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Stephen is the Managing Partner of mlplaw and has over 25 years’ experience advising on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious business law and business ownership. Recommended in both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, Stephen is renowned for his ability to quickly identify a client’s successful outcome and to then relentlessly pursue that outcome.

Stephen has developed a particular specialism in digital, technology, healthcare and family owned businesses. He covers all areas of business law and ownership, including commercial litigation and private disputes, and together with his corporate and commercial team provides advice on all aspects of the law relating to mergers, acquisitions, financing, re-structuring, complex commercial contracts, standard trading terms, share options, shareholder and partnership agreements, commercial dispute resolution, joint venture and partnering arrangements, IT and Technology law, Intellectual Property, EU and competition law, Brexit, Data Protection and GDPR.

Stephen spent over 10 years at a leading city firm before moving to mlplaw which he acquired through a MBO in 2014. He continued to develop the firm as a boutique corporate and commercial firm with a specialist private client offering renowned for the quality of its people and its first class client service. During that time Stephen has published a book “Family Business Succession – the options and pitfalls” and raised significant amounts of money for charity.

Stephen works closely with mlplaw’s leadership team to implement improvements and innovations that enhance the service we provide to clients and that make mlplaw an even greater place to work.  This includes a collaborative and innovative approach to pricing including aligning our charges to the outcomes delivered for clients and monthly retainers that covers all our services and a full commitment to hybrid and flexible working and an impressive, flexible, benefits package.  He champions our “Do the Right Thing” initiatives especially our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion efforts and supporting our chosen social enterprises and charities with free advice.

Shaista is a highly experienced Solicitor, having qualified 23 years ago. Shaista specialises in commercial litigation matters, and before joining mlplaw, she worked in well-known large city centre firms before later establishing her own practice.

She has represented a large variety of clients across numbers of sectors on a broad spectrum of disputes to provide clients greater depth of knowledge and experience in contentious matters to individuals, owner managed businesses, SME’s, high net worth individuals, directors/shareholders, property developers and charities.

Shaista has extensive experience in litigation, including experience as an advocate in the County Courts, regularly advising on high value complex contractual disputes, property litigation (claims for possession, rent arrears, breaches, dilapidations, service charge disputes), company and partnership dispute, high value debt recovery, professional negligence claims, claims against lawyers, property and finance professionals.

Shaista offers a down to earth and proactive approach to provide solutions and resolve disputes, and possesses extensive knowledge of various Alternative Dispute Resolution methods.

Outside of work, Shaista enjoys spending time with her daughters and reading.

Jane is a Private client lawyer who is CTAPS qualified, and a member of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers. Jane acts for a wide variety of clients including business owners, high net worth individuals and agricultural clients.

Jane is experienced in advising on Wills, Powers of Attorney, Tax Planning, Administration of Estates, Court of Protection matters, and Asset Protection within families and businesses and contested Probate estates.

Jane lives locally in Lymm with her 18-year-old son and in her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and renovating her house and garden.

Rachel is a highly experienced Corporate lawyer who joined mlplaw in 2019 from a national law firm and now leads the Corporate Team.

Rachel’s main area of work is mergers and acquisitions covering share and asset acquisitions and disposals, but includes management buy-outs, investments, group re-organisations, demergers, joint ventures, shareholders agreement, articles of association, cross options, share capital arrangements, corporate governance, employee ownership schemes and share incentive schemes.

She has a pragmatic approach and understands client’s priorities and objectives. She assists with the day to day needs of business clients.

Rachel has gained particular experience in the Insurance and Healthcare sectors, but acts for clients from across the spectrum.

Max is a Solicitor in the Corporate team and works with a variety of clients such as owner-run businesses, national corporations and private individuals.

Having joined mlplaw as a Corporate Paralegal in November 2021, Max has built up experience in this area and hopes to continue developing his Business Services skillset.

Max graduated from the University of Oxford in 2014 and has since been a manager at a national education charity and started his own business as a Personal Trainer and Yoga Teacher. He completed his LPC and LLM at BPP University Manchester, having gained legal work experience at both a mid-sized Liverpool practice and a large London firm.

Having stepped away from the fitness industry to return to the law, Max’s love of exercise continues outside of work; he is a regular gym-goer and a fan of physical challenges. He also enjoys live music and comedy, and a good pub quiz.

Rachel Evans is a Legal Director in our Employment Law team, bringing over 20 years of specialist experience. She advises both employers and employees on the full spectrum of workplace issues, including unfair and wrongful dismissal, redundancy, discrimination, disciplinary and grievance matters, and Employment Tribunal claims.

