MEET THE TEAM

Marie Bannister
Partner, Solicitor.

Marie is a qualified solicitor and started at Kendall & Davies in 2015 based in our Bourton-on-the-Water office.

With over 20 years experience, Marie specialises in residential property matters covering freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, both registered and unregistered land, transfers of ownership, remortgages, local property auctions, reconstruction of legal titles, transfers of part and voluntary first registrations.

Outside of the office Marie enjoys spending time with her family, watching rugby and long walks with her dogs in the countryside.

Matthew Cotton
Partner, Solicitor.

Matthew is an experienced solicitor and accredited mediator, specialising in civil and commercial dispute resolution and litigation. He provides advice on various legal issues which can arise within business and personal life. Matthew serves clients in the local and rural Cotswold communities, as well as those further afar.

Matthew works collaboratively with his clients, empowering them to fully understand every aspect of their case and ensure that they achieve the best possible outcome. He finds that this approach instils trust, because he won’t just tell clients what they want to hear, but (most importantly), he tells clients what they need to know.

Matthew has been incredibly fortunate that many of his clients have returned to him time and again over the years, and he still keeps every thank you card that he receives.

When not working, Matthew loves to be outside, whether that’s walking his dogs in the Cotswolds, cultivating his garden, or cooking for his wife and daughter on the BBQ.

Charlie Davies, BA (Hons), LLB.
Managing Partner, Solicitor.

Charlie joined Kendall and Davies in 2010, following in his father Huw’s footsteps, and is now Partner in charge of our Burford office.

He specialises in a variety of residential property matters, including freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, acting for developers and property investors, re-mortgages and transfers of equity.

Prior to joining the firm, Charlie studied French and Hispanic Studies at Exeter University and went on to complete his Law Conversion and Legal Practice Courses at the College of Law in London.

Outside of the office Charlie enjoys family life. When not chasing after his 1-year-old daughter and Parson Russell Terrier he can be found playing tennis or golf.

Huw Davies.
Consultant, Solicitor.

After spells in Cheltenham and London Huw joined his father in the family firm back in 1981.

Since then Huw has handled an interesting and varied case load of residential and commercial property work throughout the country.

Huw’s particular interest is however in rural matters, especially farms and racing yards, the latter through his love of National Hunt Racing.

Huw spends a lot of time playing or watching various sports, which with reading and family life he finds a tremendous way to relax out of the office.

Rachel Davies.
Trainee Solicitor.

Rachel is a trainee solicitor, having commenced her training contract with Kendall & Davies in November 2024.

Prior to joining the firm, Rachel completed a History Degree at The University of Birmingham. Shortly after graduating, Rachel completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) and The Legal Practice Course (LPC), both with BPP University. Rachel also spent some time as a paralegal at an Oxford firm, which specialised in Clinical Negligence.

Outside of work Rachel enjoys taking part in various outdoor activities, cooking and spending time with friends and family.

Richard Davies, BA (Jt Hons).
Director, Solicitor.

Richard qualified 30 years ago when practising in the City of London. Since returning to the Cotswolds he has headed up the Litigation and Commercial Departments of the firm dealing with company matters, divorce, employment, landlord and tenant, professional negligence, debt collection, partnerships, company sales, mergers and acquisitions.

He is a Trustee of several local charities and sports clubs.

Richard is married with 3 children and his interests include rugby, horseracing, tennis, squash, skiing, and gardening.

Paula Evans
Solicitor.

Paula joined the Stow-on-the-Wold office in January 2025 as a Solicitor. Paula has a general real estate background and joins the firm with a focus on commercial property and residential conveyancing.

After a degree in Politics at Durham University, followed by Nottingham Law School, a year well spent teaching in Nepal and China, backpacking through India and South America, Paula began her career at Wragge & Co (now Gowling WLG) where she qualified into commercial property. Paula has since worked at national law firms, Clarke Willmott and Shakespeare Martineau before making a career move to the Cotswolds.

Paula has spent much of career focusing on commercial property with a focus on site acquisition, development work, general landlord and tenant and property investment work as well as residential conveyancing. Paula has experience of working with a wide range of clients from PLC’s to smaller local clients and individuals. Paula gives commercial and practical advice to clients and enjoys the personal touch she can offer at Kendall and Davies and particularly enjoys building client relationships.

Beyond the office, Paula has a passion for the outdoors. She enjoys spending time with her family and chocolate labrador, and thrives on doing anything active with her teenage children whether it be skiing, wild swimming or hiking. She enjoys socialising and cooking for friends and can usually be found planning her family’s next travel adventure.

Paula Garbutt
Conveyancer.

Paula is a Residential Conveyancer who joined the firm in August 2024. She brings nearly 25 years of experience in the legal sector, having worked her way up from a Legal Secretary to her current role through dedication and a strong work ethic.

Before joining the firm, Paula worked at a busy solicitor’s office in Swindon, gaining valuable hands-on experience in residential property transactions. In 2024, she achieved her CILEX Diploma in Law and CILEX CPQ Foundation qualification, further strengthening her professional expertise.

