Our Team
Amy Short
amy.short@savagesilk.com 0345 209 4723 Amy joined Savage Silk Law in September 2022 after completing her A levels. She is a Trainee Paralegal in the Residential Conveyancing Team and the first point of contact for clients who need advice on the sale or purchase of their home. She supports the wider team in the day-to-day administration tasks including opening new client files, preparation of client profiles, carrying out anti-money laundering checks and the preparation and distribution of contract packs for clients.
Amy-Louise Ions
amylouise.ions@savagesilk.com 0345 209 4717 Amy qualified as a solicitor in 2015 and her practice covers many aspects of residential conveyancing, including freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, estate properties, re-mortgages, buy-to-let properties, right-to-buy properties, first registrations, new build properties and auction properties. Amy prides herself on her friendly, attentive and proactive approach and tailors her advice to suit the needs of each client; whether they are a first-time buyer or a property investor expanding their portfolio. She has acted for many of her clients and their wider families for a number of years and her reliability and attention to detail means clients feel supported throughout their property transaction and beyond.
Angie Papprill
angie.papprill@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4743 Qualifying as a solicitor in 2011, Angie has practiced in Dispute Resolution in the North East region for over 10 years joining Savage Silk as Head of Dispute Resolution in May 2022. Angie is a capable litigator with a great understanding of the complexities of the law and the legal system. Her commitment to gaining a full understanding of her clients commercial and personal circumstances and motivations enable her to give advice on whether and how best to proceed on a case by case basis. Angie has experience in all areas of Dispute Resolution including Landlord and Tenant disputes, partnership disputes, shareholder disputes, professional negligence claims, construction disputes, claims for breach of fiduciary duties and claims for breach of contracts or simple unpaid debts. Angie is familiar with not only court process but various other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution and is able to provide guidance on the route best suited to a client’s needs and objectives. Angie was promoted to Partner in May 2023.
Beverley Walker
beverley.walker@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4748 Beverley has worked in the legal sector for over 30 years and, more specifically, has worked as a secretary within a litigation team. As a result, Beverley has a wealth of experience in supporting client and colleague requirements. Beverley works closely with clients during any and all stages of their matters, whether that be in the commercial team through to dispute resolution team, ensuring things run as smoothly as possible. This has meant Beverley has also developed strong relationships with the clients. Beverley’s experience and understanding of the processes in the legal sector allows her to support clients at what can sometimes be a stressful time.
Chris Morgan
chris.morgan@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4701 Chris deals with all aspects of corporate and commercial law such as drafting terms and conditions (for business customers and consumers), distribution and supply contracts, share transfers, company share buybacks, company restructures, loan note agreements, the sale and purchase company shares, the sale and purchase of company assets and shareholder agreements to name a few. Examples of some of the matters he has been involved in include the sale of the assets of an educational nursery, the sale of the assets of a north-east hotel, the sale and purchase of shares in leisure companies (over several transactions) and the sale of financial advisory companies. Often, the deals he is involved in have a value of several million but he also acts on more niche transactions and can tailor his expertise to the nature of all sales, large or small by taking a commercial and pragmatic approach. Chris has a loyal client base which has been established through him consistently providing solid advice and he has acted for many of his clients for several years. Chris has been published in several legal journals and has lectured at Northumbria University on commercial law matters.
David Williams
david.williams@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4711 David is a Partner in the Commercial Property Team and has a wealth of experience in acting for clients on a diverse range of property issues, including sales and acquisitions, leasehold management, financing of portfolios, advising on development matters, corporate sales and purchases and shareholder agreements. David recognises that in each transaction his clients will have a unique set of circumstances that are particular to them and which require detailed attention. He also works with other professionals to ensure mutual clients are in a position to achieve their goals in both the short term and the future.
