Dawson Cornwell LLP > London, England > Firm Profile
Dawson Cornwell LLP Offices
11 Staple Inn
LONDON
WC1V 7QH
England
Dawson Cornwell LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Private client > Family Tier 1
Jointly headed by Russell Bywater and Carolina Marín Pedreño, the team at Dawson Cornwell LLP is ‘undoubtedly an exceptional, all-service family law firm. They have an unwavering reputation for providing high-quality advice on the most complex divorce and financial matters, including those cases with an international element’. The firm has an abundance of talent at all levels, including the ‘financial remedy heavyweight’ Simon Bruce. Amy Rowe is regarded as a specialist in complex cross-border children matters, while Sarah Jane Lenihan concentrates on financial remedies and private law children cases. Jessica Reid is a key figure who regularly handles complex cases involving financial claims and jurisdictional disputes. Charlotte Conner and Charlotte Image-Flower are other key members of this ‘outstanding’ team. In team news, Lisette Dupré joined Stewarts Law LLP and Amy Barrow joined Payne Hicks Beach LLP in October 2022 and April 2023 respectively. At the start of 2023, Hilka Hollmann joined the team from Freemans Solicitors, while the ‘exceptional’ Anna Shadbolt was promoted to the partnership.Practice head(s):
Russell Bywater; Carolina Marin Pedreño
Other key lawyers:
Simon Bruce; Amy Rowe; Jessica Reid; Sarah Jane Lenihan; Hilka Hollmann; Anna Shadbolt; Charlotte Image-Flower; Sulema Jahangir; Floriane Laruelle; Charlotte Conner; Kate Brett; Aysel Akhundova; Forum Shah
Testimonials
‘A leading firm for international matters involving children. The team also comprises strong financial remedies specialists (Simon Bruce, Charlotte Conner, and Jessica Reid). Simon Bruce joined the firm a couple of years ago, significantly raising its profile as a real contender in the financial remedy market.’
‘Simon Bruce’s understanding of divorce law is second-to-none and his view of the likely outcome of the court case was resolute throughout the process and spot on. His legal tactics were also excellent.’
‘Carolina Marin Pedreño is a practitioner of great experience, and of the highest international, as well as domestic, standing, with recognition at governmental level, and in her membership and leadership of prominent international bodies.’
‘Amy Rowe and Carolina Marin Pedreño are standout partners in an international children law department with significant depth. Forum Shah is extremely dedicated to her work on Hague Convention cases and has a very sharp mind that does not miss a point.’
‘Forum Shah is an outstanding child abduction litigator. She deploys a strategic approach to cases and is always one step ahead of the other side. She is an absolute delight to work with. Charlotte Image-Flower is a fantastic practitioner. She applies her intelligence to find appropriate solutions in the most difficult of cases.’
‘Dawson Cornwell are one of the leading firms in family law with a highly talented and committed team of lawyers. They are growing from strength to strength with recruits such as Hilka Hollman. All of the lawyers dedicate their utmost to their clients to obtain the best result they can.’
‘Charlotte Conner is a pleasure to deal with. Simon Bruce is a force of nature and an absolute fountain of family law knowledge. Sarah Jane Lenihan is a financial remedies expert. Amy Rowe and Forum Shah are absolute experts in their field.’
‘Top of the tree. Absolutely excellent in all forms of children law, especially international, plus in everything to do with finance and cohabitation. Russell Bywater is a king of family law. Carolina Marin Pedreño is renowned for her skill in family law around the globe. Charlotte Conner is a true star; diligent, no nonsense and bright.’
Work highlights
- Represented the 2nd respondent, who supported the appeal by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, in a Court of Appeal case which is a landmark decision for domestic cases in relation to police involvement in family law cases.
- Represented the husband in one of the most important cases on prenups since the landmark Supreme Court case of Radmacher in 2010, with the High Court’s ruling reinforcing the position that courts should take account pre-nuptial agreements provided that they are not completely unreasonable or signed under duress.
- Represented a mother in wardship proceedings after she had been stranded in Pakistan by the father, who had taken away her travel documents and returned to England with the child.
Dawson Cornwell LLP > Firm Profile
Dawson Cornwell is one of the UK’s leading specialist family law firms, described in the words of The Legal 500 as a “firm of exceptionally dedicated, experienced and knowledgeable solicitors with an unparalleled case load of high-profile and complex international family law cases” and by sources as “without question… the leaders in the field“.
