The Team

Kevin Lowther B.A. (Hons)
Solicitor/Consultant
Kevin Lowther is the Director in charge of the firm’s Appleby office which services the Upper Eden Valley and beyond. Kevin obtained a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in law from Newcastle Polytechnic where he also went on to complete the Law Society final examinations before commencing the practical stage of his training.  Upon qualification as a solicitor in 1986, Kevin practised initially in ...
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Mark Graham
Solicitor/Partner
Mark is from Carlisle.  He began his career in law when he joined the Carlisle Branch Office of the Crown Prosecution Service where he worked as an Administrative Officer/Case Worker.  Mark qualified as a Legal Executive in 1998 and moved into Private Practice with a firm in Carlisle practising Criminal and Family Law. In 2001 he joined a firm in West Cumbria exclusively practising all aspects o...
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Alex Birtles (TEP)
Solicitor/Partner
Based at our Kirkby Stephen office, Alex is part of the firm's Private Client Department. He specialises in matters concerning the Administration of Trusts and Estates, Powers of Attorney and Will drafting.  Alex is an Accredited Member of the 'Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners'.  In addition, he deals with property and Land related matters including residential and commercial transaction...
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Tanya Mellor
Solicitor/Partner
Tanya is an experienced property Solicitor, based at our Penrith office.  Her legal career began at a well-regarded Thames Valley firm, where she qualified as a Solicitor in 1996. She later became a Partner at the same firm, with responsibilities including management of a busy residential property Department. In 2004, motivated by a desire to spend more time enjoying an outdoor lifestyle, she mov...
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Peter Davies BA (Law)
Solicitor
Peter obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law from Liverpool Polytechnic.  He qualified as a Solicitor in 1983 working initially in the North West until he moved to Cumbria in 1987.  In 1993 he began working in the North East specialising in both residential and commercial conveyancing, and wills and probate. He joined Gaynham King & Mellor in 2013 working within the private client and propert...
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Laura Goode
Solicitor
Laura is an experienced property solicitor, based at our Penrith office.  She is from Carlisle and obtained her degree locally, before progressing to complete her Legal Practice Course at the University of Law.  Laura qualified as a solicitor in 2018, working initially at another local firm, before joining Gaynham King & Mellor in September 2024.  Laura deals with a wide range of residential prop...
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Katherine Cooper
Conveyancing Assistant
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Tracy Bell
Residential Conveyancer
Tracy is an experienced residential conveyancer.  She is based at our Kirkby Stephen office, having joined Gaynham King & Mellor in January 2024 from another local firm.  Alongside her practical experience, in May 2021, Tracy achieved her Cilex Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice.  Tracy continues to develop her expertise and is currently studying for an advanced paralegal property a...
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Courtney Service
Paralegal
Courtney is a paralegal in our family team and began her legal career by completing an apprenticeship in the accounts department of a small firm in the North East. She has then progressed and is completing her Law Degree with the Open University alongside working at Gaynham King & Mellor. Courtney has experience advising and assisting parents in care proceedings involving Children’s Services. C...
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Jeanette Cooper
Probate Clerk
Jeanette has worked in various administrative roles throughout her working life and joined Gaynham King & Mellor as an experienced Legal Secretary in 2021. She is based in the Kirkby Stephen office and assists Alex Birtles in the Private Client Department dealing mostly with Probate matters and Wills. ...
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Jane Oakley
Private Client Legal Executive
Jane is a Private Client Legal Executive, based in our Kirkby Stephen office.  She specialises in advising clients on Wills, Court of Protection applications, Powers of Attorney, and the administration of trusts and estates. Jane joined Gaynham King & Mellor in 2025, bringing with her over 21 years of experience in the legal sector. Jane is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Lega...
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Natasha Spratt
Paralegal CILEX
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