Overview
I’m a Senior Associate in Michelmores’ family team. I specialise in advising clients on all family law issues from relationship breakdown, financial remedies, domestic abuse and complex Children Act issues. I also provide advice on wealth protection to include pre-nuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements. I am passionate about providing clients with the knowledge and information they need to take back control and make informed decisions about the future they want for themselves and their children. My clients come from a variety of backgrounds (entrepreneurs, business owners, landowners, and international clients).
I have been a member of Resolution, a national organisation committed to resolving disputes constructively for over 10 years. I sit on one of their national specialist committees, the Children Committee. The committee has several aims, including campaigning for changes in government policy and legal procedure, informing practitioners on developments int the area and promoting good practice and a child centred approach.
I have particular expertise in children law and the majority of my practice is in dealing with complex, high conflict disputes about children, often involving children with diverse needs such as school refusal, mental health diagnoses, special educational needs and/or gender questioning.
My cases are mainly those with allegations of serious emotional, physical, psychological and sexual harm or abuse against another parent or towards children, and where there has been Local Authority involvement as well as police involvement. I frequently deal with cases where substance misuse and domestic abuse are central concerns and where the court is invited to make findings on disputed allegations.
I have an interest in cases where children are resisting or refusing to spend time with one parent, and where there are allegations that a child’s views are being influenced by one parent (commonly referred to as ‘parental alienation’). These cases are particularly difficult and sensitive and require speedy action and practical advice, often also needing non legal and therapeutic solutions and support.
I graduated from university in Cardiff with a first class law degree and trained at a specialist family law practice. During that time I also volunteered to advise at clinics for Families Need Fathers. I qualified and moved to a national firm with a well regarded family team – a top 100 law firm with multiple offices. During my time there I was shortlisted for GWILS Junior Lawyer of the Year. I joined Michelmores in January 2022.
I am ranked in Chambers and Partners UK and in the Legal 500.
I have a passion for travel and managed to complete a 7 month ’round the world’ trip before completing my training. I get away when I can to destinations far and wide, most recently to Canada, Ecuador and India. I was raised in North Wales and feel at home in the mountains. I speak fluent Welsh. I am able to advise clients in Welsh on request.
Recent experience
Securing an order enabling a mother to relocate with a child to India when the father did not consent and obtaining findings that the father’s approach and objections were malicious.
Representing clients in Children Act proceedings where there are ongoing and concurrent criminal proceedings/criminal investigations and where a ‘joined up’ approach is required between the family law and criminal law aspects of a dispute.
Representing a client in a long running dispute in highly acrimonious proceedings including Family Law Act proceedings, financial remedy proceedings, contested Children Act proceedings and enforcement proceedings.
I have experience representing clients in areas who already adopt the new Child Focussed courts in practice which will be nationally rolled out by the end of 2028. I have experience in successfully challenging Cafcass recommendations, for example securing directions for the appointment of an Independent Social Worker to work with a family due to the irregularities in a Child Impact Report prepared by Cafcass
Successfully resisting an application by a mother to relocate with a child within England and Wales (a 2 hour drive from his home and the father) and in separate proceedings successfully obtaining orders for a mother to return a child to the county after the child was removed from England to Wales without the father’s consent.
Advising on and drafting prenuptial and postnuptial agreements often within short timescales and where the assets involve complex trust structures and inherited wealth often based in multiple jurisdictions.
Securing lump sum orders for an ex wife in financial remedy proceedings commenced over 10 years after Decree Absolute involving inherited wealth, non disclosure and limited assets in the husband’s personal ownership
