What can I do for you?
I am a specialist family lawyer with over 30 years’ experience dealing mainly with the more complex financial issues (eg, businesses, trusts and pensions) that need to be negotiated when a marriage or other personal relationship sadly comes to an end. My work also includes dealing sensitively with arrangements for the children (with whom they live and the arrangements for the time they spend with each parent) and pre/post-marital agreements.
Supporting my clients’ aims and objectives
Although I will always fight my client’s corner vigorously, I believe passionately that the best outcome for couples going through the emotional and financial stress of a divorce is one that is agreed between them. Sometimes this isn’t possible and the court has to decide, but most of my cases settle and what drives me is being able to help my clients come through the process of family breakdown confident about their future, financially secure and, most importantly, where they are parents, continuing to have a good relationship with their children.
What do others say?
We are very proud of our family team at Mills & Reeve and were delighted when this was recognised at the Legal Business Awards, where we won Private Client Team of the Year 2009. Our Manchester team was also shortlisted for "Private Client Team of the Year" at the inaugural Manchester Legal Awards in March 2010.
We aim to provide excellent clear advice tailored to the individual needs of our clients. Chambers UK described us as maintaining “an excellent reputation for cost-effective, high quality family work. As part of a nationwide network of offices, the team has the expertise to handle any and all family-related matters” and one of our peers from another firm said to Chambers that we "are very knowledgeable and we have national presence and strength and depth in numbers".
On a personal level, a client asked for feedback by Chambers UK told them that I was a lawyer “who has huge experience and technical expertise; a real ability to cut through complex issues and arrive at optimal solutions” and a peer said that I was "strong, able and energetic". Another client wrote to me recently to say that she did not think she could have got through such a difficult period in her life without my advice and support. That's the kind of letter that means a great deal professionally and personally.
What else should you know?
I have been a member of Resolution, the leading family law association, for as long as I can remember. I was National Chairman in the mid-90s and am still involved nationally on the Executive, National and Law Reform Committees. I am one of only a few Fellows of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers outside London and I am also a trained collaborative lawyer, being a member of the Greater Manchester collaborative group Separation Solutions, and the group set up for IAML Fellows . Finally, through www.divorce.co.uk our team offers a valuable free resource for those going through separation or divorce.