Meet The Team

PATRICK TOLHURST

PARTNER

Patrick advises on fundraisings, exits, product development, corporate strategy and general commercial matters. Patrick’s clients are entrepreneurs and growing companies working in innovative sectors such as fintech, IoT and the sharing economy, as well as more traditional business models from sectors including fashion, music and professional services.

Patrick trained and qualified at Farrer & Co LLP joining their corporate team advising investors, entrepreneurs, family businesses and professional practices in a number of sectors. In 2012, Patrick left Farrer & Co and set up an award-winning food business before co-founding Marlborough House Partners LLP with his father, Philip.

Areas of Knowledge: Corporate; Commercial; Fundraisings; Exits; Sharing Economy; Internet of Things; Fintech; Fashion; Tech; Professional Services.

Email: patrick@marlboroughhousepartners.com

Phone: +44 (0) 7775 924798

CLAIRE RAINBIRD

PARTNER

Claire specialises in employment and business immigration law, supporting businesses and senior executives.  Claire is experienced in advising on all aspects of the employment relationship from recruitment through to termination and regularly advises on the employment aspects of complex reorganisations and restructures, TUPE and collective consultations.  Claire also gives advice to businesses on matters such as the prevention of illegal working and the employment of non-EEA nationals.

In addition, Claire provides an HR advisory service acting as a dedicated HR advisor providing day-to-day HR support and strategic advice to Boards of Directors.

Claire trained and qualified at Tolhurst Fisher LLP before joining City firm DMH Stallard LLP advising clients mainly in the financial and charitable sectors.

Areas of Knowledge:  Employment; Business Immigration; HR; Financial; Retail.

Email: claire@marlboroughhousepartners.com

Phone: +44 (0) 7495 679289

KIRSTIN GILBERT

PARTNER

Kirstin’s practice focuses on financial transactions and commercial contracts. Kirstin works with early stage companies, established corporates and financial institutions advising on loan agreements, venture capital debt, convertible debt and taking security. Kirstin also provides advice on commercial and contractual matters across sectors such as financial services, transport, retail and supply chain management.

Kirstin trained and qualified at Stephenson Harwood before joining the structured asset finance team at Allen & Overy LLP, where she specialised in the transportation, shipping and aviation industries. Kirstin then worked as in-house counsel at Deutsche Bank where she advised the trustee and agency team on financial transactions, trading platforms, commercial contracts and payment processing technologies.

Areas of knowledge: Finance; Fund Raisings; Commercial Contracts; Trust and Agency; Company Secretarial.

Email: kirstin@marlboroughhousepartners.com

Phone: +44 (0) 7557 335755

VALERIA GENTILE

Partner

Valeria advises entrepreneurs and SMEs operating in a wide range of sectors on data protection, IP, corporate strategy and general commercial matters. She has a particular interest in trademarks, copyright and the challenges of the GDPR.

Valeria is a qualified lawyer in the UK, Spain and Italy and has substantial international experience working on cross-border IP and commercial transactions both in private practice and in-house. She holds an IP LLM at King’s College London.

Areas of knowledge: IP; Privacy and Data Protection; Commercial; Corporate; Fashion; Media; Tech.

Email: valeria@marlboroughhousepartners.com

Phone: +44 (0) 7949 140988

CAROLINE DE ROUGEMONT

COO and Partner

Caroline handles affairs relating to operations and systems, business practices, compliance, regulation and business development.

Previously Caroline trained as a solicitor at White & Case LLP joining their project finance team upon qualification. After several years Caroline decided to change focus within the legal sector, taking a business development role at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. Caroline joined Marlborough House Partners LLP in April 2016.

Email: caroline@marlboroughhousepartners.com

Phone: +44 (0) 7968 450151

PHILIP TOLHURST

PARTNER

Philip works with entrepreneurs, family businesses and SMEs providing strategic, commercial, structural and project management advice. He is particularly interested in commercial property and housing developments.

Philip has over 40 years’ experience advising clients on commercial and property matters. Until 2014 Philip was the senior partner of the firm Tolhurst Fisher LLP, taking the firm from two partners and a handful of staff, to a mid-sized firm with almost 100 partners and staff. Following his retirement, Philip co-founded Marlborough House Partners LLP with his son, Patrick.

Areas of Knowledge: Commercial; Commercial Property; Property Development; Family Businesses; Fund Management; Charities.

Email: philip@marlboroughhousepartners.com

Phone: +44 (0)20 3813 8595

KATY WARREN

Paralegal

Katy assists the Partners with fundraisings, corporate strategy/governance and general commercial matters, working with entrepreneurs and growing companies across a variety of sectors. In early 2021, Katy was seconded to an InsurTech client, where she supported the company’s in-house legal team during their Series C funding.

Katy studied History and Philosophy at the University of Exeter, before completing the GDL at BPP University. Since then, Katy has worked as a paralegal at both commercial law firms and legal technology companies, joining MHP in September 2020. Katy is due to start a Training Contract at a City law firm in 2023.

Email: katy@marlboroughhousepartners.com

Phone: +44 (0) 7786 264 874

HAZEL TREMAIN

Senior Administrator

Hazel has over 30 years’ experience in the legal profession as a legal assistant. She provides support primarily to the Partners by performing the clerical and administrative work that requires knowledge of legal terms, documents and procedures. Hazel also maintains communication with clients helping to keep them informed as their project progresses.

Email: hazel@marlboroughhousepartners.com

Phone: +44 (0)20 3813 8596