Meet our exceptional team
Our people make us what we are. Outstanding
Right from the start
From our very beginning in the 1830’s, client care was at the forefront of how we did business and it still is today.
We’re proud to have a team who share our values and deliver exceptional standards of client care across the range of legal services we provide.
You might be looking for a local solicitor to take care of things for you, or perhaps you’re further afield. Or maybe you’re acting on behalf of a local, national or multinational company. Whatever you’re looking for you can be assured you’ll receive a personal, thorough and efficient service from our highly competent, qualified and motivated team.
We’re committed to maintaining a blended team, with each individual having expertise and specialist knowledge they can feel passionate about and use day to day with their clients.
And still moving forwards today
We continually develop our people both with qualifications and accreditations and as a business we seek to be at the top of our game, fully accredited by the professional bodies that are important in the legal profession. You can see some of our accreditation partners’ logos at the bottom of this page.
What this means for you
In residential conveyancing you’ll benefit from always have a qualified and experienced conveyancer managing your case personally, unlike some other firms who use non qualified staff in this area.
For individual and family services you’ll be able to call on our supportive and reliable team who will deal with your matter respectfully and thoroughly, bringing their wealth of experience to bear on your behalf.
In business you’ll be talking to someone who has spent time ‘in the real world’, in business. They understand the problems, the pressures, the environments and are solutions focused, not simply legal jargon interpreters.
If you require our agricultural, commercial or bespoke property services you’ll benefit from the diverse expertise of our reliable team who work as part of our individual and family services and our business services to provide you with a customised service to suit your requirements.
Our team is exceptional. Find out a bit more about us…
Our Partners
Rhona Rowland
Rhona is the Senior Partner and Head of Commercial Law for VSH Law, specialising in commercial and employment law, with a particular interest in working alongside Multi-Academy Trusts in respect of academisation of schools and support with Governance issues. Rhona has a pragmatic approach in her advice to clients, both employees and employers, and enjoys helping commercial clients to develop their strategic business planning and HR/people management.
Before qualifying as a solicitor, Rhona worked in a management role in United Utilities and later as a researcher in Liverpool John Moores University. Following qualification as a solicitor, Rhona became Practice Manager of a firm in Liverpool and then Managing Partner of that firm from August 2004, before joining VSH in November 2006 and subsequently being appointed as Managing Partner from April 2007 to March 2023. Qualifying as a Workplace Mediator in 2012, Rhona is an area representative (Northamptonshire) for the Solicitors Charity and a past President of Northamptonshire Law Society.
Qualifications: LLB (Hons), Solicitor – (2001)
Memberships: Employment Lawyers Association, Institute of Legal Finance and Management
Northamptonshire Law Society Council Member (2007-2018) (President 2010-2012)
01832 732161
rhona.rowland@vshlaw.co.uk
Shelly Phillips
Shelly is Partner and Head of Land Law in charge of the Agricultural, Commercial and Bespoke Property function within our Law for Business Group. She deals with a wide range of property transactions including sales, purchases, leases, option agreements, promotion agreements and other complex property matters. Shelly has extensive knowledge of property ownership and works alongside accountants and other professionals to assist with restructuring property portfolios in connection with asset reorganisation and tax planning.
Shelly joined the firm on leaving school in 1999 and qualified as a Licensed Conveyancer in 2006. She became an equity partner and owner in 2023. Shelly works with Jane Brooks and also alongside members of our individual and family services team or our business team depending on the nature of the matter.
Qualifications: LL.B. (Hons) – (2016), Licensed Conveyancer – (2006)
Memberships: Agricultural Law Association
01832 732161
shelly.phillips@vshlaw.co.uk
Laura Carter
Following a degree in Law and Spanish, which included a year at the University of Oviedo, Spain, Laura qualified as a solicitor in 2002. She joined VSH Law in late 2015 and then became a partner in September 2017 and Head of Private Client Services in April 2023.
Laura is a very experienced private client solicitor undertaking a wide variety of work including Will drafting, Lasting Powers of Attorney preparation and registration, estate planning, wealth preservation, applications to the Court of Protection and administration of estates. Laura enjoys an admirable reputation locally and has for many years been assisting families with their complex Wills, estate planning and administration of estates with a foreign element. She prides herself in giving common sense advice.
