Who We Are
Litini Newcombe
Litini is the managing director of the firm and works mainly in private client matters (wills, trusts, estate administration, powers of attorney) and residential conveyancing.
Litini graduated with a first-class degree in Latin and after various teaching positions in the UK and abroad moved to Cumbria as a secondary school deputy head teacher. She then retrained as a solicitor, obtaining a distinction in her LPC and joined Kilvington Solicitors as a partner in 2009.
Alex Sykes
Alex’s work is primarily acting for commercial and farming clients on all matters relating to commercial and agricultural property including first registration of land at the Land Registry, easements, sales and purchases of farms and farm land and commercial and agricultural tenancy agreements. As an ex-forest manager Alex has a particular interest in the forestry industry, and acts in many woodland sales and purchases. Alex is one of the directors of the firm.
Kate Mallaband
Kate is a Consultant Commercial Property solicitor with an expansive expertise in a broad range of matters. Kate advises on all property transactions for businesses, developers, investors, landlords, tenants and commercial lenders.
Kate started her career at top 100 Law Firm Gordons in Leeds before joining OSG in Lancaster & Kirkby Lonsdale as partner. Most recently before joining Kilvingtons Kate spent 5 years as a Partner and Head of Commercial Property for Napthens, Cumbria.
Kate qualified as a solicitor in 2006 having graduated with an MA (Hons) in Modern History and obtaining a distinction in her LPC and was recommended as a key lawyer in the 2021 Legal 500 rankings.
Sally Silvester-Wood
Sally works mainly in residential and commercial property transactions. She comes from a small-business background and ran a construction company for many years before re-training as a solicitor, achieving a first class degree in Law, and distinctions in both her LPC and Master’s degree in Law, Business and Management. Sally qualified while working at Kilvington Solicitors and is one of the directors of the firm.
Bernadette Jackson
Bernadette has worked as a litigator in Civil Litigation and Employment Law matters since 2005. She is dual qualified, qualifying as a barrister in 2003 with one of the highest pass marks before then completing her dual qualification as a solicitor in 2008, passing with Grade A.
Over the last 20 years Bernadette has therefore handled all manner of civil disputes including a number of complex commercial, construction and land disputes and she has helped thousands of individuals and companies. In addition, Bernadette has been involved in a wide range of employment matters including unfair dismissal, discrimination, redundancy and TUPE transfers. Based in Cumbria, Bernadette has worked for various firms, initially as an associate solicitor and later as a director, before joining Kilvington Solicitors as a director in 2023.
Grace Wren
Grace qualified as a solicitor in September 2020 after first obtaining her undergraduate Law Degree from the University of York and a distinction in both the Legal Practice Course and her Master’s degree.
Grace specialises in civil litigation and acts for clients in a broad range of disputes including contentious probate matters, contractual disputes and those involving property and the agricultural sector. She also advises on divorce and matrimonial finance matters.
Susan Dinsdale
Susan is the wills and probate practitioner at the firm. She joined Kilvingtons in 2014 having previously worked in the scientific sector for ten years. During her time with us Susan first obtained the CILEx Professional Diploma in Law and Practice (Level 3) followed by the CLC Level 6 Diploma in Probate Law and Practice in order to qualify as a Licensed Probate Practitioner in 2022. She mainly deals with wills and estate administration but is also able to assist with powers of attorney, residential conveyancing and commons registrations.
Kayt Spratt
Kayt started work as a legal secretary in 1989 and after discovering that she really enjoyed most aspects of the law, she studied in her spare time to become a Legal Executive reaching associate level in 2001 and then graduating in 2003 as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives. Kayt was recently awarded conveyancing practice rights and is now a CILEx Conveyancing Practitioner. She now has more than 20 years’ experience in all types of residential conveyancing including new build and leasehold purchases.
Anne Curr
A local lass from a farming background, Anne joined the firm in 2014. Following a swift promotion from receptionist some time ago, Anne is now the firm’s accounts and office manager keeping the rest of us and our files in order.
Wendy Hamilton
Wendy relocated to Kirkby Stephen from Blackpool in 2005 with a background in the Department of Work and Pensions and local council. More recently she worked for Kirkby Stephen Town Council and Pendragon Vets before joining us in 2023 as an administrative assistant.
Sue Dickinson
Sue’s early career was as a legal secretary progressing to litigation fee earner and studying legal executive qualifications. In 2007 she joined Kirkby Stephen Grammar School carrying out various roles until becoming Finance Manager, a role she held for the last 11 years. Sue joined us in 2024 as an accounts and administrative assistant.
Hannah Sayer
Hannah grew up in Winton and attended Kirkby Stephen Grammar School. After completion of her A-levels, Hannah went on to live and work in various countries across the world including New Zealand, Canada, Japan and Australia. Hannah qualified as an English as a foreign language teacher in 2018. After spending 14 years abroad Hannah returned to the Eden Valley in 2024 and joined us as an administrative assistant.