Current Vacancies

David Drake: Litigation Solicitor and Senior Partner at the Braintree Branch

David lives in Colchester and is married with two children.

David is the firm’s senior partner and is head of the Dispute Resolution Department. He is also the firm’s Compliance Officer for Legal Practice. and in that capacity steered the firm to LLP status in 2015.

He has been a litigator since he qualified in 1979 and has vast experience of handling litigation matters both for Claimants and Defendants.  He specialises in property disputes, residential Landlord and Tenant including leasehold extension and enfranchisement matters and also handles contract and negligence disputes including professional negligence matters.

David is a former Round Tabler and Rotarian.

He is a passionate Norwich City supporter where he has been a season ticket holder for over 20 years. A previously active sportsman he now plays bowls for competition and keeps basically fit by walking the dogs and undertaking the occasional cycle ride. He is also an aging rocker attending many local gigs and supporting his son who plays in a local rock band.

David Drake can be contacted on 01376 567259
email david.drake@cunningtons.co.uk

Testimonials –

“It was a good interview. I came away feeling very satisfied with the outcome” – Mrs B, November 2013
“We were very impressed by Mr Drake at initial telephone contact, also, he made a site visit to actually see our problem before further advice” – Mr & Mrs T, March 2014
“David Drake is a superb asset to your firm” – Dr L, June 2014
“I have found your company and services to be exemplary and would not hesitate to use you again. Thank you” – Mr W, August 2014
“Very helpful and professional” – Mr F, September 2014

“Very many thanks…this is a most welcomed outcome and we thank you again for all your efforts to bring this dispute to such a satisfactory conclusion” – Mr & Mrs D, May 2016

“Thank you very much for helping me recently by providing free telephone advice. I was finding it difficult to deal with the property management company and you really helped and gave me the information I needed to find a resolution.” Ms B, August 2016

Paul Fenton – Joint Managing Partner & Head of Conveyancing.

Paul joined Cunningtons in 1986, after a period in general practice. His flair for residential conveyancing and ability to devise and develop working systems, soon elevated him to a senior role in the conveyancing department. After the “crash of 2008” a Partnership restructuring enabled Paul (as Head of Conveyancing and joint managing partner with the senior partner David Drake) to rebuild the firm with a new emphasis on customer service rather than process. Under Paul’s stewardship the firm achieved external recognition from The Times and Sunday Times awarding the firm the Best Small Conveyancing Firm award in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and Paul personally the Best Conveyancer of the Year 2013.

As one of the Managing Partners, Paul is also jointly responsible for the marketing, staffing and office infrastructure of Cunningtons, and in particular shares responsibility for the development of relationships with external organisations.

Paul has held the Office of President of the Southend & District Law Society and was, for a number of years, its Honorary Secretary. He is still an active committee member.

On the domestic front, Paul is married with 3 children, a keen skier, a rugby fan, and violinist.

Paul’s emphasis on work is to ensure that all staff at Cunningtons recognise that all clients and anyone who has a connection with the firm (including other solicitors, agents, brokers, court officials etc) are all “customers” in one way or another and, drawing on his Christian beliefs that everyone should be treated as we would wish to be treated ourselves- running the business on the fundamentals of fairness, calls returned, pleasant and clear communications, good relationships and being proactive. The firms motto is: “To do what we can, when we can, and not simply when we have to” and Paul endeavours to instil this philosophy into all who work at Cunningtons.

Paul Fenton can be contacted on 01376 567264
email paul.fenton@cunningtons.co.uk

Jason Bradshaw is the Partner responsible for the firm’s Brighton Office. He specialises in residential Conveyancing.

Jason joined Cunningtons in 1997 as a trainee solicitor and qualified in 1999. He became a Partner with the firm in May 2002. His focus within Cunningtons has been on the delivery and maintenance of the high level of service clients expect in today’s consumer-led society. He has built up an excellent reputation within his existing client base and is proud that most of his work is from satisfied clients returning with further instructions, or client recommendations.

Jason takes an active role in the management of the firm, and is responsible for the firm’s on line presence including social media channels, takes an active role in the marketing of the firm and is the Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration.

Outside of the office, Jason has two children, and is a keen fencer and golfer.

Jason Bradshaw can be contacted on 01273 200734,
email jason.bradshaw@cunningtons.co.uk

Aymer Hutton: Partner based in Solihull

Aymer Hutton is the partner in charge of the firm’s Solihull office. Aymer specialises in residential conveyancing.

Aymer qualified as a solicitor in 1990. He joined Cunningtons in 1999 from a general practice in a Warwickshire county town. Aymer became a partner of Cunningtons in 2001.

Aymer is married with two children.

Aymer Hutton can be contacted on 0121 705 6868
email aymer.hutton@cunningtons.co.uk

Kate Hunt: Partner in charge of the Wickford Office

Kate first joined Cunningtons in 2003 as a paralegal and qualified as a Solicitor in March 2006, becoming a Partner in 2011.

