BURNETTS - Key Persons
Alex is a Trainee Solicitor in our Banking and Property Finance team, based in Newcastle.
Alex spent two years as a full-time footballer with Carlisle United Football club between the ages of 16 and 18. Following this, he went to Northumbria University to complete a masters degree in law. After graduating with a first-class degree, he spent time as an intern for the Ministry of Justice inside the Newcastle Probate Registry. Alex joined us in October 2022.
Outside of work, Alex enjoys listening to music, going to the gym and travelling to destinations all around the world.
Callum is a Solicitor in the Banking and Property Finance team, based in Newcastle.
Callum graduated from Teesside University in 2019 with a degree in Law with Business Management. He then completed his Masters' degree in Legal Practice at Northumbria University in September 2021. Alongside his Masters, he was working as a Paralegal in Norton Rose Fulbright's Legal Services team where he assisted in various international project finance matters.
Callum grew up in Marske-by-the-sea, but now lives in Newcastle. Outside of work, he enjoys going to live music events, the gym and spending time with family and friends.
Caroline is a Legal Director in the Corporate, Banking and Property Finance team, based in Newcastle.
She has previously spent time working for national law firms in Leeds and Newcastle as a corporate lawyer focusing on corporate matters for private companies and plcs including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate constitutional documents, shareholders agreements and partnership deeds.
She subsequently moved to work for a national firm providing specialist corporate advice for the firm's Healthcare clients including GP practices, Primary Care Networks and GP Federations. She also worked with dentists in relation to the acquisition and disposal of practices.
She has experience in advising both healthcare organisations on governance issues, partnership and shareholders agreements, NHS primary care contracts, joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions.
Caroline is a Legal Director in Burnetts' Corporate, Banking and Property Finance team
Chloe is an Apprentice Solicitor in the Agribusiness team, based in Carlisle.
Chloe studied History at Durham University and graduated in July 2019. Originally starting at Burnetts as a Welcome Host then quickly progressing her career within the Wills, Trusts and Probate team. In September 2020 Chloe commenced a solicitors apprenticeship within the firm to allow her to blend her academic knowledge with work-based learning instead of developing her skills in isolation. This will allow Chloe to progress professionally and academically enabling her to gain a sound knowledge of law and the ability to practise law upon qualifying.
Chloe lives in Carlisle. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Daniel is a Trainee Solicitor in our Corporate team, based in Carlisle.
Born in Carlisle and raised in Wigton, Daniel attended Northumbria University and gained a First Class Degree in Law. Following this, Daniel completed the Legal Practice Course together with a Masters in Law, achieving a distinction.
Between his second and third year at Northumbria, Daniel spent an academic year in Lyon, France, where he earned a Diploma in Management and Marketing. Daniel has since worked as a Legal Consultant for a top 5 world bank, before starting his training contract at Burnetts in September 2022.
Daniel is a Trainee Solicitor in Burnetts' Corporate team
David studied History and Politics and then entered the teaching profession in Liverpool before undertaking further postgrad study and teaching at University of Newcastle.
David trained and worked in London advising a range of clients from major trade unions to leading media organizations including The Wireless Group, Channel 4 and The Guardian. David relocated to the North East and joined Burnetts as a partner in 2021. David has a keen interest in the changing nature of the relationship between work providers and work deliverers and is of the view that the traditional employer-employee relationship is becoming redundant. He also has expertise in GDPR issues and developing pro-active workplace cultures and practices.
David has extensive experience in advising on employment law across a range of sectors including charities, transport, housing associations, football clubs and retail. He offers a practical, solution driven service that quickly identifies problems and ensures business can run smoothly and efficiently. David has also presented a number of seminars looking at the changing nature of work and the future planning that is required to ensure that the new challenges we all face are approached in a practical and comprehensive manner.
His services include the preparation of key employment documents, dealing with common issues in relation to performance and disputes in the workplace, advising on exit strategies both for employers and employees, corporate advice on share sales and TUPE and training on emerging legislation and equality issues. David has delivered lectures at the Universities of Newcastle and Northumbria on emerging issues and can provide bespoke training to organisations to enable them to take proactive steps to ensure they are equipped to meet the challenges of the new world of work.
Having studied and taught International Relations and formerly a member of the Employment Lawyers Association International Committee he has a keen awareness of the importance of close co-operation with legal advisors from across the EU. He enjoys, but is not very good at, fell running in the Lakes, Northumberland and Durham.
Job Titles:
- Legal Director
- Member of the Agribusiness Team
Diane is a Legal Director in the Agribusiness team, based in Carlisle.
From a Cumbrian farming family, Diane has been a permanent member of the agribusiness team since qualification. She specialises in agricultural land, tenancies and property sales and has a particular interest in mines and mineral issues. Diane is dual-qualified in Scottish and English law so is particularly well-placed to advise landowners with cross-border issues.
