Partner – Crime – Nottingham
Serena is one of our senior solicitors, with over twenty years post qualification experience.
She has a wealth of experience in dealing with serious and complex criminal cases, including those involving young people and vulnerable defendants.
Having also had some experience in a Senior Crown Prosecuting role and more recently as Criminal Law Subject Head for the Solicitors Qualification Examinations, Serena has extensive knowledge of, and grounding in, criminal law. She brings an invaluable perspective to her role, and is often involved in training others.
Her calm and approachable manner helps put those she represents at ease whilst allowing her to quickly get to the root of any issue. This, coupled with an early tactical analysis of the evidence, allows her to ensure that her cases are managed appropriately, with the best outcome for her clients.
With an ability to highlight the ‘human element’ of a case, it is not unusual for those she represents to be given a chance, often in the face of adverse circumstances.
Serena’s extensive experience of working within the Criminal Justice System enables her to provide sound, confident advice from the outset of a case and offer robust representation throughout, whether at the Police Station or at Court.
Partner – Family – Nottingham
Melissa joined Bhatia Best in 2022 and brought with her a wealth of experience having worked all of her previous career in Family Law. She is committed to providing assistance to the most vulnerable in society and has built her practice handling high volumes of legal aid cases. She is a true champion for Access to Justice.
Melissa holds both the Law Society Children Law and Resolution Specialist accreditations, making her extremely versatile and equipping her with a broad set of tools to deploy upon a case. Often instructed by a Local Authority to represent Children where social workers have taken steps to remove them from their parents. This involves careful and meticulous analysis of evidence, meeting with vulnerable clients, preparing their cases and appearing on their behalf before Courts.
Outside of her professional life, Melissa is a keen athlete and has twice completed the 3 Peaks Challenge. There truly is no mountain high enough!
Partner – Family – Nottingham
Joanne specialises in Private Family Law and has been appointed by Resolution as an Accredited Specialist in both Complex higher and lower income financial remedies. Her practice is almost solely focussed upon assisting those parties who, at the breakdown of their relationships, are not able to reach a mutual understanding in respect of their assets and affairs.
Joanne assists couples and families when they are going through one of the hardest and most stressful times, helping them to try to resolve their differences by negotiation, dispute resolution and arbitration. If all else fails, Joanne is able to assist by way of litigation in order to bring about the desired outcome for the party she represents.
Where Children are involved, Joanne is able to assist in defining the desired arrangements for them. Where they will live, their education, contact with family members or any actions that the party expressly wishes to prohibit.
Joanne brings years of experience and a down-to-earth approach when it comes to managing a case. Providing realistic, no-nonsense advice, dedication and a clear pathway through the dispute enables Joanne to lead her clients through what is invariably a highly stressful and anxious time.
Partner – Crime – Nottingham
Neil is a senior solicitor and Partner of the firm. Qualified as a solicitor in 1996, Neil brings a wealth of experience to the team and there are very few issues he hasn’t encountered over the years. Neil is also a qualified Higher Courts Advocate, enabling him to appear in the Crown Court, and is a specialist in dealing with cases involving vulnerable individuals, both defendants and witnesses. He also has substantial experience dealing with Football related incidents and where Banning Orders are sought by the Police.
Neil’s real strength is in the Youth Court – representing young people charged, whether for the first time or repeat offenders, often with serious offences such as Robbery, Sexual Assault and Violence. His commanding knowledge of the Youth Justice System makes him one of the top youth specialist Solicitors in the East Midlands.
Partner – Crime – Nottingham/Mansfield
Morgan is a Partner within the Crime department and undertakes representation of those detained at the Police Station under arrest or charged to appear before the Magistrates Court. One of our regular trial advocates, Morgan is well trained in getting straight to the heart of the issue and presenting his clients case succinctly yet vigorously.
As well as managing a caseload, Morgan is directly involved in our liaisons with the Legal Aid Agency.
Solicitor / Higher Courts Advocate – Crime – Nottingham
Matthew joined Bhatia Best in 2016 having been a Partner in another local firm for nearly 10 years. He now practices as an in-house Higher Court Advocate almost exclusively in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal dealing with some of our most serious cases. Matthew covers the whole spectrum of criminal offences to include drugs, firearms and fraud. His specialism is particularly in dealing with cases where defendants are suffering from mental health issues and are charged with serious violence or sexual offences.
Matthew is regularly appointed by the Court to represent defendants suffering from a disability under the Mental Health Act. He has also conducted cases before the Courts Martial and the Royal Courts of Justice.
Partner – Crime – Derby
Lynsey qualified as a Solicitor in 2010 and is now a Supervisor of the Derby branch of the Crime Department. While maintaining an active caseload of her own, Lynsey leads the way in ensuring that every case is given the best attention by the most appropriate individual in her team. Meticulous by nature, any case that Lynsey directly manages is always thoroughly prepared.
As Supervisor in Derby, Lynsey ensures that those in her team all the tools they need to be at their best at all times.
Partner – Crime – Nottingham
Frank is a highly dedicated and tenacious solicitor in our Crime Department in Nottingham.
As an Accredited Police Station Representative, Frank attends to represent those under arrest or invited for interview on some of our most serious cases. He is also a qualified Duty Solicitor which entitles him to appear upon the Legal Aid Agency Duty Solicitor rota to represent those either in court or under arrest at short notice.
Frank’s impeccable client care and his efficiency in identifying the critical issues in a case almost instinctively mean that he is able to give the best, clearest, most useful advice to any client. His expertise span the full ambit of criminal litigation, from police station, through Magistrates Court and to Crown Court litigation.
A remarkably approachable chap too, and used to winning, as a Man City fan should be!
Partner – Crime – Nottingham
Pars has been a Partner in the Crime Department since the firm’s inception in 1993 and is one of the region’s most experienced Criminal Defence lawyers. With more than three decades of experience, he has built an outstanding reputation for representing clients across the full spectrum of criminal matters, from police station investigations through to complex Crown Court proceedings.
Pars is particularly recognised for his specialist expertise in Road Traffic Law, a field in which he has successfully represented countless clients facing allegations ranging from speeding and disqualification matters through to the most serious motoring offences. His extensive knowledge of this highly technical area of law, combined with his meticulous preparation and strategic approach, has made him a trusted adviser for motorists seeking expert representation.
Over the course of his career, there are few situations within the criminal justice system that Pars has not encountered. His approach to every case is thorough, pragmatic and tenacious, with a steadfast commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for his clients. As Head of Crime, he provides invaluable guidance and support to colleagues across the department and is highly regarded by clients, fellow professionals and members of the judiciary throughout the region.
Partner – Civil Litigation – Nottingham
Scott joined Bhatia Best in 2009 as a Paralegal and is now a Partner of the firm.
As a senior solicitor in the Public Law department, Scott manages a caseload of Judicial Reviews challenging decisions made by public bodies which often go against the rights of vulnerable individuals. Many of Scott’s cases appear in the British and Irish Legal Information Institute (BAILII) reports.
As department supervisor, Scott manages a team of Solicitors, Trainees and Paralegals to process cases with exceptional care and skill, always identifying and raising new challenges. Once a case is decided in the High Court, the downstream effect is that a precedent is created that often brings about changes to the way in which a public body operates its decision-making process. In that sense, Scott and his team are truly at the cutting edge of developing law and policy in the UK.
