Have you got a legal problem or a question that needs to be answered by an expert? If so, perhaps we can help.

The Review has teamed up with local solictors Debenhams Ottoway – sponsor of our Community Gold Awards – to offer our readers a service that could help people throughout the district.

Simply email your question to legaleye@dolegal.co.uk and it will then be passed on to the relevant partner.

The Review will publish a Legal Eye column at least once a month and online at www.stalbansreview.co.uk where your questions will be answered.

Profile of individuals: Nicholas Turner – partner and head of the private client department.

Nick has been with the firm since 1999. Prior to joining the firm he practised in London with Pickering Kenyon and Hall Clark. He specialises in wills, probate, trusts, tax, charities and pPowers of attorney. Nick is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Hertfordshire Law Society Trust and Probate Committee and the Law Society Probate Section.

Helen Young – partner and head of the family department.

Helen has been with the firm for ten years. Prior to joining the firm she practised in London in private practice and in local government. She specialises in all aspects of matrimonial and family matters including financial disputes and cases involving children. She is a trained collaborative lawyer and is a committee member of Herfordshire Resolution. She is also a member of the Advanced tier of the Law Society Family Law Panel.

Kate Carroll – partner and head of the litigation/dispute resolution department Kate has been with the firm since she was a trainee solicitor. She specialises in property disputes and employment law. Kate was the Millennium President of the Hertfordshire Law Society and has chaired the Society’s Civil Litigation Committee.

She sits on the St Albans’ County Court Users’ Committee and is the Company Secretary and a Trustee of the St Albans District Citizens Advice Bureau.

Louise Attrup – partner and head of the employment law department Louise has more than ten years’ post-qualification litigation experience. She has litigated a variety of civil claims in the county courts, the high courts, employment tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal. She regularly advises on contracts of employment, unfair dismissal claims, discrimination law, redundancy and organisational change.

Jonathan Foy – partner, notary public and head of the commercial and property department Jonathan has been with the firm for eight years. He specialises in all aspects of commercial property. He trained and worked for several years as an accountant earlier in his career and is also a qualified notary public.

Bernadette Hillman – partner and head of the planning law department Bernadette joined the firm in 2008. She previously practised in London both in private practice and as an in-house lawyer for a property development company and has practised in St Albans since 1999. She specialises in all aspects of planning law advising private and commercial property owners and developers, and other lawyers, on the practical realities of planning. She can advise on planning enforcement and assist with planning appeals and inquiries and negotiating agreements.

Bernadette is a member of the Law Society’s Planning Panel and a legal associate of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Hugh Mulley – solicitor, company commercial department Hugh is a highly experienced corporate and commercial lawyer. He qualified with City Solicitors, Lovells in 1990 and joined the firm in 2007. He advises on buying and selling companies and businesses, shareholders and joint venture agreements, terms and conditions of business, commercial agreements such as distribution agreements and loan agreements. Hugh is a member of the Institute of Directors and has a diploma in corporate finance.

Debenhams Ottaway is a firm that is devoted to the principles of excellent service, specialisation and a sense of community.

It believes in looking at the complete legal needs of its clients and providing an all-encompassing service to meet those needs.

Its specialist teams provide the highest quality of advice in their areas of law.