Commercial Law:
Your Trusted Partner for Business Transactions and Disputes

Stephen is the Managing Partner of mlplaw and has over 25 years’ experience advising on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious business law and business ownership. Recommended in both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, Stephen is renowned for his ability to quickly identify a client’s successful outcome and to then relentlessly pursue that outcome.

Stephen has developed a particular specialism in digital, technology, healthcare and family owned businesses. He covers all areas of business law and ownership, including commercial litigation and private disputes, and together with his corporate and commercial team provides advice on all aspects of the law relating to mergers, acquisitions, financing, re-structuring, complex commercial contracts, standard trading terms, share options, shareholder and partnership agreements, commercial dispute resolution, joint venture and partnering arrangements, IT and Technology law, Intellectual Property, EU and competition law, Brexit, Data Protection and GDPR.

Stephen spent over 10 years at a leading city firm before moving to mlplaw which he acquired through a MBO in 2014. He continued to develop the firm as a boutique corporate and commercial firm with a specialist private client offering renowned for the quality of its people and its first class client service. During that time Stephen has published a book “Family Business Succession – the options and pitfalls” and raised significant amounts of money for charity.

Stephen works closely with mlplaw’s leadership team to implement improvements and innovations that enhance the service we provide to clients and that make mlplaw an even greater place to work.  This includes a collaborative and innovative approach to pricing including aligning our charges to the outcomes delivered for clients and monthly retainers that covers all our services and a full commitment to hybrid and flexible working and an impressive, flexible, benefits package.  He champions our “Do the Right Thing” initiatives especially our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion efforts and supporting our chosen social enterprises and charities with free advice.

Rachel is a highly experienced Corporate lawyer who joined mlplaw in 2019 from a national law firm and now leads the Corporate Team.

Rachel’s main area of work is mergers and acquisitions covering share and asset acquisitions and disposals, but includes management buy-outs, investments, group re-organisations, demergers, joint ventures, shareholders agreement, articles of association, cross options, share capital arrangements, corporate governance, employee ownership schemes and share incentive schemes.

She has a pragmatic approach and understands client’s priorities and objectives. She assists with the day to day needs of business clients.

Rachel has gained particular experience in the Insurance and Healthcare sectors, but acts for clients from across the spectrum.

Shaista is a highly experienced Solicitor, having qualified 23 years ago. Shaista specialises in commercial litigation matters, and before joining mlplaw, she worked in well-known large city centre firms before later establishing her own practice.

She has represented a large variety of clients across numbers of sectors on a broad spectrum of disputes to provide clients greater depth of knowledge and experience in contentious matters to individuals, owner managed businesses, SME’s, high net worth individuals, directors/shareholders, property developers and charities.

Shaista has extensive experience in litigation, including experience as an advocate in the County Courts, regularly advising on high value complex contractual disputes, property litigation (claims for possession, rent arrears, breaches, dilapidations, service charge disputes), company and partnership dispute, high value debt recovery, professional negligence claims, claims against lawyers, property and finance professionals.

Shaista offers a down to earth and proactive approach to provide solutions and resolve disputes, and possesses extensive knowledge of various Alternative Dispute Resolution methods.

Outside of work, Shaista enjoys spending time with her daughters and reading.

Karen has broad and extensive experience in corporate and commercial law and particular expertise in equipment leasing and asset finance, both working in law firms and in- house positions.

Karen studied French and Russian at Oxford University before attending Chester law school and training in a London law firm. She relocated, shortly after qualifying, to Paris and spent several years working in the Paris branch of the London law firm, specialising in shipping and aviation finance where her clients included French banks ,a leading Irish aircraft lessor and a major French shipping company. She returned to the UK in 1998 and spent 12 years as senior counsel in GE Capital’s European equipment leasing business and (after its sale from GE ) 4 years for TIP Trailer Services working on major customer leasing transactions and disposals and acquisitions of related businesses . Prior to joining MLP Karen was a partner in a national law firm. In her spare time Karen enjoys golf, yoga, dancing and learning Spanish.

Ella joined mlplaw in 2019 as a paralegal in the Corporate and Commercial team providing advice to businesses and private individuals. Ella’s particular interest lies with the company/corporate side of the department.

Previous to her employment with mlplaw, Ella spend over 12 years in Event Management before she decided to go back into education and study law.

Ella graduated from the University of Manchester in 2017 and finished her LPC with the University of Law.

Outside of work Ella spends most of her time with her family enjoying theatre breaks and weekend trips around the UK.

Amelia completed her LPC with a distinction in 2021 with the University of Law. Whilst studying for both her LLB and LPC, Amelia gained experience working as a legal assistant both in practice and in-house. It was during this time and experience that emphasised her particular interest within commercial law.

Amelia is a valued member of our Commercial, IP and Dispute resolution teams, she advises on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious business law. Amelia hopes to develop her knowledge and skills further enabling her to progress at MLP Law, ultimately qualifying as a solicitor.

Outside of work Amelia enjoys trying different restaurants, watching live music and attending comedy clubs, country walks and spending time with family and friends.

Max is a Solicitor in the Corporate team and works with a variety of clients such as owner-run businesses, national corporations and private individuals.

Having joined mlplaw as a Corporate Paralegal in November 2021, Max has built up experience in this area and hopes to continue developing his Business Services skillset.

Max graduated from the University of Oxford in 2014 and has since been a manager at a national education charity and started his own business as a Personal Trainer and Yoga Teacher. He completed his LPC and LLM at BPP University Manchester, having gained legal work experience at both a mid-sized Liverpool practice and a large London firm.

Having stepped away from the fitness industry to return to the law, Max’s love of exercise continues outside of work; he is a regular gym-goer and a fan of physical challenges. He also enjoys live music and comedy, and a good pub quiz.