About Us

I qualified as a commercial and corporate solicitor in 1992 following a 10 year career as a British Army officer.  After training and working in the City for Rowe & Maw (now Mayer Brown) on a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions, I then moved into the leisure and hospitality industry where I became CEO of a number of businesses including a NASDAQ listed international company.  In 2009 I set up Ortolan Legal to introduce a radically different way of providing quality commercial legal advice without the exorbitant costs associated with conventional law firms.  I remain actively involved in advising many of our clients and when I am not doing this or assisting our sister company, Ortolan People, I spend my spare time cooking, boring anyone who cares to listen about my latest food exploits and flying.

I qualified as a solicitor in 1995 after studying law at Oxford University and training at Eversheds. Since then  I have spent the vast majority of my career as an in-house lawyer advising on a broad range of commercial and corporate matters.  My in house experience has taught me to be pragmatic and commercial in the advice I give.  In my spare time I enjoy cooking, barre, Scandinavian dramas and pushing my very young niece to achieve the golfing stardom I have never achieved nor been interested in achieving.

I qualified as an Employment specialist in 2008. I advise on a broad range of employment matters both litigious and non-contentious. I counsel businesses on dismissal strategy and lawful termination techniques (such as dismissing on redundancy grounds and poor performance), to advising on settlement opportunities. Apart from conducting litigation in the Employment Tribunal, I advise on corporate transactions and the application of TUPE alongside generalist advice on a range of contractual matters and HR queries both for employers and employees. I pride myself on taking a pragmatic view to often emotive staffing issues to reach a swift resolution for all parties where possible.

I am an avid rugby fan and can be regularly found at my local Rugby Club (Fylde RFC) where I Chair the Ladies Committee or sipping bubbles at Twickenham as I cheer on England...or just in the pub sipping some alcoholic beverage!

I qualified as a solicitor in London in 1992 and have since worked as an advocate and employment law specialist, running successful departments at 2 Midlands firms. I have worked as a consultant solicitor for the past 10 years, advising and acting for both employers and employees in contentious and non-contentious matters.

I am married (to a solicitor!), have 2 teenage sons and live in Leicestershire. My spare time is spent walking, cooking and trying to master French and Italian.

I qualified as a Dispute Resolution specialist in 2007 after gaining a law degree from Birmingham University.  Prior to joining Ortolan Legal in 2016 I worked at Squire Sanders and Shoosmiths where I gained a vast amount of experience in advising on a broad range of contentious matters for clients from high net worth individuals to PLCs.  With a focus on providing commercially astute advice in a cost effective way, I was listed as an Associate to Watch in Chambers and Partners in 2015 and quoted as "... "a knowledgeable lawyer in her own right"... clients praise Erica's commercial mind".  I advise clients on a range of general commercial litigation issues including contractual and supplier disputes, tortious claims (primarily negligence and nuisance), fraud and corporate disputes, injunctive claims, IT disputes, partnership disputes and debt recovery cases.  I am experienced in Alternative Dispute Resolution including arbitration and mediation.

Outside of work I enjoy travelling and fine dining. Notwithstanding this, I now spend most of my spare time enjoying as much time as possible with my young daughter and trying to get back into shape at the gym following her arrival!

I have specialised in commercial real estate work since qualifying as a solicitor in 1998.  After working for a major City of London law firm for eleven years, I relocated to the Cayman Islands where I continued to practise real estate law, working for the largest independent law firm there.  I returned from the Cayman Islands in 2015.  During my career I have acted for banks and financial institutions, purchasers and sellers and commercial landlords and tenants.  As well as development work on brownfield sites and existing estates, I have also advised on mixed-use developments and the leasing of office and industrial premises.  Outside the law, I was the founder of a micro-brewery and have a real interest in designing beer recipes and brewing (and tasting!) novel and interesting beers.

