Family/Matrimonial: South West

The formidable family team here "is technically very able and delivers very good value for money."  It is best known for its extensive expertise in complicated ancillary relief, and also handles pre and postnuptial agreements. By working closely with colleagues in the firm's London office, the team is able to serve clients both locally and in other parts of the country. One client reports: "I can't fault them. They were always there to answer questions, and I felt strongly that they were on my side."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Department head Catherine Hallam is an undisputed "leader in the region" for matrimonial finance, and specialises in cases that contain international elements and pensions. Clients applaud her reassuring, encouraging and supportive style, as well as her mediation skills. Sarah Woodsford's reputation is on the rise, with observers predicting she "will be a star of the future." She handles matrimonial finance matters including divorce proceedings, pension matters and the drafting of prenuptial agreements. Ashley Palminteri regularly handles matrimonial finance matters with multi-jurisdictional elements. He specialises in cohabitation issues, and clients benefit from the fact that he is both a mediator and a collaborative lawyer.

This team continues to impress market observers with its first-class handling of high-value and complicated financial disputes. It offers extensive expertise in the trust, tax and property issues involved in ancillary relief, and also houses lawyers skilled in children issues. Clients include farming families, business professionals and entrepreneurs, and the team has also recently represented sports and media personalities. Sources say: "Their advice is realistic from day one, and therefore cases often settle."

Client Service "They are happy to go that extra mile to get the right result for the client, without resulting in additional costs."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Department head Gareth Schofield is a popular choice amongst clients for complicated divorce proceedings because he "provides a very comforting approach with excellent knowledge and a sympathetic manner." Daniel Eames' forte lies in complex financial disputes, and he handles much work involving international dimensions. According to sources, "his judgement is on a par with his bedside manners." Samantha Hickman is highly skilled in complex ancillary relief matters involving pensions, property and other significant assets. Felicity Shakespear is a consultant with the firm. She enjoys a fantastic reputation throughout the region and continues to handle high-value ancillary relief matters.  

This six-partner team is spread across offices in Truro, Exeter and St Austell. Its highly skilled lawyers handle some of the region's most complicated financial cases, and also undertake a range of children work. Sources say: "They have built up a very good reputation for money work involving businesses and farms." One impressed observer noted that "they are the best in the South West" for farming cases.  

KEY INDIVIDUALS Practice head Liz Allen earns accolades for her focused, analytical and efficient handling of cases, and for her "super client-focused" approach. She is an expert on high net worth financial and business settlements on divorce, and is "certainly one of the best," enthuses sources. Mark Smith is highly recommended for his expertise in public and private law children matters, where he is regularly instructed by guardians and parents. He also handles adoption and civil partnership issues.

Despite a lot of internal movement in the past year, TLT's family team remains a force to be reckoned with. As part of a larger private business group, the team is able to offer a full and professional service in the most complex financial and children matters. Market observers are particularly quick to commend its strength in complex international child abduction cases. "The level of service they provide is exceptional," say sources.  

KEY INDIVIDUALS David Woodward recently took over as head of department and is widely lauded as an "excellent and experienced family lawyer," who "is utterly client-focused and very well respected." He specialises in complex financial matters, particularly those involving pensions. David Wheeler draws praise for his children practice. Sources applaud him as a strong mediator and collaborative lawyer, and add that he is "very efficient and sympathetic with anxious clients." Natalie Drew recently joined the group from Mogers Solicitors. Her family practice covers a wide range of issues, but she is particularly skilled in cases involving children. Nicky Howarth is a "fantastic associate with a really nice personality." Her matters often involve complex multi-jurisdictional dimensions.

Ashfords retains a solid reputation for family work in the South West. In the past year, it has handled a couple of complicated non-accidental injury to children cases, as well as a number of financial matters involving multimillion-pound assets. Sources note: "They have always had very good individuals and an exceptionally good reputation for high-quality work and a professional approach."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Department head Rachel Edwards offers expertise in a wide range of family work. She has recently handled complex ancillary relief cases involving significant business assets as well as international dimensions.

This team provides services in a range of family law areas, including complex ancillary relief, to both publicly and privately funded clients. It is particularly highly regarded for its expertise in childcare proceedings. Sources also praise the impressive spread of skill within the group.

Client Service "They provide a very good service – there is excellent back-up when your solicitor is unavailable."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Maggie Roberts impresses observers with her solid expertise in both children matters and matrimonial finance. She recently represented a grandparent in a complex case involving both ancillary relief and children matters. Helen Bull heads the group and is highly regarded for complicated childcare cases. One source praised: "She is an outstanding lawyer who gives 110% and I find I can trust her completely in the advice she offers and the support and guidance she provides."

This compact group handles an impressive workload, representing professionals in Bristol and throughout the South West. It is well regarded for complex ancillary relief matters involving pension and property arrangements, family businesses and substantial assets.  

KEY INDIVIDUALS Department head Victoria Daniell has a fantastic reputation for her matrimonial finance practice and is extremely pleasant to deal with, according to market observers. Associate Sarah Atkinson handles matrimonial finance matters involving complex assets and pensions.  

This family boutique has grown in the last year and has a large team of experienced lawyers in its offices in Plymouth and Exeter. The group is skilled in the full range of family work, and is particularly well regarded for its impressive mediation and collaborative law expertise. It also provides advice and representation on a publicly funded basis.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Norman Hartnell is a widely respected pioneer of mediation and collaborative methods in family law. "He is a fantastic, innovative and excellent man – he has got it all," enthuse sources. Julie Shrimpton recently joined the firm from Tozers. She specialises in children work, representing both children and parents. John Hind is another new addition to the firm, having joined from Act Family Law Practice. He is well known and held in high regard for his mediation expertise.

