Meet the Judicare Team
Jose Dorta - Chairman
Jose is the Chairman of the Group and the General Director of Judicare Legal Consulting S.L, the regulated Spanish law firm of Judicare. Jose has been a lawyer and part of the Spanish judicial system since 1994. At the very beginning of his career, Jose dedicated himself almost exclusively to resolving judicial and administrative issues for British residents in the territory of Tenerife.
Collaborating with colleagues, in 2001 he created his law firm. Realising the extent of the problems surrounding the overseas property investment market, in 2006 Jose expanded his experienced team of lawyers to focus almost exclusively in this area of legal recovery. Throughout this period the team has developed an enviable record of success.
Neil Heaney - CEO
Neil is the CEO of Judicare Group, founding the UK Legal Services company with Jose Dorta. A keen sportsman from the age of 16, he made a name for himself on the football field, playing for a number of clubs including Arsenal, Manchester City & Southampton throughout a thirteen year career as a professional.
At the end of his playing career Neil invested in a property in Spain which encountered serious problems and resulted in him taking legal action with a group of fellow investors through the courts to recover their monies. The experience fuelled in him a desire to fight for justice on behalf of people who have innocently lost money in overseas property investment and feel helpless to recover what can be on occasion their life's savings.
He has built up a strong and experienced team in Judicare , with experience and knowledge in handling laws and languages in countries worldwide.
David Fernandez Melian - Partner & Head of Legal Department
David is the Legal Director of the Judicare Group. A practicing attorney for over a decade, David’s expertise spans Civil & Criminal Law, as well as Real Estate & Finance Law and he is member of the Spanish Bar. As such, David is ideally placed to coordinate cases within Spanish jurisdictions and for our International actions
Stella Franchi - Partner & International Co-ordinator
Judicare's Administrator and International Law Coordinator, Stella is a founding Partner of the company. Stella organises all client appointments with relevant Consulates for Powers of Attorney when required. A certified English teacher and translator, Stella co-ordinates Judicare’s international team.
Laura Quintillán - Lawyer
Laura Quintillán is an Abogada (Lawyer). She has spent her whole professional legal career at JUDICARE LEGAL CONSULTING. She passed her legal Practice Course at the Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Santa Cruz de Tenerife (The College of Lawyers of Santa Cruz de Tenerife). Laura is in Civil and Criminal Legal Department. Laura specialises in property law and has dealt with numerous matters relating to off plan property, timeshare, bankruptcy and fraud.
Laura also deals with Mediation (out of court conflict resolution) in Civil, Commercial and Sanitation matters. Mediation, which has been common in Anglo Saxon jurisdictions for many years was introduced in Spain in 2012. Laura is a member of “la Asociación Española de Peritos Judiciales y Mediadores Arbitrales”, which is the Spanish Association of Judicial Experts and Arbitration Mediators. That Association has as it’s aims the promotion, understanding and performance of the professional activity of the Judicial Experts and Arbitration mediators.
Languages spoken – Spanish and English
Peter Esders - Solicitor & Marketing Director
Peter Esders is qualified as an English Solicitor but as part of his studies also studied Law at Cadiz University. He is British but was born in Spain and grew up in Central and South America. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Peter started his working career in 1994 working for a Trust company which dealt exclusively with international work. At that company he was responsible for setting up companies, transferring properties into those companies and also dealing with the company secretarial side of those companies.
He then went on to become a trainee solicitor at a well known international law firm and was offered Partnership there whilst still a Trainee. Peter was a Partner at that firm for 10 years and specialised in Spanish law, particularly property, wills, probate, litigation and timeshare issues. That firm was a founder member of the Association of International Property Professionals (http://www.aipp.org.uk/). Whilst at that firm Peter helped the business win the category of “Best Lawyer” at the Bentley International Property Awards.
Peter then went on to work for another law firm where he helped develop the Spanish department. Soon after joining Peter became Head of the Spanish department and later on went to help the firm win Gold in the category of “Best Lawyer” at the OPP Awards for Excellence 2010 – the first year that the category was awarded. He also helped the same firm win Silver in the category of “Best Lawyer” at the OPP Awards for Excellence 2011 (the last time that that category was given).
Peter joined the Judicare Group at the end of 2012 and is based in the UK office.