Kate specialises in residential conveyancing and is the office manager/Partner responsible for the Wickford office. Kate has a reputation as being friendly, helpful, proactive and efficient.  Incoming post and emails received before 4pm are dealt with on the same day ensuring a flow of information to all parties involved. Clients regularly comment that Kate goes above and beyond the call of duty when compared to firms they have used previously. Local estate agents are also highly complimentary to Kate’s work ethos.

Outside the office Kate enjoys keeping fit through aerial arts such as her weekly trapeze class.  When she is not flying through the air Kate relaxes in her garden or attends local music gigs.

Kate can be contacted on 01268 732268

email kate.hunt@cunningtons.co.uk

Bryony is a Partner in the firm’s Private Client department.

She deals with Wills, Probate, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Court of Protection matters and Charities.

Bryony Wilmshurst: Solicitor dealing with Wills, Probate, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Court of Protection, Charities

Bryony graduated with from Nottingham Trent with a Law Degree in 2003 and a Masters in Health Law with commendation in 2004, she then went on to complete the Legal Practice Course with commendation at the College of Law in York.

Bryony joined Cunningtons in 2005 and qualified as a Solicitor in 2008.  Bryony became a Partner in 2015 and is the firm’s  Money Laundering Reporting Officer. She is a member of  the Law Society Private Client Section, an associate Member of Solicitors for the Elderly and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.  Bryony loves being able to assist clients with their matters, often at a difficult time, to achieve the outcome they are looking for in a friendly, straightforward and efficient manner.

Bryony is a Dementia Friend and helps to promote an understanding of what it is like for people living with Dementia.

Dementia Friends is an initiative of the Alzheimer’s Society. Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition.

Bryony also acts as a mentor to students at the Anglia Ruskin University.

What people say about Bryony:

“Very helpful and very friendly and made me feel at ease” Mrs L 06.1.2016

“Thank you for all your explaining and help” Mr W 10.01.16

“Everything was just so easy, thank you a million times over”  Mrs W 29.01.16

“Very happy to be able to do our Wills with Bryony so approachable and happy to answer any questions. It was something we put off for ages, she made it all so easy, a lovely lady” Mrs C 18.02.16

“We were very happy with the service provided. The outcome we wanted was achieved and along the way the staff were always courteous, helpful and informative. We would definitely contact Bryony Wilmshurst for any future work” Mrs W 26.02.16

Bryony can be contacted on 01376 567280, email bryony.wilmshurst@cunningtons.co.uk.

Katie Beer: Head of Family Law at Cunningtons and is based at our Chelmsford office.

Katie focused on family law both on her law degree and the Legal Practice Course and commenced her professional training with Cunningtons in 2006.  Katie spent the majority of her professional training working in the Family Law department and gained a great deal of experience dealing with a wide range of Family Law cases.

She is a Member of the Family Law Panel which means she is recognised as a Family Law specialist; Katie is also a Mentor for Anglia Ruskin University Law students.

Katie qualified into the family law department in 2009 and since then has continued to give practical and realistic advice and support to her clients.  Katie has a no-nonsense approach and is respected for being proactive and professional.

Katie deals with all aspects of family law including:-

• Divorce
• Finances flowing from separation
• Civil partnership dissolution
• Arrangements for children after a separation
• Prenuptial agreements
• Injunctions

Katie has a particular focus on helping clients to build a stable future for themselves and their families.

Katie is a member of the Law Society Family Law Panel and a member of Resolution.

Katie is also the partner with responsibility for maintaining the firm’s Lexcel accreditation.

Katie can be contacted on 01245 295511.

email katie.beer@cunningtons.co.uk

Aaron Coombs: Managing Director based in Braintree

Aaron is the Managing Director at Cunningtons and is responsible for all aspects of practice management including Advertising & Marketing, Personnel, I.T, Premises and Finance.

Aaron joined Cunningtons in 1993 and played a key role in achieving the firm’s Lexcel accreditation back in 2010 and continues to play a key role in achieving re accreditation each year.
Aaron is part of the Management team tasked with the delivery of the firm’s business plans and strategy.

Approach

Aaron takes a pragmatic approach to his work.  Having been with Cunningtons for 24 years, he has seen many changes and has coordinated many of them too, from the opening of new branch offices and staff relocations to the development of the firms IT platforms.  With such changes over the last 24 years, Aaron’s sense of humour has certainly helped him manage such situations to ensure that they are carried out as efficiently as possible.
On the domestic front, Aaron has 3 children, takes an active interest in Rugby as a player for his local team, despite his advancing years.  In addition to Rugby, Aaron is keen on all sports including skiing and playing golf.

Aaron Coombs
Managing Director
Cunningtons

Main Tel Number + 44 (0) 1376 326868
Direct Tel Number + 44 (0) 1376 554309
Direct Fax Number + 44 (0) 1376 550003

email aaron.coombs@cunningtons.co.uk