Our People
At the heart of GN Law is our exceptional team of legal professionals. Our diverse team includes seasoned solicitors, legal advisors, paralegals, and support staff, all dedicated to providing you with the highest quality legal services. With a wealth of expertise across various areas, our team is well-equipped to tackle even the most complex legal challenges.
Paulette St Hilaire
Operations Director & Licenced Conveyancer
Paulette serves as the Operations Director at GN Law, where she assumes responsibility for the day-to-day office operations. In addition to her administrative role, she holds qualifications as a Licensed Conveyancer, adeptly handling a wide spectrum of Conveyancing matters, including freehold, leasehold, shared ownership, and remortgages.
Paulette boasts a remarkable career spanning 26 years in the field of Conveyancing. She started her professional journey as an office junior, progressing to the esteemed position of a fee earner. Her dedication to excellence in her field led her to pursue licensure as a conveyancer, a milestone she achieved approximately two decades ago.
Beyond her professional commitments, Paulette enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, immersing herself in the world of literature through reading, staying active with leisurely walks, and maintaining her fitness regimen at the gym.
Jennifer Walker
Head Of Employment
Jennifer is a senior solicitor with 20+ years’ pre and post qualification experience in employment and discrimination law.
She attained a first-class law degree and has worked at a number of high-profile law firms. Jennifer heads up the Employment Law Team and develops our employment law services across the entire network, offering her expertise up and down the UK.
Jennifer has experience across a range of employment law enquiries and prides herself on ensuring the best possible outcome for her clients. In reviews, Jennifer is often described as a strong listener, a kind and caring individual and thorough, delivering for her clients at every turn of their case.
In addition to her core role, Jennifer often writes a range of articles and website content, ensuring that information is clear for clients.
Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys walking and spending time with her children.
Richard Helsby
Head of Personal Injury
Richard oversees the function of the PI department at PM Law. This includes clinical negligence, civil resolution and litigation and wills, trusts & probate. Richard ensures these departments work to the best of their ability and meet client expectations.
Richard started his current role in December 2020 having previously been responsible for the litigation department in Proddow Mackay. He’s been with the PM Law Group for over 25 years.
The most important part of Richard’s role is ensuring that clients receive the exceptional service that they’ve come to expect from PM Law. Richard gets a lot of enjoyment out of making the work lives of his colleagues better – he sees this as an effective way of getting the best out of them.
Richard is a lifelong supporter of Liverpool FC and is a season ticket holder for Warrington Wolves RLFC. He’s also a keen runner and recently completed the Leeds marathon.
Ranjit Siddle
Head of Family Law
Ranjit is the Head of the Family Law department. She’s a member of the Family Law panel and is looking to become a member of the Children Law panel as well. Ranjit represents clients in relation to all aspects of family law; from divorce and financial matters to Children Act matters, TOLATA and protective orders.
Ranjit qualified as a solicitor in 2005 after initially undertaking criminal defence work and qualifying as a duty solicitor in 2006. She was part of a team who developed a family department in 2012 from the ground up. This is her second time being included on the Family Law panel.
Ranjit values a professional and friendly approach, enjoying being part of a team and working collaboratively. Outside of work, she finds joy in socialising with friends and family, keeping fit through long walks, exploring new foods as a self-proclaimed foodie, and spending quality time with her daughter.
Simon Osbourne
Solicitor
Simon Osborne is a highly skilled and compassionate solicitor, specialising in representing injured parties in the recovery of damages resulting from the negligence of another party. With extensive experience in personal injury law, Simon is dedicated to assisting individuals during challenging times in their lives, offering support and recovering damages to help them move forward.
Simon was admitted as a Solicitor on the 1st of May 2002. Since then, he has been committed to delivering exceptional legal services to his clients. Simon’s diligence, enthusiasm, and unwavering dedication enable him to achieve the best possible outcomes for his clients in every case he handles.
In addition to his legal pursuits, Simon is an active member of the community. He coaches the Junior Blades Under 10s football team, sharing his passion for sports and guiding young athletes in their development.
Tim Halksworth
Solicitor
Tim is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and an integral member of the Department. His expertise and experience in brain and head injury claims work has been recognised by Headway, the leading brain injury charity, as a member of the Headway Solicitors Directory.
Tim joined the business in 2000 and qualified as a solicitor in 2004. He has a proven track record of successfully litigating complex liability and quantum claims, including those that arise from road traffic accidents. He has acted for claimants with catastrophic life-changing injuries, helping them to achieve significant settlements, running into seven figures. Tim also has considerable experience in claims arising from accidents abroad where issues of jurisdiction arise.
Outside of his busy work life, Tim likes to keep active, exercising and travelling regularly when possible. He also enjoys relaxing by reading or cooking.
Samantha Ibrahim
Dispute Resolution Team Manager
Samantha manages a team of talented individuals who deal with Dispute Resolution, Employment, Wills, Trusts & Probate and Landlord & Tenant matters. She also handles the day-to-day conduct of a number of higher value civil litigation matters with the aim of settling or resolving disputes between parties, whether individuals or businesses, to achieve a fair and amicable outcome for our clients.
Samantha started as a legal secretary in dispute resolution in 1997 and became a Paralegal in 2000. She qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive in September 2003 and has practiced civil litigation for her entire career. Samantha then became a supervisor in August 2004 and has managed a team of experienced lawyers since 2018.
Sam loves travelling and spending time with her family. She also has a fantastic group of friends that she’s very grateful for – they fill her life with fun and there’s never a dull moment with them.
Toni Cheetham
Wills & Probate Executive
Toni’s areas of expertise covers wills, probate and estate administration, tax, succession planning and trust advice. She works closely with other firms within the PM Group assisting in Private Client Advice.
Toni joined us to further her career and has the desire to build the best Private Client Team in the region. She enjoys meeting clients and discussing their individual needs and family dynamics, which are all necessary steps in gaining the outcome they want. Toni gets a great deal of satisfaction from supporting clients through a bereavement and guiding them through the probate process.
Toni’s success in her role is underpinned by her empathetic and compassionate approach.
Outside of work, Toni loves long walks with her Tibetan Terrier and watching ice hockey. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends over good food.
Sue Brereton
Legal Assistant
Sue plays a crucial role at GN Law, where she assists Paulette St Hilaire in the seamless management of various legal matters, including sales, purchases, transfers of equity, and remortgages.
Sue’s career journey began in 1984 when she joined the firm as an office junior. Over the years, her dedication and hard work have propelled her through the ranks, demonstrating her commitment to the firm’s success. Her responsibilities encompass a diverse range of legal matters, and she excels in effectively liaising with clients, ensuring their needs are met.
Beyond her professional endeavours, Sue finds joy in leisurely activities such as taking her dog for walks, socialising with friends, and immersing herself in the world of literature through reading.
Susan Phillips
Receptionist
Susan is responsible for various key functions at GN Law. Her primary duties encompass welcoming clients upon their arrival at the office, promptly and efficiently addressing incoming phone calls, and ensuring that callers are directed to their intended point of contact. In addition to these tasks, Susan plays a pivotal role in the firm’s operations by initiating new matters within the system, handling quotations for prospective clients, and closing completed files.
Susan joined GN Law in 2019, having relocated to Yorkshire after more than three decades in Manchester. Her introduction to the firm came through a familial connection, as her niece was already employed at GN Law and recommended her for an interview. Throughout her career, Susan has predominantly worked in office settings, although she previously held a position as an optical advisor.
Outside of her professional life, Susan indulges in her passion for reading, frequents the cinema, and enjoys outings with her loved ones.