Acknowledged as experts in business disputes, company and commercial, private client, property, and employment law, our team is able to offer clients a tailored legal service. Dawn Dixon | Michael Webster | Shah Qureshi | Homa Wilson

Michael Webster, Joint Founding Partner Michael Webster qualified in November 1989 with the Knightsbridge firm Barber Young Burton and Rind and thereafter joined the firm Sprecher Grier as an assistant solicitor. Following a stint in house with Lehman Brothers International, Michael joined Conway & Co. Solicitors as Head of Litigation in 1993. He was made a partner in February 1994 where he remained until founding Webster Dixon LLP. Current Professional Practice Michael is head of both Company and Commercial and Business Disputes Departments, acting for a wide range of clients from large corporations with an annual turnover of £50 million to small and medium-sized enterprises and sole traders. Professional and Community Interest For four years Michael was the secretary for the Society of Black Lawyers as well as being an active committee member. Michael regularly sits as a member of the Legal Services Commission Appeals Panel. Michael also is a founding committee member and Company Secretary of the African Caribbean Business Network (ACBN), an organization set up in November 2001 to assist the business development of African Caribbean businesses in London. In July 2004 Michael was elected as a council member of the Law Society, the governing body for solicitors in England and Wales. Michael is married to a solicitor, Deborah, and has a son, Daniel.             Dawn Dixon, Joint Founding Partner Dawn Dixon qualified in November 1990 with London law firm William Heath & Co. and was made partner in 1995, where she remained until founding Webster Dixon LLP. Current Professional Practice Dawn is head of Property and Private Client departments, specialising in enfranchisement’s and lease extensions. Working with a wide range of clients on both commercial and high value residential property transactions, Dawn oversees landlord and tenant disputes together with general property disputes and private client matters to include preparation of wills and inheritance tax planning. Professional and Community Interest Dawn is Chair of the Association of Women Solicitors (London Group), the first Chair from an ethnic minority background, established to promote the rights of women in the legal profession. Dawn is also legal counsel for the Council for Education in World Citizenship. The Council was set up to promote the study of international affairs among young people and aims to foster mutual understanding and co-operation among peoples. Dawn helped set up a permanent advisory panel to guide the development of the College of Law’s London Branch: the largest provider of professional legal education in the country. The panel consists of representatives of practice and academic communities in London and aims to guide the College on legal education and training. Dawn sits on many other legal panels including: Diversity in Law with Global Graduates Training Limited which aims to increase the number of ethnic minorities into law; Legal Services Commission where she sits on funding reviews and costs committees; Law Society’s Professional Negligence Panel where work is referred to her by the Law Society where allegations of professional misconduct have been made; and Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service (LEAS) where she deals with problems ranging from the extension of leases, enfranchisement to general Landlord and Tenant issues and disputes. Dawn has spoken at a number of conferences and events on legal issues, diversity in the workplace and women in business: Women in Leadership Forum, 4th July 2003 Minority Lawyers Conference, 18th October 2003 Women in Leadership Forum, 6th February 2004 Dawn regularly attends industry event and conferences at the Law Society. This year Dawn was invited to attend the prestigious event Celebration of Pioneers’ Contribution to the Nation at Buckingham Palace on 13th October. Dawn was the only black minority business woman to attend, an accreditation to her success and achievement in the legal sector, as well as her extra curricular activities with the law societies and ethnic diversity organisations.             Shah Qureshi, Partner and Head of Employment Department Shah Qureshi is a Partner and Head of the Employment Department at Webster Dixon LLP. The Department was commended for its work in the Best Legal Team category of the Law Society’s Race Equality Awards 2005. Shah previously worked at Legal 500 firms Christian Khan and latterly Hodge Jones and Allen before joining Webster Dixon in June 2004. He is recommended as a leader in his field in the Legal 500 2006 and Chambers Guide to the legal Profession 2007. Current Professional Practice Shah is Head of the firm’s Employment Department. He has particular expertise in representing Executives and Professionals in both contentious and non-contentious work. He has also developed a good reputation in pursuing successful discrimination cases against large corporations and public bodies. Shah has a portfolio of key respondent clients including national charities, local authorities and companies. Shah has acted in a number of landmark cases and