'Patrick is a great advocate. He builds very good rapport with clients: they feel he is fighting their corner.'
'Patrick is a confident and committed advocate - efficient and incisive. He is empathetic and very personable, with very sound judgement.'
Legal 500
The main focus of Patrick’s practice is complex financial proceedings arising from relationship breakdown. He advises and represents clients with assets ranging from modest to substantial, including cases involving business structures, trusts, pensions, international property portfolios and cross-border income.
Patrick spent a year practising in Bermuda, where he worked on high-value and complex matrimonial finance matters, frequently involving offshore structures, trust arrangements and cross-border enforcement. That experience continues to inform his approach to international cases and those involving sophisticated asset structures.
He is regularly instructed in matters involving jurisdictional disputes (including forum challenges), asset tracing across multiple territories, and enforcement against international and offshore structures.
Patrick is particularly well regarded for his strategic handling of cases involving hidden assets, complex disclosure disputes and third-party interests, and for his robust yet pragmatic approach to disputed issues. He is equally recognised for his exceptional client care, combining clear, practical advice with calm, decisive advocacy during what are often the most difficult periods of a client’s life.
Financial & Related Specialisms
Patrick accepts instructions in cases involving the most serious and sensitive issues, including domestic abuse (emotional, physical and sexual), coercive and controlling behaviour, parental alienation, and high-conflict relocation disputes. He regularly appears in cases involving international and internal relocation, permanent removal applications, and complex jurisdictional conflicts.
He has considerable experience in Child Protection matters and an in-depth working knowledge of Local Authority processes, providing a significant strategic advantage where private law proceedings intersect with public law issues.
Patrick is particularly known for his measured, child-focused advocacy and exceptional client handling in the most emotionally charged and factually complex cases.
Children & Related Specialisms
The focus of Patrick’s LLM was international child abduction. He has been instructed in High Court proceedings under the Hague Convention and advises in cases involving both Hague and Non-Hague Convention countries.
His international experience, including offshore practice, equips him with a practical and strategic understanding of cross-border enforcement, jurisdictional disputes and urgent interim relief.
Specialisms
Patrick is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and is qualified to undertake Arbitrations and Written Determinations under both the Financial Scheme and the Children Scheme.
During his time practising in Bermuda, Patrick served as a Member of the CIArb Branch Committee and was tasked with the development and roll-out of the Bermuda Family Arbitration Scheme. This work placed him at the forefront of embedding arbitration into mainstream family dispute resolution within the jurisdiction and further strengthened his expertise in international and offshore family arbitration.
Patrick regularly delivers seminars and professional training on complex financial remedy, international family law, child abduction, arbitration and high-conflict children cases.
Successful appeal of an order for an interim move of the children, citing, amongst other grounds of appeal, the lack of any application of Practice Direction 12 J by the Judge at the first instance.
Successful appeal in respect of a Judge’s decision to rehabilitate a child to the Mother’s care. The case affirmed the decision of McFarlane LJ in Re W [2017] 2 FLR 31.
Steve Preen joined Trinity in October 2011 after earning a position of considerable respect in HM Court Service where he worked for 17 years; he has come to Trinity with a very sound knowledge of Court procedures, especially on the Civil side.
Outside of Chambers Steve enjoys playing football at a semi professional level. He has undertaken an FA coaching certificate and coaches youngsters on a voluntary basis at a local club. He also enjoys spending time with his family and two children.
Chambers & Partners 2024
'Steven Preen, lead family clerk, Ken McLafferty, clerk, and Paula McLure, clerk, are excellent. They are always very accommodating and very helpful.'
'Steven Preen, Ken McLafferty and Paula McLure all offer a brilliant service. They are very responsive and go out of their way to assist.'
'Steven Preen and Paula McLure are at the top of their game and will go the extra mile to ensure representation is available.'
Legal 500 2024
‘Steve Preen is fantastic.’
‘Steve Preen is outstanding, he is highly personable and very helpful. A credit to chambers.’
Chambers & Partners 2023
'Steven Preen, lead family clerk, and Ken McLafferty, clerk, are particularly responsive to any queries and are always very accommodating.'
Legal 500 2023
‘Extremely friendly and helpful.’‘The clerks provide a good service; Steven Preen and Paula McLure are always incredibly helpful and respond quickly to requests.’ ‘Steven Preen is friendly and approachable, and there to help where he can.’
Legal 500 2022
'The family clerking is led by the dynamic Steven Preen and the unflappable Ken McLafferty who compliment each other to great effect.'
