Partners

Siobhan Rooney
Partner
Family / Wills, Trusts and Probate
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  • Siobhan Rooney's Bio

    I am a Partner practising in both family law and private client law. I am also Head of the Private Client team.

    I have substantial experience in dealing with all areas of family law, having practised exclusively in family law for over 10 years. I particularly enjoy dealing with financial disputes and undertaking my own advocacy at court.

    In relation to my private client role, on behalf of the firm, I act as the appointed Executor for many Estates and as Deputy within Court of Protection matters. Whilst I deal with all aspects of private client law, my preference is dealing with contentious matters, such as disputing a Will, making a claim upon an estate or dealing with problematic Executors and Trustees.

    I qualified as a solicitor in 2008.

    My areas of specialisation cover both family and wills and probate work as follows:

    Family

    • Divorce and Separation
    • Mid to High-Net-Worth financial matters
    • Children matters including relocation and abduction
    • Pre-nuptial and cohabitation agreements
    • International family disputes

     

    Private Client

    • Probate
    • Contesting a Will
    • Claims upon an estate
    • Removal of Trustees/Executors

     

    I support a wide range of community initiatives, am an active networker and kept busy outside of work by my large family.

    pro bono recognition list 2025

Deborah Saini
Partner
Commercial
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  • Deborah Saini's Bio

    I am a Partner specialising in litigation matters.

    I provide support for clients across a wide range of contentious matters including; contract disputes, debt recovery, property related disputes, commercial disputes and contentious probate matters. I have a particular interest in contested wills and claims upon estates and disputes arising from problematic executors.

    I joined Pictons soon after qualification having qualified as a solicitor in 2004 and as a result have substantial experience in representing the interests of clients facing a dispute. My approach is rigorous, considered and pragmatic.

    I enjoy playing and watching sport and am currently spending time tending a newly acquired allotment.

Meet The Team

Siobhan Rooney
Partner
Family / Wills, Trusts and Probate
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  • Siobhan Rooney's Bio

    I am a Partner practising in both family law and private client law. I am also Head of the Private Client team.

    I have substantial experience in dealing with all areas of family law, having practised exclusively in family law for over 10 years. I particularly enjoy dealing with financial disputes and undertaking my own advocacy at court.

    In relation to my private client role, on behalf of the firm, I act as the appointed Executor for many Estates and as Deputy within Court of Protection matters. Whilst I deal with all aspects of private client law, my preference is dealing with contentious matters, such as disputing a Will, making a claim upon an estate or dealing with problematic Executors and Trustees.

    I qualified as a solicitor in 2008.

    My areas of specialisation cover both family and wills and probate work as follows:

    Family

    • Divorce and Separation
    • Mid to High-Net-Worth financial matters
    • Children matters including relocation and abduction
    • Pre-nuptial and cohabitation agreements
    • International family disputes

     

    Private Client

    • Probate
    • Contesting a Will
    • Claims upon an estate
    • Removal of Trustees/Executors

     

    I support a wide range of community initiatives, am an active networker and kept busy outside of work by my large family.

    pro bono recognition list 2025

Deborah Saini
Partner
Commercial
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  • Deborah Saini's Bio

    I am a Partner specialising in litigation matters.

    I provide support for clients across a wide range of contentious matters including; contract disputes, debt recovery, property related disputes, commercial disputes and contentious probate matters. I have a particular interest in contested wills and claims upon estates and disputes arising from problematic executors.

    I joined Pictons soon after qualification having qualified as a solicitor in 2004 and as a result have substantial experience in representing the interests of clients facing a dispute. My approach is rigorous, considered and pragmatic.

    I enjoy playing and watching sport and am currently spending time tending a newly acquired allotment.

Aoife Mcmorrow
Client Services Co-Ordinator
Support
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  • Aoife Mcmorrow's Bio

    I joined Pictons Solicitors in September 2025 as a Client Services Co-Ordinator, to handle enquiries and be a first point of contact for our clients in the initial stages of their journey. As an Advertising and Marketing Graduate, I am also responsible for many marketing elements of the company.

    I enjoy assisting people through challenging or confusing times, helping them understand what to expect from our firm and providing them with a friendly, warm welcome from the start. Additionally, my passion and experience in marketing helps me support company growth and get our message across to future clients.

