WALDRON & SCHOFIELD - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Registered Sports Agent
- Solicitor, Head of Sport
Adam undertook the LLB at Liverpool University and started his career at a large Manchester City Centre firm prior to joining McHale & Co in February 2015. He specialises in catastrophic injuries with a particular interest in sports related injuries. Adam has also assisted some high profile sports clients who have had to retire as a result of sporting injuries. Adam heads up the sports department.
Client care is at the core of Adam's work. He shows empathy and compassion to each client and genuinely will fight for them. He has acted on some very notable cases some of which are subject to anonymity orders with settlements in the millions. Adam has a particular expertise in dealing with birth injury and neurological injuries. He has pursued trials to the High Court in the Royal Courts of Justice and won!
Adam is also a registered Sports Agent and acts for footballers, rugby players, UFC and MMA fighters and boxers. He represents them with contract negotiations, sponsorship opportunities and public relations. Adam believes that respect is earned, honesty is appreciated, trust is gained and in return loyalty is returned.
Adam's hobbies include football, MMA and boxing.
Alastair began his legal career in 2011 when he started his study of law with the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. He began working within the criminal law before […]
Andrew qualified as a solicitor in 1996, specialising in Civil Litigation and Advocacy (defending regulatory body and CPS prosecutions). He studied at both Sheffield University and the College of Law in Chester. He is Law Society Criminal Litigation Accredited and was admitted as a member of the Law Society of Ireland in 2001.
He started his own firm McHale & Co in 2001 and merged with Waldron & Schofield in 2011. Andrew was a Trainee Solicitor at Waldron & Schofield so the merger has enabled the expansion of the firm across North Manchester, in conjunction with Partners who share the same ideals and values. The firm moved to the current location in purpose built offices in the heart of Altrincham in 2007.
During his career Andrew has been involved in litigation to Supreme Court level and has acted in high profile criminal cases for Sports professionals.
Andrew is a local Altrincham resident, is married and has 5 children. He supports his local community as a School Governor, director of Altrincham & District Athletics Club, Ambassador for Timperley Community Boxing Club and as an U11 coach and committee member at Bowdon RUFC.
Andrew qualified as a solicitor in 1996, specialising in Civil Litigation and Advocacy (defending regulatory body and CPS prosecutions). He started his own firm McHale & Co in 2001, and is Law Society Criminal Litigation Accredited and a member of the Law Society of Ireland.
David qualified as a Solicitor in 1975 and has specialised in conveyancing and matrimonial matters.
David has also lectured nationwide on matrimonial conveyancing.
Elizabeth graduated from the University of Liverpool with an LLB Honours Degree in Law, before completing her LPC at Manchester Metropolitan University. She qualified as a solicitor in 2001 having completed her Training Contract with a commercial practice in the centre of Manchester. She remained with that firm until November 2012, becoming a Senior Solicitor in 2005 and an Associate in 2007.
In March 2013 Elizabeth was called to the bar and she started working with McHale & Co in June 2013.
Elizabeth is a litigator. She has conducted a wide range of litigation including contractual disputes, partnership disputes, property litigation and subrogated recovery actions on behalf of insurers and their clients.
Outside of work Elizabeth enjoys keeping fit, cooking and socialising with friends.
Helen graduated from The University of Sheffield in 2012 with a degree in European, International and Comparative Law. During her degree she enjoyed being able to spend time studying at the University of Helsinki in Finland as well as the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands.
After completing her post graduate qualifications at the University of Law in Manchester and her training contract with another local firm, Helen joined McHale and Co as a newly qualified Solicitor in June 2017.
Helen specialises in estate administration and trust matters as part of the private client team. She also has experience in Wills, Powers of Attorney's, Court of Protection and advising the elderly. She works across all our offices and regularly visits clients in their home and in care.
Since joining McHale and Co., Helen has gone on to achieve a distinction in her STEP diploma in Trust and Estate administration and is now an accredited Trust and Estate Practitioner and affiliate member of STEP.
Outside of work she enjoys reading, cooking and walking and exploring with her Border Collie Skye.
Jim specialises in commercial property and also wills and probate.
He is a keen cyclist and walker.
After graduating with an LLB Honours degree from the University of Leeds, Jim gained a Masters Degree in Law.
He qualified as a solicitor in 1970 following completion of his training contract with a commercial practice in central Manchester.
He was subsequently appointed a lecturer in law at the University of Keele where he stayed for a period of four years.
He then returned to general practice before joining Jim Waldron as partner in Waldron & Schofield in January 1982 until their practice merged with McHale & Co in October 2011.
