Charles attended Regent House and Campbell College schools. He read law at Queens University Belfast and graduated with an LLB (Hons) in 1969. He was a pipe major of the Campbell College and Queens University OTC Pipe Bands. Charles qualified as a solicitor in 1972 and has extensive experience of residential and commercial conveyancing, including land acquisition for sale and development together with planning issues. He also specialises in the preparation of wills, administration of estates, trusts and tax planning advice. He was appointed as Clerk to the General Commissioner of the Inland Revenue. He has attended conferences on Estate Planning and Trusts held by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Charlie was educated at Methodist College Belfast and then Queen’s University of Belfast graduating with an Honours Degree in Law & Accountancy. Charlie spent time studying in New York prior to returning to Northern Ireland to complete his professional studies at Queen’s University of Belfast. Charlie enjoys acting for clients buying and selling residential property and assists the may repeat clients to the Firm. Charlie acts for a number of companies providing them advice and assistance in respect of corporate transactions and commercial property. This advice can range from drafting agreements for mergers and acquisitions, the incorporation of family businesses and the commercial property transactions. Having assisted a large number of the Firm’s farming clients, Charlie has become well recognised as an expert in dealing with NIEA investigations and prosecutions in respect of alleged river, coastal and marine offences. He has a proven track record of negotiating with the Environment Agency and the prosecution authorities to find the best way forward for his clients.

John was educated at St. MacNissi’s College and at Queens University Belfast where he graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and a Certificate in Professional Legal Studies, qualifying as a Solicitor in 1985. He has extensive experience in all aspects of personal injury litigation, in particular Industrial Accidents having worked on behalf of Trade Unions for many years. He also works extensively in the arena of road traffic accidents, having a particular interest in Spinal and Closed Head injuries. He is a member of APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers), MASS (Motor Accident Solicitors Society) and PEOPIL (Pan-European Organisation of Personal Injury Lawyers). He has also attended the Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution run by SLS and Queens University and is on the Law Societys list of approved Mediators.

Grainne graduated from Queens University, Belfast with an Honours degree in Law in 2002. Prior to her being admitted as a Solicitor in 2004 she spent time undergoing specialised projects with both Women’s Aid in Belfast and the Department of Social Services in New York. Further to being admitted Grainne has specialised in Matrimonial Law. Grainne also undertakes work in both areas of Litigation and Criminal. Grainne is an accredited Advanced Advocate, Collaborative Lawyer and Children Order Panel member. Grainne was appointed Senior Associate in 2013.

Paul studied at Queen’s University Belfast, graduating in 1990. In 1991 Paul obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Administration and Legal Studies before moving to England to work. Paul was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in England and Wales in 1998 and was admitted to the Law Society’s Family Law Panel, and later the Family Law (Advanced) Panel. Returning to live and work in Northern Ireland in 2006 Paul now practices in the areas of Family/Matrimonial Law, Civil Litigation and Criminal Law. Paul Mallon is an accredited Advanced Advocate, Collaborative Lawyer and Children Order Panel member. Paul is based primarily in the Ballymena Office and was appointed Senior Associate in 2013. In 2013 Paul became chair of the Antrim and Ballymena Solicitors Association and in 2015 become a Council member of the Law Society of Northern Ireland.

Joanne returned home to Northern Ireland in 2006 with her young family, following a successful career in the City of London and Greece, where she worked for Ince & Co, currently the Global Shipping Law Firm of the Year. Joanne advises on all aspects of marine and transport law (including aviation), insurance and general commercial issues. Joanne has been mentioned in the Chambers UK Solicitors Guide as a notable practitioner in her field “well regarded for her insurance and marine casualty practice, where she has acquired an impressive range of expertise”. She is also one of Stewarts’ professional negligence lawyers, dealing with the full range of negligence claims including medical and clinical negligence claims and claims against solicitors. Joanne practises as a Northern Ireland solicitor and as an English solicitor and can advise on Northern Irish and English law.

