Partners
Rae Levene - Managing Member
Rae graduated from Cardiff University in 1975, took articles with the firm in 1977 and became a partner in 1982. He specialises in health and Charity Law and advises many national, regional and local charities particularly in the fields of arts and social care. He is a Trustee of the Bedford Charity (the Harpur Trust), a Board member of BedfordBID and sits on the Bedford Partnership Board.
In his spare time he runs a local Arts charity which he formed in 1984 with two others and which manages a performance venue and promotes community theatre. His interests are the Arts, particularly theatre and opera, and cricket, which he still attempted to play until recently.
Garry Dannan - Member
Garry graduated from Hull university, joined the firm in 1972 and became a Partner in 1975. He specialises in share and assets sales and purchases, commercial contracts and has many years experience in working with business clients. He advises the firm's major corporate and NHS clients.
In his spare time he has an interest in world affairs, he manages a portfolio of funds and stocks and is a football supporter, and as a Charlton Athletic supporter he knows the value of teamwork and loyalty.
Ian Pears - Member
Ian graduated from Leicester University in 1982 and took his Law Society finals in Chester in 1983. He was articled in a high street practice in Lincoln, qualifying in 1986. He joined Park Woodfine Heald Mellows in 2000, becoming a partner in 2002. He has extensive experience in all aspects of personal injury law, including product liability, environmental damage, clinical negligence, foreign cases, and inquests.
He is a member of the Law Society's Personal Injury Panel, the Law Society's Clinical Negligence Panel and AvMA's referral panel. He is accredited by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) as a Senior Litigator.
In his spare time he enjoys walking, canal boating, swimming, DIY and the theatre.
John Thelwall - Member
John moved to Bedford in 1987 after completing articles with a general practice in St Neots. He subsequently developed specialities in corporate finance, commercial property, capital taxes and corporate finance.
He has advised clients to the successful conclusion of substantial deals, including the disposal of a multi million pound software business, the reverse take over of an AIM listed PLC and the multi million pound disposal of a public sector heating company and the acquisition, development, and sale of large building sites.
With his knowledge and expertise he is able to offer a strategic view of the needs of both sellers and buyers of businesses and property, taking into account the impact of both capital gains and inheritance taxes.
In his spare time he enjoys the theatre, concert going, golf and travel.
Claire Trundley - Member
Claire graduated in 1990 and joined Park Woodfine in 1993, she was made a Partner in 1997.
She has always worked in family law dealing with children (private law), divorce, injunctions, financial matters and separation. She is an accredited specialist of Resolution (formerly known as SFLA) and a trained Collaborative lawyer.
In her spare time Claire keeps busy by collecting antiques, gardening and enjoys the theatre.
Steve Williamson - Member
Steve is well known in Bedford for his property work. He has practised in the town since qualifying in 1977 and was a partner with Mellows from 1980 until the merger with Heald in June 2004.
He deals with a large volume of residential freehold and leasehold transactions for private individuals, investors and property developers. He also helps clients with commercial property matters, including freehold and leasehold shops and offices.
He is a keen sports fan, having played rugby for many years, as well as squash and cricket. He now plays the gentler game of golf. He is a founder member of the Rotary Club of Bedford De Parys and was its President in 2003/04. He is a school governor and a committee member of two local trusts. Steve is married with two children.
Michael Wills - Member
Michael graduated from Southampton University in 1977. After practicing in Milton Keynes from qualifying he moved to Bedford in 1990.
He specialises in and has extensive experience of the acquisition and disposal of freehold and leasehold commercial premises and acting for developers in all aspects of acquiring and disposing of development sites.
In his spare time he enjoys travelling, cooking, gardening and rugby. He is married with two children.
Stephen Burridge - Member
Stephen has been a solicitor since 1984 and after working with solicitors firms in Grimsby and St Neots, helped to set up an in-house legal department for a Bedfordshire housing association. He returned to private practice in 1996, joined Mellows in 2002 and Heald in 2004 when the two firms merged. He is well known by many of Bedford's estate agents who vouch for his ability in handling the legal side of property transactions.
He swims regularly and sings in the St Neots Choral Society.
Vanessa Pope - Member
Vanessa worked for five years for the Cayman Islands firm of Maples and Calder in the corporate/capital markets department before returning to England and completing her training in Essex. She then joined a large firm in Oxford as a solicitor in October 2000.
She has since specialised in wills, probate and tax planning work and joined the Wills and Probate department at Park Woodfine Heald Mellows in July 2003, becoming a partner in 2005.
In her spare time she is an avid reader and also an accomplished pianist and violinist.
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