Angelo Saponiere – Director and Higher Courts Advocate
Angelo Saponiere is a Director of Tranters Solicitors having qualified as a Solicitor in 1997. In 2008 he was awarded the Higher Courts Advocate qualification in recognition of his vast advocacy experience and his ability to represent clients in the Crown Court.
Angelo specialises in defending allegations of serious crime. He has acted for clients in relation to allegations of murder, manslaughter, gang related crime, terrorism allegations and serious sexual offences. He has considerable experience in dealing with fraud, and in particular business crime. In addition, Angelo has expertise in dealing with Trading Standards Prosecutions. He has also acted for a number of former solicitors in relation to misconduct offences.
Angelo is a member of The Law Society and the Criminal Law Solicitors Association. He speaks fluent Italian. To contact Angelo for advice please telephone 0161 998 9999 or email him at angelos@tranters.com
Sara Smith – Director and Higher Courts Advocate
Sara Smith is a director of the firm and Head of Tranters Crown Court Department.
Sara has worked at Tranters since 1997. In recognition of her advocacy experience Sara was awarded Higher Rights of Audience in 2005 and now regularly conducts advocacy in the Crown Court.
Sara has a great deal of experience in dealing with the most serious offences in including, Murder, Manslaughter, Fraud, offences involving serious violence, sexual offences and Robbery. Sara also has a particular interest in representing the most vulnerable of client’s such as juveniles or those suffering with a disability.
To contact Sara for advice and assistance please telephone 0161 998 9999 or email her at saras@tranters.com
Avisha Gulhati – Higher Courts Advocate
Avisha Gulhati is an associate solicitor with Tranters Solicitors, having worked for the firm for over 13 years. She qualified as a solicitor in 1993.
In 2007 she was awarded the Higher Courts Advocate qualification in recognition of her vast advocacy experience in the Crown Court.
Avisha specialises in criminal law and defence work, vehemently defending people from all walks of life. She has experience with the full spectrum of offences from road traffic, theft matters through to murder, gang related offences and terrorism.
Avisha has over 21 years experience as a solicitor and is very passionate about her vocation and justice being achieved. She regularly attends at police stations, the magistrates and Crown Court.
To contact Avisha for advice and assistance please telephone 0161 998 9999 or email her at avishag@tranters.com
Caitriona McLaughlin- Higher Court Advocate
Caitriona joined Tranters Solicitors in September 2021.
Caitriona joined is a qualified duty solicitor with higher rights which means she can represent clients in the Crown Court ensuring consistency of representation.
Caitriona specialises in defending allegations of serious crime. She has acted for clients in relation to allegations of murder, manslaughter, gang related crime and sexual offences.
Caitriona has particular expertise in defending terrorism cases.
Caitriona is a passionate focused advocate who prides herself on achieving excellent results for her clients.
To contact Caitriona for advice please telephone her 0161 998 9999 or email her at Caitriona.Mclaughlin@tranters.com
Catherine Green – Crown Court Caseworker
Catherine Green is a Senior Executive in our Crown Court Department. She is also an Accredited Police Station Representative.
Having worked at Tranters for in excess of 20 years, Catherine is extremely experienced in preparing cases for trial before the Crown Court. Catherine has experience in dealing with a full range of cases including, murder, serious offences of violence, fraud and sexual offences. Her attention to detail is second to none and she is passionate about defending the rights of her client’s.
To contact Catherine for advice and assistance please telephone 0161 998 9999 or email her at catherineg@tranters.com
Matthew Wallace – Solicitor
Matthew Wallace is an associate solicitor with Tranters having joined the firm in 2003 and qualified as a solicitor in 2005.
Matthew has experience acting on a vast amount of cases as an advocate and a litigator. On a daily basis he attends court to deal with cases ranging from motoring offences, theft and domestic violence through to serious crime such as complex fraud, serious sexual offences, money laundering and murder.
Matthew is our principal advocate at Manchester Magistrates’ court and in his role specialises in applications for bail covering all aspects of criminal defence work.
Matthew is a member of the law society and a keen footballer. To contact Matthew for advice please telephone 0161 998 9999 or email him on matthew.wallace@tranters.com
Michelle Crossland – Solicitor
Michelle Crossland is a senior solicitor in the criminal department having qualified with the firm in 2007.
Michelle specialises in defending allegations of serious crime. Michelle has acted for clients in relation to allegations of murder manslaughter and serious sexual offences. Michelle has considerable experience in defending allegations of serious organised crime including multi-handed drugs conspiracies and is formally recognised as a Grade A fee earner on matters categorised by the Legal Aid Agency as Very High Cost Cases.
Michelle is known for her robust defence of clients and her thorough and meticulous preparation of cases. Her friendly calming approachable manner makes her popular with clients and an asset to the firm.
Michelle is a member of The Law Society and Criminal Law Solicitors Association.
To contact Michelle for advice please contact her on 0161 998 9999 or email her at michellec@tranters.com
Bill Dowdall – Solicitor
Bill Dowdall is a senior solicitor with over thirty years experience in the criminal justice system. In that time he has dealt with all kinds of offences ranging from murder, serious assaults, rape and sexual assaults, drugs importation, racially aggravated offences to name but a few.