Deb Tweedy
Deb.tweedy@sshbusiness.co.uk 0345 209 4704 Deb joined Savage Silk as their Director of People and Culture in August 2023, having worked in the legal sector for circa 20 years. Being dual qualified in Employment law and HR, Deb’s vision is to help create an environment which supports emotional intelligence, strategic intelligence and progression, whilst also ensuring that the firm embraces equality and diversity. On a day-to-day basis, Deb supports the management team with all strategic HR projects, whilst also ensuring that the business remains compliant with all of their policies and procedures. Deb prides herself on her pragmatic and forward-thinking approach to people management and is keen to always ensure communication is delivered in a way that affords everyone the opportunity to collectively support one another. Alongside the management team, Deb’s ambition is to help the firm expand by attracting, developing and retaining people with energy, sharp minds and bags of character
Emma Huscroft
emma.huscroft@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4741 Emma is the Head of our Private Client team and deals with a wide range of wills, probate and trust matters. Empathy, understanding and compassion are key to her role and she has gained not only legal experience, but also the life skills required to provide the highest quality of support and advice to her clients. Emma believes in promoting training and education and feels that it is only by working together that a team is at its best, and continues to grow and develop her own skill set as part of this. She is also a member of Solicitors for the Elderly and an Affiliate Member of STEP. Emma was promoted to Partner in May 2023.
Emma Richardson
emma.richardson@sshbusiness.co.uk 0345 209 4720 Emma joined the Accounts Team in September 2018 and has become a valued member of the team. She has 7 years’ experience of legal accounting and during that time has built up a strong skill set. Emma supports the team in ensuring that a high quality client service is provided at all times.
Graham Moore
graham.moore@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4713 Graham hails from a Corporate & Retail Banking background, with 30+ years’ experience, including Senior and National Management in both bank & non-bank lending environments. During this time, he was instrumental in launching a new brand of challenger bank for the SME marketplace. Graham has a passion for ensuring clients receive the most appropriate advice to ensure long term sustainability and growth and is committed to ensuring the best possible service is provided. Graham aims to enhance our existing client relationships further in helping to understand the pressures faced by them and ensure the teams continue to deliver pragmatic solutions to all our client’s requirements.
Harmeet Sanghera
harmeet.sanghera@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4702 Harmeet qualified as a Solicitor in 2019 and specialises in Commercial Property acting for a range of clients such as SME’s, banks and charities. Harmeet is able to advise and assist clients with a range of matters, such as commercial property purchases, sales, new leases (both for Landlords and Tenants) and assignments and is also able to deal with business acquisitions and sales. Over the years, he has helped acquire or sell convenience stores, post offices, gift shops, restaurants, cafes, takeaways, bars, hairdressers, beauty salons, industrial warehouses and even a bowling alley. Harmeet prides himself on his attention to detail and providing a high quality service to each of his clients.
Helen Casely
helen.casely@sshbusiness.co.uk 0345 209 4706 Helen is a skilled and experienced operator and is the driving force behind the finance and operations functions. She ensures the smooth management of the functions across the businesses, which in turn means the rest of the teams can focus on providing a discrete, high quality and responsive service to clients.
Jennifer Morse
jennifer.morse@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4727 Jennifer joined Savage Silk in June 2023 as a paralegal in the Commercial Property Team. She previously worked within the property management team of a chartered surveyors, and has over 10 years’ experience working as a paralegal, dealing with property transactions within a regional law firm. Jennifer holds a CILEX Membership (Institute of Legal Executives).
Joanna Nolan
Joanna.nolan@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4719 Joanna is a Trainee Solicitor working within Commercial Property team. She commenced her studies at the University of Sunderland where she achieved an LLB degree and continued her studies completing the LLM integrated LPC. Joanna has good legal experience working in the Law Clinic where she covered various areas of law but more recently spent some time working in Residential Conveyancing. Joanna is dedicated and is looking forward to developing her skills and striving to do her best for clients.
Joanne McHale-Young
Joanne.mchaleyoung@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4729 Joanne is an experienced employment lawyer who assists clients on a full range of HR issues. She regularly assists employers with disciplinary and grievances investigations, discrimination, issues with senior personnel and bullying and harassment. She also negotiates exit agreements and advises on restrictive covenants, including responding to companies threatening their enforcement. Joanne drafts GDPR compliant policies and ensures legal compliance of company existing policies and procedures. She is experienced in corporate support and provides assistance on a range of transactions, including where there are TUPE requirements. Joanne supports individual employees through to listed companies and has specialist knowledge of the manufacturing, retail, construction, transport, energy, recruitment and financial sectors. She is experienced in employment tribunal litigation, including appeals and costs proceedings.
Joanne Wright
joanne.wright@savagesilk.com 0345 209 4723 Joanne is one of the key people in our residential conveyancing completions team and prides herself on ensuring things go as smoothly as possible for all concerned. Clients value her discreet, approachable and friendly manner and their experience is at the centre of everything she does. Joanne has a wealth of experience in client service and has built up a sound knowledge of residential conveyancing.
