Mahie Abey, head of family law at Sussex-based Dawson Hart, practised as a matrimonial barrister in London from 1993 to 2001 after leaving Cambridge University with a law degree. In 2001, Abey joined a large regional firm as an employed… Read More

‘Never underestimate the power of laughing – and smiling,’ Shona Alexander tells Spear’s, when asked to describe how she maintains her zest for family law. Alexander has extensive experience in dealing with a range of aspects of family law –… Read More

No two days and no two clients are the same, says partner Sally Ashford, who heads up the Charles Russell Speechlys non-contentious private client team in Guildford. ‘It may be the founder of a family business who’s suddenly concerned about… Read More

Carole Atkinson, a senior partner at Weightmans, has over 35 years of experience as a family lawyer specialist. Having developed and headed up the private client team for many years, her expertise is in dealing with clients with complex and… Read More

Alison Bull is an important figure in Mills & Reeve’s Manchester office with experience across the range of family law including mediation and collaborative law. Bull is part of a national team of impressive reach, with offices in Birmingham, London,… Read More

Michael Cash realised he was a trusted adviser when he first received a call from a client on Boxing Day. A sought-after solicitor with more than two decades’ experience, Hampshire-based Michael Cash advises HNWs, specialising in domestic and international trust… Read More

‘I am a firm believer that being an excellent technical lawyer is simply not enough in the field in which I operate,’ says Leeds-based Adrian Clossick of Stewarts. ‘The real skill is in being able to take that technical expertise… Read More

Emma Collins, national head of Weightmans’ private client team, describes her job as ‘finding effective solutions to difficult family law issues in a discreet and responsive way, working collaboratively with my clients to ensure an in-depth understanding of their personal… Read More

Julia Cox is a personal tax and trust lawyer based in Cheltenham, with a wealth of experience in private client matters involving all aspects of estate and succession planning. Now a partner at Charles Russell Speechlys, she started as a… Read More

A year of expansion has kept Loraine Davenport of Hawkins Family Law busy. She points to the need to establish the high levels of consistency for which the firm is known, as well as the business its expertise in non-traditional… Read More

A skilled negotiator and an experienced litigator in both the Court of Session and Sheriff Court, Alison Edmondson is a director of SKO Family Law Specialists and is committed to alternatives to litigation, including mediation, collaborative law and arbitration. The… Read More

Private client specialist Henry Fea began as a corporate lawyer at a Magic Circle law firm, but decided after two years that ‘I would have a more fulfilling career (and a far longer life!) being a private client lawyer, like… Read More

Property lawyer Sally Firby is described as ‘at the top end of the residential rural market’ by industry commentators, and highly regarded for advising clients on the purchase and sale of high value country homes, farms and estates. In the… Read More

Head of Adams & Remers’ private client department, Bibi Fortin Lees’ practice encompasses all aspects of private client advice for HNWs concerning tax and trust law. The firm (‘responsive, dynamic and forward-thinking while still maintaining traditional values and service’ ),… Read More

Emma Gill is a director in the Divorce and Family team, heading up Vardags’ Manchester office. For her clients, she is the general of the case, creating and commanding a focused strategy from day one. Gill’s practice has grown by… Read More

‘You can learn from others but you can only be truly successful by finding your own voice,’ says Robert Gilmour, specialist family lawyer and director at SKO. He says he finds inspiration in his clients, explaining that ‘the humour, resilience… Read More

Managing partner and head of Debenhams Ottaway’s private wealth team Susan Glenholme is an adviser on wills, probate, tax planning and estate administration, specialising in high value estates. She has HNW clients in Hertfordshire and London. ‘The vast amount of… Read More

Marie-Louise Hamilton, managing partner at Wrigleys, specialises in asset protection for a pool of clients diverse ‘in geography and character’. Family business owners, entrepreneurs, farmers, landowners, professionals, sports stars and philanthropists are typical clients. As head of the Trust Management… Read More

Mills & Reeve’s private client business in Birmingham – which is headed by Matthew Hansell – focuses on HNWs, family-owned enterprises, entrepreneurs, and business professionals, as well as the Rich-Listers of the Midlands. Hansell’s calm approach to advising them (or,… Read More

Stevens & Bolton is arguably the premier law firm in Surrey, and head of family Nicola Harries is one of its leading lights. ‘The last 12 months have been very busy, with a marked increase in litigation,’ she says. Harries… Read More

Katherine Haslam has been partner at Adams & Remers since 2011 and heads up the Commercial Property team at the firm’s Sussex office. ‘I’ve had a very busy year which has involved varied and interesting transactions,’ Haslam tells Spear’s, adding… Read More

