Corporate & commercial solicitors
Simon Deans
Partner and Practice Group Leader
Practice Group: Corporate & commercial
Call: 01753 279023
Email: simon.deans@bpcollins.co.uk
Simon graduated in law from The University of Birmingham and trained with B P Collins, qualifying as a solicitor in 1997. He became a Partner in May 2005. Simon is commercially focused in his advice and deals with all types of corporate and commercial work, ranging from M&A transactions to commercial contracts.
Simon has a wide-ranging portfolio of clients, including fast-growing technology companies and has developed a specialism in intellectual property and IT matters. He has primary responsibility for managing the teams' channels to market.
In 2008, Simon was recommended for his corporate and commercial work in the region in The Legal 500, The Clients' Guide to the UK Legal Profession.
Simon is married to Cath and they have three young children, all of whom are showing early signs of their father's ability to successfully negotiate. Outside the office, when not indulging his family, Simon can usually be found wielding his golf clubs, playing football (very slowly!) or watching any sports he can find.
David Smellie
Partner
Practice Group: Corporate & commercial
Call: 01753 279022
Email: david.smellie@bpcollins.co.uk
David graduated from Trent Polytechnic with LLB (Hons) and completed his training at City law firm Davies Arnold Cooper in 1988, becoming a partner ten years later. David joined B P Collins in 2007 as a senior associate in the corporate team bringing with him a wide range of corporate and commercial experience for multinational, listed and growing businesses including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate finance.
David became a partner in 2008 and he has been instrumental in providing prompt and pragmatic solutions to clients, ensuring a no-nonsense approach and attention to detail.
Although a keen sportsman, David will often be found (when away from the office) chauffeuring his four children to their various social and sporting engagements.
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David Stanning
Partner
Practice Group: Corporate & commercial
Call: 01753 279075
Email: david.stanning@bpcollins.co.uk
David joined B P Collins in 1975 after spending 3 years with a major Australian law firm. As a respected partner with over 30 years experience, David contributes a wealth of corporate knowledge when dealing with corporate and commercial matters of all types.
David has encouraged an enlightened approach to business challenges combined with a commercial pragmatism that results in long-term relationships with clients and business contacts. A long-time employment and M&A solicitor, David now focuses on entrepreneurial opportunities for growing businesses and shareholder relationships, as well as spending substantial time on business development for the firm. David is a board member of West London Business, an organisation with an increasingly important voice for business interests in that area and in 2008, David was recommended for his corporate and commercial work in the region by The Legal 500, A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession.
David speaks both German and French and finds relaxation fly-fishing and walking/skiing in France and is a member Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC); Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club; Hampshire County Cricket Club.
Tim Walton
Partner
Practice Group: Corporate & commercial
Call: 01753 279075
Email: tim.walton@bpcollins.co.uk
Tim is a graduate of Cambridge University, was called to the Bar in 1965 and practiced at the specialist tax bar in the late 1960s. After a spell as a dairy farmer, Tim joined B P Collins in 1984, becoming a partner in 1988.
Tim combines a strategic role on the firm's Board with serving his loyal and long-standing client base gained over 20 years in the corporate and commercial field. Involved principally in M&A work, he combines an enthusiasm for understanding his clients' businesses and commercial objectives with a pragmatic approach to meeting their expectations. He has particular experience and interest in the waste management and environmental sectors.
Tim speaks German and his hobbies include historic motor racing and rallying, golf and the theatre.
Alex Zachary
Partner
Practice Group: Corporate & commercial
Call: 01753 279022
Email: alex.zachary@bpcollins.co.uk
Alex trained at B P Collins and qualified in 1999, before becoming a partner in 2007. Alex leads substantial M&A transactions as well as undertaking a wide mix of corporate and commercial work, with a particular emphasis on the technology and environmental sectors, while taking primary responsibility for the team's knowledge management.
Technically astute, a very strong negotiator and sympathetic to client needs, Alex manages a number of key client relationships.
A keen sportsman, Alex is a regular footballer, occasional golfer and a long suffering Tottenham Hotspur supporter.
Diane Gill
Senior Associate
Diane graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2000 with an LLB (Hons), trained at B P Collins and qualified in October 2003. Diane's experience covers a broad range of corporate and commercial matters. She advises on business acquisitions and disposals, cross-border corporate re-organisations and restructuring and general commercial contracts. Diane has a special interest in and is a member of both the environment team and the charities team. Outside work, Diane rows and coxes at Staines Boat Club, enjoys travelling and skiing.
Victoria Holland
Senior Associate
Victoria qualified in 1999 and was previously at Pinsent Masons in London. She joined B P Collins in 2006. Victoria deals with transactional work and is involved in a wide variety of matters, from M&A transactions to a whole range of commercial and contractual matters, including some charities work. Victoria loves reading and theatre but her outside interests generally revolve around entertaining her two young children.
Alexandra Holden
Associate
Alexandra graduated from Durham University with an LLB (hons) in 2005 and went on to complete her LPC at the College of Law in London. She joined B P Collins as a trainee in 2006 and qualified as a corporate and commercial solicitor in September 2008. Alexandra advises on a range of both corporate and commercial matters, including shareholders' agreements, M&A transactions and commercial contracts, and is also a member of the charities team. Outside of work, Alexandra enjoys swimming, surfing, socialising and photography.
Sophie Kernthaler
Associate
Sophie graduated from Edinburgh University with MA (Hons) in Chinese before completing her legal studies at BPP Law School in London in 2005. She trained at B P Collins and qualified into our corporate and commercial practice in April 2008. Sophie is involved in a wide range of transactional and commercial work and is fluent in written and spoken Mandarin. Outside work, she loves music and sings with the Joyful Company of Singers, plays the French horn with Wandsworth Symphony Orchestra and enjoys travelling.
Harriet Pitblado
Associate
Harriet graduated from the University of Liverpool with an LLB (Hons) in 2005, trained at B P Collins and qualified in October 2008 as a corporate and commercial solicitor. She advises on a range of commercial and contractual matters and is involved in business acquisitions and disposals. Harriet has a particular interest in and is a member of both the environment and information technology teams. Outside work, Harriet enjoys going to the gym, cooking, and trying to improve her tennis serve.