The firm: Dawson Cornwell combines its highly regarded expertise in all aspects of family law with an unrivalled reputation in the field of international children law. The firm is unusual in that it has developed two specialist departments: the matrimonial department and the international children department, which work together as “a strong team of talented lawyers who are tactical, experienced and pragmatic”, providing its clients with a bespoke service.
The matrimonial partners are Russell Bywater who “has great judgement combined with a down-to-earth manner”, the “sensible and highly experienced” mediator Jeremy Abraham, the “very supportive” Charlotte Conner, Jessica Reid who “is an excellent choice: measured, responsive, great on paper and in person”, Sarah Jane Lenihan who “really cares about her clients and achieving the best possible outcomes for them”, Simon Bruce “who continues to provide an effortlessly first class service” and Anna Shadbolt who “provides clear, insightful and very valuable advice.” The matrimonial department also includes consultants: the “super bright” Kate Allen and Rhiannon Lewis who is “excellent and extremely knowledgeable”. The international children department is headed by the “absolutely superb” dual-qualified partner Carolina Marín Pedreño who “has strong experience at the highest level of international cases. Her tactical judgment is excellent, and her international links and knowledge are impressive”, Amy Rowe who is “one of the standout children lawyers of her generation”, Sulema Jahangir who stands out for her “knowledge and experience in very sensitive matters” and Hilka Hollmann who is “an impressive advocate who deals with some of the most complex cases for children”.
The vast majority of the firm’s cases are international. The firm’s lawyers have extensive experience dealing with jurisdiction and other international issues. “They have every language under the sun covered”, including Azerbaijani, Bengali, Catalan, Creole, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Krio, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish and Urdu. They are trailblazers in the field of cross-border children work, to which their unparalleled and ongoing record of reported cases is testament.
Dawson Cornwell has a reputation for taking on the trickiest international cases, and as a firm who “handle the heavyweight, complex and cross-jurisdictional cases well”. “They are known for their tenacity and fighting a client’s cause”. The firm has thus been instrumental in developing entirely new areas of law, including failure to maintain applications for spouses who are stranded abroad and Schedule I applications following sperm donation cases.
The firm prides itself on its partner-led approach, with strategic thinking and deft negotiation. While fee-earners assist partners to ensure that all work is undertaken cost-effectively, clients are always able to speak directly to, and deal directly with, the partner in charge of their case. Each partner has, deliberately, a different speciality so that they are able to offer collaborative law and mediation through to a high level of experience in jurisdictional work and complex litigation and trusts. At the same time the firm is known for being united in resolution rather than litigation and proportionality in respect of costs.
Sources say about the firm, “An excellent team that has a good mix of experienced heads at the top of the tree and a lot of young, keen and clever junior lawyers coming through”.
Types of work undertaken: The firm advises clients in the UK and internationally on all areas of family law, including prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements, separation, divorce, dissolution of civil partnerships, international forum disputes, complex financial investigations, high-net-worth financial settlements, child maintenance, enforcing foreign orders, EU regulation cases and pensions.
Its award-winning specialist international children department undertakes international custody disputes, child abduction, adoption, relocation, leave to remove, stranded spouses, forced marriage, honour-based violence, EU regulation recognition and enforcement, and complex international care cases.
The “very calm and thoughtful” Jeremy Abraham is a member of the Office of the Public Guardian’s panel and brings to his Court of Protection work his expertise as a family lawyer and his background in civil and probate litigation, as well as, importantly, his skill as a mediator. He runs a growing Court of Protection practice and is instructed in cases where there is a complex high value estate including international and cross border matters.
The firm also has a highly regarded reputation in international surrogacy, assisted reproduction law and same-sex parenting cases and has represented several high-profile commissioning parents in this field. This work is undertaken by partners Carolina Marín Pedreño, Amy Rowe and Hilka Hollmann.
