Our Partners

Melvin Berwald | Senior Partner

Founding Partner, Melvin Berwald, established the firm then known as Crawfords Berwald with his partners in 1983. Since then he has specialised in investment property, dealing with all legal aspects relating to purchases, sales, tenancies, mortgaging and taxation of property investments.

He makes frequent visits to the Far East and is a well known contributor to local newspapers on the English property scene. He has also been a major participant in a series of seminars on property investment in England. Melvin holds a non-executive directorship of an international bank.

Julian Lobetta | Partner and Head of Commercial Property

Julian Lobetta joined the firm in 1995 and is now head of the Commercial Property Department. He was previously a solicitor at Nabarro Nathanson for nearly 9 years. Julian handles a wide range of matters including the acquisition and disposal of investment property, portfolio purchases and sales, landlord and tenant transactions, and secured lending.

His clients include major corporations, individuals and trusts based in the UK and offshore. He is known for his creative problem solving and has lectured and given seminars on various property issues.

Judith Fishman | Partner

Judith was educated at The London School of Economics and qualified in 1986. She joined the firm in 1999 as a partner, having formerly worked in the property department of Freshfields and other major law firms. Judith advises on all areas of commercial property work. Her clients include owner-managed businesses, public companies and investment funds. Her experience includes investment sales and purchases, secured lending, landlord and tenant, property related insolvency, retail, office and mixed-use developments.

Douglas Fordham | Partner and Head of Residential Property

Douglas joined PCB as a Partner and Head of Residential Property in September 2001. Previously the Managing Partner of a Hong Kong firm's London office, he has over 12 years' experience in residential property law. Educated at Guildford Law School, Douglas is qualified as a Solicitor of England and Wales, Hong Kong and also as a Solicitor and Barrister of the Australian Capital Territory. Douglas advises UK and overseas investors, developers, landlords and tenants in all aspects of residential property. He has spent four years working in Hong Kong and continues to travel to the Far East regularly.

Asha Karaji | Partner

Asha joined PCB in 2006 and became a partner in 2008. She is an experienced Residential property lawyer, specializing in new build transactions, re-mortgages and secondary transactions.  Educated at the University of Leicester and College of Law in Birmingham, Asha has a 2:1 Law degree and LPC certificate. She trained and qualified in West London and has become an integral & valuable member of the PCB team.

Mark Dent | Partner and Head of Employment Law