Our People

Directors 

Jennifer Simmons – COLP MLRO:

Jennifer Simmons was admitted as a solicitor in 1976. She is a Director of the firm. She completed her traineeship at Jaques & Co in Gray’s Inn. Jennifer’s expertise lies in civil litigation, debt collection, employment, and property management. She represented individuals, corporate entities, and business clients, offering advice on a wide range of issues. Currently, she spends most of her time managing the firmand dealing with compliance.

Desmond Taylor

Desmond Taylor  was admitted as a solicitor in 1975.He  is a Director of the firm. He retired as a solicitor at the end of October 2023. He previously practiced in commercial and residential property law, including landlord and tenant matters, commercial and residential development, and financing. Additionally, he had experience in Business Acquisitions and Sales.

Mark Shulman

Mark Shulman was admitted as a Solicitor in 2006, He is a Director of the firm.

Nicolas Shulman

Nicolas Shulman was  admitted as a Solicitor in 2006, He is a Director of the firm.

Stuart Veitch – Finance Director COFA:

Stuart Veitch has been with the firm since 2010 and currently holds the position of Finance Director and COFA. With a career starting in 1984, Stuart has worked in the financial departments of several law firms, bringing a comprehensive understanding of all matters related to accountancy and finance.


Solicitors 

Edward Mackewn:

Edward Mackewn has been with the firm since 2010. He was admitted as a solicitor  2013. His expertise includes property management, development, litigation, corporate, and commercial matters, with a strong focus on start-up companies and enfranchisement.

Haris Ahmed – Solicitor:

Haris was admitted as a solicitor in 2017 having previously been at the Bar. He joined the firm in November2021. He specialises in litigious matters and has extensive experience in a variety of areas ranging from complicated commercial disputes in the High Court to small consumer litigation matters in the County Courts. This is further complemented by his experience in various Land and Employment Tribunals.  In the past Haris has advised clients on, inter alia, complicated commercial contractual disputes, partnership and company disputes, copyrights claims, professional negligence, land and boundary disputes, probate including claims under the 1975 Act, various insolvency and landlord and tenant disputes. Haris is also at ease drafting pleadings and conducting his own advocacy wherever necessary. Having experience in a full range of disputes ensures that Haris is consistently able to provide his clients commercially sensible and no-nonsense cost-effective advice. Outside of work Haris enjoys sports, travelling to exotic locations and BBQs.     

 

Claudio Cervo – Solicitor:

Claudio Cervo was admitted as a Solicitor in April 2021 after having spent more than five years as a paralegal and Trainee Solicitor in both English and Italian practices. He is also an accredited Level 2 Senior Caseworker under the Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme. He joined the firm in November 2021. After obtaining an Italian Law Degree in Rome he moved to the United Kingdom where he completed his studies at the BPP Law School. He then started his legal career assisting clients in Asylum and Immigration matters. Claudio feels hugely rewarded by the tangible ways in which individuals’ lives have been impacted by his contribution to the provision of legal services and he remains committed to tackling social injustice and social exclusion at all levels. Claudio speaks Italian and English fluently. 


Consultants

Harvey Shulman – Solicitor and a member of ILPA

Harvey Shulman was admitted in 1972 and has had nearly four decades of legal experience. In particular, Harvey works with early-stage start-ups in diverse industries, seeking to turn them into highly successful ventures. He has been involved with designing and implementing several highly successful investment schemes. Harvey has also been on the Board of numerous companies, both public and private. He has a Master’s Degree in Law (LLM) specialising in Company Law, Tax and Intellectual Property. Harvey regularly speaks at conferences and webinars relating to  business immigrations startup companies and has a wide network of business contacts. He has a wide experience in most areas of law and specialises in Business Immigration. Harvey is a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association.(ILPA)

Lydia Pratt – Solicitor:

Lydia Pratt was admitted as a solicitor  in 1995 having completed her traineeship at Wood Nash Kimber in Gray’s Inn, following an earlier career in healthcare. Her areas of practice are Civil and Commercial Litigation, Employment, Wills And Probate. Landlord and Tenant disputes and renewal of Commercial Leases and Licensing She acts on behalf of individuals, corporate and business clients seeking advice on a wide range of issues She studied law and modern languages at Surrey University. She is bilingual with previous experience in advising French insurance companies and individuals.

