Our Departments

Criminal Law

Steven Meredith

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
Chloe Byrne

Chloe Byrne

Solicitor

Chloe is a Solicitor in our Criminal department.
Chloe completed her undergraduate LLB Law Degree at the University of Chester in 2019 and then went on to complete the Legal Practice Course LLM at the University of Law in Chester in August 2020.
Chloe joined the firm in August 2020 as a Caseworker and began her Training Contract in December 2020. Chloe qualified as a Solicitor in September 2022. 
During her Training Contract Chloe completed a 6-month seat in our Mental Health department. 
Chloe is an Accredited Police Station Representative and regularly provides legal advice and representation to those arrested and detained at the Police Station and/or interviewed under caution.  
Chloe provides Magistrates Court representation and assists in the preparation of Crown Court cases for Trial.  
Chloe is able to represent clients throughout all stages of criminal proceedings, from initial arrest, interview, charge and Court representation. 

Katie Philpott

Legal Secretary

Katie is a legal secretary in our criminal law department who joined our firm in January 2021. She is a conscientious, dependable member of our team and endeavours to achieve optimum client satisfaction. Katie specialises in assisting our Crown Court caseworkers, preparing cases for trial and/or sentence as well as our solicitors within the Magistrates Court, Police Station, and Prison Law. Katie is recognised for her friendly, affable approach with our clients and endeavours to deal with enquiries in an efficient and expeditious manner.  Having studied GCSE and A Level Law at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, Katie decided to pursue a career in law with a view to complete further education to progress in this sector.

John McMillan

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
Abbie Neuchterlien

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.

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

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.  

Mike Surzyn

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.
Claire Mills

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

Family Law

Sarah Phillips

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

Nicole Brown

Solicitor

Nicole qualified as a Solicitor in August 2022.  She joined the Firm in 2018 as a Caseworker and studied her LPC and Masters in law part-time at the University of Law in Chester.  Nicole also 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..

Mental Health

David Fish

David Fish

Senior Solicitor

David joined WMB Law as a Solicitor in our Mental Health Department in February 2024. David has a wealth of knowledge and experience in representing clients at Mental Health Tribunals, Court of Protection and dealing with Mental Health code of Practice. David has been a member of the Law Society Mental Health Panel since 1998, and a Member of the Law Society Family Law Panel since 2018, gaining reaccreditation in 2023. David has also dealt with Family matters including representation of parents with mental disorders and learning disabilities in care proceedings, S8 Children Act proceeding and other aspects of Family Law including Ancillary relief. David has also owned and managed his own legal practice, but he has now chosen to pass on his vast knowledge to others before retirement.

Sian Cummins

Sian Cummins

Solicitor

Sian qualified as a Solicitor in March 2021 and joined WMB Law in August 2022.   She works as a solicitor in the Mental Health department.  Sian has experience representing those subject to the Mental Health Act 1983.

Sian completed her LPC and LLM and is an Accredited Member of the Mental Health Panel.

Management & Accounts

Demelza Anderson

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.