About RDP Law
RDP Law is a multi-disciplinary law firm. We represent clients within the fields of real estate, private client, agriculture, litigation and commercial/corporate law.
We act for businesses, landowners, farmers, charities and individuals from across Wales, the South West of England and the Three Counties.
We are a forward-thinking, progressive business offering a comprehensive legal service to our clients.
Our people
Adrienne Brigden
Job Title: Solicitor
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Testimonials:
"We were very happy with the efficient and professional service"
Adrienne Brigden
Solicitor
Adrienne is a solicitor in RDP’s Real Estate team.
Adrienne first joined RDP as a paralegal in 2018; she then progressed to trainee solicitor in 2019 before qualifying in October 2021.
Adrienne currently works on commercial leases and real estate financing, in addition to commercial and agricultural acquisitions and disposals.
Rachel Brown
Job Title: Associate Chartered Legal Executive
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Testimonials:
"As always, you have all been absolutely fantastic and the speed you can get the completions done in is not replicated anywhere! So appreciated and look forward to working with you all in the future."
"It’s been great to work with RDP Law on this and know that we were in safe hands!!"
"Very prompt and efficient on the sale of our house"
"Rachel was efficient, approachable and reliable, I was very pleased with the work completed by RDP."
"Rachel, James and Amy have been excellent throughout all transactions showing diligence, patience and professionalism throughout."
"I want to say a big thank you to you for your service. It has all gone so smoothly. You have kept me informed and I have not had to progress the matter to keep it going forward. You have done the job so well and efficiently, I am very grateful and appreciative."
Rachel Brown
Chartered Institute of Legal Executives - Paralegal Member
Rachel is a Chartered Institute of Legal Executives - Paralegal Member and sits within RDP's Real Estate team.
She specialises in:
- Residential and commercial conveyancing
- General land law
- Assembly and sale of development plots
Robyn Bramham-Exley
Job Title: Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
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Robyn Bramham-Exley
Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
Robyn is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives within RDP’s Dispute Resolution team.
Robyn moved from the firm's Real Estate team to sit within the Dispute Resolution team as a Paralegal in October 2023. She currently assists the team in commercial disputes, property litigation and contentious probate disputes.
Robyn is currently working towards becoming a CILEx Lawyer.
Natasha Bunclark
Job Title: Senior Associate Solicitor
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Testimonials:
"This email is to let you know that Natasha has been absolutely brilliant. She had been exceptionally efficient and gone well beyond the call of duty, to the extent that I have had to tell her off a few times for dealing with my emails at 7 am and 10 pm!"
"I feel that we must write and express our huge thanks and gratitude for Natasha. Her work ethic is amazing, she has acted above and beyond our expectations in a super professional manner. She is a credit to your company and her efficiency is spectacular. We will remain forever in her debt for the work on our behalf and she is the type of solicitor that as a client you dream of."
"I really cannot thank Natasha enough. She is a credit to herself and to RDP Law. I hold both Natasha and RDP in very high regard and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Natasha in the future."
"Natasha was exceptional in every aspect. As we have not previously moved house, she held our hands throughout the process, kept us updated and generally tried to push things along as much as she possibly could. I have received excellent feedback from my Estate Agent, my buyer and the seller (via their Solicitor) regarding Natasha, each of them being fully aware that Natasha was driving the pace. They were all equally impressed with her."
"A huge thank you for arranging and executing our legal side of the property purchase and sale. Everything amazingly, went well in all departments, considering the current [COVID-19] situation. Your approachable professionalism by far exceeded our expectations and we're very grateful for that."
"I wish all solicitors I deal with were as good as Natasha. Superb." (Estate Agent October 2020)
"At no point have I had to chase Natasha, she is so on the ball."
Natasha Bunclark
Associate Solicitor
Natasha is part of RDP’s Real Estate team.
Natasha is a Commercial Real Estate Lawyer who also deals with high end residential acquisitions and disposals.
Her residential expertise include:
- Acquisition and disposal
- Remortgaging
- Transfer of equity
- General land law
Her commercial expertise include:
- Acquisition and disposal
- Refinancing
Natasha undertook her training contract with a Newport firm while completing the Legal Practice Course part-time where she was awarded a Distinction and the Leicestershire Law Society Award. Natasha qualified as a Solicitor in September 2018.
