Office: Derby

Paralegal – Crime – Derby

Legal Executive – Family – Derby

Karen is a highly experienced practitioner in our Derby Team dealing with both Public and Private Family Law. Her specialism is in representing parents in cases brought by the Local Authority involving Non-Accidental Injury, Domestic Violence, Substance Misuse and Sexual Abuse.

Karen’s approach in every case is to manage the proceedings from start to finish. Beginning with the initial PLO meeting, right through to the Court’s final orders. Her aim is to give clear, concise, realistic and meaningful advice and support, ensuring that all her clients fully understand the process, the decisions to be made and how best to navigate through a complex legal and regulatory framework.

Paralegal – Crime – Derby

Paralegal – Criminal Defence – Derby

Ellie is a Paralegal in the Criminal Defence Department. She graduated from Nottingham Trent University with an LLB (Hons) in Law and has always been passionate about pursuing a career in Criminal Law. Since joining the firm, Ellie has developed valuable experience representing and supporting clients through all stages of the criminal justice process and is looking forward to further developing her career with us.

Ellie manages her own caseload while also working closely alongside senior colleagues on a wide range of criminal matters. Her role includes meeting with clients to take instructions, preparing cases, attending conferences, and supporting clients and barristers at court hearings. She is committed to ensuring that clients receive clear advice, practical support, and strong representation throughout their case.

Known for her reliability and willingness to support colleagues wherever needed, Ellie takes pride in delivering high-quality work and maintaining a client-focused approach. Outside of work, she enjoys attending concerts, spending time with friends and family, and following rugby, both as a spectator and as a player.

Paralegal – Family – Derby

Sarah is a Paralegal in the Family Department. She graduated from the University of Derby in 2023 with a First Class Honours degree in Law (LLB) and is currently studying towards her LPC LLM on a part-time basis, further developing her legal knowledge and practical expertise.

Sarah works across a broad range of Family and Child Law matters, including Child Arrangements, Public Law Children cases and wider family proceedings. She supports clients and senior solicitors by drafting legal documents, including court applications and witness statements, attending court hearings to assist instructed counsel, and helping to ensure cases progress smoothly from start to finish. Her ability to speak fluent Urdu also enables her to communicate effectively with clients from diverse backgrounds, helping to make legal advice more accessible and ensuring clients feel supported throughout their matter.

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys keeping active through regular gym sessions and hiking, and values maintaining a healthy balance between her professional and personal life.

 

Assistant Solicitor – Family – Derby

Sunahjit is a Family Law Solicitor based at our Derby office.

Sunahjit attended the University of Leicester studying Law (LLB), later attending De Montfort University to study the Legal Practice Course (LPC and LLM) in which she achieved a distinction.

Sunahjit has experience in various areas of Family Law, now specialising in Private Law Children Proceedings, including resolving disputes relating to child arrangements, such as determining where children will live (formerly referred to as custody), Public Law Children Proceedings involving cases where the Local Authority or Social Services are involved, and matters relating to Domestic Abuse. She brought with her the skills she had already developed and her already well established ability to put her client’s needs first, to listen and support throughout what is invariably a difficult and stressful time for them.

Sunahjit has a wealth of experience in representing parents, grandparents and other family members, undertaking advocacy in several types of hearings, such as First Hearings, Case Management Hearings, Dispute Resolution Hearings, Issues Resolution Hearings and contested Final Hearings (including cross-examination).

Sunahjit enjoys painting scenic landscapes and reading in her spare time. She is also a brown belt member of the Leicester and Loughborough Shotokan Karate club, actively pursuing her black belt. Sunahjit speaks Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi and Gujarati fluently too, enhancing communication with client’s from diverse backgrounds.

Associate Solicitor – Crime – Derby

Emma is a Senior Solicitor in our Derby Crime department.

Having joined Bhatia Best back in 2007, Emma has spent the best part of two decades building a caseload that spans the entire Criminal Litigation discipline. Emma is a qualified Duty Solicitor. These are Solicitors that are able to demonstrate sufficient experience and competence to have their name appear on the Legal Aid Agency Duty Rota and to appear before the Courts to represent clients at very short notice who require immediate advice and assistance.

Emma spent eleven years in Criminal Defence, the took a brief detour over to the Crown Prosecution Service where she took a role as a Senior Crown Prosecutor for two years before returning to us. That time now enables Emma to bring a unique insight into how cases are prosecuted and her experience is invaluable when making tactical decisions in the best interests of her clients.

Emma’s caseload includes some of the most serious offences that appear before the Courts. She has litigated on numerous murder, manslaughter, terrorism, human trafficking and drugs conspiracy cases in recent years. Her meticulous organization, preparation and client care make her well placed to handle our most complex and high-profile cases in the Derby and wider East Midlands court centres.

Trainee Solicitor – Family – Derby

Hollie joined Bhatia Best in September 2023 after graduating from the University of Lincoln with a Law degree. She has since completed her Legal Practice Course with the University of Law, achieving a commendation, and is building her experience within the firm’s Family & Child Law team.

Hollie provides vital support in Care Proceedings, assisting with case preparation, drafting legal documents and applications, and helping clients navigate the legal process. She is particularly passionate about client care and takes pride in building strong relationships with those she represents, ensuring they feel supported and informed throughout their case.

Outside of work, Hollie enjoys spending time with family and friends and discovering new places to eat.

Trainee Solicitor – Family – Derby

As a Trainee Solicitor in our busy Family Department in Derby, Sophie provides valuable assistance to the senior lawyers in the preparation of their cases as they head towards contested litigation before the Courts. Often, Sophie will provide direct support to advocates and Counsel on complex Public Law and sensitive Private Law cases.

Sophie’s training and experience with us is such that she has the confidence to appear in her own right, conducting advocacy where permitted and advancing the best interests of her clients before the Courts. Calling upon her detailed knowledge and meticulous preparation of her case files, she is skilled in identifying those critical aspects that are of vital importance and might otherwise be overlooked.

Solicitor – Family & Child Law Department – Derby

Stuart qualified as a solicitor in 1977. He trained in Nottingham, worked for 10 years in South Wales before returning to the East Midlands. He joined Bhatia Best in 2017 and brought with him a wealth of experience.

Stuart is not only a member of the Law Society Children Law Panel but is also an assessor for those who wish to demonstrate that they meet the exacting criteria required to join. Stuart is also a published author, having written 4 books on the law, and frequently delivers training to solicitors and practitioners around the country.

To Stuart, every client is important, and all deserve to have their case presented in the best possible light.