Claire is an Associate in the Dispute Resolution department. Having trained and worked in a large London firm Claire joined the firm in 2001.

Claire advises on all aspects of commercial litigation, with particular expertise in professional negligence and contractual disputes.

Claire also advises on insolvency, employment and debt recovery matters.

Laura trained at a city firm and qualified as a solicitor in 2003.

Before jointing pdt Laura worked for a regional firm specialising in consumer credit, asset and motor finance where she gained considerable experience.

Laura is an Associate in the Dispute Resolution department where she continues to undertake consumer credit, asset and motor finance work.

Laura’s practice focuses on factoring and invoice discounting litigation where she advises financial institutions in respect of guarantor and indemnity actions and complicated debtor claims, as well as undertaking a variety of general commercial contractual disputes.

Laura is known for her commerciality and will seek to resolve disputes with the best possible outcome for her clients as swiftly and cost effectively as possible.

Laura regularly gives lectures on the effectiveness of enforcement proceedings.

Jeff is an Associate in the Real Estate department having joined pdt in 2005. Previously, Jeff trained with and spent over three years in the Surrey office of a City law firm. He has dealt with a broad range of commercial property matters, and has particular experience of acting for developers and Housing Associations.

Gail is an Associate in the Dispute Resolution department. Gail spent 3 years working within pdt’s real estate department before moving across into dispute resolution in July 2006. She deals with general commercial work with a focus on factoring and invoice discounting matters. She also advises on property litigation issues.

Ian is an Associate in the Company Commercial department. He formerly practiced bankruptcy law and commercial litigation in the Delaware and Philadelphia offices of a leading US law firm. Prior to entering legal practice, Ian received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Edinburgh and Boston College. He was born and raised in the Republic of Singapore.

Ian’s practice focuses on insolvency, commercial and intellectual property matters. He advises clients with respect to business sales and acquisitions, shareholder arrangements and corporate governance, all aspects on insolvency law and practice, and the establishment, sale, licensing and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Ian holds the Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency.

Diana is an Associate in our Dispute Resolution department having trained and practised in the City for three years. She represents a number of large financial institutions focusing mainly on factoring and invoice discounting. Diana deals with general contractual disputes and has advised on EU regulatory issues.

Craig is an associate in the real estate department having qualified at the firm in 2008. Craig advises on a wide range of commercial property matters with particular interest in retail, industrial and office lettings and residential development work.

Craig advises both landlords and tenants and developers and landowners and has experience dealing with both large national retail clients and small independents. As a result of advising on both sides of the transaction Craig is able to advise both commercially and pragmatically to achieve the best possible outcome for his clients.

Craig is part of the pharmacy team advising on acquisitions and disposals and advises a number of pharmacy groups on their property matters.

Meta is a Senior Associate in our Dispute Resolution department and Insolvency teams.

Meta has substantial experience in contentious personal and corporate insolvency cases, including experience in complex disputes involving matrimonial homes, preference, undervalue and misfeasance claims and has worked on behalf of office holders, directors, companies and private individuals.

Meta also deals with complex defended debt actions arising out of the debt recovery department and often deals with these on conditional fee agreements. Meta also has experience in dealing with claims relating to factoring and invoice discounting.

Meta is a Fellow of the Institute of Legal executives and has been qualified since 1992.

Nighat is a Senior Associate and heads our Employment Department. Nighat qualified as a solicitor in 2006 and joined pdt in May 2011.

Nighat is an experienced employment lawyer, having cut her teeth in a niche employment practice based in the City. Nighat represents and acts on behalf of Respondents (businesses) and Claimants (individuals) in all aspects of employment law.

Nighat’s ethos is to provide a focused consultative and advisory approach to all her client’s needs, whether it involves litigation, advice on procedure, policies, handbooks, or simply seeking advice on best practice to resolving disputes through mediation.

Nighat’s clients range from businesses covering a wide variety of sectors, directors and senior executives to junior employees. She advises businesses and individuals on a variety of areas including: redundancy dismissals, redundancy procedures, complex TUPE claims/procedures, discrimination, harassment, equal pay, unfair dismissal, health and safety dismissals, maternity/paternity rights, part-time and fixed-term workers rights, agency worker’s rights, whistle blowing, restrictive covenants, breach of contract and conciliation and settlement of claims.

She also represents employers/employees at judicial and private mediations. Her client support work includes: contract negotiations as well as severance packages, producing and updating handbooks/contracts, training, consultative and audit work.

Nighat has particular expertise in conducting discrimination, sex, race, disability cases and has advised in a number of high-value discrimination cases. Nighat undertakes advocacy at Tribunal.

She is a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association, Association of Women Solicitors, Discrimination Law Association and Liberty.

Jo qualified as a solicitor in October 2010 and works in our real estate department.

Jo directly assists James Clewlow acting for developers, housing associations and insolvency practitioners, advising administrators, liquidators and trustees on disposals, surrenders and disclaimers.

Jo is also a member of the pharmacy team offering advice to independent pharmacists on acquisitions and disposals throughout the country. Jo is currently involved in a major refinance programme of pharmacies throughout the country which is due to complete in Summer 2012.

Rebecca studied at City University in London where she gained a Business Law degree. She has over 12 years’ experience advising businesses on a broad range of company and commercial issues including partnerships and LLPs. Rebecca’s aim is to seek practical and commercial solutions for clients.

Rebecca specialises in corporate finance matters including acquisitions and mergers, MBOs/MBIs, investments, private equity, joint ventures, re-organisations and refinancing. Rebecca has assisted clients on a variety of shareholders’ arrangements, commercial contracts and corporate governance issues.