In addition to its litigation practice, the firm actively promotes alternative dispute resolution, with collaborative lawyers, Kate Allen and Simon Bruce, highly experienced mediator, Jeremy Abraham and Resolution trained mediators Jessica Reid and Amy Rowe. The firm is described as “an outstanding supporter of mediation” and is known for having “a strong practice handling mediated and collaborative solutions to family matters”.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property/Managing partner | Stephen Harker | stephen.harker@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Matrimonial | Russell Bywater | russell.bywater@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Matrimonial | Rhiannon Lewis | rhiannon.lewis@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Matrimonial | Kate Allen | kate.allen@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Matrimonial | Jeremy Abraham | jeremy.abraham@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Matrimonial | Charlotte Conner | charlotte.conner@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Matrimonial | Jessica Reid | jessica.reid@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Matrimonial | Sarah Jane Lenihan | sarahjane.lenihan@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Matrimonial | Simon Bruce | simon.bruce@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Matrimonial | Anna Shadbolt | anna.shadbolt@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| International children | Carolina Marin Pedreno | carolinamarin.pedreno@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| International children | Amy Rowe | amy.rowe@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| International children | Sulema Jahangir | sulema.jahangir@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| International children | Hilka Hollmann | hilka.hollmann@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Surrogacy, assisted reproduction and same-sex parenting | Carolina Marin Pedreno | carolinamarin.pedreno@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Surrogacy, assisted reproduction and same-sex parenting | Amy Rowe | amy.rowe@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Surrogacy, assisted reproduction and same-sex parenting | Hilka Hollmann | hilka.hollmann@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Collaborative law | Kate Allen | kate.allen@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Collaborative law | Simon Bruce | simon.bruce@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Mediation | Jeremy Abraham | jeremy.abraham@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Mediation | Jessica Reid | jessica.reid@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Mediation | Amy Rowe | amy.rowe@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Court of Protection | Jeremy Abraham | jeremy.abraham@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Public law children | Hilka Hollmann | hilka.hollmann@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
| Public law children | Charlotte Image-Flower | charlotte.image-flower@dawsoncornwell.com | 0207 242 2556 |
Solicitor Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jeremy Abraham | Partner undertaking family law (predominantly financial applications), contentious trusts and probate and… | View Profile |
|
Kate Allen | Consultant and collaborative law specialist at Dawson Cornwell; specialises in divorce and… | View Profile |
|
Simon Bruce | Partner specialising in financial matters, particulary complex HNW cases. He also has… | View Profile |
|
Russell Bywater | Partner specialising in divorce, high-value ancillary relief, cohabitants’ disputes and non-marital finance. | View Profile |
|
Charlotte Conner | Partner specialising in divorce and all issues relating to relationship breakdown, including… | View Profile |
|
Stephen Harker | Managing partner specialising in commercial property and residential work. | View Profile |
|
Hilka Hollmann | Partner known for her expertise in international and domestic adoptions, surrogacy and… | View Profile |
|
Charlotte Image-Flower | Senior Associate specialising in private and public children law and care proceedings. | View Profile |
|
Sulema Jahangir | Partner who undertakes all aspects of domestic and international family law including… | View Profile |
|
Helen Kings | Partner specialising in private children law, international child abduction, other children cases… | View Profile |
|
Sarah Jane Lenihan | Partner specialising in financial remedies and private law children matters. Widely regarded… | View Profile |
|
Rhiannon Lewis | Consultant specialising in divorce, cohabitants’ disputes and high-value ancillary relief. Reported cases:… | View Profile |
|
Carolina Marín Pedreño | Partner specialising in international children work: child abduction, jurisdiction disputes, registration and… | View Profile |
|
Jessica Reid | Partner and Mediator; specialises in divorce, financial and private children cases. She… | View Profile |
|
Amy Rowe | Partner specialising in international family law, including child abduction, wardship, jurisdictional disputes,… | View Profile |
|
Anna Shadbolt | Partner advising on all aspects of family law, particularly financial issues arising… | View Profile |
|
Forum Shah | Senior Associate specialising in private and public children law, with particular expertise… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 13 Number of other UK fee-earners : 31Languages
Spanish Bengali French German Gujarati Hindi Italian Polish Punjabi Russian Urdu Catalan Turkish Creole Azerbaijani Swedish Portuguese KrioDiversity/Community
Dawson Cornwell is committed to promoting equality and diversity both in relation to our staff and job applicants and in relation to our policies, practices and procedures. This applies to our professional dealings with clients and others.
We recognise that a firm which is inclusive and diverse attracts the most talented individuals, who are valued for their ability and performance.
