William Ralston
EXPERTISE
William accepts instructions across Chambers’ Civil and Family practice areas, and is particularly interested in Business and Property litigation and Private Law Children matters.
In addition to practice, William teaches law at Northumbria University. More specifically, he teaches civil procedure and advocacy to students on the Bar Course and he also teaches Contract Law to undergraduate students.
William is the Subject Lead External Examiner in Drafting for the Bar Standards Board.
EDUCATION
LLB BVC (Exempting), Northumbria University (First Class Hons)
MEMBERSHIPS
- The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
- Member of the Newcastle Business and Property Court Forum Committee
Steve Walker
Lead Civil Clerk
Steve joined Trinity Chambers in 2018 as Lead Civil Clerk. He has worked in the legal industry for 30 years, initially as a Litigation Executive at a number of firms in Manchester and then, from 2004, as a Clerk at leading sets in Manchester, London and Newcastle. Having worked as a litigator for many years prior to becoming a clerk, Steve is acutely aware of the pressures Chambers’ clients work under and goes out of his way to ensure the service they get from Chambers goes beyond that of our competitors.
As well as day to day management of the civil diary Steve is heavily involved in business development and client relationship management for the Civil Team. He is always more than happy to discuss with clients how Chambers, Members of Chambers and the Clerks might tailor the service we offer to best suit your needs.
Legal 500 2025
'Steve Walker is the perfect clerk'
'Steve Walker is a personable and sensible clerk'
Chambers & Partners 2024
'Trinity has a really good clerking team. I deal mostly with Steve Walker, lead civil clerk, who is a pleasure to deal with. He and the rest of his team are very approachable and responsive.'
Legal 500 2024
‘Steven Walker is excellent.’
‘Steve Walker and Paul McNab are always friendly, approachable and make excellent suggestions as to which counsel may be best suited for a particular matter.’
Chambers & Partners 2023
'Steve Walker has a very good knowledge of the market. He is a very helpful clerk.' 'Steve Walker is very responsive and helpful.'
Legal 500 2023
‘Steve Walker has always been efficient and helpful.’ ‘All of the clerks are responsive and helpful. Steven Walker is superb.’ ‘Steven Walker will go above and beyond for his clients ensuring that instructing solicitors are matched with the right barrister matching their skill set for the matter.’ ‘Clerking is first class. Steve Walker and Josh Stewart-Tilling provide a quick and helpful service.’
Chambers & Partners 2022
'Steve Walker is responsive and very helpful.' 'Steve Walker is very hard-working and does a good job looking after the barristers.' 'Steve Walker is very proactive, easy to talk to and will sort things out if we need any help.'
Legal 500 2022
'Steve Walker is excellent. He takes the time to understand the problem and works around the clock to ensure expectations are met.'
Josh Stewart-Tilling
Lead Employment Clerk & Civil Clerk
Josh joined Trinity in 2020 as a Clerk on the Civil team after working for 5 years in business management. The transferable skills gained have enabled him to make this change in career and given him the chance to revert back to his university degree in Philosophy and Theology.
Within the Civil clerking, Josh heads up the clerking of the Employment Law team.
Outside of Chambers Josh enjoys playing football and following his beloved Newcastle United where he has had a season ticket since he was a young boy. He also enjoys playing music as part of a band, predominantly playing drums but plays piano and sax as well.
Chambers & Partners 2024
'The service from the clerks is first rate. There is never any delay in replying to correspondence and they are always very helpful. Josh Stewart-Tilling is the lead employment clerk.'
Legal 500 2024
‘Paul McNab, Aimee Bloxham and Josh Stewart-Tilling are always on the end of the phone or email to help us find barristers with availability, even at short notice.’
Legal 500 2023
‘Clerking is first class. Steve Walker and Josh Stewart-Tilling provide a quick and helpful service.’
Steven Preen
Lead Family Clerk
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 McLafferty
Family & Immigration Clerk
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 McLure
Family Clerk
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 May
Family & Court of Protection Clerk
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 Gibbin
Clerk
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 Bullock
Direct Access Clerk
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.
Paul McNab
Civil & Criminal Silks' Clerk
Paul joined Trinity Chambers in March 2020 following the closure of Zenith Chambers.
Paul has a wealth of experience in the legal profession having commenced his career in the late 80's and qualified as a legal executive in the early 90's whilst working for one of the countries largest criminal law firms dealing with serious criminal cases before moving to Number One Fountain Court in Birmingham as the Senior Clerk. Following the merger of Number One with St Philips Chambers in 2002 Paul became the Senior Criminal Clerk looking after what was then the largest criminal team in the country at the time.
Paul took almost a decade away from clerking during which he was the Chief Executive of an International Law firm specialising in domestic and international public law and human rights law adding a range of business and management skills to his CV before returning to the Bar in 2017 as the Senior Civil Clerk at Zenith Chambers in Leeds.
Away from Chambers, Paul can be found on the sidelines at Five Ways Old Eds RFC where he played second row for many decades, or coaching the age grade players at Old Halesonians RFC. When not coaching rugby, Paul is a season ticket holder at Bristol Bears (following the demise of Wasps) and religiously follows Ireland Rugby home and away where he enjoys the occasional "sociable pint"! With more time on his hands Paul plans to learn his native Irish language in 2025!
Chambers & Partners 2025
"Paul McNab is one of the best clerks we deal with. He is a credit to the chambers."
Legal 500 2025
'The clerks' room is excellent. Paul McNab goes the extra mile to assist us and ensures that we always have access to counsel.'
'Steve Walker and Paul McNab are very responsive and a pleasure to deal with.'
Chambers & Partners 2024
'Paul McNab is always available, commercial and pragmatic.'
'Paul McNab, clerk, is the go-to person. If Paul can't do it no one can. He is the finest clerk I have worked with. He's an asset to the chambers.'
Legal 500 2024
‘Paul McNab, Aimee Bloxham and Josh Stewart-Tilling are always on the end of the phone or email to help us find barristers with availability, even at short notice.’
‘Steve Walker and Paul McNab are always friendly, approachable and make excellent suggestions as to which counsel may be best suited for a particular matter.’
‘Paul McNab is always available and always willing to assist where he can.’
Chambers & Partners 2023
'Paul McNab, clerk, is excellent and has never let me down.'
Legal 500 2023
‘Clerks are approachable and accommodating.’‘Paul McNab – contactable, adaptable, and provides a good service.’‘Paul McNab is responsive, professional and knowledgeable.’
Chambers & Partners 2022
'Paul McNab is an excellent clerk. He's responsive, reliable and personable.'
Aimee Bloxham
Civil Clerk
Aimee joined Trinity in 2021 as a Junior Clerk within the Civil team, after 1 year of working as a litigation paralegal in a well-regarded, Newcastle based law firm. Here she developed an eye for detail and great organisational skills, moreover she gained a sound understanding of court procedures and litigation paperwork.
Aimee achieved a first-class BA (Honours) degree in Children and Young People from Newcastle College University Centre in 2019. She completed a dissertation on the advantages and challenges of standardised testing in primary schools and comparatively researched the difference between testing in both Year 2 and Year 6. While studying for her BA degree, Aimee worked in a nursery for 2 years where she was able to enhance her communication skills and teamworking abilities.
Outside of chambers Aimee enjoys walking her dog along the beach, socialising with friends, and travelling.
Legal 500 2025
'Aimee Bloxham is an absolute asset to chambers and has a great rapport with solicitors.'
Legal 500 2024
‘Paul McNab, Aimee Bloxham and Josh Stewart-Tilling are always on the end of the phone or email to help us find barristers with availability, even at short notice.’