Paula is known for her approachable manner and her commitment to providing clear, practical advice to clients throughout the conveyancing process.

Outside of work, Paula enjoys reading, walking, and spending time at the beach with her family.

Caroline Gibbs.
Consultant.

Caroline became a Consultant for Kendall and Davies in January 2017 to advise on contentious probate disputes. She is a member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).

Caroline advises on issues arising out of problems with estates, and wills.
This includes probate actions where the mental capacity of the deceased is in dispute, and want of knowledge and approval claims, together with litigation involving construction of wills, actions against personal representatives and trustees, and issues arising in relation to Powers of Attorney and complex matters in the Court of Protection.

Caroline also deals with complex cases under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

Caroline qualified in 1987 and having trained in London and spent the early part of her career there then spent 21 years with Spratt Endicott (formerly Shoosmiths) in Banbury.  Whilst based in our Moreton in Marsh office Caroline is happy to travel to any office to see clients.

Neil Hewitt.
Trust and Estate Practitioner

Neil joined Kendall and Davies in 1998 and is based in the Bourton-on-the-Water office. He specialises in Probate and Trusts, including the Administration of Estates and setting up and dealing with the day to day management of Trusts. He also deals with the preparation of Wills, the preparation and registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney and applications to the Court of Protection.

Neil has been a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) for more than twenty-five years and was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives for over thirty years.

Paul Huggins, BA (Hons) BA.
Partner, Solicitor.

Paul joined Kendall and Davies in September 2021 as a Partner specializing in commercial and residential conveyancing, based at the Stow-in-the Wold office.

He qualified as a solicitor in 1996 at Rosenblatt Solicitors in London, before moving to Needham and James, Stratford on Avon in 2001, where shortly afterwards he was appointed a Partner.

In 2010, Needham & James merged with Shakespeare Putsman. Following various further mergers the firm became known as Shakespeare Martineau. Following 20 years at the firm, Paul joined Kendall and Davies to pursue his career in the Cotswolds.

Paul has considerable experience in all aspects of commercial and residential conveyancing, landlord and tenant matters and secured lending. He is proactive and commercial in his approach, having retained and acted for a number of his clients throughout his career.

Outside the office, Paul is a keen golfer, being a member of Stratford on Avon Golf Club. He is also a follower of national hunt racing, being an annual  member of both Cheltenham and Stratford on Avon racecourses. Since Paul visited his first racecourse in 1994, he has been to all the current 59 racecourses in England, Wales and Scotland.

David Jackman
Consultant.

David Jackman joined Kendall & Davies in July 2022 as a consultant. He has practised in Winchcombe for over 30 years, first with Saunders Roberts in charge of their Winchcombe office, then from 2005 as a partner in Jackman Woods. He deals with Wills, Probate and Trust matters, residential and commercial property.

After obtaining his law degree at Nottingham University, David trained with firms in Bedford and Northampton, qualifying in 1978. He then worked for 10 years with a practice in Swindon before moving to the Cotswolds.  He is married with 4 adult children and 5 grandsons – and very proud of them all.

Shirley Lansiquot, BA (Hons), LLB, LLM.
Senior Property Solicitor.

Shirley is an experienced residential property Solicitor and qualified in February 1993. She has a wealth of experience of residential property matters both in the private and public sectors. She is the Senior Property Solicitor in our Moreton-in Marsh office.

Shirley handles a wide spectrum of residential property transactions including all aspects of Freehold and Leasehold conveyancing transactions, New builds, Shared Ownership, Transfers of Equity, purchase and sale of plots of land and remortgages. In addition, she deals with lease extensions both voluntary and statutory.

Having trained in London at a High Street Practice and starting her career as a High Street Solicitor, Shirley worked as an In-house solicitor at 2 of the largest Local Authorities. She has also worked as a sole practitioner and has the benefit of a dual qualification as an experienced Attorney-at-Law dealing with international land and property transactions in her qualifying jurisdiction.

More recently Shirley has spent 3 years working at Jackson West Solicitors in Banbury and has done consultancy work for a firm in Watlington. She joined Kendall and Davies in January 2023.

Shirley lives in Banbury with her husband, daughter, son and the family dog, Duke. Shirley loves travelling, particularly cruising , cooking and spending quality time with friends and family.

Amanda Liddiard, BA (Hons), LLB(Hons).
Solicitor.

Amanda is a qualified solicitor who joined the private client team in our Stow office in 2025. Amanda is an associate member of STEP specialising in Wills, Trusts and Estate Administration.

When Amanda is not in the office, she enjoys walking her dogs in the countryside, reading, playing racket ball and is a keen yoga enthusiast.

Caroline Malings, BA (Hons), LLM.
Partner, Solicitor.

Caroline qualified in 2007 after completing her training contract with the reputable Manchester-based firm, Pannone. She joined Kendall and Davies in January 2013.

Caroline is based in the Stow-on-the-Wold office and specialises in advising clients on a wide range of matters including Wills, Probate, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Trusts and lifetime Tax Planning. She also has a special interest in Court of Protection applications and acts as a Professional Deputy.

