Sills & Betteridge LLP incorporating Acclaimed Family Law > Sheffield, England > Firm Profile
Sills & Betteridge LLP incorporating Acclaimed Family Law Offices

WESTMORELAND HOUSE
82 QUEEN STREET
SHEFFIELD
S1 2DW
England
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Sills & Betteridge LLP incorporating Acclaimed Family Law > The Legal 500 Rankings
Private client > Family: elsewhere in Yorkshire Tier 2
The combined team at Sills & Betteridge LLP incorporating Acclaimed Family Law is led by Michelle Cooper in Sheffield, and Sarah Rowe in Doncaster. Cooper is often sought after by clients in financial disputes with high-value assets, while Rowe has extensive experience in complex public children law. The team has departments dedicated to matrimonial finance, emergency, care, private children and mediation mandates; Sandra Russell is a go-to for collaborative, out-of-court dispute resolution. The ‘simply inspirational’ Phillipa Smith joined the team in June 2023 from Graysons Solicitors.Practice head(s):
Michelle Cooper; Sarah Rowe
Other key lawyers:
Sandra Russell; Leanne Barton; Peter Dadswell; Phillipa Smith; Louise Rawson; Deborah Linford
Testimonials
‘Sarah Rowe was outstanding throughout the very long court case, she had experience and knowledge to help navigate us through for the best possible outcome. I felt I could trust Sarah with the right outcome for my family, which of course is very emotive but I remained calm and composed because I felt safe with Sarah being my solicitor.’
‘Leanne Barton is an absolutely fantastic solicitor, her communication skills and calmness stand her out from the rest and the knowledge she possesses is second to none.’
‘Michelle Cooper has been a constant support, adviser and listener throughout. Her determination and commitment to see a fair outcome to my case has never wavered. Michelle has worked diligently and methodically to get me to the place I am currently at. I will always be grateful that I had Michelle fighting my corner.’
‘I found Louise Rawson to be exceptional and dealt with my case professionally and sensitively. My divorce was hard going and no matter how much I was getting upset over the situation, she always guided me right, to the point it meant the matter was dealt with out of court.’
‘Phillipa Smith is a pleasure to deal with. She has explained options every step of the way so far on this journey. I have complete faith in her. Everything was clearly explained, in non legal language.’
‘Philippa Smith is unbelievably professional and caring. She always does whatever it takes to get the best outcome for clients and is known for going the “extra yard”. Simply inspirational!’
‘Peter Dadswell has provided an excellent service throughout my dealing with the firm. His clarity of thoughts, attention to detail, simplicity of explanation, effectiveness of communication are truly exemplary.’
‘Sandra Russell is a formidable solicitor with an excellent grasp of technical detail.’
Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Elsewhere in East Midlands Tier 2
Recently engaged in insolvency restructuring, Sills & Betteridge LLP enjoys a strong reputation in the agri-business, financial services, healthcare, and retail sectors. Praised as ‘exceptional with his knowledge’, James Conduit oversees the practice, and his broad caseload encompasses corporate finance, M&A, as well as share and assets sales and purchases. Euan McLaughlin is regarded in the engineering sector and is well-informed on commercial contracts, including joint venture agreements. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Lincoln.Practice head(s):
James Conduit
Other key lawyers:
Euan McLaughlin; Martin Walsh
Testimonials
‘We have enjoyed working with Sills and Betteridge over the past few years on a range of business acquisitions that we have undertaken with their legal support.’
‘All of our transactions have progressed smoothly and contracts have been drafted in a suitable succinct and tailor made approach, covering our requirements fully, rather than in an ‘off the peg’ documentation with endless revisions of non-relevant elements. ’
‘The team were great all through the acquisition process and our contact James Conduit was always on hand to help where needed. From the minute you walked into the Lincoln office you felt as though you were being looked after by professionals who cared.’
‘James Conduit was exceptional with his knowledge, commitment, and very honest advice. Although he made it clear that I was the client and ultimately my choices mattered and were paramount, he would give me all the evidence clearly and concisely so that I could make very informed choices and decisions.’
‘James Conduit has been our main contact at Sills and Betteridge for a number of years, and he and his team have assisted us in a number of significant commercial transactions for the business. James has understood our requirements clearly and communication has been excellent at all times.’
‘I can’t recommend James Conduit highly enough.’
‘Euan McLaughlin is relentless.’
‘Euan McLaughlin is always available and on point.’
