‘Well known for the breadth and depth of knowledge and experience within the team’, the family practice at Blake Morgan LLP in Southampton specialises in complex financial and children-related matters, and has experience handling Schedule 1 and TOLATA cases. Simon Burge heads the team, combining ‘enormous experience’ with a ‘commercial focus’ and particular expertise in high-net-worth financial disputes, and Jennifer Williamson is a trained collaborative lawyer with niche expertise regarding menopause and family law, noted for her ‘creative problem solving skills’. For mediation, Rachel Giles is the go-to.
Family: Hampshire in South East
Blake Morgan LLP
Responsables de la pratique:
Simon Burge
Autres avocats clés:
Jennifer Williamson; Rachel Giles
Les références
‘Jennifer Williamson is notable in her calm and reassuring manner with clients. She has excellent attention to detail and has creative problem solving skills to get results that leave clients reassured. Jennifer takes time to get to know her clients properly in much more than a light-touch way.’
‘Blake Morgan are well known for the breadth and depth of knowledge and experience within their team. They are particularly known for their work in matrimonial finance.’
‘Jennifer Williamson is always a pleasure to work with. She works collaboratively and has her client’s best interests at heart in trying to reach resolutions in the best way possible. Jennifer is able to disagree with you in a persuasive and respectful manner, as well as working constructively towards the end goal.’
Moore Barlow
The ‘fantastic team of family lawyers’ at Moore Barlow in Southampton regularly takes on high-net-worth financial matters involving trust assets, pensions sharing arrangements, and inherited assets, both in terms of post-separation disputes and wealth protection pre- and post-nuptial agreements. Judith Ball heads the Southampton team, with particular expertise in complex pension and business asset related matters, and Charlotte Millard is a go-to mediator, also offering the firm’s ‘Accord’ one lawyer two clients service. The team has additional expertise in modern families work, including cohabitation agreements, and complex children issues such as parental alienation and international relocation.
Responsables de la pratique:
Judith Ball
Autres avocats clés:
Charlotte Millard; Siân McKernon
Les références
‘Moore Barlow are the go-to firm in this area, with a fantastic team of family lawyers capable of handling the whole range of cases from HNW clients with complex financial affairs to unpick to middle money cases where the key is finding solutions by stretching resources to meet needs.’
‘Judith Ball is the doyen in this area, hugely respected by judges and opponents and an absolute delight to work with.’
‘Moore Barlow’s Family Team is rapidly growing, with good reason. Moore Barlow are exceptionally professional in the services they deliver and because of this, have a great reputation.’
Paris Smith LLP
Paris Smith LLP‘s practice boasts ‘a wide range of skills and experience’, able to handle financial disputes involving property, trusts, and inherited wealth: this expertise extends to wealth protection services such as pre- and post-nuptial agreements. Lisa Bray took over as head of team in April 2025, with Frank Prior taking the lead on the opening of the firm’s Bournemouth office. Bray often handles cases with a corporate element, such as the handling of business assets. Huw Miles has leading experience in nuptial agreements and cohabitee disputes, and Sarah Passemard is a trained mediator.
Responsables de la pratique:
Lisa Bray
Autres avocats clés:
Sarah Passemard; Heather Souter; Kirsty Morrison; Danielle Taylor; Huw Miles; Frank Prior
Les références
‘Paris Smith have the largest matrimonial team in the area with a wide range of skills and experience. They are highly experienced at working with expert witnesses and their communication is excellent.’
‘Frank Prior and Huw Miles are two of the leading matrimonial partners for HNW individuals in the area. I have always been impressed by their professionalism and timely communication.’
‘Paris Smith’s strength lies in the calibre of their individuals and their strength when that knowledge and experience is shared within the team.’
Thrings LLP
The family team at Thrings LLP is ‘of a high calibre’, combining experience in financial disputes and children matters with niche expertise regarding farming and landed estate family cases, non-court dispute resolution, pre-nuptial agreements, and the one couple one lawyer model. Practice head Sally Pike is ‘superb’, regularly handling matters for farming, business, and entertainment industry clients alongside work as a mediator. Kate Barber ‘delivers a great service for her clients’, particularly noted for her work with the one couple one lawyer model, including for clients with substantial farming assets.
Responsables de la pratique:
Sally Pike
Autres avocats clés:
Kate Barber; Emily Gulliver
Les références
‘Not only do they look after their clients, they genuinely care for them and that’s very obvious when dealing with them.’
