Ceri Bater – Director and Solicitor

- Commercial and Civil Dispute Resolution
- Debt Recovery Services
- Financial Services Litigation
- Professional Negligence
- Employment Law
t: 07446 170650
e: [email protected]
John Watkins – Consultant Solicitor

John has extensive experience in resolving commercial disputes, having worked at one of the world’s leading international law firms. He has represented a wide range of clients from multi-national investment banks and Premier League football clubs to small businesses and individuals.
He always focuses on obtaining the best commercial outcome for his clients and often achieves this through early negotiation or mediation. Sometimes disputes require a determination by a court and he has represented clients in the County Court, High Court (Administrative, Queen’s Bench and Chancery Divisions), Court of Appeal and the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Recommended Lawyer in the Legal 500: “A ‘very capable litigator’, the ‘technically accomplished’ Watkins is noted for his ‘particular strength at handling professional negligence cases’.
John can assist with:
- Asset tracing
- Banking disputes
- Company, Director, Shareholder and Partnership disputes
- Competition
- Contractual disputes
- Debt Recovery
- Defamation
- Fraud
- Injunctions especially Freezing Orders but also Search Orders and other commercial injunctions
- Judicial Review
- Professional negligence
- Property disputes
t: 07557 050215
e: [email protected]
Elaine Richardson – Consultant Solicitor
After starting her legal career in 1996, Elaine qualified as a solicitor in 2011 and also is experienced in resolving matters by mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. Elaine has over 15 years’ litigation experience, specialising in professional negligence and fraud claims. Prior to joining Bater Law, Elaine worked at global law firm Eversheds Sutherland in the Financial Services Dispute Resolution department working with major financial institutions, assisting in the recovery of millions of pounds in damages. Elaine has regularly worked on large scale group actions which involve complex issues regarding insolvency and insurance coverage.
Elaine can assist you with:
- Professional negligence
- Fraud
- Financial services litigation
- Commercial dispute resolution
- Debt recovery
t: 07823 405668
e: [email protected]
Nicola Caluan – Consultant Chartered Legal Executive
Nicola is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Legal Executives, qualifying in 2003. Nicola specialises in all aspects of litigation, gaining significant experience working for Eversheds LLP for 14 years in the Financial Services Dispute Resolution Team where she specialised in banking and financial services litigation (both unsecured and secured finance) on behalf of major financial companies. Her work involved every stage of the litigation process in addition to pre-litigation and post litigation (to include different methods of enforcement).
Reported Cases:
The work included some complex litigation with one case in particular being reported and remains as good authority on the question of capitalisation and securitisation [Santander -v- Harrison and Another [2013] EWHC 199 (QB) 7 February 2013].
Nicola can assist with:
- Debt recovery
- Breach of contract matters
- Dispute Resolution
- Financial Services litigation
- Professional Negligence
- Landlord & Tenant disputes including possession proceedings and enforcement
- Property litigation
t: 07880 333859
e: [email protected]
Elizabeth Jones – Consultant Solicitor
Elizabeth Jones is a qualified solicitor with over 11 years experience in civil law. She obtained her 2:1 Honours degree from the University of Glamorgan and qualified as a Barrister (non-practising) undertaking her Bar Vocational Course in London. Having practised in London and returning to South Wales, Elizabeth specialises in Private Client Law.
Elizabeth is an expert in a range of Private Client Services. From Will Drafting to Probate and Estate Administration, Lasting Power of Attorney and Court of Protection matters. Elizabeth also acts as Professional Deputy and Attorney for clients who require that service. Elizabeth also has a weekly legal show on Radio Cardiff discussing legal matters.
Elizabeth can assist with:
- Wills
- Estate planning
- Probate
- Estate administration
- Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Court of Protection (Deputy, Applications, Statutory Wills)
- Trusts
t: 07894 509020
e: [email protected]
Bethan Southcombe – Consultant Solicitor
Bethan has specialised in employment law since 1999. She qualified as an employment solicitor in 2006 after studying part time whilst working as a Legal Executive.
Bethan has experience in advising both employers and employees on all aspects of employment. Bethan has advocacy experience representing both individuals and businesses at Employment Tribunals and she regularly delivers seminars and training sessions.
Bethan has represented a large number of businesses from a wide range of sectors which has given her a wide range of experience and knowledge of different industries. She has assisted companies with issues involving long term sickness absences, all manners of discrimination, dismissals, advising and assisting with disciplinary and grievance procedures. A number of her clients have a Trade Union presence, and she therefore has experience in dealing with unions as well as dealing with the care sector and the additional safeguarding issues that are entailed.
In addition to advising businesses, Bethan also advises and represents individuals with Settlement Agreements and Employment Tribunals. She has experience in advising individuals on all areas of employment law, including TUPE, unfair dismissal, sex, race and disability discrimination.
t: 07547705507
Chrissie Monnelly – Legal Support/Paralegal
Chrissie provides full PA, paralegal and secretarial support to the Director and Consultant Solicitors. Chrissie assists in the smooth running of Bater Law on a day to day basis, with high levels of client service. Chrissie obtained a law degree from Cardiff University in 2012 and for almost 15 years has provided supported for solicitors in the Bristol and South Wales area, ranging from sole practitioners to international law firms, and everything in between. With a diverse background in many different areas of law, including Family, Matrimonial and Children Act, Employment, Corporate, Commercial, Litigation and Criminal, Chrissie can offer a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Kelly Lindell – Admin Assistant
Lucy Richards – Solicitor
Bater Law Ltd work alongside other solicitor firms so that if they cannot assist with your query they have trusted partners who they have worked with for many years and can refer you to them with full confidence that they will look after you.