Rachel has acted for both respondents and claimants, managing a mixed and varied caseload spanning both contentious and non-contentious matters. She is highly experienced in drafting and advising on settlement agreements, employment contracts, service and consultancy agreements, and workplace policies and handbooks.

Known for her meticulous attention to detail and strategic, pragmatic advice, Rachel supports clients across a wide range of sectors – including public sector bodies and sports organisations. She previously worked at a leading national law firm, where she advised company directors, senior executives, and organisations on high-value, sensitive disputes.

A skilled negotiator and trusted adviser, Rachel is a member of both the Law Society and the Employment Lawyers Association.

Outside the office, Rachel is a proud mum of three boys and a devoted football fan. While Liverpool is her team, weekends often involve trips to Villa Park to support her middle son’s football. She’s also a thrill-seeker who loves theme parks and enjoys thought-provoking TV.

Ella joined mlplaw in 2019 as a paralegal in the Corporate and Commercial team providing advice to businesses and private individuals. Ella’s particular interest lies with the company/corporate side of the department. Previous to her employment with mlplaw, Ella spend over 12 years in Event Management before she decided to go back into education and study law. Ella graduated from the University of Manchester in 2017 and finished her LPC with the University of Law.

Outside of work Ella spends most of her time with her family enjoying theatre breaks and weekend trips around the UK.

Sam is an experienced real estate solicitor with over 12 years post qualification experience in real estate law and over 15 years in the legal industry.  Sam acts for national developers, investors and corporate occupiers across England and Wales and industry sectors with a particular focus on commercial landlord and tenant transactions in the retail and leisure sector. Sam joined mlplaw as a Partner in December 2020, previously working at Top 50 law firms and a prominent City of London practice, becoming the Head of Real Estate in June 2025. Alongside his work with mlplaw, Sam owns and operates Swann Shore, a legal and office offshore recruitment and payroll services provider headquartered in South Africa.

The aspects of the job Sam most enjoys are the interaction with people and problem-solving, no two days ever being the same.

In his spare time Sam enjoys exercising, reading and watching classic films.

Sam divides his time between England (across all mlplaw offices) and South Africa.

Nashá provides high-level executive and administrative support to Sam Swann and the Real Estate team.

With a sharp organisational mind and a proactive, solutions-focused approach, Nashá plays a key role in the coordination of work.

From managing a demanding calendar, Nashá keeps operations running seamlessly behind the scenes. She also works closely with departments across the firm, supporting mlplaw’s collaborative and client-focused culture.

Known for her professionalism, discretion, and positive energy, Nashá is a trusted and valued member of the team. Her ability to anticipate needs, manage competing priorities, and adapt to the fast pace of legal practice makes her an indispensable part of the Real Estate team.

Outside of work, Nashá enjoys spending time in nature and channels her creativity through designing and sewing garments. Nashá is based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Sithokozile is a Law graduate with a Bachelor’s of Law Degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and an MA Law Conversion from the University of Law in the UK. She brings a unique dual understanding of both South African law and the legal framework of England and Wales. Throughout her studies, she volunteered at university legal clinics, developing a practical, solution-focused approach to helping clients navigate legal challenges. Her passion for law is rooted in a love of problem solving and the robust, analytical nature of legal work.

Before joining mlplaw, Sithokozile gained experience in compliance and audit roles, which strengthened her attention to detail and appreciation for regulatory frameworks – skills that now underpin her work in the commercial property team. She supports the team in handling commercial property transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, lease negotiations, and ancillary matters arising throughout the course of a transaction.

Sithokozile finds the pace and impact of commercial property law particularly rewarding, especially when it allows her to deliver real results for clients. Outside of the office, she enjoys travelling, spending time with her family, doing Pilates, and volunteering at The Remi Foundation – an educational charitable initiative focused on supporting underserved communities.

Sithokozile is based in Johannesburg, South Africa and Manchester.

Deshnee is an admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa, with an LLB from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a certification in Compliance Essentials from the University of Cape Town.

She supports Sam Swann on a broad range of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, leases, and financing exercises. Her work includes assistance to developers, national coffee franchisees, and occupational tenants across England and Wales, as well as involvement in contentious property matters relating to residential leasehold.

Deshnee takes a diligent, research-led approach to delivering high-quality legal support and brings valuable cross-jurisdictional insight to the team.

Outside of work, Deshnee enjoys coastal walks, engaging with thought-provoking films and series, and spending time with family and friends. Deshnee is based in Durban, South Africa.