We treat everyone equally and with the same attention, courtesy and respect, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race or racial group, religion or belief, age, caring responsibility or disability.
Wherever possible, we take steps to promote equal opportunity in relation to access to the legal services that we provide, in order to ensure that, subject to funding constraints, our services are accessible to all clients. We are committed to meeting the diverse needs of our clients.
We consider all employees to be equal and create a working environment which is free from unlawful discrimination. This applies equally to voluntary positions and anyone undertaking work experience with us.
Awards & Recognitions
We are signatories to the Law Society’s Diversity & Inclusion Charter and we have a Silver Charter Mark. We have also been awarded a Diversity Aware Charter Mark. We have been committed to issues relating to equality and diversity in both our work and in the workplace for many years as demonstrated by the awards referred to below.
We have been shortlisted for Company of the Year – Female Leadership (Boutique) at the Citywealth Powerwomen Awards in March 2022. The Powerwomen Awards is now in its tenth year and was designed in consultation with the London School of Economics to champion women in the wealth sector and highlights the female leaders of today and tomorrow.
Kate Allen, Partner was shortlisted for the award for Diversity/Gender Positive Role Model of the Year in the Citywealth Magic Circle Awards 2020.
We won the Silver Award for Company of the Year – Female Leadership (Boutique) at the Citywealth Powerwomen Awards in March 2020. The Citywealth awards programme champions women in the wealth sector and highlights the female leaders of today and tomorrow, spotlighting individuals and companies who support caregiving responsibilities, female leadership and celebrate diversity.
We were shortlisted as Best Employer – Career Progression LGBT+/inclusion for the Citywealth Future Leaders Awards 2019. The criteria for the award is to demonstrate evidence of leadership and development of LGBT+ and diversity individuals within the organisation, including investment in qualifications.
Colin Rogerson, Partner, is a member of the Interlaw Diversity Forum, the P3 Network and a Founding member of the UK LGBT Family Law Institute. He was awarded “Rising Star under 40” by the LGBT Bar Association and the Interlaw Diversity Forum, in recognition of outstanding legal professional under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their field and demonstrated a profound commitment to LGBT equality (2014).
Sulema Jahangir was named an Unsung Hero by News Week Pakistan in 2019.
Shabina Begum was recognised as one of the Top 100 figures on the British Bangladeshi Power and Inspiration List in both 2014 and 2017.
Diversity
Dawson Cornwell are committed to promoting equality and diversity both in relation to our staff and job applicants and in relation to our policies, practices and procedures. This applies to our professional dealings with clients and others.
We recognise that a firm which is inclusive and diverse attracts the most talented individuals, who are valued for their ability and performance.
We treat everyone equally and with the same attention, courtesy and respect, regardless of race, sex, pregnancy and maternity, marriage or civil partnership, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age or gender reassignment.
Wherever possible, we take steps to promote equal opportunity in relation to access to the legal services that we provide, in order to ensure that, subject to funding constraints, our services are accessible to all clients. We are committed to meeting the diverse needs of our clients.
We consider all employees to be equal and create a working environment which is free from unlawful discrimination. This applies equally to voluntary positions and anyone undertaking work experience with us.
Awards & Recognitions
We are signatories to The Law Society’s Diversity & Inclusion Charter and we have a Silver Charter Mark. We have also been awarded a Diversity Aware Charter Mark. We have been committed to equality and diversity in both our work and in the workplace for many years as demonstrated by the nominations and awards referred to below.
We were shortlisted for Company of the Year – Female Leadership (Boutique) at the Citywealth Powerwomen Awards in March 2022. The Powerwomen Awards is now in its tenth year and was designed in consultation with the London School of Economics to champion women in the wealth sector and highlights the female leaders of today and tomorrow.
We have been shortlisted for Best Employer – Career Progression at the Citywealth Future Leaders Awards 2022. The Future Leader Awards is a programme to champion young professionals and highlight the leaders under forty of today and tomorrow. The philosophy of the contest is to support future leaders who excel at work but who also make an important contribution to society.
History
Kate Allen was shortlisted for the award for Diversity/Gender Positive Role Model of the Year in the Citywealth Magic Circle Awards 2020.
We won the Silver Award for Company of the Year – Female Leadership (Boutique) at the Citywealth Powerwomen Awards in March 2020. The Citywealth awards programme champions women in the wealth sector and highlights the female leaders of today and tomorrow, spotlighting individuals and companies who support caregiving responsibilities, female leadership and celebrate diversity.