Articles here
Henry Clarke
Job Title: Consultant
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Henry Clarke
Consultant
Henry is a consultant who works with RDP’s Commercial and Corporate team on corporate transactions and on general corporate commercial advisory work.
He also supports the Real Estate team and other teams with his banking and finance law and construction law expertise.
Henry qualified with a Magic Circle law firm and has worked internationally in central Europe and in the Gulf with leading law firms. On returning to the UK he became general counsel for a growing investment firm before completing his MBA with a distinction, and then continuing his legal practice.
- Sale of a retirement village business
- Restructuring of a multi-site care home group
- Refinancing of a hotel business
- Construction documentation for a 40 residential unit project in a historic warehouse
- Finance advisory work for a residential housing development funded by Homes England
- Shareholder agreements for various start-ups, scale ups and family businesses
Robert Davies MBE
Job Title: Chairman
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Robert Davies MBE
Chairman
Robert is the chairman of RDP Law. He has practised in South East Wales since 1974, and has connections across the commercial sector and throughout the agricultural community.
He practises company and commercial law and also works closely with Sioned Thomas in RDP’s agricultural department.
Robert has particular expertise in commercial and residential property development and is regularly instructed in relation to some of South Wales’ larger and more interesting development proposals.
In 2007 Robert was appointed MBE for his contribution to legal services in South East Wales.
James Davies
Job Title: Director
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James is recommended by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a real estate lawyer, one of only two lawyers in Wales outside of Cardiff to be so listed. He has also been recommended by the Legal 500 for his work as an agricultural lawyer
Testimonials:
"Exceptional." Legal 500, 2022
"James Davies has been excellent, especially in relation to development land related matters. He is always responsive and communicative, with superb attention to detail and practical legal advice to reassure clients and fellow professionals." Legal 500, 2021
"Excels in handling commercial real estate work for developers." Legal 500, 2020
In 2018 James was shortlisted for a Law Society Award for Excellence in Practice Management. He also spoke at the 2019 Lexcel Conference on the subject of legal practice management.
James Davies
Director
James is head of RDP’s Real Estate team.
He practices in all areas of commercial real estate but with a particular focus on three core areas:
Development:
James acts for both landowners and developers on the acquisition, sale and strategic assembly of development land. He also advises developers on planning / infrastructure agreements and site assembly.
James’s experience covers both commercial and residential land and ranges from smaller schemes to those spread over large acreages, often with multiple landowners.
He also advises on more complex development joint venture agreements, forward funding agreements and forward purchase agreements.
Renewable energy:
James acts for landowners on all kinds of renewable energy schemes. He has experience of wind, solar, biomass and tidal development projects across the country.
He is particularly experienced in complex schemes spread over multiple land holdings.
Portfolio strategy and management:
James advises clients with large land holdings on the administration of their portfolios. This includes day-to-day management (which often revolves around landlord and tenant law) but also on more strategic mid-to-long-term advice.
Coming soon...
New phosphate guidance in Wales - a red flag for developers
Use it or lose it - 'Right to Regenerate' consultation issued by Housing Secretary
Freezer clauses in options - landowner's guide
Planning Agreements Explained...
Minimum Energy Efficient Standard - A Guide for Landlords
Amber Ellis-Martin
Job Title: Associate Solicitor
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Testimonials:
"Big thank you Amber Ellis-Martin at RDP Law for her help with this. Great to work with a solicitor who works quickly and communicates regularly throughout the process."
"Associate Amber Ellis-Martin is also recommended and has been pivotal to the firm’s strategy to grow its roster of developer clients." (Legal 500 2024)
Rising Star of The Year winner at the Wales Legal Awards 2023
Amber Ellis-Martin
Associate Solicitor
Amber is an associate solicitor in RDP’s Real Estate team.
She joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in September 2018 before qualifying in October 2020. In September 2022, she was promoted to associate solicitor.
Amber currently works on acquisitions and real estate financing, as well as providing advice to commercial clients on a variety of complex development deals.
Emily Gwilliam
Job Title: Trainee Solicitor
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Emily Gwilliam
Trainee Solicitor
Emily is a Trainee Solicitor in RDP's Real Estate team.