Laura is a Council Member of the Northamptonshire Law Society. She is also a Notary Public and fluent in Spanish. If you want to know more about Laura’s Notarial practice please see the Notary page on our website.
Qualifications: LL.B. (Hons), Solicitor – (2002), Notary Public
Memberships: Northamptonshire Law Society Council – Vice President (2024-25)
01832 732161
laura.carter@vshlaw.co.uk
Jane Brooks
Jane is a solicitor and partner in the firm, mainly working alongside Shelly Phillips within our bespoke Agricultural, Commercial and Property team, which forms part of our Law for Business Group.
Having completed a Masters degree in Rural Estate and Land Management at Harper Adams University, Jane has a particular interest in agricultural and partnership matters, although she deals with a range of non-residential property transactions for individuals and businesses including sales, purchases, leases, option agreements, promotion agreements and other complex property matters.
Jane also works alongside accountants and other professionals to provide assistance with the property aspects of business and partnership re-organisations as well as working with members of our individual and family services team, and our business team, depending on the nature of the matter.
Prior to her legal career, Jane worked as a health visitor, having obtained a degree in nursing from Manchester University at the same time as obtaining her Registered General Nurse and Registered Health Visitor qualifications. She subsequently attended Warwick University where she obtained her law degree before moving to Northamptonshire to join VSH in 2008 as a paralegal.
Qualifications: BN(Hons), LLB (Hons), MProf REALM, Solicitor – (2010)
Memberships: Agricultural Law Association
01832 732161
jane.brooks@vshlaw.co.uk
Our Legal Team
John Davies
John was originally an electronics engineer and qualified as a solicitor at the London intellectual property law practice, Bristows, in 1990. After qualification, John worked as a solicitor at Bristows for 6 years, then spent 3 years as sole in-house counsel at The Generics Group plc (now Sagentia Group plc) in Cambridge, before joining VSH Law to found its commercial law operations in 1999. John is the former senior partner of the LLP and since April 2023, we have retained his services as a consultant.
Qualifications: BSc (Eng), MSc, Solicitor – (1991), Chartered Engineer
Memberships: Institute of Engineering Technology, Institute of Licensing Executives
01832 732161
john.davies@vshlaw.co.uk
Louise Davies
Louise has extensive experience in advising traditional private clients and elderly clients regarding Wills, Powers of Attorney, Court of Protection matters, trusts and administration of estates, with an emphasis on the higher net worth individual and more complicated probates. Much of what she does involves tax planning and wealth preservation. Louise’s specialism is advising farmers on partnership agreements, succession planning and capital tax mitigation, often as part of a strategic team with land agents and accountants. Louise is a highly regarded local solicitor, having advised generations of families over the years and until March 2023, she was a Partner in the firm. We are fortunate to have retained Louise’s services as a consultant from April 2023.
Qualifications: BA (Hons), Solicitor – (1986)
Memberships: Law Society Probate Section
01832 732161
louise.davies@vshlaw.co.uk
Sarah Austin-Clark
As a Chartered Legal Executive (FILEx), qualifying as a Fellow in 1993, and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Sarah is an experienced Private Client lawyer. Previously Sarah has worked for firms in Northamptonshire and in the borders of Leicestershire.
Sarah undertakes a variety of work including Will drafting, Lasting Powers of Attorney preparation, estate planning with preservation, trusts and administration of estates.
Sarah prides herself in providing a friendly, caring, professional service and ensures that clients’ needs are met.
Qualifications: FILEx.
01832 732161
sarah.austin-clark@vshlaw.co.uk
Sophie Brooks
Sophie is an Affiliate Member of CILEx (Paralegal), specialising in Probate matters, Wills, Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection work, which involves the appointment of Deputies, all under the supervision of the Head of the Private Client department. Sophie is currently studying to become a fully qualified Chartered Legal Executive, having already achieved Affiliate status.
Qualifications: ACILEx.
01832 732161
sophie.brooks@vshlaw.co.uk
Lucie Clayson
Lucie is a solicitor working in the Residential Conveyancing Department and joined VSH Law in 2024. She qualified as a solicitor in 2006 and has previously worked for firms in both Northamptonshire and Leicestershire.
