About us
Strait Law is a full-service and results-focused law firm located in the heart of Gibraltar’s Main Street.
The Strait Law Mission
Strait Law is a full-service and results-focused law firm located in the heart of Gibraltar’s busy Main Street.
Our smart new premises are as accessible as they are client-friendly and our mission is to provide our clients with innovative legal solutions, excellent legal representation and a pro-active, no-nonsense attitude throughout. How do we do this? By being approachable, efficient and responsive to every client that walks through our door.
Our directors are seasoned professionals, one a Barrister, the other a Solicitor – both are dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and committed to providing a first-class client experience at every step.
Contacting a law firm can often be daunting, but entrusting your problem to the right professional can make all the difference. At Strait Law, we are always by your side, and your problem is our challenge, all the way.
That is the Strait Law difference.
Navigating Legal Complexity with Precision and Care
At Strait Law, we specialise in delivering comprehensive legal services across a variety of sectors in Gibraltar. Our team of seasoned solicitors and legal professionals is dedicated to providing you with tailored solutions that align with Gibraltar’s unique legal landscape.
Our Services
Corporate Law: Our corporate law services are designed to support your business through every stage of its growth. From company formation to complex mergers and acquisitions, our team is adept at navigating the intricate corporate laws of Gibraltar.
Private Client Services: We understand the importance of personal and estate planning. Our experts provide bespoke advice on wills, trusts, and estate planning, ensuring your assets are protected under Gibraltar’s legal framework.
Dispute Resolution: Facing legal disputes can be challenging. Our dispute resolution team is skilled in both litigation and alternative dispute resolution methods, providing effective strategies to protect your interests in Gibraltar’s courts.
Property Law: Whether you’re buying or selling property in Gibraltar, our property law specialists offer comprehensive support, ensuring smooth and efficient transactions that comply with local regulations.
Financial Services Regulation: Gibraltar’s status as a financial hub demands rigorous compliance. Our team provides up-to-date advice on regulatory matters, helping your business navigate the complexities of financial laws and regulations.
Why Choose Strait Law for Gibraltar Legal Services?
- Expertise: Our lawyers are not only experts in general legal practice but also have a deep understanding of the nuances of Gibraltar’s legal system.
- Client-Centric Approach: We pride ourselves on our ability to listen to our clients’ needs and provide personalised solutions.
- Strategic Guidance: With a forward-thinking approach, we anticipate potential legal hurdles and strategise accordingly.
- Comprehensive Support: From consultation to courtroom, we provide end-to-end legal support.
The Strait Law Team
Directors
Richard Wilkinson
Director
Richard is the senior partner of Strait Law. Admitted as a solicitor by Lord Denning himself in 1974, Richard has a vast experience in private and commercial practice, in both the United Kingdom and Gibraltar.
For many years, Richard pioneered the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the liquefied petroleum gas industry. Recognised locally and internationally as an exceptional lawyer, Richard is often consulted by clients looking for innovative solutions to seemingly intractable problems, particularly in high-value commercial transactions.
As a lifelong yachtsman, Richard knows how to help a client weather any storm.
Leigh Debono
Director
Leigh read Accounting & Law at Kingston University, London, completing his LPC at the College of Law in Guildford. He returned to Gibraltar to complete his Articles at Hassans International Law Firm and was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of England & Wales and called to the Gibraltar Bar in July of 2007.
Leigh temporarily deferred his legal practice to go into business. After establishing several profitable businesses in Gibraltar and ensuring that these were being managed effectively, he returned to the practice of the law.
Leigh is widely recognised as a very proficient criminal lawyer, having acted in an array of high-profile cases in the Criminal Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Gibraltar and Court of Appeal.
He is also a very avid ‘high-street’ transactional practitioner and is very well-regarded in the field of property conveyancing.
Legal Team
Roy Sharma
Consultant
Roy is a consultant to the firm, having qualified as a solicitor in 1997. He practised in the United Kingdom for five years before settling in Gibraltar in 2004, where he was called to the Gibraltar Bar.
