Our People

Sarah Astbury

Sarah is a Partner. An experienced real estate solicitor dealing with all aspects of
commercial property work with notable experience and specialism in development and
utilities/ energy.
Sarah has broad experience in all areas of real estate including sale, purchase, finance and
letting of commercial property. She has particular expertise in dealing with promotion
agreements, options, site assembly and dealing with development related matters. She also
has strong experience in utilities and energy, leisure and joint venture vehicles and rural
property matters.
Working to implement solutions, Sarah and the team also deal with wider commercial issues including finance, commercial contracts and corporate and commercial support.

0121 720 3010

sarahastbury@seymourlegal.co.uk

Philip Dobson

Phil is an experienced CFO and CEO with wide experience in all areas of corporate
transactions with specialisms in telecoms and energy.
Phil also manages the running of the firm.

0121 720 3351

phildobson@seymouradvisory.com

Helen Gough

Consultant Solicitor with over 23 years’ experience dealing with agricultural matters. Helen
believes that working with those in the agricultural community is a privilege and she never
forgets that home and work for her clients are generally interwoven. Appreciative, that going
through legal issues may be emotional and difficult for clients, she is sympathetic, whilst
being a competent litigator and negotiator who strives to obtain the best possible results for
his clients.
Helen has particular experience dealing with contentious agricultural matters and covers:

• Adverse Possession Claims;
• Agricultural Occupancies:
• Agricultural tenancies – Commercial and Residential issues;
• Applications to Court/Tribunal & Hearings;
• CLEUD (Certificate of Lawfulness of Existing Use and Development) applications;
• Forestry Commission Appeals, including advice on receipt of Restocking Notice and Appeals against Restocking Notices and Hearing before the F.C. Committee
• Residential Tenancies occupied by Farm Workers;
• Removal of Agricultural ties on residential property; and
• Rights of way and boundary issues.

Helen is pragmatic in her approach and straightforward with client. She aims to provide a
service where every client feels valued.

0121 720 3015

helengough@seymourlegal.co.uk

Rebecca Cox

Rebecca is a legal conveyancer in the Residential Property team.
She has been working in residential property for the last seven years having previously
worked as a mortgage advisor. Rebecca is currently completing studying for her Licensed
Conveyancing qualification.
Rebecca’s experience includes residential property sales and purchases, transfers of equity,
assents, re-mortgages, adverse possession, first registrations, staircasing and lease
extensions.

0121 818 4748

rebeccacox@seymourlegal.co.uk

Sikander Azhar

Sikander graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2023 having completed a Bachelors in Law. He is currently a Paralegal within the Easement Team and assists with the easement process from
commencement to conclusion, whilst drafting legal documentation and advising clients.

He completed his Legal Practice Course alongside a Masters in Law in 2024 having achieved a Distinction in his masters and commendable in his Legal Practice Course

0121 818 4740

sikanderazhar@seymourlegal.co.uk

Katie Banks

Katie is a Paralegal in the Commercial Property team and works closely with Sarah Astbury
assisting with various commercial property matters.
Katie qualified as a Paralegal in June 2021 with the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP) and has worked within a legal environment for 21 years.

0121 818 4720

katiebanks@seymourlegal.co.uk

Kate Boyd

Kate is a Senior Easement Case Handler and assists clients with utility easements. With a
deep understanding of the nuances of electricity easement transactions she is regularly
involved in dealing with complex easements including technical issues arising from
apparatus, relocation and title issues.

0121 720 3019

kateboyd@seymourlegal.co.uk

Harrison Costello

Harrison graduated from Exeter University in 2024 having gained a degree in Law. He is
currently a Paralegal within the Easement Team and assists with the easement process from
commencement to conclusion, whilst drafting legal documentation and advising clients.

0121 818 4747

harrisoncostello@seymourlegal.co.uk

Mubarik Ghulam

Mubarik is a Paralegal within the Easement Team. He assists clients entering into deeds of
easements assisting with onboarding through to completion.
He graduated from the London School of Economics with a BSc Hons in Government and
History and went on to complete a Graduate Diploma of Law at the University of
Staffordshire. Mubarik then completed the Legal Practice Course with the University of Law.

0121 720 3017

mubarikghulam@seymourlegal.co.uk

Millie Hodges

Millie is a Paralegal in the Easement Team advising clients and providing support at
completion. She has been working in the legal profession since 2019 and has previous
experience of working within a commercial property team.

0121 720 3011

milliehodges@seymourlegal.co.uk

Kate Huggins

Kate has over 15 years experience in management accounting. Kate supports the team in all
areas of financial management across the firm.

0121 720 3351

katehuggins@seymouradvisory.com

Adina Hughes

Adina assists with the on-boarding process by opening new matters, completing Anti-Money
Laundering checks and dealing with all aspect of the client care process.

0121 720 3018

adinahughes@seymourlegal.co.uk

Sarah Preston

Sarah works within the Easement Team and assists clients with the on-boarding process by
opening new matters, completing Anti-Money Laundering checks and dealing with client
care. Sarah has worked within the Easement Team for five years.

0121 720 3013

sarahpreston@seymourlegal.co.uk

Simmy Rai

Simmy is a Paralegal within the Easements Team having graduated with a LLB Hons in Law
from the University of Birmingham. She assists with the easement process from
commencement to conclusion, whilst drafting legal documentation and advising clients.

0121 720 3014

simmyrai@seymourlegal.co.uk

Chloe Sheppard

Chloe is a Paralegal within the Easements Team assisting on completion matters. She graduated with a Law Degree from the University of Derby in 2023.

0121 720 3012

chloesheppard@seymourlegal.co.uk