Emma Joined the firm in April 2018 as a paralegal who sits in the Legal Solutions Centre (LSC) in Plymouth. Emma is part of the Dispute Resolution team to provide advice to a number of clients. Whilst Emma did not have a legal background when she joined the firm, she quickly developed the skills required to execute her role well and was promoted to associate paralegal within her first year at the firm.
Since joining as a paralegal, Emma has taken on the role of managing paralegal (MPL) of the LSC Dispute Resolution team. As MPL, Emma supervises the pre-action work of paralegals within the LSC DR team, allocates work and oversees the general day to day running of the team.
In addition, Emma has experience assisting with the recovery of debts owed by individuals and companies to a large client of the firm. Emma has dealt with a number of highly complex matters such as injunctions, winding up proceedings and applications to restore struck off companies to the register.
Emma works with one client of the firm who is a large energy provider and focusses on matters dealing with energy theft, which are often more complex than regular debt claims. In addition, Emma also has experience in dealing with Fast Track, Multi-Track Claims and Summary Judgment applications and enforcing Judgment once obtained, in manners such as Order for Sale and High Court Enforcement.
Finally, Emma is also highly involved in the client care of the largest clients in the LSC Dispute Resolution team.
Experience
Emma's experience include:
- Injunction - Emma has previously been involved in a very high value injunction in the High Court, in respect of a debt in the region of £450,000.00. She worked closely with Associates and Counsel to prepare for the hearing in addition to attending a full day mediation with the Applicant to try and reach settlement.
- Energy theft - Emma previously issued a claim in respect of a high value energy theft matter, where the Defendant's had unlawfully reconnected their supply of electricity on a number of occasions. Emma drafted an application for Summary Judgment, including a detailed witness statement and was awarded Judgment in full, interest, compensation and costs (including a Part 36 uplift) which totalled over £65,000.00.
- Winding Up Petitions - Emma has previously issued a Winding Up Petition against a company that was contested at a preliminary hearing. Emma drafted a witness statement which convinced the Judge that the Company had no substantiated dispute in respect of the debt owed and was given permission to proceed with winding up proceedings. As a result, the debtor agreed settlement and Emma drafted an agreement and subsequently recovered over £100,000.00
- High value recovery – Emma was also involved in the recovery of a debt for a smaller energy client. Emma was able to recover over £180,000.00 by way of robust pre-action correspondence setting out her client's position in respect of the debt.
- Bankruptcy proceedings – Emma has previously been involved in a bankruptcy proceedings against a debtor who has failed to pay invoices in respect of home improvements works. Emma began by drafting a statutory demand which elicited a response from the debtor. Upon considering the response and determining that the debtor did not have a substantive dispute, the client was recommended to proceed with bankruptcy. Emma therefore drafted the petition and saw the mater through to the bankruptcy order.