Bill has a great deal of experience in the Youth Court and has also dealt with many traffic offences. He has appeared in the High Court, Crown Court, and Magistrates’ Court, as well as appearing before the Traffic Commissioner and other regulatory bodies. He has previously prosecuted for the RSPCA and appeared before Court Marshalls in the past, representing members of the armed forces. He has also appeared before Lancashire RFU’s Disciplinary Committee on several occasions.
Bill is a member of the Law Society and can be contacted on 0161 998 9999 or e-mail him at billd@tranters.com
Chris Mcgrath – Serious Crime Lawyer
Chris McGrath specialises in defending allegations of serious and complex crime. He has almost 20 years experience in dealing with criminal defence cases.
Chris is experienced in preparing a wide range of crown court cases including Murder, Serious Assault, Drugs and serious sex offences.
Chris has particular expertise in Very High Cost Case preparation and complex fraud offences including carousel fraud, mortgage fraud and fraud against banks. He was involved in the complex defence preparation of R v H Conspiracy to Defraud Libor case.
Chris has built up strong relationships with Chambers and Counsel in Manchester, Leeds and London.
Chris is known for his fearless advocacy style and his willingness to leave “no stone unturned” in his approach to defence case preparation.
He has prepared hundreds of Crown Court cases for trial and his vast experience and thorough approach ensures that clients are assured their cases are in “a safe pair of hands.”
Chris is approachable and friendly . To contact Chris for advice please contact him on 0161 998 9999 or email him at chris.mcgrath@tranters.com.
Khal Bashir – Solicitor
Khal Bashir has been a solicitor for 12 years and has over 15 years experience in criminal law.
Khal is an expert at the defence of clients who are under investigation at the police station stage of proceedings.
Khal is known as one of Manchester’s most well respected police station advisors by both his peers and his clients.
His reputation is such that his client base spreads across the North West of England and beyond.
With specialist knowledge not only in general crime but in complex and serious matters such as Terrorism Murder and Serious Sexual allegations his ability to represent clients suspected of any offences is second to none.
The police investigation stage is at the heart of any criminal proceedings and requires an ability to think on your feet and quickly and critically analyse the prosecution case. These are qualities that Khal carries in abundance and sets him apart from other advisors.
Khal spends most of his life at police stations and is therefore not based in the office. If you need to speak to Khal please phone 0161 998 9999 where either Khal or one his his collegues will assist.
Janine Bruce – Crown Court Caseworker
Janine is a fee earner in our Crown Court Department. Janine is also an Accredited Police Station Representative.
Janine joined Tranters in March 2024 but has a vast amount of experience in criminal law.
In a career spanning over nearly two decades Janine has worked on cases for a number of criminal specialist law firms and has advised clients in respect of a very wide ranging nature of criminal offences from shoplifting to murder.
Janine is currently based at our Manchester office working as a caseworker in our Crown Court Department preparing a wide variety of cases including drug trafficking and sexual offences. With her wide network of criminal specialist barristers clients can be assured of the very best representation.
To contact Janine for advice and assistance please telephone 0161 998 9999 or email her at janine.bruce@tranters.com
Lucy McWilliam – Solicitor
Lucy joined Tranters in December 2024 after working in a specialist criminal law firm where she developed a passion for criminal law.
Prior to that Lucy attended Lancaster University where she obtained a First Class Honours Degree and a Masters in Law.
Lucy’s experience and training initially led to her qualification as an Accredited Police Station Representative but she is now a fully qualified Solicitor and is able to represent clients in the police station in respect of any criminal offence and the Magistrates Court no matter how serious.
Lucy regularly attends courts and police stations all over the Manchester area.
Lucy also has her own Crown Court caseload and is currently preparing some serious matters for trial.
To contact Lucy for advice and assistance please telephone 0161 998 9999 or email her at lucy.mcwilliam@tranters.com.
Peter Hall – Civil Law
Peter specialises in Insurance law. He has experience in many High Court disputes in the UK involving coverage issues arising from policy interpretation/compliance, non disclosure/misrepresentation and fraud.
- The team acted for a manufacturer whose substantial fire claim was denied by his insurance company because of an alleged breach of electrical maintenance certification. Case won and the team recovered thousands of pounds from the insurance company.
- The team acted for a kitchen business that suffered damage by ‘flood’ and who had flood cover excluded under the insurance policy. The claim was pursued in the High Court where a six figure sum was recovered after the team argued that the claim should be honoured under the storm section of the policy.Thousands of pounds recovered from the insurance company.
- The team acted for a restaurant/pub owner whose claim was denied because of alleged non disclosure. The team recovered thousands of pounds from the insurance company
- The team acted for a manufacturer who had a fire. The claim was denied and the insurer alleged breach of a waste warranty.The team recovered thousands of pounds from the insurance company.
- The team acted for a consumer who put in a claim to his insurance company after his car had been stolen but the insurer denied the claim based on allegations of fraud against the policyholder. The team recovered thousands of pounds from the insurance company.