Rennal is a highly organised and resourceful Personal Assistant, renowned for her ability to support Sam Swann and the Real Estate team in a demanding and fast-paced legal environment. Rennal excels at meeting deadlines – even when things are constantly changing or very busy, preparing legal correspondence, and handling confidential documents with discretion and precision.
Bridging the gap between administrative assistance and legal operations, Rennal plays a critical role in ensuring that daily legal functions run smoothly. Rennal is proficient in legal document formatting and filing systems.
Her keen attention to detail and a proactive approach to anticipating the needs her executive, whether it’s organising monitoring deadlines, or supporting billing and compliance procedures.
Recognised for discretion, efficiency, and a calm demeanour under pressure, Rennal is an indispensable asset to any legal team.
Outside of work, Rennal enjoys spending quality time with her family and creating memorable moments together. as well as cooking and board games.

Since joining the Conveyancing Industry in 2010, Victoria has become an experienced Residential Conveyancer.

In 2017, Victoria won the LFS Young Conveyancer of the Year Award. Victoria has studied part-time in order to obtain her Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice and now is CILEX qualified Lawyer.

On a day to day basis, Victoria assists clients by offering thorough and practical conveyancing advice and, as she is aware of the many issues faced by clients when moving home, she is able to deliver a personal and empathetic service.

During her spare time, Victoria enjoys the great outdoors and touring around the country in her VW camper van with her husband and young daughter.

Doris qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and since then has worked as a private client lawyer completing the full range of trusts, tax and estates work. Doris has also achieved the STEP diploma and is accredited member of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers.

Doris is also a committee member on the Manchester branch of STEP and is actively involved in working with STEP to promote private client work and to maximise the client experience. In addition, Doris has achieved the Solicitors for the Elderly Diploma in private client work. She is currently studying for a further diploma with STEP,  ‘Advising Business Families’, which will further enhance her knowledge to assist clients who own their own businesses

In the Legal 500 solicitor rankings Doris was described as ‘incredibly meticulous when she handles complex estates and has demonstratable experience acting on Court Protection proceedings and applications‘.

Doris specialises in dealing with high-net-worth clients for Wills, estate planning and in the administration of complex estates. She also deals with powers of attorney, court of protection matters, drafting of trust documentation and the administration of trusts.

In her spare time, Doris is a keen gym attendee and loves walking in the Peak District, with Kinder Scout being her favourite walk.

Kristina is a highly experienced solicitor with over 18 years in the legal sector, specialising in Private Client work. She qualified as a solicitor in 2022 and has spent the past six years focusing on areas such as drafting Wills, creating Powers of Attorney, and administering estates. In March 2025, Kristina joined mlplaw after building her expertise at a respected Warrington-based firm.

Known for her approachable and empathetic nature, Kristina is committed to delivering the highest standard of service, ensuring her clients’ needs are met with care and precision.

Beyond her professional commitments, Kristina enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as engaging in a wide range of activities such as horse-riding and knitting.

Katie joined us in 2021 as a Legal Assistant following completion of her Applied Law and Business qualification. During Katie’s role as a legal assistant, she supported various teams throughout the business assisting with administrative tasks.

In 2022 Katie joined our Wills, Trusts and Probate team as a Paralegal Apprentice and is hoping to start her Solicitor Apprenticeship in 2025. Since working in our Wills, Trusts and Probate Team, Katie has gained experience in drafting Wills, Codicils, Trusts, and Lasting Powers of Attorney for both personal and business clients. She also assists with the administration of estates, and property transfers. Katie is working towards completing her apprenticeship and SQE examinations before qualifying as a solicitor.

In Katie’s spare time she enjoys spending time with her son and partner, going for days out, and is an avid Manchester United fan.

Lily is a Paralegal in mlplaw’s Wills, Trusts and Probate Team. Lily graduated from Sheffield University in 2024 and has since been working within the sector supporting the with the administration of Estates, drafting Wills and providing valuable support to clients. Lily has experience in Criminal, Employment, and Private Client law and she is working towards completing her SQE exams and becoming a solicitor in the future. Prior to working at mlplaw she has worked with counsel on contentious Estate disputes, taken part in pro-bono work in the civil court and is well versed in advocating on behalf of her clients.

Away from work, Lily is a pilates enthusiast and enjoys practicing and competing in Dressage on the weekends.

Alissa started at mlplaw as the firm’s Administrative Assistant in 2014. Since then, Alissa has progressed through the firm and now looks after and manages the MLPower team, which provides first class business support to lawyers and their teams.  Throughout her progression, Alissa has worked in various roles and departments and appreciates the experience and insight that this has given her in her role.

