Working
together for one
common vision
The team here at Woollcombe Yonge are exactly that, a team.
We compliment each other well, covering off the major disciplines of the legal profession, offering you the customer the very best possible service in the South West region. The front line legal staff are balanced by a support team that ensures that the whole operation runs smoothly, seamlessly and professionally.
Tracey Wright
Partner and Solicitor of Wills and Probate
Tracey is a Solicitor in our Wills and Probate team with particular interest in advising on inheritance tax planning, especially in the rural sector. She joined Woollcombe Yonge with 17 years of experience of advising clients in Devon and Cornwall on all of their Private Client needs. Tracey is also our Complaints Partner.
She advises on all aspects of will planning, powers of attorney, trusts, estate planning and administration. Additionally Tracey enjoys acting as a Deputy, appointed by the Court of Protection, to look after the financial affairs of those who might otherwise be vulnerable to exploitation due to a lack of mental capacity.
What they say about Tracey:
- “10/10 Exemplary”
- “Could not fault the quality of the service”
- “I was treated with the utmost courtesy and respect. Something which is in short supply these days”
- We approached Tracey Wright with regards to a rather complicated Will and Trust that we needed to set up. Tracey listened, advised, explained and made the whole experience actually quite enjoyable. I think we even laughed a few times! Everyone we spoke to at Woollcombe Yonge were helpful, friendly and nothing was too much trouble. Thank you for making our dreaded Will experience so effortless and painless. We really appreciated the professional way everything was handled.
- We just want to say a big thank you for everything. It was a difficult time for me so its truly heartfelt. Thank you.
- Thank you very much to both Tracey and Lian for all your hard work dealing with Mum and Dad’s estates. We appreciate your kindness and empathy towards us all in what has been a very emotional time for us all.
Tracey Baker
Partner and Solicitor
Tracey joined the firm in 1989 and is a Defence Lawyer.
She specialises in criminal defence work including police station advice/representation and advocacy in the Magistrates and Crown Courts and at Courts Martial.
Tracey has rights of audience in the Higher Criminal Courts.
Tracey has been nominated for the Devon and Somerset Law Society Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2020
What they say about Tracey:
• “I would like to convey my sincere gratitude for the way my solicitor represented me and to all the legal team and for your support after my case, thank you all so very much.”
• “You do not need to do anything to improve your service, I wish all solicitors were as good.”
Joe Cunningham
Managing Partner and Solicitor Residential Property Department
Joe became a Partner in January 2018. He qualified as a solicitor in July 2014 after successfully completing his Training Contract with us here at Woollcombe Yonge.
He is a solicitor in the Residential Property Department.
He became the Managing Partner in January 2023.
He specialises in all aspects of residential and commercial property including the buying, selling and remortgaging of houses and flats, the acquisition and sale of development sites and plots and commercial leases for both landlords and tenants.
What they say about Joe:
- “The service from the onset was very professional and efficient. Would recommend and use your services again. Thank you!”
- “As a family, we found the service provided to us was delivered with ’empathy’ and was in fact ‘outstanding’, we would most certainly recommend your services to friends.”
Ian Veater
Partner, Solicitor and Head of Business Services
Ian joined Woollcombe Yonge in 2018 as a partner in the commercial team. He specialises in commercial and corporate disputes across a number of industries. His work also encompasses all aspects of regulatory disputes including health, safety, financial and environmental issues. This includes advising on formal investigations and prosecutions by government bodies and local authorities, advising on appeals against Notices and dealing with judicial review proceedings.
Ian also acts for clients and insolvency practitioners in relation to insolvency cases, business rescue and litigation work and has been involved in advising clients involved in fraud cases, with a view to civil proceedings to recover assets. He regularly advises on Directors duties and Directors Disqualification Proceedings, complex shareholder and partnership disputes including unfair prejudice and minority shareholder disputes, warranty disputes, high value contested debt and construction disputes.
Will Giles
Partner, Solicitor and Head of Family Law
Will joined as the Family Department Partner in January 2018 and qualified as a Solicitor in 1994. He is a Member of the Family Law Panel (Advanced Tier) and is accredited by Resolution as a specialist Family Lawyer.
Will joined as the Family Department Partner in January 2018 and qualified as a Solicitor in 1994.
He is a Member of the Family Law Panel (Advanced Tier) and is accredited by Resolution as a specialist Family Lawyer. He is also a Collaborative Lawyer and an accredited Mediator, which often helps resolve situations without the need of attending court. Will helps unhappy people out of unhappy relationships.
What they say about Will:
- “a kind heart and a good mind”
- “has particular experience in military divorces. William Giles is “especially strong in finance cases”.