Jim graduated from the University of Sheffield with an LLB Honours degree and qualified as a solicitor in 1977. He subsequently gained experience with a number of firms in central Manchester.
In 1982 he and Jim Schofield commenced their general practice as Waldron & Schofield in Heywood until their practice merged with McHale & Co in October 2011.
Jim specialises in personal injury claims particularly construction site and tunnel mining accidents. He also advises in relation to the preparation of wills and probate and legal issues concerning care for the elderly including Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection procedures.
John qualified as a solicitor in 1981 having graduated with an honours degree in law from the University of Durham and after completing his law finals at the College of Law in Chester. Following his training at a firm of solicitors in Manchester, John moved to Altrincham where he has specialised in property law, wills, probate, powers of attorney and Court of Protection applications.
John is a keen follower of football, both Premiership and non league, fund raises for the RNLI and enjoys walking and visiting the theatre.
Kamil graduated with LLB and Masters degrees from the University of Huddersfield in 2014, and is currently undertaking a PhD in Law. In 2016 he qualified as a solicitor at Mills & Reeve LLP, a TOP 50 UK law firm.
Kamil advises a variety of businesses (national and international) on commercial and corporate transactions including:
commercial contracts
corporate acquisitions and disposals
financial transactions
joint ventures
intellectual property
commercial property
He has established relationships with tax accountants, wealth managers, liquidators, counsel and other advisors, particularly in London area, enabling him to provide a well-rounded and efficient service.
Kamil is also the liaison contact between our Polish-speaking business clients and all departments at Waldron & Schofield.
Laura returned to McHale & Co in 2017 where she works in the Personal Injury department. Laura specialised in all aspects of personal injury claims, including road traffic accidents, accidents at work and clinical negligence claims.
Lindsey graduated from the University of Liverpool with an LLB Honours Degree in Law before completing the Legal Practice Court at Chester. Lindsey came to our associated company Waldron & Schofield for work experience in 1997, arrived as a Trainee Solicitor in 2000 and has been at our Heywood office since then rising to her current status of Partner.
Lindsey specialises in both Family work and Personal Injury.
Lindsey specialises in all aspects of Family Law including Divorce and separation (financial and property matters and other issues), cohabitation, disputes relating to children, domestic violence and pre/post nuptial disputes.
Lindsey also specialises in all manner of personal injury matters including accidents at work, clinical negligence, road traffic accidents, trip and slip accidents, Criminal Injury compensation claims and Industrial Disease claims.
Lindsey strives to be realistic, down to earth and sympathetic in all family matters. She is of the view that Court proceedings should be a last resort in most cases and endeavours to avoid this result wherever possible. When proceedings are necessary she has masses of advocacy experience which she utilises to assist reaching an agreement at the earliest possible stage. (ref new family blog)
Lindsey has experience in dealing with a variety of different Personal Injury matters with a particular interest in accidents at work and industrial disease cases.
This year Lindsey was involved in a particularly important case where a client was the victim of gossip from a colleague following a false accusation from a pupil at the school where she worked. It had very serious repercussions for the client including being unable to follow her chosen career path. Lindsey assisted the client in obtaining £50,000 in compensation without court proceedings being necessary.
Lindsey has been involved in cases that progress all the way to trial and was thrilled to secure a victory for a retired woman who slipped on a railway sleeper at a Cheshire Golf Course. There were vigorous legal arguments about what amounted to reasonable care but she was able to support the successful legal argument obtaining the sum of £8,500 in respect of her client's broken ankle.
Lindsey graduated from the University of Liverpool with a LLB Honours Degree in Law before completing the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law Chester. She completed her training contract at Waldron & Schofield and qualified as a Solicitor in 2002. Since this time she has progressed to partner.
Job Titles:
- Fellow of APIL
- Head of Personal Injury
- Law Society Personal Injury Panel Member
Malcolm undertook his articles with a leading Manchester firm before moving to Rowlands in 1987 and shortly after he was made a Partner appointed as the Head of Personal Injury Department.
Malcolm is a fellow of APIL (Association of Personal Injury Solicitors) of which there are less than 200 nationally. Malcolm was on the subcommittee of APIL which helped bring about the changes to ‘no win no fee' agreements 15 years ago.
Malcolm is an original Law Society Personal Injury Panel Member and he was a founder member of Injury Lawyers for you (IL4u).
Malcolm is instructed on a range of multi-track cases and is a leading practitioner is his field. He has acted for many brain injured clients and has particular expertise in this field.
Malcolm has a keen interest in sports law and injuries resulting from incidents in sport. He has acted for several Rugby and Football players and is considered to be one of the leading Solicitors in this area of litigation.
