BGI United Kingdom

The reputation of the practice extends well beyond its North London base and clients include listed and international companies, as well as smaller businesses and individuals. The firm offers a truly personal service to all of its clients. It prides itself on being highly commercial and forward-thinking.

The commercial property team deals on a regular basis with high-value and complex transactions. The team’s work includes investment, development and dealing with commercial leases for both landlords and tenants. The team has particular expertise in dealing with portfolio sales and purchases and secured lending and advises regularly on landlord and tenant legislation, joint ventures and housing association matters.

The corporate team advises on all aspects of company and commercial law, from the acquisition or start-up of a company right through to disposal. Litigation services include handling the full range of commercial disputes in a wide variety of tribunals. The firm has particular expertise in property and/or construction-related litigation, contractual disputes, privacy and media work, and insolvency-related disputes. The firm offers mediation services and one of the partners is a CEDR panel mediator and a Fellow of the Civil Mediation Council.

RAYMOND TAYLOR

CONSULTANT

I qualified as a solicitor in April 1979. I joined the firm that June and became a partner in 1980. I am now a consultant to the firm, continuing to act as a corporate lawyer and assisting with the management of the practice.

MARK SUMMERFIELD

SENIOR PARTNER

I qualified as a solicitor in 1992 and joined Solomon Taylor & Shaw LLP as a partner in October 1998. I lead the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution team. I am a CEDR Panel Mediator and a Fellow of the Civil Mediation Council. I am also the current President of BGI-Global.

GARY PHILLIPS

PARTNER

I was originally articled to our founding partner Sir Harry Solomon. I qualified as a solicitor in 1984 and am now one of the firm’s senior partners.

DECLAN O’BRIEN

PARTNER

After training with the Official Solicitor, I qualified as a solicitor when I joined Solomon Taylor & Shaw LLP in 1985, and became a partner in 1989.

SCOTT ATKINSON

PARTNER

I graduated with a degree in English and French Law, including a French Diploma. I qualified as a solicitor in 1996 and joined Solomon Taylor & Shaw LLP in July 1997. I became a Partner in April 2000. I speak fluent French and conversational German and Estonian.

ARI BLOOM

PARTNER

I qualified as a solicitor in September 1998 and worked at City firm Clifford Chance and then in an Israeli law firm in Jerusalem. I joined Solomon Taylor & Shaw LLP in January 2002, becoming a partner in 2004. I speak fluent Hebrew.

JEREMY HARRIS

PARTNER

I originally specialised in property litigation at Nabarro, qualifying as a solicitor in 1998. I joined Solomon Taylor & Shaw LLP in 2003, becoming a partner in 2005. I am a member of the Property Litigation Association.

COLIN NAHON

PARTNER

I qualified as a solicitor in both the UK and Gibraltar in 2000. After practising in Gibraltar for six years, I joined Solomon Taylor & Shaw LLP. I became a partner in April 2015. I am bilingual in Spanish and English.

KAREN O’BRIEN

PARTNER

I obtained a First in law at Middlesex and qualified as a solicitor in 1995. I joined Solomon Taylor and Shaw LLP in 1998, and have been a partner since 2001. I am head of our private client department.

BARRY SHAW

PARTNER

I have over 25 years of experience in all aspects of property law. I qualified as a solicitor in 1980 and after a spell as a director of a commercial property company, joined Solomon Taylor & Shaw LLP in 1983.

RUPERT GOLDMEIER

PARTNER

Following seven years in the busy real estate department of a small City practice I joined Solomon Taylor & Shaw’s LLP property team in 2007.

TESSA FRY

PARTNER

Tessa joined STS in February 2021 having previously been a partner at 2 City law firms. She specialises in employment law and also advise on business immigration for companies and individuals. She qualified as a solicitor in 1989. She writes regular updates and articles on employment and immigration law. Publications include articles in Guardian online, People Management and New Law Journal. Media work includes regular interviews on Resonance FM (The Workplace).