Team Listing

Anita has been with the Firm since 1989.  She joined as a Trainee Solicitor, before qualifying in October 1991 and eventually becoming a Partner in the Practice with effect from 1st January 1995.

Between 2004-2022 Anita was the Firm’s Managing Partner and was responsible for first guiding the Firm through Lexcel Accreditation in 2013.

Anita’s work is split between Family Law and Criminal Litigation.

With respect to Family Law, Anita is a Member of Resolution, which is an organisation of Family Lawyers who attempt to resolve family disputes and divorce on a non-confrontational basis.  Having said that, if family disputes do have to be settled by the Court, then Anita has over 33 years experience of advocacy.

Anita has undertaken all types of family work from matters concerning children to complex divorces involving several million pounds’ worth of assets.

So far as Criminal Litigation is concerned, Anita is a Member of the Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme. Her experience has involved her undertaking defence work of a wide nature ranging from the most serious crimes to constructing technical defences for motoring matters.

Outside of work, Anita served for 15 years on the Board of Governors at St Johns Primary School and for 12 years on the Board of Governors at Spalding High School.

She is married with two children.

David was born and brought up near Grimsby and after obtaining a Law Degree from Sheffield University joined Maples in September 1982 as a Trainee Solicitor.  After qualifying in October 1984 he became a Partner in January 1986.

David specialises in Commercial Property and is well respected for his work on behalf of some of the area’s leading property developers.  The work ranges from the sale and purchase of individual plots to larger estates of 300 plus dwellings and includes complex acquisitions.

James qualified as a Solicitor in September 1996, having completed his Articles in his hometown of Blackpool.  James joined the Firm in 1997, and became a Partner in January 2001.

James specialises in Commercial Conveyancing (particularly with a Leasehold slant), Business Transfers and Company matters.

Outside of work James likes to travel and is a very keen and enthusiastic skier.

Jane joined Maples in September 2000. In January 2007 she became a Partner of the newly formed Limited Liability Partnership.

Jane is head of our Private Client Department and covers all areas of Wills, Probate and Trust Law.

Outside of work, Jane enjoys spending time with her young family.

Gemma joined Maples Solicitors LLP in 2007 as a Trainee Solicitor, having obtained a First Class law degree at Liverpool John Moores University and commendation on the Legal Practice Course at the BPP Law School.

Gemma qualified as a solicitor with the firm in November 2009 and was made a Partner on 1st January 2015. Gemma currently heads up our Doncaster office but visits the Spalding office regularly and still acts for a number of Spalding clients.

Since qualification Gemma has worked in the firm’s commercial team and has gained a wealth of experience in a wide range of matters from advising on the best type of business media and drafting any required constitutional documentation, to the buying and selling of a business and drafting or reviewing terms and conditions or other commercial contracts, including employment contracts.

Gemma also undertakes a range of commercial property work, which she finds compliments the pure commercial elements of her work.

Outside of work, Gemma enjoys reading and spending time with her young family.

Chris is Spalding born and bred and joined Maples as an Office Junior in August 2001 straight from Spalding Grammar School at the age of 17.

Over the years Chris has progressed within the firm, initially taking over the role of IT Manager in 2003 and then together with acting as assistant Legal Cashier from 2005 onwards.

Chris assumed the role of Office Manager in 2013 and then in 2017 stepped up to also become our Senior Legal Cashier.

From 1st January 2021, Chris was made a Partner of the firm in his 20th year after starting with us.

In January 2023 Chris took over from Anita Toal as the firm's Managing Partner and oversees the firm’s compliance for Lexcel, CQS and the like, aswell as all the finances and administration within the firm from preparing Estate Accounts for the Probate Department to dealing with all HR matters including recruitment (and everything in between!). Chris is also the firms COFA (Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration).

Outside of work, Chris combines his love of sport and motorbikes with spending time with his young family. Chris can also turn his hand to most things, from property renovation to building a campervan, he's probably done it!

Faye joined Maples Solicitors in 2011 as a Newly Qualified Solicitor and on 1st January 2023 was made a Partner in the firm.

Faye works within our Private Client department covering the preparation of Wills and Powers of Attorney, assisting in the administration of estates and advising on inheritance tax and trust documentation where appropriate.  Faye also specialises in matters concerning residential care including how care will be funded, resolving disputes with the Lincolnshire County Council and also applying for and appealing decisions regarding NHS Continuing Healthcare.

In addition, Faye assists the residential conveyancing department.

Outside of work Faye enjoys spending time with her three young sons.

Jamie started at Maples in 2006 and moved to the Private Client Department in 2008 where she has gained much experience within this area of law over the years. She commenced her Chartered Legal Executive training in 2013 and during her training she received many distinctions for the examinations that she took. In her last exam she scored the highest mark in the country for an examination. Jamie qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive in 2019.  

On 1st January 2023 Jamie was made Partner. 

Jamie advises clients in relation to Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney as well as administering estates ranging from small, more simple estates to those that are more complex involving foreign assets, intestacies or high values.

In her free time Jamie enjoys spending time with her partner, family and friends.

Donna re-joined Maples in early 2018 on her return from Australia and practises as a Licensed Conveyancer (following her recent conversion from a Chartered Legal Executive).

Donna was made a Partner of the firm on the 1st January 2023 and now heads up our Residential Conveyancing department.  She has significant experience dealing with all aspects of Residential Conveyancing work from sales and purchases to transfers of equity and shared ownership.

Laura joined Maples in 2001 and moved to the litigation department where she became a Qualified Specialist Paralegal in Civil Litigation.  More recently Laura has undertaken additional training in support of her joining our Residential Conveyancing Team and in January 2023 also obtained her Qualified Specialist Paralegal qualification in that area of law too. In November 2023 Laura became a Fellow of the Institute of Paralegals.  Laura came to Maples straight from college having been born and educated locally. 

Laura enjoys spending time with her family and two children.  Laura is a member of the PTA at her daughters’ school and accompanies the Spalding Rotary in the annual Sleigh Run around Spalding town. 

Cleo joined our Commercial Property team in July 2024.

Cleo is an award winning solicitor having been awarded the In-House Lawyer of the Year Legal Award (2022 – 2023) for Birmingham Law Society and was a runner up for the Lawyer of the Year award for Birmingham’s Black Lawyers. She has over 10 years post qualification experience specialising in In-House Legal Consultancy, Commercial Contract and Commercial Property Law.

Previously, Cleo was the Head of Legal for one of the UK’s largest housing organisation, for over 5 years. In this role, she oversaw the diverse legal aspects of  its property portfolio of over 40,000 properties with over 70,000 customers across 54 local authorities. Her role also involved acting in a legal advisory capacity to the Board, Senior Management Team and various departments in the organisation. Cleo also worked separately as Legal Freelancer on Commercial Contracts, Property Law and as a Public Speaker for various events. Cleo acted as Chair of Birmingham Law Society In-House Committee (2022 – 2023) raising the profile and advocating for the advancement and recognition of in house lawyers and the value added benefit lawyers provide to corporate organisation.

Cleo is passionate about her work, which requires not only excellent legal skills, but also compassion and an in-depth understanding of the personality dynamics of the multiplicity of customers and colleagues and commercial acumen.

Outside of work, Cleo acts as the secretary for local cricket club, enjoys running independently or in races nationally and internationally, walking in unscrupulous places in nature across countryside’s, reading and spending time with her large family.