    In my free time I enjoy a weekend away in the countryside or a new city to explore, trying new foods, live music and going to the gym or an exercise class.

Charlotte Belton
Legal Assistant
Wills, Trusts and Probate / Family
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  • Charlotte Belton's Bio

    As a Legal Assistant for Wills, Trusts and Probate and Family, I onboard most clients and handle more admin tasks alongside organising Will releases.

    I joined the firm in September 2025, after Graduating University of Warwick July 2025 with a degree in History and Politics.

    I love to dance in my spare time and am a previous national finalist in Rock and Roll. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and family.

Dylan Kadiwar
Solicitor
Commercial Property
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  • Dylan Kadiwar's Bio

    I am a Solicitor within the Commercial Property Team.

    Having carried out my training with Pictons, I joined the firm in March 2023, qualifying as a Solicitor in April 2025. I have experience within both residential and commercial property law.

    I have experience dealing with a range of commercial matters including grant of new leases, assignments and lease renewals for local businesses. I have worked with both specialised lenders and larger banks and have a keen understanding of security documentation, Lending regulation and compliance in acting for both borrower clients and lenders.

    I have dealt with a range of residential mortgages and bridging loans and have experience with both statutory and negotiated lease extensions.

    At Pictons I work within a close-knit team. This has allowed me to develop my drafting skills further with a range of leases, licences, business sale agreements and refinances for large property portfolios and local business at the heart of the local area.

    Outside of work I enjoy cooking, playing badminton and am an avid traveller. My favourite part of the world to visit is the Far-East of Asia and I hope to return soon.

Emilia Mehra
Trainee Solicitor
Wills, Trusts and Probate
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  • Emilia Mehra's Bio

    I joined the team in 2025 as a Trainee Solicitor in the Wills, Trust and Probate team. Some of the things I often deal with are as follows:

    Complex and simple wills

    Lifetime trust

    Trusts in wills

    Lasting powers of attorney

    Declarations of trust

    Gifting advice and drafting deed of gifts

    Probates (including involvement of inheritance tax and complex estates)

    Court of protection applications.

    In my spare time I like to play soccer/football, chill with my friends, watch movies and I love shopping. I also love running and going to the gym.

Grace Roe
Apprentice Solicitor
Family / Wills, Trusts and Probate
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  • Grace Roe's Bio

    I am an Apprentice Solicitor currently working in the Wills, Trust and Probate Team.

    I jointed the Pictons in 2019. Prior to joining Pictons I gained experience working at another law firm working within the Family team drafting injunctions.

    I started my formal apprenticeship with Pictons in January 2020. I have just started my 4th year of my apprenticeship with the University of Law working towards a degree in Legal Practice and Skills.

    Following this, I will have a further two years devoted to the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

    I currently assist Pictons team members and clients in drafting Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorneys and assisting with Probate applications.

    Outside of work I enjoy meeting with friends, working out at the gym and going to concerts.

Hugh Mulley
Consultant
Commercial
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  • Hugh Mulley's Bio

    I provide practical advice to businesses on a broad range of company and commercial legal matters including:

    • share and business sales and purchases;
    • shareholders and joint venture agreements;
    • corporate restructures; and
    • commercial agreements and standard terms of business.

    I joined Pictons as a Consultant in 2021 having previously worked at major London Law firms, and more recently at a leading Home Counties firm. In addition I spent 4 years working as a lawyer in the Middle East. I have over 20 years’ experience ranging from advising on multimillion Pound transactions with an international dimension to providing guidance to SMEs and family-owned businesses.

    Away from work I enjoy travel (I grew up in the Middle East). I also play the guitar. Badly.
    I qualified as a solicitor in 1990 and gained a Diploma in Corporate Finance in 2005.

Josephine Duchenne
Solicitor
Family
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  • Josephine Duchenne's Bio

    I am a solicitor in the matrimonial department, having taken my degree at Buckingham University and training in London. I qualified in 1988 and joined Pictons in July 2024.

    I have some 20 years of experience specialising in family law, covering divorce and unmarried separating couples; resolution of finances including pensions and disputes concerning private children matters. Additionally, I can prepare cohabitation, separation and pre-nuptial agreements.