Peter has given hundreds of seminars across the world on various issues of international law (mainly property related) and has appeared many times on television (including BBC News and Watchdog), the radio, the printed press and online as an expert on the law of various different jurisdictions. He has also written a book on Starting a Business in Spain as well as helping judge various international property awards over the years.
Languages- English, Spanish
Claudia Gutiérrez - Banking Expert
Claudia Gutiérrez has more than 15 years experience working for Spanish Banks including Banco Hispanoamericano, Banco Central Hispanoamericano and finally Banco Santander. Claudia has significant experience assisting the banks at a high regional level in commercial issues as well as marketing and strategic levels. She has also assisted clients on a personal banking level.
Claudia has also studied Spanish Philology in the University de La Laguna, Tenerife and subsequently a Professional Banking Masters Degree at the University of Alcalá de Henares, in Madrid.
She is a specialist in;
- Renegotiation of mortgage terms.
- Negotiations regarding the handing back of keys to the bank (known as “Dacion en Pago” in Spain).
- Commercial and Real Estate Lending
Loan Workout and Administration;
- Loan review
- Bankruptcies and Frauds
- Business and Consumer Banking Operations
- Management Policies, Practices and Procedures
- International Banking
Claudia is a member of “la Asociación Española de Peritos Judiciales y Mediadores Arbitrales”, which is the Spanish Association of Judicial Experts and Arbitration Mediators. That Association has as it’s aims the promotion, understanding and performance of the professional activity of the Judicial Experts and Arbitration mediators. It collaborates with various institutions, associations, organizations, syndicates, Judicial Tribunals, legal firms and whatever other entity or individual who require the services of a Judicial expert or Arbitration Mediator. The Association collaborates with and assists Professional Colleges, Universities, Institutions and Organizations and assists new professionals to act as Judicial Experts and Arbitration Mediators.
Languages spoken – Spanish, English and French
Miguel Tenorio - Lawyer
Miguel studied Communication Sciences at the Iberoamerican University in Mexico City (Hons) and Law at the University of La Laguna in Spain (Hons).
His area of expertise include Tax Law, Criminal Law and International Law.
Languages: English, Spanish, German and French.
Miguel is currently enrolled in an LLM in International Law and has several years experience in spanish courts, mainly handling criminal and civil cases.
Chris Lucas LLB(Hons) - Paralegal
Chris graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2009 with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree in Law with Spanish. He spent a year studying Spanish law at the University of Barcelona. In addition to working with Judicare, Chris is currently enrolled on the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in London. Fluent in Spanish Chris is a valued member of the Judicare team.
Yaiza Gonzalez Lopes - Lawyer
Yaiza is a lawyer from the University of La Laguna, Tenerife where she graduated with the highest qualifications within the University promoción.
She is a lawyer in practice within the Judicare Group and is currently studying for a Masters within criminal, civil and International Law.
Member of the Bar Association of Madrid, with the number 103067.
Salvador Lorenzo Perera Salavarria - Property Valuation Expert
Real Estate Agent Chartered API.
Judicial Appraiser Real Estate Collegiate
Official Agent of Real Estate (API), member since 1976.
Specializing in Real Estate Transactions, Real Estate Market Studies and Appraisals Real Estate
Currently he is the President of the Association of Real Estate Agents in Santa Cruz of Tenerife, "COAPITE". President of the Canary Professional Union "UP".
Until 2015, he is also the Chairman of the Canary Islands regional, which brings the Official College of Real Estate Agents in the Canaries.
Founding member of "ROTI" Official Register of Real Estate Appraisers, under the General Council and Executive Council of the Bar Real Estate Agents in Spain.
He has represented the collective API, to partnerships as the European Confederation of Real Estate Professions "CEPI", the Business and Professional Association of Real Estate Mediation Portugal, "APEMIP" and the International Real Estate Federation "FIABCI."
Languages: Spanish, Italian, French, German, Greek and Catalan
Nuno Ferreira Leite Rua - Partner (Portugal)
Portuguese, Member of the Portuguese Attorneys Bar, graduated in Coimbra Law University (LL.B. in 2004). Attorney at Law and Partner. Membership: Member of the Portuguese Attorneys Bar since 2004.
Languages: English, French, Spanish and Italian.
