Blackhurst Budd LLP's Team

		Warren Spencer
		Job Title: Managing Partner Specialisms: Criminal and civil litigation, particularly personal injury and clinical negligence cases. Warren is an accredited Court Duty Solicitor and in 2008 received the Higher Courts Advocate accreditation enabling him to work as an advocate in the Crown Court. Warren has prosecuted cases for the DWP for over 12 years and also now prosecutes for Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cumbria, Cheshire and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Services. Background: Warren was born and educated in Blackpool, studied for his law degree in Manchester and completed his law finals course at the College of Law in Chester. He is a former President of The Blackpool and Fylde District Law Society. Warren was shortlisted by the Law Society for the Private Practice - Solicitor of the Year Award at the 2009 Law Society Excellence Awards. Interests: Football, gym, playwriting and acting. Contact: wps@blackhurstbudd.co.uk

		John R Taylor
		Job title: Marketing Partner Specialism: Residential Conveyancing Background: John was formerly a partner in Coope Purvis and Taylor Solicitors for 22 years. He was born in Blackpool and attended Arnold School. Interests: Swimming,Golf and Liverpool Football Club(Season Ticket Holder since 1979). Contact Tel: Lyn 01253 629281 Contact: jrt@blackhurstbudd.co.uk

		Alan Mumby
		Job Title: Partner Specialisms: Commercial and residential property transactions. Background: Alan has worked in Blackpool since 1980. He is an old boy of Blackpool Grammar School and qualified with his law degree from Liverpool University in 1974. He worked for local government for a number of years, dealing with planning matters, before moving to private practice and specialising in commercial and residential property transactions where he has over 28 years experience. He is married with one daughter. Interests: Watching football, rugby and cricket; reading ; listening to music. Contact: arm@blackhurstbudd.co.uk

		Daren Guite
		Job Title: Partner and Head of Matrimonial Department. Specialisms: All areas of family law particularly children’s proceedings. Daren is a member of the Law Society’s Accredited Children’s Panel and has a wealth of experience when dealing with very complex children’s cases. He has represented children, parents, grandparents and extended family members. He conducts court hearings through to and including the final hearing. Background: Daren qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and became a Partner in 2001. He has specialised in family law since 1998. He was appointed to the Law Society Children’s Panel in 2001 and appointed President of The Blackpool & Fylde District Law Society 2006-2007. Interests: Spending quality time with his family and children, photography, acoustic and electric guitar, song-writing, table tennis, American football and films. Contact: dg@blackhurstbudd.co.uk

		Richard Sloman
		Job Title: Partner and Notary Public. Specialisms: Commercial & residential property. Notary Public. Background: Richard qualified as a solicitor in 1982 after training with a Manchester practice. He joined Blackhursts in 1983 as an Assistant Solicitor and became a Partner in 1988. He qualified as a Notary Public in 1992 and was awarded the Amphelett prize by The Notaries Society. Interests: Football, cycling, theatre and travel. Richard is also an honorary solicitor to several charities. Contact: ers@blackhurstbudd.co.uk

		Neil Jones
		Job Title: Partner. Specialisms: Civil litigation. Neil is a member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association. He has a particular interest in solicitor negligence claims which he often will undertake on conditional fee agreements (“no-win-no-fee”) supported by litigation insurance. Background: Neil Jones is an old boy of Blackpool Grammar School with a BA law degree from Leeds University. Qualifying in 1973, Neil spent his early years dealing with property and commercial matters, before specialising in civil litigation where he has over 20 years experience. He is married with one daughter. Interests: Bridge, tennis and canal boating. Contact: nrj@blackhurstbudd.co.uk

		Ian Bentley
		Job Title: Partner and Head of Probate. Specialisms: Wills, probate and trusts. Ian became a trust and estate practitioner through the Law Society accredited STEP programme in 2008. Background: Ian qualified as a solicitor in 1996. He joined Blackhursts to specialise in private client work in 2003 and became a Partner in 2008. Interests: Football, photography, local history and travel. Contact: ivb@blackhurstbudd.co.uk

