John Cooke is a professional Yorkshireman, having been born and brought up in Doncaster. He came to Kendal over 20 years ago to train as a Solicitor with South Lakeland District Council. Upon qualifying John was tempted into private practice with C G Thomson and Wilson, the previous incarnation of TWP. He now deals mainly with residential and agricultural property work and has particular experience with more complicated transactions, including rural and higher value properties and acting for developers. Outside work, John is associated with a number of charities in the area and is a cub scout leader. He is also involved in leadership at his local church. John is married with 4 young children and lives in Kendal. Despite his deep attachment to his Yorkshire roots John says that South Lakeland is great place to live.
David Lavelle spearheads the fast expanding family law department. David trained at Leeds University and Chester but always hankered after a move to the Lakes, having enjoyed many holidays in the area and having strong family links. The wished for move came in 1990 and for the last 10 years or so he has concentrated on all areas of relationship breakdown, covering divorce, cohabitation and all children and money issues, developing the department so that it is now the largest in the area . Outside the office he somehow finds time to participate in various sports and be on numerous sports committees. He has been a school governor and a member of the PCC of his local church. His 4 children are all active sports people and ‘Dad’s taxi’ is in use most weekends throughout the year.
Simon Theobald was born and brought up in North Lancashire and Westmorland. He specialises in wills, tax planning, trusts and probate work as well as being involved in the management of the practice as a partner. Simon is married with one son. He has always had a love of the outdoors, particularly mountaineering in its many different forms, the latest being fell-running. He is also a member of a local church.
Andrew qualified in 1992, having done his training in Whitby, North Yorkshire. He joined Greenwood Kyle in Kendal in 1994 and became a partner in that firm in 2001. When Greenwood Kyle merged with TWP in 2007, Andrew joined the firm as a partner. Andrew has considerable expertise in matrimonial and family litigation and is an Advanced member of the Law Society's Family Panel. In addition to Family work Andrew also has considerable experience in County Court litigation, particularly property related claims and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. He also deals with Employment claims and Housing issues.
