Charlie was educated at Methodist College Belfast and then Queen’s University, Belfast where he graduated with an Honours Degree in Law & Accountancy. He completed his professional studies at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Belfast. Charlie has extensive experience in all aspects of commercial and residential property acting for purchasers, vendors and developers in residential conveyances. He regularly advises commercial clients in connection with corporate and commercial property transactions such as Share Purchase and Business Sale Agreements. He is regarded for the pragmatic and commercially astute way he approaches these transactions when dealing with clients, colleagues and other stakeholders. Due to having many long-standing agricultural clients, Charlie has developed a specialist knowledge in transactions involving agricultural land and property. He has assisted his clients with NIEA investigations and in defending prosecutions brought in respect of alleged river, coastal and marine contamination. Charlie always strives to achieve the best outcome for his clients in a straightforward and approachable manner.

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 is a Director in the firm, and heads up the Family Law Department. Grainne joined Stewarts Solicitors in 2005, specialising in the areas of Family and Matrimonial law. Grainne represents clients in all aspects of Separation including Divorce and Financial matters, adopting a pragmatic, solution focused approach. She has a particular interest in high value, complex financial matters, having extensive experience in matters involving Business assets, sophisticated property and those with an international element. Grainne also acts for clients in all aspects of Children Order proceedings, including Residence, Contact and Care Order Proceedings. As a member of the Children’s Court Guardian Panel, she also represents children in all Public Order Proceedings, including Care Order, Supervision and Freeing to Adopt proceedings. Grainne is an accredited Advanced Advocate, Collaborative Lawyer and is also on the Northern Ireland Children Order Panel. Grainne has further expertise in the following areas: Civil Partnership, Pre-nuptial Agreements, Co-habitation dispute, Child Abduction & Hague Convention, Relocation matters, Wardship Proceedings and Non-Molestation and Occupation Order Proceedings

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.

Jim joined Stewarts in November 2023 and is based in the Belfast and Newtownards offices. He was educated at RBAI and the University of Exeter where he graduated with an honours degree in Law. Having qualified as a solicitor Jim moved back to Northern Ireland in 1990 and since then has advised a wide range of clients from Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the UK and from the Republic of Ireland on all aspects of commercial property law and on residential developments. He acts for landlords and tenants in lease negotiations and Lands Tribunal applications , for developers of commercial and residential schemes and for investors in the sale and purchase of commercial property. Jim aims to provide a practical and friendly service to clients.

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 is a former pupil of Regent House School, Newtownards and graduated from the University of Ulster with a degree in Law (LLB honours), before completing the postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Studies with the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at Queen's University, Belfast in 2016. Having trained and qualified with another North Down law firm, Sarah joined Stewarts Solicitors in July 2017. Sarah provides advice to clients on a variety of Private Client matters including property sales and purchases, re-mortgage applications and the transfer of property as part of a wider financial planning process. Sarah also takes instructions in the preparation of Wills, the execution and registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney and dealing with administering Estates. Since joining Stewarts, Sarah has progressed to Senior Associate Solicitor and is based full time in the firms’ Comber Office as the Branch Lead.

Vijay was educated at Omagh CBS and Queen’s University, Belfast. After graduating with an honours degree in Law in 2005, he went on to work with a North Down firm. Vijay trained at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, graduating with Commendation, and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern in September 2016. Vijay’s work is primarily focused on residential conveyancing including purchases, sales, remortgages, new builds, equity transfers, boundary agreements and Northern Ireland Co-Ownership Housing Association purchases.

Victoria was educated at Regent House, Newtownards and graduated from Queens University, Belfast with an Honours degree in Law in 2020. Victoria graduated from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors of Northern Ireland in 2022. Whilst completing her undergraduate degree Victoria worked for the Department of Justice in the Royal Courts of Justice. Victoria thereafter completed her professional training in Lisburn. Having qualified as a Solicitor Victoria then sought to practice in her hometown of Newtownards. Victoria practices within the family and matrimonial department particularly advising on children’s law matters, non-molestation orders, occupation orders and separations. Victoria also advises on the administration of estates, wills and trusts, powers of attorney and controllerships.

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.

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.