Key clients
Active8 Managed Technologies Limited
Ballet Makers Europe Limited
Beaphar BV
Chandlers (Farm Machinery) Limited
Clydesdale Bank PLC
Hemswell Estates Limited
HFL Financial Advisers
Lincoln College Group
Micronclean Limited
NerG Ltd/ NERG Holdings Ltd
Omex Agriculture Limited
SHD Group
Sleeping Disorders Centre Group
The Burdens Group
Turnbull & Co Limited
Work highlights
- Advised the shareholders of Hawkins Electrical on their sale to RSK Environment Ltd.
- Advised the buyer in an MBO of Bio 8 Ltd.
- Advised Chandlers (Farm Equipment) Limited on its acquisition of the business and assets of Ross Farm Machinery.
Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: elsewhere in the East Midlands Tier 2
While Sills & Betteridge LLP is recognised for its litigation expertise, its mediation and ADR knowledge is also noteworthy. With Karen Bower-Brown‘s expertise, the firm is able to resolve commercial property and contentious probate disputes, while Robert Pearson can advocate for clients at all levels of the UK judicial system. The practice also benefits from the expertise of Euan McLaughlin, who specialises in contract claims in the project industries.Practice head(s):
Karen Bower-Brown
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘I dealt with Karen Bower-Brown regarding a property dispute. Her knowledge was extensive and talking to Karen filled me with confidence.’
‘The team is well established in the area and has a large number of practitioners and associates with a range of skills and a broad knowledge of the area. Efficiency and accessibility are key in their case.’
‘Highly professional and knowledgeable team. Customer care is taken seriously as shown in the level of service provided when dealing with my company’s litigation matters.’
‘The whole team were professional, discreet, sympathetic to the specific situation and worked to get the best possible outcome for the client. They were also honest with feedback to the client whilst also being as tactful as possible.’
‘Sills has an expanding team in Commercial Litigation with knowledge and understanding of a wide variety of sectors.’
‘Robert Pearson is a calm and collected litigator who instils confidence in clients. He is pragmatic and looks for solutions outside the courtroom wherever he can, but is not afraid to fight hard where necessary.’
Key clients
George Bateman & Son
Hemswell Biogas
Micronclean
Omex Agriculture
SHD Composite Materials
The Burdens Group
The Snoring Disorders Centre
Turnbull & Co
Work highlights
- Advising a farmer and landowner in relation to a dispute regarding his capacity as a purported guarantor of a lease.
- Advising a residential care provider concerning a claim against a local authority for unpaid care home fees.
- Acting for a client in an international shipping dispute worth worth around £200,000.
Private client > Family Tier 1
Sills & Betteridge LLP‘s large-scale family law practice group has a strong influence in the region and is built around core teams that handle all aspects of matrimonial finance, emergency, care, children and mediation, respectively. The practice has garnered praise for being ‘hard-working, dynamic and very focused on best outcomes’ and is headed up by Helen Derry, whose diverse caseload frequently includes divorce, property issues, maintenance, nuptial agreements, co-habitation disputes and private children’s cases. Chrystal Theofanous is head of the emergency children and domestic abuse team, whilst Mo Hayes is a specialist for public law care proceedings, specifically child law cases, and spearheads the care team. Dominic Lee‘s practice emphasises divorce and financial cases as well as private children’s law disputes. Siobhan Thompson and Ailsa Tennant are other key contacts within the wider department.Practice head(s):
Helen Derry
Other key lawyers:
Chrystal Theofanous; Mo Hayes; Jessica Firth-Brown; Nicholas Flatt; Siobhan Thompson; Ailsa Tennant; Dominic Lee; Sarah Rowe
Testimonials
‘They pay attention to detail and give the client the attention they require to their case. They are well-prepared and efficient as a team. They are good with technology and have a supportive environment from the top down in the team.’
‘Hard-working, dynamic and very focused on best outcomes. They really do take their client’s part and push as far as possible. Don’t take no for an answer! Forthright and powerful litigators.’
‘Sarah Rowe is an outstanding young lawyer. Always thinking creatively and fearless – challenges orthodox thinking and is more than happy to pursue cases through the appeal courts. If I needed a family solicitor to really fight my case (and do so effectively) I would instruct Sarah Rowe.’
‘The public law team – and in particular Chrystal Theofanous are exceptional. They work so hard in the best interests of their clients and have an amazing level of compassion too. They are always willing to properly challenge the local authority and the Guardian when appropriate to get the very best levels of engagement and results. ’
‘Excellent regional firm with friendly, caring ethos but gives practical and sensible advice. ’
‘Mo Hayes is a very experienced children’s lawyer who represents parents, grandparents and children. She is a conscientious, hard-working, and effective advocate. Sympathetic to vulnerable parents but realistic in the advice given. Chrystal Theofanous is a vigorous, enthusiastic champion of parents, especially young mothers and fathers. Very hard-working and down to earth.’
