Christine McVay - Jacksons Law Firm.
Which area of law do you work in?
I am a consultant solicitor with Jacksons Law and I specialise in matrimonial finance. My modus operandi is to achieve the best result possible for my client because the outcome of their financial remedy claim can shape their future – and I want that to be as bright and enjoyable as possible for every client of mine.
Describe the team you are part of.
I work with Katy Moody and Emma Canham. Katy heads up the department. She is an excellent lawyer, 100% committed and a joy to work with. Emma loves her work; she is a fighter with a big heart. The three of us work closely together, we share information regularly and we all know that we can depend upon each other.
Did you always envisage a career as a lawyer?
When I was a child, I guess I didn’t even know what a lawyer was. I wanted to be a dancer with Pan’s People but never quite made that! Eventually I made the right choice of career and since becoming a lawyer, I have given talks to local schools to explain the work that a lawyer is involved in, in the hope of inspiring even one child to be aware of possibilities for them.
Describe your career path.
Michael Smithson, a local commercial solicitor, trained me to deliver very high-quality work and his mentoring provided the excellent foundation for my career. In 2000, I headed up the family team at McKeags before moving to the Leeds area to specialise completely in financial remedy cases. That led me to Shakespeares in Birmingham, where I represented Euro Millions winners. Returning to my native North East, my journey of creativity continued at Short Richardson & Forth. That experience has served me and my clients very well. I have always been completely dedicated to my work as a family lawyer and all these years on, continue to be so.
How have you seen your industry evolving?
Divorce has recently been made much easier and much less costly for separating couples which I am very pleased about. A specialist financial remedy court has been created which streamlines such cases and that in operation, I see benefitting all parties.
What is your proudest achievement?
About 25 years ago, I represented a mother whose child had been abducted by her father and taken to Cairo. We had to attend several hearings in the Royal Courts of Justice before the eventual outcome, which was to see the child once more gathered in her mother’s arms. There were many tears of happiness and relief. On that case I had the privilege of working with the superb Henry Setright KC.
From the financial perspective, not necessarily the proudest achievement, I represented a husband who had won £120m on the Euro Millions. After this was announced in the press, his several previous wives, none of whom he had troubled to secure a financial settlement during those divorces, all made an application to the court for a share. They were able to do so, because there is no limitation period attached to a financial remedy claim, unless of course a former spouse falls into the remarriage trap. Fortunately I and Lucy Stone KC, were able to keep at bay the worst excesses and the client was extremely pleased with the outcome – he could then sleep peacefully at night.
In my spare time, as a voluntary board member of Business Beats Cancer Newcastle I attempt to raise funds on behalf of Cancer Research UK. We have all lost too many loved ones to that terrible disease and progress in that field is a must.
What are your greatest strengths?
My work ethic, my care for my clients and having a good business head.
Who are your heroes and mentors?
On a personal level, my heroes and mentors were my mother and sisters. They believed in me much more than I believed in myself, but their encouragement, love and support, eventually led me to where I am today – happy and doing a job that I love.
Professionally, I have been privileged to work with some of the best lawyers in our business and I have learnt so much from them over the years. The late, great, Paul Isaacs, Martyn Bennett, Roger Bickerdike and more recently, Emily Ward to name but a few, all such hard workers, lawyers of great skill and detail and have been a pleasure to work with.
Who would be your ideal dinner guests – living or dead?
Shakespeare, Nelson Mandela, David Attenborough – and I could not be so privileged to spend time with those wonderful people without my own mother being there to enjoy every moment.
What do you do to unwind?
We are so lucky to have the beautiful Northumberland coastline on our doorstep. I walk in that area most weekends, and in the company of my family, often rounded off with a hearty pub lunch.
Where would you like to see yourself in 10 years’ time?
Spending extra time in more remote, mountainous areas, that I love.
www.jacksons-law.com