Firms To Watch: Family: Birmingham

Rayden Solicitors has recently opened an office in Birmingham that is led by Mary Kaye (formerly of Shakespeare Martineau LLP). Kaye has a ‘stellar reputation in the Birmingham legal community and beyond’.
Locally, the ‘extremely approachable’ Lucy Barr  heads the department at VWV. It now has a ‘growing team‘ that is ‘expanding with some excellent recruitment’. Senior associate, Amy Parker has a ‘fine legal brain and an admirable work ethic’.

Family: Birmingham in West Midlands

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP is a ‘first-class family law department which has great strength and depth’. Its key areas of focus are providing matrimonial advice to professionals and business owners, as well as representing children and family members in complex care and private law proceedings. The group also has a growing mediation offering and is recommended for its work in other areas such as surrogacy, female genital mutilation and domestic violence. Elizabeth Wyatt  co-heads the matrimonial team along with Chris Lloyd-Smith. Jas Tamber heads the children’s team. Maria Ramon and Madhur Sharma were recently promoted to the partnership. At associate level, Kadie Bennett and Andrew Crumpton are among the names to note.

Responsables de la pratique:

Christopher Lloyd-Smith; Elizabeth Wyatt; Jas Tamber


Autres avocats clés:

Maria Ramon; Madhur Sharma; Kadie Bennett; Andrew Crumpton; Charlotte Raybould


Les références

‘They are extremely knowledgeable particularly in financial remedy matters and complex private law children matters. Chris Lloyd-Smith is at the pinnacle of the profession and is sought after across the region. Kadie Bennett is very thorough and approachable‘.

‘A well rounded team which is unusual in being able to offer quality private and public family law services. Chris Lloyd Smith has a great client manner and is a pleasure to deal with on the other side of a matter. Jas Tamber is the go to person in Birmingham for care work‘.

‘ In summary, I felt that the ‘customer service’ Anthony Collins offered was outstanding and this really must set them apart from their competition’.

Irwin Mitchell

The ‘simply amazingMark Hands  heads the team at Irwin Mitchell. Hands acts for very wealthy individuals and is often instructed by third  parties who need to intervene in Asian divorce situations. The Birmingham office is praised as ‘one of only a few firms outside of London which is capable of handling the very biggest cases’. Clare Wiseman  is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. Zahra Pabani is recommended for her skill at handling ultra-high-net-worth cases, while Sarah Balfour supports many vulnerable and older clients.

Responsables de la pratique:

Mark Hands


Autres avocats clés:

Clare Wiseman; Zahra Pabani; Sarah Balfour; Sabrina Powell; Charlotte Clewes; Rachel Baker; Lucy Todd; Tara Smith


Les références

‘Very client focussed, depth of experience and extremely personable. Sabrina Powell is a stand out associate. She goes above and beyond for her clients, is proactive on their behalf and always provides high quality advice‘.

Excellent team. Clare Wiseman and Mark Hands are “the go to partners” nurturing and leading Sabrina Powell, Charlotte Clewes, Rachel Baker, Lucy Todd and Tara Smith as future stars’.

‘The Team have dealt with the divorce proceedings in a considered and pragmatic fashion with the emphasis on being non confrontational towards the other party. In particular Mark’s approach has been to minimise petty fringe issues and concentrate on the substantive settlement issues‘.

Lodders Solicitors LLP

At Lodders Solicitors LLP, Beverley Morrisleads the team in an outstanding manner. Her commitment to her clients is second to none’. Morris excels in financial remedy work and frequently also represents trustees where they are intervening or being joined to the proceedings .Vivienne Middleton is another figure who is equally adept at resolving complex financial and children cases. Justin Creed joined the ranks from Wright Hassall LLP. Creed is a collaborative lawyer who advises clients on a broad mix of matrimonial matters. Caroline Dresden is also recommended for her work with clients who have very substantial assets and she has a particular interest in pensions on divorce.

 


Responsables de la pratique:

Beverley Morris


Autres avocats clés:

Vivienne Middleton; Justin Creed; Caroline Dresden; Baldish Khatkar


Les références

‘I have found Lodders family team exceptional in their knowledge of complex elements of family law, their experience and empathy. The billing is clear and transparent. Their communication was swift and excellent‘.

Vivienne Middleton was outstanding. I cannot thank her enough‘.

A great team of bright legal minds who also have strategic vision and excellent client support skills. Beverley Morris – there is nothing she doesn’t know about family law. She goes to the nth degree for every client’.

Clarke Willmott LLP

Clarke Willmott LLP has a 'very supportive team' that covers the whole range of family law issues with a particular focus on complex financial and private law children matters.  Headed  by Rayner Grice, who is praised by clients as someone who 'always goes the extra mile right from the start', the group is recognised for its skill at handling cases involving significant wealth and assets and continues to develop its expertise in dealing with cases involving domestic abuse and/or controlling and coercive behaviour. Adam Maguire advises on diverse matters such as cohabitation, disputes concerning children and nuptial agreements.

Responsables de la pratique:

Rayner Grice


Autres avocats clés:

Adam Maguire; Caroline Young


Les références

‘I work with Adam Maguire. His advice is always timely and clear. He is patient with clients and their families and does not mind repeating advice if needed, he is also flexible with his advice when things change‘.

