Silver Shemmings Solicitors - Partners

Robert Shawyer, Partner

Robert Shawyer has been involved in the arena of contentious and non-contentious advice for many years. Robert's family have similarly been involved, quite literally, in the Equine arena, for a similar long period.

Being involved in all aspects of equine use from pony club, showing, dressage, show jumping, polo, horse ball and cross country too livery, loan agreement, stud and joint venture agreements, horse sales and syndicate arrangements plus matters of contract dispute and professional negligence advice; the rounded practical experience combined with national and international legal qualifications have meant that with Robert Shawyer most equine matters can be dealt with.

Robert was born in 1967 and educated in London moving to Wales from London in 1994 and now runs our Cardiff office managing the South West of Britain. Robert is also instructed by clients both within Britain and other international locations in providing training, seminars and advice in respect of contentious and non-contentious matters.

Robert's primary specialist area is still international and international construction law. However, this has brought great dividends to this other specialist area of law. Being Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators - Wales and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors as well as being a practising Solicitor, Robert has all the advantages of understanding alternative dispute resolution procedures to avoid costly litigation.

Sarah Shemmings, Partner

Sarah qualified as a solicitor in 1982 and spent over 10 years working in a city law firm where she specialised in negligence claims against professionals. In 2004 she set up this practice with Richard Silver.

Sarah has considerable experience in advising clients in respect of advising clients on general legal issues including contractual disputes, property issues including reviewing agreements and licences, dealing with Landlord and Tenant issues and boundary disputes . Sarah has experience in environmental claims. She was responsible for taking the leading case on historic water pollution to the House of Lords (Cambridge Water Company v. Eastern Counties Leather plc) as well as defending clients facing claims from the Environment Agency. She also has considerable experience in construction claims and general commercial and business law including insolvency and debt collection. She also has advised and acted for clients in mediation and general dispute resolution.

Sarah has had a number of reported cases and is the co-author of the book "Construction Law and the Environment".

Richard Silver, Partner

Richard was called to the Bar in 1997 and qualified as a solicitor in 2004. His principal area of specialism is construction disputes with particular emphasis on Alternative Dispute Resolution. He is an experienced Adjudicator and Mediator. Richard has in excess of 10 years previous experience in the construction industry, having held the positions of Chief Surveyor and Construction Director. He is also a Chartered Surveyor, a Chartered Builder and has acted as an Expert in quantity surveying, programming and planning claims.