Kelly Macalister
kelly.macalister@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4722 Kelly has over 20 years legal experience in litigation, family and property. She joined Savage Silk earlier this year to assist the Commercial Property team with their day to day requirements and to ensure that the team runs smoothly and effectively. Due to her experience, she knows how a law firm works and the systems and processes required. Kelly has excellent client care skills and provides clients with the best service with a very friendly outlook.
Lauren Mills
Lauren.mills@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4730 Lauren provides tactical employment and HR support to HR and management teams, including advice and assistance on a range of issues such as disciplinary and grievance procedures, sickness and performance management and restructures and redundancy consultation, together with SOSR dismissal of senior personnel, complex harassment and bullying issues, reasonable adjustments and negotiated exit agreements. She is experienced in conducting workplace investigations, including grievances, disciplinaries and appeals against dismissal. Lauren also supports clients in the Employment Tribunal process at all stages, from the drafting of proceedings to case management and preparing the case for hearing. In addition to this, she also regularly assists in the employment aspects of corporate transactions ranging from due diligence, negotiating and reviewing warranties and indemnities to numerous collective TUPE consultations.
Lewis Gransbury
Lewis.gransbury@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4726 Lewis joined as a Trainee Solicitor in 2023, starting in the Private Client Team. He graduated with an LLB Law Degree in 2022 and with an LLM/LPC Postgraduate Degree in 2023, both from the University of Sunderland. Through his time at the Sunderland Student Law Clinic, Lewis has advised clients a variety of matters. He is very approachable and will always to his best to help clients to the best of his abilities. Lewis is eager to expand his legal knowledge and skills as much as he can during his training contract and to ensure he is able to assist clients and colleagues as much as possible.
Linda Belshaw
linda.belshaw@sshbusiness.co.uk 0345 209 4716 Linda has over 30 years’ experience as a Legal Cashier and heads up the Finance Team alongside Helen Casely. Her role is to ensure a high quality and efficient accounts function is provided to all businesses, and through this smooth running of both the back office and client related functions this enables the rest of the teams to focus on providing a high level of service to clients.
Malana Mitchell
Malana.mitchell@sshbusiness.co.uk 0345 209 4714 Malana has worked in the legal sector for over 30 years. She is a highly experienced paralegal with exceptional organisational skills and a solution-oriented approach. Malana also plays an integral part in risk and compliance management, including the implementation of the firm’s policies and procedures.
Margaret Brumwell
margaret.brumwell@savagesilk.com 0345 209 4718 Margaret has worked in the legal industry for over 20 years and has a vast knowledge of the conveyancing process. She currently works in the Completions Team, dealing with exchange of contracts and the completion formalities.
Michael Clark
michael.clark@savagesilk.com 0345 209 4723 Michael spent the first 19 years of his career working at a well-established North East estate agency and as a result has gained a wealth of experience in supporting clients throughout the moving process. He has knowledge of every stage of a transaction and is able to help guide clients through what can be a stressful time. By using the smart onboarding system, which aims to speed up every transaction, Michael is on hand to assist with any questions and to provide support to clients during the initial stages of the conveyancing process.
Natalie Croll
natalie.croll@savagesilk.com 0345 209 4744 Natalie has worked in the legal sector for many years, and more specifically has worked as an assistant in residential conveyancing for over 10 years. This role requires her to work closely with clients during all stages of the process to ensure things run as smoothly as possible and has meant she has also developed strong relationships with estate agents. Natalie’s experience and understanding of the conveyancing process means she is able to support and guide clients throughout their transaction at what can sometimes be a daunting and stressful experience.
Pamela Thompson
pamela.thompson@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4705 Pamela has worked in the legal sector for over 25 years and is experienced in both corporate and commercial property transactions. She is a paralegal in the Corporate and Commercial Team and assists the team in a range of corporate and commercial work.
Paul Bennett
paul.bennett@savagesilk.co.uk 07842 318 734 Paul is a long established and experienced solicitor. He spent the first 20 years of his legal career dealing with a real mix of property, matrimonial, crime and even private parliamentary bill work. Paul then settled down to commercial civil litigation with an emphasis on agricultural work. He is also a qualified civil courts advocate, qualified mediator and is involved in many law report and publicised cases.
