Family Law Solicitors
Guiding you through all aspects of family law
The breakdown of any relationship is a complex and emotional time for everyone involved. Our specialist family law solicitors are experienced in helping couples navigate the separation and divorce process while remaining focused on finding the best possible solution for you and your family, particularly your children.
Our family law team work hard to deliver solutions tailored to your individual circumstances. Whether you need family law advice on pre-nuptial agreements, using a single lawyer for the divorce process or advice on children and finances when you are separating, our team can help.
Trust is a vital part of our relationship with you. We take time to understand all the details of your family and the outcome you would like to achieve. We can then draw on our rich experience and knowledge to tailor a solutions-focused approach to achieving your goals.
Our family lawyers are all members of Resolution. Our team are also ranked by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.
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Why choose us as your family law solicitors
People driven, legal excellence is more than just a strapline. It is at the heart of our service and our promise to you.
Our expert team of family law solicitors will offer you the following:
Experienced leadership you can trust: Our team is led by Philip Barnsley, a family law specialist since 1997, and a Leading Individual recognised by two of the most respected independent legal directories, Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners
A commitment to constructive resolution: Every member of our team is an active member of Resolution, the professional body for family justice. Philip has served on its National and Executive Committees and presents at the Resolution National Conference every year.
Specialist expertise in complex cases: We regularly advise high-net-worth individuals and families on complex financial and property matters, nuptial agreements, and wealth protection. Many clients come to us through referrals from previous clients and financial professionals.
Flexible, modern ways of working: In addition to traditional representation, we offer Separate Together, which allows a single lawyer to represent both parties in a divorce, saving time, cost, and conflict where circumstances allow.
External recognition: Our family law team is ranked by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500, and all members are active members of Resolution. We also hold Law Society accreditations in both Advanced Family Law and Children Law.
What is family law?
Family law covers the full range of legal matters that arise from personal and family relationships, from divorce, separation and financial settlements, to child arrangements, cohabitation disputes, and domestic abuse. It also encompasses pre-nuptial agreements, civil partnerships, adoption, surrogacy, and cases with an international dimension. Because family law often intersects with some of the most significant moments in a person's life, the quality of advice you receive matters enormously both legally and personally.
How we can help?
Divorce or separation will always be laced with emotion. Our expert and well-respected family law team can help you get the best results in your unique circumstances, protecting your interests and setting you on your future path.
We know that at difficult times you value down-to-earth conversations and honesty. We will take the time to develop a clear understanding of your needs and goals, whether you have straightforward or complex financial affairs, are involved in a dispute in respect of children, suffering from domestic abuse or are looking to protect your or your family’s wealth.
Meet our family law solicitors
Philip Barnsley
Partner and Head of Family Law
Rhian Gray
Partner - Family Law
Amira Desai
Paralegal - Family Law
Alex Sankey
Paralegal - Family Law
Adilaha Ahmed
Trainee Solicitor - Family
Kia Starks
Associate - Family
Sangeeta Kohli
Senior Associate - Family Law
Megan Davies
Associate - Family
Richard Westley
Legal Director - Family Law
Ellie Norton
Principal Associate - Family Law
Jodie Johnson
Senior Associate - Family Law
Karen Gray
Senior Associate - Family Law
No-fault divorce
Since April 2022, couples in England and Wales have been able to divorce without assigning blame. Under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, the sole ground for divorce remains that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, and couples no longer need to cite adultery, unreasonable behaviour, or periods of separation to proceed.
This significant change has made the process less contentious for many couples and families. No-fault divorce has opened the door to more constructive conversations about finances and children.
Separation and divorce
The end of any relationship is not easy for anyone involved. The decision to separate and divorce is turbulent for any couple. Our specialist family law lawyers can help guide you through the process and find solutions that are right for your family, children and individual circumstances.
Collaborative law
Our approach to family law is centred around providing positive solutions for you - while minimising the emotional trauma for you and your family. Collaborative law allows you to find a more constructive way to deal with family law disputes.
Accreditations
Latest successes
Finance
Deciding who gets what following a separation or divorce is often contentious. Whereas many couples can continue to work together for the benefit of their children, finance issues can be more problematic.
Despite this, not all cases need to end in expensive court cases. Our team are experts in negotiating settlements that are fair and reasonable for both parties. We'll look at your unique circumstances as a whole and act as mediators, drawing on decades of experience to construct a strategy and to reach an agreement.
