Introducing Our Newly Qualified Solicitors

We are delighted to announce the qualification of two of our trainee solicitors, Estella McMahon and Aedan Courtney.

Qualifying is a significant milestone in any legal career, and we are incredibly proud to see Estella and Aedan reach this stage following the successful completion of their training contracts with the firm.

“We’re incredibly proud of Estella and Aedan and everything they’ve achieved so far. They’ve shown real dedication throughout their training and we’re excited to see the impact they will continue to make as they progress their careers with us.”
– Neil O’Callaghan, Managing Partner

Estella McMahon – Private Family Team

Estella McMahon joins our Private Family team, where she will support clients on a broad range of family matters. During her training contract, Estella gained valuable experience across several practice areas, including Private Client and Dispute Resolution, as well as two seats within the Private Family team.

Estella joined Machins in July 2024 as a trainee solicitor. She studied Law at the University of Nottingham, including a year abroad at the University of Queensland, and went on to complete the Legal Practice Course and a Masters in Law at the University of Hertfordshire, achieving a distinction in 2021. Prior to joining the firm, she worked as a Paralegal Officer at the Crown Prosecution Service on a wide range of Crown Court cases.

Reflecting on her training contract and offering advice to future trainees, Estella said, ““Take every opportunity to learn from those around you as you progress through your seats and into different areas of law. The experience and insight from my colleagues has been one of the most valuable parts of my training contract.”

Estella will work closely with Kathryn Ainsworth, Head of the Private Family team.

“I am delighted that Estella is joining our Private Family team on qualification. She has already shown great commitment, empathy and technical ability during her time with us, and I have no doubt she will be a real asset to the team. We are very much looking forward to supporting her continued development and seeing her build a successful career in family law.”
– Kathryn Ainsworth, Partner, Head of Private Family

Aedan Courtney – Private Client Team

Aedan Courtney qualifies into our Private Client team, where he will assist with matters including wills, lasting powers of attorney and the administration of estates.

Aedan joined Machins in July 2022 and has gained experience across Residential Conveyancing, Dispute Resolution, Commercial Property and Public Family. This broad exposure has enabled him to develop both strong technical knowledge and a practical, client-focused approach.

Before joining Machins, Aedan volunteered as a generalist adviser at Citizens Advice Luton and carried out pro bono law clinic work, demonstrating an early commitment to supporting clients and the wider community.

He completed the Legal Practice Course at the University of Hertfordshire with a Distinction and previously graduated from the University of Kent with a First-Class Honours degree in Law and Sociology.

A particularly rewarding aspect of Aedan’s trainee journey was the opportunity to support clients through property transactions and the administration of estates following the death of a loved one – two significant life events that can often be both complex and emotionally challenging. Working closely with clients in these areas helped Aedan build on his people skills and grow in confidence.

Looking back on his experience, Aedan encourages aspiring solicitors to believe in themselves saying “It’s important for junior lawyers to have confidence that they will learn what they do not yet know and to utilise the support of others throughout the trainee journey”.

Aedan will be working alongside Nicki Denton-Masih, Head of the Private Client team.

“I am delighted that Aedan Courtney has successfully completed his training contract with Machins, having already gained more than a year intensive private client experience with the team and four years at Machins. He knows the firm inside out and shares Machins’ ‘client first’ view.  His calm, personable approach ensures that private clients will be well looked after.  We look forward to watching him flourish as he joins our growing team.”
– Nicki Denton-Masih, Partner, Head of Private Client

Investing in Future Talent

At Machins Solicitors, we are committed to developing talent from within and supporting our trainees as they grow into qualified solicitors. Estella and Aedan’s achievements reflect their hard work and dedication throughout their training contracts.

We look forward to seeing them continue to progress in their careers and to the positive contribution they will make to our firm and our clients.