We were shortlisted as Best Employer – Career Progression LGBT+/inclusion for the Citywealth Future Leaders Awards 2019. The criteria for the award is to demonstrate evidence of leadership and development of LGBT+ and diversity individuals within the organisation, including investment in qualifications.
Sulema Jahangir was named an Unsung Hero by Newsweek Pakistan in 2019.
Shabina Begum was recognised as one of the Top 100 figures on the British Bangladeshi Power and Inspiration List in both 2014 and 2017.
Client Testimonials
CLIENT: Matrimonial client
COMPANY/FIRM: Dawson Cornwell
TESTIMONIAL: The firm really are excellent. They really work in a truly collegiate manner and you get to know various individuals. There is good collaboration between finance and child teams which is needed and you get a specialist in each when there is an international element as in my case.
CLIENT: Children matter client
COMPANY/FIRM: Dawson Cornwell
TESTIMONIAL: There’s a reason why Dawson Cornwell is the top law firm in London. They have an amazing team who are very knowledgeable and very helpful.
CLIENT: Matrimonial client
COMPANY/FIRM: Dawson Cornwell
TESTIMONIAL: Thank you for all your hard work and expertise throughout. It has been an extraordinary year and I don’t know where I would be had I not had your representation.
CLIENT: Matrimonial client
COMPANY/FIRM: Dawson Cornwell
TESTIMONIAL: I would like at this point and after such a long time working on my divorce matters to reiterate my gratitude to all of you for your good work, professionalism, guidance and help during these almost three years. It has been a long journey but I am really grateful and happy with the outcome that you made possible.
CLIENT: Children matter client
COMPANY/FIRM: Dawson Cornwell
TESTIMONIAL: Once again, I would like to thank the entire law firm, which performs its work masterfully and recommend it to anyone who experiences what my son and I do, although I do not wish it upon anyone.
CLIENT: Children matter client
COMPANY/FIRM: Dawson Cornwell
TESTIMONIAL: I would like to start off by saying that I am ever so grateful for all the help and support you have given me. I had a very good experience with this firm and would recommend them.
Client Testimonials
CLIENT: Children matter client
COMPANY/FIRM: Dawson Cornwell
TESTIMONIAL: “My experience with the firm was very engaging and interactive. My issue was dealt with the highest level of concern and expertise. I was very satisfied with the level of professionalism and the in-depth level of prompt communication throughout my engagement. I highly recommend the services of the firm to anyone who seeks legal assistance”.
CLIENT: Matrimonial matter client
COMPANY/FIRM: Dawson Cornwell
TESTIMONIAL: “Thanking you again for your expertise in steering us through this process, your professionalism was apparent throughout, particularly the regular communication in terms of emails and phone calls, and will be recommending you and your firm to colleagues, friends and family.”
CLIENT: Children matter client
COMPANY/FIRM: Dawson Cornwell
TESTIMONIAL: “I would highly recommend Dawson Cornwell for all family and custody related matters. I was recently involved in an international abduction matter and was represented by Dawson Cornwell in this very complicated and sensitive Hague case, all during Covid. Dawson Cornwell acted immediately after being contacted and their professionalism, knowledge and dedication was the key to a successful outcome. The attorneys and support teams were incredibly responsive, working all hours of the day to support me not only from a legal perspective but also showed compassion on a personal level during a very tough period.”
CLIENT: Matrimonial matter client
COMPANY/FIRM: Dawson Cornwell
TESTIMONIAL: “I would like at this point and after such a long time working on my divorce matters to reiterate my gratitude to all of you for your good work, professionalism, guidance and help during these almost three years. It has been a long journey but I am really grateful and happy with the outcome that you made possible.”
CLIENT: Children matter client
COMPANY/FIRM: Dawson Cornwell
TESTIMONIAL: “I dealt with this office for a particular family matter. Words cannot express how grateful I am for their hard work and their attention to details. I consider myself lucky to have been put in such good hands and they have handled my case very well.”
CLIENT: Matrimonial matter client
COMPANY/FIRM: Dawson Cornwell
TESTIMONIAL: “Dawson Cornwell acted with professionalism and compassion throughout a very tough period.”
- Private client > Family