Our Team - WMB Law - Friendly legal specialists in Telford, Shropshire

Sarah Phillips

Director/Senior Solicitor

Sarah became a Director in WMB Law in May 2015 and has worked for WMB Law now for over 20 years. Sarah specialises in Family Law. She is a member of the Law Society Children Panel representing both children and parents.

Care Proceedings/Social Services involvement
Divorce/Financial Matters
Children disputes about contact/residence etc

Nicole Brown

Trainee Solicitor

Nicole is a Trainee Solicitor in the Family Department. She joined the firm in 2018 as a Caseworker. Nicole is studying her LPC and Masters in law part-time at the University of Law in Chester having previously obtained a Psychology Degree and a Graduate Diploma in Law. Nicole has experience representing parents in respect of proceeding relating to their children and parties in divorce proceedings.

Care Proceedings/Social Services involvement
Divorce/Financial Matters
Children disputes about contact/residence etc

Rachel Blair

Legal Cashier

Rachel joined WMB Law in March 2020 and works in the accounts department as the Legal Cashier. She works closely with Demelza Anderson in ensuring the smooth running of the accounts department.

Previously Rachel has worked in banking and auditing in Central London. In addition, she has also worked as a parental advocate in special educational needs law, working with parents to ensure their children are given the same opportunities as others. Sometimes by attending tribunals with the parents.

Rachel is passionate about helping others where she can, especially those that are less able to represent themselves.

Outside of work Rachel creates and sells bespoke art and would like to have further exhibitions one day.

Megan Bufton

Mental Health Case Worker

Megan joined the firm in June 2019 and is currently a caseworker in the Mental Health department, she assists and represents those who are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. Megan joined the firm as a junior legal secretary however has progressed to studying for a Cilex qualification whilst gaining experience and knowledge on the job.

Chloe Byrne

Trainee Solicitor

Chloe is a Trainee Solicitor in our Criminal department at WMB Law.

Chloe joined the firm in August 2020 as a Caseworker and began her Training Contract in December 2020. Chloe is due to qualify as a Solicitor in September 2022.

During her Training Contract Chloe has completed a 6-month seat in our Mental Health department. She has also completed her undergraduate LLB Law Degree at the University of Chester in 2019 and then went on to complete the Legal Practice Course and master’s in law at the University of Law in Chester in August 2020.

Chloe is currently undertaking the Police Station Accreditation Scheme and will soon be able to provide legal advice and represent clients at the Police Station.

In her spare time Chloe loves to travel, having backpacked around Southeast Asia for 2 months in 2018.

Steven Meredith

Director / Senior Solicitor

Steven joined WMB Law as a Director in May 2015. He qualified as a Solicitor in 2007 and is also a qualified Duty Solicitor and Accredited Police Station Representative. Steven has the unique expertise to be a legal advisor right from an initial arrest, interview, charge, court representation and (if unfortunate enough to be convicted and sent to prison) he can continue advising throughout the detention period, ensuring that the earliest possible release can be secured.

Motoring law
Magistrates Court representation & Police station advice and interviews under caution (benefit fraud, military law)
Prison adjudications & Parole applications

Claire Mills

Legal Assistant

Claire is a Crown Court Caseworker within the Criminal Department at WMB Law. She works closely with Barristers to prepare Crown Court cases for trial, exploring all aspects of a client’s defence. Claire is extremely experienced, as she has been with the firm since 2000. She has dealt with a number of high profile cases, including those where clients have been charged with serious sexual offences and murder.

Crown Court criminal cases
Proceeds of Crime Act matters
Appeals against convictions and sentence

Demelza Anderson

Practice Manager

Demelza joined WMB Law in 2011. She has worked in the accounts department since 2015 as a Legal Cashier and took over the role of Practice Manager in March 2020. She has worked hard to promote a friendly and approachable office atmosphere and played a big part in managing the NEW Madeley office renovations and was instrumental in the office move.