		Michael Woosnam
		Job Title: Partner and Head of Criminal Department. Specialisms: Criminal law Background: Born in Blackpool and educated locally, Michael is a graduate of Nottingham University. He took his law exams at the College of Law, Chester after which he joined John Budd & Co as an Articled Clerk in 1981. Save for some two years in the mid 1980s when he worked as a specialist criminal prosecutor; Michael has been with John Budd & Co, now Blackhurst Budd, throughout his career. Michael is currently the Deputy Coroner for Blackpool & Fylde. Interests: Golf, travel, reading and anything to do with law! Contact: mcw@blackhurstbudd.co.uk

		David C Aird
		Job Title: Partner and Head of the Litigation Department Specialisms: David is an experienced litigator specialising in commercial litigation, landlord and tenant employment, insolvency (personal and corporate) and licensing. Background: David joined the firm (then Blackhurst Parker and Yates) as a trainee Solicitor in 1982. He qualified in 1985 and was made a Partner in 1988. From 1999 to the merger of Blackhursts LLP with John Budd and LSC Solicitors in April 2009 he was Managing Partner. Interests: Away from work David enjoys scuba diving, skiing, walking, the occasional round of golf and supporting his beloved Blackpool Football Club. Contact: dca@blackhurstbudd.co.uk

		Caron Bridson
		Job title: Partner. Specialisms: Caron specialises in divorce, ancillary relief and cohabitation. She has been a member of the Law Society Children’s Panel since 1990. Background: Born in Sydney Australia, Caron was educated and spent her formative years in the Isle of Man. She established her own firm in 1990 as a general practitioner including agency prosecution work. After this she moved into various forms of partnership and became a specialist, though not exclusive, family practitioner. Interests: Walking, skiing, horse riding, playing the saxophone, and going to the cinema. Contact: cb@blackhurstbudd.co.uk

		Christopher J Beverley
		Job Title: Partner. Specialisms: All areas of family law particularly divorce, civil partnership, children and financial matters. Background: Christopher is a member of the Law Society Family Panel and the Law Society Advanced Family Panel. He is a member of Resolution, with whom he trained as an all issues mediator. Background: Christopher qualified in 1975 and has been a Partner since 1981 working throughout in the field of matrimonial law. He is a past President of the Blackpool & Fylde District Law Society and presently Assistant Deputy Coroner and Secretary to the Fylde Medico – Legal Society. Interests: Christopher is a keen rotarian and past president of the Rotary Club of Blackpool. He is an honourary solicitor for a number of local charities and a member of the advisory board of the Salvation Army Bridge Project. He is an avid theatre goer and past performer and has become addicted to expensive cruise ships. Contact: cjb@blackhurstbudd.co.uk

		Martin Block
		Job Title: Partner. Specialisms: Commercial and Residential Property, Probate and Litigation Background: Martin moved from London to the North West in 1979, qualifying in that year. He has worked in the North West ultimately settling in Blackpool in 1983 when he became a Partner with his then firm. He has specialised in the above areas over many years and sits as a part time Tribunal Judge on behalf of the Appeal Service. He is married to his wife Elaine and they have two children Joshua and Imogen. Interests: Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his family, films, theatre, reading and gardening together with his charity work. Contact: mb@blackhurstbudd.co.uk

		Charles J Purvis
		Job title: Partner Specialism: Commercial and residential property, Wills and Probate. Background: Charles started his law career with Blackhurst Parker and Yates (as it was then known) in 1973. After qualifying in 1977, he moved to the firm which became Coope Purvis & Taylor. He joined Blackhurst Budd in 2009. He is married to Jane and has two sons. Interests: Hill walking, cycling, history and reading. Holidays are often spent on challenging long distance walks and alpine treks. Contact: cjp@blackhurstbudd.co.uk