Roy is a member of the Law Society of England & Wales (non-practising), the International Compliance Association, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship (UK).
He also holds a Diploma in International Trust Management from the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners and was, for some time, the head of the Trust Department of a local law firm.
His main areas of practice are Corporate & Commercial, Private Clients, Trusts, Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Litigation, Employment and Wills & Probate.
In the past, he has acted as director and in-house lawyer of an international trust company and also provided tailored advice to High Net Worth Individuals.
Outside of the office, Roy is a member of the Gibraltar Badminton Association where he plays in the local league. He is also currently learning the piano, joining the rest of his family, who are all talented musicians.
Suresh Mahtani
Consultant
Suresh is a consultant to the firm. Having graduated in Computer Science in 1989 with first-class honours from Imperial College London, Suresh converted to law in 2008, completing the Graduate Diploma in Laws and graduating with distinction from the University of Law.
After completing the Bar Professional Training Course at the Inns of Court School of Law in 2010, Suresh was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2011 and to the Gibraltar Bar in early 2012.
Widely regarded as a tenacious litigator and a hands-on problem-solver, as well as a highly successful entrepreneur with a proven track record in business, Suresh is regularly instructed by clients in both contentious and non-contentious matters.
Suresh is fluent in English, Spanish, French and Hindi.
Sarah Rhaiti
Associate
Sarah joined Strait Law in November 2023 as a solicitor and is qualified to practice in both Gibraltar and the UK. Sarah started her academic career in Psychology, attaining a BSc Honours degree in Psychology.
Having taken time away from the workplace to raise a family, Sarah subsequently retrained as a solicitor, completing the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course, the latter with Distinction at the University of Law in London. Sarah completed her two-year training contract at a law firm in Chelmsford, Essex and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales in 2014.
After a period of practising Commercial Property law in the UK, Sarah relocated to Gibraltar in 2016. Sarah completed the Certificate of Gibraltar Law and was duly called to the Bar in Gibraltar in 2017.
Sarah’s main areas of legal practice in Gibraltar are Employment, Conveyancing, Civil Litigation, Private Client including Wills, Probate and Lasting Powers of Attorney and Family.
Strait Law – Administration Team
Marta Tinnion
Accounts Administrator
Marta joined our team in October 2018 as an accounts assistant, having undertaken courses at Gibraltar University in conjunction with the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), graduating with distinction in August 2018.
A seasoned law enforcement professional both in the United Kingdom and in Spain, Marta now pursues a career in accounting, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a varied skillset.
Highly organised and used to high-pressured, structured, legal deadlines, Marta is a welcome addition to the Strait Law accounts department.
Laura Felipes, A.CILEX
Paralegal / Conveyancing Executive
Laura began her working career in Ireland where she worked for 10 years as a PA/Administrative assistance in the private sector.
Upon relocating to Gibraltar, Laura joined SG Hambros Bank, where she worked for 10 years as a bank clerk. She then joined the personal financial planning division of BDO Fidecs, where she worked for 3 years before joining the administrative team of a prominent local law firm. She remained there for 20 years, carrying out an array of tasks as Office Manager /Paralegal.
Laura became a student-member of the CILEX and in August 2009, she completed the CILEX Leval 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice, subsequently becoming an Associate Member of CILEX.
Manuel Sedeno
Messenger and Junior Administrator
Manuel has several years of experience in the nursing field, both as a Nurse Assistant and as a member of the Administration Team. He has now decided to somewhat modify his career since he is eager to learn, and as a result, he is now working for a Law Firm for the first time.
First Aider is his second job and he works with an ambulance team to attend local football games and other events in his free time Manuel likes to spend time with friends and family and he is also into the fit life, cooking and singing.
Giovanna Neale
Receptionist
Giovanna joined our team in January 2021 after having worked for a number of years in another Gibraltar law firm.
Juvi, as she is affectionately known, is an efficient, valuable member of the Strait Law team.