    I originally trained and worked in company law and then civil litigation, which helps when assisting clients in family work, who come from diverse backgrounds. For several years I ran my own practice in Bedford, where the majority of clients sought my advice on recommendation.

    I am member of Resolution, an organisation of some 6,500 legal professionals, who operate by reference to a Code of Conduct. Members are committed to exploring non-confrontational methods of resolving family law issues, but if needed I will issue court proceedings and support clients throughout the process. I strive to help clients navigate complex family situations as smoothly and efficiently as possible, with a firm focus on being accessible to clients, keeping them fully informed throughout and aiming for best outcomes.

    I am a Council Member at The Law Society of England & Wales and a past President of Bedfordshire Law Society.

    Outside of work I like to swim, walk the family dog Noodle (a Poodle) and occasionally play the saxophone.

Laila Ali
Assistant Solicitor
Residential Property
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  • Laila Ali's Bio

    I am a Solicitor in the Residential Property department, having qualified in 2024.

    I have over 6 years of experience working in Family law, to include Private and Public Children Law, and Injunction work within Domestic Abuse matters. I joined Pictons in 2025 and have since been re-training into Property law.

    I manage all stages of the property transaction with a focus on keeping matters progressing smoothly towards exchange and completion. Since joining Pictons, I have developed strong expertise under the guidance and mentorship of senior colleagues with extensive experience. My work centres on clear communication and full transparency. I aim to make the process as straightforward as possible for my clients by explaining each stage clearly, and proactively resolving any issues that arise.

    I graduated from The University of Law with an LPC combined with LLM, and from the University of Hertfordshire with an LLB (Hons).

    Outside the office, I enjoy reading and baking, and spending time with my very mischievous orange furball.

Linsey Collacott
Legal Assistant
Residential Property
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  • Linsey Collacott's Bio

    I joined the firm in 1994 and i am currently a Legal Assistant in Residential Property.

    My role is to deal with the initial onboarding stages, which includes opening files, requesting draft contracts and requesting searches.

    Since joining Pictons, my roles have included office junior, receptionist, and office manager along with now working in conveyancing.

    I live on farm we have horses, chickens and cattle. I enjoy walking our dog and socialising with my friends and family I go yearly walks with my friends we have done Snowdon and waterfall trail in Wales.

Matt Osborne
Practice Manager
Management Support
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  • Matt Osborne's Bio

    I joined the team in February 2024, taking on the role of Practice Manager. As the person responsible for overseeing the day-to-day financial and operational aspects of our company, I ensure that everything runs smoothly and efficiently.

    I have a passion for problem solving and have excellent attention to detail that helps the teams to focus on delivering the best possible service to our clients. I’m always on the lookout for ways to streamline processes and drive productivity.

    Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. Sports are a big part of my life, I enjoy playing and watching football and golf.

Mary Ward
Accounts Assistant
Support
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  • Mary Ward's Bio

    I work in the Accounts department as an Accounts Assistant.

    I joined Pictons in September 2001, I qualified as Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) in 2000

    My Duties in my Role consist of the following:

    Client Account – Processing payments in and out (chaps payments (TT) , Bacs, International payments and transfers from funds received daily)

    Actioning Completions

    Issuing Invoices

    Answering queries from colleagues

    Actioning credit card requests when approved

    Residual Client Balances

    Taking calls from clients and suppliers

    Keeping various spreadsheets up to date daily/monthly

    Interest Calculation Requests

    Petty Cash for Caddington

    Client Bank Reconciliations

    Assisting Caroline and Matt when requested

    In my spare time, I enjoy keeping in touch with and meeting up with friends.

Melanie Lawrence
Head of Residential Property
Residential Property
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  • Melanie Lawrence's Bio

    I qualified as a solicitor in 2006.  Prior to that, I qualified as a Legal Executive in 1999 when working in family law.  In 2001 I switched from family law to property law and over the last 24 years I have worked as a conveyancing lawyer.

    I have worked in Herts, Beds and Bucks in local firms and have also worked at national firms servicing the wider area of England and Wales in property and conveyancing services.

