Member Profiles

Sarah is an experienced valuer with a career spanning over 21 years, most of which has been in the valuation team at Savills (after four years in the retail investment team).  She provides valuation advice for a variety of purposes including dispute resolution, loan security, taxation, internal purposes and Charities Act.  She specialises in valuing commercial and development properties.  Sarah is also an RICS Registered Valuer and an RICS Registered Expert Witness with circa 15 years’ experience providing expert valuation advice. Internal Responsibilities Sarah is currently joint head of Savills' internal expert witness steering group.  Over the course of 2010-2013, she was the valuation best practice committee representative for Savills’ UK commercial valuation division. Education, Qualifications and Affiliations RICS Registered Expert Witness - May 2022; RICS Expert Witness Certificate - January 2022; RICS Registered Valuer - 2010 onwards; Member RICS - 2004 onwards; MA Property Valuation and Law, City University – 2004; and MA Geography, Downing College, University of Cambridge – 2002.

Having advised on around 200 MW of renewable energy in the UK and elsewhere Tessa Laws is delighted to be viewed as an expert in negotiating on energy contracts, power purchase arrangements, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and operation & maintenance (O&M) agreements.

Frances Coulson is Head of Insolvency & Litgation at Moon Beever LLP. She is a Past president of R3 (The Association of Restructuring Professionals) and a Council & Policy Group Member. She runs a substantial team of insolvency professionals at all levels used to dealing with a wide variety of domestic and cross border insolvency issues for office holders, creditors, directors, lenders and individuals.

Complex Corporate transactions involving technology and IP Fintech and Payments Technology: API Licensing / Blockchain / PSD2 / FS Apps FS Reg: Consumer Credit, PPI, FCA/PRA, PSD2, FCA Handbook, ICOBS Aviation/Travel Tech: MaaS, PSS, GDS, IFE, On-board WiFi, Satellite connectivity Outsourcing / Cross-border transactions IT&T Contracts Intellectual Property: structuring and enforcement Data Protection / GDPR / Data Privacy Media & Advertising Law Defamation Consumer and competition law Commercial and Insurance Disputes

Matthew graduated from Leicester University with First Class honours in Law in 2004. After achieving a distinction in the LPC he qualified at Barlow Lyde & Gilbert in 2009 and moved to HFW in 2011. Matthew joined MFB in 2018 and was promoted to partner in 2019. Matthew has a broad practice advising primarily on contentious matters across wet and dry shipping. He has particular expertise in the investigation and handling of disputes arising out of marine casualties including groundings, collisions and salvage cases. Over recent years Matthew has been closely involved in a number of high profile casualties including the "FRONT ALTAIR", "FORTUNA", "THORCO LINEAGE", “KEA TRADER” and “AGIA ZONI II”.  His experience includes advising on complex transhipment and wreck removal operations as well as legal issues arising from limitation of liability, general average, unsafe ports, pollution and the carriage of dangerous goods. Matthew also has extensive dry shipping litigation experience and has handled a wide range of disputes for shipowners, charterers, cargo interests and their respective insurers. He has advised on numerous cases arising out of vessel sharing arrangements, charter parties, bills of lading, pool agreements and sale contracts. Over recent years Matthew has also developed a detailed knowledge of cyber security issues in the marine market. He has a number of published articles on the subject and gives regular presentations to clients and industry groups on this, and other topics of interest.