About me
I am a qualified English lawyer (non-practising solicitor) with more than 25 years of experience in the legal profession, providing high quality, plain English translations of contentious and non-contentious French law documentation.
As a lawyer, translator and business professional, I have worked for a number of internationally renowned English, French and US law firms, including two Magic Circle firms. My legal training and experience has given me exceptional attention to detail, as well as given me the resilience to work under pressure and deliver to tight deadlines.
I have lived and worked in France for a number of years, and have an ongoing battle to renovate a house in the Tarn. This has required me to negotiate with real estate agents and notaries, to project manage the works, negotiate with the French tax authorities when the builder went bankrupt, and instruct French lawyers and huissiers with a view to suing the builder!
My areas of expertise
When I was practising law, my specialism was finance so I have an in-depth knowledge of loan and security documentation, as well as commercial agreements and company documentation.
As a translator, I am used to translating 3,000 to 5,000 words per day depending on the complexity and urgency of:
- Court and arbitration pleadings and judgements
- Witness statements, expert witness testimony
- Legislation and regulations
- Loan and security documentation
- Corporate documents e.g. minutes of company meetings, articles of association
- Agreements for supply of goods and services
- Tender documentation
- Articles from the financial press
My approach
Having developed my translation expertise by liaising closely with commissioning lawyers, I understand their business imperatives, as well as the nuances of legal documents. I provide commercial, readable translations, while not straying from the legal meaning of the source text. I understand the fine line between ensuring the underlying French legal concepts are translated accurately, and producing a translation that does not sound stilted.
My clients
Over the years, I have preferred to work regularly with agencies with whom I have developed a relationship of trust. In fact, a Paris-based agency asked me to evaluate the French to English tests for new translators in light of our excellent working relationship.
However, having taken a 3-year break from my translation activities, I am now looking to build new agency relationships, alongside my law firm clients.
My availability
I have a very flexible approach to working and am happy to take on short deadline projects which require evening and weekend working. However, the more notice you can give me, particularly of large projects (over 10,000 words), the better.
Contact me
To find out more about working me with, do give me a call or drop me an email to discuss how I can help you.