‘A strong team with an experienced Family Law base. Particularly strong in team training and development. Expertise on Armed Forces Pensions in particular which serves the local population well when advising divorcing clients given the number of RAF bases in the Lincolnshire area.’
‘Helen Derry – Strong leader of the team, very good on mediation cases, very knowledgeable.’
Work highlights
- Acted for the respondent children in a reported domestic abuse case before the Court of Appeal involving the welfare of two children; the court in November 2023 dismissed a parent’s appeal of an application to revoke placement orders – an order made by the court authorizing a local authority to place a child for adoption.
- Challenging children’s care case acting for the respondent child (via the children’s guardian) before the Court of Appeal.
- Represented the father in a child abduction case at the Court of Appeal in which the appellant mother challenged the decision of a High Court judge to return a child to Australia, arguing that the lower court judge had erred.
Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime, fraud and licensing: General crime and fraud Tier 3
Sills & Betteridge LLP possesses a robust criminal litigation offering, and the team accommodates both private and legal aid clients in the full range of mandates from Magistrate level traffic crimes to complicated murder trials. Katie Scott assumes a central role in advising those accused of indictable only offences, such as homicide and drug conspiracies, while Christopher Hogg focuses on road traffic offences and is an experienced Higher Court Advocate.Practice head(s):
Christopher Hogg, Katie Scott
Testimonials
‘The team are clearly very hard working and knowledgeable in their field. Always handling legalities professionally and as quickly as they can. Very professional, kind and friendly.’
‘Katie Scott is an exceptional solicitor. Her ability to manage a high volume of complex cases is impressive. Katie has great rapport with her clients and thinks about all aspects of the legal issues in the case with confidence and compassion.’
‘Chris Hogg and team work together effectively and efficiently to deliver the best client experience in the Lincolnshire area.’
‘In an ever increasingly difficult environment for firms and departments undertaking criminal work, Sills and Betteridge continue to provide an excellent client service. From the representation at the police station to attendances at conferences and at court, this firm excels.’
‘This team has been exceptional, helping in any way possible.’
‘Katie Scott has stood out as a knowledgeable, highly skilled solicitor who is passionate about her clients. She leads with a high standard of work and drives the team towards consistent thorough quality. I have valued her client-centred approach and enthusiasm for meeting each individual’s needs.’
‘Katie Scott is outstanding. Her knowledge of the law is excellent and her client care is the some of the best I have witnessed.’
Employment > Immigration Tier 3
With a broad regional spread, including offices in Grimsby, London, Nottingham, and Sheffield, the ‘very professional and reliable practice’, Sills & Betteridge LLP is well-informed in Brexit’s implications on EU Settlement Scheme applications. With more than two decades of experience in the sector, practice head Deborah Linford is lauded as ‘hard working and intelligent.’Practice head(s):
Deborah Linford
Testimonials
‘Sills & Betteridge did their utmost to accommodate a date and time for an in-person meeting for our convenience. Everything was clearly explained for the first meeting before confirming the appointment so that there were no surprises afterward. It is clear that they have a whole organisation behind them and can rely on colleagues for additional services if required.’
‘Sills & Betteridge is a very professional and reliable practice. They inform you every step on the progress they have made, reply to emails, return phone calls, and make appointments to suit your needs.’
‘They are accommodating, and easy to talk to. They were thorough on my documents and my immigration application. Deborah Linford has good knowledge on her profession.’
‘Deborah Linford’s service was exceptional and she went above and beyond with regards to our residence permits.’
‘I have worked with few individuals but Deborah Linford is so hard working and intelligent, you feel so confident once you listen to her. She rings up regularly while she is dealing with your matter.’
‘Deborah Linford assisted us and we were immediately grateful and satisfied. She had a lengthy relaxed phone call with us. She explained things very clearly and her attention paid off, as my case was approved without any modifications.’
‘Deborah Linford always goes above and beyond, and she is always on hand to help with any query we have. She is professional, very knowledgeable in immigration, patient, and explains everything in terms that are understandable to people who are not legally trained.’
‘Deborah Linford kept us fully informed throughout the entire process of what was required and the potential timeframe involved. She was professional, pleasant and patient throughout. She was reliable in arranging and then attending online meetings, and remained fully-focused on what was best to help me achieve the objective of the visa.’
