Our team

Founder of our firm and a regular speaker on employee ownership in the UK and overseas, Robert is one of the UK’s leading experts in employee ownership and employee share schemes mainly for SMEs.

He has particular expertise in:

• arranging ownership succession through transfers of ownership to employee trusts, including tax-advantaged employee ownership trusts (EOTs)
• helping private and listed companies find the right employee share plan to match their needs, then looking after all aspects of legal implementation

A graduate in law from the University of Bristol, Robert was a partner in a national firm of corporate lawyers before founding Postlethwaite in 2003. He has been a Band 1 Ranked Lawyer for fifteen years in his field by the legal rankings guide Chambers and Partners.  He is a member of the Share Plans Lawyers group and the tax panel of the UK200 Group (a group of independent, quality assured professional advisers).

“We knew we needed a specialist and Robert has added so much to our business.”

“I don’t like dealing with solicitors but I like dealing with Robert very much – he was very straightforward.“

David is a highly experienced share scheme and employee ownership lawyer. His main areas of expertise are:

• advising all types of company on management incentives, ranging from cash bonus plans to more bespoke tax efficient schemes
• takeovers and refinancing, helping management and vendor shareholders ensure that their tax liabilities are minimised
• where employment is being terminated, helping employers and/or employees minimise their tax liabilities
• designing and implementing Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs).

David has an LLB in law with German from King’s College, London. He was an employee benefits partner at an international City law firm or many years, before moving to Postlethwaite in February 2010. He is a Band 1 ranked lawyer in his field for 13 years from Chambers & Partners Legal Guide to the Legal Profession.

“David is excellent – he needs to …….. blow his own trumpet a bit more.”

“David has been very good, very helpful – I have also mentioned him in the associations I belong to.“

Toby joined us in October 2018 and is an experienced senior share schemes and employment tax lawyer.

He has over 15 years experience specialising in employee share schemes, employment tax advice and employee ownership for a wide range of private and listed companies. In particular, he has advised on and implemented a variety of tax-advantaged and non-tax-advantages incentive arrangements for many companies.

He also specialises in designing and implementing Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs).

He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from LSE in 1991 and gained experience at a number of firms including DLA Piper, Deloitte and Grant Thornton, before joining the team at Postlethwaite. He is a member of the Share Plan Lawyers Group.

Judith has been with Postlethwaite since 2007 and advises clients on employee ownership and employee share schemes.  Her particular expertise includes:

• employee ownership transactions from design to completion;
• helping companies design and implement new EMI and other share option plans;
• agreeing valuation for EMI purposes with HMRC; and
• advising on the registration of EMI options with HMRC.

A graduate in law from the University of Manchester, Judith qualified as a solicitor in 1990 and worked for a many years in the area of general company and commercial law, particularly for clients in the entertainment industry, before joining Postlethwaite.

Judith has been Band 1 ranked in the Chambers & Partners 2025 legal guide and is a member of the Share Plan Lawyers Group.

“Judith patiently, graciously and directly assisted one of our clients that required quite a bit of hand-holding.”

“We were very happy with the level of service we received from Judith Harris and have no hesitation in recommending those services.“

Hannah joined Postlethwaite in 2022. She assists the solicitors with work across employee ownership trusts and share schemes matters.

Hannah graduated in law with LLB (Hons) from University of Sussex in 2019. Since graduating, and prior to joining us she worked as paralegal with a focus in employment law.

Sezen joined us in June 2024. Prior to joining us, Sezen worked as a Corporate Paralegal and as a Legal Receptionist in a Family and Corporate law firm. She studied both her LLB in Law and LPC at Swansea University.

Lorna joined Postlethwaite in 2022. She has several year’s experience of office management and general business management across a variety of sectors including working in a dental practice and a large central London Law firm. She also sits on the membership council of the Employee Ownership Association (EOA).

Her main areas of responsibility include:

• IT, office administration and premises management;
• Financial management;
• Practice development and client care;
• General PA support to the team.

Alison joined us in 2019 after working in the education sector for a number of years. Before that, working in the finance departments of major international companies. She handles the firm’s bookkeeping and accounts as well as assisting in all areas of administration and the general running of the practice.

Her main areas of responsibility include:

• financial administration
• general PA support for the team
• assisting with client management

Marie joined Postlethwaite in 2021 as Marketing Manager.

She has over seventeen years’ marketing experience within financial and professional services in London and Sydney and is now responsible for all aspects of marketing at Postlethwaite.

Jennifer joined in 2024 to help the team with all administrative tasks.

Prior to joining Postlethwaite Jennifer worked for ten years in the recruitment sector initially in a sales/database support role before moving into a payroll position. She then took a career break to look after her young family.

She’s now excited for the opportunity to work with Postlethwaite and gain experience within a new industry.