Partners & Senior Managers
Tyndallwoods is led by a team of 9 partners and senior managers who have overall responsibility for all aspects of the firm. Please click on the name below for further details.
Judy Dyke
Mike Dyer
Sally Jones
Martin Dyke
Manjit Kaur-Heer
Mark Phillips
Simon Foster
Exdol Mitchell
Natalia Garcia
Lorick Winarskie
Steve Harris
Judy Dyke
Private Client at Edgbaston
Specialisation
Judy joined Tyndallwoods in 1974 straight from university and was articled to her father. She has practised private client law exclusively since 1978, becoming Partner in charge of the Private Client Department in 1982. For over thirty years her working time has been spent drafting Wills, advising in relation to the administration of Estates and Trusts and related taxes and Powers of Attorney. Judy is a member of Law Society Probate Section, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and Solicitors for the Elderly.
Career
Judy was educated at King Edward VI High School for Girls, Edgbaston. She gained LL.B. Hons in Law at University of Birmingham. Recently, Judy was honoured to be one of six finalists in the Solicitor of the Year sector of the Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards 2002 and is a winner of the Birmingham Law Society Legal Pro Bono Award.
Personal
Judy is married to Martin also of Tyndallwoods and is the proud mother of Harriet and Michael.
She is a member of St George's Church, Edgbaston and was on the committee which was successful in raising £485,000 for the Church Restoration Appeal. She also attends and supports Llansallos Church, Cornwall and Portsmouth Cathedral. Judy was pleased to be appointed a Bishop's Visitor by Bishop Mark Santer, served under Bishop John Sentamu and continues in this role for the present Bishop of Birmingham David Urquhart.
As Patron of Edward's Trust and an enthusiastic charity worker, Judy's most recent charitable ventures include collating and publishing a cookbook "Teatime Treats" and working on the production of "Magic Jigsaw - The Musical" for Edward's Trust which was performed during a concert at the refurbished Town Hall in February 2008 in support of Edward's Trust and St Mary's Hospice. Judy has also written and published a book to celebrate 60th anniversary of the Birmingham and Midland Limbless Ex-Service Association and "Funeral Matters - A collection of poems, readings, hymns and music for funeral services". Being actively involved in the Legacy Promotion Campaign, Judy advises several local charities in relation to their legacy promotion initiatives including Edward's Trust, Birmingham Focus on Blindness, St Mary's Hospice, Town Hall/Symphony Hall and the University of Birmingham.
Tyndallwoods have raised money in support of Children in Need over many years with organised cake sales, Partied with Pudsey, run raffles, Gone Dotty for Pudsey, joined Team Pudsey, had auctions, Celebrated Children, ran the Chocoholics Quiz and Word Search. With the help of clients and friends we have raised over £21,000 to date for this wonderful charity.
Judy was honoured to be asked by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Birmingham Randal and Sandra Brew to join the Lord Mayor's Charity Committee in their year in office and was pleased to be part of this successful committee that raised over £100,000 for the Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Edward's Trust and St Mary's Hospice
Each year the Private Client Team at Tyndallwoods organises a Thanksgiving and Memorial Service at their premises in Woodbourne Road when the lights are turned on on the Tree of Light, each light bulb being sponsored in memory of a loved one. In 2008 the proceeds of this sponsorship is given in support of Gumboots UK, a charity working with disadvantaged children in South Africa including those orphaned by AIDS.
Over the years Judy has been pleased to engage with the media.
Her articles are published monthly in The Edge and Harborne Edgbaston Gazette, magazines circulated to homes and businesses in the local area. She is a regular guest on The Ed Doolan Radio WM show and was pleased to be invited to appear on the Big Question with Nicky Campbell to represent Edward's Trust in response to the question "Does our society give too much to animal charities?
