Praised by clients as an ‘exceptional firm in terms of breadth of knowledge within the sector’, Birkett Long LLP offers particular strength in advising on the whole range of divorce-related work, including financial remedy and private child law matters. The team is jointly steered by Lisa Collins, who splits her time between Chelmsford and Basildon, and Mel Loxley in Colchester; both are recommended for their capabilities in financial remedy proceedings, cohabitee disputes, and pre and post-nuptial agreements, as well as disputes regarding child arrangements. Philip Hoddell is well known for his strength in complex and high-value financial matters, and Francesca Cozens offers niche expertise in grandparent work, including special guardianship orders and child arrangement orders.

Financial remedy arbitrator and collaborative lawyer Emma Brunning leads Birketts LLP’s family team in Chelmsford, while Katie Beaven in Ipswich is overall leader for the firm’s South East offices. The team is sought out by company directors and shareholders, and high-net-worth individuals for expert advice on the whole range of family law matters, including complex corporate, financial, tax, trust and pension issues, as well as child arrangements. Jennifer Headon joined in July 2022 and further strengthens the team’s offering with her experience in handling complex financial remedy work and private children law matters, and niche expertise in international family law.

With resources to deliver high-quality advice across the whole spectrum of family matters, Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP stands out as a ‘safe pair of hands’ with ‘extensive experience’ in the space. Colchester-based Simon Osborn heads up the family department, and is reputed for his expertise in high-value and complex financial cases. Rachel Earnshaw is well versed in complex public law children matters, as is Charlotte Knappett, who also provides advice on complex domestic abuse situations. Julia Brewer‘s practice extends to private children, matrimonial and financial remedy cases. Ash Peachey was hired in 2022 and joined the firm’s new office in Braintree.

Offering ‘real depth of expertise’, Pinney Talfourd LLP’s family department exclusively undertakes privately funded work and is praised for its ‘strength in high-net-worth finances and children cases‘. With five offices, the firm is present all over Essex and has recently further strengthened its offering with the hire of three additional solicitors, including Surjit Verdi from Palmers in May 2023. Group head Catherine Polli and Catherine Loadman are experts for complex financial remedies, while Michael Sheville is recommended for financial provision matters and private children law, and Louise Eady is involved in the firm’s surrogacy and fertility offering.

High-value divorces, including those with business assets, and complex child access arrangements, are part of Holmes & Hills‘ wide family law offering. Providing an ‘outstanding service’ to her clients, team head Carol Toulson in Marks Tey handles the departments most complex cases, including financial settlements and difficult children cases. ‘Phenomenal solicitor‘ Sarah Russell and Alexander Garrett are recommended for high-value, complex financial matters.

Tees Law’s Essex family team works from the firm's offices in Chelmsford, Brentwood and Saffron Walden, and is praised by clients for being ‘efficient, informative, and very empathetic’. The department is led by Chelmsford-based Joshua Coombe, who excels in high-value financial claims, and Sally Powell in Bishop’s Stortford. Caroline Andrews leads the team in Brentwood, and has niche expertise in fertility and surrogacy law, as well as preconception agreements.

Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors‘ family department in Hertford has ‘a good reputation locally’, and is geared to support its clients on divorce and financial settlements, collaborative law issues, child protection matters and prenuptial agreements. Belinda Strange leads the team with over 20 years of experience in family law, and focuses on matters related to divorce or separation. Another key contact is Resolution member Stephanie Holmes. Collaborative lawyer Joyti Henchie remains active in the department as a consultant.

Providing a ‘first-class service’ to its clients, all individuals in Giles Wilson Law Limited‘s family department in Leigh-on-Sea are members of Resolution. Group head and ‘outstanding solicitor’ Richard Busby is a key contact for complicated prenuptial agreements, matrimonial conflicts, and child arrangements, while Philip Giles is recommended for complex financial divorce work and financial abuse cases.

Sally Ward, who is praised by clients for giving ‘consistent and well-explained advice‘, leads Mullis & Peake LLP‘s family department from Romford, but is also present in the firm’s offices in Shenfield and Upminster. Roisin McCorry specialises in complex financial matters, including those involving businesses, executive pensions and contingent assets. ‘Committed and reliable practitioner’ Jessica Thrower‘s practice includes handling complex child arrangements, cohabitee issues, adoptions and special guardianship work.

With bases in Westcliff-on-Sea, Billericay and Benfleet, Paul Robinson Solicitors LLP‘s family department is reputed for its ‘great depth of knowledge and experience’. Department head Chris Wall is a key contact for complex financial matters, and private children law disputes. Annette Lowen is a member of the firm’s dedicated children department, while Melanie Steeples specialises in financial remedies, and Summer Croft is praised by clients as ‘a true asset to the firm’.

Sternberg Reed LLP‘s ‘dedicated, hardworking, and always available’ family child law department is noted for its knowledge of private family law, including divorces, financial relief, child arrangements, and prenuptial agreements. A standout out feature is the team’s expertise in child abduction cases and leave to remove applications. Barking-based Soulla Kokkinos leads the team, and is an expert in cases involving domestic abuse and forced marriage. Romford-based Rebecca Viola heads up the private family team, and is particularly noted for her experience working with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Julian Beard has vast experience in handling complex financial disputes, while Francesca Clay specialises in children matters, and has taken over a variety of matters from Gordon Reed, who retired in April 2023.

Overseen by Robert Williams in Brighton and led by Essex-based Louise Buttery, Family Law Partners fields a particular strong dispute resolution practice and is praised by clients for ‘going the extra mile in offering support’. Clients ‘would fully recommend’ Buttery, who is equipped to handle high-value financial cases, as well as complex children matters.

Solicitor advocate Anne-Marie Rainsford in Southend-On-Sea heads up Jefferies Essex LLP‘s ‘outstanding’ family department, which is split into distinct children and matrimonial teams. The children team consists of Sian Jenkins, Brooke Robdrup-Kilgour and Shannon Tomkins, and is equipped to handle a wide spectrum of matters, including public and private law proceedings. The ‘highly efficient’ Marsha Edinburgh, who joined the firm in November 2022, advises on separation agreements and high-value divorce matters as part of the matrimonial team.

Providing ‘an amazing service’, Palmers‘ family department is based across five of the firm’s Essex offices, and its wide-ranging practice encompasses divorce, financial remedy, cohabitation, pre-nuptial agreement and domestic violence matters. Rayleigh-based Sarah Dowie also carries out advocacy work in financial and child arrangement matters. Former head of the department Surjit Verdi left the firm in May 2023.

Rayden Solicitors operates from its office in Epping and is led by Stuart Clark and Nazia Rashid, who joined the department in October 2022 from Anthony Gold Solicitors LLP. Described as a ‘brilliant legal mind’, Clark is well versed in handling all financial aspects of separations and specialises in divorces with international elements, while Rashid’s practice includes niche expertise in non-qualifying ceremony of marriage or marriage abroad issues.

Thompson Smith and Puxon recently recruited the well-reputed Louise Margiotta in May 2022 to restructure its family department. Clients ‘have every confidence’ in Margiotta, who has more than 26 years’ experience in working with separating couples, and excels in complex financial and children matters, such as relocation and child protection issues. Stuart Tyler joined the team in February 2023.