Robust representation when you need it most

I joined Smith Partnership in 1992 and am Head of the Commercial Property team. I have over 30 years of experience and have dealt with a large cross section of complex commercial property matters. My clients include many private sector clients involved in development schemes and property finance together with complex landlord and tenant matters.

My experience includes site assembly and development, property finance, investment acquisition and funding agreements and the negotiation of institutionally acceptable leases.

The Commercial Property team have been the headline sponsor of the Derby Property Summit, an event attended by over 500 property specialists where I led a seminar on the difficulties faced by city centres and unlocking their potential.

I have acted on behalf of a US client who specialises in the sterilisation of medical equipment used by the NHS and other medical providers in relation to the purchase of land from Henry Boot Developments Limited and subsequent development agreement for the construction of a bespoke factory with a value in excess of £10 million.

I have also acted for clients in relation to a new facility with HSBC Bank plc with a value of approximately £8 million. This will enable the clients to acquire further land for development purposes.

Qualification year:

Admitted to the roll of Solicitor on 1st March 1988.

Supervisor:

A wealth of experience. Having been involved with commercial property work for 27 years I have been involved in numerous complex and testing transactions. There are not too many scenarios that I have not come across.

Films, travel either abroad or in the UK in our motorhome, music festivals, spending quality time with my family. Lifelong Arsenal fan. Sometime golfer when time permits.

Smith Partnership advises on a variety of commercial property matters, including developments, landlord and tenant issues and property finance work, with particular experience in the hospitality and healthcare sectors. Practice head Jason Wood specialises in advising developers on site assemblies and the subsequent sale of plots and acts for property portfolios on the purchase, sale and leasing of properties.

The thing that makes Smith Partnership unique is that they give good old-fashioned personal service, and they care.

The Legal 500, 2023

The ‘highly professional’ Smith Partnership offers ‘excellent business acumen’ and ‘great depth of expertise’.

Key figures include practice head Jason Wood, who has particular expertise in the healthcare sector. The group's expertise covers acquisitions and disposals, property finance and development work, landlord and tenant instructions and corporate support work. The client list features a major pub company and several players from the food and drink industry.

The Legal 500, 2023

E: Ruth.Jones@smithpartnership.co.uk

T: 01332 225365

F: 01332 225378

Ruth Jones

Partner & Head of Family

Practice areas

Family

As a Partner and Head of the Family team, my main area of work is advising clients on financial aspects of relationship breakdown. Caseloads include matters involving multi-million-pound assets (including pensions/properties/investments and businesses). I represent a wide variety of individuals including senior executives, business people, GPs, accountants, sportspeople etc. Part of the job involves liaising with accountants, actuaries and other professionals so that clients receive the best advice tailored to their circumstances.

I also deal with disputes involving children and in particular helping clients to make child focused arrangements following relationship breakdown.

I am building the growing area of prenuptial/cohabitation contracts.

I am a member of Resolution and a trained mediator. I am committed to trying to resolve matters in a constructive manner, recognising that litigation, whilst important, is often not the best solution to family breakdown.

Qualification year:

Admitted to the roll of Solicitor on 15th October 1992.

Supervisor:

I do try and bring a sense of fair play and teamwork, I believe in a collaborative approach where possible. We are better as a team than as individuals and I recognise that different members of my team have different skills. I try and draw on those so that the clients receive the very best service.

As the daughter of an English teacher, grammar and effective communication is pretty important too!

I live with my partner of over 30 years and am a mum to 2 children in their twenties. They tend to occupy most of my free time!

In snatched moments I enjoy reading and walking my 2 miniature dachshunds. I am trying (and failing) to develop a regular gym habit, but if I do make it to the gym, I enjoy yoga and swimming.

5 stars without a doubt. Ruth Jones was my family law solicitor and she was a god send in my difficult times which turned out to be very lengthy, especially through COVID. She was professional and to the point, yet understood me on a personal level. I cannot recommend her enough!!

Client, Family - Google

Very experienced' and 'highly regarded' practice head Ruth Jones (...)

The Legal 500, 2019

Head of family practice, Ruth Jones, routinely advises on the financial aspects of relationship breakdowns, prenuptial/cohabitation contracts and cases involving minors. Solicitors Adele Woods and Emma Hennessy are also noted.

The breadth of experience and knowledge within the family team make it the go to firm within the area for advice on complex legal issues.

The Legal 500, 2023

The support from Adele and Ruth in the Family Law team has been invaluable. Throughout a very difficult time, it made all the difference to have such great advice and support. The service has been pragmatic, meticulous and (most importantly) caring too.