I have specialised in Employment law since qualifying as a solicitor in 1998 at what was then City of London firm, Richards Butler. I moved to Lewis Sillkin not long after qualification and was made a partner there in 2005. I relocated to the Cayman Islands for a few years where I continued to practice employment law and sat as both a wing member and a Chairman of the Cayman Islands Labour Tribunal. I work mainly with employer clients on all aspects of employment law and general HR issues, including Employment Tribunal litigation. I also work as a consultant for other specialist practices.

Outside of law, I love cooking, live music, reading, films and exploring the world of complementary therapies. You’ll also find me walking my dog or down the front at a gig.

I have been a specialist planning lawyer since I qualified as a solicitor in 2004. I spent most of my career as part of a well-regarded planning team in a leading City of London law firm.  I now benefit from the flexible working structure offered by Ortolan Legal, balancing family life in Yorkshire with a continuing involvement in the law.

I work on a variety of planning issues for both public and private sector clients. Activities include: advising on application strategy; negotiating planning agreements; reviewing application documents and committee reports; assisting with appeals and challenges; analysing emerging planning policy; advising on compulsory purchase; and assisting with enforcement and heritage issues.

I specialise in commercial contracts and have a broad range of experience advising on all types of contracts and acting for large and small businesses across a range of industries. I qualified in 2003 with national law firm Shoosmiths and specialised for several years in commercial litigation and dispute resolution before switching to a predominantly commercial contracts role when I moved inhouse a few years ago. I still advise on litigation alongside my commercial contracts practice . My inhouse experience has given me a valuable insight into what matters to businesses and my litigation background allows me to bring a unique perspective to contract negotiations in order to deliver a contract that really works. 

When I'm not working I like to be outdoors as much as possible either dog walking, gardening or looking after my ever expanding flock of chickens. I'm also a volunteer leader for our local Beavers group, which is the branch of Scouts for 6-8 year olds. 

I am a dual-qualified Australian and UK lawyer with over 15 years’ experience in handling IP, IT, Commercial and Technology law matters. I have a particular specialisation in the commercialisation of IP assets, including negotiating IP licenses.  Prior to joining Ortolan, I worked with a number of top-tier firms before moving in-house and working at Amazon, Skype and Qlik.  

With a wealth of knowledge and expertise in IP, IT, Commercial and Technology law, I provide innovative and globally positioned advice to key players in the marketplace, securing and structuring their IP interests to foster commercial growth.

I qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and prior to joining Ortolan Legal I worked at Addleshaw Goddard and DWF.  I am a property litigation lawyer who deals with dilapidations, service charges, lease renewals, forfeiture, insolvency and general property management work. I work closely with our Real Estate lawyers to resolve property disputes. In my spare time I love to travel and run a successful travel blog.

I qualified as a solicitor in 1999 and have specialised in employment law ever since. I initially worked for the international law firm DLA and I have been a partner and head of employment law at a national law firm.

I have a wealth of experience in all aspects of employment law and offer support and advice at every stage in order to either avoid problems or deal with them. The advice I give is clear and concise using language that you will understand. I am an experienced and passionate advocate in employment tribunals and have successfully defended some 40 Employment Tribunal claims in the past 4 years.

When not out walking my dog, I enjoy gardening and skiing.

Having trained at Eversheds, I moved to DWF on qualification in 2009.   I specialise in all aspects of employment law, providing commercial and pragmatic advice to both businesses and individuals.  Throughout my career I have worked with various sectors and enjoy building relationships with HR and management teams alike.  I deal with the whole spectrum of Employment Tribunal claims, with a particular interest in discrimination and whistleblowing.  I also assist clients navigating the employee aspects of business change, including redundancy consultation process and TUPE as well as supporting our corporate and commercial colleagues with sales, acquisitions and outsourcing arrangements. 

I enjoy advising and training clients regarding day to day aspects of employment law, for example disciplinary and grievance processes, as well as drafting of contracts of employment and staff handbooks.  I also regularly provide advice to clients negotiating settlement agreements.

Away from work, I am kept busy running around after my two children!  I love to read and socialise with family and friends when time permits!