He has been described as a ‘caring Rotweiler' by a leading QC. Caring and emphatic towards the client but aggressive towards the defendant insurers.
Rowlands merged with another large City Centre practice in 2011 and after 3 years Malcolm decided to move on to the ambitious growing firm of McHale and Co in Altrincham where he lives.
Malcolm has been involved in several high profile cases during his career some of which have gone to the Court of Appeal and made legal textbooks. Examples of Malcolm's successes are listed below:
Malcolm is a keen follower of Manchester United, attending games at home and all around Europe. He plays golf regularly and he enjoys watching most other sports having played most of them himself in younger days! He has been married for 30 years and has two sons.
Malcolm has been involved in several high profile cases during his career some of which have gone to the Court of Appeal and made legal textbooks. Examples of Malcolm's successes are listed below:
Hadfield v Knowles - Malcolm was instructed on behalf of the Claimant. The Claim reached the Court of Appeal and it was decided that the current English legislation was not compatible with European Legislation. The Claimant was awarded in excess of £500,000 back in 1996.
EV Haslingdon BC - Malcolm was instructed by the Claimant who fell from her Council accommodation due to a defective window frame. Malcolm secured a settlement in excess of £3.2 million.
G V Holiday Company - Malcolm's client in this case suffered severe burns whilst on holiday in Tenerife when the apartment he was in set alight due to a gas problem. Malcolm secured a settlement in excess of £500,000 for his client.
G V Stoke on Trent - Malcolm's client was deliberately ran over by an individual. Malcolm secured a settlement in excess of £4 million for his client.
AG v Insurer - Malcolm acted for a man from Pontefract in Yorkshire, who was awarded what is believed to be one of the biggest compensation payouts for a motorbike accident which has left him mostly homebound for the rest of his life. Malcolm obtained in excess of £1.3M for the client.
Mark joined the firm from Sedgwick Legal following a merger in October 2016 and is a Fee Earner in the Property Department dealing with residential conveyancing matters including buying and selling houses as well as re-mortgages and Transfers of Equity.
Mark has studied law at degree level and has registered with the Council for Licensed Conveyancers with the aim of qualifying in his chosen field.
Marta comes from Kalisz in Poland. She graduated from the University of Bialystok with her masters degree in economics in 2005. During her studies she completed one year in Italy at the University of Verona.
She joined McHale & Co in April 2006 and has experience in conveyancing, personal injury, litigation and family law. She is the liaison contact between our Polish clients and all departments.
Marta completed the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course at the Metropolitan Manchester University. She was admitted to the roll of solicitors in 2011 and became a Partner in June 2013.
Marta speaks fluent Polish, English and Italian.
In 2011 Marta founded the Polish Networking Club which supports polish professionals and businesses in the North West. She was named the UK's Polish Business Women of the Year 2014 for her contribution to the polish community in the UK.
Michaela graduated from Liverpool John Moores University in 2015 with LLB and went on to study the LPC and LLM at the University of Law in Manchester. Michaela joined Sedgwick Legal in 2014 prior to its merger with McHale and Co in 2016, formally completing her training contract and qualifying in July 2019.
Michaela now specialises in Private Client matters including Wills, Probate, Powers of Attorney, Court of Protection and advising the elderly on a range of issues. She works across all of our offices in Altrincham, Stretford, Heywood and Middleton and regularly visits clients in their home, care or hospital.
Outside work, Michaela enjoys spending time with her friends and family, reading, and going for long walks in the countryside exploring new places.
Paul graduated from Lancaster University in 2007 and Law School in York in 2008.
Having gained experienced as a paralegal, prosecuting Doctors on behalf of the General Medical Council, Paul joined McHale & Co. in 2011, qualifying as a solicitor in 2013.
Paul deals with all aspects of commercial and general litigation including:
Phil is a qualified solicitor who trained and specialised in Intellectual Property at international law firm Hill Dickinson before joining Manchester based Sports Law specialist firm IPS Law in November 2006.
Philip graduated from Staffordshire University with an LLB honours degree and LPC in 2006. He qualified as a solicitor after completing his training contract with a firm of solicitors in Staffordshire two years later.
Philip specialises in the administration of estates and also advises in relation to the preparation of wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection matters.
Prior to qualifying as a solicitor, Philip enjoyed a successful career working as a software developer working on IBM mid-range computer systems. He had an ambition to enter the legal profession and completed all of his legal qualifications on a part time evening basis. He left his IT career when offered a training contract to qualify as a solicitor.
Philip enjoys walking, riding motorcycles and the Edinburgh Festival.