Unfortunately, there are times where a mutual agreement is not possible. In these circumstances, the court can step in to make a financial order, known as the 'contested' route. This means the court will decide how assets will be split, dividing up pensions, property, savings and investments. It can also include arrangements for maintenance payments, including child maintenance.
The court will consider a wide range of variables, including age, ability to learn, living expenses, standard of living, financial needs, roles within the family and disabilities.
Taking the court option takes longer and is more expensive.
Pensions
Pensions can sometimes be overlooked during divorce or separation – but they are often one of the most valuable assets. It’s also common for one partner to have a significantly larger pension pot than the other, if they have been the main earner for a long period of time.
Pensions can be offset against other assets such as property, or earmarked, allowing the separating couple to split the money at an agreed percentage once the funds become accessible, usually from age 55. A third option is to split the pension into two pots from the date of divorce, giving both people greater flexibility.
Our family law team includes wealth protection experts who can advise you on the best route forward to protect your money.
Separate Together
Separate Together is our innovative model of working which allows a couple to separate using the same lawyer, saving time and money. No-one wants costly legal battles and for the right couples, one solicitor representing both has huge advantages.
In order for couples to work this way, they must give their informed consent to disclosing all the relevant factual and financial information required in order to reach decisions together.
Instructing a single solicitor is not suitable for cases where there has been any abuse, safeguarding or capacity concerns, or where there is a significant power imbalance.
It is also not appropriate where there are issues around mental or emotional health or substance misuse, where one person isn’t prepared to negotiate or feels under duress, or where either person is likely to hide information, especially about finances.
Separate Together isn’t for everyone, but for some it makes the process much more palatable.
Pre-nuptial agreements
Pre-nuptial agreements are often associated with celebrities or the mega-rich, but an increasing number of people are seeing the benefits of reaching agreements with their spouse prior to marriage.
Pre-nuptial agreements are detailed documents that define and regulate the financial affairs during the marriage, but also in the event of a future separation.
They are very flexible documents that can be tailored to the bespoke needs of each individual couple. Assets or future inheritance can be ringfenced, offering people certainty as to what their financial situation might look like upon separation.
Pre-nuptial agreements are not legally binding in the UK – but they are taken seriously by the court if they are drafted thoroughly.
Civil partnerships
Both opposite and same-sex couples in the UK can choose to enter a civil partnership or to have a marriage.
A civil partnership gives your union legal recognition just like a marriage, bringing both rights and responsibilities. Once you have registered a civil partnership, it can only be ended if one person dies, or by applying to court.
Pre-registration agreement can be reached before entering into a civil partnership, which sets out what happens to assets and/or children in the event of a relationship breaking down.
We can help couples formulate a pre-registration agreement - or help with the separation process if there is no agreement in place.
Children
Making the best arrangements for your child when a relationship breaks down can be stressful, but it's absolutely paramount that it is done properly and sensitively.
Disagreements over who the child should live with, how often they should see each parent, who they should holiday with and what school they should go to are common, not to mention child maintenance disputes. Our friendly, caring team will work closely with you to gather the specifics of your case to advise on the most appropriate course of action.
A child arrangement order – formerly known as custody or contact – is used to determine who is to be responsible for a child's care following separation or divorce. In the vast majority of cases it will be in the best interests of the child that they maintain a meaningful relationship with both parents - and possibly extended family - but it's important that this is discussed and agreed.
Where possible, we’ll strive to reach amicable agreements outside of court, using alternative dispute resolution where appropriate.
Domestic abuse
There is no statutory definition of domestic abuse. It covers a wide range of behaviours, not just physical violence and threats. It might also include sexual violence, emotional or other psychological abuse, harassment, or coercive or controlling behaviour. This can include financial and indirect controlling behaviour.
Controlling behaviour can include a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate or dependent by:
- depriving someone of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape
- exploiting a person for financial gain
- isolating a person from friends, family or other sources of support
- restricting or regulating their activities or behaviour
Coercive behaviour can include acts such as physical assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other actions used to harm, punish or frighten someone.
We have considerable experience in advising on the legal options open to those who are suffering from or have been accused of domestic abuse. Our highly trained, sympathetic experts can assist you in taking appropriate steps to move towards a resolution.