Diane studied Law at Durham University before completing her LPC at Northumbria University where she was a prize-winning student. Outside of work, she enjoys fell walking and cooking.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Legal Executive
Heather is a Chartered Legal Executive in our Agribusiness team based in Carlisle.
Heather supports our agricultural clients with a wide range of issues including agricultural sales and purchases, first registrations of land and property, transfers of common rights and drafting of grazing licences and agricultural tenancies.
Heather began her legal career in 2016 and has completed the academic stages of the Chartered Legal Executive lawyer route. During her training, Heather worked alongside one of the leading agricultural legal experts in the UK.
Heather has a farming background and helps out on the family farm.
Outside of work, Heather enjoys going to the gym, walking, and visiting agricultural shows.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Head of Commercial Property
Former fashion house lawyer Helen Hayward joined Burnetts as a solicitor in 2013 relocating from London to be near family in Cumbria. She became a Partner in 2017 and is head of the Commercial Property team.
She has experience in all areas of commercial property, and acts for a diverse range of clients. She regularly deals with major sales and acquisitions, refinancing and development projects, but has a special interest in leasehold work and retail/office acquisition and development.
Helen has built up an excellent client base in Cumbria and beyond, and looks after clients with considerable property portfolios, both investors and several significant property occupiers in the retail, education and leisure sectors. Helen also heads up our SIPP/SASS pension team which is appointed to the panel of a leading provider of self-invested pensions.
Originally from the North East, Helen studied at the University of Bristol, the University of Groningen in Holland and Nottingham Law School.
In 2002, after training at London city law firm Stephenson Harwood, Helen spent several years at the West End law firm Boodle Hadfield in their property development team. She advised developers and investors on a variety of high value property projects including the acquisition of several major office and retail developments.
In 2007, she joined iconic British fashion brand and FTSE 100 company Burberry, where she worked as Senior Legal Counsel for more than five years, managing the legal affairs of the PLC's global retail and corporate property portfolio. During this time she developed a keen retail lease specialism and was involved in multi-million pound lettings, several significant disposals and the relocation of the company's central London headquarters.
Helen and her family enjoy fell walking in the Lakes most weekends. She also enjoys yoga and fundraising for the Carlisle branch of the NSPCC.
Helen is very good to work with. She is knowledgeable, commercial, available and understands our company- Chambers, 2022
Job Titles:
- Head of Dispute Resolution
" James Johnston is intelligent, great with clients, level-headed and effective as a commercial litigator." - Legal 500, 2022
James is a Partner and Head of the firm's Dispute Resolution team. He specialises in contractual, construction and commercial litigation, including professional negligence.
Jane is a Paralegal in the Banking and Property team, based in Newcastle.
Jane oversees and completes security packages for our lender clients. Her role is to liaise with the valuer, the lender's securities centre and the customer's solicitors to line up completion and to ensure that funds are released within the required timescales. She is also responsible for protecting the lender's security after completion (by registration at Companies House and the Land Registry).
Jane is highly experienced in the banking sector and has the legal knowledge to match, with almost 20 years' experience at Lloyds Bank followed by 10 years as a Paralegal within a North-East law firm. She joined Burnetts in March 2017.
Jane lives in Whitley Bay and is a keen golfer, spending most weekends at the local golf club where she has been a member since 2010.
Janine is a Paralegal in the Banking Team based in Newcastle.
Janine has worked in various legal departments (commercial property, criminal and residential conveyancing) over the years. She joined Burnetts in January 2022.
Janine lives in Whitley Bay having moved from South Africa in 1997. Outside of work she enjoys gardening, cycling, knitting, crochet and walking.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Head of Agribusiness
"Joanne McKenzie has done quite a bit of work for us and has advised us well. Answered our queries promptly and always returned our phone calls within the same day. Would recommend her to our farming friends." - Legal 500, 2022
Joanne is a Partner and Heads up the Agribusiness team.
Joanne is an experienced agricultural solicitor who advises a wide range of clients in all areas of agribusiness including; land ownership, buying and selling farms, re-financing, landlord and tenant issues and farm partnerships. In 2022 she was recognised as a leading individual by The Legal 500 guide.
Originally from West Cumbria, she began her legal career by graduating from Newcastle University in 2006 and York's College of Law in 2007.
She subsequently completed her training contract with Cumbrian firm Cartmell Shepherd and qualified as an agricultural solicitor in 2008 before joining Burnetts in 2013. She became a Partner in 2019.
Outside of work, Joanne enjoys spending time with her family, music gigs and festivals, dog walking and the gym.
"Joanne looks after you as her client. She knows her job inside out and spares you all the legal jargon." - Chambers, 2022
Jonathan is a Legal Director in the Banking and Property Finance team, based in Newcastle.
