Who's Who

Rupert Rohan
Founder and Senior Partner

Rupert is founder and senior partner of Rohan Solicitors. Rupert’s career began in 1994 when he specialised as a legal advisor in the music industry of London’s renowned Carnaby Street. He has been providing legal and business advice in the entertainment industry and broader commercial arena ever since. Rupert founded Rohan Solicitors LLP (previously Rohan & Co Solicitors) with his father in 1998.

He now works with a wide range of clients from individuals and start-up businesses to PLCs who seek his expertise in new technology, online consumer business, media and retail.

With 25 years of experience in the commercial environment Rupert has become far more than a legal advisor; he is able to take a commercial view and this is valued by his clients when practical solutions have to be found to resolve potential problems or overcome challenges.

He acts as a manager, legal representative and business advisor for professionals and businesses including the world famous ballet dancer Carlos Acosta.

Rupert works extensively with private clients in the areas of trust planning and management, wills, probate, powers of attorney, and tax planning. It is testament to their satisfaction that he repeatedly works with clients and their families through the generations.  

Rupert is also a trustee of a number of charitable organisations.

Areas of service

• Entertainment and Media
• Employment matters
• Trust planning and management
• Tax Planning
• Wills, Probate and Power of Attorney
• Commercial Contracts
• Commercial Property
• E-Commerce
• Intellectual Property
• Data protection
• Commercial Financing
• Business Advisory

Experience

Legal and commercial advice to technology start-ups including advising on corporate structures and drafting of Articles of Association, Shareholders Agreements, Investment Agreements, Service Agreements and associated ancillary documentation.

All legal matters associated with the sale and acquisition of multi-million-pound companies including acting for both investors and multi-party sellers.

Dealing with all legal aspects associated with in bound investment ranging from angel investors to venture capital funds.

Preparing and drafting of commercial agreements for innovative and mainstream businesses including B2B and B2C contracts.

Advising established businesses on internal documentation including undertaking reviews and improvements to Articles of Association, Shareholder Agreements and Service Agreements.

Representation of a broad spectrum of media and entertainment industry clients across a variety of sectors.

Advising on the sale and purchase of a broad range of businesses with particular expertise in medical practices, restaurant chains and security businesses.

Advising on and preparation of submission to HMRC in respect of SEIS and EIS advance assurance applications and managing SEIS/EIS compliance.

Preparation and drafting of all aspects of employment documentation including directors service agreements, employee handbooks, employment policies and option agreements.

Advising on and drafting of terms and conditions for on-line and off-line businesses.

Dealing with all aspects of intellectual property rights including registration, protection and enforcement of such rights.

Advising on GDPR compliance including drafting of applicable policies.

Sale, acquisition and leasing of all types of commercial property from offices to warehouses.

What Clients Say 

"I have worked closely with Rupert for well over 10 years and continue to value his legal and commercial input into my career throughout that time. His support and commercial awareness coupled with his legal knowledge and experience has enabled me to get on with pursuing my career whilst knowing that the business side of things is in very safe hands. He has a calm and effective manner no matter how pressing the demands on him are and I look forward to many more years of support and friendship to come."

- Carlos Acosta

 "I have a high regard for Rohan Solicitors and their senior partner, Rupert Rohan. They have quickly become a valued advisor to the business. They are large enough to cope with the various legal matters that arise when conducting a new commercial venture but small enough to care when a quick response to a basic enquiry is needed. I have always received accurate, astute and timely advice and would not hesitate to recommend them to other small and medium sized businesses needing dependable legal advisors".

- Tom Valentine (CEO for Secret Escapes)

"I have developed a close working relationship with Rupert Rohan over a good number of years and I continue to instruct him on a number of different commercial and personal matters. His firm maintains the professional approach of a large national firm whilst retaining the smaller firm mentality of providing a tailored and personal touch. His commercial as well as legal advice over the years has proved invaluable to me and the businesses I have been involved in. Rohan Solicitors (formerly Rohan & Co.) are always prompt in responding to enquiries and operate a sensible and flexible fee structure. I wouldn't go anywhere else for legal advice and readily recommend Rupert to anyone in need of sound legal advice or assistance".

- David Caswell (CEO for Braindash)

Martyn Gooch
Litigation Partner

Martyn is a partner who heads up the litigation and dispute resolution department at Rohan Solicitors. Martyn is an experienced litigator with notable trial experience and expertise in Civil Procedure. With almost 10 years’ experience in the field, Martyn has retained an excellent settlement success rate.

