Our Team

John Dunstan
Solicitor & Director
John began his training as a solicitor in Cornwall and moved to London in order to complete his formal legal training. Upon qualifying in 1974 John remained in London to practice Law before moving back to Cornwall to work in a practice in Camborne. John remained there for a number of years before joining the firm of Chellews in St Ives in 1978. John is a Director of CVC and is highly experienced in General Litigation and Property Law, he is the Compliance Officer Legal Practice (COLP) for the firm and manages and supervises the St Ives Office.
All areas of Personal & Commercial Litigation, Professional Negligence Claims, Company Insolvency, Construction Disputes, Landlord & Tenancy Disputes, Debt Recovery, Contract Disputes, Commercial Property Sales & Purchases, Residential Property Sales & Purchases, Partnership Disputes, Employment Law
Specialist Areas
John Dunstan
Rob McKellar
Solicitor & Director
Rob qualified as a Solicitor in 2009 having completed his Legal Practice Course at Exeter University and subsequent training in Somerset. He has since worked for a national legal services provider and also a legal 500 London based firm. His specialisms include Wills, Probate, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Tax Planning. Rob makes his clients the priority and is flexible to meet their needs. He is based in the Penzance office but is more than happy to travel to other locations to see clients when needed.
Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, estate administration, Tax planning
Specialist Areas
Rob McKellar
Matt Rodd
Solicitor & Director
Matt qualified as a Solicitor in 2006. He was a partner in a busy Leeds city centre law firm where he worked for 15 years until recently returning to his roots in Cornwall. Over the course of his career Matt has gained an extensive knowledge of the residential property market dealing with freehold, leasehold, shared ownership and right to buy transactions as well as new build purchases. Matt will also be able to assist in Commercial Conveyancing transactions. Matt is based in our Penzance office.
Sales & Purchases of Freehold & Leasehold, Remortgages, Equity Release, Shared Equity Schemes, Land Registry, Voluntary Registrations, Severance of Joint Tenancies, Auctions Sales & Purchases and Commercial Conveyancing
Specialist areas
Matt Rodd
Rob Synnott
Solicitor & Director
Rob qualified as a Solicitor in 2003 having completed his legal training and worked for several years in London. He has a wide practice of primarily dispute work, which encompasses various aspects of Civil Litigation such as Landlord and Tenant work, Matrimonial, Contentious Probate, Land and Property disputes and general advice (including issues relating to easements, beneficial interests, claims in proprietary estoppel, boundary disputes, claims in respect of nuisance and adverse possession matters), Contractual Disputes, Personal Injury and advising in respect of employment Settlement Agreements. In addition, Rob deals with some non-contentious work such as drafting licences, short leases, contracts of employment and tenancy agreements. Rob is based in Hayle but is happy to can see clients at any of our offices by appointment.
Personal Injury, Professional Negligence, Landlord & Tenant Disputes, Boundary Disputes, Debt Recovery, Contract Disputes, Employment Law, Matrimonial Law, Contentious Probate
Specialist Areas
Rob Synnott
Grace Kertland-Peake
Practice Manager, Solicitor & Director
Grace carried out a Business Degree at Wolverhampton and a CPE Law Conversion course, and then the LPC. She then gained a Training Contract at South Shropshire District Council, qualifying as a Solicitor in 2007. Grace worked for Local Government specialising in Commercial Law and Procurement before moving to Cornwall to work as Deputy Superintendent of Births, Deaths and Marriages. As Practice Manager Grace focuses on the running of the firm and is the Compliance Officer for Financial Administration.
Risk Management & Compliance, Practice Management
Specialist Areas
Grace-Kertland Peake
Mykal O'Toole
Solicitor
Mykal qualified as a Solicitor in 1987 and has been working in the area for many years. Mykal came to CVC in 2015 after working at Nigel Pullen Solicitors in Truro and she has extensive experience in dealing with both contentious and non contentious matters. Mykal is based in the St Ives office but is able to see clients in any of our other offices or at home if required.