Jonathan has over 20 years of experience in the legal sector and has a broad range of commercial property experience with a particular focus on acting for funders and borrowers on property finance transactions. These include the financing of commercial and residential investment portfolios as well as development, healthcare and agricultural properties. He acts for many clearing and high street banks and has advised numerous corporate and private borrowers.
Having grown up in the North-East, Jonathan completed his law degree at University of Northumbria before completing his training contract at McKeags Solicitors in 2004. He has subsequently worked for a top-20 transatlantic law firm and a leading regional firm.
Outside of work, is married with one child. He enjoys running and playing football, tennis and golf as well as walking his two dogs.
Job Titles:
- Head of Residential Conveyancing
- Trustee of the Phyllis Harney Trust
Kathryn was appointed Partner in 2019, becoming the first Chartered Legal Executive to join the Partnership. She is also Head of the Residential Conveyancing team at Burnetts.
Kathryn has specialised in Residential Conveyancing throughout her career, advising clients across Cumbria on the sale and purchase of homes, re-mortgages, buy to let and new build purchases. She also currently manages new build plot sales for a leading West Cumbrian housing developer.
Kathryn embarked on her journey to qualify as a Legal Executive after studying A Level Law at Workington Sixth Form and realising this was the career for her. She went on to complete her studies through CILEX Law School before qualifying as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in August 2003.
Outside of work, Kathryn enjoys doing Crossfit, but more of the fitness than the competitive side. Kathryn is also enjoying walking the Wainwrights.
Kathryn has strong ties to Workington where her family has run a business since 1881.
Kathryn is a Trustee of the Phyllis Harney Trust which helps people in financial hardship in West Cumbria.
Lydia Sutton - Chief Compliance Officer
Lydia has spent most of her life in Cumbria and joined Burnetts in January 2018 as an Administrator. Due to Lydia's commitment and attention to detail she was soon promoted to the role of Compliance Co-Ordinator and worked alongside the Compliance team to ensure the smooth running of the firm in terms of data protection and ensuring anti-money laundering protocol was always observed. In April 2023, Lydia was promoted to Head of Compliance and now oversees the compliance team.
Lydia has a passion for the arts, particularly the theatre as she attended the National Youth Theatre in 2010. Outside of work Lydia is a keen baker and enjoys spending quality time with family and friends.
Marc is a Consultant in the Banking and Property Finance team, based in Newcastle.
A non-lawyer, Marc manages the relationship with our lender clients. He uses his extensive experience of lenders' processes and systems (from writing and submitting the credit proposal through to drawdown of funds) to push deals through to completion. Marc is constantly working to understand the needs of our lender clients and to adapt and streamline our internal systems.
Marc joined the team in June 2018 from Lloyds Bank, where he worked for 30 years, with the last 12 years spent in SME Banking. He worked both as a Relationship Manger and an Assistant Relationship Director and worked for over 7 years within the Bank's Real Estate team.
Outside of work, Marc is married with two grown-up sons. He enjoys most sports, live music and travel.
Maria is a Legal Director working within the Commercial Property, Agribusiness and Banking teams.
Maria was born and raised in Carlisle and graduated from the University of Liverpool, following which she became a trainee, solicitor and eventually director of her own law firm in Cumbria.
She has advised clients for over twenty years in all aspects of commercial and agricultural business, including; leasehold arrangements, estate development work, refinance, land ownership, buying and selling farms, and farm partnerships.
Maria is married with three children. In her spare time, Maria enjoys walking and swimming and has travelled extensively with her family.
Job Titles:
- Business
- Head of Corporate
One of the region's largest law firms, the enduring success of Burnetts Solicitors in Carlisle, Cockermouth and Newcastle has been built not just on our outstanding legal expertise.
Our strong commitment to involve our best people in the day to day matters of clients means that commercial clients have unobstructed contact with our top solicitors. Together with our down-to-earth approach and straightforward attitude, it is our accessibility that clients most value.
Burnetts Solicitors is more than 100 years old. As we have grown, so our services have evolved. We now offer a comprehensive legal service for industry, in Cumbria and beyond, which includes advice on commercial property, construction and procurement, employment law, dispute resolution, health and safety, landlord and tenant (buy to let), debt recovery and company commercial issues.
The firm's business and commercial lawyer team has a nationally recognised specialism in the public sector including local authorities and housing associations.
Michael is a Partner and Head of the Corporate team
Job Titles:
- Medical Negligence and Serious Injury Partner
Job Titles:
- Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate
Job Titles:
- Head of Banking and Property Finance
Job Titles:
- Medical Negligence and Serious Injury Partner
Job Titles:
- Commercial Property Partner
Job Titles:
- Chairman and Agribusiness Partner
Job Titles:
- Head of Commercial Property
Job Titles:
- Head of Medical Negligence and Serious Injury
Job Titles:
- Commercial Litigation Partner