The team has lots of experience in high value and complex disputes. Solicitors work closely as a team to ensure the best results for clients’.

‘Brilliant team of experts. Without doubt one of the leading financial remedy firms in the region delivering a high quality service. One of the go to firms for bigger money cases or cases with challenging legal points to litigate’.

Duncan Lewis Solicitors

The 'extremely efficient' team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors specialises in representing clients facing emergency situations such as matters involving sexual harm, safeguarding children or domestic abuse. It is also experienced in advising on divorce and separation issues and is known for its work with clients with significant vulnerabilities ( such as mental health problems). The practice works on an interesting mix of culturally complex cases and has considerable strength in international child abduction cases. Krina Parmar and Rupinder Jagdev  are among the names to note at a senior level along with Jasbir Raindi and Ravi Kaur Mahey .



Responsables de la pratique:

Krina Parmar; Rupinder Jagdev; Jasbir Raindi; Ravi Mahey


Autres avocats clés:

Adam Bloodworth


Les références

‘Duncan Lewis combines efficiency with a personal service. They genuinely work as a team and I think clients will feel well looked after by professionals who really do have their best interests at heart‘.

‘Rupinder Jagdev is a class act. She is one of very few solicitors I know that read every bit of material and formulates a view on it when instructing counsel. She is exceptionally efficient and seems to get the best from everyone who works with her’.

‘Duncan Lewis is a very good firm, with some excellent practitioners. Ravi Mahey (the doyenne of everything related to forced marriage and FGM) ‘.

Principaux dossiers


  • Represented the mother in private family law matters. The mother wished to end her marriage having been subject to domestic violence.
  • Represented in the mother in high net-worth divorce matters. This case concerned an application for financial relief and the team successfully assisted the mother in reaching a £3m settlement.

Harrison Clark Rickerbys

Victoria Fellows now heads the ‘young, vibrant and female team’ at Harrison Clark Rickerbys following the retirement of Kevin Harris-James (who remains a consultant at the firm). Fellows who has been described as ‘LA Law style tough, particularly good in getting bullies to back down’, has a particular focus on high-value financial remedy claims on divorce. Georgina Burrows specialises in complex and often long running private law children cases. Senior Associate, Shereen Chohan predominantly advises high-net-worth individuals on a broad spectrum of issues.

Responsables de la pratique:

Victoria Fellows


Autres avocats clés:

Georgina Burrows; Shereen Chohan;  Kevin Harris-James


Les références

‘I recommend this firm to family and friends as I know that they will be supported and well-advised through difficult times. The firm stands out as a class above other firms’.

‘Georgina Burrows is excellent. She is great with clients and is always thoroughly prepared’.

‘The firm has a strong presence in Birmingham and in Worcester as well as their other locations across the UK’.

Mills & Reeve LLP

Mills & Reeve LLP is renowned for its work with affluent clients where there are complex business and trust structures. Other strengths lie in advising on highly conflicted children proceedings , surrogacy and fertility law cases and advising professional and family trustees. Newly-promoted partner,Katherine Kennedy, routinely deals with more complex and high-net-worth financial matters and works closely with the private wealth team on matters such as nuptial agreements. Stephanie Hawthorn advises on various complex children and financial matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Katherine Kennedy; Marc Saunderson


Autres avocats clés:

Stephanie Hawthorn


Les références

‘Significant expertise but very commercial. Good negotiators taking a commercial and sensitive approach to cases’.

‘First rate, efficient and hard working lawyers with an eye for detail’.

‘Katherine Kennedy is top notch forensically excellent lawyer with tremendous person skills’.

Stowe Family Law LLP

With Rebecca Calden-Storr at the helm at Stowe Family Law LLP, the team is well-regarded for its work with wealthy individuals who have a variety of complex assets, businesses, trusts and properties that are held in the UK and internationally. Calden-Storr also has a particular focus on cases where there are elements of emotional/psychological abuse, parental alienation, narcissism and coercive control. The group garners praise for its work on complicated children matters too. Other core areas of expertise include advising on civil partnerships as well as same-sex and cohabiting couples.

Responsables de la pratique:

Rebecca Calden-Storr


Autres avocats clés:

Hannah Stubbs; Claire Cleary; Sara Morton


Les références

‘Rebecca Calden-Storr and Hannah Stubbs are a truly excellent duo’.

Rebecca Calden-Storr- extremely good, very good with clients, unflappable. Hannah Stubbs- one to watch. Extremely knowledgeable in the area and highly organised. Excellent‘.

‘Rebecca Caulden-Storr has recruited wisely to strengthen her dynamic team further. She has a fantastic manner with High net worth clients, knows what they want and works hard to deliver, Hannah Stubbs – bright and diligent’.

Sydney Mitchell LLP

The 'very efficient' team at Sydney Mitchell LLP is co-led by Karen Moores  and Mauro Vinti  - the 'friendly and approachable' group covers a broad spectrum of issues from divorce and civil partnership dissolution to child arrangements and protective injunctions. The firm also has a well-regarded collaborative law practice with two fully-qualified collaborative lawyers . Teresa Mannion is also an Advanced Family Law Panel member. Senior associate, Gemma Whitchurch, has considerable experience in cases where domestic violence is an issue.