This firm maintains a fantastic reputation for its broad-based family work. The team has handled several cases involving very high-value assets and complicated financial dimensions of late. It has also handles children law matters, notably including an international adoption case and a non-accidental injury case. Sources applaud the group as "extremely nice to work with, very well motivated and keen to satisfy clients."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Department head Simon Thomas specialises in ancillary relief and financial disputes following cohabitation breakdown, often involving substantial assets. Sources say: "He is very likeable, pleasant and easy-going, and clients are always very fond of him." Vanessa Priddis was recently promoted to partner. Her focus is on children work, and sources are quick to praise her specialism in child abduction. Clients praise her as "absolutely fantastic, really wise and also very reliable and supportive." Rachel Cook is highly recommended for her expertise in children matters, including care proceedings, child protection law and foster care. She also maintains an impressive reputation for domestic abuse-related work.  

This team includes three qualified mediators and four collaborative lawyers, making it a favourite with clients looking to settle cases outside of court. It has recently been instructed in high-value ancillary relief and international child abduction matters, among others, and remains highly regarded for its expertise in care proceedings. As part of a larger firm that offers expertise in all areas of private client work, the group is able to offer clients a full and integrated service.

KEY INDIVIDUALS John Brownrigg heads the family law and mediation team. Clients applaud his dedication to settling cases in a civil and pleasant way, with one saying: "He tried ADR and to do things in the calmest way. He was also pleasant and civil with the other side which really helped. I feel very lucky to have found him."

This two-partner team is held in particularly high regard for its complex ancillary relief work, and also handles complicated private law children matters. Both partners are collaboratively trained and remain dedicated to reaching conciliatory settlements for clients. One especially impressed client reports: "I rate the firm's service as excellent. They were thorough, organised, efficient and tenacious on my behalf."

Client Service "Clients are always fully informed and updated with their affairs. Its staff are keen to pick up the phone and communicate."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Andrew Mercer handles complex and high net worth ancillary relief matters, often involving substantial business assets such as farms. He is well regarded by peers and judges, and clients favour his relaxed persona and quiet gravitas.  

This group focuses on high-end matrimonial finance work, regularly handling cases involving multimillion-pound assets. It has advised on a number of cohabitation and prenuptial agreements of late, and also handles matters involving child issues. The team has recently experienced an increase in instructions from individuals in the financial sector as well as from army professionals, and from clients based in London.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Christopher Nisbet has a fantastic reputation for his matrimonial finance practice, and for his outstanding level of client care. He mainly deals with very high-value ancillary relief proceedings, and sources say he "looks after his clients and really fights for their interests." Like Nisbet, Katharine Shaw's forte lies in complex ancillary relief. She regularly represents wealthy businessmen, entrepreneurs and those with substantial inherited wealth.

Withy King is skilled in a wide range of family matters, but its public law children work is singled out for particular praise by market observers. On the matrimonial finance side, work often involves business valuations, trusts and overseas assets. Sources say that the firm is one of the very best in the South West in terms of experience offered to clients. 

Client Service "They are quick to respond and will always endeavour to provide a timely and safe representative."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jon Toogood focuses on complex ancillary relief matters, and continues to expand his collaborative practice. He is widely respected throughout the region and receives praise for his excellent handling of very difficult clients. Department head Richard Ellis specialises in public and private children work and is applauded as an "approachable, sensible, hard-working and organised" lawyer.

This Plymouth-based niche practice handles matrimonial finance issues, regularly involving complex pensions and businesses. It is particularly skilled in representing clients from the armed forces.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Ian Downing is the firm's founding partner. He comes highly recommended for his expertise in cohabitation issues and matters involving pensions.  

This Bath-based group offers advice and representation in a wide range of family work, but receives particular praise for its strength in ancillary relief matters and for its ability to handle cases collaboratively. Sources say: "The family department of this firm provides an exceptional level of service for its clients."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Rebecca Silcock heads the department and focuses on resolving financial disputes related to divorce and relationship breakdown. Sources praise her exceptional client care skills and the fact that "she gives very realistic and helpful advice. Her approach to her cases and clients is second to none."

This team is perhaps best known for its ancillary relief practice, which often involves financial structures such as trusts, as well as cross-jurisdictional elements. Recently it has assisted with drafting numerous prenuptial agreements for clients with substantial pension funds and company shareholding interests. Sources highlight its loyal client following.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Senior partner Carolyn Green heads the family team as well as the firm's private client department. She focuses on matrimonial finance matters and is able to offer collaborative and mediatory alternatives in dispute resolution.

This firm has restructured its family department in the last year and now fields family lawyers in three offices across the region. In addition to private instructions it remains dedicated to publicly funded work, and sources note that "the standard of its partners is high." Tozers has an established reputation for its childcare work, and also handles high net worth ancillary relief.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Senior partner Graham Bond comes highly recommended for his impressive expertise in the financial consequences of divorce and relationship breakdown. He is a trained collaborative lawyer and has handled a number of matters relating to cohabitation over the past year. Tony Wood "is efficient and reliable, and has excellent knowledge of the law." He heads the firm's newly established specialist publicly funded work team and is exceptionally skilled in public law proceedings, representing both children and guardians.

This Plymouth-based firm's three-partner family team handles a wide range of work, including childcare, divorce and domestic abuse. It offers both mediation and collaborative law as alternatives to court proceedings.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Practice head Phil Thorneycroft focuses on public law children matters, representing both children and guardians. He is also skilled in ancillary relief, and is a trained collaborative lawyer.