OUR PEOPLE

Kerry Underwood

Kerry is an acknowledged expert on funding, costs, regulatory matters relating to fee arrangements between solicitors and clients, and the legal system generally.

He is the author of several books on these matters.

He is a former Judge, current author, lecturer, broadcaster and a former Councillor and Parliamentary Candidate. 

Kerry has extensive experience in virtually all types of litigation and has appeared as an advocate in many high profile and reported cases.

Kerry is mentioned in the Dictionary of International Biography, Debrett’s People of Today and American Biography Institute – Great Minds of the 21st Century. Kerry is a Regional Committee Member of the Lord’s Taverners Charity for disadvantaged children and is Knight Commander of the Order of St John (for charity work).

Kerry travels extensively and home is his beloved adopted town of Hemel Hempstead.

In his spare time Kerry enjoys watching cricket and football and can be found during the football season cheering on QPR and Hemel Hempstead Town FC. Underwoods Solicitors is a Hemel Hempstead Business Ambassador. He also enjoys gardening and reading. Nelson Mandela, TS Eliot and Elvis are amongst his heroes.

kerry.underwood@lawabroad.co.uk

Robert Males

Robert has over 25 years’ experience in a wide range of litigation matters including personal injury, clinical negligence and building and contract disputes. He also has considerable experience on advising companies both small and large on a range of business issues. He has a particular specialism in stress at work claims having been successful in the leading case of Dickins v O2 in the Court of Appeal. 

Robert has contributed to Butterworths Personal Injury Law service and other legal journals. Robert also appears on local radio and national radio as an expert on a variety of legal issues.

Robert is a member of the Lord's Taverners Charity for disadvantaged children. 

Robert is also a board member of Hemel Hempstead Business Ambassadors and legal adviser to Hemel Hempstead Town Football Club. 

In his spare time Robert can be found umpiring hockey games or aiming for a hole in one on the golf course.

robert.males@lawabroad.co.uk

Caitlin Burger

Caitlin has re-joined Underwoods Solicitors as Conveyancing Manager having previously worked for Underwoods in their South African Office as Office Manager.

Caitlin has spent the last 6 years in busy residential and commercial real estate departments of law firms and specialises in residential conveyancing, having worked with both individual clients and developers.

Caitlin has a passion for conveyancing and understands that moving home can be a stressful time for her clients and is committed to providing a service second to none, and making sure her clients are informed and updated every step of the way. 

Caitlin's life away from work is dedicated to her family and her rescue animals. She loves horse riding, cooking, reading and anything to do with Harry Potter. 

caitlin.burger@lawabroad.co.uk

Imtiaz Khan

Imtiaz is a solicitor who joined Underwoods in April 2019. He deals with a wide range of private client matters including Probate, Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorneys.

Imtiaz completed his LLB at the University of Buckingham and went further to complete his LPC at the University of Hertfordshire. Following the completion of studies, Imtiaz joined a High Street firm in Hertfordshire where he secured a Training Contract. Imtiaz was admitted to the Rolls of Solicitors in February 2019. 

In his spare time Imtiaz enjoys socialising with friends and family.

imtiaz.khan@lawabroad.co.uk

Jatin Patel

Jatin is training to become a Solicitor. After completing his LLB and LPC Jatin secured the positon of Trainee Solicitor at Underwoods Solicitors.

Jatin is involved within all the areas of law that Underwoods deal with and works alongside the Partners and Solicitors on their caseloads as well as carrying out various administrative tasks.

Jatin enjoys his time off work socialising with his friends and family. He keeps active by attending the gym and regular yoga sessions. Jatin also has a keen interest in football and supports his hometown club, Aston Villa.

jatin.patel@lawabroad.co.uk

Poppy Holmes

Poppy is training to become a Solicitor and joined the Underwoods team in July 2019 after completing her LLB and LPC. She is involved within all areas of law and works alongside the Partners on their caseloads as well as carrying out various administrative tasks. 

Driven by a desire to learn, Poppy is currently completing her Masters and writing a dissertation titled ‘to what extent does the law protects male victims of Domestic Violence in the UK’. 

Outside of work, Poppy volunteers at Centre 33, a homeless shelter which provides hot food and drink to the homeless and disadvantaged in St Albans. 

In her free time Poppy enjoys travelling, shopping and spending time with her family and friends. 

poppy.holmes@lawabroad.co.uk

Claire Long

Claire is responsible for all marketing and business development activities within the firm including direct marketing, digital marketing, advertising, seminar and event planning, sponsorship and PR.

Claire has over thirteen years’ marketing experience within the professional services industry.  

With a height of only 4ft 10.5in Claire is smaller than petite Australian singer Kylie Minogue.

In her spare time Claire enjoys keeping fit, trips to the theatre and spending quality family time with her husband and two daughters.

claire.long@lawabroad.co.uk

Phoebe Ranger

Phoebe started work at Underwoods part time when she was 16 in-between studying for her A Levels and has continued to work part time whilst studying for her degree in musical theatre. Phoebe is currently studying for her masters before continuing to do a PhD. 

Phoebe is responsible for answering and dealing with incoming telephone and email queries and welcoming clients into the office, opening and closing client files, scanning and destroying, and supporting the Solicitors and Partners with any administration work that needs doing.

In her spare time Phoebe enjoys going to the gym, spending time with friends and reading. 

phoebe.ranger@lawabroad.co.uk

Tracy Ontong

Tracy Ontong, born in Paarl the heart of the Boland Cape, joined the company in 2015 as a legal typist and is based in the South African office. Tracy took over general management of the company and works closely with the Senior Partner of the firm.

Her role involves administration in the office as well as Human Resources and financial duties.

In her spare time she enjoys listening to music, reading and being close to the beach. She has a son and absolutely loves spending time with him.  

tracy@lawabroad.net 

JP La Grange

JP La Grange works as a Legal Secretary, contributing to the typing of legal documents etc.

JP enjoys writing articles, some of which have appeared in school newspapers. He is also a brilliant artist and enjoys drawing and has done illustrations for books and other forms of media.

He also loves music and in his spare time plays the guitar. He is a quiet person and so a fitting saying that describes him would be “Still waters run deep”.

jp@lawabroad.net

Charney Lategan

Charney Lategan, born in Paarl, works for Underwoods Solicitors as a Legal Secretary based at the South African office.

She is a Human Resource Management Graduate and has four years of  experience in various roles such as Receptionist, Admin Assistant, Data Capturer and HR In-service Trainee.

Charney has a passion for working with people, being client orientated as well as working with fellow employees. She believes being professional and consistent all the time is a very important aspect.

In her spare time Charney enjoys music, reading and the company of her beautiful funny daughter.

charney@lawabroad.net

Michelle Germishuys

Michelle Germishuys – Born in Paarl, is a legal secretary and is based at the South African office.

Michelle has been in the retail industry for 10 years. She is well organised and considers prioritising of importance. Michelle is a team player and aims to satisfy organisational goals as well as her own. When there is an opportunity to learn new things and gain more experience, Michelle takes it as a challenge and makes the best of it.

Michelle enjoys listening to music, reading and spending every possible minute she can with her precious daughter. 

Dominique Simpson

Dominique was born in Cape Town and raised in Paarl and is an undergraduate in Business Management and Entrepreneurship. She has worked in different fields of administration as well as retail groups. 

Dominique has a love for working with disabled children, since her son was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and she believes in seeing the good in any human being. 

She comes from a musical background, although cannot sing or play an instrument and loves spending her free time reading or going to historical buildings.