98 Years in Law

Parkes Wilshire Johnson is a family firm with a long history serving the Cockfosters and surrounding local communities.

PWJ Solicitors office sign

Welcome to Cockfosters road sign

Your local legal practice

Parkes Wilshire Johnson is firmly rooted in Cockfosters and the surrounding local communities. Since 1928 our experienced team of solicitors have served generations of individuals and businesses in the local area and continue to strive to provide professional, efficient and comprehensive legal advice.

Our experienced team of lawyers cover a range of practice areas and work in close partnership to ensure that the needs of our clients are catered for by the most qualified and appropriate lawyer. Our aim is to understand and respond to your specific legal needs and concerns and we pride ourselves on the personal legal service we are able to provide.

Expert Legal Advice

Meet the team

Our friendly team of qualified lawyers cover a range of practice areas. We aim to understand your specific needs and provide you with the most relevant, up-to-date, expert legal advice to suit.

  • Judith Bleetman

    Judith Bleetman

    Senior Partner

  • Lucy Thomas

    Lucy Thomas

    Managing Partner

  • Elizabeth

    Elizabeth Makinde

    Property Consultant Solicitor

  • Christopher Johnson

    Christopher Johnson

    Consultant (non-practising)

Judith studied law in Liverpool and the solicitors finals in Chester and qualified as a solicitor in 1992. She joined Parkes Wilshire Johnson in 1997 and became a partner in 2003. Judith specialises in residential and commercial conveyancing, wills, probate, commercial and business matters, leases, tenancy agreements, elderly client care, powers of attorney and Court of Protection applications.

Lucy Joined Parkes Wilshire Johnson in 2003, working in the firm as a paralegal, trainee and solicitor before becoming partner in 2016. She studied for her PGDip in Law at BPP Law School, London (Distinction) and qualified in 2010, College of Law, London. Fluent in French with more limited Spanish and Italian language skills, Lucy’s original degree was in Modern Languages at Clare College, Cambridge University. Lucy specializes in wills, probate, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and court of protection matters, elderly client care and employment law.

Elizabeth originally joined PWJ as a locum solicitor in 2023 and has now joined the PWJ team as a regular consultant solicitor for property matters, working part-time. She qualified as a solicitor in 2005, having obtained her law degree (LLB) at Brunel University and completed her Legal Practice qualification at the London College of Law and postgraduate studies at the University of Wales. Elizabeth has over 17 years experience in Residential property law including new build purchases, right to buy applications, bridging loans, shared ownership, freehold and leasehold sales, purchases, re-mortgages and transfers of equity. Elizabeth will be based at our Church Hill Road Office.

Joined Parkes Wilshire Johnson in 1965 as article clerk to Frank Wilshire. Qualified 1967 from the London College of Law. Christopher was Senior Partner of the firm for forty years until November 2019 when he became a Consultant, working part-time. He is now a non-practising solicitor.

98 Years in Law

Our story so far

Parkes Wilshire Johnson has served the local community through offices across Barnet, High Barnet and Cockfosters for decades, with its fourth generation of solicitors now continuing the firm’s traditions.

1928

Our New Barnet office was opened by father and son team Parkes junior and senior. Mr Parkes senior had previously been a partner in a firm called Stevens Sons & Parkes which dated back to the 19th Century.

1938

They are joined by Frank Wilshire who goes on to become a partner in 1947.

1962

Christopher Johnson was articled to Frank Wilshire, subsequently qualifying in 1967 and becoming a partner in 1971

1997

Judith Bleetman joined the firm and became a partner in 2003, working at our Cockfosters office alongside Christopher Johnson.

2014

The firm opened a new chapter in its practice history with a consolidation/relocation of offices and some personnel from its former Barnet branch into an expanded Cockfosters practice, including the addition of a new Partner, Lucy Thomas.

2016

Opening of our new East Barnet office in Church Hill Road.

Recent Reviews

What our clients say…

We are incredibly proud of the consistently positive reviews left by our legal clients. You can read a selection of these below.

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Contact our friendly team today to find out how we can help you with professional and impartial legal advice.

Cockfosters Parade office

Cockfosters Head Office

East Barnet office

East Barnet Office