Meet our team of professional solicitors and support staff
All our solicitors have extensive experience in divorce, separation, financial settlements and the arrangements for the care of children when a relationship breaks down.
We are here to provide guidance, support and understanding during what can be a difficult time. We are committed to providing outstanding service and achieving the best possible outcome for our clients. We will deal with your matters in a sensitive, practical and unconfrontational way, but will take a tougher approach when required to get the right result.
Lucy Hart – Director
Lucy is an experienced family solicitor who has specialised in this area of law since 2006. The majority of her career has been spent in top tier Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners firms and she therefore has a wide breadth of expertise particularly in relation to financial settlements on divorce and complex children disputes. She is a Resolution Accredited Specialist in Complex Financial and Property Matters and Children Law.
She also advises in relation to pre-nuptial agreements, disputes between unmarried couples and injunctions.
Lucy prides herself on her empathetic yet practical approach to achieving the best possible outcome for her clients and ensures that everyone at Sinclair Law provides a bespoke and high quality service to clients at a time of particular disruption in their lives.
In her spare time Lucy enjoys spending time with her two very energetic children and cocker spaniel.
Sandra Sinclair – Non Executive Director
Sandra Sinclair is an experienced family solicitor. She helps private clients in all matters of family law, providing both an experienced and personal level of service that’s the envy of many other ‘corporate’ law practices. She has been listed in Legal 500 directories and the Chambers and Partners have had this to say of her:
Sandra has the ability to handle complex cases and that inspires confidence in clients. She is praised for her courtroom manner during contested ancillary relief proceedings. She attracts extremely good work and carries out in a calm and thoughtful fashion.
Nicola Tiernan – Consultant
Nicola is a highly experienced family specialist with an established reputation in the Bramhall area which attracts clients from far and wide.
Nicola is an experienced Collaborative Lawyer and Mediator and believes passionately that Court proceedings should be avoided if at all possible. She therefore takes a creative approach to assisting clients, listening carefully to their objectives and brainstorms all alternatives to Court including collaborative, mediation, arbitration and round table meetings so as to ensure that the needs of a separating family are addressed in the most sensitive and child focused way.
Nicola has extensive experience in all areas of family law and her many testimonials, including below, speak for themselves.
“Professional, caring and courteous service with amazing amounts of empathy for people going through their most troubling times. I would definitely recommend this practice to anyone going through family law disputes.” Rob from Cheshire
Suzanne Moore – Solicitor
Suzanne has a wealth of experience in all areas of family law. She is a member of Resolution and is a Resolution accredited Collaborative Lawyer.
Suzanne is committed to working with you to find the best solution in as non-confrontational way as possible in order to achieve a swift resolution as cost effectively as possible.
Suzanne is approachable and has good technical skills. A well-respected solicitor in her field, Suzanne has developed a close working relationship with the LGBT Foundation in Manchester and is a member of the UK and Ireland LGBT Family Law Institute which is an association of solicitors and barristers experienced in the area of LGBT work.
Suzanne has published articles on same-sex issues and is at the forefront of advising same-sex couples on all aspects of separation, finances and children including surrogacy and donor agreements.
Jeanette Birch – Solicitor
Jeanette is an experienced Family Solicitor having specialised in this area of law for more than 25 years. Jeanette has practiced in the Manchester, Cheshire and Staffordshire area over that time amassing experience in a variety of roles and in the changing face of the law and society. She has a wealth of experience in dealing with Divorce, Financial Matters and arrangements in relation to Children. She is accredited as an Advanced Member of the Law Society’s Family Panel and is a member of the National Children Committee of Resolution. Jeanette has previously lectured in law for the Open University
Jeanette is very approachable and adopts a practical approach in trying to achieve the best outcome possible for her client ensuring that they receive appropriate advice. Jeanette appreciates that this is a very stressful period of any client’s life when they can benefit from a guiding hand and empathetic approach at the same time as ensuring that her client’s interests are best represented to enable them to move forwards into the future with the best position achievable. Having acted in many diverse cases over the last 25 years Jeanette is well used to adapting to the needs of her client.
In her spare time Jeanette spends time with her 2 children together with various cats including fostering cats for a local charity and a lively Border Collie. When time permits she loves to spend time riding around in circles at various velodromes and has previously enjoyed track racing achieving success at Masters level in National, European and World Championships. She has used the recent lockdowns to achieve a long standing ambition to publish a children’s story book and hopes to publish more in the future.
Gail Cartwright – Solicitor
A member of Resolution and Resolution Accredited Specialist and Collaborative Lawyer, Gail specialises in financial cases that involve substantial assets and complex issues and difficult disputes regarding children.