Caroline lives in Oddington with her husband, two children and a menagerie of animals.

Wendy Manifold.
Conveyancing Executive.

Wendy started her career as a Conveyancing Legal Secretary over 20 years ago graduating as a Member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in 2010 specialising in Conveyancing and Land Law to being awarded her Fellowship – becoming a Chartered Legal Executive in 2022.

Wendy works from our Moreton in Marsh office, specialising in residential property matters including freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, re-mortgages, equity release schemes, and unregistered property.

In her spare time Wendy enjoys writing poetry, sewing, skiing and bike riding in the Cotswold countryside with her husband and daughter.

Hannah Murray.
Solicitor.

Hannah joined Kendall and Davies in February 2026 having previously worked at both high street and national law firms in Stratford-upon-Avon. She has over 15 years of experience and specializes in the full spectrum of private work, including preparing and advising on Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Estate Administration and applications to the Court of Protection.

After studying English and Spanish at Royal Holloway College, University of London Hannah went on to complete her Law Conversion and Legal Practice course at the College of Law in Birmingham.

Hannah is based in the Moreton-in-Marsh office and is known for her approachable manner and pragmatic advice.

Outside of the office Hannah enjoys spending time with her family, travelling and going to the theatre. She also loves going on long country walks and swimming.

Katie Parker.
Licensed Conveyancer.

Katie joined Kendall and Davies in September 2022 having worked previously with Paul Huggins at Shakespeare Martineau for over seven years.

She qualified as a Licenced Conveyancer in 2021 and has joined the Stow on the Wold residential team to specialise in  residential sales and purchases. Katie has experience of acting for a recognised high street lender on their residential mortgages portfolio and has also acted for a large number of Registered Providers dealing with sales of freehold and leasehold properties,  including staircasing and shared ownership plot sales

Katie lives in Cheltenham and out of the office, she enjoys spending time with family and friends

Juliette Vienot, LLB (Hons).
Partner, Solicitor.

Juliette qualified as a Solicitor in 1992 and spent several years on the South Coast working in general practice. Fifteen years ago she began to concentrate on Private Client work including Wills, Probate, Trusts, Powers of Attorney and associated matters and for the last 10 years Juliette has specialised in this type of work.

Following a move to the Cotswolds, Juliette joined Kendall & Davies in 2008 and runs the Private Client department at the office in Burford.

She enjoys the wide variety of work and the opportunity to support people facing complex issues during difficult times in their lives. She lives near Fairford with her family, two guinea pigs and a very bossy cat.

Josephine Walker, BA (Hons).
Partner, Solicitor.

Josephine is an experienced property solicitor in charge of residential property transactions in the Burford office. She has vast experience handling freehold and leasehold sales and purchases including legal charges and remortgages, first registrations of title and transfer of equity for a wide range of clients from first time buyers to high net worth individuals in the Cotswolds, London and further afield.

She graduated from Durham University with a first class honours degree and then completed her training at BPP Law School in London where she obtained a distinction. She then trained at Henmans Freeth in Oxford before spending a few years with Bower and Bailey. She joined Kendall and Davies in 2012.

Josephine lives in Chipping Norton with her husband and son and enjoys skiing, mountain biking, dinner parties and wine tasting.

Robert Wellington, LLB (Hons).
Director, Solicitor.

Robert joined Kendall & Davies in October 2012, and is partner in charge of conveyancing based at the Stow-on-the-Wold office.

He qualified in 1994, and previously worked for several prestigious firms in Gloucestershire and Warwickshire. Robert has worked in the North Cotswolds for the last 8 years and has acted for several high net worth clients in their sales and purchases.

Robert specialises in both residential and commercial property. His residential property work includes freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, easements, residential management company matters and also acting for developers in relation to site acquisition and plot sales.

Robert’s commercial property expertise ranges from acting for landlords and tenants in the grant of new leases of all types of commercial property, lease assignments, sales and purchases of businesses and transactional work involving the sale and purchase of pubs, retail premises, restaurants, hotels, mixed use premises and commercial units. Robert also has expertise in the sale and purchase of agricultural/rural land and farms.

Away from the office, Robert enjoys playing golf and is a keen follower of sports, especially rugby and football.

Robert Willcox, LLB (Hons).
Solicitor.

Robert (LLB (Hons)) joined Kendall & Davies in May 2019 and is a Solicitor specialising in Family Law based in our Bourton on the Water office. Robert has more than 30 years’ experience in Family Law.

He specialises in all areas of Family Law.

Outside the office Robert enjoys spending time with his family, travelling and watching sports.

Deborah Wilkes.
Legal Executive.

Deborah joined Kendall & Davies in October 2016, having worked previously with Finula Allen at Shakespeares (formerly Needham & James) for over 20 years.

Deborah assists the Private Client Solicitors in both our Stow on the Wold and Moreton in Marsh offices, specialising in Wills, Probate, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Trusts and Court of Protection applications.

Deborah lives in Stratford upon Avon with her partner and two young children, and if not busy chasing children, enjoys galivanting around the countryside on horseback.