Alissa is also a member of the firm’s Leadership team which works on strategies to implement improvements and  innovations which enhance our client service, and the day to day efficiency of the firm. Alissa looks after the Operational side of MLP and is involved in the everyday running of the firm, and enjoys the challenge that her role offers. No two days are ever the same and this is something that highly motivates and drives Alissa to provide excellent service to our clients everyday.

In addition, Alissa is also part of the firm’s dedicated People and Wellbeing team. Alissa is passionate about working to the firm’s vision of being a great place to work with great people. Alissa believes that happy people make a happy and successful workplace, and this motivates Alissa to ensure her colleagues feel supported in an entrepreneurial environment that supports their development and career ambitions.

Alissa enjoys the warmer climates, and has lived in 7 different countries varying through Europe and Asia. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the gym, having dinners out and relaxing with her friends.

Anna started out as an office junior and trained on the job. She gained her ILCA diploma and became MLP’s Accounts manager. Anna’s long term experience at MLP gives her good knowledge of the companies DNA and values. Anna loves the variety of her work, and no two days are the same.

Outside of the office Anna is kept busy by her young son and 2 pet dogs Olly & Teddy.

Zara has been working in the legal field since 2017, gaining valuable experience as a barrister’s clerk and paralegal.

She began her legal career as an office junior at a Manchester barrister’s chambers before advancing to the role of family clerk. In 2019, Zara transitioned to a paralegal position where she gained knowledge of legal processes and case management. Alongside her paralegal duties, Zara also worked as a client service advisor, which helped her recognise the importance of delivering a positive client experience.

Zara joined mlplaw in October 2023, bringing with her a strong background in legal administration and client services. Currently, she is gaining hands-on experience in the firm’s accounts and operations department, where she is learning the intricacies of financial and operational management within a legal environment.

With origins in Latvia, Maria has been living in the UK for the past nine years. Throughout her career, she have delved into various facets of Marketing, beginning with conventional cold calls and client meetings, and progressing to crafting websites for small businesses and formulating marketing strategies. Maria is passionate for the possibilities that Digital Marketing presents to contemporary businesses, and she is always trying to learn something new.

Outside of work, she is a parent to two small daughters who bring immense joy and always cheer her up. Additionally, she helps out at family-run street-food market stall during weekends, which adds a touch of excitement to her routine.

Amelia is a Solicitor in the Commercial and Intellectual Property team at mlplaw, having joined the firm in 2021 as a paralegal. During her training, she gained a broad range of legal experience, completing seats in Commercial and Intellectual Property, Corporate, Employment, and Litigation. This diverse background allows her to provide both contentious and non-contentious advice with a strong commercial focus.

Prior to joining mlplaw, Amelia worked in-house at a construction company and a tech start-up, developing a deep understanding of legal issues from a business perspective. In addition, she gained legal work experience in private practice at a national law firm and small to mid-sized regional firms, offering insight into various legal environments and client needs.

Amelia is committed to delivering pragmatic, commercially focused legal solutions that align with clients’ strategic business objectives.

Outside of work Amelia enjoys trying different restaurants, live music and comedy, country walks and spending time with family and friends.

Karen has broad and extensive experience in corporate and commercial law and particular expertise in equipment leasing and asset finance, both working in law firms and in- house positions.

Karen studied French and Russian at Oxford University before attending Chester law school and training in a London law firm. She relocated, shortly after qualifying, to Paris and spent several years working in the Paris branch of the London law firm, specialising in shipping and aviation finance where her clients included French banks ,a leading Irish aircraft lessor and a major French shipping company. She returned to the UK in 1998 and spent 12 years as senior counsel in GE Capital’s European equipment leasing business and (after its sale from GE ) 4 years for TIP Trailer Services working on major customer leasing transactions and disposals and acquisitions of related businesses . Prior to joining MLP Karen was a partner in a national law firm. In her spare time Karen enjoys golf, yoga, dancing and learning Spanish.

Deborah is an experienced Employment and Discrimination lawyer who has had a mixed practice representing both businesses and individuals. She believes this gives her the edge when negotiating with ‘the other side’. Areas of expertise include discrimination, harassment, whistleblowing, restraints of trade, TUPE, collective redundancies, employment status and IR35 issues, managing employee conflict, grievance and disciplinary investigations, and negotiating severance packages (on both sides of the fence). With the explosion in remote working, Deborah has been advising businesses on the risks and opportunities of employing workers living in overseas jurisdictions.

Deborah was Called to the Bar in 2007 and cross-qualified as a solicitor in 2011. She has sat on advisory panels including the EHRC’s panel on Religion & Belief and the Federation of Small Businesses’ Employment Law Policy Committee. She is a member of Lincoln’s Inn Denning Society after being awarded a scholarship in 2005. She been interviewed about employment law issues by BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio Nottingham, BBC Radio Derby, and appeared on BBC News.

