Naila trained as a solicitor at Platt Halpern, qualifying in January 2003. She was made a partner in April 2008. Naila is a solicitor advocate who regularly appears in both the magistrates’ and crown court, as well as a duty solicitor who often assists clients at police stations. She has defended in numerous serious and high profile cases including firearms conspiracies, multiple murders, rapes, drugs offences and offences of violence. She is a highly motivated and tenacious defence lawyer. Naila also specialises in prison law and is able to advise clients on a full range of prison law issues.

Simon is a partner in the firm. He is a solicitor advocate who represents clients in the crown court for the most serious types of offences such as murder and rape. He was admitted in 1997 and is a duty solicitor of 11 years standing. He advises at police stations together with advocacy in all criminal courts. He is also a lecturer on the Legal Practice Course at Manchester Metropolitan University and has lectured throughout the country to various agencies in the criminal justice system. Simon also deals with actions against the police and all aspects of prison law.

Dan obtained a degree in Fine Art at Goldsmiths College in 1989. He completed his postgraduate studies in Law in 1998 and qualified as a solicitor in 2001. From 2001 until 2008 he worked as a solicitor in London dealing with all aspects of family law. Dan joined Platt Halpern in January 2008. He specialises in all areas of family and children law including child abduction. Dan is a member of the Children Panel. He represents parents, other family members, and Children's Guardians in family proceedings.

Paul is a partner in the firm based at our Oldham office. He was a social worker for many years before becoming a solicitor in 1991. Paul initially worked for Linder Myers in Salford before joining Platt Halpern in 1996. He practices family law and criminal law. He is a member of the Law Society Children Panel and acts in the full range of legal proceedings concerning children, specialising in care proceedings. He also deals with divorce and separation cases. He is a duty solicitor and appears in all the magistrates’ courts in Greater Manchester.

Tom obtained a degree in English Literature at Leeds University in 2003. He completed his post graduate studies in Law at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2008. Tom previously worked for 3 years at Manchester Magistrates Court. Tom joined Platt Halpern in June 2008 and works as a legal assistant in the family department. He has particular experience in divorce and domestic violence matters. Tom aims to qualify as a solicitor.

Gemma graduated with a degree in Law from Sheffield Hallam University in 2004. Gemma has worked at Platt Halpern since October 2005 and qualified as a solicitor in January 2009. Gemma has experience in all areas of family law including divorce, civil partnership dissolution and domestic violence injunctions. She also has experience in children matters including contact, residence and care proceedings.

Jon was admitted as a solicitor in 1973, and has been a legal aid solicitor for over 35 years. He founded the firm with Danny Halpern in 1991, and was a partner until 2008, when he became a consultant. He is a specialist children law solicitor and has been a member of the Law Society Children Panel since 1988. He has acted as a family law peer reviewer for the Legal Services Commission since 2005.

After obtaining a degree in Government and Law from the LSE, Kathy worked in London for a number of years in various voluntary agencies in the homelessness sector, providing resettlement support, advice and advocacy services to rough sleepers and homeless people. She returned to Manchester in 2001 and completed the CPE and LPC. She has been with the firm's housing department since 2004 and qualified as a solicitor in 2008.

Wilma Deane is a Law Graduate of the University of Manchester. She qualified in 1980 and joined the firm in 1991 as a partner based at the Rusholme office. She practised in the fields of family and criminal law for a number of years. She now specialises in family and children law. Wilma is a member of the Children Panel and practises in all aspects of public law with an emphasis on care proceedings. She has wide experience of advocacy on behalf of children and parents. She works with Children's Guardians, representing children in a variety of proceedings.

Danny is a partner in the firm. On qualifying as a solicitor he worked at South Manchester Law Centre for a number of years in housing and employment law. He has continued his housing law practice at Platt Halpern, having founded the firm with Jon Comyn-Platt in 1991. Danny also specialises in personal injury claims and claims against the police. Danny is a member of the Law Society’s Personal Injury Panel and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).

Mike began his career working for Pannone and Partners. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1985 and has specialised in crime ever since. He had his own practice from 1989-2000 and has been with our firm for 8 years. He was one of the first solicitor advocates in the country. He is one of the founding members of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association and was on the national committee for 5 years, as well as the Manchester Law Society. He has lectured extensively on many aspects of the law, including drink driving. He has been a Deputy District Judge since 2000 and has sat in courts throughout the North-West and Midlands. He has defended many high profile cases including murder, manslaughter, rape and VAT fraud. He was the junior advocate in the highly unusual case of R v Lowe, a murder case with a defence of ‘sleepwalking’.

Bryony studied law at Durham University, graduating in 2006, and completed the Bar Vocational Course at Manchester Metropolitan in 2008. She joined Platt Halpern in November 2008 and works in the Housing, Welfare Benefits and Debt Teams.