Martyn conducts legal proceedings for both Claimants and Defendants in the County Court and High Court. He has extensive experience advising commercial and individual clients and his varied caseload ranges from negligence and breach of contract claims through unravelling complex right of way and misrepresentation matters to resolving shareholder disputes and defective product claims. Martyn also regularly advises clients on matters concerning insolvency and bankruptcy.

Martyn offers swift and effective advice tailored to his client’s individual needs. As a keen advocate of alternative dispute resolution Martyn takes a pragmatic and realistic approach towards settlement based on his client’s prospects of success. He will also, where appropriate, advise on the advantages of settling cases out of court.

Martyn joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in 2009 and qualified in 2011. He was appointed as a Partner early 2018.

Areas of service

• Debt Recovery
• Breach of Contract
• Insolvency
• Dispute Resolution
• Civil Litigation
• Contentious Probate
• Property Disputes

Notable Cases

• Varsani v Relfo Ltd (in liquidation) [2010] EWCA Civ 560, All ER (D) 272 and Relfo v Varsani [2014] EWCA Civ 360

Acted at various stages of the two legal actions. This was a complex commercial case, concluding in the Court of Appeal, regarding the alleged laundering of monies. It has subsequently become the leading authority on the law of tracing. Is also now a major authority on unjust enrichment. Additionally, the case determined and clarified the test to be applied when considering the provisions of Part 6 of the Civil Procedure Rules and the decision on the point is recorded in the White Book.

•  Hives v Machin [2017] EWHC 1414 (Ch)

Represented a beneficiary in a case surrounding the application of section 33 of the Wills Act 1837 and interpretation of the phase ‘contrary intention’. The High Court clarified the position in respect of this discrete area of law and held that the child of the beneficiary that had predeceased the testatrix should inherit her Father’s share of the residuary estate as the Will did expressly exclude the provisions of section 33 nor was there good evidence of an intention that it should not apply. The decision allowed the child of the beneficiary to inherit.

• Represented a creditor in the widely reported bankruptcy case of former billionaire James Stunt supporting two high value creditors bankruptcy petitions and assisted with obtaining a bankruptcy order.

• Opposed proceedings issued against the lead singer of an alternative rock band, successfully defending the claim, having it struck out and obtaining a Civil Restraint Order preventing the Claimant from issuing any form of court proceedings for a period of 2 years- one of only 14 that were granted by the courts in that calendar year.
• Contested a fiercely fought claim to remove exit gates over a residential driveway at a high net worth property. Successfully persuading the Claimant to discontinue its claim midway through a three-day trial.

• Acted for a Defendant in a claim that required expert analysis of the terms and scope of a right of way. Succeeded in persuading the court that the words used to describe of the right of way contained in the deeds had a material impact on how that right can be exercised.

 What Clients Say

“As a barrister practicing commercial and property law I see at first hand how Rohan Solicitors deals with disputes, reaching a settlement where possible and fighting with full force where sensible negotiation is impossible, always with an eye to clients’ means and aims. Rohan is a firm that punches well above its weight. If I had a dispute I would not think twice before asking Martyn Gooch for his help.”

- Anonymous

“I should like to express my sincere thanks for your help with my litigation matter. Your help was invaluable with our boundary issues which had a successful outcome”

- Mrs M Palmer

“I can't thank you enough for all of your hard work and the professional service that you have given.  It’s been a pleasure to have been your clients.  Thank you so much and I wish you every success in your future cases.”

- Carol

“I just wanted to thank everyone at Rohans who worked on the case I brought to you. The case involving a potential dispute with a Will was a very emotive matter. Everyone I dealt with at Rohans was very understanding and I immediately felt confident about instructing you. I am so pleased that I did. It was a great relief to have expert advice and I felt assured that I had made the right decision to come to you.

I am particularly grateful to Martyn Gooch for the time he spent going through all the letters and notes I had and for his considered and calm approach.

I just felt Rohan’s cared about getting it right.”

- David

Linsey Pattenden
Company & Commercial Solicitor

Linsey is a solicitor in our Company Commercial department with an expertise in intellectual property rights. Linsey advises many of the Firm’s commercial clients on a range of matters, such as shareholder agreements, investment contracts and SEIS / EIS applications and compliance.

Her clients range from SME’s and start-ups, to multi-million pound global brands. She has noteworthy experience in managing client’s needs on an international level, with trademarks successfully registered in countries such as Australia, Japan, China, the United States, Norway and Russia.

Linsey joined Rohan Solicitors in 2010 as a paralegal in the Litigation Department before undertaking a Training Contract and qualifying as a solicitor in 2014. Linsey now works on company commercial matters alongside Rochelle Carter and senior partner, Rupert Rohan.

