KWW Solicitors has a new equity partnership team following the retirement from full-time work of former managing partner David Anstee.
David, who was also in charge of KWW’s family law department, joined the East Molesey law firm in 1997, became a partner in 2003, and had been senior partner since 2018.
The new partners are Karen Starkey – the first female equity partner in KWW’s 73-year history – and Tariq Phillips. They join Salvatore Sole, who has been with KWW for the past 20 years and is one of Surrey’s premier property solicitors.
David is staying on with KWW as a consultant. “It’s been challenging – no more so than when we had to deal with the Covid crisis – but a complete privilege to have been at the helm of such a long-established and widely respected Surrey institution,” he said.
“Looking back, I’m proud of the way we not only navigated Covid but the way we have integrated technology and modern working practices into the business, all the while maintaining our personality and the all-so-important human element of the law.
“I have also enjoyed giving opportunities to aspiring solicitors, one of which was Karen, and training and mentoring them to the point where they are now enjoying wonderful careers.”
Salv Sole said: “We’re so pleased to be able to retain David’s services for another year at least, and I will certainly be leaning on his experience. That said, myself and my two new partners have some firm ideas of where KWW needs to go from here, and we are looking forward to implementing them.
“One thing that will never change is our focus on our clients and making sure we do everything we can to deliver the outcomes they want.
“There is nothing artificial about the intelligence that abounds at KWW, and we will continue to be the choice for clients who want to deal with real people, not robots or algorithms.”
Karen Starkey is well-known around East Molesey, having lived in the area for many years. She started her legal career with KWW, then joined another Surrey law firm before returning to Walton Road in 2025 to run KWW’s Private Client department, specialising in Wills, lasting powers of attorney, and probate.
Tariq Phillips, 49, is a highly experienced commercial property solicitor who joined KWW in 2025. Tariq specialises in acquisitions, disposals and leases and he acts for private individuals and businesses across sectors such as offices, restaurants, bars, industrial units, and shops.
KWW is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and holds the Conveyancing Quality Standard. The firm carries a strong ratings score of 4.7/5 on Google and the ReviewSolicitors client feedback platforms.