Work highlights
Private client > Contentious trusts and probate Tier 3
With a broad regional footprint, including offices spread across Boston, Lincoln, and Nottingham, Sills & Betteridge LLP often works in conjunction with the firm’s commercial litigation, corporate and commercial, as well as residential and commercial property teams. The ‘reliable and very knowledgeable’ practice is also reputed for its capabilities surrounding proprietary estoppel cases, the removal of executors, and trust disputes. The ‘technically sound and very pragmatic’ Lincoln-based Karen Bower-Brown leads the team and is skilled at disputes over the validity of wills, and financial provision claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Robert Pearson splits his time between Nottingham and Lincoln and has recently handled disputes between personal representatives and claims against trustees.Practice head(s):
Karen Bower-Brown
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is friendly, helpful, reliable and very knowledgeable, therefore making them a pleasure to work with.’
‘They have specialists for all aspects of legal work. The firm conducts its business in a very professional manner.’
‘They went out of their way to ensure my best interests were protected while dealing with my case. They kept me informed of everything along the way.’
‘Karen Bower Brown explains everything in detail using words that I understood, and she always replied promptly to calls and emails. She gave me an absolute faultless service.’
‘Karen Bower-Brown gave excellent advice even if it was hard to take sometimes. She always had my best interests in mind and could always be contacted when required.’
‘Karen Bower-Brown has a wonderful manner.’
‘Karen Bower Brown is technically sound and very pragmatic.’
‘Robert Pearson looked after the case for me, he always listened to what I said, provided advice, and where necessary explained all the legal terms that I wasn’t familiar with in simple terms. They have always replied to my questions promptly, and kept me informed of progress.’
Work highlights
- Advised an individual on a dispute over the validity of their late father’s Will and ascertained that the Will was invalid as the witnesses had not signed in the presence of the testator.
- Advised an individual on a dispute relating to the validity of their late father’s Will where allegations were made in relation to alleged lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, and fraudulent claims.
- Advised an individual on a claim for financial provision following the death of their late partner.
Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate Tier 3
The ‘very friendly and approachable team‘ at Sills & Betteridge LLP acts for a varied client roster, which includes landed estate owners, business owners, farmers and high-net-worth individuals. The team assists across the spectrum of probate, tax trust and will mandates and also handles Court of Protection applications. Andrew Durkan and Richard Bussell jointly lead the practice from Lincoln, while Sarah Steel is the main contact in Boston.Practice head(s):
Andrew Durkan; Richard Bussell
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘I have been impressed with the hands-on & empathetic handling of the case, along with the clearly communicated technical excellence. Breaking the jargon down into concepts understandable to the layman has been essential in keeping all parties engaged throughout the journey.’
‘Very friendly and approachable team. They make you feel comfortable from the outset.’
‘The practice is very friendly and knowledgeable. They will always keep the client updated and are easy to contact.’
‘Richard Bussell is clearly an expert in his field, with excellent knowledge, not only of the law but also business accounts and taxation.’
‘Our dealings with Sills & Betteridge were carried out very professionally. They were very efficient and knowledgeable and dealt with the work as promptly as they could due to the complexity of the situation. They were very friendly and answered questions in a way that made it easy to understand.’
‘Andrew Durkan and his team are our latest experience of using this practice over the past couple of years. Their commitment to personal service and customer relationships offers a distinguishing quality to their service.’
‘Professional and get on with it attitude.’
‘Excellent communication and extremely helpful.’
Work highlights
- Advised a local farming family in relation to restructuring a £13m farming estate and ancillary businesses in order to save in excess of £1m in IHT.
- Helping business owners restructure their company to maximise BPR without putting assets at risk from insolvency and making use of trusts to protect personal assets.
Real estate > Commercial property: elsewhere in the East Midlands Tier 3
Sills & Betteridge LLP provides a range of commercial and agricultural property advice. Team head Malachy McGill assists with complex overage agreements and landlord and tenant matters, while Susan Thomas has particular expertise in plot sales and section 106 agreements. Melissa Kirk and Raj Blackburn are both adept at land disposals. Teagan Solari departed in December 2023.Practice head(s):
Malachy McGill
Other key lawyers:
Susan Thomas; Melissa Kirk; Raj Blackburn; Steven Dowse
Testimonials
‘All solicitors are professional in the way they conduct themselves. Thorough in their due diligence and hard-working to reach deadlines.’
‘I have worked with Malachy McGill for many years and always found him to be highly professional and knowledgeable.’
‘We enjoy working with Raj Blackburn, who has dealt with all our commercial property matters in a friendly, prompt and professional manner for many years.’
‘The service we have received from Malachy McGill and his team has been professional, prompt, and effective.’