'Ken McLafferty and Steve Preen are excellent. They are friendly, accommodating and efficient.'
Ken joined Trinity in March 2007 after seven years clerking in Durham, culminating in being the Senior Clerk and taking on all the responsibilities so required. Working in Durham gave him the opportunity to return to the city where he spent three years enjoying life under the guise of studying for his degree in Theology and Religious Studies.
When not following the trials and tribulations of his chosen football and baseball teams Ken enjoys cooking and tending to the charges in his allotment - where he fights a losing, and seemingly never-ending, battle against the elements, weeds, and caterpillars.
Chambers & Partners 2024
'Steven Preen, lead family clerk, Ken McLafferty, clerk, and Paula McLure, clerk, are excellent. They are always very accommodating and very helpful.'
Steven Preen, Ken McLafferty and Paula McLure all offer a brilliant service. They are very responsive and go out of their way to assist.'
Chambers & Partners 2023
'Steven Preen, lead family clerk, and Ken McLafferty, clerk, are particularly responsive to any queries and are always very accommodating.'
Legal 500 2022
'The family clerking is led by the dynamic Steven Preen and the unflappable Ken McLafferty who compliment each other to great effect.'
'Ken McLafferty and Steve Preen are excellent. They are friendly, accommodating and efficient.'
Paula joined Trinity in June 2016 after 26 years in HM Court Service where she reached a position of considerable respect as the Civil and Family Listing Officer for Northumbria, skills which have stood her in good stead in her new role. Paula has come to Trinity with a very sound knowledge of Court procedures, especially with regard to listing.
Outside of Chambers Paula enjoys travelling and spending time with her family and friends.
Chambers & Partners 2024
'Steven Preen, lead family clerk, Ken McLafferty, clerk, and Paula McLure, clerk, are excellent. They are always very accommodating and very helpful.'
'Steven Preen, Ken McLafferty and Paula McLure all offer a brilliant service. They are very responsive and go out of their way to assist.'
'Steven Preen and Paula McLure are at the top of their game and will go the extra mile to ensure representation is available.'
Legal 500 2024
‘Paula McLure is a huge asset, very professional and flexible.’
Legal 500 2023
‘Extremely friendly and helpful.’‘The clerks provide a good service; Steven Preen and Paula McLure are always incredibly helpful and respond quickly to requests.’
Erin joined Chambers in December 2023 after 15 years working as a Legal Secretary, 9 of which spent working as a PA in a busy family department in a well-regarded Newcastle based Law Firm. During this time she developed great organisational skills, knowledge of Court procedures and family processes.
Outside of Chambers Erin enjoys painting, gardening and walking her dog along the Northumberland coastline.
Chris had over 9 years experience as a Senior Clerk in a barristers chambers in Middlesbrough before joining Trinity Chambers. Prior to that Chris worked in the Lord Chancellors Department, now HM Courts and Tribunals Service, at Teesside Combined Court Centre for over 10 years. During that time Chris covered most areas but the majority of his experience was gained in dealing with Criminal and Family Law matters. Chris’ latter years in the LCD were spent in the Listing Office at Teesside Crown Court where he developed his skills which ultimately saw him transferring to his role in a barristers chambers.
Chris is a member of the Institute of Barristers Clerks.
Outside of work Chris enjoys playing cricket for Marske Cricket Club in the North Yorkshire and South Durham League, watching football and rugby and socialising.
Legal 500 2025
'Chris Gibbin can only be described as outstanding - an unsung hero! He is a great ambassador for Trinity Chambers'
Legal 500 2024
‘Liam Gorman and Chris Gibbin are always on hand to deal with last minute issues, and have an excellent working relationship with local courts.’
Legal 500 2022
'Chris Gibbin is an extremely helpful and experienced clerk.'
'The Teesside branch is spearheaded by Chris Gibbin who is extremely helpful and efficient.'
Chambers & Partners 2022
'I cannot fault the clerking services – Chris Gibbin in Middlesbrough is very helpful, offers prompt responses and is always willing to assist.'
Fiona joined Trinity Chambers in 2007 after an established career in some of Scotland's top hotels and restaurants.
After gaining a BA in Hotel Catering and Management, Fiona progressed with her Food and Beverage Management career and on moving to the North East, she became one half of a North Yorkshire restaurant.
Fiona is Chambers Direct Access clerk and has found that her previous experience has stood her in good stead being in a client focused role. Fiona also looks after Chambers Governance and Compliance, and collates Chambers submissions for the Legal Directories.
Outside Chambers Fiona and her Labrador Olly volunteer with Wag & Co North East Friendship Dogs.
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