Meet the Private Client Team with Melissa Gill

What is your role in the private client team and how long have you been at Sintons?

I am a specialist Court of Protection paralegal within the wills, trusts and probate team and joined Sintons in 2017.

Tell us about your career to date…

I spent 13 years working at Womble Bond Dickinson as a legal secretary, working across their private client offering. I moved to Sintons two years ago, originally as a secretary within the wills, trusts and probate team, but have recently become a paralegal with specific responsibility for Court of Protection matters.

What attracted you to Sintons?

Sintons has an excellent reputation within the legal marketplace and I was aware of the strength of its private client service. I previously worked closely with Sophie Robinson (private client lawyer at Sintons) in her former role at Womble Bond Dickinson and she told me about the excellent team at Sintons and close working relationship within it. The new challenge and opportunity for development and progression at Sintons was a great opportunity for me and one I was delighted to take.

What does your role involve?

I am part of Sintons’ growing Court of Protection team and assist with all matters within it. The team includes members of the wills, trusts and probate team – and I am very pleased to again be working closely with Sophie – as well as the neurotrauma department and I support the work of the team in ensuring clients receive the highest levels of service, for which Sintons is renowned.

What have been your personal highlights to date?

Since joining Sintons, I have been continually challenged and involved closely in a variety of matters, and within two years have secured a promotion to paralegal. My appointment to the Court of Protection team has been a big highlight for me. It is great to be part of a firm which offers opportunities for professional development and is keen to invest in its people.

The private client team is one of the most highly-rated in the North of England. What are the advantages of being part of it?

Not only is this a team of lovely people – we all get on brilliantly and have a superb dynamic – but we have some of the best private client lawyers in the North of England here. Paul Nickalls is an outstanding lawyer and great head of department, who is never too busy to offer help or support with anything you may need. The team is regularly rated highly by the Legal 500 and Chambers UK, and recently we won the wills and probate team of the year at the Northern Law Awards 2019, which is rightful recognition of the legal excellence and first-rate client service we deliver.

How does Sintons differ from other firms you have worked in?

Sintons is a very friendly firm and the open plan nature of the office encourages close cooperation and a great team dynamic. There is no strict hierarchical structure and to have our head of department, as well as the managing partner of the firm, sitting just across the floor from me, available to chat to at any time should you need to, is very telling about Sintons as a business. It has a great ethos and is very supportive of us as professionals and as people.

What are your interests outside of work?

I have a husband and seven-year-old daughter who I love spending time with – I enjoy going to the cinema and love my holidays – although it must be said that my daughter has a much more active social life than me so most of my time is spent taking her to her many commitments!