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David Gray Solicitors is ‘the leading legal aid firm in Newcastle’, and ‘services its publicly funded clients in as good and as thorough a way as its private clients’. Mary Shaw is ‘exceptional, diligent and well informed’; Lesley Monkhouse is ‘approachable and personable’; and Lucy Mead is ‘extremely professional and knowledgeable’. Claire Hunter recently joined the team from Samuel Phillips Law Firm.

Major Family Law continues to flourish and grow as a niche firm specialising in ancillary relief matters arising out of high-net-worth divorce and separation cases, and has a strong children law arm. The team is ‘at the top of the pile in this area’, and is praised for its ‘focus on exceptional client care’. The ‘dynamic’ Joanne Major is a ‘strong communicator and a force to be reckoned with’, and Rebecca Tarn is ‘understanding yet professional’.

Collaborative lawyer Nicola Matthews at Hay & Kilner is ‘patient and extremely supportive’ and ‘very effective in court’. The team handles publicly funded cases and advises high-profile private clients in a diverse array of matters. Higher rights advocate Robert Hart was recently involved in a landmark case involving paediatric evidence.

The ‘great’ Amanda Baker heads up the team at Jacksons Law, which was recently joined by Stephen Duffy, who is ‘fearless and industrious’ and ‘one to watch’. Key highlights included establishing a pre-nuptial agreement for a prominent local businessman, and handling a complex divorce settlement involving the valuation of an interest in a trading business.

The ‘excellent’ Mike Smith at Mincoff Solicitors LLP continues to provide a ‘very good’ service to matrimonial clients, and is particularly strong on the financial settlement front.

The ‘professional, personable and outstanding’ Jonathan Dunkley leads the team at Muckle LLP, which acts for high-net-worth individuals in divorce and ancillary relief proceedings.

Samuel Phillips Law Firm has three dedicated family lawyers in Jennifer Goldstein, Elizabeth Gallagher and Ailsa Gilhespy. They advise clients on all facets of family law, and have particular strength in international matters.

Silk Family Law is a specialist family firm that includes a number of former Dickinson Dees LLP lawyers.

The ‘excellent’ Tim Gray is a standout figure at Sintons LLP, and Jo Whitfield is notable for her experience in advising non-UK residents seeking divorce and financial provision in England. Key highlights included several divorces for prominent individuals in the North East.

Ward Hadaway recently handled an application to vary a periodical payments order and a complex relocation case. Jonathan Flower leads the experienced team, which was recently joined by Teresa Davidson from Dickinson Dees LLP.

BHP Law advisies high-net-worth private clients on divorce matters. Terry Hamer has experience in novel children-related cases, and Margot Moffitt provides national and international adoption advice.

Practice head Sophia Yau-Rosher and Fiona Ryans advise on high-value ancillary relief cases at Beecham Peacock, and Charlotte Walker and Lucinda Connell advise on complex children matters.

Burnetts exclusively acts for private clients, and recently handled a high-value farming divorce and an application for a residency order by a set of grandparents.

Colette Stroud Solicitors’ name partner assists private clients both domestically and internationally in ancillary relief matters.

The Carlisle-based team at Crutes Law Firm almost exclusively acts for private clients, and specialises in police pension issues related to divorce and ancillary matters.

Hayton Winkley is considered the ‘premier firm in south Cumbria’, and provides ancillary relief and children law advice to high-net-worth individuals. It offers specialist advice on pensions and agricultural matters related to divorce.

McKeag & Co’s Susan McArthur provides divorce and finance-related advice to private clients, and assistant solicitor Victoria Newton handles children law matters.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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