Areas of Expertise: Real Estate and Project Finance; Foreign Direct Investment; Tax Law (Litigation and Prevention); Commercial, Company and M&A; Entertainment and Telecommunications; Insolvency and Restructuring.
Catarina Pontes - Partner (Portugal)
Portuguese, Member of the Portuguese Attorneys Bar, graduated in Lisbon Catholic Law University in 2005. Attorney at Law and Partner. Membership: Member of the Portuguese Attorneys Bar and Effective Member of the Portuguese Tax Association since 2005.
Languages: English, French and Spanish.
Areas of Expertise: Civil and Labour Law; Public Law, Health and Pharmaceutical; Tax Law (Litigation and Prevention); Entertainment & Telecommunications; Insolvency and Restructuring.
Denitza Panayotova - Partner (Portugal)
Portuguese and Bulgarian, member of the Portuguese Attorneys Bar, Graduated in Lisbon Faculty of Law - University of Lisbon in 2005. Attorney at Law and Associate.
Membership: Member of the Portuguese Attorneys Bar since 2007.
Professional Experience: Trainee and Attorney at Law, Manuel Guerra Pinheiro, Paulo Reis & Associados from 2007 to 2010. Associate in her current firm since November 2010.
Languages: English, French, Bulgarian and Russian.
Areas of Expertise: Litigation, Civil and Labour Law, Insolvency and Restructuring, Foreign Direct Investment, European Law and Competition, and Project Finance
Christos Triantafyllides - Partner (Cyprus)
Christos has been practicing Law in Cyprus as the head of his own Law Firm since 1980. He graduated from Oxford University (Lincoln College) with an M.A in Law, went on to become a Barrister-at-Law of Grays Inn and thereafter obtained a second post graduate degree from London University (University College).
As a practicing lawyer in Cyprus he has handled cases of a large variety, both civil and criminal at all levels (both at 1rst instance and before the Appeal Court). He has also represented clients in a numerous cases before the European Court of Human Rights.
He is the legal advisor of a large number of private and public companies as well as The Cyprus Tourism Organization (a semi Government Organization) and two Regulatory Authorities. He is a member of the Board of numerous Companies and has written and published a large number of articles.
Stylianos Christoforou - Partner (Cyprus)
Stylianos received an LLB (Hons) in 1998 from the University of Hull. In 1999, he read law at the University of Nottingham from which he graduated with a degree of Master of Laws in International Commercial Law and thereafter went on to become qualified as a Barrister at Law of Grays Inn.
Stylianos returned to Cyprus in 2001 where, after concluding his pupilage, he first worked as a litigation lawyer and then as Head of the Litigation Department for one of the largest firms in Nicosia. In 2004, Stylianos accepted an offer to be a visiting lecturer at the European University of Cyprus' Law Department, teaching Business Law. In 2005, he established his own practice.
As a practicing lawyer he handled a number of civil law cases, including employment, family, company and commercial disputes and tax issues. Stylianos is also a member of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and he has handled a number of local and international arbitrations as a number of high profile negotiations between employers and trade union representative, including numerous employees' strikes.
He is the exclusive legal consultant of several private companies as well as the Employers and Industrialists Federation of Cyprus.
Ashraf El Motei LL.M. - Partner (Dubai)
Ashraf El Motei heads the Dispute Resolution Practice within his own Law Firm. He specializes in international arbitration and litigation before the local courts in the UAE in relation to complex commercial and real estate disputes.He has acted as counsel in numerous arbitrations, litigation matters and occasionally acts as arbitrator.
Mr. El Motei also regularly advises international clients on general commercial law and in particular doing business in the UAE.
Mr. El Motei commenced his legal career as a Public Prosecutor in Egypt prior to moving into private practice as an associate with Baker & McKenzie, working out of the Cairo, Los Angeles and Dallas offices. Prior to becoming the founding partner of Motei & Associates, Mr. El Motei was the regional legal counsel for a multinational Dubai based food company, Nestle.