Client, Family - Trust Pilot

Throughout the Divorce process, Ruth and her team, worked efficiently and responded promptly to my queries. Ruth dealt with my case with professionalism, kindness and empathy and her thorough and informative approach from the onset, helped me through this very unforeseen and stressful time. Following my experience, I would have no hesitation in recommending the Smith Partnership and would be happy to record a five-star rating.

Client, Family

E: Patrick.Booth@smithpartnership.co.uk

T: 01332 225246

F: 01332 225442

Patrick Booth

Associate

Practice areas

Clinical Negligence

Associate solicitor in the Clinical Negligence department based at Norman House, in Derby. I act for clients who have suffered negligence by medical clinicians and who wish to recover compensation. Most of the cases are against the NHS. My case load tends towards more complex matters such as cases involving birth defects, life changing injuries, and injuries of maximum severity. I am a Court of Protection appointed Deputy. I am a former member of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. I am an Assessor to the Law Society’s Personal Injury Accreditation Panel. I am also an Assessor to the A.C.C.A. I am a Trustee of the Nottinghamshire Hospice.

Qualification year:

Admitted to the roll of Solicitor on 1st October 1981.

Supervisor:

I am a keen amateur baker and I try and keep my colleagues supplied with cake. (Whether the cake is any good – is open to interpretation!)

I try and maintain a sense of the ridiculous.

My interests include bridge and education. (I am a Trustee of an Educational Trust which looks after 15 Secondary and Primary Schools in the East Midlands). I was a very keen long-distance runner but health problems (and old age) have forced me to give that up. I am recovering from recent major spinal surgery. I attend a gym three times per week.

All contact with this partnership has been impressive. I liked what they wrote on their website in their statement of how they practice law, 'putting clients first', and my experience tells me they really do. My initial contact was for advice concerning medical negligence. The secretary had Patrick Booth call me back the same afternoon. I expected to pay a fee for his advice but he insisted this first consultation was free, even after I'd made clear that I was not going to take my complaint against a hospital department to court. Patrick Booth gave me precise advice concerning what to write in my initial complaint to the hospital and even offered to read this through, what I could expect as a response and advised me to escalate the matter to the CQC if the hospital's response to my complaint was unsatisfactory. He explained the further actions possible and had I the emotional fortitude to take a department's catalogue of serious error to the press, or to court, I know I would have had confidence in Mr Booth's counsel. The efficiency and friendliness of my first contact with the Smith partnership led me to Amanda, the drafting of a will and appointment of executor. Just like Patrick, Amanda ensured clarity about my intentions, was transparent about her reasonable fees and I have confidence that when the time comes, she will execute my wishes perfectly. It is reassuring that she will visit me at home to discuss the draft and will be able to photograph the location of documents and gifts at the same time. One happy client here!

Client, Medical Negligence

E: Della.Phillips@smithpartnership.co.uk

T: 0116 2472002

F: 0116 2472012

Della Phillips

Partner & Branch Manager, Leicester

Practice areas

Childcare

I am the Branch Manager of our Leicester office and am actively involved in the business development of both our private client and commercial services.

I specialise in children matters and regularly act on behalf of parents whose children are subject to local authority care proceedings, representing clients at both court hearings and during negotiations with the local authority pre-proceedings. I deal with complex cases involving non-accidental injuries, sexual abuse and issues of serious neglect and violence. I am also a member of the Law Society Children Panel and frequently represent children who are the subject of court proceedings.

I also have extensive experience in private law children matters and work with parents, grandparents and carers in applications for Child Arrangement Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders and Special Guardianship Orders.

I have also advised clients during relationship breakdowns and where there are issues of domestic violence and forced marriage. I have experience in obtaining applications for Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders for vulnerable clients.

Qualification year:

Admitted to the roll of Solicitor on 2nd February 2009.

Supervisor:

Calm, sensitive and approachable. Always happy to help out members of the team.

In my spare time, I am a committed dancer, have a keen interest in fashion and enjoy travelling abroad.