Thomas returned home to N Ireland and joined Stewarts in 2011 having studied and then practised law in England for a number of years. Thomas’ areas of interest include succession and tax planning through wills and trusts and the administration of estates. Thomas can also advise on Office of Care and Protection matters including Powers of Attorney and applications to appoint a Controller.

Helen graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and then qualified as a Solicitor from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Belfast. Helen worked within the family firm of James L. Russell & Son which spanned 4 generations for over ten years before the company made the decision to join with Stewarts Solicitors in 2019. Now based within our Ballymena branch Helen specialises in Conveyancing, Probate, Debt Issues and Family. She is the Chairman of the local Solicitors Association and a committee member of the local Macmillan Cancer Charity. Helen also tutors at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, QUB and lectures at the University of Ulster. Within recent years Helen has become a member of the Elder Law Care Group with the primary focuses of elder law mainly including estate planning, disability and long-term care as well as setting up Enduring Power of Attorneys or Controllership Applications. Also Helen has been invited to join the Mid and East Antrim Citizen Advice Bureau as a Panel Member and is a member of the local Rotary Club.

Sarah was educated at Regent House, Newtownards and the University of Ulster. After graduating in 2012 with an honours degree in Law, Sarah worked for a number of years with a North Down firm. She secured her apprenticeship at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland in September 2016. Sarah joined Stewarts in 2017 and her work is primarily focused on residential conveyancing including sales, purchases, equity transfers and transactions involving Co-Ownership.

Michael was educated at Regent House, Newtownards and graduated from Queen’s University, Belfast with a First Class Honours degree in Law and Accountancy in 2006. Michael completed the Bar Course at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Belfast and was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2007. His practise was primarily in the field of civil litigation, employment tribunals and crime. After leaving the Bar, Michael joined Stewarts in 2013 and primarily advises clients in the areas of Civil Litigation and Employment Law.

Celia studied at Queens University Belfast, undertaking the Institute of Professional legal studies in 2016 thereafter being admitted to the roll of Solicitors in 2018. Celia joined the Family & Matrimonial Department at Stewarts in 2019. Celia has a particular interest in the law relating to Domestic Violence, having spent a number of years in the USA working in the Domestic Violence Criminal Court to include training Advocates in that area. Prior to joining Stewarts Celia completed her apprenticeship with a well known practice where she gained significant experience in all areas of Family law together with assisting in the criminal law department. From there she went on to join a further well respected practice in Belfast, expanding on her knowledge of both private and public Children order proceedings, together with utilising her extensive knowledge in the area of domestic violence and harassment. Celia has further expertise in the area of benefit claims and appeals. Celia is a member of the Family Lawyers Association of Ireland and the Legally Able Solicitors Group. Celia is based primarily in the Newtownards office, further assisting in the Comber branch.

Jacqueline graduated from Queens University of Belfast and then qualified as a Solicitor from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Belfast. She worked within the family firm of James L. Russell & Son which spanned 4 generations for over 30 years before the company made the decision to join with Stewarts Solicitors in 2019. The areas which Jacqueline specialises in from our Ballymena office would be Conveyancing, Probate, Tax Advice and Litigation. She has over thirty years’ experience bringing a wealth of knowledge to the firm. Within recent years Jacqueline has become a member of the Elder Law Care Group with the primary focuses of elder law mainly including estate planning, disability and long-term care as well as setting up Enduring Power of Attorneys or Controllership Applications. The firm of James L. Russell and son provided the service of a Notary Public from in/around 1923. Jacqueline G. S. Russell was appointed on 28th February 2013 by the Lord Chief Justice for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Sir Declan Morgan. She is qualified to notarise all foreign documentation as is required of a Notary Public in Northern Ireland. As this is a highly prestigious position with only a few appointed across all of Northern Ireland our firm is pleased to be able to offer this service.