Responsables de la pratique:

Karen Moores; Mauro Vinti


Autres avocats clés:

Teresa Mannion; Gemma Whitchurch; Judi Wood


Les références

‘Judi Wood –  as soon as I spoke to her and met Judi face to face the whole divorce experience became less traumatic, due to Judi’s calm, empathic, caring and truly knowledgeable and professional ability to guide and communicate with me from beginning to completion’.

‘Teresa Mannion -outstanding advice and service with the knowledge and experience and care for me as a client that supported me in a difficult time in my life’.

‘A gold standard firm, worthy of National renown. First rate lawyers who go ‘above and beyond’ for all of their clients’.

Principaux dossiers


  • Acting for wife who had been a homemaker during the course of a long marriage where the assets amounted to approximately £2.5m plus pension and where the case was signified by the husband’s litigation conduct and significant non-disclosure.
  • Acting for the father in respect of a proposed relocation of the child from Cornwall to Birmingham that also necessitated a transfer of care from mother to father.
  • Acting for the father in an application for a child arrangements order and parental responsibility in relation to a new born child with significant health issues.

The Wilkes Partnership

The Wilkes Partnership has a 'well-regarded' team that advises clients from all backgrounds including company directors, dentists, doctors and their spouses on an extensive range of complex financial and children cases. Aaron Keene, a collaborative law practitioner, heads the private family law team. Ruth Harrison-Byrne  leads the public law childcare team. She has developed a reputation for her work with competent teenage clients who instruct her directly on often very complex cases involving issues such as serious sexual abuse allegations. Senior associate, Sian Kenkre, is another name to note.

Responsables de la pratique:

Aaron Keene; Ruth Harrison-Byrne


Autres avocats clés:

Chris Allen-Jones; Sian Kenkre; Gail Hope


Les références

‘Aaron Keene – was at all times pleasant, helpful, professional, knowledgeable and very kind‘.

‘Aaron Keene had a very positive and supportive attitude and I felt from our first meeting that my case was in good hands. He answered questions promptly and was able to explain a very complicated situation clearly and helpfully’.

‘Aaron Keene- Very quickly developed a good understanding of my situation, has given me good advice over what has turned out to be a complicated and drawn out divorce proceeding. Thank you Aaron’.

Weightmans LLP

Manchester-based Emma Collins , heads the department at Weightmans LLP that is praised for ‘its attention to detail‘. In Birmingham, Tania Derrett-Smith’s areas of practice include divorce, pre and post nuptial agreements and advising on arrangements for children. She has considerable experience in cases involving family businesses, properties in the UK and overseas as well cases involving complex pensions issues. Associate, Rupa Parekh, specialises in financial matters arising from separation and divorce. Fiona O’Sullivan has now retired.

Responsables de la pratique:

Emma Collins


Autres avocats clés:

Tania Derrett-Smith; Rupa Parekh


Les références

‘Tania Derrett-Smith is client focused, providing her clients with sound practical advice. She also provides clients with excellent support through what is often a difficult litigation process‘.

‘Tania Derrett-Smith really does excel in her professionalism and commitment to the profession and her clients. Tania oozes professionalism and the quality of her service is exceptional‘.

‘A good all round team – the work being covered by a National team of lawyers, a system that works extremely well both for the lay client and the barrister’.

Benussi & Co Limited

Diane Benussi is a key figure at Benussi & Co Limited. Helen Benussi, Helen Jane Arnold and Denise McKenna are among the other highly regarded members of the team. It typically acts in cases involving net assets of between £3m-£30m and is skilled at handling cases where there are complex business structures and trusts. Lucy Johnston often advises on contact disputes and parental alienation matters.


Responsables de la pratique:

Diane Benussi


Autres avocats clés:

Helen Jane Arnold; Helen Benussi; Denise McKenna; Lucy Johnson


Shakespeare Martineau LLP

Aasha Choudhary now heads the department at Shakespeare Martineau LLP as the former head of department, Mary Kaye, has moved to Rayden Solicitors. The team receives plaudits for its ‘excellent advice and client care‘. Choudhary works on a varied caseload of complex financial remedy matters where there are often substantial international elements and frequently advises on domestic and international relocation cases. Associate, Monica Ghai and Robert Norris are well-regarded. Prem Ahark is now at gunnercooke LLP .

Responsables de la pratique:

Aasha Choudhary


Autres avocats clés:

Monica Ghai; Robert Norris; Dipika Mistry


Les références

‘Aasha Choudhary immediately made me feel supported and reassured. The team at SM work closely together in order to provide consistent advice and support at all times’.

‘They are capable of advising on very complex cases as mine was and continues to be. The collaboration between team members is excellent. Accessibility and contact ability in emergencies and difficult times is very reassuring’.

‘ As soon as I met Aasha I felt safe and reassured. Aside from her obvious professional capabilities I must stress that Aasha has gone above and beyond what is professionally required of her in her support of me’.