Meet the Team

Alice Brett

Solicitor and Managing Partner, Property Department
Colchester
Alice qualified as a Solicitor into the Civil Litigation Department in September 2012. She joined the Partnership in April 2015 and now specialises in residential property. Alongside the law, Alice is the chair of the board of trustees for Grassroots, a charity which helps small groups in Colchester and Tendring.

Bryan Johnston

Solicitor, Head of Litigation Department and Senior Partner
Colchester
Bryan is a Solicitor and joint managing partner of GoodyBurrett LLP. He specialises in commercial contract negotiation, commercial litigation, civil litigation and employment law. He is also a qualified mediator.  Bryan is the firm’s Compliance Officer for Financial Affairs (COFA).

Claire Lane

Secretary Private Client Department
Colchester
Claire joined GoodyBurrett in April 2017 in the Private Client department. Outside of work Claire enjoys sending time with her husband and two children. Claire also enjoys running and socialising with friends.

David Brown

Non-Practicing Solicitor,Consultant
Colchester
David retired after 41 years. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1972 after graduating with an honours law degree from the London School of Economics. David continues to assist by providing guidance to colleagues and assisting the firm with regulatory and compliance matters. Outside the law his interests are target shooting, both static and clay pigeon, dog walking and reading.

Emma Darnell

Finance Administrator
Colchester
After working in Accounts for the NHS for 12 years Emma was keen for a change in direction and joined the firm in February 2015. Emma supports the Linda (the practice manager) in the accounts department with all aspects of running the accounts side of the firm.Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her son.

Hayley Songhurst

Solicitor, Litigation Department
Colchester
Hayley is a solicitor. She has a wide range of expertise including contractual and commercial disputes, negligence, contested probate, consumer issues and debt recovery. Hayley has a keen interest in Insolvency Law and has obtained a Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency Law.
Hayley ensures that she works with the client to understand their goals to achieve the best possible outcome.

Helen Firth

Solicitor, Private Client Department
Colchester
Helen is a Solicitor in our Private Client Department and qualified in 2016. Since qualifying Helen has focussed on Court of Protection and Mental Capacity matters, advising clients and their families with matters both in The Court of Protection and the High Court. Helen is a qualified Dementia Friend, and has the expertise to assist clients who have dementia.

Jane Maher

Secretary to Sue Mullis, Private Client Department
Colchester
Jane works as a secretary in the Private Client Department providing support to Sue Mullis. Jane previously worked for GoodyBurrett for over 8 years but after a brief interlude with other Solicitors firms has now returned ‘home’. When not at work Jane enjoys sunny holidays, cycling for leisure, socialising with friends and walking her dog, Sophie.

Jess Newton

Trainee Solicitor
Colchester
Jess graduated from the University of Portsmouth in 2016 and went on to complete her Legal Practice Course and LLM in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Law, graduating in April 2018. Jess currently works in the Corporate Commercial department as the first seat of her training contract dealing with all aspects of business law.

Jennifer Staniland

Property Secretary
Dunmow

Jennifer joined the Dunmow office in 2017. Jennifer has one daughter who, after graduating from Bristol University 3 years ago and gaining employment in London has now left home so Jennifer has plenty of time to pursue her own interests. Mostly these consist of decorating, shopping, travel and socialising with family and friends.

Linda Steward

Practice Manager
Colchester
Linda originally joined Budd Martin Burrett in November 1997. She continued working for GoodyBurrett when Goodys and Budd Martin Burrett merged in 2007. Linda is the Office Manager and has considerable experience in the financial side of family and children matters.

Lizzie Cayford

Secretary to Cate Cussell, Property Department
Colchester
Lizzie had over 8 years’ experience working within the legal sector when she started working at GoodyBurrett in 2014. Interests outside of work include enjoying food & drink with family & friends, reading and travelling (when funds & time allow). Lizzie is Currently on Maternity leave.

Nicola Gooding

Secretary, Family Department
Colchester
Nicola joined GoodyBurrett LLP in April 2014, and works in the Family Department. Outside of work, Nicola enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.

Paul Johnson

Solicitor and Partner, Property Department
Dunmow
Paul is a solicitor and was formerly a Partner of Goodys. He re-joined the firm at the end of 2015 having previously run his own practice. Paul graduated with a First Class Honours degree in law and has extensive experience in all aspects of residential and commercial property work having specialised in those areas since qualification.

Stephen Avila

Solicitor, Head of Commercial Department
Colchester
Stephen qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and prior to joining us to lead our commercial team in June 2018 was an Associate Solicitor with a well known regional firm. Stephen is recognised by the Legal 500 and advises on a wide range of commercial and corporate matters with a strong focus on working with technology and digital focused businesses, business sales, investment rounds and joint ventures.

Sue Mullis

Legal Executive, Head of Private Client Department
Colchester
Sue Mullis is the Head of our Private Client Department. She originally started working with Goody Bentley & Son in 1974 as secretary to the late Bernard Bentley. Sue subsequently came back to the firm after having children and went on to qualify as a Legal Executive specialising in Wills, Trusts and Probate in 1994.

Victoria Bibby (White)

Solicitor, Private Client Department
Colchester
Victoria qualified as a solicitor in 2001 and has worked for the firm since 2005. She joined the Private Client Department upon her return from maternity leave, after having her second daughter and enjoys her work as part of the team. Outside of work Victoria spends most of her time with her two daughters. When she gets time she also enjoys walking and Pilates.

Wendy Johnston

Secretary, Litigation Department and Family Department
Colchester
Wendy has worked for GoodyBurrett LLP for a number of years. She is married to Bryan and has two children and three step children. When she is not working, she is to be found pounding the pavements and cycling the streets of Colchester, training for half-marathons and marathons which take place up and down the country.