Our People

Kerry Addison

Director, Solicitor

T.+44 (0)1206 217017

Kerry who was admitted as a solicitor in November 2003, joined the TSP Agriculture and Commercial Property team in November 2015. Based in the Colchester Office, Kerry is a Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer and a Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association (FALA). She specialises in rural property matters, helping farmers and landowners with:

– Strategic land planning (such as promotion and option agreements)
– Sale and purchases of land for development but also undertakes all types of general commercial property work
– Succession planning for families and businesses
– Property portfolios
– Financing

Since 1 March 2017 Kerry Addison Ltd, of which Kerry is a Director, has been a corporate partner in Thompson Smith and Puxon.

Admitted as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in 1997, after a short career break, Kerry decided to train as a solicitor undertaking a Post Graduate Diploma in Law at De Montfort University Leicester and then a Diploma in Legal Practice at Nottingham Law School.

Kerry says “During my 30 year career in the Law I have worked in a number of practice areas including private client and residential property before becoming what I like to describe as a “Rural” lawyer. I really enjoy the work that I do now, particularly building relationships with clients during the course of long-term development projects.”

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Fiona Ashworth

Director, Solicitor

T.+44 (0)1206 217057

Fiona, who qualified as a solicitor in 1999, joined the TSP Wills and Estates team in August 2014 as Team Leader. She is supervised by Robert Ashworth. Fiona has extensive experience and advises clients on their Wills and succession planning, Powers of Attorney (Lasting Powers & the registration of Enduring Powers), the administration of estates, tax and trust matters and Court of Protection cases. She has developed a particular specialism working with elderly clients and her farming background (she grew up on a farm and is married to a farmer) has helped her to develop an agricultural client base. Fiona is based in our Colchester office.

Since January 2016 Fiona M Ashworth Ltd , a company of which Fiona is a Director, has been a corporate partner in Thompson Smith and Puxon.

Fiona, who was born in Colchester, has long established links with the town. Her Father, David Cannon, is a former Mayor (1998), and she attended Colchester County High School for Girls. She completed both her Law Degree and her Legal Practice Course at Anglia Ruskin University, before going on to train with a Colchester law firm. During her training Fiona worked in Wills and Probate and on “elderly client” matters and decided that this was the area of the law that she wanted to focus on.

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Robert Ashworth

Director, Solicitor

T.+44 (0)1255 254243

Robert, who qualified as a solicitor in 2007, is supervised by Fiona Ashworth. He joined the TSP Wills and Estates team in May 2015. He advises clients on a broad range of private client matters and is based in our Colchester office. Robert is the Director of Robert Ashworth Ltd, a corporate partner in Thompson Smith and Puxon.

Robert, who grew up in a farming family, attended St Peter’s High School in Burnham on Crouch before going on to complete both his Law Degree and Legal Practice Course at Anglia Ruskin University. Since qualifying as a solicitor he has advised clients on their wills, lasting powers of attorney and estate administration. He also advises on elderly and vulnerable client matters and has a particular focus on succession planning advice for the firm’s large portfolio of farming and agricultural clients.

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Sharon Auton

Director, Chartered Legal Executive

T.+44 (0)1206 217043

Sharon is a Director, Chartered Legal Executive and accredited Mediator, she is supervised by Steve Webb. Sharon joined Thompson Smith and Puxon in 2000. Since 2012, Sharon Auton Ltd, a company of which Sharon is a Director, has been a corporate partner in Thompson Smith and Puxon. Sharon became the Head of the Dispute Resolution team in January 2014 and Finance Director in January 2016.

Sharon has over 15 years experience in Dispute Resolution (and Litigation, a name by which the team was previously known). She is professional, friendly and approachable, acting for a wide range of clients, both individuals and businesses, in dispute resolution matters. In her spare time Sharon enjoys spending time with her family (she has two sons), travelling and particularly enjoys long walks in the countryside and spending time in the garden.

Prior to choosing a career in the law Sharon worked at the University of Essex for ten years and prior to that was in banking and finance.

Sharon advises her clients on a wide and varied range of cases from landlord and tenant disputes (residential and commercial), breach of contract disputes, commercial disputes, consumer disputes, construction disputes, neighbour disputes – all manner of disputes – harassment and injunctions, mediation, debt recovery, insolvency, contentious probate, professional negligence, and claims under constructive and/or resulting trusts……….life is never dull!

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Jolyon Berry

Director, Solicitor

T.+44 (0)1206 217034

Jolyon, who was admitted as a solicitor in 2000, joined the firm to lead the Employment Team in 2019. He has been increasing the offering and raising the profile of the Employment Team at TSP since his arrival to the firm, which works alongside businesses of all types, assisting them with the management of their staff, avoiding and when necessary, defending them against legal challenges.

