Meet the Team

Asiyah is a paralegal based in our busy Criminal Defence department at our Nottingham office.

Asiyah returned to the Bhatia Best after completing a placement year with the firm in 2015. Since then she completed her law degree and undertaken the Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Law School.

Asiyah helps solicitors with the preparation of cases for trials in both the Magistrates and Crown Court. She is looking forward to starting the police station accreditation and developing her career at Bhatia Best.

 
‘I am extremely excited to be returning to Bhatia Best to develop my career in Criminal Defence’

* I didn’t know whether to put this in as I technically haven’t completed it until my elective results are released.

Priscilla is a solicitor in our Public Law and Community Care Department. Priscilla joined Bhatia Best in August 2018 and put her decision down to our strong presence in that area of law. Priscilla qualified as a Solicitor in August 2015 and has a great amount of experience in dealing with a range of Public Law and Community Care matters, mental capacity issues and related litigation.

Priscilla’s areas of specialism include:

• Age Assessments
• Assessments of children in need under Section 17 Children Act 1989
• Assessments of needs, unlawful charges for care and fairer access to Care Services under Care Act 2014
• Complaints procedure and Ombudsman
• Challenging direct payments and personal budget
• Judicial Review challenges
• Looked After Children and leaving care duties under Section 20 Children Act 1989
• Disabled Facilities Grants/ Aid/Adaptations

Priscilla has particular expertise in actions arising from failures of the Local Authority to carry out lawful assessment and failure to provide adequate services pending and after the completion of an assessment. She has frequently pursued challenges in community care assessments, service provision and unlawful charging decisions. Priscilla has acted on many leading cases on a wide range of care service users and their carers across England and Wales. Alongside this, she has also provided advice and assistance on the rules which seek to restrict access to services for migrants.

Priscilla has successfully represented clients in a variety of age disputed minors following the Local Authority’s assessment of their age.

Anoosha is a paralegal in our busy Criminal Department based at our Nottingham Office.

Anoosha recently completed the Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Law School. Prior to this she studied Law and Criminology as an undergraduate at University of Lincoln. It was during this time that Anoosha developed an interest in Criminal Law.
 

Anoosha assists Solicitors with the preparation of cases in the Magistrates Court. She is currently undertaking the Police Station Representative Accreditation process, which will allow her to represent clients detained at the Police Station.

Bio to appear soon.

Bio to appear soon.

Nataliya is an experienced costs draftsperson based at our Nottingham office.

Nataliya studied Law at Sofia University in Bulgaria. She then graduated with a Masters degree from Nottingham Trent University. Nataliya passed the Qualified Lawyers Transferred test and was admitted as a Solicitor on 15.01.09.

 
Nataliya commenced work in a costs draftsperson’s practice as a costs draftsperson 2004. In 2011 Nataliya moved to work as a Solicitor in the Costs department at Weightmans LLP. In 2015 Nataliya returned to work as costs draftsperson in a costs draftsperson practice. Nataliya then joined Bhatia Best in June 2018.
 
Her experience includes drawing Bills of Costs, Schedules and Statements of costs; High Cost Case Plans, preparing Points of Dispute and Replies to Points of Dispute whilst managing a large caseload. Nataliya has extensive experience in negotiating settlement of costs, obtaining default costs certificates, requesting provisional assessment hearings / detailed assessment hearings and finalizing all matters thereafter.
 
Nataliya regularly prepares and advises upon costs budgets, as well as advising with regards to the challenges to be made to opponent’s costs budgets. Nataliya frequently prepares substantial bills of costs in large multi-track claims often involving multiple parties. Nataliya is familiar with working from paperless files.

Bio to appear soon.

Spencer joined Bhatia Best as a Consultant in December 2013 and heads up the Debt Collection department dealing with both commercial and consumer debts.

Spencer has over 35 years experience specialising in debt collection/civil litigation and has held senior positions in other law firms dealing with debt collection in volume.
He therefore has considerable experience and acts for a diverse range of clients but also several large commercial companies with whom he has relationships going back over ten years.

A commercial approach to debt collection is necessary and he is mindful of the need to keep costs in proportion to the amount of debt being collected.
Spencer provides a personal service which he believes is the reason he retains the support of longstanding commercial clients and is always free for a client to give him a call or send an email requesting advice.
 

