolwich before bringing his wide experience to Aletta Shaw in 2004.

Specialising in civil litigation, housing and landlord & tenant law, Martin works closely with Hazel Scanlon (a solicitor and Director of the Firm) in those fields and in matrimonial law. He frequently appears in local County Courts.

Keeley obtained a LLB degree from London Metropolitan University and passed her Legal Practice Course with a commendation at BPP Law School. Keeley joined Aletta Shaw in 2007 as a family solicitor.

Expertise:

• Divorce
• Financial Settlement
• Domestic Violence
• Child Care Issues
• Unmarried Partners
• Wills & Probate

Keeley also has experienced in drafting wills and dealing with the administration of estates. She prepares Power of Attorneys for Health & Welfare and Property & Affairs.