Carey Olsen advises high-net-worth individuals on a wide variety of family law matters, often in relation to cross-jurisdictional issues. The group is noted for its expertise in pre-nuptial agreements. It is also able to draw on the firm’s wider trusts, property, litigation, corporate and private client teams, where family law overlaps with other areas of law. Marcus Pallot takes the lead, with vast experience in divorce cases, also a well-trodden area for John Kelleher
. Suzanne Kingston became a consultant in February 2021, providing expertise in complex financial matters, children arrangements following separation or divorce, and cohabitation matters. Senior associate Lauren Glynn is another key name for divorces and civil partnership dissolutions, as well as complex financial disputes arising from relationship breakdowns.
Family in Jersey
Carey Olsen
Practice head(s):
Marcus Pallot
Other key lawyers:
John Kelleher; Suzanne Kingston; Lauren Glynn; Tori Cure
Testimonials
‘Ability in strength and depth to meet a variety of client’s needs. Use technology creatively and exceptionally well.’
‘Lauren Glynn: willing to trail blaze new and difficult legal points. Views a case globally to give realistic advice.’
‘Lauren Glynn is practical, knowledgeable and straightforward – she won’t mess you around. A real pleasure to have as an opponent.’
‘The Family team is a very small part of Carey Olsen. There is no partner in the department who is a family lawyer but the family lawyer at the helm, Lauren Glynn, is very good.’
‘Lauren Glynn is an enormous asset to the team. She is a family lawyer who works within the principles of family law espoused by JFLA and Resolution. Lauren works tirelessly for her clients and is a fair opponent. She does not appear to have the autonomy within the firm that a family lawyer of her experience should carry. The team falls within the litigation team and the partner in charge is a litigator. This is a disadvantage. A senior family lawyer, Suzanne Kingston, is now a consultant and therefore a resource for the family team. This is a significant advantage for the firm’
‘The family law practice is extremely professional and knowledgeable. They present the case, benefits and weaknesses in an understandable manner. They give difficult news and advice in a kind and compassionate way and are extremely family and child focused.’
‘Lauren Glynn is exceptional. She provides a higher level of professionalism and competence than some of her peers. She is cost sensitive on behalf of her clients, straightforward and kind hearted. Her team emulate many of these qualities and are a pleasure to deal with.’
Corbett Le Quesne
‘The friendliness of every staff member at Corbett Le Quesne really sums up the ethos of the practice‘, say clients of the boutique family law firm. The team has deep experience in family disputes and in cases involving children. Co-founding partner Barbara Corbett is an expert in child services issues in Jersey and has substantial experience in international cases where children and finances are in issue. Nicholas Le Quesne is well-versed in pre- and post-nuptial agreements, as well as handling child-related cases involving intractable contract and parental alienation. Simon Lofthouse, who heads up the private client team, is another name to note. Barrister Kate Donohue joined from Myersons in spring 2022.
Practice head(s):
Barbara Corbett; Nicholas Le Quesne; Simon Lofthouse
Other key lawyers:
Kate Donohue
Testimonials
‘The team is always very professional in all dealings whether personal or business.’
‘Simon Lofthouse carries out my wishes very professionally and competently.’
‘The team are strong in all area of offshore/Jersey advice for private clients. They are flexible and dynamic in their approach to cross-border estate planning, working effectively with English lawyers to cover clients’ onshore and offshore assets.’
Myersons
Myersons is praised by clients as ‘a specialist boutique Jersey family law firm providing first rate service of the highest quality‘. Led by founding partner and ‘force of nature‘ Victoria Myerson, the team has established a reputation for high-value, complex and cross-border family law matters, including divorce, pre- and post-nuptial agreements and financial separations, in addition to child-related issues such as financial provision and residence. Myerson works alongside senior associate Celanne Scally , who is another expert in matrimonial and children law issues.
Practice head(s):
Victoria Myerson
Other key lawyers:
Celanne Scally
Testimonials
‘Very accessible, and understand different forms of communication suit different things (letters, emails, meetings).’
‘Victoria – very calm, resilient and sure of advice. Stephanie – really gets through the work thoroughly. Sarah – always friendly, very accessible.’
Victoria Myerson is the go to lawyer for high net worth individuals who are getting divorced in Jersey. She is technically extremely able and is a tenacious litigator. Clients absolutely adore her and she does amazing work. She has a great team around her and has years of experience of dealing with the most complex cases.’
‘Victoria is a force of nature. She always has the most complex and tricky cases on the go. Often, they involve trusts and businesses. She is a brilliant tactician and is able to identify all of the points early on in the process and plays excellent strategic cards. Victoria has a couple of very able associates, they are extremely capable and have done to some of the best work in Jersey.’
