OUR PEOPLE
LYN RICKATSON LLB (HONS)
Head of Property
Lyn has been Head of the firm's Property Department since 1993.
She undertakes property work of all types, specialising in complex commercial and agricultural transactions. She has particular expertise in advising farmers and large estates on the diversification of their farming interests including the conversion of farm buildings to other more profitable uses. She also has a reputation for advising on the grant of options to developers.
Lyn is a member of the Agricultural Law Association and the Country Land and Business Association.
BRIAN MITCHELL MA (CANTAB)
Managing Partner
A graduate of Downing College Cambridge, Brian joined Grays in 1996. He became a partner in 1998 and has been the firm’s managing partner since 2012.
He has extensive experience of a broad range of contentious work, specialising in chancery, property and trust litigation. He also advises on matrimonial finance claims and professional negligence claims against other solicitors. He has a particular reputation for handling complex claims and often has difficult cases referred to him by other practices.
BEN WILLIAMS MA (CANTAB)
Head of Trust and Probate
A graduate of Selwyn College, Cambridge, Ben trained with one of the leading firms in the City of London before joining Grays in 2004.
He specialises in tax planning and the administration of estates, with a particular emphasis on the administration of trusts and settlements. He also prepares wills and undertakes work relating to the Court of Protection and lasting powers of attorney.
ANGELA REINHOLZ LLB (HONS)
Partner
Angela joined the firm in 2010 having spent the previous 10 years practising with two leading international law firms in Leeds.
A partner in the firm's Property Department, Angela has extensive experience dealing with freehold and leasehold acquisitions and disposals of both commercial property and agricultural property, acting for a range of clients including farmers and landed estates. In addition, Angela regularly advises landowners in connection with the grant of options to developers, including advising in relation to overage arrangements.
JOHN KNOWLES LLB (HONS)
Head of Litigation
Admitted in 1982, John has been with Grays since 1987. He was appointed partner in 1990 and is Head of the firm's Litigation Department.
John specialises in employment law where he advises both employers and employees. He also undertakes a wide variety of civil matters, with particular emphasis on inheritance claims, land related disputes and charity law.
JOANNA LESLIE BA (HONS)
Partner
Joanna joined Grays in 2011. She first began practising in residential conveyancing in 1998 and she has worked with a number of respected Yorkshire firms since then.
Joanna undertakes a full range of conveyancing transactions including sales, purchases, remortgages and transfers of equity.
THEA HOLLOWAY LLB (HONS)
Partner
A graduate of Queen's University, Belfast, Thea is a partner in the firm's Trust & Probate Department. She joined Grays in 2012.
As a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and of Solicitors for the Elderly, she specialises in the preparation of wills, lasting powers of attorney, the administration of estates and ongoing trusts, and Court of Protection work.
MICHAEL THOMAS MA (CANTAB)
Partner
A graduate of Girton College, Cambridge, Michael continued his training in Bristol and qualified as a solicitor in 2015.
He joined Grays' litigation team in 2021 and became a partner in 2024. He undertakes a broad range of dispute resolution work but has particular experience in relation to commercial and agricultural property disputes and claims relating to wills and estates.
SARAH VOKES-ALDERSON LLB (HONS)
Senior Solicitor
Sarah joined the firm's Property Department in 2022 after 18 years at one of the ‘Big Six’ law firms in Leeds, particularly renowned for its property expertise. It was there she trained and subsequently qualified as a solicitor within the real estate team in 2006, acting for clients such as listed property companies, pension funds and prominent retailers.
As an experienced real estate solicitor, Sarah undertakes a broad range of property work including high value freehold and leasehold acquisitions and disposals, site assemblies for development, option agreements, lease re-gears and all other aspects of non-contentious landlord and tenant work.
SERENA DAWE BA (HONS)
Senior Solicitor
Serena qualified as a solicitor in 2002, and has been a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners since 2013. Having worked at a number of leading practices, she joined Grays' Trust and Probate team in 2019.
Serena has a wealth of private client experience including the drafting of wills, lasting powers of attorney and the administration of estates.