Jo Hawkins describes her job as ‘a mix of talking, empathy, shrewd planning and strategic thinking.’ As she explains to Spear’s, it’s all about ‘being able to provide sound, informed advice to people who are struggling – whether that be… Read More

Ed Heaton is a legal director at Stewarts whose star has recently risen, as he’s been recognised by industry commentators for his ‘very high value’ matrimonial finance cases, including ones involving complex company, trust and international elements. ‘He is highly… Read More

‘I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be a lawyer if I wasn’t a family lawyer,’ muses Sarah Hoskinson, who was made a partner at Burges Salmon in 2012 and has since built the foundations for a stellar practice in London and… Read More

Partner and head of family law at Garside & Hoy, the firm set up by her father in 1952, Bernadette Hoy has been instrumental in the growth of the family department and the firm as a whole over 25 years…. Read More

‘Family law is a bit like Marmite – you either love it or you hate it, and I got the bug immediately,’ says Caitlin Jenkins, the partner who leads Mills & Reeve’s family team in Cambridge. She moved to the… Read More

James Lister is a key figure at the impressive Guildford firm, which provides a London standard of advice at less-than-London prices. He joined the firm to take up role of head of the Contentious Trusts & Estates practice in 2017,… Read More

Blaser Mills Law senior associate Javita Malhotra’s forte lies in divorce cases with complicated finances. ‘My areas of competence extend over a wide range of family law matters’, Malhotra says. ‘I have particular expertise representing HNW clients in complex financial… Read More

William Marriott heads up the residential property team in Charles Russell Speechlys’ Guildford offi ce, where he acts on behalf of clients in relation to all of their property requirements. ‘Aside from being an extremely affable person, one of the… Read More

It’s been ‘a storming year in spite of prevailing headwinds’ for the rural property team at Charles Russell Speechlys, says private client property lawyer Christian Massey. Based in Cheltenham, Massey specialises in landed estates, agricultural and country house property transactions… Read More

Andrew Newbury is a partner at Hall Brown who has been regularly ranked as a ‘leading expert’ in the top tier of legal guides. A recent listing states that the solicitor’s ‘knowledge of procedures is second to none’ and that… Read More

Justine Osmotherley has been a specialist matrimonial solicitor for over 23 years, and the partner now heads the eight-person family law team at Leeds-based firm, Clarion. Having recently added two new recruits, Osmotherley reports to Spear’s that turnover is up… Read More

Susan Oswald is one of the founding directors of SKO, where she advises across the whole spectrum of family law matters including separation, divorce and financial provision. Her particular expertise is in cases which have both financial and child elements…. Read More

Christopher Page has had another busy and varied year, dominated by a high profile, complicated case involving the disposal of the contents of a Grade I listed house, accumulated over 500 years. He is popular with clients, most often farming… Read More

Simon Pedley is arguably one of the leading lawyers in contentious trusts the north of England, with an impressive expertise in resolving issues in the charitable, private wealth and sport sectors. Pedley is the man for charities to approach if… Read More

‘It always feels like a privilege when clients share their family backgrounds with me,’ says Michelle Rose, head of private clients at Veale Wasbrough Vizards, who specialises in disputes arising out of wills, probate and trusts. ‘It’s often as important… Read More

‘Highly experienced, very measured, very capable,’ says an industry commentator of the head of Michelmores’ family team, which has niche expertise in complicated surrogacy cases. Simon Thomas’s 25-year practice covers all corners of family law, with specialism in big-money cases… Read More

It’s rare to find the experience of divorce pleasant in any way, but for one of Brigid Turner’s clients, the proceedings turned out to be far more than just bearable. ‘It was almost a pleasure getting divorced with Brigid alongside,’… Read More

It’s been a ‘busy and exciting year’ for Caroline Watson, who in the past 12 months became the national head of family law at Shoosmiths. The firm is continuing on an upward trajectory, she is pleased to report, having bolstered… Read More

SKO Family Law associate John West is known by colleagues to be diligent, responsive and bright, with clients regularly commenting on how much they have valued his sensitive and professional approach. He works with individuals as lead solicitor and in… Read More

‘I have the dubious honour of being described as the “doyenne of family law in the north west”,’ laughs Beth Wilkins, a specialist in the family law landscape for over 30 years. And the moniker is well-deserved. During her career… Read More

Rural and agricultural solicitor Andrew Williamson says that the agricultural sector is facing a period of uncertainty, with the draft Agriculture Bill expected to considerably change the shape of farming and agriculture. Consequently market activity is low until there is… Read More

Patrick Wooddisse, private wealth practice head at TLT, says the firm had a vintage year: ‘TLT LLP reported a seven per cent rise in turnover, from £82 million in 2017/18 to £87.6 million this year, representing an increase of nearly… Read More