Helen Walker

Case manager

Helen is a case manager in the residential property team, based in the Guildford office.

She specialises in freehold and leasehold conveyancing, re-mortgages and transfers of equity. Helen graduated with a law degree and joined the firm in 2005. She has subsequently completed her training to become a graduate member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.

Her client base ranges from first time buyers to high net worth individuals, private banks and corporates with extensive portfolios.

Recent work highlights

Refinancing buy-to-let property portfolios

Advising clients during the refinancing of their buy-to-let property portfolios, ensuring smooth transactions and compliance with lending requirements.

Residential property transactions for UK and overseas clients

Advising both UK-based and international individuals and companies on the legal aspects of buying and selling residential properties across various jurisdictions.

Private bank acquisitions of property charges

Acting on behalf of private banks in securing and registering charges over residential properties as part of their lending and investment activities.

Jess Newport

Case manager

Jess is a Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys-qualified senior paralegal working within the intellectual property team, with a particular focus on trade mark and design matters.

Based in the firm’s Oxford office, she has extensive experience managing national and international trade mark and design portfolios, including advising on filing, maintenance and recordal programmes. Jess also assists the wider team with a range of contentious and non-contentious intellectual property matters, and is actively involved in business development and know-how initiatives. She has been recognised in the Legal 500 as a recommended individual within Penningtons’ intellectual property team, an acknowledgment that is testament to the dedication and excellence she strives to provide to clients.

I thoroughly enjoy working in the constantly-evolving field of intellectual property and take great satisfaction in helping clients identify, protect, commercialise and enforce their valuable brands and other intellectual property assets. Each day presents new and unique challenges and opportunities.

Jess Newport, Case manager

Jess joined the trade mark team in April 2019, having previously held other roles within Penningtons Manches Cooper. Her journey through different positions has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of the firm’s culture, operations and client base. Beyond her fee-earning role, Jess is actively involved in the firm’s community initiatives. She serves as the co-chair of the Oxford office social committee and is a key member of the cross-office junior networking committee. Her passion for collaborative work across offices highlights her commitment to fostering a connected and dynamic workplace culture.

Recent work highlights

International refiling project

Advising a well-known motorsports team on a complex and extensive undertaking, which involved close collaboration with the client’s internal counsel and the firm’s established network of overseas associates in order to navigate a range of distinct local procedures and requirements.

Global transfer and recordal project

Attending to the diligent and timely recordal of change in ownership for a leading technology client across more than 20 territories as part of a global intra-group transfer, with the support of our local associates where necessary.

Rebranding project

Assisting one of the largest animal welfare organisations with a substantial rebranding project to mark its 200th anniversary, which involved considerable strategic input to ensure complete coverage and protection of its new branding and livery.

Gemma Dixon

Case manager

Gemma is a case manager in the housing team, based in the Basingstoke office.

She specialises in sales and homeownership matters and advises on plot sales, staircasings, lease extensions, Right to Buy/Right to Acquire and title rectification queries. Gemma acts on behalf of several registered providers, including some of the largest housing associations in the UK.

Gemma has over 20 years’ experience in residential property, including over 15 years at Penningtons Manches Cooper.

Recent work highlights

Registered provider staircasing

Exceeding all required targets for staircasing transactions for a large registered provider.

After-sales transactions

Facilitating after-sales transactions for several registered providers.

Stamp Duty exemption deadlines

Successfully completing a record number of transactions in time for recent Stamp Duty exemption deadlines.

Jacqueline Easter

Case manager

Jacqueline is a case manager in the housing team, based in the London office.

She specialises in sales and home ownership matters, including shared ownership plot sales, staircasing, resales, and a variety of conveyancing instructions for housing association clients.

Jacqueline has nearly 20 years’ experience in residential property, and has previously specialised in residential, new build and shared ownership conveyancing for both private individuals and housing associations.

Recent work highlights

Housing association flagship development

Acted as a preferred lawyer for buyers for a major housing association’s flagship development.

Shared ownership plot sales

Acted for a large housing association in their shared ownership plot sales ensuring year end sales were achieved.