Elspeth Thomson > David Gray Solicitors LLP > Newcastle upon Tyne, England > Lawyer Profile
David Gray Solicitors LLP Offices
OLD COUNTY COURT
56 WESTGATE ROAD
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE1 5XU
England
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Elspeth Thomson
Work Department
Family.
Position
Managing Partner and Solicitor.
I was admitted as a solicitor in 1994 after studying law at Cambridge University and have practised family law ever since. I now specialise in children law with a caseload consisting of public and private law children disputes, and adoption and surrogacy applications.
I also represent family members in legal cases and am the managing partner of David Gray Solicitors LLP with responsibility for the strategic planning and operational running of the firm. I am the current President of the Newcastle Law Society.
I have represented children, parents, step-parents and adopters in adoption cases and have a thorough understanding of this complex area of law. I have spent many years representing people experiencing domestic abuse and I am very sensitive to the issues involved. In April 2019 I give evidence to UK Parliament on the Draft Domestic Abuse Bill Committee in The House of Commons which can be viewed here . In May 2020 I once again provided remote evidence to the House of Commons during the COVID-19 lockdown, find out more.
As a Higher Rights Advocate, I enjoy representing my clients in all levels of the family court. I take time to listen to what is important for my clients and do my best to use the law to help them achieve their aims. I know the law can sound complicated and I try to explain things in a way that people can understand easily. I know that having a family legal problem is very stressful and I try to make things as easy as I can for my clients.
I am an accredited arbitrator (children’s issues) and member of the Institute of Family Law arbitrators.
Career
Qualified 1994.
Memberships
I hold the following accreditations and memberships :
- elected national committee member of Resolution
- co-chair of the Resolution legal aid committee
- member of the Association of Lawyers for Children
- accredited as a member of the Law Society Children Panel
- accredited by Resolution as a specialist lawyer in the areas of private children law and domestic abuse
Education
Cambridge University (Law).
Lawyer Rankings
North > Private client > Family
(Leading individuals)The sizeable Newcastle-based team of specialised family experts at David Gray Solicitors LLP is ‘dynamic, professional and extremely helpful’ and ‘provides excellent service from start to finish.’ The group provides a comprehensive private family law offering and stands out for its public law family offering. Lucy Mead is a member of the Law Society Children Panel and a Resolution accredited specialist in domestic abuse, advanced financial provision and cohabitation. She heads up the team whose ‘level of knowledge is superb.’ The group’s managing partner Elspeth Thomson continues to represent adopters and children in cases with cross-border elements. Lesley Monkhouse who has particular expertise in parental alienation is praised by clients: ‘I could not have asked for a better person to take my case, Lesley’s knowledge of family law is unapparelled.’ Senior associate Anna Curphey specialises in care proceedings and child protection.
Lawyer Rankings
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime, fraud and licensing: General crime and fraud
- Private client > Family