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Who Represents Who

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Blake Morgan LLP has extensive experience in resolving the financial consequences of relationship breakdowns, especially concerning high-net worth cases involving business and land owners, where it is able to call upon the firm's wider tax, corporate and real estate expertise as needed. It employs alternative dispute resolution means such as mediation and arbitration and also handles children-related disputes and domestic violence. The ‘knowledgeable and responsive' Simon Burge provides ‘good, pragmatic advice’ and Rachel  Giles and associate and trained mediator Sarah French are also key members of the team.

Moore Blatch LLP's team can handle the full spectrum of family law matters, including nuptial agreements and broader wealth protection where corporate and other assets are involved and is increasingly advising on overseas assets. It is also well regarded for its private children practice and has a strong collaborative and mediation offering. Debra Emery heads the team and has expertise in both matrimonial finance and children issues as does associate Katy Barber, who is ‘utterly calm and unflustered and with excellent judgement.’ Jan Galloway, who is increasingly assisting with family assets located overseas, is ‘excellent at client relationships; very good at looking at the big picture and is skilled at mastering complex factual cases’.

Paris Smith LLP has arguably ‘the number one matrimonial finance team in Hampshire with great depth of experience and talent’. The team acts on very high-value matters, often in the tens of millions of pounds. It frequently acts for family clients in settling financial disputes, often where corporate and off-shore assets and trusts are involved as well as agricultural land trusts. ‘The hugely talented’ Frank Prior heads the team, which also includes the ‘always brilliant’ Huw Miles, who is collaboratively trained and ‘is tenacious in getting the best deals for his clients’ and ‘looks for a collaborative outcome but is able to argue a point if necessary’. Neil Davis is able to draw on his ‘very long experience of performing at the top level and handling the biggest cases'. Rachel Osgood  and Sarah Passemard  are also highly regarded.

Coffin Mew LLP handles financial remedy cases involving on- and off-shore property, trusts and pensions, contested children cases and nuptial agreements. ’Impressive family lawyer’ Julie-Ann Harris joined the firm as head of department in February 2018 from Steele Raymond LLP. Stuart Duncan, who is noted for his ‘good client care’, and senior associate Bryan Scant are also noted. Chris Upfield has retired and Sally Pike left to join Thrings LLP in September 2017.

According to one client, ‘the overall level of service is excellent’ from the Basingstoke-based Phillips Solicitors and ‘it is well known within the Hampshire area for family law work’. Howard Gardener is ‘first class, prompt, confident and totally effective’. He heads a team that handles the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious family law issues for local and overseas clients, ranging from nuptial and co-habitation agreements to financial remedy matters and children cases. Many of the team are collaboratively trained including Robert Parker, who is ‘a standout lawyer, always conscientious and meticulous, and who considers a case from all angles’. Mediator Hayley  Eachus is also a key member of the team.

The team at Trethowans LLP encourages alternative dispute resolution options and all team members, who are collaboratively or mediation trained, ‘have the same ethos and provide an unrivalled service to their clients’. The group assists with all types of private children and surrogacy matters, as well as handling high-value financial disputes. Head of department Andrew Mercer ‘stands out and is a star’ and Grant Cameron is highlighted for ‘using both litigation and ADR to achieve the best outcomes for his clients’. Emma Wilders-Pratt and Juliet Mayhew, who has ‘very good client skills and undertakes ADR but can also be a tough litigator where necessary’, are also noted.

Irwin Mitchell's family work is led by Katharine Shaw whose experience spans complex, private financial and children cases which often have a cross-border aspect. Recent work includes handling a dispute concerning the international relocation of a child involving a non-Hague Convention country, and acting in a financial remedy case with assets owned via a partnership structure. Shaw, who is assisted by solicitor Jelena Korobkova, also advises on pre-nuptial agreements and acts in cases where assets are located abroad.

At Larcomes, Mark Tooley and Julian Quartermain are dedicated to child care and Court of Protection cases. The duo act for parents, guardians and local authorities in cases that frequently involve domestic violence, child abuse, mental health issues and other causes of incapacity. Sandra Phillips focuses on private children matters, including residency, contact, special guardianships and private adoption.

Thrings LLP is increasingly attracting complex and high-net worth divorce cases often with company and shareholder issues. It has noted expertise in relation to nuptial and cohabitation agreements, as well as contested financial arrangements and disputes concerning the living arrangements of children including cases under the Hague Convention. It also handles cases where significant pensions are in issue. Sally Pike, who joined the firm in September 2017 from Coffin Mew LLP, 'is up with the best of them', and team head Matthew Kellow's practice includes a specialism in Hague Convention cases.

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Legal Developments in South East for Family: Hampshire

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