She first joined our Private Client team in November 2022 as a paralegal and started her period of recognised training in October 2023.
Emily currently sits within the Real Estate team working on both residential and commercial transactions.
Katie Love
Job Title: Chartered Legal Executive
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Testimonials:
"Absolutely amazing service - cannot recommend highly enough."
"Excellent service, very professional"
"Prompt and friendly service"
"Very approachable, clear detailed explanations and efficient"
Katie Love
Chartered Legal Executive – FCILEX
Katie (FCILEx) is a Lawyer and an Associate in the firm’s WIQS accredited private client team.
She is an Affiliate of the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners (‘STEP’) and sits on the committee for the STEP Wales branch. Katie is also a member of Full Member of Solicitors for the Elderly.
Katie acts for individuals on a range of matters and also acts for charities in relation to legacy management. Shas strong links with other professionals, accountants and independent financial advisors throughout South Wales. She practices in all areas of private client including Court of Protection matters but with a focus on three core areas:
Estate planning
Katie acts for individuals in relation to all aspects of estate planning to include Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorneys and later life planning. She also advises in relation to ongoing attorney management.
Estate administration
Katie has a breadth of experience in estate administration with an emphasis on intestacies and complex estates. She deals with both excepted and high-value estates and has experience handling estates consisting of Agricultural and Business assets.
Trust implementation and management
Katie advises individuals in relation to various trusts with a focus on inheritance tax planning and management. She also advises and acts for trustees.
Liz O'Connor
Job Title: Senior Associate Solicitor
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Liz O'Connor
Senior Associate Solicitor
Liz is a senior associate in the Dispute Resolution team.
Liz returned to RDP in December 2021 after initially training and qualifying at the firm in 2008.
Liz has over 14 years’ experience in dispute resolution matters and has a wide experience working for commercial and agricultural clients. Her areas of expertise are:
- Commercial disputes including breach of contract and supplier disputes
- Partnership and shareholder disputes
- Construction disputes
- Property litigation including landlord and tenant, adverse possession and commercial lease disputes
- Contentious probate disputes
- Agricultural disputes including planning and environmental issues
Samantha Pocknell
Job Title: Conveyancing Practitioner
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Testimonials:
"We both just wanted to thank you for all your work with the house. We are so grateful that you managed to get us in so quickly! You have been fantastic and very efficient!"
"I just want to personally thank you for acting on my behalf on the sale of the above property. As buying and selling lease holder properties are problematic you have been outstanding. It has been a very stressful time with trying to get the Insurance Schedule from the Landlady, your tenacity won the day and I have no hesitation in highly recommending you to anyone who is looking for a Solicitor for conveyancing."
Samantha Pocknell
CILEx Conveyancing Practitioner
Samantha is a CILEx Conveyancing Practitioner who deals with high-end residential acquisitions and disposals.
Samantha has over 20 years' experience in residential conveyancing and became a CILEx Conveyancing Practitioner in 2019.
Her residential expertise includes:
- Acquisition and disposal
- Remortgaging
- Transfer of equity
- General land law
Sarah Porter
Job Title: Partner
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Testimonials:
"Just a card to thank you very gratefully for your professional help and personal support during the past two months."
Sarah is Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution at RDP.
She qualified in 2008 and has almost 15 years’ experience working in dispute resolution. She has been involved in a variety of types of litigation matter, both for private individuals and commercial clients, including:
- Consumer disputes, breach of contracts etc.
- Contentious probate
- Negligence claims
Sarah specialises in property litigation, with a focus on boundary disputes, trespass claims, rights of way, restrictive covenants, and adverse possession. She also has significant experience in dealing with both private and commercial, landlord and tenant disputes.
Sarah has been a Board Member of the Wales and West Housing Association for a number of years and uses her legal knowledge and experience to help the board in its decision-making.
Sarah is also a qualified mediator, having trained with the London School of Mediation.
Sam Saysell
Job Title: Solicitor
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Sam Saysell
Solicitor
Sam became a trainee solicitor in April 2022, having worked within RDP’s Real Estate and Private Client teams since September 2020.
Sam remained within the Private Client team for the first seat of his training contract and gained experience in the Dispute Resolution team before re-joining the Private Client team in April 2023.
