Banking & Lender Services

Robert Sinclair was educated at Queen’s University Belfast and after graduating, he completed his apprenticeship at L’Estrange and Brett.

Robert took the decision to set up his own practice and founded Robert G Sinclair & Co in 1983. Robert has acted for leading corporate and commercial clients and is well known in this field of work. He has acted in many high profile cases in these areas including tax cases, VAT cases, fraud cases and restructuring of major companies. Robert has acted for many major banks who have set up in Northern Ireland. He has drafted much of the security documentation used by major lenders and continues to review these. At present Robert is involved in re-drafting security documentation for major lender clients to comply with Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) requirements specifically related to Northern Ireland.

Robert has been involved in advising companies and lenders involved in administrations, receiverships and liquidations and schemes of arrangement. Robert holds practising certificates in Northern Ireland, England & Wales and the Republic of Ireland and carries out transactions in all jurisdictions. Day to day, Robert’s primary role is in relation to the strategy of the firm and cementing relationships with key existing clients and developing relationships with new clients. Further, Robert’s role involves cultivating and maintaining relationships with English and Irish solicitors and accountants who lead their fields within areas in which our firm operates.

In the office, Robert runs a specialist caseload involving banking, insurance and property related matters at all levels.

Robert has been appointed to the advisory board of several leading companies by the government. He has also been appointed by the Northern Ireland Department of Education as a governor of Our Lady of St Patrick’s Grammar School, Knock. He is a trustee of several leading Northern Ireland Companies as well as a non-executive Director.

Robert is well known in national hunt horse racing circles. He has owned a number of Cheltenham festival winners and winners of national hunt races in Ireland. He is a keen runner having completed events such as the New York Marathon and is a member of several golf clubs including the K-Club, Helen’s Bay where he has been Captain, Clandeboye, Aloha (Marbella) and Dunham Forest (Cheshire). As Managing Partner in the firm for over 20 years he oversees each specialist department.

With his vast commercial and legal experience and as a Queen’s Law Graduate, Robert was delighted to be appointed to the Queen’s University Foundation Board where he helps advance the strategic goals and objectives of the University. He was actively involved in the second fund raising campaign for the University and has been appointed to the committee of Health Sciences as led by Professor Paddy Johnston (Professor Johnston is now vice-chancellor of Queens University). Professor Johnston spearheaded the centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology which was supported by the Queen’s Foundation Board.
Robert is also a member of the Marie Curie Development Board for Northern Ireland which, among other duties works to promote the development of the Marie Curie Hospice in Belfast. Robert has run charity events for cancer research and raised substantial sums for charity.

Edmund Sinclair, educated at University of Ulster, specialises in Lender Services, Insolvency and Business Restructuring. He currently manages a top 5 UK Bank mortgage litigation contract and has extensive experience of asset and debt recovery.

He conducts the day to day operations of a large mortgage litigation team and has carried this out for 20 years, ensuring that the firm adheres to stringent service level agreements. Edmund has developed a team within lender services to proactively address rehabilitation issues in order to maintain the position of the lender within a difficult property market. He has extensive experience in all areas of recoveries including asset recovery, shortfall recovery and bankruptcy and his clients include lenders and large corporations.

Stemming from his experience in these areas he provides training and seminars on repossession procedures e.g. to Citizens Advice Bureau and debt advice agencies.

Edmund has been instrumental in developing core ICT competencies of the firm.

Nikki Bell obtained her Law Degree at the University of Ulster and went on to undertake a Masters Degree in Human Rights Law at Queens University Belfast.

Nikki joined the firm in July 2011 as a paralegal and subsequently obtained an Apprenticeship with the firm to complete her Solicitor training at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies. Nikki is now Head of the Residential Conveyancing Department specialising in all property matters to include residential sales and purchases as well as acting for developers. Nikki also acts for a number of major lender clients in relation to post possession sales.

“I have enjoyed being looked after By Nikki at RG Sinclair. The level of speed & professionalism was fantastic & I felt completely secure that my solicitor had my back. “- Khara Pringle

“What great service and support we received from Nikki Bell! As a family living overseas but wanting to set roots back where we came from, we were fortunate to have Nikki Bell of Robert G Sinclair and Co. Ltd Solicitors recommended to us. Purchasing a house from distance is a tricky business but we found Nikki to be very responsive with any questions big or small. She explained each step in the process of buying a house clearly. She was helpful with checking out queries that were important to us when buying our home and she was happy to help. She took each questions seriously and made sure she took the time and effort to explore it fully and to provide a comprehensive answer.”- Tara Nixon

Grace Martin obtained her Law Degree from Queen’s University Belfast and went on to undertake a Masters Degree in Clinical Legal Education at the University of Ulster.

Grace joined the firm as a Paralegal in September 2014 and currently leads the firm’s busy Lender Services team. She has expertise in dealing with high volume mortgage litigation caseloads for a number of major banks and lending institutions and is experienced in working within Strict Service Level Agreements.

Grace is also an appointed member of the firm’s Risk and Compliance Committee and has been involved in developing new Policies and Procedures to help ensure the firm’s compliance with the ever growing needs of our lender clients.

Grace recently completed her studies and qualified as a Solicitor at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Queen’s University Belfast.