Linsey brings with her a calm, can-do attitude that is very much appreciated by her clients.

Areas of service

• Data Protection
• Commercial Financing
• Commercial Property
• Business Start-Ups
• Commercial Contracts
• Business Advisory
• E-Commerce
• Intellectual Property

Rochelle Carter
Commercial Solicitor

Rochelle studied Law with Business at the University of Portsmouth. In May 2013, after completing her Legal Practice Course, she joined Rohan Solicitors as a legal assistant in the Property Department. Rochelle became a trainee solicitor with us in November 2014. Since qualifying early in 2016 Rochelle has been working in our Company & Commercial Department with Linsey where she assists Rupert with commercial and property matters including, business sales and acquisitions, advising companies on their terms and conditions as well as acting for local property developers on the acquisition, sale and re-financing of local developments. She has also developed a specialism in dentistry law, including sales and acquisitions of dental practices both locally and nationwide, advising on associated CQC matters and the transfer of NHS Contracts.

Alice Botting
Solicitor

Alice specialises in Residential Conveyancing at the firm. Alice is experienced in advising clients on a wide range of property transactions.

Alice initially studied Sports Law at Staffordshire University. After completing her Legal Practice Course, she joined Rohan Solicitors in October 2014 as a legal assistant in the Property Department. Alice became a trainee solicitor with us in 2016, before qualifying at the end of 2017.

Alice has a good relationship with the local estate agents and developers and is always ready to spend the time making sure her clients understand the processes involved in their particular transaction.

Areas of service 

• Residential sales and purchases 
• Residential remortgages & redemption of help to buy mortgages
• Residential lease extensions & deeds of variation
• Leasehold enfranchisement 

What clients say...

"...a big thank you to you (Alice) & to Hannah, you both have been first class in your approach to helping me through this process, it’s really appreciated."

- Anonymous, February 2020

"I would also like to use this opportunity to say a big thank you to both you (Hannah) and Alice for all your help, support and guidance over the last few months. You both made the process as smooth and stress free as possible and I would certainly recommend your services to friends and family."

- Anonymous, February 2020

"Thank you both for dealing with this in an efficient and professional manner. I was very impressed with the service and I would be happy to recommend Rohan Solicitors to both family and friends."

- Anonymous, December 2019

"Thank you so much for getting this to go through so smoothly. Your time & work is hugely appreciated. "

- Anonymous, November 2019

Heather Orry
Company & Commercial Solicitor

Heather is a solicitor in our Company Commercial department with an emphasis on Employment law. She has considerable experience in both contentious and non-contentious aspects of employment issues, including drafting and negotiating settlement agreements; advising on disciplinary and grievance matters; drafting employment contracts, staff handbooks and privacy policies. Heather is well-versed in advising both employers and employees.

In addition, she regularly acts for clients on a wide range of company, commercial and property matters where she assists senior partner Rupert Rohan.

Heather studied literature at the University of York. Following graduation, she worked at a well-respected legal aid practice in Greater London. Having combined study and full-time work, in 2008 Heather qualified as a legal executive. After completing her Legal Practice Course at the University of Westminster Heather went on to qualify as a solicitor in 2011.

Heather always takes the time to build an understanding with her clients and provide strategic and pragmatic solutions tailored to their needs.

Areas of service 

• Employment
• Commercial Contracts
• Privacy Policies and GDPR
• Business Sales and Purchases

 Recent Highlights

• Assisted an employee in negotiating an additional £7,000+ tax-free compensation in their settlement agreement.
• Successfully challenged an employer’s notice pay calculation leading to an additional £3,000 being received.

 What Clients Say

"Many thanks for all your assistance, patience and prompt actions Heather, you have been brilliant! I will be very happy to use your firm again for future legal needs, delighted to have made your acquaintance particularly being locals ourselves. "

 - Anonymous

"Thank you very much for your representation of me at this difficult time. You have been a great advisor and it’s been assuring for me through the process that the advise you have given me has been very well placed. "

 - Anonymous

"Heather... it was a pleasure to meet you today, and thank you for the excellent explanations and indeed, your important attention to detail."

 - Anonymous

“I cannot tell you how grateful we are for your help and to the point advice. I’m so happy we have found you!”

- Anonymous

“A pleasure to meet you today, and thank you for the excellent explanations and indeed, your important attention to detail”

- Anonymous

 “It was good to meet you earlier. I would like to thank you not only for dealing with this on my behalf but also for the personable, friendly and uncomplicated way that you have done so - it is most appreciated.”

- Anonymous