Ken Specter
Managing Director (BA Hons)
Ken Specter studied Law at London University and The College of law in Chester.
Ken founded Specters in 1985 and for the first 15 years of his career specialised in litigation, acting on behalf of Private, commercial and insurance clients appearing before many courts and tribunals.
Ken founded Lawshield, a legal expenses insurance business, alongside Connexus insurance solutions in 1996 which both service a number of high net worth insurers nationally as well as providing insurance to private individuals and companies.
Ken has extensive litigation knowledge in many areas including property, insurance, insolvency and professional negligence claims.
Ken is a business man as well as a lawyer and understands the commercial imperatives facing businesses today, and the need to ensure cash is used astutely when pursuing litigation.
For clients who don’t just want a lawyer who tells them what they want to hear, Specters is the right choice. The philosophy is based on a transparent, practical approach with an emphasis on knowledge, achievement, hard work and reliability with the client at the forefront of all we do.
As the Managing Director at Specters, Ken oversees major financial decisions, is involved in key litigation matters and assists clients with funding options.
Andrew Specter
Director (BSc Hons LLM)
Andrew achieved a first-class honours degree in Economics and Econometrics at the University of Nottingham.
Andrew completed both the Graduate Diploma in Law and then the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School, graduating with a Distinction. Andrew would go on to study for a Masters of Laws at the London School of Economics, again graduating with a Distinction.
Andrew has worked at Specters since 2017 and qualified as a solicitor in 2019. He specialises in general litigation, with a particular emphasis on Professional Negligence.
In his free time, Andrew enjoys playing tennis and spending time with his family.
Paul Daniel
Director (LLB, LPC)
Paul studied Law at the University of Hertfordshire and then completed his Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in York. Paul qualified as a Solicitor in July 2012.
Paul joined Specters in February 2016 and is based in the London office. He specialises in Professional Negligence for claims against Surveyors, Lawyers, Accountants, Brokers, Independent Financial Advisors and also victims of conveyancing fraud.
Paul also acts for clients that have sustained serious injuries as a result of an accident at work or a road traffic accident.
Throughout his career, Paul has dealt with various complex and high-value claims.
Recent case highlights and settlements:
- Settlement in the thousands for investors in bringing a group action for professional negligence against their solicitors in relation to failed investments in residential property, hotel and care home schemes.
- £700,000 – Solicitor breached an undertaking and failed to ensure a Legal Charge was registered against an existing loan.
- £245,000 – Solicitor failed to ensure an undertaking included a clause for a legal charge to be registered against an existing loan.
- £200,000 – Conveyancing Fraud. Conveyancer sent completion money to a fraudsters bank account.
- £100,000.00 – Accountant failed to file tax returns
- £70,000.00 – Solicitor missed a court deadline, and the personal injury claim was struck out.
- £28,000.00 – Under the settlement of a personal injury claim.
- £9,000.00 – Broker missold an insurance product which did not benefit our client’s needs.
- £75,000 – Fatal road traffic accident.
Soyab Patel
Director (LLB LLM)
Soyab studied Law at Liverpool University, completing the Legal Practice Course at The College of Law in Chester and was admitted as a solicitor in 1995.
Initially, he dealt mainly with Commercial Litigation concentrating on the Law of Contract, before expanding his practice to include Personal Injury, Professional Negligence and Employment Law. Soyab is a very experienced advocate holding Higher Rights of Audience in all Higher Courts, including representation of families at Inquest in fatal accident cases.
Soyab joined the Specter Partnership solicitors in 1993 and proceeded to specialise in catastrophic personal injury, head and spinal injury claims. Soyab also specialises in clinical negligence. In 2008 he completed a Master of Law degree in Advanced Litigation and Dispute Resolution and in recognition of his achievements Soyab was promoted to Partner.
He is a member of the Association Professional Injury Lawyers, Professional Negligence Lawyers Association and Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates, as well as a member of the Spinal Injury Association.
Soyab has been involved in several high profile cases such as Grayrigg Train Derailment, and other notable cases reported such as appeal against the decision of the Employment Tribunal to make no award for pension loss.
On a personal level, he enjoys cycling, sport, reading and more sport! LLB LLM Solicitor-Advocate (All Proceedings)
Jan Canter
Solicitor
Jan studied History at University of Birmingham and completed a Law Conversion Course in London. He is a member of The Law Society’s Personal Injury Panel, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, the Motor Accident Solicitors Society and the Spinal Injuries Association. Jan is also a Civil and Commercial Accredited Mediator, qualified in 2009.
Recently settled cases include:
- £260k for a victim of a low impact vehicle collision, resulting in termination from his job.
- £1.1m for a man in his 60s who suffered mobility issues in his leg and severe brain damage.
- £2.1m for a finance director who was not able to perform his job to the same level after a car accident.
- Clinical negligence cases resulting in settlements between £1.3-£3.5m.
Gareth Williams
Consultant Solicitor
Gareth has been admitted as a solicitor for over 30 years and is currently a consultant with Medical Negligence Solutions. In his career, he has specialised, particularly in litigation involving medical negligence. He has been a member of the Law Society's Personal Injury Panel and has fought in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. He has dealt with cases where operative procedures and sepsis had led to the death of patients and represented their families in the Coroner's Court himself.