Diane Brodkin – Solicitor:

Diane is a very experienced solicitor who has been in private practice since being admitted in 1972. She specialises in residential conveyancing matters as well as undertaking Wills, Probate and  Lasting Powers of Attorney work. Her conveyancing expertise covers both leasehold and freehold sales and purchases as well as matters relating to lease extensions Diane’s undoubted expertise and vast wealth of experience, allied to a friendly, personal service provide a high quality of service to all her clients.

Bebe Chua – Solicitor:

Bebe Chua  was Called to the Bar from Gray’s Inn, London and Singapore Supreme Court before transfer to the Roll of Solicitors, England & Wales She practiced as a  barrister (Lincoln’s and Middle Temple Inns) and a law reporter in family law.

Upon transfer to the Roll of Solicitors in 1995, Bebe worked for various city firms and gained experience in legal aid public law, adoption and international child immigration and family law, conveyancing wills, probate and estate administration.

In 1998 she established Chua’s Solicitors For over 25 years, Bebe sat as a magistrate in the adult criminal courts (London E &NE justice areas). 

In her spare time, she volunteers as a fundraiser and mentor for various charity outreach programmes.

 


Immigration Lawyers 

Michael Rodrigues – Foreign Lawyer 

Michael Rodrigues is an Immigration Lawyer registered and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in the UK, the Portugal, and the Brazil Bar Associations.

He has almost two decades of immigration experience by working for some of the world top-ranking corporate firms, including PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Fragomen and Ernst and Young (EY), on a variety of private and corporate immigration matters.

He also has  Global Immigration experience, where he  successfully managed several medium to large-sized projects helping global market-leading companies to move their employees across the globe.

He understands the pain, the anxiety and the burden an immigration process can bring to applicants, their family and their employers and stakeholders. He is pleased to be in a position to make this process as smooth as possible for all parties involved.

Qualifications:

  • LLB – Brazil, Toledo University in Sao Paulo, Brazil – 1998
  • LLM – Constitutional and Public Law – Estacio University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 2000
  • LLM – European Law, University of Lisbon, Portugal – 2002
  • GDL – University of Hertfordshire, St Albans, UK – 2003
  • PhD – Constitutional Law and its implications on the international legal framework, Estacio University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 2015

Memberships:

  • The Law Society, UK
  • Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), UK
  • Immigration Lawyers Practitioners (ILPA), UK
  • Free Movement, UK
  • Ordem dos Advogados de Portugal (OAP), Portugal

Ordem dos Advogados do Brazil (OAB), Brazil


Marcio Dos Santos – Registered Foreign Lawyer: 

Marcio Dos Santos graduated from Universidade da Amazonia (Brazil) with a first-class Law Degree in 2008. In March 2008, Marcio was admitted to the Brazilian BAR (Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil) and, later (2016), to the Portuguese BAR (Ordem dos Advogados). In 2017, Marcio started practising Immigration Law in the United Kingdom and, in January 2019, was admitted to the Office of the Immigration Services (OISC)Commissioner as an Immigration Adviser. Marcio has been practicing Electoral Law, Public Law and Litigation for over 13 years within Civil Law jurisdiction and Immigration Law in the United Kingdom for over 3 years.

In his spare time, Marcio enjoys playing sports of the likes of football and reading, specially about History.

Zhongtian Tian:

Zhongtian’s previous work background was in the foreign investment and management division of the Chinese government. 

Zhongtian obtained her Master’s degree with Distinction in Business Strategy and Innovation Management in December 2018 at the University of Southampton. 

In May 2021, Zhongtian was registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) as an Immigration Advisor.

Before joining Canfields Law, Zhongtian had four years’ experience working across various UK visa schemes including Entry Clearance and Leave to Remain applications in the Points-Based System (PBS), Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Naturalisation and British passport applications along with many more.


Trainees

Trang Chu:

Trang Chu started her training contract on 22nd November 2021, having studied law at Queen Mary, University of London. She holds a Masters’s in Law with Merit in commercial and Corporate Law.

