Catherine Brymer
Owner
catherinebrymer@albinandco.co.uk
Catherine has been with the firm since it began, qualifying as a Solicitor in 2007 and moving from Associate Solicitor to Director of the firm before becoming the owner on 24 July 2024.
She is an experienced lawyer dealing with all criminal matters and dealt with a test case concerning breach of licence under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act which was a first of its kind. She has also represented the second treason case to be heard in the UK involving the rise in issues artificial intelligence can have in daily life.
Catherine deals with any areas of criminal law including high profile cases for murder, large scale conspiracy to supply and cultivate Class A and B drugs, assault, rape, robbery, theft, fraud, drug offences, driving matters and child neglect.
Catherine also has a high success rate in opposing Proceeds of Crime applications in the Magistrates Court for clients where money is seized by police. This has resulted in money being returned within the initial 48 hour application to seize the money or after a contested hearing.
Like her colleagues, Catherine will regularly attend the police station to represent clients and continue to represent them at the Magistrates Court or manage the case should it proceed to the Crown Court.
Catherine is an active outgoing person who enjoys spending time with her family and renovation projects in her spare time.
“Catherine’s calm, personable manner made us feel immediately at ease, and this, coupled with her extensive legal knowledge, experience and competence, was just what was needed during some difficult times. I can’t thank her enough.”
Jeremy Yuille
Solicitor
jeremyyuille@albinandco.co.uk
Jeremy has been practising exclusively in criminal defence work since before his qualification in 1999. In that time he has built up substantial experience in dealing with all manner of criminal matters, including large scale drug conspiracies, complex proceed of crime proceedings, historic and recent sexual allegations, serious violence at all levels; various examples of computer misuse; graffiti and other art-related allegations; for defendants young and old; in court centres not only in Reading, but also locations such as Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, and Hull.
Away from work, Jeremy is happily married with four children, an active member of his local church, and enjoys music and photography.
Beth Vaughan
Associate Solicitor
bethvaughan@albinandco.co.uk
Beth is a Solicitor focussing on Magistrates Court work but does also follow some matters through to the Crown Court. Her cases involve legal aid and privately funded work, in matters ranging from assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of drugs to minor driving matters.
Beth is also a Police Station Accredited Representative and has dealt with serious cases involving historical rape and murder.
Beth began the first year of her career in Family Law, but now focuses on Crime.
Beth qualified as a solicitor in November 2023 and completed her police station accreditation scheme in 2023.
In her spare time Beth enjoys running and has completed a half marathon. She also has a degree in Music and enjoys playing the trombone and attending west end shows.
Recent Cases
Paul Cantrill
Consultant Solicitor
paulcantrill@albinandco.co.uk
Paul Cantrill is a very experienced Solicitor who has been practising in Reading for over 20 years. He deals with the full range of criminal cases from Road Traffic to Homicide and in his career he has represented clients on Murder charges on 8 separate occasions, including one defendant charged with a double murder.
He has managed to obtain acquittals for a number of clients in these cases including one that featured on Crime Watch and another where the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed the conviction on a legal point.
He has also dealt with allegations of serious violence, conspiracy to supply drugs, fraud and sexual offences.
Like other solicitors in this firm he is committed to providing continuity of representation and advice, so that even where a case goes to Crown Court and a barrister is in instructed, Paul will still be responsible for the overall running of the case.
Paul is married with two children aged 12 and 7. He enjoys playing tennis and regularly turns out for the locals solicitors’ Five a side football team.
Paul Gilmartin
Consultant Solicitor
paulgilmartin@albinandco.co.uk
Paul Gilmartin qualified as a Solicitor in 1994. He specialised in criminal law in 1995, having over 25 years of experience in this field.
Formerly a Senior Partner at J C Wroe and co, Paul has dealt with the most serious of cases and gets results.
He has a nationally established practice representing clients in all parts of the country.
Recent Crown Court cases include representing a child charged with Murder, a defendant charged with a gang related Murder and an international multi-defendant Kidnapping case at the Old Bailey.
Alongside such serious work, Paul is very much at home in the Magistrates court with a trial success rate second to none.
He is married with children and spends his time between his Gloucestershire home, Bristol and Reading.
In his spare time he is a keen sportsman and gardener .
Recent Cases
https://albinandco.co.uk/not-guilty-verdicts-returned-at-luton-crown-court/
Mike Davis
Consultant Solicitor
mikedavis@albinandco.co.uk
Mike is a highly experienced solicitor who has been a member of the Duty Solicitor Scheme since its inauguration in 1986. In that time he has dealt with almost every criminal offence on the Statute Books.
He is currently focusing on police station work but can and does continue to represent clients in the Magistrates Court. Mike prides himself on his approachability and relaxed manner.
He is a keen cricketer, playing for his local village side. He is married and spends much of his spare time in the company of his three grandchildren.
Karla Sims
Head of Crown Court Department
karlasims@albinandco.co.uk
Karla works in the Crown Court department and has over 18 years experience. She assists clients charged with a broad range of allegations including allegations of murder, rape, violent disorder, robbery and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. She also has experience in complex Proceeds of Crime cases.
In her spare time Karla enjoys finding new ways to keep her young son occupied and spending time in the Isle of Wight visiting family.
“Karla is a true star and if you get her you are in safe hands. It was the hardest 14 months of my life but Chris, Karla and the team go above and beyond to help. The peace of mind and confidence Karla gave was invaluable and helped me stay focused and able to carry on with life.”
Andrew Humphreys
Head of Police Station Department
andrewhumphreys@albinandco.co.uk
Andrew is Head of the Police Station Department and also a highly experienced Crown Court Caseworker.
Shanisha Fox
Trainee Solicitor
shanishafox@albinandco.co.uk
Shanisha has recently joined our Criminal Law team as a trainee solicitor. She previously worked as a caseworker and has experience in assisting in the preparation of both Magistrates and Crown Court Cases.
She is currently studying for the SQE with BPP University.
Shanisha is also a Police Station Accredited Representative, having completed the police station accreditation scheme in May 2023, and has dealt with various offences including rape and GBH.
Shanisha enjoys spending time with her family and brunching with her friends. She also enjoys doing nail art and reading in her spare time.
Niall Cooper
Trainee Solicitor
niallcooper@albinandco.co.uk
Niall works in our Prison law and Crime departments and is fluent in Italian.
He studied law at a top university and joined Albin & Co as a paralegal before his role as a trainee solicitor.
He represents clients in Independent Adjudications, assists with complex Parole Board applications, advises on general crime work, and his interest in the military enables him to grasp Military/Service law matters.