    My specialism includes the following:

    Freehold Sales and purchases

    Leasehold Sales and purchases

    Building Safety Act sales and purchases

    Shared ownership sales and purchases

    Shared ownership staircasing

    Help to Buy borrowing and discharge

    First Time buyer purchases

    High Value sale and purchase

    Land Acquisition

    Property Acquisition as part of a company sale

    Plot sales

    Splitting of title

    First Registrations

    Possessory title (non-disputed)

    Option Agreements

    Overage Agreements

    Review of title

    Negotiating the removal of restrictions

    Auction sale and purchase

    Acquisition of repossessed property

    Having recently joined Pictons as head of conveyancing I am very impressed by the ethos and enthusiasm of the firm and the property team.  I am looking forward to continuing the high professional standards within the team and developing new business relations in the local community.

    In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family and walking the family dog.

Nick Ritson
Associate Solicitor
Residential Property
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  • Nick Ritson's Bio

    I qualified as a solicitor in 1985 and have specialised in residential property for the last thirty years. I have worked in the Milton Keynes area since 2002, developing a successful practice based on good service and recommendations.

    I have always been impressed by Pictons and its reputation for providing an excellent service, and joining the firm was a great opportunity. It was clear I had something to offer the enthusiastic Residential Property Department, and I am enjoying being in a vibrant and highly skilled team.

    When I am not working I enjoy gardening and walking our dog. I am particularly interested in music and have a home music production studio, as well as many instruments that I attempt to play.

Oliver Richbell
Consultant
Commercial
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  • Oliver Richbell's Bio

    Oliver operates on the basis of how can he help avoid, manage and resolve commercial disputes in the most cost effective and time efficient manner.

    He focusses on providing the benefit of hindsight – beforehand – to his business clients.

    An experienced specialist, who qualified in 2007, he is also a Partner in the Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Partnership, joining Pictons as a Consultant in September 2022.

    Outside of work Oliver is Chairperson of a children’s charity, a multiple published author and a school governor. He is also a keen sports fan especially rugby, golf and football.

Robert Males
Consultant
Commercial
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  • Robert Males's Bio

    Robert is an experienced senior solicitor with a wide range of legal and general management experience. He has acted on a number of high profile, publicly reported cases. He is widely respected within the profession in terms of his extensive legal knowledge and his commercial pragmatism.

    His broad legal knowledge includes dispute resolution, employment, non-contentious commercial matters, contentious probate and insolvency.

    He holds a LLB Hons degree from Bristol University and has been advising clients for many years following his qualification in October 1989. He has also provided mentoring and lecturing support during his career.

    In his spare time he is a Member of Lords Taverners, is a qualified Hockey Umpire and has an interest in local football.

Roxana Bacauanu
Litigation Executive
Family
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  • Roxana Bacauanu's Bio

    I am a Family Litigation Executive and have had the privilege of supporting solicitors and partners in navigating complex legal challenges, whilst handling my own caseload. My qualifications include a CILEx Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice with a specialization in family law. I am currently an Associate Member of Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and on the path to becoming a Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer.

    With over 12 years of experience working in family law, I have honed my skills across a range of issues within this field: from divorce and civil dissolution to international jurisdiction matters, child arrangements, and pre/post-nuptial agreements. I am also a Romanian speaker.

    Over and above my qualifications, what sets me apart is my commitment to empathetic client care. I understand that family legal matters can be emotionally charged, and I prioritize open communication and trust-building to ensure my clients feel supported throughout the process. Whilst negotiating fair settlements I relentlessly pursue justice for those I represent.

    As an active member of legal associations, I stay updated on the latest developments in family law through seminars and workshops, always striving to enhance my knowledge and skills. Outside of the legal realm, I enjoy social activities and the rhythm of salsa dancing, which adds a vibrant dimension to my life beyond work.

    In essence, I bring a blend of experience, empathy, and dedication to every case I handle, aiming for nothing less than the best outcomes for my clients, while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.

Sarah Crook
Associate Chartered Legal Executive
Wills, Trusts and Probate
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  • Sarah Crook's Bio

    I qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive in 2010 and became a full member of STEP (The Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners) in 2015.

    My main areas of specialism are Probate applications, Estate Administration, advising on and drafting Wills and Powers of Attorney, Estate Planning and also Statutory Wills. I also have experience of Trusts. I am happy to meet with clients at their home if required.