Anuj Verma:

Anuj Verma started his training contract in September 2022. A UK law graduate, he completed his LPC from City University, London, and is also an Indian qualified lawyer with over seven years of experience in corporate and commercial transactions.

 


Legal Executives

Adeola Lawuyi:

Adeola Lawuyi, a Registered Foreign Lawyer She  joined the firm in October 2022. She graduated with a law degree from the University of Huddersfield in the United Kingdom and is qualified as a Solicitor and Barrister of the Nigerian Supreme Court. With over 13 years of experience, she is qualified as a Solicitor and Barrister of the Nigerian Supreme Court  

Her Areas of expertise are:

Business Law Corporate Law Civil Litigation Conveyancing Commercial Transactions Immigration Compliance Employment Wills Probate and  Intellectual Property

Elfrida Oladipo:

Elfrida Oladipo  qualified as a Solicitor and Barrister of the Nigerian Supreme Court. She is a corporate/commercial lawyer in Nigeria with over 15 years of experience. She holds a master’s from the University College London. London and has considerable experience in corporate finance; mergers & acquisition; regulatory and compliance. She has acted for individuals, corporates and public institutions in multiple transactions and is well known for her dedication and professionalism.

Olajumoke Ajayi:

Olajumoke joined the firm  in December 2023 as Legal Executive at Canfields Law She is a certified SMCA Mediation Advocate and a certified Online Dispute Resolution [0DR] Practitioner. She has  a proven track record in analysing legal issues, drafting legal documents and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. She also has strong Intellectual Property experience and knowledge of IP laws and processes. She considers that  keen eye for detail, excellent communication and negotiation skills with a commitment to maintaining confidentiality and adhering to ethical standards.

Olufunke Fawehinmi:

Olufunke Fawehinmi is a Nigerian, qualified solicitor with extensive experience in corporate and regulatory compliance matters. Since joining the firm in June 2023, she has provided assistance with firm-wide regulatory compliance matters.


Paralegals 

Karim Fawaz:

Karim Fawaz completed his LLB (Hons) from the University of West London. As a paralegal since April 2021, he has specialised in matters related to business immigration

Elwalid Bouhelal:

Elwalid Bouhelal joined the firm as a paralegal  in August 2023. He has a Foundation Course in Humanities and Social Sciences at Birkbeck University of London, a degree in International Business at Middlesex University, and an LLB from the University of Westminster.


Finance Department 

Samuel Garcia – Transaction controller

Samuel joined Canfields Law in November 2019 bringing 20 years of experience as Accounts Assistant, he is working closely with our COFA as transaction controller. Qualified in Spain, before joining the firm, Samuel worked for a London-based Media Report company for over four years. 

John Marney – Management Accountant 

John is a part-qualified ACCA accountant. He joined the firm in November 2023. 

He graduated from  Brunel University London with a First Class honours degree in BSc Business & Management (Accounting) whilst working in industry for a subsidiary of one of France’s largest banking groups, Groupe BPCE.

He has extensive knowledge and experience with Small-Medium Sized entities (SMEs) & Financial Reporting, and he has helped streamline the finance function here at Canfields Law by implementing effective systems and solutions to aid decision making.  

Jennifer Akinyose – CPD Manager 

Jennifer is the CPD Manager at Canfields Law, where she is responsible for designing and implementing the firm’s CPD program. With a background in education and training, Jennifer brings a unique perspective to her role, focusing on creating engaging and effective learning experiences for the firm’s lawyers and support staff

Business Development

Muzaffar Saydiganiev – Head of Business Development

Muzaffar has held senior executive and management positions within investment banking, where he managed investment projects up to a value of USD 2 billion. He has a BSc Diploma in Banking, followed by a MSc in International Business Economics from City University London.

Muzaffar came to Canfields Law with a strong background in finance and venture capital, having worked in banking at a high level. He holds an MSc in International Business Economics from City University of London and a Diploma in Project Preparation and Appraisal from The Entrepreneurship Development Institute in Gujarat, India with a focus in Entrepreneur He is an expert in matters relating to business immigration.

Business Development Team

Richard Uponi          
Seher Sheikh              
Webster Gatakata            
Ayiyi Happy Osas     
Zeenat Laghari          
Peace Igwe                
Satinder Kaur