MEET OUR TEAM
CHRISTOPHER KEY - Partner
Chris was educated in Port Isaac and Camelford before completing his law degree at Manchester University and qualifying in 1980 having completed post graduate studies at the College of Law in Guildford. He worked in Bodmin for 20 years before establishing his own practice in Boscastle in 1998.
With previous experience as a litigator, Chris now specialises in residential and commercial conveyancing and agricultural property law, wills and probate and general commercial work. His litigation background continues to be useful in property related disputes.
Chris is the Harbourmaster at Boscastle and Chairman of Lesnewth Parish Council.
Outside the firm, Chris enjoys fishing and lobster potting and running a small farm. He was a lifeguard at Polzeath in his early years and still enjoys surfing. He also likes spending time with his large family and became a grandfather in 2014!
chris@christopherkeysolicitors.co.uk
SANDY COLLINGS – Legal Executive (CFILEx)
Sandy worked for many years as a legal secretary and completed her CFILEx qualification over a period of 4 years part-time whilst continuing to work full-time as a legal secretary.
Qualifying in 2005, Sandy gained broad experience with Whetter Duckworth Fowler (a small general practice situated in the outskirts of Oxford) before relocating to Cornwall and joining Christopher Key in 2011. Sandy’s current practice focuses on residential conveyancing (freehold and leasehold), mortgages, re-mortgages and transfers of land. She also has carriage of the firm’s residential tenancy matters and Lasting Powers of Attorney.
Outside work, Sandy enjoys walking, cooking, reading (fiction/autobigraphies) and listening to all types of music.
sandra@christopherkeysolicitors.co.uk
JUNE HUMPHREY - Finance Manager
June is an Associate of the Institute of Legal Finance and management and has worked for a variety of solicitors in legal finance for 28 years. June manages the firm's office and client accounts and controls the financial side of the practice. June joined Christopher Key in 2007 and works Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Outside of work, June's interests are reading, gardening, learning Italian and endeavouring to train her dogs!
June is also the Compliance Officer for Finance & Administration under the Solicitors Regulation Authority for the firm.
SUSIE GRAINGER - Reception/Admin Assistant
Susie joined Christopher Key in 2014 and works Monday, Wednesday and Friday providing administrative assistance and will usually be your first point of contact at the firm. Susie comes to us with a background of office administration, book keeping and secretarial experience.
Molly Painter - Legal Assistant
Molly is Christopher’s legal assistant and has worked for him since 2007, helping with Wills, Probate and Litigation matters. Molly has a Certificate in Law with the Open University. In her spare time she enjoys yoga and exploring Cornwall with her young daughter. She is studying part time for a Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
Jean Tatam - Conveyancer
Jean is a Conveyancer who deals with residential and commercial property transactions. She has worked for the firm since the beginning and has over 30 years of Conveyancing and lives in St. Minver.
Verren Ostle
Verren trained with a large Cornish Legal firm and qualified as a Legal Executive in 2001. She left to continue her studies at Plymouth University, working part time at Plymouth City Council legal department and qualifiying as a Solicitor in 2009. Verren joined Christopher Key in 2010, specialising in residential conveyancing and Private Client work. After a short spell away she returned in 2020 and focuses on residential conveyancing, mortgages, re-mortgages, transfers of land and equity release.
Outside of work Verren enjoys musical theatre, reading, walking, running and spending time with her family.
Jackie Carslaw
Jackie works in our Probate team and qualified as a Solicitor in 1987 with B A Hons Law with French. Jackie has worked in both the public and private sectors dealing with Private Client matters, litigation, housing, Landlord and Tenant and planning issues. She decided to specialise in the Private Client field from 2014, delivering high quality work in all matters relating to Estate Administration.
Jackie moved to Cornwall in 1995 and enjoys swimming, keeping fit, travelling and walking her dog. She has a keen interest in languages, speaking fluent French. Jackie is a member of the local Twinning Association.
Phoebe Carlyon - PA to Christopher Key & Jackie Carslaw
Originally from South Cornwall, Phoebe joined us in July 2020 after completing an Executive PA programme in London. She also studied Journalism at Southampton Solent University before spending a couple of years in New Zealand and South-East Asia. She assists Christopher and Jackie with cases and is looking into becoming a Legal Executive in due course.
She spends her spare time exploring and photographing the beautiful North Cornish coast with her family dog.