Corporate and Commercial Solicitors for Southampton and Hampshire

Ben Ironmonger

Ben is a partner at Scott Bailey LLP, heading up our company and commercial, and marine departments.

Ben advises SME business clients on corporate and commercial matters, including business sales and purchases, reorganisations, company structure arrangements, intellectual property, and commercial contracts. Ben has considerable experience in acting for private companies, property developers, employees, agents, banks and financial institutions, entrepreneurs and investors, across an array of industries.  

As well as traditional business sectors, Ben also regularly advises healthcare business clients including care home owners, pharmacists, veterinary and dental practices, and GP partnerships.

Having worked in business for a number of years prior to training as a solicitor, and having been a commercial litigator prior to making the move to corporate and commercial, Ben has developed a unique, down-to-earth and commercial approach, focusing on the key business issues and helping clients get deals done in a cost-effective manner.

Philip Salt

Phil heads up our commercial property department and is a vital member of the wider property team. He has wide experience dealing with all aspects of commercial, agricultural and residential property, ranging from buying or selling a business or farm to letting properties to tenants or setting up a new enterprise. He advises clients involved in both the granting and taking of commercial leases.

Phil deals with transactions for both landowners and developers, advising on the full range of issues relating to land acquisition and development, including such matters as option agreements, conditional contracts, overage agreements, joint venture agreements and infrastructure agreements.

Very often there are loose ends on property transactions and Phil takes a practical and commercial approach to solving these problems.

Azmi Quraishe

Azmi is our Partner in charge of Litigation and Dispute Resolution. She is a Solicitor Advocate having obtained Higher Rights of Audience since 2010, and is accredited to undertake Advocacy in the High Court as well as lower courts.  Azmi has a wide range of experience in resolving disputes both for businesses and individuals, and her practice spans a range of Civil and Commercial Litigation matters where she has represented clients often in complex cases, delivering strong results.

Azmi also sits as a Magistrate in Southampton and is the local organiser for the West Hampshire Magistrates' Mock Trials competition. Azmi has been an Associate Lecturer in law at the local university and enjoys imparting her knowledge to the next generation. 

Emily Drew

Emily qualified as a Solicitor in September 2024 after completing a 2 year training contract with Scott Bailey. During her training contract, Emily spent time with each legal department, and now works alongside Ben Ironmonger in the Company and Commercial and Marine departments, advising businesses and their owners on a range of corporate and commercial matters. Emily also acts for a number of individuals and businesses in marine-related matters and park home transactions.

Emily has always lived locally and studied her Law degree at the University of Winchester, she then went on to study a Masters in Law and Business Management along with completing her Legal Practice Course at the University of Law, achieving a distinction overall.

Joseph Hammond

Joseph is a Graduate Solicitor Apprentice based in the firm’s Lymington office. Having previously worked with a regional firm while completing his undergraduate studies at Bournemouth University, he is now undertaking his solicitor training through the graduate apprenticeship route, furthering his studies with practical experience across the firm’s key departments.

He has gained insightful exposure to both transactional and litigious matters, while developing particular interest in litigation and corporate law. He is committed to delivering high‑quality work and maintaining the firm’s outstanding reputation while gaining and consolidating the practical expertise required to qualify as a solicitor.

Joseph's long‑term ambition is to qualify as a commercial solicitor with a strong grounding in the local area and wider New Forest.

Celia Hawson

Celia is a paralegal in our Litigation & Dispute Resolution department and is an assistant to the firm's Notary. Celia also supports the litigation team with debt recovery and general contentious matters. 

Celia is studying to become a Notary and is currently in her last year at University College London.  Having previously worked in our Company & Commercial department and having had a career in the cruise and shipping industries before making the switch to law, Celia is looking forward to bringing her knowledge and experience of working internationally to her future role as a Notary.  

Merrin Long

Merrin is a Chartered Legal Executive with experience working on a variety of residential and commercial property transactions, including sales and purchases, first registrations, and commercial leases and remortgages.

Since joining Scott Bailey in 2013, Merrin has gained extensive experience spanning the administrative and legal aspects of conveyancing. During this time, she completed her training to become a Chartered Legal Executive specialising in commercial property.

Merrin is an efficient, organised, and much-valued member of our conveyancing team, who always takes a proactive approach to helping her clients achieve their goals.

Daniel Ratcliff

Daniel is an Associate Partner and Chartered Legal Executive with extensive experience in both residential and commercial property transactions. He specialises in the sale and purchase of all types of property, whether freehold or leasehold, and is particularly skilled in handling complex and unusual matters. Over the years, he has successfully completed transactions involving everything from a beach and an aeroplane hangar, to a castle, a school, and a golf course - to name but a few!

In addition to conveyancing, Daniel regularly advises clients on a wide range of related property issues, including bank security, transfers of equity, deeds of variation, and equity release.

Having obtained his Master’s degree in Law from the University of Southampton in 2010, Daniel has remained closely connected to the local area throughout his career. Known for his approachable manner and practical, solution-focused advice, Daniel is committed to providing a smooth, efficient service and helping to make the conveyancing process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.