Paul Bury
paul.bury@savagesilk.co.uk 07512 324 980 Paul has been widely recognised for some years as one of the North East’s leading corporate and commercial lawyers. He has a wealth of experience of dealing with a wide range of matters across a broad spectrum of sectors, including acquisitions and disposals, corporate restructuring, investments, corporate governance, commercial contracts and intellectual property. Recognising that irrespective of its size, complexity and value each matter is important to his clients, Paul’s focus is always on providing solutions to problems and achieving the best possible commercial outcome for his clients. Paul has also acted as mentor to a number of other corporate and commercial lawyers practicing in the North East and beyond.
Paul Earnshaw
paul.earnshaw@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4703 Paul qualified as a solicitor in 1993 and has significant experience advising clients on commercial property deals. He has a number of loyal clients, particularly owner managed property companies, but also has a good reputation with property professionals leading to regular referrals of new business. Paul has particular experience in property investment deals, landlord and tenant matters, representing sellers and buyers in development transactions and advising tenants on their trading portfolio or head office leases. He is a problem solver and provides pragmatic advice that focusses on the most material issues for his clients.
Robin Winskell
robin.winskell@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4724 Robin is a highly experienced private client lawyer and is a trusted adviser to numerous high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs and family businesses. He specialises in succession planning, matrimonial issues and financial settlements.
Robyn Carroll
robyn.carroll@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4712 Robyn is a Trainee Solicitor and supports the Private Client and Dispute Resolution teams. She graduated with an LLB Law degree from Teesside University in 2020 and achieved an LLM/LPC postgraduate degree from the University of Sunderland in 2022. Robyn has good experience working in different Law Clinics and has advised on many areas of law. She is proactive, thorough and always strives to do the best she can for clients. Robyn is keen to develop her skills further and is looking forward to continuing to build on her knowledge and experience.
Ruth Beeton
ruth.beeton@savagesilk.com 0345 209 4723 Ruth qualified as a Solicitor in 2008 and specialises in all aspects of residential conveyancing. She heads up the Residential Conveyancing Team and is able to assist with all sales, purchases, transfer of equity and re-mortgages. Ruth prides herself on her client care and strives to ensure that all clients receive the best service possible.
Sarah Ternent
sarah.ternent@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4746 Sarah joined Savage Silk as an admin apprentice following on from her A-Levels. Since joining she has really grown and developed her skill sets and, after completing her apprenticeship, has become the go to person for admin assistance in the Private Client Team. Sarah is excellent at supporting clients during what is often a very difficult time and always shows empathy and compassion in everything she does. Sarah is keen to explore this area of law further and develop her knowledge and expertise.
Satpal Pandal
satpal.pandal@savagesilk.co.uk 07740 744 088 Satpal has a wealth of experience working for and developing long lasting relationships with entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals and SMEs. He has detailed knowledge and experience of a wide range of legal issues on an expanded range of commercial matters. Satpal provides a holistic assessment of needs to clients and represents them in the property, leisure, retail and healthcare sectors, which has enabled him to build up a good knowledge of legislation which affects those sectors. Satpal’s clients value the commerciality he brings to their projects and how he always looks at the issue from their perspective as well as delivering positive results. Satpal delivers solutions to his clients in a commercial and pragmatic way.
Simon Priestley
simon.priestley@savagesilk.com 07885 549 865 Simon is an experienced lawyer and a director of Savage Silk. He has had extensive experience of working on major private and public sector projects. Simon’s clients value his commercial approach, his ability to see things from their perspective and the care he takes to understand both their personal and commercial requirements. For his many clients, Simon is a respected and trusted adviser that they rely upon for their commercial and legal needs.
Toni Little
toni.little@sshbusiness.co.uk 0345 209 4745 Toni is part of our Business Services team and deals with the various transactional aspects of running a busy legal practice. She works closely with her colleagues to provide excellent service to ensure that transactions complete as quickly and as smoothly as possible and always does so in a friendly and approachable manner.
Victoria John
victoria.john@savagesilk.co.uk 0345 209 4742 Vicky is an experienced private client solicitor and carries out all aspects of the preparation of Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and dealing with probate matters. She became a member of Solicitors for the Elderly in 2017 and is working towards becoming a member of STEP in the near future. Vicky understands that all clients have different needs and personal situations and her friendly, open and honest approach and advice to these differing needs makes her clients feel comfortable and puts them at ease.