The employment team also offers services to individuals in need of legal assistance arising from the work place in the form of advising on settlement agreements, negotiating exits and protecting individuals’ more complex rights airing from discrimination or protected disclosures.

Jolyon delivers training to clients via the TSP HR Academy and has been one of the go-to people in the region of for delivering advice on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, being invited to speak at webinars and proactively sharing information with clients and professional colleagues to ensure that our regional businesses were in the best shape possible to manage the crisis that began in March.

Jolyon is a “Leading Individual” recognised by the Legal 500. The TSP employment team is highlighted by the Legal 500 as “Tier 1” and is amongst the top three firms in Essex in this practice area.

Call Jolyon directly on 01206 217 024 or email him at jolyon.berry@tsplegal.com

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Mary Anne Fedeyko

Director, Solicitor

T.+44 (0)1206 217049

Senior Partner Mary Anne specialises in company and commercial law and leads the Business Services Team at Thompson Smith and Puxon. She has expertise and extensive experience in a broad range of company and commercial matters including company restructuring, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, as well as agency, distribution, franchises and commercial contracts. In particular she has exceptional technical expertise in large industry acquisitions and contracts. She acts for clients in local industry and commerce as well as those with parent-companies based outside the UK and has extensive cross-border experience, regularly dealing with transactions involving the USA, Canada, and Continental Europe. Mary Anne provides advice to and deals with transactions across numerous industries including manufacturing, renewable energy, transport, IT, motor vehicle, agriculture, professional practices including solicitors, accountants, estate agents and IFAs, training, oil and gas, and retail.

Mary Anne, who is originally from Canada, completed her law degree at the University of Western Ontario in 1983, qualifying as a solicitor there in 1984. She practised at a large Canadian firm before transferring her skills to the UK and worked at Freshfields in London whilst qualifying in this country (1989). She left Freshfields in 1991, joining Thompson Smith and Puxon and became a partner of the firm in 2001. When the structure of the firm changed in 2006 Mary Anne became a director of Mary Anne Fedeyko Ltd, a corporate partner in Thompson Smith and Puxon. In January 2016 Mary Anne was appointed as TSP’s Senior Partner.

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Laura Finnigan

Director, Solicitor

T.+44 (0)1206 217020

Laura Finnigan, who was admitted as a solicitor in 2006, is supervised by Stephen Firmin. She joined Thompson Smith and Puxon in November 2011, and leads the TSP Residential Property team, advising TSP’s clients on all matters relating to Residential Property.

Since July 2018 Laura Finnigan Ltd, of which Laura is a Director, has been a corporate partner in Thompson Smith and Puxon.

Laura, who is local to the Colchester area, completed her Law degree at the University of East Anglia and went on to complete her training at a London law firm. Since qualifying Laura has specialised in Residential Property, joining TSP from a top rated residential real estate team at a well known London practice. She has a wealth of experience dealing with the London Residential Property market, acting for a range of clients, both international and London based, in medium to high value fast-paced property transactions, negotiating the best contract terms and property deals for her clients. Laura has, since joining TSP, effectively transferred her first rate city law firm skills to the East Anglian Property market.

In her spare time Laura enjoys jogging and spending time with her son and daughter.

Laura really enjoys working in Property law. “There is a real buzz for me in helping people move to their dream home.”

Laura’s Residential Property team is a member of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme. In 2010 the Law Society introduced the CQS to promote standards in Residential Conveyancing.  Thompson Smith and Puxon gained the accreditation in 2012 and has successfully renewed it every year since then.  The accreditation enables consumers to recognise practices which provide a quality residential conveyancing service.

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Stephen Firmin

Director, Solicitor

T.+44 (0)1206 217023

Stephen, who qualified as a solicitor in 1993, joined TSP to head up the Commercial Property and Agriculture team in May 2011.

Stephen has over 20 years’ experience in Company and Commercial law and has a particular expertise in Commercial Property. Stephen’s wide-ranging knowledge and experience mean that he is able to advise clients on achieving their objectives across a broad range of business activities. He has helped client companies of differing sizes – from start-ups and family businesses to large PLC’s – and from many and varied business sectors, to achieve their business goals.

Stephen attended St Joseph’s College in Ipswich before going on to complete his Law degree at Nottingham Trent University in 1990. Having taken his Legal Practice Certificate at the College of Law, Guildford, he trained at an Ipswich firm, qualifying in 1993. Stephen become a partner in that firm in 1995, before joining Thompson Smith and Puxon in 2011, since which time Stephen has been the director of Stephen Firmin Ltd, a partner in Thompson Smith and Puxon.

