David Gentle
David Gentle’s involvement in the music and arts scene began 50 years ago, having started in a general Mayfair practice in 1965. In 1968 David moved to another west end practice dealing with music as well as conveyancing, litigation, family and commercial matters where he met Roy Mathias. David and Roy developed the practice in partnership together from 1971.
David acquired an in-depth knowledge of the entertainment industry and copyright law and established a successful niche practice. He has been involved in many of the significant music industry cases and developments over the years and continues to act for many songwriters, musicians, managers, record companies and music publishers.
David offers general legal advice on all aspects of his clients’ business, creative and personal lives.
The London art world has become increasingly important and David represents several significant artists and art galleries. He is well-informed on the workings of the international art business.
David and Roy separated to develop their own practices but reunited in 2002 after a break of over 15 years bringing together two successful firms with complementary skills which have culminated in the current partnership.
David is a recognized legal expert on matters relating to the music industry.
Contact David at
david.gentle@gentlemathias.com
Bob Page
Bob trained with a niche music and entertainment firm under the guidance of David Gentle. He qualified as a Solicitor in 1994 with that firm and was a partner in it from 1999 until it dissolved in 2001. After spending the next 7 years as a partner in his own firm Bob was very pleased to renew his partnership with David Gentle in April 2009.
At the point of his qualification Bob worked primarily on matters of a litigious nature. Since then, as a result of spending many years providing ‘business affairs’ advice to clients operating in creative industries (and particularly the music industry) his practice has evolved so that he now spends the bulk of his time undertaking a broad spectrum of non-contentious contractual, commercial and corporate work, although he maintains his contentious practice as he believes that it provides invaluable commercial insight; he has acquired considerable experience in dealing with complex, high-value disputes relating to both real and intellectual property. He also regularly provides employment law advice in both contentious and non-contentious matters to employers and senior executives.
Bob’s client base ranges from individuals to multinational corporations. He greatly enjoys the diverse challenges that working in general private practice brings, and the fact that no two working days are the same for him. After working closely with people in a wide variety of businesses over many years he is very familiar with the stresses and strains that the Law can place upon them and he strives to demystify its workings for his clients in order to empower them to make informed commercial decisions and achieve their objectives.
Bob is a recognized legal expert on matters relating to the music and media industries.
Contact Bob at
bob.page@gentlemathias.com
Tarkan Hassan
Tarkan read Law at South Bank University and then successfully completed the LPC with a commendation at South Bank University/North London University. He was admitted as a Solicitor in 2001 and joined the firm in 2002 becoming a Partner in April 2009.
Since qualification Tarkan’s practice has focused on all aspects of commercial and residential property, an area of law which he has a particular affinity for. He advises his developer clients in connection with their acquisition of commercial property for redevelopment and the refinancing of their property portfolios, but he equally enjoys acting for commercial clients in connection with the purchase and sale of leasehold and freehold property and for individual private clients in the purchase or sale of residential properties, giving each matter the same level of importance. He also advises on other commercial transactions, such as business sale agreements. His practice continues to expand rapidly.
Tarkan is Turkish Cypriot by birth and speaks fluent Turkish. He is a member of The British-Turkish Lawyers Association.
Contact Tarkan at
tarkan.hassan@gentlemathias.com
Nathan Edwards
Nathan is a partner at Gentle Mathias, with over 25 years of experience in commercial and residential property, having joined the practice from a Central London law firm in 2015.
Over the years, Nathan's practice has evolved and grown alongside his clients, who rely upon his no-nonsense and proactive approach to get things done, providing them with efficient solutions within the timescales required.
Working alongside a number of lenders and bridging finance companies, Nathan works with developers, traders, and investors for whom speed, without forgoing attention to detail, is the key.
Nathan acts also for private clients on day-to-day matters, from residential investments to larger tenanted property portfolios, commercial lettings, landlord and tenant matters, collective enfranchisement, and ground rent investments.
Contact Nathan at
nathan.edwards@gentlemathias.com
Jake Gentle
Jake is a partner at Gentle Mathias and joined the firm in 2014.
He is an experienced lawyer who is regularly instructed on contentious and non-contentious matters involving contractual and intellectual property issues, corporate commercial law, and real property for both new and long-standing clients involved predominantly in media and entertainment, music, hospitality, and property.
Having worked primarily on contentious matters at the start of his career Jake uses that experience to help his clients resolve complex legal and business challenges by providing strategic solutions and advice at an early stage.
Jake has a particular interest in the arts, live music, and entertainment and enjoys working with new and emerging talent and start-ups when the opportunity arises.
Contact Jake at
jake.gentle@gentlemathias.com
Syd Buckeridge
Syd joined the firm at the beginning of 2022 having qualified as a solicitor in 2017. He previously worked in Central London practices with a focus primarily on litigation and commercial advice although regularly advised on matters concerning property and probate issues.
He has developed a broad practice advising private individuals, commercial and charitable organisations amongst others.
Syd works with the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution department, whilst also working with all other members of the firm so is able advise on the full range of matters that the firm is instructed on. Syd advises across the firm’s practice on a wide range of matters including work of both a contentious and non-contentious nature.
Contact Syd at
syd.buckeridge@gentlemathias.com
Maria (Ma) Guray
Maria qualified as a solicitor in 2023 with an emphasis on property throughout her training and joined the firm at the beginning of 2024.
She is well versed in both commercial and residential property transactions including sales and purchases (including auctions), refinances, statutory lease extensions, enfranchisement, landlord and tenant work (leases, grants, assignments, variations, licences and surrenders), secured lending transactions and transfers of equity.