Education
Cairo University School of Law, BA, 1989
Paris Dauphine University, LL.M. 1991
SMU, Dallas, LL.M. 2005
Bar Admissions
Egypt
Other Admissions
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts – Registered Practitioner
Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) - Arbitrator
Memberships
American Bar Association (ABA)
International Bar Association (IBA)
Alliance of Business Lawyers (ABL)
Languages: Arabic, English, French
Evangelos s. Karaindros - Partner (Greece)
Evangelos is a Member of the Athens Bar Association. In 1995, he graduated from John Molson School of Business, Concordia University (Montreal, Canada) with a Bachelor of Commerce.
Evangelos received an LLB(Hons) (1999) and a Master of Laws(LLM)(2000) in International and Commercial Law at the University of Buckingham(England, UK).
As a practising lawyer he has handled a number of civil, criminal, and administrative cases. He has advised many large institutions including the World Bank in matters pertaining to property law in Greece and the European Commission concerning criminal and administrative law issues in Greece.
Angel Dinkov - Partner (Bulgaria)
Angel has been a member of the Bulgarian Bar Association since 14th Apr 1999, and is an acting Barrister.
Education: Master of law degree
Languages: Russian, Bulgarian, English
His area's of practice are business law, tax law, corporative law, property law, administrative law.
Selcuk Akkas - Partner (Turkey)
Mr. Selcuk Akkas, attorney at law & trademark attorney, is currently serving as managing partner of his own Law Firm. For more than 19 years, he has provided knowledgeable legal counsel and the services of a dedicated law office. Under his direction, he has built a reputation for results for a broad range of satisfied clients in Turkey.
He is prepared to advise and represent especially foreign clients in seeking the best possible resolution to virtually any type of real estate disputes in Turkey. From ownership disputes and financial disputes involving investors, landlord-tenant disputes to collections matters, he has solid insight and perspective gained over decades of active, focused legal work.
His clients include buyers, sellers, lenders, investors, and real estate professionals, as well as business owners, lessors and tenants. He brings extensive legal and financial knowledge to the table when analyzing client’s situation, identifying and explaining legal options, and helping clients take the most beneficial and practical course of action.His area's of practice are business law, tax law, corporative law, property law, administrative law
Fabio J. Guzman Ariza - Partner (Dominican Republic)
Fabio J. Guzman-Ariza is the Senior Partner of his law firm. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S., 1973) and the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (LL.B., summa cum laude, 1981) where he headed his law class. Mr. Guzmán-Ariza is a former Professor of Civil Law and Dean of the Law Faculty at the Universidad Católica Nordestana. He is presently a member of the Board of Trustees of the University.
In 1987, he was elected Judge of the Disciplinary Committee of the Dominican Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados de la República Dominicana).
Mr. Guzmán-Ariza is the Editor-in-Chief and Director of Publications of Gaceta Judicial, the leading legal journal and publisher in the Dominican Republic.
As a law practitioner, Mr. Guzmán-Ariza has long and in-depth experience in servicing the needs of the international investor in the Dominican Republic, especially in the areas of Real Estate Law, Civil Law, Litigation, and Business and Company Law.
Languages: Spanish, English, French
Julio A. Brea Guzman - Partner (Dominican Republic)
Julio A. Brea Guzmán is the resident partner in his law firm. He obtained his law degree from Universidad Iberoamericana (J.D., cum laude, 1993) and did postgraduate work in Civil Procedure at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (1998-1999).
His main fields of practice are Real Estate Law and Litigation. In 2002, he was distinguished with the Outstanding Lawyer award by the Puerto Plata Bar Association.
Languages: Spanish and English
Ibrahim Tanfous - Partner (Morocco)
Mr. Ibrahim Tanfous is the founding partner of Tanfous law firm in Casablanca, Morocco. He graduated from the University of Perpignan, France.
Mr. Tanfous has full command of the commercial and civil law. He has acted as a counsel in numerous arbitrations and litigation matters in Morocco.
Mr. Tanfous is a member of Casablanca bar association since 2002.
Languages: Arabic, English, French
Michal Gawlak - Partner (Poland)
Mr. Michał Gawlak is the founding partner of his law firm. He graduated from the University of Lodz, Poland.
Mr. Gawlak participated in postgraduate American Law School run by the Michigan State University. He prepares his doctoral thesis about evidentiary proceeding in Polish Civil Procedure at the University of Lodz, Poland.
Mr. Gawlak specializes in civil and corporate law and is a member of Polish bar association of legal counsels since 2010.
Languages: Polish, English, German
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