Mike Dyer
Private Client Team at Edgbaston
Legal Interests
Mike joined Tyndallwoods straight from university and was articled to his father. He was Managing Partner of the firm for over 30 years and is now Senior Partner. His legal interests have been diverse. In Family work he has dealt with family breakdown and financial issues and also child-care matters - his most challenging advocacy was probably a 10 day High Court hearing in relation to a child-care matter. On one occasion he exercised his Higher Rights of Audience at the Old Bailey addressing an issue of press publicity. His criminal work has ranged from Private Client motoring matters to murder and terrorism cases. He has always had a client base in business advice including contentious matters and litigation. He is currently based at our Edgbaston office with a significant proportion of his caseload focused on caring for elderly clients across a range of needs including "Living Will planning" using Lasting Powers of Attorney. Mike's view is that a breadth of experience has a place in delivering a personal and professional service. Client's problems can often span more than one specialist legal discipline.
Career
Born 13/03/52 Mike was educated at Clifton. He graduated with an MA in Jurisprudence from Oxford University. For better or worse he was in company at St John's College with Tony Blair, though Mike's own subsequent career path has been less varied and more modest.
Personal
Mike is married to Angela who works as a Community Development Manager and they have a son Arthur. Arthur's career path is presently a mystery and not easily described. He was educated at King Edward's School, took a French degree at Leeds and has completed an induction course at Emerson College in relation to Steiner principles and education. Astonishingly he can juggle seven balls, ride a unicycle and has other circus skills. Present direction seems to be towards storytelling and community drama with an interest in youth work and teaching. Who knows where it will all go.
Mike plays regular Saturday tennis at The Priory Club with more enthusiasm than competence. He confesses that he enjoys the chatting afterwards as much as the tennis itself.
He is a member of Resurgence which reflects a concern about green issues. He worries that we are not doing a very good job as trustees of the planet for our children and grandchildren - consuming more than our share of resources and using the environment as a dustbin. He is the Partner in charge of our "Green" policies - which include a commitment to recycling and carbon offsetting.
He has always been an enthusiastic supporter of dance. He has been the chairperson of a community dance company but presently his enthusiasm is expressed as a supporter of the Birmingham Royal Ballet.
A developing hobby is an involvement in fund-raising for several charities.
Sally Jones
Family at Priory Gate
Specialisation
Partner and Convenor of the firm's Family Team, based at the Priory Gate Office. Firm Managing Partner and joint Chair of Finance Committee. Specialises in Children Law, in particular Child Care cases involving the Local Authority. Member of Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association), the Association of Lawyers for Children, BAAF (British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering) Legal Group and the Birmingham Child Care Lawyers Group. Sits on the Birmingham Family Court Business Committee.
Career
Educated at King Edward VI High School for Girls in Edgbaston. LLB (Hons) from University College, London and a Diploma in Child Protection from Kings College, London and the London School of Economics. Joined Tyndallwoods in April 1984, admitted as a solicitor in November 1984 and became a Partner in November 1986. Member of the Law Society Children Panel since 1988.
Personal
Lives in Edgbaston and mother of two boys, Simon and Jake.
Martin Dyke
Property at Edgbaston
Specialisation
Head of the Firm's Property Team based at the Edgbaston Office. Martin has been with the Firm for over 30 years. He specialises in Commercial Property for Developers and Investors, the Sale and Purchase of Businesses and Landlord and Tenant work.
Personal
He is a governor at Blue Coats School and St George's CE Primary School as well as being the President at the Birmingham Midland Limbless Ex-Service Association. Married to Judy also of Tyndallwoods.
Manjit Kaur-Heer
Manjit is the partner in charge of the Litigation team and also the partner responsible for Human Resources matters at the firm. Having qualified in 1990 she has specialised in litigation and her legal experience extends over 16 years to both commercial and private-client litigation. Increasingly her work has involved representation of businesses in the protection of their interests in a variety of legal disputes. She also has a special interest in disputes relating to Wills, Probates and Inheritance matters and has represented numerous clients in this field including minors and patients. She is fluent in Punjabi and English.
