John Howe
Managing Director and COLP
John Howe studied law in Newcastle and Leeds and worked for various practices around West Yorkshire before establishing the firm in his home town, Pudsey.
Having qualified in 1988, John has gained experience in a variety of different areas of law with marked success. He has had two cases reported in case law reports concerning Children Act proceedings and he holds the record for completing the quickest divorce ever in 5 days. He has conducted litigation in this country and abroad.
John has appeared on TV and he is a regular contributor on local radio. He has appeared in both local and national newspapers in connection with cases for which he had personal conduct, including being responsible for the preparation of the contractual documents for a prestigious development in Bulgaria.
His wealth of experience and his common sense approach has enabled him to build the firm with consummate ease with a significant following around the country. He now practices as a general practitioner predominantly for businesses of varying sizes giving advice on such matters as employment, contracts, succession, mergers, litigation and exit strategies, as well as being able to give advice on divorce, family and other related issues.
E-mail: john@jhowe.co.uk
Jenna Howe
Director and COFA
Jenna started working at John Howe & Co in 2013 and has since completed her law degree in 2015 then her LPC and Masters in law, business and management in 2016.
Qualifying as a Solicitor at the beginning of 2018 following her training contract overseen by her father and Managing Director John Howe, Jenna now intends to follow in John’s footsteps as a general practitioner, providing common sense legal advice on a variety of different subject matters in a way that people can easily understand.
E-mail : jenna@jhowe.co.uk
Bob Howe
Director
Following the completion of his law degree in 2013 Bob began his career with the firm in 2014 as a Conveyancing Executive. Beginning his Legal Practice Course at the University of Law in 2021, Bob successfully qualified as solicitor in 2023 and undertakes a wide range of matters including Residential and Commercial Conveyancing transactions, Matrimonial including Divorce and Financial Resolution, and Private Client matters.
Richard Whitaker
Solicitor (Head of Litigation)
Having qualified in 1992 Richard joined John Howe & Co in 2023, bringing with him over 30 years of experience in Litigation and Dispute Resolution matters. Richard draws on his wealth of experience to provide practical and outcome-orientated advice, assisting a wide range of commercial and individual clients across all aspects of Litigation. This includes; commercial contract disputes; boundary/land disputes; landlord/tenant disputes; will/ probate/Court of Protection disputes and personal injury compensation claims.
In particular, Richard is a highly experienced advocate and especially enjoys the cut and thrust of advocacy in court.
Outside of the office, Richard is a keen Leeds United fan and is a Supervisor Steward for Leeds Unitied at Elland Road Stadium. Additionally, Richard enjoys travelling, reading, going to the gym and is a long-standing Trustee of All Saints Parish Hall in Halifax.
E-mail: Richard@jhowe.co.uk
Bryn Rees
Solicitor
Bryn is a skilled solicitor with a strong background in commercial law and regulatory compliance. After completing his law degree in 2015, he spent seven years working in-house for national manufacturers and retailers, advising at board level on regulatory compliance, intellectual property, national and international contracts, franchising, and general commercial matters.
Since joining John Howe & Co in 2021, Bryn has applied his commercial expertise to support clients across a wide range of industries, with a particular focus on New Build Development and Commercial Finance; providing practical, strategic, and commercially focused legal advice. His deep understanding of business operations enables him to deliver tailored solutions that help clients navigate complex legal issues with clarity and common sense.
Alongside his commercial practice, Bryn has undertaken training with John Howe in Family Law, with a particular focus on Private Children and Matrimonial Proceedings. He regularly represents clients in court and is a dedicated advocate known for negotiating pragmatic and effective outcomes.
Georgia Phillips
Paralegal
Graduating with a law degree from the University of Leeds in 2023, Georgia joined John Howe & Co after graduating, initially supporting clients from the front desk. In 2024 Georgia was promoted to the role of Paralegal and began training for qualification under the SQE pathway. As a Paralegal, Georgia supports fee-earners across the full range of matters John Howe & Co advise upon.
Born and raised in Pudsey, Georgia can often be found walking her ‘Pugalier’ Willow and is a keen Ballroom and Latin dancer.