Abbie Neuchterlien

Criminal Department Case Worker

Abbie joined WMB Law in May 2019 as a caseworker in the Crown Court Department and police station accredited representative. Abbie works closely with barristers to prepare cases and provides robust advice at the police station, she has an advanced knowledge of the police and criminal evidence act and ensures all her clients are treated fairly and properly during the police station stage. Abbie is also able to represent clients before parole board proceedings, including pre tariff sifts, recalls on license and prison adjudications. Abbie has worked in criminal law since 2012 and is currently completing her CILEX qualifications at University of Wolverhampton, she is passionate about criminal defence and her favourite part of her job is helping clients during what can be an anxious and stressful time.

Mike Surzyn

Consultant Solicitor

Mike qualified as a solicitor in 1987 having been trained as a Magistrates clerk.

He became a higher Rights advocate in 1998.

He is a duty solicitor with over 30 years’ experience undertaking all types of criminal advocacy.

In his spare time, he enjoys playing guitar, gardening and spending time with friends and family.

Martin McNamara

Solicitor

Martin has worked as a Criminal Defence Advocate for 26 years in the West Midlands, Black Country, and Shropshire. He has represented clients both at Police Stations and Courts for all types of cases and always brings a professional and courteous attitude to every matter that he is involved in. Martin is also a keen film and sports enthusiast.

Natalie Dodds

Solicitor

Natalie Dodds qualified as a solicitor in August 2016. Natalie joined the firm in 2018 as the Head of Department in Mental Health. Natalie has built a successful department which continues to grow and is the only provider in Shropshire.

Natalie has almost a decade of experience representing those subjects to the Mental Health Act 1983.

Natalie has experience representing parents that have Local Authority involvement in respect of their children and represented those in care proceedings.

Natalie completed her Legal Practice Course part-time at De Montfort University whilst completing her training contract.

Natalie is a member of the Law Society’s Mental Health Accreditation Scheme and is a member of the Mental Health Lawyers Association.

Natalie has a keen interest in forensic patients.

Jane Williamson

Jane is a Police Station Representative and Criminal Caseworker with many years of experience in criminal law. Jane is very popular with clients for her down to earth, easy to understand approach and her local knowledge. Jane always does a very thorough job on behalf of clients.

Magistrates Court Casework
Police Station
Crown Court Casework

John McMillan

Senior Solicitor

John McMillan is a Solicitor-Advocate with Crown Court audience rights and has over 40 years of daily practice in the criminal courts. He is a Duty Solicitor who still offers suspects in the police station his expert advice and is proud of the 24/7 service this firm offers. John qualified as a Specialist Fraud Panel supervisor and is our Very High Cost Case supervisor which means that he is qualified to conduct the gravest and most complicated cases.John’s experience includes murder cases, rape trials,burglary, theft and robbery charges, Courts Martial in the UK and abroad, fraud and white collar crimes, internet abuse cases and motoring cases where his experience contributes greatly to the client’s chance of avoiding a ban.

Magistrates Court
Crown Court
Police Station

Steve Scott

Police Station Representative

Steve holds the mantra “to get the best possible result for his client” and has done that representing clients for Murder, serious sexual offences through the spectrum of criminal offences for over fifty years.

Steve will also say “never go invited (voluntary) or under arrest to a Police Station and NOT seek legal advice before undergoing a Police Interview. It is so important to know what you can do whilst in a Police Station but more importantly what the Police can do whilst you are there. You can easily lose your liberty if advice is not sought.

Steve away from work is a keen follower of non-league football and is a proud season ticket holder at Southport Football Club. (Well, he can’t get everything right all of the time!!!)

Fiona Mainwaring

Wills & Probate Case Worker

Fiona has over 20 years of experience assisting clients in the Shropshire area looking after their Wills, Court of Protection applications, Probate and Estate Administration.

Fiona has studied bereavement counselling and mental health awareness to ensure that as well as extensive legal knowledge she also has the relevant skills to help clients at a very difficult time in their lives, dealing with their matters with empathy and understanding. She is always happy to speak to clients directly to ensure that their needs and expectations are met.

Outside of work Fiona enjoys walking her dogs, cooking, and socialising.