Sam qualified as a solicitor in the Private Client team in October 2023, dealing with areas such as Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and estate administration services.
Victoria Sturt
Job Title: Trainee Solicitor
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Victoria Sturt
Trainee Solicitor
Victoria is an trainee solicitor in RDP’s Private Client team.
Victoria joined RDP in July 2022 as a paralegal in the Dispute Resolution, having over 10 years previous experience within Criminal and Prison Law practice.
Victoria commenced her period of recognised training in October 2023 and currently sits within our Private Client team. Victoria’s work includes assisting in will drafting and estate planning, estate administration, trust implementation and management and Powers of Attorney and deputyship applications.
Sioned Thomas
Job Title: Director
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Testimonials:
Sioned has been listed as a Leading Individual in the Legal 500 for the past 5 years and ranked in the Chambers & Partners multiple times for her Agriculture work.
"Sioned Thomas is a credit to the firm in her calm and highly skilled approach." Legal 500 2024
"Very proactive" Legal 500 2022
"Sioned Thomas has always been very easy to approach and has shown us a great deal of patience" Legal 500 2021 client testimonial
"thorough and approachable" Legal 500 2021
"very detailed, meticulous and knowledgeable." Chambers & Partners
"professional, very approachable and efficient." Chambers & Partners
“provides a highly personal service and always strives to understand the detailed background to all the issues” Legal 500
“provides a first-class service when dealing with rural matters” Legal 500"
Sioned Thomas
Director
Sioned is head of RDP’s Private Client and Agricultural Teams.
Private Client:
Sioned deals with succession planning for high net worth clients including advising on wills and setting up of and administering trusts.
She deals with complex estate administration with particular focus on the agricultural sector.
She also deals with Lasting powers of attorney and deputyship applications.
Charities:
Sioned is well-versed in setting up new charities, and advising existing charities on matters such as sale and purchase of land and legacy management.
Agriculture:
Sioned deals with acquisition, sales and refinancing of farms and farmland, farm business tenancies and partnership agreements and because of her experience in private client, is able to take a holistic approach to farm succession planning and the impact of changes to the future of the farming business.
Sioned is STEP qualified and a fluent Welsh speaker.
- Dealing with an application for succession tenancy under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986
- Purchase of 200-acre land holding in South wales with complex access and easement provisions
- Acting in the administration of an estate of clients with various land holdings and business assets with successful agricultural relief claim
- Sale of various barns forming part of a large farm holding for development
- Sale of 100-acre farm with listed farmhouse and buildings
- Succession planning for farming family who had diversified to include partnership agreements, farm business tenancies, shareholders agreements, wills, lasting powers of attorney and sale of property
Articles here
Charlotte Turner
Job Title: Marketing Manager
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Charlotte Turner
Marketing Manager
Charlotte is responsible for all marketing activity at RDP.
Charlotte has 16 years' marketing experience within the aerospace, financial and legal industries, and currently manages the firm’s marketing initiatives whilst working closely with the wider team to lead the strategy, planning, execution and analysis of a defined marketing plan.
Charlotte is also responsible for the management of Human Resources, overseeing the welfare of staff at RDP.
Clare Waller
Job Title: Consultant
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Clare Waller
Consultant
Clare is a Consultant in RDP’s Commercial and Corporate team providing specialised commercial advisory services.
With over two decades of experience in the legal field, Clare brings a unique perspective to her role, having served as a top in-house lawyer with extensive senior management experience. Her expertise spans not only the legal domain but also encompasses the broader realm of business operations.
Throughout her career, Clare has lent her valuable insights and guidance to a diverse array of businesses across various industries and sectors, both in the private and public spheres. Her expertise extends to collaborating with numerous government agencies in both the UK and international settings.
Lewis White
Job Title: Solicitor
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Lewis White
Solicitor
Lewis joined our Dispute Resolution team in April 2021 as a paralegal and started his period of recognised training in April 2022.
Lewis moved to the Real Estate team for the final seat of his training contract. Lewis mainly works on commercial elements of real estate including sales, acquisitions, leases, agriculture and development.
Lewis qualified as a solicitor in October 2023 and now sits in the Litigation team.
Lewis is also an alumnus of the Lord Edmund Davies Legal Educational Trust.