“Every client has a unique set of circumstances. I listen to them and work hard to ensure that I understand their requirements, and that they feel supported, reassured and confident in my ability to represent them. In addition, it is imperative that my clients know all their options and that I guide them through the process from beginning to end with clear, frank and practical advice. I aim to find the best possible solution for my client and their family, amicably and in a cost-effective manner.”
“Every client has a unique set of circumstances. I listen to them and work hard to ensure that I understand their requirements, and that they feel supported, reassured and confident in my ability to represent them. In addition, it is imperative that my clients know all their options and that I guide them through the process from beginning to end with clear, frank and practical advice. I aim to find the best possible solution for my client and their family, amicably and in a cost-effective manner.”
Seb Jackson – Consultant
Seb qualified at a magic circle practice in London in 1999 following a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University and achieving a distinction on his Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in Chester.
Seb practised for many years at top tier firms in Manchester before moving to work with his father at a long established and well respected private client practice in Cheshire where ultimately he became managing partner and successfully merged the practice into another larger local firm.
Seb has also worked as a law lecturer and as a mediator and is a qualified psychotherapist.
Seb joined Sinclair Law in March 2020 and combines his legal career with playing and coaching tennis at the elite level and recently won the European singles and doubles championships for his age category. He has also captained his country at tennis on numerous occasions.
Agata Napora – Solicitor
Prior to joining Sinclair Law in October 2018. Agata worked for a premium international business law firm across their Corporate and Private Capital departments for several years. She has always felt passionate about helping to make a real change in people’s lives which led her on to the journey of becoming a family lawyer. Agata completed her training contract in March 2021 during which she assisted the directors with complex matrimonial proceedings and disputes in relation to children whilst building her own case load. Agata now specialises in all aspects of family law.
Agata is hugely empathetic with the difficulties and sensitivity involved with all family law proceedings having experienced matters from a personal and professional point of view. She will always go out of her way to be accessible to clients and prides herself in being able to explain complex legal processes in an understandable way. Agata is also fluent in Polish. She is dedicated to a constructive resolution of family disputes and obtaining the best possible outcomes for her clients.
In her spare time Agata enjoys keeping fit and spending time with her son and their dogs.
Michele Henderson – Chartered Legal Executive Trusts and Estates Practitioner
Michele is a highly experienced Trust and Estate Practitioner who is calm, compassionate, and skilled in dealing with vulnerable clients. She is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Chartered Institute of Legal executives (CILEX). She has previously been the head of the Wills and Probate department of a large Merseyside based firm.
Michele has experience of dealing with high wealth estates, deeds of variation and inheritance tax issues including lifetime gifts. She is skilled in drafting wills for the elderly, as well as wealthy individuals and business clients and undertakes the preparation and submission of Lasting Powers of Attorney, both Property & Affairs and Health & Welfare.
Michele also undertakes Estate Administration and Accounting, Executorships and Probate.
Amelia Fernley – Trainee Solicitor
Amelia joined Sinclair Law in May 2021 from a full-service law firm in Stockport.
Amelia assists other members of the team with complex matrimonial proceedings and disputes in relation to children. She is passionate about family law and joined the firm in order to specialise in this area. She is very approachable and appreciates how important a personalised, empathetic approach is to achieve the best outcome possible for clients.
In her spare time Amelia enjoys keeping fit.
Sharon Read – Personal Assistant
Sharon joined Sinclair Law in January 2017 and is an integral part of the team bringing many years of varied legal experience, with a particular interest in family law.
Sharon is the personal assistant to the directors and ensures that each client receives a high level of professional yet friendly service.
Sharon appreciates that every case is unique and approaches each with empathy and understanding.
Sharon lives in Poynton with her husband and two children and In her spare time Sharon enjoys musical theatre, loves to read and enjoys travelling.
Michelle Sparkes – Personal Assistant
Michelle has worked as a PA and Legal Secretary for 27 years, the last 15 of which have been in a specialist family law firm.
Michelle is therefore very aware of the trauma caused by family breakdown and her professional and empathetic approach has never failed to put clients at ease.
The extensive knowledge that Michelle has acquired over the years and her professional and hardworking approach makes her an invaluable member of the team.
Alicia Owens – Administration Assistant
Alicia joined Sinclair Law in March 2021. Alicia is the office administrator and takes pride in ensuring the office runs smoothly and clients are well looked after. Alicia is an integral part of the team and is always available to assist.
Alicia lives in Macclesfield and was a young leader for cubs in her spare time.