Adrian Beddow
Partner Commercial Property Business Services Department
Prior to joining Woollcombe Yonge Adrian gained over 20 years’ experience in Commercial Property having previously worked for a large national law firm (17 years) and more recently as a partner in a smaller Plymouth firm . He has a wide client base consisting of both local and national clients and undertakes the full range of Commercial Property transactions including freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, refinances and investment acquisitions. He acts for diverse clients including developers, retailers, SMES and community interest companies. Adrian has a particular specialism in renewables. Over many years he has acted for developers and landowners in the development of renewable energy projects. He has negotiated options and leases for a large number of windfarms and in excess of 50 solar farms including a number of Britain’s largest schemes. Additionally, he deals with battery storage sites and anaerobic digesters. Adrian enjoys seeing projects through from the early negotiation of heads of terms to the final connection to the National Grid.
Outside of work Adrian enjoys the company of his now adult children, walking coastal paths with family and friends and gardening.
Rebecca Wood
Partner, Solicitor Advocate and Head of the Criminal Department.
Rebecca is a Partner in the firm.
Rebecca specialises in Criminal Defence law covering offences across the whole spectrum of criminal law.
She is a qualified Duty Solicitor undertaking work at Police Stations, Magistrates Courts, Youth Courts and Crown Courts.
Rebecca is a Solicitor Advocate, qualified to provide advocacy in the Higher Courts and represent clients through the entirety of their case.
Rebecca is passionate about providing a proactive defence for our clients and ensuring the best possible outcome in their case.
With links to the Royal Navy, Rebecca is keen to support and work with the Armed Forces.
Rebecca joins the Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB), which brings together senior leaders in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) to drive forwards work to address the challenges in the system. She is also the Chair of the working group ‘Improving Outcomes for Women in the CJS’.
In January 2020 Rebecca joined Plymouth Law Society committee and is an active member of the local legal community.
In July 2022 Rebecca became a ‘Salaried Partner’ in the firm.
What they say about Rebecca:
• “If I needed a solicitor again I would definitely use this Company, a police friend of mine recommended you, it was very good advice.”
• “Very friendly and explained everything.”
- “Great service. I felt very supported and felt like nothing was too much trouble and no question was a stupid one. Big thank you to Rebecca for her help with my first and hopefully last court experience”.
- “Best move I did using Woollcombe Yonge. I feel very confident under the wing of Rebecca in our situation”.
- “Rebecca was professional, articulate and very informative. Instantly put me at ease, as it was and is a stressful time for me”.
Raegan Leather (TEP)
Partner, Solicitor and Head of Department
Raegan is Head of the Wills, Trusts & Probate team at Woollcombe Yonge. She qualified as a Solicitor in 2015 having completed both her law and postgraduate degree at the University of Plymouth. In January 2024 Raegan became a Salaried Partner in the practice.
Raegan is a full member of STEP (www.step.org) and is acting Chair of the STEP West of England branch. She is also a local school governor.
Raegan deals with all private clients matters, including the preparation of wills, arrangements for powers of attorney, probate, trusts and tax related matters for high net worth clients. With her close ties to the South West region, Raegan is dedicated to her local clients and prides herself on combining a down to earth approach with an undoubted level of professionalism.
In her spare time, Raegan is a keen runner and is a qualified leader with her local running club, and is currently training for a Rat race.
What people say
“Raegan was easy to speak to, had all the information to hand and was very well prepared”
“Thank you Raegan for a professional and speedy service and for helping me through this process at a very difficult time”
“Even under COVID-19 your service was professional and safe”
“Raegan was extremely professional and sensitive in all matters”
Krista Searle
Head of Department - Chartered Legal Executive - Commercial Business Services
Krista joined the firm in January 2020. Krista completed her Law Degree in 2014 and qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive in 2018. Krista has previously worked at an International Corporate Firm and another Local Firm.
She specialises in Commercial Property and Commercial work including sales and purchases of commercial property, land and businesses, acting for Landlord or Tenants in respect of leases, adverse possession claims, prescriptive easement claims, drafting Terms and Conditions, NDA’s and drafting and reviewing various other commercial agreements. Krista has also been heavily involved with strategic development work for property developers.
Krista enjoys being connected with the local community and takes time to understand her client’s needs and the issues they care about resulting in a bespoke service.
Krista also has extensive knowledge and experience in relation to the GDPR and offers assistance to a variety of clients in becoming GDPR compliant including general advice, training sessions and drafting a variety of GDPR compliant legal documents.
She was made Head of the Department in January 2023.
You may contact Krista on 01752 827938.
John Haythorn
Consultant Solicitor
John has been a Partner since 1982 and holds an excellent reputation within the legal community in the South West with his experience in criminal law.
John retired from the practice on the 31st December 2023. He is now a Consultant Solicitor with the practice.
With specialisms in this area of law, John represents clients at police stations, magistrates court, crown courts and courts martial, covering the whole range of criminal offences.
He is highly experienced in advising and representing individuals and companies in relation to Road Traffic and Regulatory offences.
John has rights of audience in the Higher Criminal Courts and is a qualified Duty Solicitor.
What they say about John:
• “Can’t thank you enough for your support on the day of the interview, I know I was a bit of a wreck on that day. Again thank you, and I will be recommending your services to others for sure.”