Specialisms
Commercial Debt Collection
Consumer Debt Collection
Insolvency Law/Bankruptcy proceedings against individuals and Winding-Up proceedings against a company
Enforcement of Judgments
Debt Collection in the rest of the British Isles, Europe and the world.

Carl is a paralegal in our Personal Injury department. Carl completed his law degree and Legal Practice Course with a focus on Personal Injury, Crime and Family.

Personal Injury is an area that Carl is passionate about and believes that those who have suffered an injury that was not their fault should be entitled to proper assistance to secure compensation.

Carl is also undertaking the police station accreditation procedure to allow him to assist the Criminal Defence department by representing clients detained at the Police Station.

Beverly is a Paralegal in our Family Department, based in our Derby office.

Beverly brings with her a vast amount of experience, having worked in the legal profession for over 30 years, with the last 20 years spent specialising in Family Law. Beverly qualified as a Fellow to the Institute of Paralegals in 2005.

 
Beverly’s areas of specialism include Private Children Law, Public Children Law and Domestic Abuse. Prior to joining Bhatia Best, Beverly gained valuable experience at Hawley and Rodgers.
 
Beverly enjoys the challenge of Family Law and gets a great deal of satisfaction in supporting her clients through the court process.

Sabeel works as a Crown Court Litigator and Police Station Representative in our criminal department, based in Derby.

Upon completion of his Law Degree at the University of Leicester, Sabeel went on to study the Bar Professional Training Course at Nottingham Law School.
 

Sabeel is involved in Crown Court litigation case work where his duties range from taking instructions from clients, instructing experts, prison visits, preparing defence case statements and attending conferences and court hearings to assist Counsel.
 

Sabeel brings with him experience in criminal defence and has worked on serious trials in the Midlands and London. He has case worked previously in matters including murder, manslaughter, terrorism, sexual offences, robbery and fraud.

 
Sabeel looks forward to developing his career in criminal law at Bhatia Best Solicitors.

Bio to appear soon.

Serena Joshi is a solicitor in our expert Motoring Law team.

Serena qualified as a solicitor in 2012. Prior to this she had undertaken her Law of German degree at De Montford University in 2003, spending a year studying at the University of Mainz in Germany. She then undertook a Criminology degree at the University of Central England, graduating in 2005. She undertook her Legal Practice Course in 2005 at the College of Law in York.
 
Prior to joining Bhatia Best, between 2006 and 2009 Serena worked in the Criminal and Professional Misconduct Department at Russell Jones & Walker Solicitors, where she represented Police Officers and Professionals in misconduct and criminal matters. She then worked in London for 3 years, during which time she qualified as a solicitor, specialising in Criminal Law and Professional Misconduct, including Motoring Law.
 
In the recent years, Serena has gained further expertise in regional and national firms, including time specialising in Motoring Law.
 
Serena is at the forefront of the Motoring Law services we provide and her expertise in the area is of great comfort to her clients. Serena specialises in Motoring Law because she believes it to be such a technical area of the law that clients require someone dedicated to it, rather than someone who dabbles in it along with general Crime work.
 
Serena’s focuses are on client care and meticulous preparation. She understands that a driving licence is of the utmost importance to her client. It provides the ability to work, socialise and the inherent freedom associated with driving. She recognises that her clients have usually invested a lot in their vehicle and ability to drive and rely on it for their day to day life. Serena will consider every piece of evidence available and explore all of her clients’ options to ensure the best possible outcome.
 
Serena and the Team provide Motoring Law services nationwide and a network of Barristers, we are able to provide representation at any time or place.

Bio to appear soon.

Annika works in our Family Department and is based at our Derby office.

Annika completed the Bar Professional Training Course at Nottingham Law School and was called to the Bar in November 2017. She is passionate about Family Law and is currently gaining experience in both Public and Private Family Law.

Annika will assist in advising and representing clients, preparing documents and attending pre-proceedings meetings and court hearings with clients.

John is a Duty Solicitor based in our Criminal Defence department at Nottingham.

