Our Experts

Chris Boakes

Director & Head of Company Commercial Department

Chris is an experienced Company Commercial solicitor and specialises in mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, shareholder's agreements, commercial contracts and business negotiations.
 
Prior to becoming a solicitor he worked in businesses that retained solicitors and so has experienced both sides of the 'desk' and has used that experience to guide the way he interacts with people (or how not to!).
 
After qualifying in a well known multi disciplinary firm Chris took a position at a firm that specialised in commercial transactions and then joined the ACUMEN team in 2008. The company commercial department has grown and gone from strength to strength with their personable approach and fixed fees charging system.

Daniel Richards

Operations Manager

Daniel was a placement student with ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW for one year. It was such a perfect match that we wanted him back after graduating and Daniel re-joined in 2011 as the firms first Office Manager but not for long! He was on fast track promotion and was appointed as the Firm's Operations Manager where his key experience in business development and understanding the firm throughout, can be applied.

Daniel's main role is to ensure that ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW offices, both in Brighton and Gatwick, continue to run beautifully so that the solicitors can carry out their work to the highest standard. Daniel is also the organiser and coordinator of the ACUMEN BUSINESS CONVENTION and the ACUMEN BUSINESS CLUB, maintains the website, develops new computer systems, plans and oversees all administrative support for the company, supervises new initiatives and projects and is responsible for the employment and the development of the new intake of placement students.

Nicole Humphreys

Employment Solicitor

Nicole is an Employment Solicitor specialising in all areas of employment law and working with both employers and employees.  Her approach is tactical and methodical providing practical solutions and best advice within the boundaries of employment law legislation.  Maximise the potential of your employees and create an effective working environment - the rest will follow!
 
Nicole works with all sizes of businesses at all levels and has expertise and knowledge of a variety of sector industries enabling her to provide relevant advice and guidance specifically tailored to your business. 
 
Nicole trained with ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW following her degree at Sussex University and professional studies at the College of Law in Guildford.  She previously worked for a major financial institution.

Penina Shepherd

MD & Commercial Solicitor

Penina has been in the legal profession since 1996, and is dually qualified as a solicitor in England and as an advocate abroad. She worked for top 100 UK Law Firms both as Partner & Head of Department and she regularly advises clients on Company, Commercial, Intellectual Property and other Business Law matters. Penina is also an expert in the region on Shares, Incentives & Benefits Schemes advising regularly on HMRC Approved Schemes as well as Unapproved.

Penina was crowned Entrepreneur of the Year for the South of England by the British Chamber of Commerce, was nominated for Sussex Business Person of the Year at the Sussex Business Awards  and for the Director of London & South East Award 2010 by the Institute of Directors. She is also the honorary solicitor and sits on the board of local non for profit organisations.

Phil Thompson

Operations and Planning Consultant

Phil's successful career spans over 25 years in the IT sector,  selling and marketing  strategic software solutions to large blue chip organisations. He has held a number of senior sales and director positions in major corporates, such as McDonnell Douglas Information Systems and,  Managing Director of a successful CRM company.
 
Phil is our operations and planning consultant and is responsible for internal processes and communications on all matters relating to strategy and sales.  His current focus is on developing future strategies that will further expand our business and, help establish ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW as a national brand.

Tom Creed

Financial Director

Tom is a chartered accountant, and runs the finance department of ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW. In addition to the looking after and the firm's financing and the day-to-day accounting, Tom is also responsible for compliance with the rules on finance management as laid down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
 
Tom qualified with Deloitte before going on to spend three years working in the city with Pearson, but is now happily escaped from the smoke and based in Brighton. After working in corporate world of FTSE 100 London, Tom finds the culture and ethos of ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW refreshingly different and the role far more strategic and creative than simply crunching numbers.

Sally Mouhim

Commercial Solicitor Dispute Resolution

Sally specialises in Commercial Dispute Resolution with strong litigation experience going back to the early 2000s gained both in a well reputed Law Firm in England and one of the largest international Law Firms in Bangkok, Thailand. She has represented clients at both ends of the spectrum, from acting for local SMEs to handling high value, cross-border litigation and arbitration cases for multi-national corporations.

Sally deals with all types of Commercial Disputes.  She sees litigation as a last resort and focuses on resolving disputes in the quickest and most cost effective way possible, using alternatives to litigation, such as negotiation, mediation and arbitration, as appropriate. But when necessary, she is a tough and effective litigator and clients are glad she is on their side!

Sally received her two degrees from Exeter University and her Legal Practice Course from BPP Law School. Outside of work she enjoys horse riding, swimming and hot yoga, as well as scuba diving in warmer climes. 

Ibrahim Mikhail

Corporate Trainee Solicitor

Having completed a placement year with ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW, Ibrahim has now returned to work with the firm after graduating with a Law Degree.

