Staff
John O’Donnell is the firms senior partner and heads the Mental Health Department. He has been a Solicitor for over 30 years and had extensive experience of Civil, Criminal and Commercial Law before devoting his working life exclusively to Mental Health. John was born and grew up in Durham and went to Leeds University. He was President of both Preston and District Chamber of Trade and Preston Law Society in millennium year.
Music is a passion. As well as being an organist at St Teresa's , Penwortham he enjoys regular visits to the Halle at the Bridgewater Hall as well as supporting the monthly lunchtime concerts at St George's in Preston city centre. (see community events page). He recently started piano lessons but is finding it much harder than when he abandoned them in early childhood. However, he has a good piano teacher in Simon Halliday who helped him gain his Grade 3 with merit. Simon’s website has some interesting links to other music sites as well as having a rather embarrassing video of John playing the 2nd movement of Beethoven’s sonata in C minor.
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My boat racing in Northern Bell series 2007 |
Away from work John keeps fit racing at West Lancashire Yacht club during the summer and at Leigh and Lowton. In the winter. John also enjoys more sedate pottering in a small gaff sloop or cruising The Fal estuary in Cornwall, as a member of the Old Gaffers Association.
John is a trustee of Lancashire Advocacy which is a charitable organisation supporting those unable to speak up for themselves due to learning or other problems. A unique element of our work is that we carry out our daily work with the active employment of those we help so increasing their skills and confidence and ability to participate in society. Please visit the website and consider making a donation to enable us to cover our running expenses and expand our reach to the many who need us.
Specialist Area: Mental Health
Jane Gale is the Partner in charge of the Family Department and qualified as a Solicitor in October 1990. She is an accredited Resolution specialist.
A keen "foodie" Jane tries to compensate for her excesses at Preston and Manchester restaurants with long walks in the local countryside when time and weather permits. Jane is an enthusiastic supporter of the local community, shopping regularly at Preston market in order to try out new recipes on her partner Martin, and cat 'Buttons'. Jane also enjoys attending productions at the Play House Theatre and Guildhall. Having grown up in Wiltshire, and working as a solicitor in Southampton for nine years before moving to Preston in 1998 Jane makes regular trips "down south" to stay in touch with family and friends, but has never regretted the move to Lancashire, and has become a fan of "all things Northern"
Specialist Area: Family
Cathryn MacLean is an Associate with the firm and qualified as a Solicitor in May 1992. She is also an accredited Resolution specialist.
Specialist Area: Family
Peter Roberts is also a Solicitor with over 30 years experience in Criminal work before specialising in Mental Health Law.
Peter spent many years as a senior prosecuting solicitor in Yorkshire then Lancashire. After moving to private practice he specialised in criminal defence work involving police station advice and representation at court in respect of cases of the most serious kind. On joining odonnells he developed a practice in Parole hearings as well as Mental Health Tribunal work in which he is a Law Society panel member.
Specialist Area: Mental Health
Philippa Curran has been a Solicitor for over 8 years. Her background is in the Civil Courts where she continues to practise in addition to representing patients detained in hospital. Philippa also deals with Court of Protection work on behalf of incapacitated patients and their relatives.
I joined Odonnells in the summer of 1998 and have therefore spent over a decade with the firm which has seen me move from trainee to qualified Associate solicitor dealing with a wide range of legal issues. Having returned from maternity leave at the beginning of March I am happy to have resumed a varied caseload of mental health and civil matters. To keep me on my toes away from the office, I have always enjoyed sports and recently swapped my hockey stick for a set of golf clubs. Time to enjoy such pursuits is now limited however by the demands of my two young children. Leisurely strolls along the front in Lytham and visits to parks and playgrounds have now replaced weekends of meals out and lie-ins, but I'm not complaining!
Specialist Areas: Wills and Probate, Accidents (Personal Injury), Court of Protection, Mental Health
Rachael Tyrer is a qualified Solicitor with over ten years experience in all civil areas including personal injury claims, general civil litigation and landlord matters.
Rachael is a mother of 2 children who keep all of her free time fully occupied.
Her weekends are spent entertaining the children and taking them for days out.
In her own time Rachael enjoys keeping fit by going to aerobics and running.
She also enjoys reading, going to the cinema and attending the theatre when time allows.
Specialist Areas: Accidents (Personal Injury), Cohabitation
Christine Makinson is a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives with over 20 years experience. Her specialism is Wills/Probate work including those who cannot manage their own affairs due to mental incapacity.
Highlight of my career was having a case heard in the House of Lords (spent 3 days there!!!)
Personal highlight anything to do with watching my 15 year old son playing sport (sad but he is much better than I ever was)
Dislikes people throwing rubbish on the floor and bad manners
Likes gallantry and Judge John Deed
Hobbies cooking which I take very seriously....
Specialist Areas: Wills and Probate, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Court of Protection, Mental Health
