Academic Profile

I qualified as a solicitor in 1994 and am a lecturer on the Legal Practice Course.  I trained and worked in the City for 10 years and subsequently became partner and head of business development for the property department of a Legal 500 firm based in Berkshire.

Whilst in private practice I specialised in commercial property and was involved in a wide range of transactions including property development, the sale, purchase and leasing of property assets, the property aspects of many corporate transactions and property finance.  I've dealt with a variety of residential, retail, office and industrial property, advising on matters ranging from the purchase of land for the development of green homes to the sale of an off-shore gas field and pipeline.

Qualifications

• LLB (Hons): University of Manchester
• Solicitors Finals: College of Law, York

Teaching and Learning

My teaching is focused mainly on the LPC course; however I also teach at undergraduate level and on the GDL.

The emphasis at Sheffield on the LPC is on learning by doing. Most of the time spent in teaching sessions will require the student to put their legal skills and knowledge into practice in a series of practical tasks and activities. Teaching on the LPC is in workshop sessions in groups of up to 18. Typically the students are split into small groups of 3 to 4 and are asked to undertake such tasks as brain-storming, team-working, problem-solving, role-playing and presenting. We believe that this ensures that the student achieves the requisite knowledge and understanding to be able to do the job of a day one trainee.

It is important that in these sessions the client is placed at the centre of the problem, understand the client's concerns and provide practical solutions.

The modules I teach are:

Legal Practice	Undergraduate
Property Law and Practice	Land Law
Drafting
Writing

Professional Activities and Recognition

Member of the Law Society