Family Law, Pre-Nuptial Agreements, Divorce, Separation, Children's Matters, Civil Litigation, Wills & Probate, Discretionary Trusts, Employment Issues, Residential & Commercial Property - Freehold & Leasehold, Business Sales & Acquisition, Power of Attorney, Court of Protection
Specialist Areas
Mykal O'Tool
Clare Hall
Solicitor
Clare qualified as a Solicitor in 2019 having completed her Legal Practice Course at Cardiff University and her Training Contract with a firm of Solicitors in Newquay. Clare has gained a great deal of experience in other fields such as banking and with the Local Authority before qualifying as a Solicitor and is very client focused. Clare’s specialisms include Wills, Estate Administration and Lasting Powers of Attorney. Clare is based in the Penzance office but is happy to carry out home visits if required or to see clients in any of the other offices.
Wills; Estate Administration; Lasting Powers of Attorney
Specialist Areas
Clare Hall
Karen White
FCILEx
Karen joined the firm of Borlase & Venning in 1979 which is now part of the merged practice of CVC Solicitors. Karen has been a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives since 2002 and has extensive knowledge of all aspects of Property Law, including sales, purchases, re-mortgages, transfer of equity - to name a few. Karen is based in Penzance.
Sales & Purchases of Freehold & Leasehold Properties, Auctions - Sales & Purchases, Equity Release, Remortgaging, Co-ownership Transfers, Land Registry Voluntary Registrations, Buy To let
Specialist Areas
Karen White
Lesley Patrick
FCILEx & accredited member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers
Lesley joined the firm in 2002 and qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in 2009. Lesley is part of our Private Client team who advise on a range of legal matters including Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Estate Administration. Lesley is a Dementia Friend and a full accredited member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers. As an accredited member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers, Lesley is a specialist in advising older and vulnerable clients. Lesley is based in our Hayle office but is happy to visit clients at any one of our offices, or at a clients’ home if required.
Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Estate Administration, Care Home Fees, advising Elderly Clients
Specialist Areas
Lesley Patrick
Sarah Adkins
FCILEx, STEP & accredited member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers
Sarah is part of our Private Client team who advise on a range of legal matters including Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Estate Administration. Sarah is a full accredited member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers and STEP. Sarah is based in our Penzance office but is happy to visit clients at any one of our offices, or at a clients’ home if required.
Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Estate Administration, Care Home Fees, advising Elderly Clients
Specialist areas
Sarah Adkins
Anna Wallis
Licenced Conveyancer
Anna qualified as a Licensed Conveyancer in 2010 having joined the firm of Chellews in 2004. Anna works within the Conveyancing Department and is based within our busy Hayle office. As a fully qualified Licenced Conveyancer Anna is able to offer clients a full range of conveyancing services, which includes Residential Sales and Purchases, Remortgages, Transfer of Equity, and Leasehold Sales and Purchases.
Sales & Purchases of Freehold & Leasehold, Remortgages, Equity Release, Land Registry, Voluntary Registrations, Severance of Joint Tenancies, Auctions Sales & Purchases
Specialist Areas
Anna Wallis
Dwayne McAvoy
Conveyancing Executive
Dwayne has worked within a Conveyancing/Property role since 2002 and joined CVC in 2015 having relocated to Cornwall from South Yorkshire. Dwayne has gained significant experience over the years dealing with property transactions such as Residential Sales and Purchases, Co-Ownership, Buy To Let, Remortgages and Mobile Home Transactions. Dwayne is based in our busy Penzance office.
Residential Sales & Purchases, Co-Ownership, Buy to Let, Re-Mortgages, Mobile Home Transactions
Specialist Areas
Dwayne McAvoy
Alice Hocking
Trainee Solicitor
Alice joined the firm in 2020 after completing her law degree at Queen Mary University of London. Alice is currently working towards her Solicitors Qualifying Exams and will be undertaking her qualifying work experience as a trainee solicitor. Alice is based in our Hayle office and works in our Litigation and Private Client departments.
Specialist Areas
Alice Hocking
Lydia Clifton
Trainee Solicitor
Lydia joined the firm in June 2023, having completed a masters in law at the University of Law. She has completed her first Solicitors Qualifying Exam and is undertaking her qualifying work experience whilst working towards her final exam. Lydia is based in our Penzance office and works in the conveyancing department and also has a particular interest in Commercial Law.
Specialist areas
Lydia Clifton