Our Partners

Jay Bhayani – Senior Partner

Jay qualified in 1992 and has been a partner at Watson Esam since 1996.  She is head of the firm's commercial, charities and employment department and specialises exclusively in contentious and non contentious employment law.  She has dealt with high profile and complex cases acting primarily for employers.  Jay is recognised as one of the leading employment law specialists in Yorkshire and is named in the Legal 500 as such.

Jay won the Yorkshire Lawyer Award Employment Lawyer 2005 and was short listed for the Yorkshire and Humberside Institute of Directors Adviser of the Year Award 2007.

She produces and presents employment related seminars for the Law Society, chambers of commerce, Sheffield Enterprise Agency, voluntary organisations as well as Watson Esam's programme of employer briefings which are delivered to businesses and charities within the local area.

Jay is a member of the Representation Council of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and is a board member of Sheffield's Local Economy Board.  She is also a member of the Charity Law Association.

Email: jay.bhayani@watson-esam.co.uk

Kate Fitzpatrick – Managing Partner

Kate qualified in 1984 and became a partner at Watson Esam in 1997.  She specialises in children law with a particular interest in public law children work including High Court and child abductions.

She is a member of the Law Society Children’s panel.

Kate works for both children and their parents in contentious care proceedings throughout South Yorkshire.

Some of her recent high profile cases have included the restraint of forced marriages and Hague Convention matters.

Kate is a Solicitor-Advocate having been granted Rights of Audience in the Higher Courts (Civil Proceedings).  This means that she has the right to present cases as an Advocate in the Higher Courts in all civil proceedings - including family.

Kate has become a private sector member of the Sheffield Children's Partnership Board which is also the Sheffield Children's Trust.  It is one of 5 boards of the Sheffield First Partnership tasked to identify and deliver services city wide.  The children's board is responsible for ensuring that Sheffield's young people are healthy, safe and able to fulfil their potential.

Email: kate.fitzpatrick@watson-esam.co.uk

Michelle Cooper – Partner

Michelle qualified in 1998 and became a partner at Watson Esam in 2003.  She is head of the firm's family department.  She specialises in high value divorce and ancillary relief cases.

She is an accredited specialist panel member in advanced financial provision and domestic abuse with Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association) and is Chair of South Yorkshire and District Resolution.  She also sits on national Resolution sub-committees.

One of her recent high profile cases involved dealings with the Court of Appeal to overturn financial orders.

Michelle is a member of Rotherham Chamber of Commerce's Representation Council.

Email: michelle.cooper@watson-esam.co.uk