‘Specialist boutique Jersey family law firm providing first rate service of the highest quality. Highly responsive team of specialist practitioners ably led by Victoria Myerson. Despite its size it punches well above its weight.’
‘Very responsive/user friendly. Rolls Royce service at competitive charging rates. This firm is very good at delivering a high quality service to its clients. Stand out practitioner – Victoria Myerson.’
‘A strong sense of wanting to do the best for their clients throughout the practice. Very good response rates in terms of replying to correspondence in a timely manner and all bills are well itemised and clear. One gets the overriding feeling they want to do the best for their clients’.
‘Victoria Myerson is extremely knowledgeable in her field . She gives concise and well reasoned advice and never loses sight that family law is an area where emotions run high. Clients know that they have a very capable lawyer on their side at a difficult time in their lives.’
Viberts
Viberts‘ team is ‘always able to hold its own from the smallest contact dispute to the biggest billionaire divorce‘, according to clients. It provides a well-rounded family law service that draws on expertise from across the firm, to assist high-net-worth individuals and their families on property transfers and inheritance matters. The group has vast experience in divorce cases and separations. Rose Colley leads the department and is able to handle complex financial matters and cases involving children. Jamie Orchard is regularly instructed by high-net-worth individuals in divorce cases, but also specialises in novel private children matters. Senior associate Emma Hollywood joined in June 2021 from the law officers department of the government of Jersey, where she specialised in both children and criminal matters.
Practice head(s):
Rose Colley
Other key lawyers:
Jamie Orchard; Emma Hollywood; Alexandra Cohen; Kiera Jones
Testimonials
‘Excellent people. Caring.’
‘The best family lawyers in Jersey. They have everything in spades: the experience; the resources; the individuals; the resources; the judgement, and, this means that they are always able to hold their own from the smallest contact dispute to the biggest billionaire divorce.’
‘Jamie Orchard – a lawyer’s lawyer, never brash but cool, calm and effective. He knows his law and also knows when to take points (and when to leave them) to further his client’s interests.’
‘The large size of the team along with its stellar reputation in children and money work. They appear to be willing to embrace all forms of ADR ahead of other Jersey firms.’
‘Rose Colley and Jamie Orchard are incredibly friendly and committed.’
‘Jamie Orchard is a young partner with a keen intellect and calm authority. He is a star of the future’
‘As an English lawyer specialising in matrimonial finance and children law I would always recommend Viberts to a client looking for a Jersey lawyer. The team are always bright, very hard-working and give great advice. From a barrister’s perspective they are a dream to work with.’
‘Alexandra Cohen gets very good work and works incredibly hard to do the best by her clients. Rose Colley continues to be the best-known and most respected family lawyer on Jersey and with good reason.’
Ingram Advocates
At boutique litigation firm Ingram Advocates, Chris Hillier is the key contact for family law issues. He has experience before courts at all levels in Jersey, in cases involving separations, divorces and ancillary relief. He also has expertise in advising on private law children matters, as well as representing parents in public law childcare proceedings and contested relocation proceedings.
Practice head(s):
Chris Hillier
Testimonials
‘Everyone that I have come into contact with at the firm appears very efficient, friendly and welcoming.’
‘My assigned solicitor is very empathetic towards my situation, he is very informative and I have established a trusting relationship with him. I feel that I can be 100% honest with him and I never feel like I’m being judged.’
‘I have found the practice to be very professional and accommodating to each individuals needs. They are very understanding and show empathy when needed. The offices are welcoming and any questions are answered in a professional manner. I would def recommend them in the future’
Parslows
Clients appreciate the fact that the service at Parslows is ‘friendly, approachable and leaves you feeling valued‘. Practice head Natalie Jenner and legal assistant Catia Barros specialise in pre- and post-nuptial agreements, separation agreements and matrimonial proceedings, including contentious ancillary matters. Other areas of expertise include surname changes for children, prohibited steps orders and leave to remove applications.
Practice head(s):
Natalie Jenner
Other key lawyers:
Catia Barros
Testimonials
‘The team still has a family feel to it. They are all friendly, approachable and leave you feeling valued, whereas there is a definite air of corporate importance with some other firms.’
‘Natalie Jenner was the ultimate professional. She was well prepared, well researched, and showed an air of calmness and control throughout. This was especially comforting considering she was representing me in a very acrimonious divorce settlement whereby the other side held an extremely aggressive and antagonistic stance.’
‘This team at Parslows are so welcoming from when you step through their door. I so appreciated their knowledge and expertise. Natalie and Catia always reassured me and as well as the difficult times and all the tears we also had appropriate times of laughter which is necessary during this process. Sadly my divorce has gone on a long time and during this time my confidence in them just grew and grew. I have no hesitation in recommending this practice to anyone thinking about divorce/separation. They will be in very safe hands.’