Mark Whittell
Director and Head of Litigation
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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.
Alan Firth
Solicitor - Conveyancing, Wills and Probate
Read more
Alan is a solicitor with over 40 years experience. A native Bollingtonian, he lives and works in Bollington and is heavily involved with the local Scout Group.
Alan specialises in Conveyancing, both residential and commercial together with Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Probate.
Ashley Covill
Trainee Solicitor (Private Client Team)
Read more
Ashley joined THP Law as a paralegal based at the Stockport office, assisting the Private Client and Litigation Team. She has recently commenced her route to becoming a solicitor via the new SQE.
Ashley completed her LLB at Bangor University in 2015 and went on to study the BPTC at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2016. She is currently doing a MSc in Psychology at Leeds Beckett University.
With over 8 years' experience working within the public and private sector within boutique firms and high street firms including Stowe Family Law and Slater and Gordon primarily doing Family Law however, she is excited to gain knowledge about all things Wills and Probate and Litigation!
Something interesting about Ashley, is that she is a massive Disney Fan and Film nerd. She loves socialising with friends and family, eating out, going to the theatre, and attending concerts.
Grace Gerrard
Legal Secretary (Private Client Team)
Read more
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.
Macey Cassin
Apprentice Admin Assistant
Read more
Macey is currently completing her business administrator apprenticeship with Trafford and Stockport College Group and plays a vital role in supporting all departments at THP Law, the conveyancing, estate management planning and probate departments. Her main responsibility is managing incoming calls, which helps keep the office running smoothly, but she’s also heavily involved in the administration of client files. Macey’s favourite part of the job is the people she works with. She feels like she’s part of an unconventional family at THP Law and enjoys the sense of being needed and valued. Despite being an apprentice, she plays a key role in the team and loves interacting with all our clients, enjoying new conversations with different people every day. Outside of work, Macey enjoys going to the gym, learning to drive, and indulging in her passion for shopping. She also loves being based in the Stockport office, especially taking lunch breaks in the vibrant Stockport Underbank area. As an apprentice, Macey sees many benefits, from networking at a young age to earning a full wage while gaining valuable experience. She appreciates the opportunity to build maturity, continuously develop her skills, and adjust to the 9-5 workday early in life. She believes that becoming an apprentice was “100% the best decision” she ever made.