Laura Sparrow
Chartered Legal Executive (FCILEx)
Laura qualified as a Fellow Chartered Legal Executive in October 2004 and undertaking some Personal Injury and Civil Litigation in the past. She joined Specters in January of 2019.
She a member of APIL and regularly volunteers on the AVMA Helpline. She has a strong history of handling all types of claims, including high-value complex claims and has a wealth of experience in this regard.
Laura takes a personal approach to each and every case, and understands the needs of her clients and the importance not only to obtain compensation but also to support through the life-changing event that has happened.
Emma Parkinson
Solicitor/Client Care Officer (LLB Hons, LL Dip)
Emma studied law at Leicester University before completing her LPC at the College of Law, Chester in 1995. Emma was admitted as a Solicitor in August 1997 and joined Specter and Grant in the Matrimonial Department in March 1998. In 2000 Emma transferred to the Personal Injury Department to deal with Fast Track and Multi-Track personal injury claims and manage one of the firm's fast track personal injury teams.
When Specter and Grant became the Specter Partnership solicitors in 2004, Emma was appointed Client Care Officer taking over responsibility for the firm's internal processes for the handling of complaints from clients. Emma was promoted to Partner in April 2005. In 2008 Emma became a Partner in Warrington firm KLS Law, being responsible for Client Care and Compliance within both law firms.
With the changing regulatory requirements imposed by the Solicitors' Regulation Authority, Emma became Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) for the Specter Partnership in January 2013. After the merger of the northern office of the Specter Partnership with KLS Law in June 2013, Emma transferred to become COLP for KLS Law. Emma continues to undertake the day to day responsibility for the internal processes and procedures within KLS Law for both Client Care and regulatory compliance.
Tracey Atallah
Solicitor (LLB, LPC)
Tracey became qualified in the UK in 2017. She completed an LLB at the University of London, an LPC at BPP and is currently finishing her Masters in Business.
Tracey is a bi-lingual English/Arabic speaking solicitor. She has a broad range of experience in various sectors within the legal profession.
Tracey is frequently instructed in cases involving complicated financial matters and represents clients of a high net worth both in the UK and based in other jurisdictions.
Tracey supports her clients and invests considerable time into their objectives. She prides herself on the long-lasting relationships she builds and the success she achieves for individuals and their businesses.
Emil Leung
Trainee Solicitor
Emil graduated with an LLB(Hons) degree at Northumbria University. He then completed the Legal Practice Course and Master’s degree in Law, Business and Management at the University of Law, graduating with a Distinction.
Emil has worked in civil litigation since 2015. He started in Hong Kong boutique firms handling personal injury claims and then assisted an e-Discovery firm and a national firm on high profile and complex litigation and inquiry. He can speak and write fluently in Mandarin and Cantonese.
Joining the firm as a Paralegal in November 2021, Emil assists the team with Professional Negligence claims.
In his spare time, he enjoys watching documentaries and films.
Nykita Nelson
Trainee Solicitor
Studied Law with Business at the University of Brighton (2013) Completed the Legal Practice Course alongside a Masters in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Law (2019). Joined The Specter Partnership in November 2021 and is based in the London office. Seven years’ experience working in clinical negligence, five of which were spent in house at the NHS.
Sarah Aly
Paralegal
Sarah joined the firm as a Paralegal in May 2020. She is currently studying for her CILEx Qualification, which she is completing in conjunction with her role at the Specter Partnership.
Having worked in the legal industry since 2013, initially within the arena of Personal Injury, Sarah prides herself on providing excellent client care.
In her spare time, she enjoys going to shows with family and friends and also enjoys watching sports, football and tennis being her favourites.
Georgia Morrison
Solicitor
Georgia joined the Specter Partnership in January 2023 as a Qualified Australian Lawyer. Georgia completed her LLB (Honours) degree at the Queensland University of Technology, and Legal Practice Course at the College of Law Australia. She was admitted to Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia, in April 2022.
Georgia has previous experience working in Personal Injuries and Wills and Estate Litigation. She primarily assists the Specters team with Professional Negligence and Personal Injury claims.
Jack Warwick
Litigation Assistant
Jack Joined the firm as a Litigation Assistant in September 2022 after graduating from the University of the West of England with a LLB (Hons) Law degree.
He primarily assists the team with Professional Negligence and Personal Injury claims and intends to take on the LPC or the SQE in the next few months to go in to working as a qualified solicitor.
In his spare time, he enjoys watching and playing a variety of sports.
Nadia Mandary
Paralegal
Nadia joined The Specter Partnership in February 2022. Nadia is a paralegal within the family law department and the professional negligence department. Nadia completed her LLB(Hons) degree at the University of East Anglia. She also completed a Study Year Abroad at Maastricht University, where she lived in the Netherlands for a year and studied European Law. Nadia is currently completing the Legal Practice Course and her Master’s Degree at the University of Law. Nadia handles her own cases as well as assisting solicitors on complex cases.
Kate Lightfoot
Solicitor
Kate was called to the Bar in 1991 and requalified as a Solicitor in 1998 to take Partnership at the law firm at which she worked. She has obtained a degree in Physiotherapy graduating from King’s College London in 2012. She initially practiced in personal injury, moving to clinical negligence in 2000 and has considerable experience of dealing with Healthcare Claims across the board.