Outside of work, she enjoys following her local pub bands and catching up with her three adult daughters – when they are all in the same country.

Following the completion of her undergraduate degree in Law, Amy started her legal career at a trade union law firm based in Sheffield in September 2022.

Amy’s interest in legal practice began following a series of trips to the Manchester Crown Court public gallery with her Grandad. What started as a few day trips sparked a real interest in legal practice and a few years later she undertook work experience with a high street firm in Bramhall specialising in employment law.

This area was further explored during university by studying an elective module in employment law and completing a part time work placement in employment law alongside studies in her final year. After university, looking to explore her options she began working in personal injury. However, quickly missing the pace and range of employment law, she returned to the area and has found the work to be meaningful and rewarding.

In her spare time, Amy likes to attend live music events and go for walks in the Peak District.

Ava is a commercially focused Law graduate from the University of Manchester, who has embarked on several legal and admin experience across several ranging sectors prior to joining mlplaw in 2023.

Ava’s main areas of work have been in property conveyancing, pro bono legal, employment law, and commercial litigation work. Along with this, Ava has vast experience across the retail and hospitality sector prior to legal experience, which has enabled her to grow a more casual, personable, yet enthusiastic approach when dealing with clients and overall work.

Ava has a hard-headed, rigorous yet realistic approach which allows her to take on tasks and work in an efficient manner. She assists the fee earners and consultants on a day-to-day basis with admin and litigation-based matters.

Ava has utilised her past experiences to effectively manage administrative tasks whilst taking into account the clients’ best interests.

Ellie has worked within the customer service industry since 2019 and has gained experience in multiple areas.

Ellie is passionate about providing an excellent standard of service through both face to face and online platforms. She also utilises her experience by assisting with administrative tasks for the day to day running of the firm. With over 5 years of experience, Ellie understands the significance of creating a personal and worthwhile client journey.

Outside of work, Ellie’s time is taken up by looking after her pet dog Toby and enjoys socialising with friends and family.

Fiona has joined mlplaw from Albinson Napier & Wills Solicitors in Warrington. She has worked in the legal industry for over two years, she finds it really exciting and has learned so much during this time. Previous to this, she has always worked in an office environment.
Outside of work Fiona is parent to one daughter and has four chihuahuas who all together make her very happy. She lives on a farm in Culcheth and helps her mum run the livery yard which is home for many horses grazing 60 acres.

Colin has over a decade of hands-on experience in dealing with most types of family law matters. He stands out as a beacon of expertise and compassion in the family law arena. Particularly skilled at addressing the multifaceted challenges of divorce, financial remedy matters, and private child arrangements, Colin seamlessly combines unparalleled professional judgement with a warm, friendly conversational approach. Understanding the pressures and stresses of modern life, especially for business professionals, Colin makes himself accessible outside the conventional 9-5, often going above and beyond to provide timely advice. His rapidly escalating reputation in the legal world is a testament to the consistently excellent outcomes he achieves for his clients and the glowing feedback he receives.

Drawing from personal experience as a separated parent, Colin offers a unique brand of empathetic service that resonates deeply with clients navigating the turbulent waters of family disputes. His recent accomplishment of skilfully handling an intricate divorce and financial remedy case — where he adeptly proved the opposing party’s deceit in dissipating assets, ultimately securing a remarkably favourable outcome for his client — further underscores his capabilities.

One of Colin’s key strengths is handling significant amounts of evidence and paperwork ensuring no stone is left unturned. He is extremely competent at preparing detailed and persuasive witness statements and evidence for clients.

Colin is a seasoned specialist in pre and post-nuptial agreements, cohabitation and separation agreements/ disputes, and a vast range of intricate financial cases encompassing businesses, property portfolios, and substantial pension assets. He also deals with all types of private child arrangement matters post-separation, having managed cases involving severe allegations, resulting in fact-finding hearings. He ensures compliance through enforcement proceedings and does everything he can to ensure his clients achieve justice.

Notably, Colins’s recent assistance in securing an interim-contact order for a client in difficult circumstances, typically challenging in court, further highlights his competence and unwavering commitment to clients’ rights. In Colin, clients find more than a solicitor; they discover a loyal and hardworking ally dedicated to championing their cause during life’s most challenging times.

Away from work, Colin is kept busy with his four children. In his younger days he played for Everton FC and competed as a sprinter for Sale Harriers Manchester at National Level. The only running he does now is after his four children!

Colin provides a free first appointment. If you would like to book an appointment with him, please do no hesitate to get in touch using the details below.