I approached Smith Partnership during the worst time in my life. My husband had died and I had struggled with a lot of things, leading to the point where my children had just been removed by the Local Authority. I was introduced to Della who helped me through this period, which was further worsened by Covid-19. It led to delays in the legal case and difficulties around seeing my children. Throughout the whole time Della was there. Whenever I had a query, she responded quickly and where it was possible for her, she would take action to help. At times where the process was frustrating and seemed endless, Della was there to remind me that I wasn’t alone. She was always prompt and efficient in responding to me. After 18 months it was finally time for the court hearing, and Della and her team continued working to find a resolution agreeable for all parties right up until the last moment. I was very happy with the outcome, especially considering that I believed up until the end that I had absolutely no chance of ever getting my children back. But thanks to Della’s perseverance and hard work we came to a solution that gives me the opportunity to have my children back home with me in the very near future. After having lost my husband, my business, my home and then my children in a very short period of time for each other, I was so close to giving up. I couldn’t see a way where I would ever have a life or be happy again. Della and her team have given me that gift. For the first time in years I have been able to see a future for myself; one with my children in it to share with me. I cannot thank her enough for that and would recommend her to anyone.

Client, Childcare

Della, Thank you for your help and hard work throughout the nightmare time we had as a family. We appreciate everything you did for us and forever grateful. We can move on with a happy life. Thank you again.

Client, Childcare

E: Ruth.Ball@smithpartnership.co.uk

T: 01332 225384

F: 01332 225444

Ruth Ball

Senior Associate

Practice areas

Business and Personal Insolvency

Having joined Smith Partnership in 2013 as the Head of Business & Personal Insolvency, I have over 20 years of experience advising on and assisting clients with various insolvency issues.

On a day-to-day basis I deal with a wide range of both corporate and personal insolvency queries from assisting directors of potential claims following the insolvency of their business (such as antecedent transactions, preference claims, transactions at an undervalue, wrongful trading, disposition of property, etc), to advising joint owners of a matrimonial property where one spouse may have been declared bankrupt, to helping companies wishing to rely upon retention of title clauses when a customer has gone into administration or liquidation, to issuing winding up notices and winding up petitions against debtors. I also act for shareholders in unlawful dividend claims.

I deal with a range of company insolvency issues arising from administrations, creditors’ voluntary liquidations, compulsory liquidations, company voluntary arrangements.

I also deal with a range of personal insolvency issues arising from bankruptcy or individual voluntary arrangements including the sale of properties and assets following bankruptcy.

I also regularly act on behalf of office holders and insolvency practitioners in relation to issues arising out of corporate or personal insolvency cases.

Qualification year:

Admitted to the roll of Solicitor on 17th September 2001.

Supervisor:

A team player who arranges the best social events, mentors the younger members of the team and is happy to undertake the administration tasks for the department.

I play netball for a local team, enjoy taking my dog (and husband) on long walks and spend any spare time gardening.

Smith Partnership offers an outstanding service with Ruth Ball demonstrating in-depth legal knowledge, together with displaying excellent commercial acumen, delivered in a structured and proactive manner.

Client, Business Insolvency

I find Smith Partnership, in particular Ruth Ball, to be a pro-active, responsive legal firm, providing a highly professional and cost-effective service.

Client, Business Insolvency

The reasoning behind our choice to switch our legal requirements to Smith Partnership was further endorsed by our introduction to Ruth Ball. Ruth has been a major asset at a time our rapidly growing company needs a reassuring and strong approach in challenging situations. This has provided a considerable level of confidence at a crucial time for our private investors.

Client, Business Insolvency

‘Stand out‘ and ‘unflappable‘ Ruth Ball leads the insolvency department at Smith Partnership, where she leverages over 20 years’ worth of experience in contentious matters and bankruptcy litigation, and has carved out a specialism in cases involving a high level of investigative work in relation to antecedent proceedings against directors; she also assists shareholders, lenders, creditors, insolvency practitioners and directors in non-contentious matters.

The team has excellent technical skills and are very pragmatic and results-focused. Superb client service as well.

Ruth Ball is a stand out lawyer. She has enormous experience and is unflappable. She works extremely hard and has a keen eye for the details and for achieving a pragmatic result.

Having worked with the Insolvency and Corporate Recovery Team for a number of years, I would always be happy to recommend their services. Even when we have referred tricky and time-consuming matters to them, they have always been happy to help and take a commercial view on WIP and billings, which in insolvency litigation is always welcomed.

The Legal 500, 2023

E: Steve.Hennessy@smithpartnership.co.uk

T: 01283 742033

F: 01283 742040

Steve Hennessy

Partner & Branch Manager, Stoke

Practice areas

Crime

Solicitor Advocate in the Crime department specialising in the serious cases dealt with at the Crown Court and above.

Defend in serious drugs, violence and sexual offence cases.

I daren’t think!

Avid motorbike collector and rider. Huge Harley Davidson fan.

