Meet The Team
Christopher Hanratty
Managing Partner
Chris obtained an LLB Honours Degree from Sheffield University. He joined Watsons in 1984 and became a Partner in 1988. He has vast experience in all areas of High Street Private Practice.
Chris specialises in Personal Injury claims and undertakes a broad range of Litigation in the High and County Courts, Employment Law and Commercial Property. He is a Member of the Law Society Personal Injury Panel and an Association for Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) Senior Litigator. He was appointed as a Deputy District Judge in 1997 and sits on the Northern Circuit.
He is a past President of the Warrington Law Society.
Steve Martin
Partner and Head of Property Department
Steve heads up Watsons Solicitors’ Property and Conveyancing Department. He is a Partner in the firm.
Steve is a Solicitor with over 25 years’ experience in Property Law dealing with all types of conveyancing, both residential and commercial. Steve acts for residential owners moving home, property developers, and buy to let investors.
Steve prides himself in trying to make the conveyancing process as smooth as possible, and focuses on client care. This approach results in instructions from local Estate Agents, Lenders, and Mortgage Brokers, and he also has many repeat clients.
Catrin Parry
Partner and Head of the Family Department
Catrin obtained an BSc. Econ. Honours Degree from Cardiff University and qualified as a Solicitor in 1990. She joined Watsons in 2007 and became a Partner in 2008.
Catrin specialises in Local Authority Children Care Work acting for Guardians, parents, grandparents and children. She also handles all other aspects of Family Law, including Matrimonial property disputes.
She is a Member of the Law Society Children’s Panel and Resolution.
Daniel Hudson
Partner and member of the Family Department
Danny has obtained an LLB Honours Degree from Nottingham Trent University. He trained at Watsons and qualified as a Solicitor in 2004. He was made a Partner in 2008.
Danny specialises in all types of Family law work, including Divorce, Matrimonial Property and Maintenance and all aspects relating to Children’s Welfare and Domestic Violence.
He is a Member of the Law Society Family Law Panel and shares the role of Marketing Partner with Steve Martin.
Alexandra Mitchell
Partner and member of the Probate Department
Alex has an LLB Honours Degree in Law from University of Liverpool.
She qualified as a Solicitor in 2004 and joined Watsons in 2007 and became a partner in 2013.
Alex specialises in Probate, Wills, Trusts and all aspects of private client work, having a particular interest in Advising the Elderly.
She is a member of the Law Society Solicitor Trust and Estates Practitioners (STEP) Group.
Latham Parry
Partner and Head of Employment Law
Latham has over a decade of experience in employment law, qualifying in 2004 and joining Watsons as partner in 2015. Latham specialises in Employment Law, acting both for employers and employees across contentious and non-contentious matters.
Latham regular provides representation at Tribunals, County Court and High Court as well as working with employers to provide a holistic approach to employment law considerations.
Latham is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.
Kerry Baird
Solicitor and member of the Commercial Property and Family Department
Kerry obtained her LLB Honours degree from Manchester Metropolitan University and qualified in January 2012, she joined Watsons in 2014.
Specialising in Commercial Litigation and Commercial Property she is approachable and happy to advise businesses large or small with their legal matters. Skilled in using negotiation to avoid court proceedings where possible, yet able to guide clients through the procedure if a court action arises.
Kerry also has experience dealing with all aspects of Family law work with a specific interest in resolving shared financial assets following divorce or separation.
Amy Jones
Solicitor and member of the Family Department
Amy obtained her LLB honours degree from the University of Liverpool. She qualified as a Solicitor in September 2010 and joined Watsons in 2014.
Amy specialises in all aspects of Family Law including Divorce, Separation, Financial matters on divorce and separation, Children issues (including Residence, Contact and Parental Responsibility) Child Care proceedings involving the Local authority and Injunctions.
Amanda O’Hare
Partner and member of the Conveyancing Department
Amanda has an LLB Honours Degree in Law with Business from University of Brighton.
She qualified as a Solicitor in 2013 and joined Watsons Solicitors in 2015.
Amanda specialises in Residential Conveyancing and strives for excellent client care. She has gained a wealth of experience so far in her career with previously leading a team of conveyancers in her last role.
Michaela Johnson
Solicitor and member of the Conveyancing Department
Michaela graduated from Liverpool John Moores University with an LLB Hons (2.1) and went on to complete the Legal Practice Course combined with Masters at the University of Law Chester.
Michaela has previously worked as a Paralegal in a leading national practice before joining Watsons Solicitors as a Trainee Solicitor in 2015.
Michaela has currently gained experience in dealing with all aspects of Residential Conveyancing and also advises both Landlords and Tenants in the drafting and vetting of Tenancy Agreements.
Gill Lacey
Solicitor and member of the Family Department
Gill joined Watsons in 2018 having practised as a family law solicitor for over 25 years. She joins our family team with a wealth of knowledge in all areas dealing with matrimonial finance, child arrangements, injunctions and care proceedings.
Gill’s experience allows her to represent clients in both the Magistrates’ and County Courts. She is a member of the Law Society Family Law panel, a Resolution accredited specialist, and qualified Collaborative lawyer. A recognised expert in her field Gill considers that she tries to find a pragmatic and constructive approach to find a resolution suitable for the client’s needs.