‘Everything was done and handled professionally and with care. I had answers, advice or support whenever I required this.’
‘Kate Barber was very helpful and so knowledgeable and understanding of exactly what I was dealing with and how best to deal with each challenge as it arrived, she was one step ahead at all times. Rather than assuming that she knew it all and had seen it all before, instead she took on board every detail.’
Trethowans LLP
Recommended for its ‘unrivalled legal prowess’, the family team at Trethowans LLP regularly promotes constructive, non-court dispute resolution methods, including the Resolution Together one lawyer two clients model, while also offering expertise across matrimonial finances, child arrangements, wealth protection, surrogacy, and civil partnerships. Practice head Emma Wilders-Pratt has experience of highly intricate financial disputes, and head of the Southampton team Grant Cameron and Winchester team head Laura Bell are both trained mediators. Zoe Minton has experience of cases with Children’s Services involvement, and Amy Trench, also a mediator, is recommended in Southampton.
Responsables de la pratique:
Emma Wilders-Pratt; Laura Bell; Grant Cameron
Autres avocats clés:
Amy Trench; Zoe Minton
Les références
‘Zoe Minton is an outstanding solicitor that provides wrap around care to her clients and is focused at all times on their best interests. She is a credit to the family law team and Trethowans.’
‘The go to team for family law in Hampshire.’
‘Laura Bell is exceptional. She understands clients issues and has a natural, likeable quality which puts clients at ease. She has an outstanding level of legal knowledge.’
Dutton Gregory LLP
The ‘young, dynamic team’ at Dutton Gregory LLP has specialist expertise in regards to high-net-worth finances and high-conflict children cases, including those involving parental alienation and coercive control. It also offers specialist advice to clients regarding parental responsibility orders and surrogacy, both domestic and international. Jonathan Whettingsteel heads up the practice, praised as a ‘natural born team leader’, while Helen Cort is noted for her work as a collaborative lawyer.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jonathan Whettingsteel
Autres avocats clés:
Helen Cort; Rachael House
Les références
‘Dutton Gregory have a formidable reputation on the South Coast. They have the ethics and style of a traditional law firm while having kept up-to-date with modern advances.’
‘Jonathan Whettingsteel heads up the team. He is dynamic and a natural born team leader.’
‘Helen Cort is a safe pair of hands. She is approachable, knowledgeable and will break down advice in an easy to digest way. ’
Irwin Mitchell
Irwin Mitchell’s Hampshire-based family team works closely with its range of practices including court of protection, clinical negligence, and personal injury teams to support clients spanning ultra-high-net-worth individuals, sports professionals, and vulnerable clients with personal injury settlements. Hayley Trim heads the Hampshire team from Southampton, offering specialist expertise in wealth protection matters through pre- and post-nuptial agreements and intergenerational wealth planning. Eugenie Taylor is noted for her expertise in complex financial matters involving international assets, offshore trusts, and pensions.
Responsables de la pratique:
Hayley Trim
Autres avocats clés:
Clare Wiseman; Hannah Braisted; Eugenie Taylor
Les références
‘Eugenie Taylor is excellent. She puts clients at ease, provides sensible advice, negotiates constructively but is prepared to roll her sleeves up when she needs to fight for a client’s best interests.’
‘Hayley Trim is exceptional when it comes to jurisdiction disputes.’
‘A good team and part of a large firm offering a broad range of services.’
Phillips Law
Phillips Law applies a ‘strong client focus’ to its family work, with the Basingstoke team taking on matters from complex and high-net-worth matrimonial finances to Children Act proceedings and cohabitation disputes, and also able to advise on nuptial agreements and special guardianship orders. Elizabeth Taylor heads the practice, an accredited mediator with comprehensive family law experience. Daniel Weintroub is praised for his client support, and Howard Gardener continues to work as a consultant within the team.
Responsables de la pratique:
Elizabeth Taylor
Autres avocats clés:
Daniel Weintroub; Howard Gardener
Les références
‘The firm made the divorce itself very simple with good advice at all stages. Everything has always been explained thoroughly and concisely.’
‘Daniel Weintroub has been fantastic from the outset of this, quite frankly, nightmarish situation.’
‘The team have approached my case in a way which is sensitive to the complexities of the case. This allows me to achieve the required level of representation without being pulled into unnecessary disputes.’