has experience of pursuing appeals at the Employment Appeal Tribunal, Court of Appeal and the House of Lords. He has been involved in a number of high profile and/or reported cases including Bahl -v- The Law Society and Others (Employment Tribunal only – race and sex discrimination); Murray -v- Newham CAB (disability discrimination); and Allen and Others -v- RJB Mining (Transfer of Undertakings). He recently acted for Julia Smith, the Metropolitan Police Authority’s Head of Race and Diversity, in the successful settlement of her claims against her former employer. He is currently acting in the Court of Appeal Case, Aziz -v- Embassy of the Republic of Yemen, which challenges a foreign state’s right to claim immunity where it has already submitted to the UK Court’s jurisdiction. The case is likely to have implications on state immunity law in the UK. Professional and Community Interest Shah is a visiting lecturer in Employment Law at the London Metropolitan University. In recognition of his expertise in discrimination law, he is a member of the Equal Opportunities Commission’s panel of experts. Shah is an active member of the Discrimination Law Association’s Board of Directors. He has been involved in a number of the Association’s activities including its submission to the Morris Inquiry into Professional Standards and Employment Matters in the Metropolitan Police Service, the Constitutional Affairs Committee’s Legal Aid Enquiry and, the European Council’s Consultation on Racism and Intolerance in the UK. He is currently involved in discussions with the Commission for Racial Equality in relation to its legal strategy for the forthcoming year. Shah was recently co-opted onto the Muslim Council of Britain’s Legal Affairs Committee and is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association. Shah continues to be involved in grassroots community work and has acted as an advisor or trainer for the Black London’s Forum, The 1990 Trust and CAPA Civil Rights, (a community organisation based in East London). He has also spoken at a number of conferences held by the Discrimination Law Association, BRAIN and The National Council for Voluntary Organisations. Areas of Work All areas of employment law and discrimination law. Publications Shah has written legal articles for a number of publications including the SITRA Bulletin (Housing Organisation Journal) and the DLA Briefing. He writes the equal opportunities chapter of Tolley’s Employment and Personnel Procedures. Press Coverage Many of the cases Shah has worked on have received press coverage. He has been quoted or interviewed in such publications as the Guardian, the Scotsman, the Independent and the Evening Standard. His cases have also been covered in the legal press. He has appeared on the BBC’s Newsnight programme to provide legal comment.           Homa Wilson, Employment Solicitor Homa Wilson joined Webster Dixon LLP in July 2006 from Legal 500 firm, Edwards Duthie Solicitors. She has extensive experience in numerous legal environments from law centres to top-ten City law firms. Current Professional Practice Homa has developed her practice across all areas of employment law. She acts on behalf of employers and employees in both contentious and non-contentious matters. Her work spans across the full spectrum of employment law. Homa advises both individuals and employers on areas of: equal pay; unfair dismissal; redundancy; maternity rights; TUPE; restrictive covenants; discrimination and harassment and conciliation and settlement of claims. Homa also advises employers on day-to-day employment law issues; drafting policies and handbooks; advising on policies and procedures; negotiating compromise agreements and defending claims. Her portfolio of employer clients includes: Croydon College, National Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders (NACRO), a national charity and Primesight, the UK’s fastest growing outdoor advertising company. Homa manages a significant caseload of Employment Tribunal cases; from their instruction to the completion of remedies hearing as well as handling any appeals that may arise. Homa currently acts in a number of high profile race, sex and disability discrimination cases, ranging from claims against public bodies such as the Metropolitan Police, the CPS and local authorities to multi-national companies. Professional and Community Interest Prior to becoming a solicitor, Homa’s work experience has been in public affairs, acting as a caseworker and events organiser within organisations which specialise in combating discrimination, harassment and civil injustice. She has worked in partnership with key not-for-profit organisations and government. Homa was responsible for arranging public briefings, campaigns and seminars on topical legal issues, with the purpose of raising public awareness – within London, Nationally and in the EU. Homa is a member of the Discrimination Law Association, Employment Lawyers Association and Association of Women Solicitors. Areas of Work All areas of employment law and discrimination law. Publications Homa has contributed to the employment chapter in Kelly’s Draftsman. She also drafts Webster Dixon’s regular employment bulletin - providing case and legislative updates to it’s clients.

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