• “Mr Haythorn was most reassuring and supportive throughout what was a very traumatic evening for me and my family, it was a relief to have a professional with me.”
- “John Haythorn always responded promptly and I felt I was in good hands”
Paul Brookman
Solicitor in the Criminal Department
Paul joined the Criminal Litigation Department on the 28th May 2019.
Paul is an accredited Duty Solicitor. He is an experienced criminal practitioner also undertaking licencing, taxi licencing and health and safety work.
Lucie Jones
Trainee Solicitor
Lucie is supervised by Rebecca Wood in the Criminal Department also working alongside Tracey Baker and Paul Brookman.
Vivien Bell
Associate
Vivien is a Family Law Specialist joining Woollcombe Yonge on 6th August 2018.
Vivien was made Head of the Finance and Private Law Children Team in March 2024.
Vivien deals with cases involving family relationship breakdown.
She specialises in Divorce, Cohabitation and Separation issues, Financial matters and proceedings relating to Children (where the children are to live and who they spend time with). She has experience of drafting pre-nuptial, post nuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements.
Vivien also specialises in matters involving domestic violence and has worked with clients via the Plymouth Domestic Abuse Service legal clinic.
Vivien is a member of Resolution. She aims to resolve matters in a constructive and non-confrontational manner. She is a committee member of Devon Resolution and was formerly Chair of Yres, Devon
Nichola Williams
Assistant Solicitor
Nichola joined the Family Team in January 2022.
Nichola’s role will involve undertaking a mix of private family law and public family care work.
Cathy Barton
Solicitor
Laura Middleton
Chartered Legal Executive
Laura joined the firm in April 2021.
Matthew Knight-Miller
Trainee solicitor
Trainee solicitor in the Family Department supporting Nichola Williams and Cathy Barton.
Tam Katibeh
Paralegal
Tam joined the Family Department in April 2023 working alongside Will Giles and Vivien Bell.
Tam has worked within the family law sector locally for over ten years, specialising in divorce, finances, children disputes, injunctions and helping to support victims of domestic abuse. Tam has run her own caseload for the past five years.
When not in the office, Tam enjoys time with her family and being outdoors with her dogs.
Millie-Jo Bell
Para Legal
Millie-Jo joined the Family Department in December 2023.
Alicia Hopkins
Solicitor
Having studied at university in Essex, Alicia relocated to the South West in 2017 and joined the Residential Property Department team in June 2018.
On the 6th January 2023 Alicia was admitted as a Solicitor.
Alicia works directly with Joe Cunningham who is a Partner and solicitor in the Residential Property Department.
Josie McDonald
Legal Assistant/Paralegal in the Residential Conveyancing Department
Josie joined the Residential Property Team as a paralegal in September 2019, now assisting Alicia Hopkins
Josie is an LLB Law graduate, studying the LPC.
Ruby Wilmot
Legal Assistant/Paralegal in the Residential Property Department
After working for a previous law firm since the age of 18, Ruby joined the firm in August 2020.
Ruby assists Joe Cunningham in the Property Department.
Ruby is currently taking her CLC qualification.
Louisa Minett
Legal Assistant
Louisa joined the Residential Conveyancing Team in September 2021.
Chloe MacDonald
Legal Assistant
Chloe joined the Residential Property Department in August 2019.
Abigail Baker
Trainee Solicitor
Abi assists Joe Cunningham in the Residential Conveyancing Team
Lauren Coaker-Finch
Paralegal
Lauren joined the firm in April 2021.
Lauren is assistant to Natalie Dingle, Head of the Property Department.
Jan Santillo
Legal Assistant/Office Manager
Jan joined us in 2002 and is our Office Manager.
Jan also supports the solicitors in the Criminal Department on a day to day basis as their personal assistant.
Sara Weston
Legal Assistant
Sara joined the firm in March 2020.
Sara works closely alongside Krista Doidge in our Business Commercial Department
Lian English
Legal Assistant
Lian joined Woollcombe Yonge in July 2017 and works in the Wills, Probate, Tax and Trusts department.
Lian is a Legal Assistant supporting the Managing Director Tracey Wright. She assists Tracey with her in the Wills, Probate, Tax and Trusts department.
Kate Messham
Legal Assistant in the Private Client Department
Kate joined the firm in November 2018.
Kate assists Raegan Leather and Michelle Crump in the Private Client Department.
She provides support to Tracey Wright, Michelle Crump and Raegan Leather.
Ella Lewis
Apprentice
Ella is working alongside Krista Searle and Adrian Beddow in the Commercial Business Services Department.
Kiana Scarborough
Apprentice Paralegal
Kiana joined the Criminal Team in March 2024 as an apprentice paralegal.
Kiana will be going through the Police Station Accreditation Programme.
Jody Webber
Cashier
Jody joined the firm in 2010.
She is our Legal Cashier.
Business Services client
"All the staff at Woollcombe Yonge have been excellent, very helpful, courteous with a ‘can do’ attitude."