Family Law Partners
Family Law Partners‘ ‘uniquely offers a holistic approach to divorce’, with emphasis on non-court dispute resolution methods including mediation, the Agreeable model, and collaborative law. Emily Pain, based in Fleet, is a trained mediator and offers particular expertise in financial matters involving businesses, trusts, property, and inherited wealth. In Petersfield, Hazel Manktelow is trained to meet with children in mediation, and has stand out expertise regarding Armed Forces pensions, and in Winchester Jayne Llewelyn offers hybrid mediation.
Responsables de la pratique:
Robert Williams; Emily Pain
Autres avocats clés:
Hazel Manktelow; Jayne Llewelyn
Les références
‘Jayne Llewelyn is very approachable, knowledgeable and provides sound legal advice.’
‘The firm is well regarded and known for taking a modern and innovative approach to family law issues and for its commitment to finding non-court solutions for their clients.’
‘Hazel Manktelow is a safe pair of hands. She takes a sensible, practical and pragmatic approach to cases. She is able to explain complex legal points in plain English and always keeps the bigger picture at the forefront of her mind.’
Herrington Carmichael LLP
Herrington Carmichael LLP has ‘an excellent reputation in Hampshire’, offering advice on complex financial disputes and child work involving serious allegations of harm. Paul Wild took over as head of the practice in November 2024, often handling cases where the behaviour of the parties is a relevant issue, and also trained as a mediator and collaborative lawyer. Sarah Speed has a ‘wealth of experience’ across financial disputes, wealth protection, and children matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Paul Wild
Autres avocats clés:
Sarah Speed; Louisa Callaghan
Les références
‘Herrington Carmichael rightfully have an excellent reputation in Hampshire. Their brand-new facilities are an asset to clients, and enable alternative dispute resolution to take place on site. Team members are as friendly and approachable as they are experienced.’
‘Paul Wild is an asset to the team. He brings a wealth of experience in Matrimonial Finance cases. Paul will manage clients’ expectations and will always outline the benefits of early settlement. He is able to put clients at ease with his calm manner.’
‘Sarah Speed is incredibly bright. Her case-management skills are second-to-none and she has a wealth of experience in both children and finance cases of the highest calibre.’
K J Smith Solicitors
Characterised by a ‘clear culture of professionalism and empathy at all levels’, K J Smith Solicitors’ offering across Basingstoke, Southampton, and Winchester has a range of financial and children focused expertise. Jennifer Murray heads up the Basingstoke team, praised for her ability to make a client feel ‘valued’, while Robyn Bowyer, in Southampton, is ‘top drawer’. In Winchester, Arabella Turner heads the team.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jennifer Murray; Robyn Bowyer; Arabella Turner
Autres avocats clés:
Derek Parsons; Daniel Norris
Les références
‘The professionalism and understanding of the team that deal with me has always been impressive as has the clarity of their advice.’
‘KJ Smith solicitors are welcoming and friendly when first approached; meeting in a comfortable and relaxed environment, putting me at my ease at what was a most stressful time in my life.’
‘What immediately stood out for me was from the moment I sought advice from Jennifer Murray at our first meeting, she made me feel valued, showed empathy for the situation I was seeking advice for and at no point rushed me. She not only answered my questions fully, but in a manner that I could fully comprehend and on many occasions checked with me that I was feeling comfortable and reassured me that at any time I could take a break or request further clarification with any points discussed.’
Sousa Law
Southampton boutique firm Sousa Law is noted for its work in non-court dispute resolution, notably through its mediation, arbitration, and collaborative law offering. Founder and practice head Catherine Sousa ‘inspires her team to strive to be constructive and not destructive’, handling intricate financial settlements and child arrangements. Emma Sanders is particularly recommended for vulnerable clients, including those experiencing domestic abuse.
Responsables de la pratique:
Catherine Sousa
Autres avocats clés:
Emma Sanders; Danielle Bradley-Lucas
Les références
‘Catherine Sousa is a force to be reckoned with – in a good way. She is a positive and determined leader who inspires her team to strive to be constructive and not destructive.’
‘The firm invests tremendous effort to forge a strong and close knit team, with a real focus on interpersonal skills and people orientated individuals. This is reflected in the way the firm delivers legal services to clients.’
‘Sousa Law excel at helping vulnerable clients, often victims of serious domestic abuse, to feel safe and at ease. Sousa Law provides a safe space prior to and following hearings where clients can know they are protected, greatly setting them at ease. Their client care is among the best of solicitors that I have seen.’