Part of the Corporate & Commercial department, Ibrahim deals with a wide range of matters such as business sales, business purchases and general commercial contracts. Having business acumen,he seeks to usher deals that are not only legally sound, but also commercially rigid; taking pride in achieving the objectives of the client.

Ibrahim also assists the IP and Media department in areas such as Copyright, Intellectual Property Rights and Trade Marks. 

Alvin Ittoo

Dispute Resolution Trainee Solicitor

Alvin specialises in commercial litigation and debt recovery and has acted on behalf of some leading businesses in the country. He joined the Dispute Resolution Department at ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW in 2013 and deals with a wide range of commercial disputes, including debt recovery. A key element of Alvin's approach to litigation is to carefully consider all commercial and economic factors before deciding on a course of action.

Alvin read his Law LLB Degree and International Law Masters at the University of Southampton and took his Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School. His interests outside of work include football and weight lifting.

Paula Lee

Commercial Property Chartered Legal Executive

Paula's relationship with law started during her law degree at Sussex University. Having taken a couple of years out from pursuing law after graduating, Paula started as a Paralegal in 2004 dealing with Residential Conveyancing and Commercial Property matters on behalf of national and local clients. Paula enrolled with the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and qualified as a Fellow in 2011 and joined ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW in 2013.

Outside of work Paula is a member of Brighton and Hove Hockey Club and when the UK does receive a summer she also tries to play volleyball and tennis. Sporting aside, Paula enjoys cooking, films and meeting with friends.

Rebecca Leeves

Company Commercial Solicitor

Having previously been based in Southampton, Rebecca relocated to Brighton & Hove and joined the ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW team in 2013 as a company commercial solicitor.

Rebecca specialises in commercial matters including Terms & Conditions of Business, Shareholders Agreement, Partnerships, Distribution & Agency Agreements, Franchise, Freelancer Agreements and such other commercial contracts. She is also experienced in Intellectual Property matters and can provide comprehensive advice on trade marks, copyright and licencing.

Rebecca can assist businesses from incorporation through to business sale and can help to make sure that critical business assets are protected effectively as well as ensuring their potential is maximized.

Kerri Dixon-Jones

Company Commercial Solicitor

Having previously been based in Greater London, Kerri relocated to Brighton & Hove and joined the ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW team in 2014 as a company commercial solicitor.

Kerri deals with a wide range of commercial matters including Terms & Conditions of Business, Shareholders Agreements, Freelancer Agreements and such other commercial contracts. She also has experience in Commercial Property, large development matters and employment law.

Kerri can assist businesses with their company and commercial needs on a day to day basis through to dealing with business sales, purchases and business negotiations. Kerri finds the culture and ethos of ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW instrumental in supporting her to provide creative business solutions for clients.

Kerri trained with a large regional firm following her degree at Queen Mary, University of London and professional studies at BPP Holborn.  She enjoys living close to the sea in Brighton and the brisk cycle to work every day.

Almos Beer

Legal & Admin Assistant

Almos is another one of our university placement law students.  ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW is proud to have offered a placement to University law students every year without fail since 2008. Almos has taken up the role of Legal & Admin Assistant at ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW and joined in June 2015. He is also currently reading a degree in Law at the University of Bournemouth and working at Acumen for his third placement year of University.

As part of his role Almos assists the solicitors of the firm and works alongside Daniel Richards, the Operations Manager. Almos is able to experience the different areas of law within the firm, which will not only aide him in deciding what to study for his last year at University, but also his future career.

“Experiencing my placement here at such an innovative law firm sets me apart from other fellow placement students and gives me a solid footing for when I leave University and pursue my career. I believe it is the perfect place to experience a challenging but fulfilling placement in an extremely personable workplace”.  

Benjamin Rose

Legal & Admin Assistant

Ben is one of our university placement law student. ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW is proud to have offered a placement to University law students every year without fail since 2008 and have this year given the opportunity to two students. Ben has taken up the role of Legal & Admin Assistant at ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW and joined in June 2015. He is currently reading a degree in Law at the University of Bournemouth and working at Acumen for his third placement year of University.

As part of his role Ben assists the solicitors of the firm and works alongside Daniel Richards, the Operations Manager. Ben is able to experience the different areas of law within the firm, which will not only aide him in deciding what to study for his last year at University, but also his future career.

“I am delighted to be working at ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW and grateful for the opportunity given. I am lucky to be working at a law firm which has so many great solicitors who are truly willing to help me learn about all aspects of the legal industry. This is compounded by the fact I have been given a diverse amount of responsibility within the firm. I am certain that throughout my time here I will continue to learn and gain experience which will be valuable in not just my future career but in all aspects of life.”

John Connolly