Lorraine & Steve, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you both for all the care and concern you have shown me during these difficult last two years and working tirelessly to ensure that the verdict worked in our favour and thank god it did. If it weren’t for your advocacy and knowledge, the matter would have certainly not come to a not guilty verdict today. Thanks once again for your legal advice, time and efforts.

I and my family cannot thank you enough for your assistance. Your legal expertise and professionalism went above and beyond my expectations throughout the course of my case.

Client, Crime

I can not put into words how brilliant steve and his team are, Steve helped me every step of the way over 18 months until the court date, He explained complicated things in English to me, If it wasn't for him I probably wouldn't be writing this review he was a true professional and was there for me every step of the way, Due to him I will only use smiths solicitors for any legal mater that my arise in the future Great company great team. Thanks a million for everything.

Client, Crime - Trust Pilot

I was assisted by Steve Hennessy of the stoke branch in a matter of criminal law. I can honestly say Steve is a proficient, superior legal wizard who is tactical, incredibly highly skilled. Not only this but he has a gift where his clients feel relaxed and at rest irrespective of the impending doom they may or may not face. He is determined and has a passion for winning- which most "high street" lawyers in my opinion lack, often going through the motions. For me he went above and beyond his actual remit. He is a straight talking practitioner - something which is needed. His tactical skills and sheer pinpoint microscopic approach got me the result I wished for. I think if you have the privilege of working with Steve, he would produce the most suitable result for you. I think going forward he certainly has my recommendation.

Client, Crime - Trust Pilot

Steve Hennesey - a fantastic solicitor.

Client, Crime - Google

E: Fraser.Cunningham@smithpartnership.co.uk

T: 01332 225278

Fraser Cunningham

Partner & Head of Company & Commercial

Practice areas

Company and Commercial

I head up the Company and Commercial department overseeing a range of Corporate transactions (e.g. company/business sales and acquisitions) and restructuring work (e.g. demergers and shareholder agreements) together with a broad range of commercial contracts (e.g. Agency, Franchising, Distribution, IT, IP agreements through to terms and conditions of sale/purchase).

Recently advised on the sale of a technology company to a large Swedish Equity fund and on the restructuring of a pharmaceuticals company to facilitate the sale of a particular division.

Qualification year:

Admitted to the roll of Solicitor on 15th December 2004.

Supervisor:

Possibly an obsession with grammar.

Travel
Sport (golf, football, F1 in particular)
Property renovation

Excellent service from Fraser in the commercial team. Make the process of getting a personal guarantee signed very simple and efficient. Highly recommend.

Client, Company and Commercial - Trust Pilot

Excellent, legal service re business sale - I used the services of Smith Partnership to complete the legal side of the sell of my business. The service I received from Fraser Cunningham was first class with a personal, understanding approach. I can highly recommend.

Client, Company and Commercial - Trust Pilot

Dealt with the commercial department of Smith Partnership Solicitors. Fraser Cunningham and his team guided me through the whole process of a business acquisition which resulted in quick and efficient completion. Great service, competitive price. Highly recommend.

Client, Company and Commercial - Trust Pilot

We contacted Smith Partnership in need of independent legal advice regarding personal guarantee paperwork. Fraser Cunningham was our point of contact following our initial enquiry. From our initial emails to our in-person meeting at the Derby offices we were beyond impressed with Fraser. Down to earth, professional, efficient & knowledgeable; we knew we were in good hands & would not hesitate to use the services of Smith Partnership in the future thanks to the fantastic experience Fraser granted us with.Thank you.

Client, Company and Commercial - Trust Pilot

Fraser Cunningham has been a fantastic person to deal with over the past few years. Always prompt and helpful - nothing is too much trouble for him. Fraser is also extremely knowledgable about his subject. I can't recommend this guy enough!

Client, Company and Commercial - Trust Pilot

You guys have been great and I will 100% recommend the team to anyone looking to sell on.

Client, Company and Commercial

E: Alison.Neate@smithpartnership.co.uk

T: 0116 247 2001

F: 0116 247 2007

Alison Neate

Partner & Head of Professional Negligence

Practice areas

Dispute Resolution | Professional Negligence | Contentious Probate

Head of Professional Liability, Accredited Commercial Mediator, Member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association & Recommended by the Legal 500.

I joined the firm in 1994 as a Solicitor in the Dispute Resolution team, I became a Partner in 2000. In 2014 I launched an online service, ClaimsAgainst.co.uk, righting the wrongs of professionals who have been negligent.

Qualification year:

Admitted to the roll of Solicitor on 2nd April 1993.

Supervisor:

Technical expertise. Excellence in client service.

I live with my young family in Rutland.