John’s experience as a criminal defence lawyer is extensive, gained in over 30 years practising in South London, before recently moving to the East Midlands and joining Bhatia Best as a Magistrates Court advocate.
 
His approach to any court case is to put the client at the heart of the process, knowing that for most people an appearance in court is a daunting and difficult experience. Carefully explaining what will happen step by step ensures that the client is well prepared for every court hearing and all possible outcomes are explored and explained.
 
John has developed an effective and powerful advocacy style that enables him to argue forcefully on behalf of his clients with a view to obtaining the best possible outcome.
 
For those people with mental health or learning difficulties the criminal justice system can be an even more oppressive and frightening experience and John has developed a particular interest and skill in guiding such clients through this difficult process.
 
His aim is to ensure that whatever the outcome of the case the client knows they have received the best possible advice and representation.

Richard has recently moved to our Family Law Department having spent many years heading up our Crown Court Team. He is a partner and a Criminal Higher Court Advocate.

 
Richard brings many years of experience in the Crown Court, Magistrates’ Court and Court of Appeal, with forensic and client care skills that transfer to his new specialism in Children’s proceedings.

 
Richard also deals with complex regulatory and business law cases as well as representing family members and others in the Coroner’s Court.

Specialisms
 
Family Law – Children’s Proceedings
Criminal Defence
Crown Court Representation
Fraud, Business Crime & Regulatory Law
Coroner’s Court

 
Notable cases

 
– Represented a female client charged under the new Serious Crime Act with assisting an organised crime gang. The gang had been moving large quantities of class A drugs about the UK. After a successful submission that there was no case for our client to answer, the matter was thrown out by the judge at the half way point.
 
– Represented on of three defendants charged with a series of violent armed robberies of public houses. Client entered a guilty plea to one robbery, was convicted of another, but not guilty verdicts were achieved for two other matters, one allegedly involving a gun.
 
– Appeared in the Coroner’s Court to represent the family of a student who had sadly died in unexplained circumstances. Although an open verdict was returned by the Coroner, cross examination of the police officer who investigated the death served to reassure the family that this had not been an unlawful killing.
 
– Represented a Company and its Director in respect of allegations under the “Working at height” regulations. Although there had been a technical breach, the Judge accepted that the danger was limited when working on a flat roof and imposed a fine very significantly below the guidelines.

Bio to appear soon.

Joseph is a Solicitor who works in our Personal Injury based in Nottingham.

Help is always at hand is Joseph’s mantra. He is an affable and client-facing solicitor with over 25 years of knowledge and experience. Joseph has conducted pretty much every type of personal injury claim.
 
Joseph relishes a challenge, so when a different approach is required to solve an issue, he always finds a way to deal with the issue. In his legal career, Joseph has set two legal precedents. The first case related to how the court awards damages to a claimant. The other related to the use of mediation to resolve issues. Joseph was a co-contributor to the concept of the small claims court procedure, which is now used world wide.
 

Away from work, Joseph writes books for children. He is aiming to finish a set of 6 that he has been working on and hopes to get round to finishing it when his daughter stops inspiring him.

Farah joined the firm in January 2017 and since this time has proven to be a key member of the Family team at our Derby office.

Farah completed the Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Law School in 2013. Prior to joining Bhatia Best, Farah was a Legal Advisor at a large city firm.
 

Farah is passionate about Family Law and is currently assisting the department in both Private and Public Family Law matters. Farah will assist in advising and representing clients, preparing documents and attending pre-proceedings meetings and court hearings with clients.
 

Farah is fluent in Punjabi, Mirpuri/Pothwari and Hindi and is therefore available to assist members of the Indian/Pakistani community.
 

Farah is looking forward to a long and rewarding career at Bhatia Best Solicitors.

Bio to appear soon.

Aneela is a paralegal in our busy Public Law and Community Care Department, based at our Nottingham Office.

In her role, Aneela assists solicitors in the preparation of a range of different cases. Aneela returned to Bhatia Best after spending two consecutive summers working as a placement student in our Family Law Department and in the Jay Inquiry Team (Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse).

Aneela achieved a First Class Law Degree from the University of Manchester and has recently completed her Legal Practice Course and Masters at Nottingham Law School. Aneela has previously volunteered with Law Centres and Refugee Charities.