Mark Phillips
Immigration at Priory Gate
Specialisation
Partner and with Natalia Garcia, joint head of the Immigration Department. Area of practice is immigration and public law, mainly privately funded Human Rights claims, family, civil partnership, work and business applications; Undertakes advocacy and judicial review work. Author of "Tenants Control" (Council Housing Co-operatives). Has lectured for LIBERTY on civil liberties issues (especially policing and Human Rights Act) and for ILPA and IISA in judicial review and immigration appeals advocacy; Member of Amnesty International and Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants; Member of the Law Society's Immigration Law Committee and Access to Justice Committee. Professional memberships: Law Society, Birmingham Law Society and Immigration Law Practitioners Association.
Career
Paralegal advisor at Stepney Green Law Centre 1973-75. Action/research project on tenants co-operatives 1975-77. Articled clerk at T.V Edwards 1978-1980. Assistant Solicitor at Geffens 1981-83. Senior solicitor at Handsworth Law Centre, Birmingham, 1983-85. Joined Tyndallwoods in 1985, becoming partner in 1988.
Personal
Born 10th May 1947. Educated at Lymm Grammar School, Cheshire, 1958-64; Dame Allen's School, Newcastle on Tyne, 1964-66, Hull University 1967-70; then London School of Economics 1970-71. Married with two children. Leisure interests include cycling. Lives in Shrewsbury.
Simon Foster
Housing at Priory Gate
Specialisation
Partner and Head of the firm's Housing Team based at the Priory Gate office in the City Centre. Specialises in the following aspects of Housing Law: Possession Proceedings, Homelessness, Anti-social Behaviour, Housing Disrepair, Security of Tenure, Unlawful Eviction and Harrassment, Housing Renewal, Disabled Facilities Grants, Housing and Public Law, Housing and Human Rights and Housing Rights.
Career
Qualified as a solicitor in 1985. Worked in a CAB in 1986. Joined Saltley and Nechells Law Centre in June 1986. Specialised in Housing, Immigration and Employment Law. Joined Tyndallwoods in June 1989. Established the firm's Housing Team. Became a partner in May 1990. Has specialised exclusively in Housing Law since 1991. Has acted in numerous reported cases in the area of Housing Law and other areas of law. Member of the Housing Law Practitioners Association.
Personal
Married with 3 children.
Exdol Mitchell
Crime and Prison Law at Priory Gate
Specialisation.
Partner and head of the Firm's Crime Team based at the Priory Gate Office in the city centre. He covers the full range of traditional Criminal work including attendance at Police Stations; Advocacy in the Magistrates Court; preparation of cases for the Crown Court and Advocacy in the Crown Court itself having gained his Higher Advocacy Rights qualification for Criminal Proceedings. He is responsible for the management of professional issues in connection with Crime and for generally ensuring that the criminal work load is properly distributed and dealt with by his team with both speed and efficiency.
Career.
Qualified as a Solicitor in 1981. Has spent all of his subsequent legal career at Tyndallwoods and has been a Partner for over 20 years.
Natalia Garcia
Immigration and National Security at Priory Gate
Specialisation
Partner and with Mark Phillips joint head of the Immigration Team. Area of practice is cases where issues of national security are raised by the Home Office - Control Orders, appeals to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission and related human rights based immigration cases and judicial review work.
Career
Joined Tyndallwoods as a trainee solicitor in 1994 and has remained with the firm since then - qualifying as a solicitor in 1996 and becoming a partner in 2004.
Lorick Winarskie
Admitted as a solicitor in 1996. Prior to admission had 10 years experience in the area of Housing Law whilst working in the voluntary sector. Associate Solicitor at previous firm until March 2000, acting as the firm's Franchise Supervisor for Housing, Debt, Welfare Benefits and Franchise Representative. Joined Tyndallwoods in October 2000. Areas of specialisation include Housing, Immigration, and Welfare Benefits. Was awarded an M.A. in Immigration Law Policy & Practice at UCE in 2001. Skills include advocacy, litigation and negotiation. Partner with Tyndallwoods in the Housing Team since June 2006.
Steve Harris
Steve is the Firm's Practice Manager. He joined us in 2006. His previous experience includes 10 years with leading UK accounting firm, Grant Thornton and 7 years as Business Development Director for an international engineering group based in Singapore. Steve also supports the Private Client Team in the administration of high net worth estates. His logical mind and high level of numeracy are great assets to the Firm.