Philippa gained a law degree in 2011, having studied at the College of Law in Manchester. She is a member of the Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
After working for 25 years in the Public Sector Philippa realised a long held ambition by re-training to become a Solicitor. In addition to an MBA, she has extensive experience in the public sector, most recently in the regulatory and Freedom of Information fields.
Outside of work she visits the cinema regularly, enjoys reading and running (but not at the same time) and enjoys watching sport including Football, Rugby and Formula 1.
Philippa gained a law degree in 2011, having studied at the College of Law in Manchester. She is a full member of the Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). She can help with Wills, Probate, Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection matters.
Phillippa graduated from De Montford University Leicester in 1990 before gaining an honours award at Christleton College of Law in Chester.
With more than 25 years experience in Conveyancing Phillippa has excellent contacts with Mortgage Lenders, Financial Advisors and Developers, and seeks to complete the home moving process as quickly as possible, keeping clients informed every step of the way.
Phillippa specialises in new build conveyancing and heads the Plot Team at our Altrincham office. Guiding first time buyers through the process of buying their first home, explaining Affordable Housing Schemes and government initiatives like "Help To Buy" are what Phillippa does best.
Originally from Warrington, Phillippa and the family now live in Altrincham and enjoy taking part in local theatre groups in both towns. They have been in Les Mis, Phantom and Cats (although Phillippa's part was that of the chaperone!) Phillippa's hobbies also include trying to keep up with her children on downhill mountain bike trails, she says the days of pedalling up hills are in the past!
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Member of the Stretford
- Solicitor / J Arnold Hancock & Co
became part of the McHale & Co family in October 2015. Robert Thorpe, who has been with the firm since 1965 and qualified as a solicitor in 1975 and remains at the Stretford office with the practice as it enters this exciting new phase.
Stephanie graduated from Northumbria University in 2012 with LLB and went on to study the LPC and LLM at the College of Law Manchester. She joined McHale & Co in May 2015 and currently deals with commercial and residential property transactions.
Steve graduated from the University of Portsmouth in 2007 with a BA HONS degree in Business Administration.
He is our Practice Manager and joined McHale & Co in 2010.
Outside of work Steve enjoys running, open water swimming, reading and supports London Irish Rugby Club.
Qualified in 1980 as Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
Commenced work in the gas industry in 1978 with the majority of the 25 years involved first hand in the legal documentation including the compulsory acquisition of the necessary rights and interpretation of related statute.
The move to a management role involved policy decisions in such work, negotiating and settling standard documentation and overseeing panel lawyers.
Stuart joined McHale & Co in 2003 and is the first point of contact for all gas, electricity, water and drainage related matters.
Sue qualified in 1994 and has over 20 years experience in residential Conveyancing matters.
Sue joined the firm in 2016 to Head our Residential Conveyancing Department and is based at our Altrincham office.
Tahmeena graduated from the University of Manchester in 2012 with a degree in Criminology. She has been with McHale & Co since 2013, originally joining as a Legal Apprentice.
Tahmeena is currently undertaking her Legal Practice Course and combined Masters in Law (LLM) at the College of Law in Manchester alongside her role as a Trainee Solicitor with the firm. Tahmeena assists in Residential Property transactions as well as Wills and Probate matters.
Victoria graduated from Liverpool John Moores University with a First Class Honours Law & Criminal Justice Degree (LLB Hons) in 2018. Victoria is currently undertaking her Legal Practice Course and combined Masters in Law at the University of Law in Chester.
Prior to commencing her Training Contract at McHale & Co, she was employed as a Graduate Paralegal and holds over three years' experience in litigation matters, with a specialist interest in Land and Neighbour disputes.
Victoria currently assists Paul Fitton and Roberto Lavorini in dealing with a wide range of litigation matters including:
Victoria graduated from De Montfort University Leicester with an LLB Honours Degree in Law before continuing to complete the Legal Practice Course there.
She qualified as a solicitor in 1998 following the completion of her training contract with a high street practice in St Helens.
From there Victoria worked for a firm in Liverpool whereby she progressed through the ranks and was appointed a partner in 2005. In November 2007 Victoria joined a firm in Warrington in order to expand her experience. She was recruited by McHale and Co in September 2012 as a partner of the firm.
Victoria specialises in all aspects of family law, including separation, divorce, co-habitation issues, children disputes and grandparents rights. She is an accredited member of Resolution and, as such, is committed to resolving matters as quickly and amicably as possible.
Outside of work Victoria enjoys spending time with her family, reading and socialising.
Victoria graduated from De Montfort University Leicester with an LLB Honours Degree in Law. She was recruited by McHale and Co in September 2012 as a partner of the firm.