Aneela is passionate about providing access to justice for all and is looking forward to building a career in Public Law.

Bio to appear soon.

Kelly Shaw works primarily from our Nottingham office as an accredited Police Station Representative and Crown Court Caseworker.

Kelly studied at Cardiff University and prior to working at Bhatia Best, worked as a Paralegal for another law firm in the East Midlands. It was during this time that Kelly undertook the necessary training to qualify as a Police Station Representative. Throughout her time at that firm, Kelly developed a wide knowledge of Criminal Law work and Police Station representation. Kelly now brings that wealth of experience to her work at Bhatia Best.

Kelly’s day to day working involves police station attendances and the preparation of case files for matters that have proceeded to the Magistrates and Crown Court.
Any Client represented by Kelly is guaranteed a high level of client care and expert advice.

Bio to appear soon.

Anna is part of our criminal team in Nottingham. She has a background in human rights law having worked in this specialist area at Trent Chambers in Nottingham.

Anna is undertaking all aspects of criminal work including advocacy having secured her rights of audience in the magistrates court.

This is an area in which Anna has a keen interest and is able to utilise her human rights experience to the benefit of her clients on a daily basis.

Bio to appear soon.

Mike is a Law Costs Draftsman that works in our Nottingham office, primarily assisting the Public Law and Commercial departments.

Mike has worked as a Law Costs Draftsman for nearly twenty years. He has extensive experience in both contesting and recovering legal costs for both Defendants and Claimants alike. Mike has supervised costs teams in various roles and held senior technical positions during his career.

Mike is also an advocate and has attended contested legal costs hearing before District Judges and the Senior Court Cost Masters.

Jennifer is a Higher Rights Solicitor Advocate based in our Criminal Department at our Nottingham Office.

Jennifer has been representing people at the police station since 2007 and was called to the Bar in 2009. She chose to cross qualify and became a solicitor in 2013. Jennifer made this decision because being a solicitor allows for much more client contact, something she prides herself on.
 

In 2013, Jennifer qualified as a duty solicitor and has since achieved her higher rights of audience, allowing her to represent clients at the Crown Court. Jennifer has a significant amount of experience representing clients for all hearings within the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court.

Katarina joined Bhatia Best’s well renowned and fast paced Public Law and Community Care Department in September 2017 and she has never looked back.

Her qualifications include 1st Class LLB Degree in International Law from Nottingham Trent University and LLM Legal Practice Course completed with Nottingham Law School.

Katarina assists remarkably experienced solicitors on a broad range of Administrative & Public law; Human Rights & Community Care matters. She assists with representing claimants in Judicial Review challenges against the decisions, actions or failures to act by Government Departments and Public Bodies on grounds of an improper use of power, irrationality, unreasonableness or unlawfulness, unfair or incorrect procedures or decisions in breach of Human Rights.

She provides support and assistance with challenges of unaccompanied child asylum seekers against unlawful, unreasonable and illegal age assessment decisions made by local authorities; human rights challenges, assessments of needs, challenges under sections 17, 20 of the Children Act 1989; section 4 and section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, Social Housing challenges & Care Act challenges; failures or refusal to provide adequate support and homelessness.

Katarina’s responsibilities vary from attending hearings at the High Court or the Upper Tribunal, assisting counsels, assisting with advising & representing clients, conducting legal research, preparing evidence, liaising with Defendants. Katarina is client focused and has experience in dealing with highly vulnerable clients in a sensitive manner.

Prior to joining Bhatia Best in 2014 & 2015, Katarina volunteered in Nottingham Refugee Forum as a General Advisor for refugees and asylum seekers. She had also undertaken Pro-Bono work in the Legal Advice Centre based in Nottingham Law School in summer 2015 where she worked on employment cases. In summer 2013, Katarina worked as intern for Criminal Law Firm Benz & Yacobi Attorneys at Law in North Carolina and worked on criminal cases.

She received Paragon Law Prize for best LLB International Law Student for 2014/2015.

Katarina speaks fluent English, Slovak and Czech.

Katarina truly enjoys dispute resolution and she is looking forward to an exciting career with Bhatia Best.