    In my spare time I enjoy walks in the countryside, running, watching football, music and films

Sarah Hunt
Property Executive
Residential Property
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  • Sarah Hunt's Bio

    I am a Property Executive within the Residential Property Team.

    I joined Pictons in September 2024 and have experience in shared ownership sales and purchases, new-build sales and purchases, as well as residential transactions. I specialise in new-build properties.

    I am currently completing the CILEX Professional Qualification, specialising in Conveyancing.

    In my spare time, I enjoy reading, spending time with my family and walking our dogs.

Stoyan Radkov
Consultant
Commercial / Intellectual Property
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  • Stoyan Radkov's Bio

    Stoyan is a highly-experienced European Patent Attorney with extensive private practice and commercial exposure from working for global pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer & Novartis.

    He advises a broad range of clients on the full spectrum of global patent (and other IP) issues including: prosecution, drafting, due diligence, validity, oppositions & appeals, infringement opinions, international litigation, patent strategy, freedom to operate, landscape analysis and licence drafting and negotiations.

    He has rights of audience before the European Patent Office (EPO in Munich and The
    Hague), the UKIPO and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and is also fluent in Bulgarian & Russian with a working knowledge of German.

    Before completing his professional European Patent Attorney qualifications in chemistry, Stoyan was a senior post-doctoral research fellow at Imperial College London specialising in Viral Oncology, EBV & HIV. Prior to that he earned the highest in the year First Class Honours degree in Microbiology from the University of Reading, then gained a PhD in Viral Oncology at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (Imperial College London, St Mary’s Hospital) and gained a postgraduate diploma in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary & Westfield.

    He is the UK representative for the Patent Litigation Team at the European Patent Institute (EPI) the professional regulatory body of EPAs.

    In his spare time Stoyan enjoys cooking, theatre and classical music.

Sarah Kane
Legal Assistant
Wills, Trusts and Probate
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  • Sarah Kane's Bio

    I am a Legal Assistant in the Wills, Trust and Probate Team at Pictons.

    I deal primarily with the preparation of Wills as well as the preparation and registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney.

    I also assist clients who require Wills – with Trusts included within them – such as ‘Life Interest Trusts’ or ‘Vulnerable Persons Trusts.’

    I joined Pictons in May 1998 and have experience of working in the Wills Trust and Probate Team and also within the Family team. As such I have a wide understanding of the legal issues faced by private clients of the firm. I have an Ilex Certificate qualification.

    In my spare time I am a keen quizzer and one day I hope to be able to set up a Pictons quiz team. I also enjoy painting, something I started to enjoy during the pandemic. I do however, need much more practice!

Terri Gallagher
Legal Assistant
Residential Property
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  • Terri Gallagher's Bio

    I am a Legal Assistant within the Residential Conveyancing Team. I joined Pictons in June 2024 having completed my LLB earlier in the year.

    I primarily handle and assist with Residential Sales and Purchases, but also have experience with New Build Shared Ownership, and have previously specialised in Plot Sales.

    When I am not working, I love spending time with my son. We enjoy playing and watching football together. I also like going to the gym, long walks, and the occasional bottomless brunch with my friends!

Tia Eeley
Legal Assistant
Residential Property
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  • Tia Eeley's Bio

    I am a legal assistant in the residential property department, and I am part of Melanie Lawrence’s team.

    I am one of the primary contacts for you once you have instructed us, and I aim to provide a seamless and friendly service during onboarding and beyond to all clients, whether you know a lot or a little about the process of buying or selling your house.

    I graduated from the University of Northampton in May 2025 and joined the Pictons team in September 2025.

    In my free time I’m an avid reader, and love to chill with a good fantasy book.

Vanessa Haynes
Legal Assistant
Residential Property
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  • Vanessa Haynes's Bio

    I joined Pictons in 2020 but have been working in law firms specialising in residential conveyancing since 1987. I have an excellent knowledge of property matters and the property market in the area surrounding our offices.

    My support for clients is varied and includes; sending out contract packs, liaising with clients, solicitors and lenders on the phone and by email, facilitating exchange of contracts and the completion process and registration requirements following completion.

    When not working I enjoy attending gym classes, walking my dog, family time, spending time with friends and good food and wine!