Maria works closely with Nathan and Tarkan to ensure all matters are dealt with swiftly and to a high standard.
Outside of work, she enjoys travelling, going to the theatre, keeping active, and reading a good book.
Contact Maria at
maria.guray@gentlemathias.com.com
Rebecca Harris
Rebecca qualified as a solicitor in 1996 and has had experience in property matters, advising investors, developers, lenders on both residential and commercial matters.
She has practised at a number of firms, large and small, in the West End and City, before setting up her own practice in 2009 where she has developed a client base from all backgrounds. Her approach continues to be very personal and effective.
Additionally, she has knowledge of contentious aspects of property and private client matters in relation Probate which enhances the advice she can offer to her clients in property and other issues.
Outside work, her interests include travel, keeping fit and literature.
Contact Rebecca at
rebecca.harris@gentlemathias.com
Carl Adair
Carl read Law at the University of Westminster. For many years he was in partnership in a West End practice specialising in entertainment law. He has a long association with the firm having been in partnership with David Gentle and others before becoming a sole practitioner for a short time before returning to a West End partnership with David and then becoming a consultant to Gentle Mathias LLP.
Carl has acquired considerable experience, particularly in property and commercial matters. He has an international and eclectic clientele for whom he has undertaken complex and difficult transactions. He has been involved in a number of large property developments including the acquisition of development sites as well as mortgage funding and general residential and commercial property transactions. He has also undertaken many company sale, acquisition and general transactions for a wide range of entrepreneurial commercial clients.
Contact Carl at
carl.adair@gentlemathias.com
Emine Birant
Emine is a qualified Licensed Conveyancer and has over fifteen years' experience in the property industry.
She can deal with all aspects of residential conveyancing to include sales, purchases, re-mortgaging, transfer of equity, unregistered properties, auction properties, and lease extensions.
Moving home can be an challenging process, so Emine provides a straightforward and professional service in supporting her clients to ensure a positive outcome.
She always places her client’s needs and objectives at the very heart of everything she does.
Contact Emine at
emine.birant@gentlemathias.com
Clive Bender
After a short spell working in the London suburbs Clive returned to the City of London where he trained as a Solicitor. Clive was admitted to the Roll in 1968.
Clive was a partner and latterly senior partner in a medium-sized firm specialising in private client work. He retired from full-time practice in 2001.
Clive now provides executive advice on wills and administration of estates and Lasting Powers of Attorney as a non-practising consultant to Gentle Mathias LLP. He has a wealth of experience in advising on wills and methods of minimising inheritance tax liability, as well as dealing with the administration of estates. He can provide advice on the mitigation of tax if appropriate measures had not been taken during lifetime. He provides an efficient service so as to minimise the stress experienced by the family at what can be a very difficult time.
Contact Clive at
clive.bender@gentlemathias.com
Ellie Ladopouli
Ellie joined Gentle Mathias in January 2024 as paralegal and is a trainee solicitor. She supports fee-earners across the firm’s practice areas.
Ellie holds a bachelor’s degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of York, and a Master of Laws in Law and Legal Practice from BPP University.
She completed the Legal Practice Course with a Distinction in 2023.
Contact Ellie at
ellie.ladopouli@gentlemathias.com
Jonathan Paisner
Jonathan was a corporate lawyer at City law firm Berwin Leighton (now Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner) and then went on to become General Counsel and a main board director of boutique investment bank Shore Capital.
Jonathan joined the firm as a consultant in March 2014 and advises clients on corporate and commercial matters, particularly joint ventures, investment agreements and the sale/purchase of companies and businesses.
Jonathan is the principal of LMN Capital, a corporate finance advisory and capital introducer and is also a special adviser to private equity firm Vaalon Capital.
Contact Jonathan at
jonathan.paisner@gentlemathias.com
Fergus Harrington
Fergus specialises in dealing with allegations of business crime, money laundering, organised crime and serious sexual offences. His practice has an emphasis on complex financial and regulatory matters including allegations of fraud, tax evasion and money laundering.
He has extensive expertise in dealing with prosecutions brought by the FCA, the SFO and HMRC.
Fergus has been instructed to represent a number of high profile media figures and professional sports personalities. He is a registered football agent with the Football Association and has recently advised a number of international football players.
Fergus is regularly instructed to advise individuals subject to professional disciplinary proceedings before the GMC, the midwifery council, the ACCA and the GDC. He also represents companies subject to investigations from Trading Standards and the Environment Agency.
He has close relationships with a number of professional experts who have been instructed to provide expert evidence in cases involving serious sexual allegations.
Fergus offers advice from the early stages of an investigation, including interviews under caution, right through to post-conviction and sentence advice on potential grounds of appeal.
Contact Fergus at
fergus.harrington@gentlemathias.com
Zahir Ahmed
Zahir’s practice focuses on serious and complex fraud, white-collar crime, terrorism and sexual offences. He has been involved in several high profile cases within these fields over recent years.
He has extensive experience in Tax related offences, VAT Fraud, Insider Dealing and Film Tax Credit fraud. He has also represented a number of company directors who face director disqualification proceedings.
Zahir deals with confiscation proceedings, restraint proceedings and cash seizures.
He has successfully represented a number of individuals from the music and entertainment industry in relation to historic sexual allegations.
Zahir has a real eye for detail, in particular secondary disclosure which has resulted in him securing acquittals in large fraud conspiracies and cases involving the importation of class A drugs.
Through his close links with the sports industry Zahir has regularly been instructed to represent premiership footballers. Zahir is a registered Football Agent with the Football Association.
Contact Zahir at
zahir.ahmed@gentlemathias.com