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Aileen Hirst

Director, Solicitor

T.+44 (0)1206 217054

Aileen, who qualified as a solicitor in 2011, is supervised by Fiona Ashworth. She joined the TSP Wills and Estates team in July 2015. She advises clients on a broad range of private client matters and is based in our Colchester office. Aileen is the Director of Aileen Hirst Ltd, a corporate partner in Thompson Smith and Puxon.

Aileen started her career as a city foreign exchange dealer but following a break to raise her children decided that a career in the Law was for her. She completed her Law Degree at the University of Essex before passing her Legal Practice Course with distinction at Anglia Ruskin University. Since her qualification in January 2011 Aileen has worked on a broad range of private client matters and advises TSP’s clients on their wills, lasting powers of attorney, trusts and estate administration. In particular, as a qualified member of Society of Trust and Estate Practitioner’s (STEP) , she advises the firm’s clients on trusts and estate planning. STEP members help families to plan for their long term financial future, providing expert advice on how to comply with the often complex law and tax rules surrounding trusts, estates and inheritance. Aileen is also a full accredited member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE).

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Nick Mayles

Director, Solicitor

T.+44 (0)1206 217010

Nick has over 20 years’ experience advising UK and overseas companies and individuals on all aspects of Corporate and Commercial matters, and general business affairs. He has a wealth of experience in mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and reorganisations, and shareholder and partnership agreements. He also has specialist expertise in the acquisition and disposal of dental practices. Nick’s experience also includes agriculture, construction and engineering, the retail and the leisure sectors. Nick has since 2010 been a director of Nick Mayles Ltd, a corporate partner in TSP, having previously worked at leading firms in the City and the South-East.

Thompson Smith and Puxon has, for a number of years, been highlighted as a Leading Firm in the Corporate and Commercial practice area by the Legal 500. Nick is recommended by the Legal 500 for his Corporate and Commercial work.

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Claire Powell

Director, Solicitor

T.+44 (0)1206 217050

Claire, who qualified as a solicitor in 2000, joined TSP’s Corporate and Commercial team in 2001. She deals with a broad range of Corporate Commercial work, advising traditional, corporate and limited liability partnerships on all issues including those arising on admission, retirement, dissolution and various disputes. Claire also advises owner-managed businesses, SMEs and international manufacturing groups on business-critical contracts, and assists private and public companies on corporate governance, directors’ duties and acquisitions and disposals.

She has a particular interest in the field of supply, distribution and agency agreements and consumer regulatory compliance.

Claire studied law at the University of Hull and from there went straight on to study for her Legal Practice Certificate (LPC) at the College of Law, York. She has worked at Thompson Smith and Puxon since 2001 and in 2009 became the director of Claire Powell Ltd, a corporate partner in the firm.

Thompson Smith and Puxon has, for a number of years, been highlighted as a Leading Firm in this practice area by the Legal 500. Claire is Recommended by the Legal 500 for her Corporate and Commercial work.

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Sean Stuttaford

Chief Operating Officer

T.+44 (0)1206 574431

Sean, who joined TSP in 2001 as an IT specialist, was appointed as Chief Operating Officer (C.O.O.) at the beginning of 2010. As C.O.O. Sean gets involved on a daily basis with the management of the practice, including strategy, performance and change management, marketing and business development and budget planning.

Before moving into the legal sector in 1998 Sean, who is local to the area, spent much of his early career working with technology within the Home Office and Civil Service. He also worked for a charity placing young adults into work placements and spent time as a lecturer for City College Norwich. Sean has an MBA in Legal Practice Management, which he passed with flying colours in 2013. In his spare time Sean is a very keen golfer and also enjoys watching motorsport.

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Steve Webb

Director, Solicitor

T.+44 (0)1206 217045

Steve, who qualified as a solicitor in 1990, joined TSP in 1988 as a trainee (known as an Articled Clerk back then!). He leads the Litigation team which deals with Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Civil and Commercial Dispute Resolution and Employment Law.

Steve, who has been a Litigation solicitor for over 25 years, is local to the Colchester area, and attended the Colchester Royal Grammar School before going on to gain his Law degree at Leeds University. He studied for his professional exams at Nottingham Trent University and joined TSP as an articled clerk in 1988. He became a partner in the firm in 2001, and in 2006, when the structure of Thompson Smith and Puxon changed, he became a director of Steven J. Webb Ltd, a corporate partner in TSP. Steve was Managing Partner for three years between 2016 and 2018.

Following qualification, Steve worked predominantly on cases involving Personal Injury but now deals with cases covering all aspects of both Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence. In particular, he has worked on a number of high value cases involving brain injury.

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