Carol is a caseworker based in the Oldham office. She specialises in welfare rights, debt and housing. She joined the firm in 2008. Before this she worked for the Citizens Advice Bureau for ten years. She graduated from Liverpool University in 1995 with a degree in social history, and obtained a Masters degree in social sciences from the Open University in 2006. Carol has represented clients at scores of benefits appeals, including appeals to the social security commissioner, with a very high success rate. She is committed to promoting the rights of welfare benefits claimants.

Ellen was a scientist for many years before becoming a solicitor in 1992. She joined Platt Halpern in 1994 and was based at the Rusholme Office until 2007. She now coordinates the work and training of the Family Solicitors in the Rusholme and Oldham offices.

Marion O'Brien obtained a degree in Media, Communication and Cultural studies at Leeds University in 1995. She completed her postgraduate studies in Law at Manchester Metropolitan University in 1998 and qualified as a solicitor in 2000. Marion joined Platt Halpern in 2001 and is a partner in the firm. She specialises in all aspects of family and children law including child abduction. Marion is a member of the Children Panel. She represents parents, other family members and Children's Guardians in family proceedings.

John is one of the leading defence solicitors in the UK. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1987 and has been a solicitor advocate since 1999. He is a partner in the firm. He sits as a Recorder (Judge) at Liverpool Crown Court and is a member of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. He is a former President of the Manchester Law Society and is now a council member. He has chaired the National Law Society Conference on two occasions. He has lectured extensively in the UK and throughout Europe to a variety of legal bodies. He is a duty solicitor who advises in police stations together with advocacy in all criminal courts. He has defended numerous serious and high-profile cases.

Alex is a partner in the firm. She was admitted in 1997 following obtaining a degree in Combined Arts from Manchester University and a Masters in Legal Studies. She has been a duty solicitor for 11 years and advises suspects at police stations, as well as being an advocate in the magistrates’ and crown court. She is a lecturer on the Legal Practice Course at Manchester Metropolitan University and is on the Manchester Law Society Council. She works on the most serious types of cases such as manslaughter by gross negligence, murder and conspiracy. She has defended Greenpeace activists accused of aggravated trespass and criminal damage, as well as a defendant involved in the largest importation of firearms in the UK. She acts as a criminal peer reviewer for the Legal Services Commission, which involves inspecting and assessing other criminal law practices. Alex manages the firm’s ‘Very High Costs Cases’ (VHCC cases). She is also committed to providing an excellent legal service to the LGBT community.

Ifhtkhar is an Associate of Institute of Legal Executives and soon hopes to qualify as a Member of the Institute. He joined Platt Halpern in 2005. He is experienced in private children law matters including contact & residence, domestic violence, divorce and ancillary relief. He speaks Swahili, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and Gujarati.

Tom studied law before completing the Legal Practice Course in Manchester. He joined the firm in 2007 and started a training contract with the firm in 2009. He is a fully accredited police station representative and regularly advises clients in police detention. He has an extensive portfolio of criminal preparation work, having worked on many capital cases including murders and serious drug offences.

John studied at Leeds University and qualified as a solicitor in 1998. He joined Platt Halpern in 1999. He specialises in all areas of housing law. He has acted for tenants in a number of notable cases including North British Housing Association v Matthews and others [2004] EWCA Civ 1736, Yates v Elaby ChD 17/11/03 Reported Lawtel 1/11/06 and Manchester City Council v Finn [2002] EWCA Civ 1998. He is also an experienced personal injury practitioner.

Alison joined Platt Halpern in 2006 and is a solicitor with considerable experience in Family Law. She was admitted in 1990, having studied Law at Nottingham University and completing her Solicitors Finals at The Chester College of Law. Alison has wide experience in all areas of Family Law, specialising in Ancillary Relief proceedings. She follows the Resolution code of practice, adopting a pragmatic approach, with an emphasis on negotiation wherever possible. Alison is, however, equally experienced in pursuing matters through the court when necessary. Alison always tries to be approachable and empathetic, and to put her clients at ease during what is often a very difficult time.

Dave joined Platt Halpern as Practice Manager in 1999. After university he worked as a homeless families caseworker, before moving to the Legal Aid Board, where he was concerned with raising the quality of advice provided by legal aid firms.

John joined Platt Halpern in 2004 and is a highly experienced solicitor advocate who appears in all criminal courts. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1974 and spent 30 years at his family practice, where he came to specialise in criminal law. He served on the council of the Manchester Law Society for many years, as well as being chair of the Manchester Duty Solicitor Committee. He has defended a full range of criminal offences.

Alison is a highly experienced crown court clerk who runs both our crown court and police station departments. She has worked for the firm since 1998 and is an accredited police station representative of many years standing. She regularly advises those arrested but also prepares all types of serious crown court cases. Alison has a particular expertise in defending those accused of sexual offences (such as historic abuse cases) but prepares a wide variety of cases such as murder, manslaughter, serious assaults and robberies. She is also interested in defending juveniles and those with mental health difficulties.