‘The practice is unique because of the service you receive. The response time is fast and efficient, every time I enquire.’
Work highlights
- Acting on all aspects of an enterprise park development.
- Acted on the conditional purchase of development land at Digby.
Employment Tier 4
Specialising in gangmasters and labour abuse authority matters, Sills & Betteridge LLP often advises employers on collective bargaining disputes with trade unions. In Nottingham, practice head Stephen Britton is vastly experienced in employment litigation and is active across the agriculture, food, and logistics sectors. Natalie Munday often advises SMEs on employment contracts, policies, and procedures.Practice head(s):
Stephen Britton
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team are always available at short notice and are extremely knowledgeable and practical about the scenarios I talk to them about. They clearly lay out options and risks. They have also helped connect me to a wider network of advice as the company I am in is expanding into new countries.’
‘The team that we deal with have an in-depth understanding of our industry and can relate their advice to the people that are involved. They are very responsive, and they give us sound commercial advice.’
‘The individuals that we work with share our values and understand the challenges that we are facing in our industry. This helps us position solutions or proposals to our internal colleagues in a way that they can identify with and understand. We feel as though they are genuinely interested in the best interests of our organisation and give us all of the relevant information to be able to come to the right decision.’
‘The level of communication is excellent. All emails are acknowledged and a time frame is always provided by Sills as to when I will have a comprehensive reply. Crucially, the response always comes within their specified timeframe.’
‘The level of support is very good. The team are responsive, reliable, and friendly. Their advice is pragmatic and their training sessions have been engaging and informative and specifically related to our business.’
‘Stephen Britton is hugely knowledgeable. He is very conscientious and always keeps you up to date on timescales and makes himself available at short notice. I have also learned a lot from talking to Steve as he explains things in terms that are easy to understand which has helped me professionally.’
‘Stephen Britton is trusted by the HR team to provide sound pragmatic advice. He patiently listens to information about the situation and offers practical solutions, within the context of our business.’
‘Stephen Britton is really approachable and incredibly knowledgeable. He is friendly and engaging. I have been working with Stephen for approximately 15 years and have no plans to move to another supplier. ’
Work highlights
Insurance > Personal injury and clinical negligence: claimant Tier 4
With a sizeable footprint spanning the East Midlands, Sills & Betteridge LLP is geared to handle catastrophic, fatal, sprain, and whiplash injury cases. Splitting her time between Lincoln, Nottingham, and Sleaford, Alison Hurton’s broad expertise encompasses road traffic accidents and work accidents. In Lincoln, Louise Bush is principally focused on clinical negligence matters, while Simon Breeden handles cases surrounding defective or dangerous products, industrial diseases, and stress at work. In Skegness, other key members of the team also include Kim Overton, who specialises in abuse matters.Practice head(s):
Alison Hurton; Louise Bush; Kim Overton
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They are experienced and knowledgeable. They really care about getting the best results for their clients.’
‘The company has an experienced, well-organised team who specialise in personal injury and clinical negligence. They also supply the relevant information in a well-presented, clear form.’
‘This practice continues to develop into a very professional and trustworthy team of medicolegal lawyers. They have excellent communication skills and respond rapidly to any queries raised. I can always contact individuals without undue delay and they are always “on the ball” when I raise any concerns.’
‘They have high standards of client care, they are quick to respond, will take time to explain each step in the litigation process, and consideration is given to the needs of the client.’
‘Simon Breeden is very hard working and has great judgment. He is very passionate about his clients and tenacious in dealing with opponents and ensuring successful outcomes.’
‘Simon Breedon was excellent, he was with me all the way through my case, and he explained things I didn’t understand. He always kept me up to date with what was happening. He was with me from the beginning of my case, and right up to the end of it.’
‘Louise Bush is an experienced clinical negligence practitioner, she has an exceptional eye for detail. She is willing to take on the most challenging cases and gets great results.’
‘Louise Bush managed cases efficiently and in a manner consistent with my expectations of an efficient medicolegal solicitor.’
Work highlights
- Represented a claimant who sustained significant and life changing injuries having been involved in an accident in January 2018.
- Represented two claimants, both of whom were severely abused in the 60’s and 70’s. The abuse took place in a foster home and caused lasting damage, including an inability to work and to form secure relationships.
- Represented a claimant in pursuing a claim for damages in clinical negligence, initially prior to her death and, thereafter, in assisting the personal representatives on behalf of her estate.
- Private client > Family: elsewhere in Yorkshire
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Elsewhere in East Midlands
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: elsewhere in the East Midlands
Firm Rankings
- Private client > Family