Mark Whittell
Director and Head of Litigation
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Mark is an expert at resolving commercial disputes, having practiced in commercial and insolvency litigation for over 30 years. During that time he has advised businesses on an extensive range of disputes ranging from general commercial disputes, providing advice in shareholder dispute cases and warranty claims and where necessary pursuing professional advisers for their negligence.
Mark specialises in obtaining injunctions for clients in crucial situations from search and seizure orders to freezing assets or restraining competitors from improper trading.
Mark has also specialised in insolvency litigation acting for the insolvency practitioners and banks and directors who face issues arising from the insolvency of those companies
Mark qualified as a mediator in 2000 and has conducted 100s of mediations either for clients as the lead negotiator, or as the mediator in a wide range of areas. Mark also carries out workplace mediation, advising companies solving issues relating to internal conflict.
Mark Advises
- SME company directors
- The boards of large plcs
- Insolvency practitioners
- Solicitors
- Individuals
Experience Highlights
- Acting for Trustee in Bankruptcy in multi-million pound asset tracing claim through the Channel Islands, Cayman Islands, BVI and USA
- Advising on use of mediation in commercial cases and acting as lead negotiator
- Coordinating the recoveries for a major clearing bank cross border, including recovering monies from surveyors for professional negligence, breaches of warranty claims from former vendors and claims against the accountant who provided the due diligence
- Advising directors on issues arising from the liquidation of its Spanish subsidiary and the issue arising in England and defending claims brought against directors and preventing proceedings under the Company Director Disqualification Act 1986
- Obtaining evidence of theft by company employee, obtaining freezing order over the employee’s assets, recovering assets, committing the employee to a term of imprisonment for 8 months for contempt of court, and pursuing co-conspirator
- Advising on commercial disputes, the effect of the standard terms and conditions and pursuing the litigation to a successful conclusion
- Conducting investigations into conduct of partners and removing partners from partnership
Career History
Previous Law Firms
- J&WH Sale and Son, Glass Bagshawe Miller & Co, GW Towell and Cobbetts
- 1989 – 2013 Partner Cobbetts, holding roles such as: Practice Area Head, Commercial Litigation, Team Leader, Commercial Litigation and Insolvency, Partner, Commercial Litigation Team, Risk Partner
- 2013 – present Partner Gunnercooke LLP, Manchester
Current Businesses
* Director, North West Mediation Solutions
Education
- Marple Hall Grammar School for Boys
- LLB, Sheffield University
- Admitted as a Solicitor 1980
- Commercial Mediator (CEDR 1980 and ADR)
- Workplace Mediator (ADR 2009)
- Family Mediator (ADR 2013)
- Institute of Risk Management Certificate
John Louden
Director and Head of Wills & Probate
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John qualified as a solicitor in 1974 having trained with a Manchester law firm George Davies and Co (now Mills & Reeve) where he became a Partner and Head of Trusts in 1977.
John specializes in Wills, Probate, Trust and Tax matters and has over 40 years of experience in his field.
Victoria Greenwood
Director and Solicitor - Wills & Probate, Litigation
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Victoria qualified as a solicitor in 2010 and specialises in Wills, Probate and contentious insolvency matters, covering insolvency offences, reviewable transactions and bankruptcy. As a member of the Private Client team at The Howe Practice Law Victoria deals with advising and drafting of Wills, together with administering estate and obtaining Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration. She also regularly deals with Lasting Powers of Attorney and helping advise people what will be in their best interests.
Victoria began her career specialising in Insolvency Litigation, where she brought proceedings for Transactions at an Undervalue, Preferences, Misfeasance and Transactions to defraud creditors. She also deals with applications in the Bankruptcy Court for the vesting of property of third parties (shares, together with actual property) in the Trustee. Victoria has been involved with search and seizure applications, and also cross border insolvency — involving letters of request and registering bankruptcy in different jurisdictions (including Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Turks and Caicos) together with cross border asset tracing. She also regularly undertakes cross border and domestic private examinations pursuant to section 366 Insolvency Act 1986.
Victoria also has experience in general commercial litigation and has in-house experience at national and global companies where she has dealt with all litigation, ranging from defending small claims, obtaining injunctions to debt recovery. In addition to working as a partner for gunnercooke, she worked in house at Yodel, Collect+ and Arrow XL, dealing with all their litigation and general commercial queries.
Together with Mark Whittell, Victoria runs North West Mediation Solutions, which offers commercial and workplace mediation.
Experience Highlights
- Drafted letters of request and registered bankruptcies in different jurisdictions (including Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Turks and Caicos) together with cross border asset tracing. Also dealt with cross border private examinations of connected individuals pursuant to section 366 Insolvency Act 1986.
- Successfully brought proceedings against directors involving reviewable transactions under the Insolvency Act — such as Transactions at an Undervalue, Preferences, Misfeasance and Transactions to defraud creditors.
- Involved in a successful committal application for contempt of court.
- Successfully obtaining mail redirection order of a Bankrupt.
- Challenging the discharge of a bankruptcy on the basis of non-cooperation pursuant to section 279 Insolvency Act.
- Dealing with statutory demands and the winding up of companies.
- Successfully completed the process to be followed by a FTSE 100 company’s internal litigation and Customer Relations team. This includes how they manage and advise on the public and employee grievances with detailed precedent documents alleviating the need for further employment.
- Provided strategic advice to a national company concerning internal fraud matters.
- Written and co-delivered seminars and workshops on a variety of alternative dispute resolution methods.
Career History
Previous Law Firms
- Partner – Gunnercooke LLP, Manchester
- Solicitor — Cobbetts LLP, Manchester
- Trainee Solicitor — Cobbetts LLP, Manchester
Current Businesses
- Director, North West Mediation Solutions Limited
Other Qualifications
- Degree in French and German
Education
- Legal Practice Course (Distinction)
- College of Law (University of Law) (LLB) 2.1
- University of Manchester (BA Hons) 2.1
Tina Cooper
Conveyancing Executive
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Tina is our most experienced member of the Property department. A Conveyancing Executive she deals with all aspects of residential conveyancing. Tina is known for her can-do attitude and vast experience.
Career history
- 1986 – 2007 – Hamiltons Solicitors
- 2007 – 2011 – O’Neill Morgan Solicitors
- 2018 – 2020 – SAS Daniels
- 2011 – Present – The Howe Practice Solicitors
Sue Tonkin
Conveyancer
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Sue is a paralegal within the Property department at THP Law and deals with residential property sales.
Sue has a vast amount of experience having been with THP Law for 23 years.
Lucy Brown
Trainee Solicitor
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Lucy is the newest member of the THP family. Lucy works primarily with Tina and Sue in conveyancing but is also undertaking litigation work. Lucy will be starting her training contract with THP in the coming months.
Lucy is currently renovating her own property and you can follow her progress on Instagram -@thereno_22
Jean Farrell
Legal Secretary (Private Client Team)
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Jean is a legal secretary in the Private Client Team and works closely with Victoria. Jean’s knowledge within the field of Wills and Probate is unrivalled. She has been with THP Law for over 26 years.
Grace Gerrard
Legal Secretary (Private Client Team)
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Grace is a legal secretary in the Private Client Team working with John Louden. Grace has a vast knowledge of all things Wills and Probate.
Alan Firth
Solicitor
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Coming soon...