Meet the team
Our team of professionals is dedicated to solving legal problems using their individual expertise and experience:
Nigel Leonard, Senior Partner
Nigel Leonard
Nigel has been with Allen Barfields since 1980 and qualified in 1981. He specialises in commercial property matters.
`I like using my skills to facilitate the transaction and get clients where they want to be.`
Married with three children, Nigel lives in Old Coulsdon and enjoys reading, theatre, running and taking holidays in France and Italy. Nigel was a governer of a local school, has played tennis on the same court as Stefan Edberg (although not at the same time), and used to play football where he once scored two own goals in the same match!
Nigel is based in the Croydon office and can be contacted at nl@allenbarfields.co.uk
Ian Miller BA (Hons), Partner
Ian Miller
Ian graduated with a law degree in 1979, and he qualified in 1982, and has recently moved to our Croydon office. He specialises in commercial and property law, and is the partner responsible for personnel matters. He particularly enjoys the variety of dealing with different issues in each transaction, and the satisfaction of achieving results so as to help his clients run their businesses.
His message to Allen Barfields clients: “We don’t have a factory call centre approach like so many firms. We are humans at the end of the phone. You talk to the person who is dealing with your matter, not with a computer.”
Outside work, Ian plays piano and keyboards, and is interested in animal conservation and welfare. He lives in Beckenham with his wife and two children.
Ian is based in the Croydon office and can be contacted at ihm@allenbarfields.co.uk
Peter Colman BA (Hons), Partner
Peter Colman
Peter specialises in commercial property and residential conveyancing, and has had two years’ training in criminal practice.
“I like dealing with co-operative people when everyone is aiming for the same goal, so I can help clients get what they want”, he says.
Based in our Croydon branch, Peter has worked for various firms all in the same building. He likes club cricket, and coaching young cricketers. He lives with his family outside Tunbridge Wells. Peter is optimistic and enjoys life.
Peter is based in the West Wickham office and can be contacted at pc@allenbarfields.co.uk
Christopher Thomas BA (Hons), Partner
Christopher Thomas
Christopher has been with Allen Barfields since he qualified in 1987, dealing with civil litigation and employment law.
“The best part of the job is winning a case – it’s the fulfilment of all we are trying to achieve for our client.”
Christopher grew up in Croydon, is a former President of his local Rotary Club, and enjoys long-distance walking. He has once provided the answers to legal phone-ins on the Jimmy Young radio show.
Christopher is based in the Croydon office and can be contacted at cet@allenbarfields.co.uk
Nigel Addington-Smith, Consultant
Nigel Addington-Smith
Nigel Addington-Smith qualified as a Solicitor in 1970 and is a Non-contentious Law solicitor primarily dealing with Company and Commercial matters. His outside interests include farming, golf and astronomy.
Nigel is based in the Croydon office and can be contacted at nas@allenbarfields.co.uk
Alan Kirby, Consultant
Alan Kirby
Alan Kirby was admitted as a Solicitor in 1971 to Allen Barfields and he specialises in Litigation. He is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. He is the Joint Secretary of Banstead United Reformed Church and is the past chairman of the Banstead Five Churches. His other interests include golf and yoga.
Alan is based in the Croydon office and can be contacted at adk@allenbarfields.co.uk
Roger Copeland LL.B, Consultant
Roger Copeland
Roger Copeland (Consultant) qualified as a Solicitor in 1970. He deals with Conveyancing, Probate and Trusts and specialises in leasehold enfranchisement. His other interests include cricket, fishing and steam railways.
Roger is based in the Croydon office and can be contacted at rc@allenbarfields.co.uk
Martin Fletcher B.A, Consultant
Martin Fletcher
Martin Fletcher (Consultant) qualified as a solicitor in 1974. He specialises in litigation and has a particular interest in Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury and advocacy. He is a member of the Law Society’s Personal Injury Panel and has rights of audience in the High Court (Civil). His hobbies are Crime Writing, swimming and most sports.
Martin is based in the Croydon office and can be contacted at dmf@allenbarfields.co.uk
Mrs Samantha O’Dwyer, Solicitor
Samantha qualified as a FILEX (Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives) in 1992 and as a solicitor in 1997. She joined Allen Barfields in 1996, and specialises in dealing with family law – a role that involves great care, sympathy and tact. Dealing with people at a difficult time in their lives, she tries to make the process as painless as possible and achieve an outcome that is fair to her clients.
“We use a conciliatory and mediatory approach, aiming to keep the power of decision-making in the hands of our clients rather than a third party.”
Samantha lives locally, is a member of Resolution (previously known as the Solicitors’ Family Law Association or SFLA), an Advanced Member of the Family Law Panel, and was formerly the Press and Parliamentary Officer of the Bromley & District Law Society.
Samantha is based in the West Wickham office and can be contacted at sjo@allenbarfields.co.uk
David Clark, Conveyancing Executive
David has specialised in residential conveyancing for 37 years, and has been with Allen Barfields since 1999. As well as being experienced, he is friendly and approachable, and his clients regularly return or recommend him.
“We try to offer a very personal service which is reliable and competitively priced.”
David lives near Sevenoaks with his wife and three daughters.
David is based in the Croydon office and can be contacted at dc@allenbarfields.co.uk
Feride Gildir BSc F.ILEX (Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives)
Ferdie qualified as a legal executive in 1994 and became a Fellow in 1996. She previously specialised in conveyancing, property finance and immigration and before joining Allen Barfields she spent a number of years living in France and Spain offering French and Spanish conveyancing services. She has an avid interest in immigration matters with a particular emphasis on business immigration and applications under the Ankara Agreement for Turkish business citizens.
Feride also possesses a degree in French and Spanish with Interpreting and Translation and is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Turkish. She is also an Associate member of the Institute of Translating and Interpreting. Feride is married and lives with her husband and daughter in Hertfordshire. She enjoys reading, travel, sports and dining with friends.
Feride is based in the Croydon office and can be contacted at fg@allenbarfields.co.uk