Lucie spent the third year of her law degree in Italy, at the University of Modena.
In her role, Lucie handles various aspects of residential conveyancing, including sales, purchases and transfers of equity for both leasehold and freehold matters.
Qualifications: LL.B (EU) Hons, Solicitor – (2006)
01832 732161
lucie.clayson@vshlaw.co.uk
Rosie Richardson
Having previously worked with a number of local firms, Rosie joined the firm in May 2024 as a newly qualified solicitor. Following her law degree, Rosie obtained a masters degree in Human Rights and obtained experience in Court of Protection work and Residential Conveyancing. She now specialises in private client work including advising on Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and administration of estates.
Qualifications: LL.B. (Hons)(2015), MA 2017, Solicitor (2024).
01832 732161
rosie.richardson@vshlaw.co.uk
Keiran Thorold
Keiran joined the LLP in September 2015. Keiran’s role within the firm is Practice Manager and Paralegal, working within the Law for Business team alongside Rhona Rowland and John Davies.
Keiran is a CILEx Member (Paralegal) and well advanced in his training to qualify as a Chartered Legal Executive, already having achieved Affiliate status. He specialises in company law and employment matters, particularly where clients require advice on Articles of Association and share restructure.
Qualifications: ACILEx
Memberships: Institute of Legal Finance and Management
01832 732161
keiran.thorold@vshlaw.co.uk
Rosie Topple
Rosie joined VSH Law in January 2014 as an Administration Assistant and now works as a Commercial Conveyancing Assistant, providing support to Shelly Phillips and Jane Brooks within our Agricultural, Commercial and Bespoke Property team, which forms part of our Law for Business Group. Rosie is in the last stages of qualifying as a Chartered Legal Executive specialising in property matters, having recently achieved CILEx Member (Advanced Paralegal) status. Rosie already manages her own caseload of property transactions, including sales and purchases but is interested in all commercial conveyancing transactions and continues to develop her role within the team.
Rosie also works alongside accountants and other professionals to provide assistance with property related matters and has formed good working relationships with both clients of VSH Law and other professionals.
Qualifications: MCILEx
01832 732161
rosie.topple@vshlaw.co.uk
Kelly Wedge
Kelly had previously worked with leading Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire firms before joining the firm in 2015. She qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive in 2003 and specialises in Residential Conveyancing, heading up our Residential Conveyancing Department. Kelly’s expertise extends to buying, selling and remortgaging of residential properties along with equity release and lifetime mortgages, transfers of equity, leasehold property and acting for purchasers buying new builds from Developers. Kelly is supported by Juliet Sewell.
Qualifications: CILEx (Legal Executive) – (2003)
01832 732161
kelly.wedge@vshlaw.co.uk
Our warm welcome and people we can’t do without
Juliet Sewell
Juliet works as a Senior Residential Conveyancing Assistant in the Residential Conveyancing team, supporting Kelly Wedge. Juliet has plenty of experience in the role, having previously worked as an assistant in residential conveyancing, both with VSH Law and other local firms.
01832 732161
Janet Brackley
Our excellent receptionist and Administration Assistant is Janet, always ready to help and a mine of information, having been with VSH Law for more years than she cares to remember. Janet is a qualified Legal Secretary, having specialised in family law for many years but previously working in other departments of the firm.
01832 732161
Emma Davis
Emma joined VSH Law in 2000 and is now the firm’s Accounts Manager. Emma also works alongside Dawn Rappensberger in the Private Client Department, assisting fee earners with the administration of estates, Wills, Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection work under the supervision of the Head of the Private Client Department.
Memberships: Institute of Legal Finance and Management
01832 732161
Beth Farmer
Beth joined VSH Law in March 2000 and is now a Senior Residential Conveyancing Assistant, supporting Lucie Clayson. Beth has plenty of experience in the role, having worked as an assistant in residential conveyancing to a number of Residential Conveyancing lawyers at VSH Law over the years.
01832 732161
Dawn Rappensberger
Dawn joined the firm in April 2025. She works in our Private Client Department, supporting all team members. Her friendly voice is the first point of contact for clients.
Dawn’s previous experience includes working as a secretary and as a PA in the construction industry and local government and is now putting her administration skills to good use in VSH Law.
